ntnews.com.aulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll SPORT Hewitt changes preparation Shepherd leaves Force No bench time for Drogba LLEYTON Hewitt is set to tweak his preparations for WESTERN Force utility back Cameron Shepherd has DIDIER Drogba has told his Chelsea teammates he is Wimbledon a decade after he lifted the trophy at the quit the Super Rugby club to join English Premiership leaving the Champions League winners because he All England Club. Hewitt has received a wildcard for team Northampton on a three-year deal. The Force doesn’t fancy spending time on the bench. The the key lead-up event at Queen’s, starting June 11. said the 28-year-old will be released from his 34-year-old scored the equaliser and then the Hewitt opted to prepare for Wimbledon in the past contract after Saturday’s match against the Lions in decisive penalty in the shootout win over German two years by playing in the grass court tournament in Perth, although Shepherd won’t play due to a side Bayern Munich. ‘‘I don’t envisage sitting on the Halle, Germany. ‘‘It’s (Queen’s) been one of my season-ending wrist injury. Shepherd was targeted bench watching others play at a time when the club is favourite tournaments throughout my career,’’ by Saints as a direct replacement for England winger looking at putting together a new team,’’ he said. ‘‘I Hewitt said. Chris Ashton, who signed with Saracens. am readying myself for a leap into the unknown.’’ Carney’s time to shine STATE OF ORIGIN blue No. 6, the Blues have a footy games. It’s his first The likes of Braith Anasta, at Queensland with any spiralling out of control. genuine matchwinner at five- game. He’s going to be ner- Mark Gasnier, Greg Bird, sort of speed, that’s really Twelve months on and HE’S the ace that has NSW be- eighth, a player capable of vous. We’re not going to ex- Terry Campese, Trent Bar- going to ask their defence coach Ricky Stuart has the lieving they can finally end changing the course of a game pect him to go out there and rett, Jamie Lyon and Jamie some questions.’’ man he always wanted as the Queensland’s dominance but with a few deft touches. win us the game. Soward have all worn the Had things gone to plan, focal point of his game plan. the Blues are adamant they ‘‘I think we’ve got a few po- ‘‘But we know if the game’s No. 6 jumper over the past this would have been the ‘‘Toddy’s a very talented won’t expect debutant five- tential matchwinners, but on the line, Todd can produce six years. script heading into last year’s player,’’ Stuart said. ‘‘It’s not eighth Todd Carney to carry definitely he (Carney) is one something for us.’’ ‘‘He’s in great form. The series opener. about any individual. It’s not them to glory tonight. of them and he’s showed that It’s a luxury the Blues speed he’s got just troubles But a career which had al- about Paul Gallen. It’s about For the first time since the this year,’’ said recalled Blues haven’t enjoyed at five-eighth any sort of defensive line,’’ ready reached the depths the people around Paul Gal- likes of Brad Fittler and hooker Robbie Farah. throughout Queensland’s six- Farah said. ‘‘If we can get him of being banished to len. It’s about the people Laurie Daley donned the sky ‘‘Todd’s capable of winning year domination. some good ball and he’s going park football was again around Todd Carney.’’ Raiders drop star players CANBERRA coach David Furner says the decision to dump star duo Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson over alcohol breaches is important in rebuilding the club’s culture. The key backline pair will miss Friday’s clash with South Sydney at ANZ Stadium after breaching the team’s alcohol policy. It is a move Furner be- lieves is crucial. ‘‘Both players under- stand. It’s about the cul- ture,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s policies in place for good reason. And when they’ve been breached you’ve got to look at those breaches and act accordingly.’’ Furner confirmed that Dugan had been punished for drinking while he re- covered from an abdominal injury, while Ferguson had turned up to training still under the influence. Dugan has been replaced at fullback by Reece Robin- son, with rookie Edrick Lee taking Ferguson’s spot on the wing. ‘‘I’m confident of the side we’ve got,’’ Furner said. Meanwhile, Penrith offic- ials insist NSW Origin centre Michael Jennings re- mains a chance of facing Sydney Swans AFL star Kieren Jack will switch codes tonight to cheer on his beloved Blues in the NRL State of Origin opener Picture: PHIL HILLYARD Manly on Sunday despite not appearing on either their NRL or NSW Cup lists. The Panthers say they Swans star Jack wants to pull on a new Origin jersey will wait to see how he re- covers before deciding By MALCOLM CONN ‘‘They lost that match, they represented Australia and whether or not he plays. lost the series, and they played in Ireland as part of Their opponents welcome SWANS star Kieren Jack haven’t won a series since — the international rules series back Origin representatives tried on a new NSW State of so it’s been a good purchase and that was an amazing feel- Brett and Glenn Stewart, Origin jumper yesterday. hasn’t it, buying that jumper. Growing up it meant a lot to me and all the ing for me. Jamie Buhrer, and Tony He’s considering a swap ‘‘I’m sticking with them ‘‘If there’s an opportunity Williams. from the one he bought six and hopefully the tide will kids I grew up with just loved watching to represent NSW or a Brisbane coach Anthony years ago, during his first turn this year.’’ State of Origin combined Allies team I’d love Griffin will rest Maroons season with the Swans as an Clearly its been a painful to do it. PUB: trio Sam Thaiday, Ben AFL rookie. journey for a household ‘‘But its always a balancing NTNE-WS-23-45KGE:MDA-TE: Y-C-CO-LO-R: Hannant and Justin Hodges The Blues jumper he so consumed with Origin ber dad at Origin time. He’d those keen to revive the con- act of when the right time to but has named Matt Gillett proudly wore to ANZ thanks to his famous father always be pumped up by it cept in the AFL. do it is. to back up from tonight’s Stadium in 2006 — taking a Garry Jack, who played 17 and wearing his old jumpers ‘‘I don’t remember too ‘‘Clubs don’t want to lose Origin opener for Friday’s bunch of his new Swans matches for NSW between to watch the game. much of the AFL State of Or- players and premierships are clash with Melbourne. teammates for a rugby league 1984 and ‘89. ‘‘Growing up it meant a lot igin but personally, growing what we are here to win, so The Storm have named education — carries an unfor- ‘‘It’s always been a special to me and all the kids I grew up with league State of Or- that’s something that needs star Origin trio Cooper tunate legacy. time of year,’’ Kieren Jack up with just loved watching igin, I’d love the opportunity to be though out and if they Cronk, Billy Slater and ‘‘It’s been horrible,’’ Jack, said. ‘‘Every since I was State of Origin.’’ to come around,’’ he said. bring it in, needs to be done Cameron Smith. 24, said yesterday. young I could always remem- Jack has lent his voice to ‘‘A couple of years ago, I in the right way.’’ www.ntnews.com.au Wednesday, May 23, 2012. NT NEWS. 45.