McKenzie names Wallabies squad

EWEN McKenzie has opted for Matt Toomua ahead of Quade Cooper in his first Test squad with the fly half one of 10 Brumbies named in the Wallabies side to face the All Blacks on Saturday night.

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McKenzie said Toomua's Super Rugby form was too good to ignore.

"It's pretty much performance oriented," McKenzie said of Toomua's selection ahead of Cooper.

"He's played good football all year. He's the best man for us to start the game. Quade's disappointed, every player I spoke to was.

"That's the way it is - they'll get another chance. There's other opportunities to contribute."

Full Squad:

1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rob Simmons
5. James Horwill ©
6. Hugh McMeniman
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ben Mowen
9. Will Genia
10. Matt Toomua*
11. James O'Connor
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Israel Folau
15. Jesse Mogg

Res: Saia Faingaa, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.

See how the announcement unfolded in our Live Blog below.

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LIVE CHAT: AFL teams for Round 21

Luke Hodge is in the mix. Source: News Limited

HAWTHORN is a good chance to recall stars Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge for Friday night's blockbuster against Collingwood.

But the Hawks face their fair share of selection dilemmas with captain Luke Hodge (thumb) and Grant Birchall (knee) on the cusp of selection.

Hodge is closer to making his return after missing just one week, while Birchall hasn't played since Round 13.

ESSENDON must also tweak its team with Dustin Fletcher and Patrick Ryder accepting bans from the match review panel.

Joe Daniher is one option for the Bombers able to play up forward releasing Tom Bellchambers to tackle the stoppages against Kangaroo Todd Goldstein.

Bombers veteran David Hille also comes into calculations.

RICHMOND defender Chris Newman faces a fitness test for an ankle problem.

But surely no risks will be taken with the former skipper, who holds the unenviable record of having played the most AFL games (232) without a final.

Meanwhile, Tigers forward Jake King is expected to miss another week with a niggling hamstring injury.

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly is another expected to play in the VFL following Brodie Grundy's emergence.

SEE THE ROUND 21 TEAMS AS THEY DROP AND TALK SUPERCOACH FROM 5.30PM BELOW:
 

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NRL racism not intentional: Thaiday

Sam Thaiday and Josh Hoffman model the Brisbane Broncos indigenous jersey to be worn for Close the Gap round. Picture: Steve Pohlner Source: Steve Pohlner / CourierMail

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TEST star Sam Thaiday says the stain of racial abuse remains on rugby league's intense battlefield but he urges fellow indigenous players to be the bigger man.

Promoting the first indigenous jersey to be worn by the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night, Thaiday revealed he still hears racial taunts being made in NRL matches.

However, the Broncos skipper and Queensland Origin back-rower said for the most part the abuse is "not intentionally'' racist.

"It's a very tough and physical game,'' he said on Wednesday. "It's man against man and it's very much like the old gladiators.

"We're out there to win at all costs and sometimes things get said in the heat of the moment that I think aren't said as a hurtful thing.

"When things are said in a hurtful way that's when it crosses the line.''

Thaiday admitted he'd generally come through his 10 years and 186 games in the NRL unscathed but made sure he didn't react to racial slurs.

The 29-year-old said he spoke to younger Aboriginal players about being cool-headed and careful to respond in a positive way.

"It is a tough thing to hear but you can't really react to those things these days,'' he said. "I think the best way to deal with it is to try and push it aside as much as possible.

"I would rather beat someone on the scoreboard and on the field than beat their face in.''

The Broncos have launched their specially-designed indigenous jersey, displaying artwork by former NRL player and Aboriginal artist Sid Domic, which they will wear against Parramatta as part of the NRL's 'Close the Gap' Round.

The Close The Gap initiative is aimed at correcting the imbalance between the life expectancy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

"To finally get the chance to wear an indigenous jersey here at the Broncos is going to be a fantastic honour,'' said Thaiday.

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Fear of finals shambles: Mick

Mick Malthouse has spoken about the drugs saga. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

CARLTON Mick Malthouse fears the Essendon supplement scandal will turn the finals into a shambles.

He said the saga, which he predicts will drag into next year, has hurt a lot of people in a way that many would not appreciate.

But champion player Wayne Carey described the AFL charges as a "gross overreaction" and said it was a contradiction given the players were not issued doping violations.

Malthouse said the Essendon players had to take some responsibility and asked why they didn't question why they were being injected.

He said any player group he'd been associated with would have asked him why they had to sign consent forms and why they were being taken away from the club to be injected.

"I am only going by what I've heard and if in fact they've left the premises to get injected, wouldn't there be a cause for suspicion among the leadership group to say: 'Why do we need to sign these forms, why are going off the premises to have these supplements injected into our bodies?'

'Why can't we do it in our clinically clean rooms in front of our doctor? What is this all about?'"

While the AFL last night charged the Bombers and key staff, including coach James Hird, for bringing the game into disrepute, no infraction notices have served on the players by ASADA but the investigation is ongoing.

Malthouse said he understood there was "an inkling" and strong rumours of Essendon's supplement use last year but it had been brushed aside.

Speaking to 3AW's Neil Mitchell, Malthouse said that the AFL, which he says has to show strong governance, wanted the issue resolved before the finals while Essendon didn't.

"I think there is going to be a shambles at the end of the year," he said.

"I think that everything will be pressed into the court system and then delayed and delayed.

"I can see it being completed until well after the season.

"There are going to be things that the AFL have to put into place to protect their integrity of the 2014 season, let alone 2013."

Asked about the possibility of the ninth placed side making the finals if Essendon lost premiership points, Malthouse said: "It would leave you with a very poor taste and there would have to be an asterisk next to your name and you made the finals 'because of' and we all know what that 'because of' would be."

Malthouse said the science departments at the other 17 club, as well as opposition players, had become a victim of Essendon's supplements program.

"The common thing that comes out of Essendon and I'm really staggered is that it doesn't enhance your progress as a player why have they done it?" Malthouse said.

"They have done it for a particular reason and we all know something has happened. Essendon has done something there to enhance them as footballers. Whether it be legal or illegal, that's up to WADA and ASADA."

Malthouse said every ASADA briefing he had witnessed finished with a warning to the players that they were singularly responsible for what goes into their bodies.

He said with the average wage of an AFL footballer at $268,000, plus the glory of playing league football, youngsters could tread the fine line in an attempt to get an advantage.

"You give them an opportunity to take or do something or inject something that makes them better, you don't think they are going to go out there and do it." he said.

"It's up to the AFL to make sure without any fear of hesitation that this is illegal, we will not put up with it and if we find (any illegal substances) you are then not eligible for the draft."

Carey questioned what constitutes bringing the game into disrepute.

"How is that defined and who defines that? It is such a grey area. In fact, it almost feels like the AFL is acting above the law and it's exactly why this mess is going to drag on for some time yet," he wrote on his Nine MSN blog.

- with Sam Landsberger
 

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'Ryan rev-up does job for Titans'

Ryan James has turned his poor form around in recent weeks. Source: News Limited

FORMER St George Illawarra superstar Mark Gasnier looks back on NRL round 22 and singles out his player of the week to be awarded The Gaz Man.

And the award, for his titanic performance against the enormous Bulldogs pack, goes too …

Ryan James

In what was an extremely physical contest on Monday night, I thought young Ryan really stood up.

He took on the Bulldogs' pack and came out on top; a feat very few big men can lay claim to.

He got whacked a couple of times when Sam Kasiano and Aiden Tolman came looking for him, but that didn't stop him from carting it forward.

His work rate was second to none.

He made 15 hit-ups in the first half alone, whilst providing a few offloads throughout the match and supporting the other forwards really well.

Such a gutsy performance is especially impressive considering only two rounds ago he was omitted from the Titans' top grade side for a lack of form and ill-discipline on the field.

At the time, James was averaging just 70 metres per game and was the most penalised player in the Titans line-up.

Since returning to the NRL in round 21 however, he has carried the ball for 175 metres and 203 metres respectively, while playing more minutes than any of his other 16 appearances this season.

It's obvious he has improved his fitness.

He has always had the ability to make an impact in small stints off the bench, but now he is a consistent performer for three-quarters of the match.

He hasn't compromised quality for this extra game time either; you still get that solid performance, just for longer periods of time.

It's funny how a little kick up the backside can really lift a player's performance.

They get a little tap on the shoulder to say 'you're not playing first grade this week' and suddenly a whole different mindset kicks in.

We saw it happen to Konrad Hurrell at the start of the season and look how he stepped up.

I hope that was the case with Ryan.

I hope he made a conscious decision to improve what was letting him down, whether it was his preparation, or his diet or some other factor.

I also hope he can keep his barnstorming form going until at least the end of the season.

The Titans are going to need him in order to churn out more performances like that.

Over the next two to three years he could really stamp himself as a senior member of that forward pack, so hopefully he can make the most of his opportunity.  

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Moore ready to strike in new scrums

A new sequence will be in place for The Rugby Championship to clean up scrums. Source: AAP

OLD-school hand signals between the halfback and hooker may have to dusted off to ensure a clean strike under the new scrum sequence, according to Wallaby No.2 Stephen Moore.

The new scrum call of "crouch, bind, set" will be used in a Test match for the first time on Saturday night when Australia meets the Kiwis in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash, and both teams are scrambling to get their heads around the theory and practice of the changes.

The primary difference is the removal of the rutting-bucks "hit", with both front rows holding outside arms after the "bind" call is made. It is said to reduce the impact of the collision by 25 percent, and Moore said the post-set shoving battle will see more of a "wrestling" element.

But another key feature will see referees dictate when a halfback feeds the ball, and police it being straight.

Hookers, therefore, will be required to strike for the ball and Moore said it's not something modern No.2s have done much.

"Traditionally the hooker hasn't really (had to) strike for the ball," Moore said.

"He's scrummaged more as a second tighthead I suppose, without taking your feet off the ground. So it will be a bit different in that regard, having to lift your foot to strike.

``You have to work out the timing of when the halfback puts the ball in, I think the referee is going to call that. There will be a few things there we need to make sure we're on top of. I guess it is aimed at making the scrum cleaner and having less re-packs, so lets hope that it works."

In bygone eras, the halfback would tap the hooker's hand as a signal when he was about to feed the ball in.
Could that time-honoured tactic be used by Will Genia and Moore?

"There might be something similar to that," Moore said.

"It might be difficult to hear I suppose, the referees calling it in, with your head stuck in there. We'll figure something out."

Moore has been around long enough to remember the art of hooking for the ball but conceded there were a few youngsters around who may not have ever used the skill.

"I guess there wouldn't be too many hookers around who've had to strike too much for the ball. It is just something you have to pick up and adjust to. There is going to be an important combination there between the nine and the hooker so we will spend a bit of time on it," he said.

"It is a bit different. We have had two weeks now to get our heads around it. I think it is going to be a learning experience for everyone on Saturday, including the referees probably.

"But I am sure there's going to be some teething issues there across the board but I am sure we will work as best we can."

Asked if he felt the changes were too major and potentially impactful to hurriedly inject into a Bledisloe Cup showdown, Moore said diplomatically: "I guess you have got to bring it in at some stage."

"They are pretty adamant they want to clean it up," Moore continued.

"I thought for the most part the scrums in Super Rugby were pretty clean and we didn't have too many re-sets. But this has come from the IRB and it's something we have to work at and implement. We have been given the rules and we just have to adapt to them as best we can. I am sure it's not going to be perfect on Saturday night but our aim is to get as close as we can."

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Slater's EPL team-by-team guide

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Robbie Slater is tipping Man City to reach the summit of English football this season. Source: Paul Ellis / AFP

FORMER Socceroo Robbie Slater looks at every team ahead of the start of the 2013/14 English Premier League season:

ARSENAL
A lot of money, a lot of talk and no signings. Welcome to the Arsenal Gonners – they're always gonna do something. I see plenty of goals with Cazorla, Walcott and Podolski. Suarez would also add goalscoring bite if he signs on. But defence – isn't that what you sit on?
Prediction: A lot of goals

ASTON VILLA
Brett Holman took the soft option by leaving the Villans after one difficult year in the Premier League. He should have stuck it out and I'm disappointed because I really rate him. Manager Paul Lambert is already under pressure. Christian Benteke is a rising star.
Prediction: Survival fight

CARDIFF CITY
Can't wait for the Welsh derby against Swansea. Talk about passion, this will be off the charts. Craig Bellamy is their big name and new man Andreas Cornelius was a proven goalscorer in Denmark. First shot at the Premier League and they should enjoy it while it lasts.
Prediction: A short stay

CHELSEA

The Special One is loved by everyone – even himself. Having Jose Mourinho back in London spices things up. Expect big things from Eden Hazard. There is the Aussie factor in Mark Schwarzer. At the very least, our keeper will face some great strikers at training.
Prediction: Title challenge

CRYSTAL PALACE
Ian Holloway has been trying to sign Mark Milligan to partner another Aussie, Mile Jedinak, in the midfield. London's new Kangaroo Court, perhaps. Their Selhurst Park ground is a step back in time to the quaint history of London football.
Prediction: Aussies rule

EVERTON

A dour Scotsman in David Moyes has been replaced by the more adventurous Roberto Martinez, who likes to build his teams from a back three. Marouane Fellaini has big hair and a big game and they have to keep him.
Prediction: More entertainment, less results

FULHAM
With Schwarzer moving on, it places huge pressure on Maarten Stekelenburg, but the Dutchman is a class keeper and has played under Martin Jol before. A scrappy team living in the shadow of London's big three – Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. Mid-table at best.
Prediction: Jol to feel the heat

HULL
Steve Bruce is back in the top flight as manager and it's great to see. Yannick Sagbo arrives from Evian with high expectations. Bruce hopes he can emulate the instant success Benteke had with Aston Villa. It's a big ask, but the goals have to come from somewhere and he's the man.
Prediction: Relegation battle

LIVERPOOL
Brendan Rodgers will be expected to return them to the Champions League. Iago Aspas looks great. Kolo Toure brings experience. But then we get to Luis Suarez: with him they can be top four, without him it's another tough season.
Prediction: Suarez walks . . . alone

MANCHESTER CITY
I can't see anyone stopping them. The challenge for Manuel Pellegrini is fitting all the egos in the same dressing shed. Four major signings – Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic – at more than 90 million quid builds on a powerful squad.
Prediction: Moneyball

MANCHESTER UNITED
The David Moyes era is likely to start by being second best in his own town. Following Sir Alex Ferguson will be tough. The Wayne Rooney stand-off has been disconcerting and there have been no new signings of note. If Robin van Persie is injured, look out.
Prediction: A blue year

NEWCASTLE
The big club that never seems to win anything. I'd have Alan Pardew equal favourite with Paul Lambert as the first manager to get fired. The talent is there, just not sure about the character.

Prediction: Underachievers

NORWICH

The Canaries have bought well. Gary Hooper from Celtic is a really good player and they have added Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon and Leroy Fer from FC Twente.
Prediction: Mid-table

SOUTHAMPTON
A good, stable team. Have signed Victor Wanyama from Celtic for a record 12 million quid. He will be the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League. A nice touch.
Prediction: Mid-table

STOKE
Long balls are out with Mark Hughes replacing Tony Pulis as manager. Rory Delap is gone, too, so no more long throws for Peter Crouch. Hughes will introduce more intricacy and fluidity in a year that could define his managerial career.
Prediction: Solid season

Sunderland
They have some class in Stephane Sessegnon and James McLean, but this club has over-promised and under-delivered in recent years. Manager Paolo Di Canio is eccentric (some might say odd-ball), but he has been busy in the marketplace.
Prediction: A wild ride

SWANSEA
The Welsh club will be good again. They haven't missed a beat since Michael Laudrup replaced Brendan Rodgers as manager. Wilfred Bony arrives with the reputation as the next Drogba, his idol. If he's half as good, look out.
Prediction: Europa League  hope

TOTTENHAM
The off-season has been all about Gareth Bale, but Spurs are no one-man band. Roberto Soldado is a brilliant get from Valencia, where he scored 59 goals in 101 games. Paulinho is also a big star. Have the chance to add more big names.
Prediction: Soldado to shine

WEST BROM
My gut feeling is the Baggies will do all right this season. Why? I have no idea. West Brom always punch above their weight. Romelu Lukaku's 17 goals will be hard to cover as he returns to Chelsea.
Prediction: Top half

WEST HAM UNITED
Will the Hammers get the Newcastle version of Andy Carroll or the Liverpool version? They have broken the bank to sign the striker and he will have to score 15-20 goals to make it a decent investment. Sam Allardyce could be another big story. He has never been a fan favourite.
Prediction: Firing squad is taking aim

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JOC a changed man under McKenzie

O'Connor (L) has the chance for a fresh start under McKenzie. Source: Getty Images

CONTROVERSIAL star James O'Connor says it's easy for him to buy into the Wallabies culture set by new coach Ewen McKenzie and he's changing to ensure he's best known for what he does on the field.

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The gifted utility back incurred some disciplinary blemishes and unwanted media headlines under former coach Robbie Deans, most recently being spotted at a fast-food restaurant at 4am in the week of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.

"I don't play rugby to be talked about off the field," said O'Connor on Monday as he waits to learn if he'll be selected by McKenzie for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener against the All Blacks in Sydney.

"I'm playing rugby because I love it and that's what I want to be doing, playing for my country.

"At the moment I'm doing the hard yards and I'm trying to get involved and earn myself into the team."

McKenzie spoke to the players after they assembled last week about what he expects in terms of standards of behaviour.

"It's not hard to do, it's just putting the team first," said O'Connor of McKenzie's requirements.

"I can't express everything, but it's something I'm pretty excited about.

"It's something I know I can be part of."

O'Connor revealed he was already making changes to his own approach as well as embracing the new team culture.

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"There's definitely things that I already have changed and am in the process of doing, personal things," O'Connor said.

O'Connor was excited about McKenzie's vision of the way he wants Australia to play.

"We spoke about the game plan and it's got a lot of boys excited, especially being a back," O'Connor said.

"Just the scope. There's a lot of landscape in the game plan to express yourself."

He was as philosophical about McKenzie's decision to move him from five-eighth - where he played against the Lions - and consider him as an outside back.

"I've spent most of my time in Test football out wider, so I guess looking at the Lions Test series, we weren't successful there, so it wasn't too big a shock," O'Connor said.

Currently out of contract after the Melbourne Rebels declined to offer a new deal, O'Connor said he was just only focusing on the Bledisloe Cup matches over the next two weekends.

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Eagles inflict more Bomber pain

Sharrod Wellingham gets away from a diving Nick Kommer. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Colleen Petch / HeraldSun

ESSENDON'S resolve may have finally cracked after West Coast out-ran the Bombers to score an upset 53-point win at Etihad Stadium.

The 18.12 (120) to 9.13 (67) defeat was Essendon's third-straight loss amid strong speculation the club is only days away from learning of severe AFL punishments over the club's supplements scandal.

3.3 (21)	Q1	3.6 (24)
6.7 (43)	Q2	6.9 (45)
8.13 (61)	Q3	12.10 (82)
9.13 (67)	Q4	18.12 (120)

Brendon Goddard 3	Mark LeCras 5
Jason Winderlich 2	Bradd Dalziell 2
Mark Baguley 1	Jack Darling 2
Tom Bellchambers 1	Josh Hill 2
Cale Hooker 1	Sharrod Wellingham 2
Nick Kommer 1	Jamie Cripps 1
	Andrew Gaff 1
	Josh J. Kennedy 1
	Matt Priddis 1
	Will Schofield 1

Penalities open to the league include stripping Essendon of premiership points won this season.

The Bombers players have been outstanding in dealing with the strain of the crisis since the club came under investigation on February 5.

But after heavy losses to Hawthorn and Collingwood, Essendon couldn't match it with the Eagles in an error-riddled game and dropped away horribly in the last quarter.

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Hawthorn	19	16	0	3	138.36	64
2	Geelong	19	15	0	4	133.12	60
3	Sydney	19	14	1	4	138.23	58
4	Fremantle	18	13	1	4	124.21	54
5	Collingwood	19	13	0	6	116.66	52
6	Richmond	19	13	0	6	116.22	52
7	Essendon	19	13	0	6	113.08	52
8	Port Adelaide	19	11	0	8	106.41	44
9	Carlton	19	9	0	10	107.48	36
10	West Coast	19	9	0	10	106.27	36
11	North Melbourne	18	8	0	10	122.19	32
12	Brisbane	19	8	0	11	84.65	32
13	Adelaide	18	7	0	11	100.56	28
14	Gold Coast	19	7	0	12	89.27	28
15	Bulldogs	19	6	0	13	81.34	24
16	St Kilda	19	3	0	16	77.42	12
17	Melbourne	19	2	0	17	54.83	8
18	Greater Western Sydney	18	1	0	17	54.64	4

Adding to a bad day, Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher appears certain to be charged for high contact with Eagles utility Jamie Cripps in the last quarter.

It was Fletcher's 378th senior game, equalling Simon Madden's club record.

By contrast, this was West Coast's best win this season.

The Eagles started the round 11th, three games outside the top eight.

Forward Mark LeCras returned from having his ribs crunched in the second term to star with five second-half goals.

West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis starred, picking up 28 disposals.

The tone was set in the first three minutes when Andrew Gaff was paid a free kick immediately after the opening bounce and goalled after receiving a 50m penalty.

Josh Hill was then awarded a goal from a contentious video review to give the Eagles the early break. Replays showed the ball bounced off the goal umpire's shoulder and back into play.

Essendon hit back immediately to lead by seven points, but West Coast dominated the end of the first term and should have been further ahead than three points.

The two teams went goal-for-goal in the second term as Essendon and West Coast players constantly turned the ball over.

ABC commentator Josh Fraser summed up the first half perfectly when he described it as "junk footy''.

Essendon forward Jason Winderlich, who sparked his team with two first-term goals, was subbed out of the game in the second term because of a hamstring injury.

After Essendon small forward Alwyn Davey handballed through a point for his team - he was trying to find Nick Kommer and missed him - West Coast kicked three goals to open up the game.

The Bombers briefly fought back, but the Eagles closed out the quarter with another three goals to lead by 21 points at the last change.

Essendon's Brendon Goddard kicked the first goal of the final term to briefly keep it interesting, but from there the Eagles ran riot.

West Coast kicked 12 goals to three in the second half including a six goal to one final term.

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Dons ready to 'set record straight'

Essendon chairman Paul Little. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

ESSNDON chairman Paul Little insists no Essendon player took a performance-enhancing or harmful substance and says he is looking forward to the chance to "set the record straight".

Little said today if charges were laid by the AFL this week it would give the Bombers the first chance to be "uninhibited" in defending the club and its staff.

Addressing his first chairman's luncheon before today's game against West Coast at Etihad Stadium, Little said the club had remained silent on the allegations so far to avoid compromising the ASADA-AFL investigation into the Bombers' 2012 supplements program.

Little said the club was in possession of the interim ASADA report which could form the basis of charges, including bringing the game into disrepute.

"Should this be the case we will then be in a position to carefully examine the charges, understanding the evidence that the AFL has relied upon to lay the charges and then, after due consideration and deliberation, determine our response," he said.

"We also hope that should charges be laid that this will mean for the first time we are uninhibited in our ability to set the record straight."

Little said the club acknowledged it could have done some things better and work had already been done at the club to establish new protocols, including medical and reporting procedures.

"As to claims of illegal and performance enhancing drugs, we remain steadfast in our belief that the players did not take harmful or performance enhancing supplements," he said.

Little replaced David Evans, who resigned after the drug investigation had taken its toll on his health.
 

Although he has been in the job for just 12 days, Little said it felt like 12 months.

He thanked Evans for his leadership over the past three-and-a-half years, especially during the recent "turbulent times" when the club has been investigated by ASADA over the club's supplement program.

"We still have some way to go with the supplement investigation," Little said.

"They are very complex matters."

Little said that while everyone wanted to see the investigation resolved, it could not be at the expense of thoroughness or natural justice.

He said he wanted to reiterate that the first priority at Essendon remains the care and welfare of the players.

Little praised coach James Hird and the players for remaining focused as the saga dragged on.
 

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