HANSO'S WEEK IN SPORT #1

June 17: It's already been a big week in sport and here IAN HANSON gives his thoughts on what's been happening on the fields around the country and overseas....

GOOD AS GOULD: You can't help but get the impression that the most passion about NSW State of Origin rugby league is still Channel Nine commentator Phil Gould - the man who steered the Blues to their last Series victory. The NSWRL could do a whole lot worse than to bring Gould back into the fray with an assistant coach. Let him put a five-year plan together to patch up the Blues. Target the young guns and build the Blues back to the kind of rugby league force they once were. Have him put some structures in place for a team that certainly appears to have lost its way. Put a professional group together to administer the Origin campaign. The Blues also have one of sport's best manager's in their midst also in former Olympic swimming team manager and head coach Alan Thompson - who is now the Bulldogs Football Manager. He has managed the most successful team's in Swimming's history, has a background in rugby league and would make it happen.

LOCKYER SPECIAL: Well done to Steve Crawley and the team at Nine's Wide World of Sports for their special on Darren Lockyer in the lead up to Origin II at Suncorp Stadium. It was a rare insight into one of the game's all-time greats from a boy in the bush to a genuine star of the game. A story on a young man destined for the big time thanks to the dedication and support of his mum and dad, who sat proudly in the grandstand witnessing another wonderful moment from one of Queensland's great sporting sons. There should be more of it. 

TAHU V JOHNS: There has probably been too much said already on the racial slurring that engulfed rugby league with Timana Tahu storming out of the NSW camp, followed by the resignation of Andrew Johns in the build up to Origin II.   Best way forward is to get Timana and "Joey" in the one room with a respected mediator and let them thrash it out and then invite Greg Inglis in so he too can get the real story. Have a love fest, let the boys go back to the park and let Johns continue his media and coaching career. The game doesn't need to lose him. There also has to be avenues for players to vent their feelings, get the best possible result and limit any fallout. A lot of work to be done in that area with NSWRL management , the NRL and the NRL Players Association.

BILLY THE BEST: There is little doubt now that Billy Slater is far and away NRL's number one fullback. The man who only just edged out Surf Life Saving's Ironman Shannon Eckstein as Australia's Fittest Athlete last summer, is in the right place at the right time, almost every time and with the Storm out of contention for this year's NRL crown over the salary cap scandal Slater, Greg Inglis and Cam Smith played Origin II like it was their Grand Final of the year.

BRADMAN BACK: Have you seen Cricket Australia's television advertising package for this summer's up-coming Ashes Series depicting our Test greats on the field together - from Don Bradman to Dennis Lillee, the Chappells, Alan Border, Steve Waugh, Rodney Marsh, Warney leading into the current stars. Spine chilling....brilliant...absolutely brilliant.

VISIONARY: Have you noticed all the behind the scenes vision coming out of the Socceroos camp in South Africa...the boys playing cards on the plane...the arrival of their families into camp....Luke Wilkshire playing with the local village boys....interviews with the players after the game....all courtesy of the Socceroos Media Unit manager Lindsay McNeil, who has been a major part of the team's infrastructure for the past five years. He runs a professional outfit and one that other clubs and teams could certainly learn a lot from.