Veteran prop Nate Myles has dismissed suggestions that he could be playing his last State of Origin game for Queensland.Myles, 31, has been named for July 13s Origin III in Sydney but must overcome a knee injury that sidelined him for their series clinching game two win in Brisbane last month.Barely three weeks after knee surgery, Myles says he will make a final fitness call on whether he can play his 31st Origin in the coming days.I havent been given a deadline but I am not going to stuff around, he said.The team deserves better than that.I will know pretty early if I am good or not but I am feeling pretty confident.Myles was slotted into the Queensland 17 for bench utility Michael Morgan (knee).The other new face is North Queensland backrower Gavin Cooper, who replaces injured bench forward Josh Papalii.Myles admitted he was under pressure to keep his Origin spot but wouldnt have it any other way.The older guys are under pressure but I enjoy that kind of stuff, he said.Its a positive considering the success Queensland has had.(But) I am not saying this is my last Origin.I am contracted two years after this - there is no time frame.Myles did not believe Queensland coach Kevin Walters missed a chance to blood new talent in next weeks dead rubber, saying Coopers selection sent a strong message.Cooper makes his Origin debut at 30 and in his 11th NRL season.Gavin Cooper coming in for his first game is fantastic, Myles said.The young guys will see that and say I am not going to take this for granted, this guy is 30, been one of the best players in the comp and hes getting his first game.Its another realisation for our players to pick their game up again. . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Hall of Fame broadcaster Tom Jackson is calling it quits after a 29-year career.ESPN announced Wednesday that the 65-year-old NFL analyst is retiring from broadcasting. Jacksons final assignment will be this weekend at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.Jackson joined ESPN in 1987 as one of its first NFL analysts after playing 14 years for the Denver Broncos.ddddddddddddJackson, the 2015 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award Recipient, said in a statement his priority will be spending time with his family. ' ' '
|