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Critics of the World Club Challenge have always pointed out that the match is played before the start of the Australian season, thus boosting the chances of the Super League-sharp British side lifting the trophy. That may be so, but this set of Aussies want to redress the balance badly this weekend.

"We don't want a wasted flight to the other side of the world," said Nielsen, while Tandy admits it hurts to lose to the Poms at anything. When I brought up the , he quickly reminded me he was an Ireland international...

Melbourne warmed up for the World Club Challenge with a comfortable win over Harlequins

This is clearly a very united Melbourne squad, primed to claim the title that Leeds pipped them to two years ago. As part of a team-bonding exercise, the Storm players were sent off in groups to see a West End show in London last week. Very few lasted the pace. Tandy tells me he left the musical at the interval because Cameron Smith was bored and Billy Slater had fallen asleep and was dribbling on his shoulder.

As for Leeds' preparations, they suffered another major setback when it was confirmed that winger . The Aussie will have a shoulder reconstruction on Monday after suffering a dislocation against Salford. With injuries already hitting Brett Delaney and Carl Ablett, it could be time for Kallum Watkins to come of age. And what chance an early end to Ben Jones-Bishop's loan at Harlequins?

Away from the World Cub Challenge, the big story of the past few days has been . The Wakefield hooker had his Wildcats contract torn up after becoming the first ever sportsman to test positive for the banned Human Growth Hormone. He can now put his feet up for a couple of years to think about his misdemeanour, if indeed he does play again.

The Newton case should prove a huge wake-up call for any player taking drugs and shatter the myth that you can take HGH and not be caught, as my 5 live colleague Gordon Farquhar explained in his excellent blog.

One piece of Gordon's research revealed that Newton's positive test had come from intelligence. Would that mean a tip-off? From another player, or club colleague? The Rugby Football League tell me that this is absolutely not the case. The 31-year-old was tested because he fits the profile of the kind of player the RFL thinks should be tested.

The crackdown targets players deemed to be towards the end of their careers and thus those who are seeking to prolong their playing days. This includes those Super League players who drop down into the Championship. The second target group is young players who have recently stepped up into the senior squad from the academy, and may therefore be looking to bulk up.

With Newton the first sportsman ever to be caught taking HGH, the RFL's breakthrough has been reported worldwide, as far afield as the . The word on the other side of the pond is that baseball players are now concerned that their sport will follow rugby league's lead.

The RFL claim to receive a fair amount of "tip-offs" on players suspected of taking banned substances, all of which are thoroughly investigated. Neither one of the two most recent high-profile cases, or , were intelligence-led.

Talking of Gareths, . No deal has yet been done, but Thomas would become the first openly gay Super League player if he did join. The RFL is also the only sports governing body signed up to the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity Stonewall.

Finally, the stars of Coronation Street got a little bit of a shock last week from one of Super League's PR agencies Generate. to launch the rugby league Co-operative Championships. The trio were handed referees kits, although with hot pants instead of the traditional shorts worn with such style by the likes of Steve Ganson and Ian Smith. So skimpy were the pants that the girls refused to wear them.

I'm on 5 live sports extra duty this Friday as high-flying Wakefield go to St Helens. Saints emailed the ´óÏó´«Ã½ ahead of the game with parking advice for myself and co-commentator . "I have a pass for Moz, but George will have to park on the street, I'm afraid." Fair enough, they're a good bunch at Knowsley Road. And I am a Yokshireman after all.