Paramatta Claim Auckland Nines

Parramatta spoiled the hometown party by smashing the Warriors 22-4 to claim the NRL Auckland Nines title on Sunday.

The Warriors went into the finals as heavy favourites in front of a parochial Eden Park crowd but the Eels caused a major upset.

The Warriors’ defeat was further soured as star halfback Shaun Johnson limped from the field in the second half and appeared troubled by a leg injury.

Young Parramatta fullback Bevan French put in a near-irresistible case for a NRL starting spot this year, scoring the opening try and ending the tournament as the top try-scorer with eight.

When the Warriors failed to clean up a Luke Kelly midfield bomb, French picked up the spoils and went under the posts for a valuable bonus-point try.

The Eels controlled all the early field position and when a Corey Norman cut-out pass sent Semi Radradra over for his sixth of the tournament, they were well in control at 11-0.

The Warriors needed a spark and it came just a minute later when superstar recruit Roger Tuivasa-Sheck sliced through to reduce the margin to seven at the break.

The Warriors suffered a big blow after the restart when Johnson limped off after copping a knock in a mad scramble to field the kick-off. He returned briefly but ended the game limping gingerly on the sideline.

The Eels killed off the game when Tepai Moeroa broke open the Warriors defence and Vai Toutai scored soon after, before Cody Nelson crossed to put an exclamation mark on the result.

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Something in the Anfield Ayre Tonight

Thousands of Liverpool fans voted with their feet in protest at ticket prices as Anfield witnessed its first walkout in its 132-year history.

Supporters’ groups organised the action for the 77th minute of the match against Sunderland after a £77 match ticket (up from £59) and a £1,000 season ticket for next season were announced this week.

The club argued the new structure - which includes 45% of match tickets decreasing in price, 64% of season tickets being reduced or staying the same in cost, better availability for local fans and around 1,500 £9 tickets for category C games – offers greater accessibility and affordability.

However, that was not enough to placate fans’ groups as upwards of an estimated 10,000 of the 44,179 inside the stadium got up and left their seats in the 77th minute, with long queues forming for the exit.

Before the mass departure the Kop loudly sang, “Enough is enough, you greedy bastards, enough is enough” – which was roundly applauded by all four sides of Anfield, including the Sunderland supporters – before launching into ’You’ll Never Walk Alone’, usually reserved for the last few moments of a game.

There were noticeable empty blocks of seats all around the ground, particularly in the Kop where, before kick-off, fans had waved black flags instead of their usual club colours in protest.

The walkout was followed by a Sunderland fightback as the visitors, having been 2-0 down, scored twice in the last nine minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw.

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Pulis Promises McClean Chat

West Brom manager Tony Pulis says he will speak to winger James McClean if he thinks the wide man was to blame for a post-match melee which marred the win over Sunderland.

The Baggies secured a crucial 1-0 win over the Black Cats thanks to a second-half goal from Saido Berahino.

And former Sunderland man McClean provoked anger among the visiting players when he celebrated in front of the away fans at the end of the match.

McClean has claimed he was hung out to dry by Sunderland following his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy in 2012.

And the Republic of Ireland international, who left Sunderland in 2013, was jeered by the visiting fans throughout the game.

He was confronted by Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole after his post-match celebrations, sparking a fracas involving players from both sides.

Pulis did not see the brawl and said: "Let me have a look at it first.

"I'd heard a roar or whatever and didn't know whether the players were involved in something.

"If he's out of order, I'll speak to him.

"He played really well today, James. He's settled in really well and is a smashing lad. The lads have really taken to him.

"He's not the sharpest tool in the box, and that's not being disrespectful to him. But he's a smashing lad."

Victory moved Albion seven points clear of the drop zone and Pulis preferred to focus on that aspect of the afternoon.

"I think the win was more important than anything else today," he said.

"And I thought, second-half, we played a lot better than we did first-half. We had gone away from getting clean sheets, so to get a clean sheet was good."

And Pulis also thought it was important to secure a first home league win of the campaign. 

"We played really well against Everton for 58 minutes, conceded a goal, and then went to pieces," he said. "We were 2-0 up and then conceded three goals, which was a real kick in the stomach.

"We needed a win, that is what we have got today, and hopefully that will give the lads confidence playing out here."

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Mourinho Mad as Hell

Jose Mourinho challenged Chelsea to stick with him or sack him after the capitulation against Southampton.

Captain John Terry was restored but Saints exposed the now familiar failings in the defence which just five months ago formed the foundation for winning the title, with goals from Steven Davis, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle earning a first win at Stamford Bridge since January 2002.

The Blues, who had taken the lead through Willian's free-kick, were booed off after a fourth loss in eight Premier League games left them 16th in the table, one place below newly-promoted Bournemouth.

In a seven-minute outburst to Sky Sports, Mourinho said: "If the club want to sack me, they have to sack me because I'm not running away from my responsibility and my team.

"This is a crucial moment in the history of this club because if the club sacks me, they sack the best manager this club had and the message is: bad results and the manager is guilty."

He later added in his post-match media conference: "No way I resign. No way. Why? Because Chelsea cannot have a better manager than me.

"I want the best for my club and the best for my club is for me to stay."

Mourinho felt aggrieved Chelsea were not awarded a penalty in the second half at Stamford Bridge when Radamel Falcao appeared to be brought down by Saints 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Southampton took the lead three minutes after referee Robert Madley's decision through Sadio Mane, and Mourinho felt it was an indication referees were afraid to give decisions to the Blues.

He added: "When we are at the top I understand that there is quite a big pleasure on putting us down.

"But when you are down you need to be a bit honest and to make clear that the referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea.

"The result [was] 1-1, there is a huge penalty and, once more, we don't get. A penalty is a crucial moment in the game with the result 1-1.

"I repeat, if the FA want to punish me, they can punish me, they don't punish other managers, they punish me - it's not a problem for me.

"But I want to repeat because I think my players deserve it, I think our fans deserve it and I am a Chelsea fan too. I want to say it again: referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea.

"Why? Because if they give there is always a question mark from you, there is always a question, there is always a critic, we are always punished."

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It's Ciao to Di Canio

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Sunderland have sacked head coach Paolo Di Canio after Saturday's 3-0 defeat at West Brom left them bottom of the Premier League.

The 45-year-old Italian has won two of his 13 matches since being appointed in March and the Black Cats have one point from five games this season.

"An announcement will be made in due course regarding a permanent successor," read a club statement.

In the meantime, coach Kevin Ball will take charge of the first-team squad.

The statement added: "The club would like to place on record its thanks to Paolo and his staff and wishes them well for the future."

Ball's opening duty is to prepare the side for Tuesday's Capital One Cup third-round match against Peterborough United at the Stadium of Light.

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Black Cats Dismiss O'Neill Rumours

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Sunderland club sources have told Sky Sports that Martin O'Neill has 'unequivocally not resigned' and is not leaving the Stadium of Light.

Reports had claimed that O'Neill had offered to quit his post as Sunderland boss following Saturday's 4-2 home defeat by high-flying West Bromwich Albion.

However, the Black Cats have dismissed the speculation and have confirmed that the Northern Irishman remains in charge on Wearside.

O'Neill is approaching his first anniversary as Black Cats boss after signing a three-year contract to replace Steve Bruce at the helm last December.

He enjoyed an immediate impact in guiding Sunderland away from the relegation zone, but has seen his team win just two of their last 20 Premier League games.

The Black Cats were also knocked out of the Capital One Cup at home by local rivals Middlesbrough last month and have won just once in the league in front of their own supporters this season.

Speaking after the loss against West Brom, which saw Sunderland score twice in a game at home for the first time in the Premier League this term, O'Neill was staying upbeat.

He said: "I think there's a lot to take out of the match, a lot to take out of it.

"We have been beaten, but we look as if we can maybe get a goal again now, which is very encouraging.

"We have a big game on Tuesday night against QPR and we will try to get ourselves prepared for that."