Its interesting to see how a change of scenery and more importantly a change of management can differ a players behaviour. Even before a ball has keen kicked in NRL 2008, reports out of the Roosters camp suggest Willie Mason is behaving like an angel.

Under Bulldogs so called control or guidance, Willie was a menace most of the time and the rest of the time he was distracting or leading fellow players astray. Now, at Bondi under the watchful eyes of Fittler and Roosters bosses Willie has put plenty of focus into training and seems hell bent on proving a point, not only to his former club but probably to himself and his family.

The magic of the FA Cup may be dead and buried in Reading, but it is alive thousands of miles away in Sydney. Just ask David Carney, Sheffield United’s Australian winger.

Carney is only 24, but his career has been filled with more drama than an episode of Neighbours. He was released by Everton after appearing alongside Wayne Rooney in the 2002 FA Youth Cup final and returned to Sydney after short and unhappy spells at Oldham Athletic, Halifax Town and Hamilton Academical.

Superficially, at least, media “reports” of the past week linking former Sydney FC player David Carney to German giants Bayern Munich are tremendous signs that Australian football is still capable of producing players able to mix it in the big leagues of Europe.

Certainly when I first read the story about Carney I was excited for the bloke and also for the A-League.

The Olyroos are poised to qualify for next year's Beijing Olympics and Blacktown can claim a lot of the credit if they do.

It was then-Blacktown Demons coach Brian Brown who picked out a teenager called Mark Milligan as a player of the future four seasons ago.

Australia's David Carney celebrates after his goal in the friendly match against Nigeria at Craven Cottage, London on November 17, 2007.

The Sydney Roosters have sprung out of the blocks in their bid to lure homeless Test forward Willie Mason to the NRL club, holding talks with the ex-Bulldog's manager.

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan confirmed the "informal" chat as Mason again declared his interest in joining the tri-colours as North Queensland and English Super League club Hull pulled out of the race for the 27-year-old player's signature.

Emirates Western Force centre Junior Pelesasa is expected to miss the 2008 Investec Super 14 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Pelesasa suffered the injury in last weekend’s Mazda Australian Rugby Championship semi-final between the ET Perth Spirit and the Central Coast Rays in Gosford.

For the fourth consecutive year, Longines was the official watch of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and proud sponsor of the Oaks Day Longines Plate. The Melbourne Cup Carnival is Australia’s largest and most prestigious horse racing event. It is estimated over 300,000 people attended the four race days - Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day.

Longines achieved strong exposure at the event with outdoor and indoor signage, showcase displays, consumer brochures and an elegant marquee in the prestigious “Birdcage” enclosure. The marquee was one of the most sought-after locations at the 2005 Melbourne Cup Carnival, setting the pace in style and design.

IS Kate Waterhouse a traitor - or just brave enough to tell it like it is?

The racing princess has sent a serve towards the style sense of NSW NRL girls, having been apparently won over by the AFL ladies' dress at the Brownlow Awards.

"The fashion down here is much, much better," she said in Melbourne.

SURPRISE Rugby World Cup contender Ben Lucas demanded an instant Super 14 contract by spearheading Sunnybank to a stunning 85-19 Queensland grand final rout of Gold Coast.

The unheralded five-eighth showed why Australia coach John Connolly was impressed by his lightning pace and evasive skills with a two-try, 35-point haul against the hapless Breakers.