WHEN Stan Alves lost a grand final with St Kilda in 1997 he was named the AFL coach of the year and sacked 12 months later.

AFTER a week of uncertainty, all the pieces fell into place for Parramatta at their final training session yesterday, when five-eighth Daniel Mortimer and centre Krisnan Inu proved their fitness for tonight's grand final qualifier against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

THIS is the brains trust behind super coach Wayne Bennett's bid to end St George Illawarra's 30-year premiership drought.

WEEKEND HUSSLER held his ground in the spring majors more than enhanced it with his Underwood Stakes success at Caulfield on Saturday. After all, the gelding was $1.55 and at full throttle to down Pompeii Ruler, which was short of peak fitness, by three-quarters of a length over 1800 metres.

WALLABIES forward Hugh McMeniman is eyeing a permanent move to the blindside breakaway role and is convinced his luck has changed after his weight and fitness battles.