Update: AFL round one teams

Season kick-off part two ... Richmond and Carlton on Thursday night. Source: Nicole Garmston / News Limited

Hot off the press, here are the full teams for the remaining matches in round one of the 2013 AFL season.

	3:15 PM Melbourne Cricket Ground
All times are listed in EDT

Carlton v Richmond, MCG, Thursday 7.45pm (EDT)

Carlton
B: Chris Yarran, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Nick Duigan, Bryce Gibbs
C: Kade Simpson, Andrew Carrazzo, Mitch Robinson
HF: Chris Judd, Andrew Walker, Jeff Garlett
F: Eddie Betts, Levi Casboult, Shaun Hampson
Fol: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Brock McLean
I/C: Kane Lucas, Josh Bootsma, Aaron Joseph, Dennis Armfield
Emg: Jeremy Laidler, Tom Bell, Sam Rowe

Richmond
B: Steven Morris, Alex Rance, Troy Chaplin
HB: Jake Batchelor, Chris Newman, Bachar Houli
C: Shaun Grigg, Trent Cotchin, Reece Conca
HF: Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards, Daniel Jackson
F: Luke McGuane, Jack Riewoldt, Robin Nahas
Fol: Ivan Maric, Dustin Martin, Shane Tuck
I/C: Jake King, Brandon Ellis, Ben Griffiths, Ty Vickery
Emg: Matt White, Chris Knights, Nick Vlastuin

Western Bulldogs v Brisbane, Etihad Stadium, Saturday 1.40pm (EDT)

Western Bulldogs

B: Dale Morris, Jordan Roughead, Liam Picken
HB: Jason Johannisen, Tom Young, Brett Goodes
C: Adam Cooney, Nick Lower, Koby Steven
HF: Tory Dickson, Liam Jones, Daniel Giansiracusa
F: Rob Murphy, Ayce Cordy, Luke Dahlhaus
Foll: Will Minson, Ryan Griffen, Tom Liberatore
I/C: Mitch Wallis, Daniel Cross, Shaun Higgins, Clay Smith 
Emg: Jason Tutt, Lukas Markovic, Tom Campbell

Brisbane

B: Elliot Yeo, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Jed Adcock, Matt Maguire, Pearce Hanley
C: Patrick Karnezis, Tom Rockliff, Mitch Golby
HF Dayne Zorko, Stefan Martin, Josh Green
F: Rohan Bewick, Jonathan Brown, Ashley McGrath
Foll: Billy Longer, Daniel Rich, Brent Moloney 
I/C: Claye Beams, Jack Redden, James Polkinghorne, Aaron Cornelius 
Emg: Sam Docherty, Andrew Raines, Ryan Lester

Greater Western Sydney v Sydney, ANZ Stadium, Saturday 4.40pm (EDT)

Greater Western Sydney

B: Adam Kennedy, Tim Mohr, Stephen Gilham
HB: Tomas Bugg, Phil Davis, Curtly Hampton
C: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Stephen Coniglio, Jeremy Cameron, Tom Scully
F: Liam Sumner, Jonathon Patton, Devon Smith
Foll: Jonathan Giles, Adam Treloar, Toby Greene
I/C: Taylor Adams, Dean Brogan, Lachie Plowman, Dylan Shiel
Emg: Sam Frost, Rhys Palmer, Nathan Wilson

Sydney

B: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Martin Mattner, Ted Richards, Nick Malceski
C: Ben McGlynn, Daniel Hannebery, Lewis Jetta
HF: Kieren Jack, Sam Reid, Ryan O'Keefe
F: Mike Pyke, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton
Foll: Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh
I/C: Tony Armstrong, Luke Parker, Dane Rampe, Lewis Roberts-Thomson
Emg: Andrejs Everitt, Jed Lamb, Jesse White

Gold Coast v St Kilda, Metricon Stadium, Saturday 6.45pm (EDT)

Gold Coast

B: Joel Wilkinson, Matthew Warnock, Tom Murphy
HB: Dion Prestia, Rory Thompson, Greg Broughton
C: Matt Shaw, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Harley Bennell, Charlie Dixon, Brandon Matera
F: Luke Russell, Sam Day, Steven May
Foll: Zac Smith, Karmichael Hunt, David Swallow
I/C: Aaron Hall, Jaeger O'Meara, Jared Brennan, Michael Rischitelli
Emg: Maverick Weller, Jack Hutchins, Kyal Horsley

St Kilda

B: Jason Blake, James Gwilt, Dylan Roberton
HB: Jarryn Geary, Tom Simpkin, Sam Gilbert
C: Jack Newnes, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Arryn Siposs, Nick Riewoldt, Terry Milera
F: Stephen Milne, Beau Maister, Rhys Stanley
Foll: Ben McEvoy, David Armitage, Jack Steven
I/C: Ahmed Saad, Tom Hickey, Clinton Jones, Farren Ray
Emg: Nathan Wright, Trent Dennis-Lane, Tom Lee

Melbourne v Port Adelaide, MCG, Sunday 1.10pm (EDT)

Melbourne

B: Lynden Dunn, Tom Gillies, Daniel Nicholson
HB: Jack Watts, James Frawley, Colin Garland
C: Jack Viney, Jack Grimes, Jimmy Toumpas
HF: Jeremy Howe, James Sellar, Colin Sylvia
F: Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, David Rodan
Foll: Mark Jamar, Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones 
I/C (from): Sam Blease, Cameron Pederson, Luke Tapscott, Aaron Davey, Dean Terlich, Jake Spencer, Matt Jones

Port Adelaide

B: Tom Jonas, Jackson Trengove, Campbell Heath
HB: Jasper Pittard, Cameron O'Shea, Lewis Stevenson
C: Matthew Broadbent, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes
HF: Justin Westhoff, Paul Stewart, Angus Monfries
F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Jake Neade
F: Jarrad Redden, Hamish Hartlett, Travis Boak
I/C (from): Matthew Lobbe, Oliver Wines, Andrew Moore, Kane Mitchell, Aaron Young, Daniel Stewart, Jack Hombsch

North Melbourne v Collingwood, Etihad Stadium, Sunday 4.40pm (EDT)

North Melbourne

B: Shaun Atley, Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito
HB: Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Grima, Ben Jacobs
C: Aaron Mullett, Ryan Bastinac, Kieran Harper
HF: Ben Cunnington, Robbie Tarrant, Daniel Wells
F: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Lachlan Hansen
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
I/C (from): Liam Anthony, Leigh Adams, Sam Wright, Taylor Hine, Will Sierakowski, Majak Daw, Sam Gibson 

Collingwood

B: Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid
HB: Alan Toovey, Heath Shaw, Harry O'Brien
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan, Jarryd Blair
HF: Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Quinten Lynch
F: Ben Sinclair, Tyson Goldsack, Brent Macaffer
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams
I/C (from): Martin Clarke, Sam Dwyer, Jack Frost, Ben Johnson, Jordan Russell, Paul Seedsman, Josh Thomas 

Hawthorn v Geelong, MCG, Monday 3.20pm (EDT)

Hawthorn

B: Josh Gibson, Brian Lake, Brent Guerra
HB: Grant Birchall, Ben Stratton, Shaun Burgoyne
C: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill
HF: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin, Luke Breust
F: Jack Gunston, Jarryd Roughead, Paul Puopolo
Foll: David Hale, Brad Sewell, Jordan Lewis
I/C (from): Jed Anderson, Shane Savage, Luke Shiels, Max Bailey, Ryan Schoenmakers, Kyle Cheney, Jonathan Simpkin

Geelong

B: Jared Rivers, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Taylor Hunt, Harry Taylor, Travis Varcoe
C: Andrew Mackie, Paul Chapman, Joel Corey
HF: Jordan Murdoch, Shannon Motlop, Billie Smedts
F: James Podsiadly, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan
Foll: Mark Blicavs, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel
I/C (from): Trent West, Josh Caddy, Mathew Stokes, Allen Christensen, George Horlin-Smith, Josh Walker, Jake Stringer

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'Toomua, Lealiifano up for Lions'

Up to the task ... Larkham backs the Brumbies pairing for the Wallabies. Source: News Limited

Australia's greatest modern flyhalf Stephen Larkham believes both Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano would be up for making their Wallabies Test debut against the British and Irish Lions in June.

Granted Larkham is their backs coach at the Brumbies, but the 1999 World Cup-winning playmaker knows what it takes to compete at international level with 102 caps in the green and gold - including two against the Lions in the Wallabies' 2001 series win.

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The door for the flyhalf role is ajar with wayward incumbent Kurtley Beale sent home from the Rebels tour of South Africa, an injured Berrick Barnes out for up to five weeks, Quade Cooper trying to work himself back into form and James O'Connor having played the majority of his rugby this year at fullback.

Larkham said the combination between Toomua - who played for the Wallabies in a tour match against the Cardiff Blues in 2009 - and Lealiifano had been a perfect fit for the competition-leading Brumbies this year.

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Lealiifano largely now plays at No.12 while Toomua has been a standout at flyhalf for the Brumbies, though both are capable of slotting into the other's role.

"They both bring different attributes to the game ... and if the Wallabies want to take some of our game into the Lions tour, then they would be the best candidates," Larkham said.

While Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has expressed reluctance to blood debutants against the Lions, Larkham assured that both players would be up to the task.

"They are part of the leadership group and they know how to run the team around," he said.

"I'm sure they would be able to step up provided they had some familiar faces around on the field."

Toomua was more reserved about the prospect on Wednesday, saying there was no reason to get carried away after five weeks of Super Rugby and almost three months out from the first Lions Test.

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The 23-year-old missed much of last season with a knee injury while he struggled to get consistent starting time in 2011 at the Brumbies.

"I'm lying if I say I don't want to play for the Wallabies," he said.

"But I played three (Super Rugby) games last year and not many the year before and, for me personally, it's just about getting back-to-back games and trying to develop as a player."

Another Brumby banging on the door for Wallabies selection is fullback Jesse Mogg, who is equal first on the Super Rugby tryscorers board with four.

Larkham, who started his career at fullback, said Mogg had matured over the past 12 months into a player capable of Test rugby.

"There's been lots of talk about Moggie, whether he's consistent enough to play for the Wallabies," he said.

"I'd like to think so. He's had four outstanding games for us this year.

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Fa'aoso charge downgraded

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Escape ... Richie Fa'aoso will miss just one week for his hit on Ash Harrison. Source: COLIN WHELAN / AAP

Manly forward Richie Fa'aoso has been successful in his bid to downgrade his grade three dangerous contact challenge at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday.

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Fa'aoso was facing a three-game suspension for his shoulder charge on Gold Coast back-rower Ashley Harrison on Sunday, but will now only miss one game after his charge was reduced to a grade two by the panel of Michael Vella, Sean Garlick and Don McKinnon and he'll sit out Thursday's clash with the Wests Tigers.

The former Melbourne and Newcastle man's defence counsel, Nicholas Ghabar, conceded that the hit on Harrison was illegal but said it was comparable to an incident involving Billy Slater in round two.

Storm star Slater was slugged with a grade one charge when he raced crossfield and used his shoulder to knock over North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein in the lead up to a try for the Cowboys.

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Ghabar said his client's was similar, and the contact to Harrison that knocked him unconscious was not a direct result of shoulder contact, but because of a clash of heads between the two players after Fa'aoso made the challenge.

NRL prosecutor Peter Kite argued that Fa'aoso made a deliberate choice to make the illegal action and by doing so created the possibility of a head clash.

"It was dangerous, reckless and intentional, all of which make up a dangerous contact charge," Kite said.

"It was in the mid to upper end of grading."

Kite also claimed the incident was not comparable to Slater's as the fullback was coming across the field to chase down an opponent and Fa'aoso raced out of the line and had time to pull out of the challenge.

The three-man panel took 20 minutes to reach their decision.

Earlier, Manly coach Geoff Toovey implored the judiciary not to make an example of his prop.

"I hope they don't make an example because there is no example to be made,'' Toovey said.

"He's come in contact with Ashley Harrison's head accidentally and he's been punished for it but we just believe that it's probably a bit too severe.

''... We think that Richie's been particularly hard done by with the grading, so we think it's way too high and we've got a good case, we believe.''

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I can still play with Beale: Delve

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Gareth Delve ... says he can still play alongside Beale despite the punch. Source: David Crosling / AAP

Melbourne Rebels skipper Gareth Delve says he would have no trouble playing alongside wayward Wallaby Kurtley Beale despite being punched by his teammate while on tour.

Beale's future at the Super Rugby franchise is in doubt after he and Test winger Cooper Vuna were sent home from South Africa in disgrace.

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Vuna stuck up for Delve before also trading blows with Beale, and then tweeted about the late-night incident in another breach of team protocol.

It followed the worst loss in the side's history - a 64-7 shellacking by the Sharks in Durban.

Investigations are continuing, both at a club and Australian Rugby Union level, however Welshman Delve said he could still play with Beale.

"I'm a professional rugby player. For the most part, my relationship with Kurtley has been excellent," Delve said.

"It's not something I can't get past.''

Beale and Vuna apologised for their antics before starting their trip back to Australia.

The Rebels are attempting to put the crisis behind them as they prepare to face the in-form Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this weekend.

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The Cheetahs are returning from their most successful Australasian tour after victories over the NSW Waratahs, Highlanders and Western Force.

Delve said the players would be out to try to repair some of the damage from both the crashing defeat and the brawl.

He said they needed to make it up to the coaching staff and Melbourne fans.

"We've got a great opportunity to come out this week to turn things around and to put things right," Delve said.

"We owe everyone a big performance this week."

Coach Damien Hill is set to ring the changes following the Durban game, where the Rebels finished with the sorry tally of 19 turnovers and 31 missed tackles.

Richard Kingi is set to start on the wing in place of Vuna while prop Paul Alo-Emile will start ahead of Laurie Weeks.

Rookie flanker Jordy Reid will also get his first start replacing Scott Fuglistaller.

Wallabies back-rower Scott Higginbotham has been cleared of any shoulder damage while centre Mitch Inman is on the mend after a stomach bug.

Hill said the players were aware of the importance of the game.

"Everyone was embarrassed and angry post-game but they've had a good look at themselves and, as a result, the team's even more focused.

"I've been pleased with the way they've stuck together."

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Teams: Barba, Pritchard return

He's back ... Ben Barba is named to make his return for the Bulldogs. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

After just two games with his new club, star Sydney Roosters NRL recruit Luke O'Donnell was stood down on Tuesday following a series of minor breaches of club discipline.

O'Donnell will miss the Roosters round-four match against Parramatta on Monday night after a number of indiscretions including being late to training.

Luke Kelly (hamstring) and Ken Sio (ankle) return for the Eels.

O'Donnell joined the tricolours from Huddersfield for the 2013 season and has showed good form in the two wins over the Warriors and Brisbane.

Roosters chief operating officer of football, Brian Canavan, said the club had investigated allegations of a Kings Cross incident involving the former representative backrower but "there was nothing in it".

"It was more a matter that he was late to training and, as a seasoned player, the punishment was more heavyhanded than it might have been for a younger player," Canavan said.

"It was about drawing a line in the sand."

While O'Donnell is the major out of round four of the NRL, Brisbane's Justin Hodges and Canterbury-Bankstown pair Ben Barba and Frank Pritchard are the big ins.

Hodges returns to a Broncos side struggling for points against unbeaten Melbourne on Friday, while Barba and Pritchard reinforce the 2013 grand finalists who face South Sydney on Friday at ANZ Stadium.

Roy Asotasi returns to an extended seven-man bench for the undefeated Rabbitohs after being dumped for poor form from their high-scoring win over Penrith.

"The message is pretty simple. If you're performing well, you'll keep your spot. That's what we base all our selections on," Souths captain Michael Crocker said.

"We're really fortunate we've got good depth and we've got people pushing for positions."

Newcastle welcome back interchange centre Timana Tahu for the first time this season for Sunday's match against Canberra at Hunter Stadium.

Danny Buderus will make his starting debut after coming off the bench in the Knights' round-three thrashing of North Queensland.

Robbie Rochow will slot into the second row for the Knights to cover for the injured Beau Scott, who is sidelined with a groin injury. Chris Houston remains captain with Kurt Gidley still recovering from a calf injury.

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Manly utility Jesse Sene-Lefao has come onto the bench for the suspended Richard Fa'aoso for Thursday's game against Wests Tigers in Gosford. Fa'aoso will front the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night in an attempt to have his four-match ban for dangerous contact reduced to one.

Centre Ben Pomeroy returns from suspension for Cronulla to face St George Illawarra at Sharks Stadium on Saturday, while hooker Isaac De Gois is on a five-man bench.

Under-siege Dragons coach Steve Price has named an unchanged 17.

Gold Coast are hopeful of playing the same 17-man squad for the fourth week in a row against Penrith on Sunday with lock Ashley Harrison (concussion) looking to recover from his head clash and centre Brad Takairangi from a hamstring complaint.

The Cowboys have named an unchanged team for the clash against the Warriors in Auckland on Easter Monday.

The embattled Warriors, who have lost 11 successive games going back to last season, welcome back prop Sam Rapira and winger Glen Fisiiahi.

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We can be No.1 in two years: Arthur

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Turning point ... Mickey Arthur believes Australia will be No.1 again. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Coach Mickey Arthur insists he is the right man to lead the team forward, claiming his recent hardline approach in India will help Australia's bid to reclaim cricket's No.1 Test ranking within two years.

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Arthur described the 4-0 series whitewash in India as the toughest tour he's encountered in his coaching career.

But the South African had no regrets about suspending vice-captain Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja and James Pattinson for their failure to complete a simple homework assignment.

The axing of the quartet for the third Test in Mohali divided opinions, with former Test stars Allan Border and Mark Waugh slamming the move.

Arthur denied there were any worrying cultural problems in the side, but admitted standards had started to slip ever so slightly following the retirements of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey last summer.

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The 44-year-old said the suspensions had an immediate effect on the whole squad, with one player even dropping 10mm off his skinfolds over the next fortnight.

"If we had our time again, we would do exactly the same thing," Arthur said of the punishments.

"It was a line-in-the-sand moment and it's galvanised the team.

"We could have gone and just carried on and we would have been third in the world comfortably.

"But we don't accept that.

"We want to get ourselves to No.1 in the world and give ourselves the best possible opportunity to do that.

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"We've put some stuff in place that we think can get that team there over the next 24 months."

Arthur also scoffed at rumours that skipper Michael Clarke and Watson didn't get along.

"They are different personalities, different characters, but get on really well," Arthur said.

"Sometimes, it's a bit of a media beat-up around Watto and Pup.

"They work very well together. I haven't seen anything to dispel that."

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Arthur is contracted through to the end of the 2015 World Cup, and said he had the full backing of the Cricket Australia board despite the disastrous tour of India.

But his biggest test is yet to come, with back-to-back Ashes series sure to test Australia's development under Arthur.

"I'm under no illusions. We need to deliver and we need to deliver in the next year to really have said we've made a proper go at this job," Arthur said.

"It's actually the best time to be a coach in these tough times when you've got a young team.

"Because if you believe in those players, you'll see those players develop in front of you.

"That's going to be really rewarding for us.

"We are firmly on track for the Ashes - there's no doubt about that.

"I was always really worried about the conditions in India, especially with a group of young players.

"With the Ashes, the conditions are a lot closer to what we're comfortable with.

"Our pace bowlers will be a real factor in England, and that's a real strength of ours."

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Live blog: Socceroos v Oman

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Ready and willing ... the Socceroos are focused on Tuesday night. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

The Socceroos' clash against Oman in Sydney on Tuesday night is the key encounter in Australia's path to Brazil in 2014.

Holger Osieck's side are stuck in a battle with Iraq, Oman and Jordan for the second spot behind Japan in Group B, but a win in Sydney will set the platform for the side to control its own destiny over the final three qualifiers in June. 

Fox Sports will have all the angles covered on Tuesday night as Live coverage begins at 6.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1 HD, but if you want to have your say, enjoy a two-screen experience by following our live and interactive blog of the action.

Foxsports.com.au football editor David Weiner will be at ANZ Stadium to bring you live coverage of the clash.

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Roar stay alive, end Heart hopes

Stunner ... Thomas Broich is mobbed by his teammates after scoring. Source: DAVE HUNT / AAP

Finals footy remains in sight for the Brisbane Roar but the Melbourne Heart's top six hopes have flat-lined after going down 2-0 to the defending A-League champions at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

The Heart had to win in Brisbane to stay alive in the tight finals race but it was the Roar who looked like a side desperate for a result in front of 9,869 fans.

A spirited Roar (32 points) jumped from eighth to fifth spot on the congested A-League ladder with one regular season round left while the Heart (27pts) bowed out of the top six hunt with a whimper.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	26	17	3	6	17	54
2	Central Coast	25	14	6	5	23	48
3	Victory	26	12	5	9	2	41
4	Adelaide	25	12	4	9	3	40
5	Brisbane	26	9	5	12	2	32
6	Sydney	26	9	5	12	-8	32
7	Perth	26	9	4	13	-2	31
8	Newcastle	26	8	7	11	-12	31
9	Heart	26	8	3	15	-8	27
10	Wellington	26	7	6	13	-17	27

It added to the Heart's sorry reputation as A-League road kill.

Remarkably they have not won outside Melbourne since December 2011.

They arrived at Suncorp Stadium on a three-game losing run and were without four key players including injured Brazilian playmaker Fred.

Yet Heart coach John Aloisi was hopeful of launching an unlikely finals tilt in Brisbane thanks to their five-game unbeaten run against the Roar including 4-1 and 3-2 victories this season - albeit at AAMI Park.

But there was no denying the Roar, who drew first blood when Besart Berisha found the back of the net from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Samuel Mitchinson's clumsy challenge on Brisbane defender Ivan Franjic.

Mitch Nichols was a constant threat but it was Roar captain Thomas Broich who doubled the lead with a 25m wonder strike in the 31st minute.

Midfielder Steven Lustica also had his chances but the Roar's best scoring opportunity of the second half came through Stef Nijland who was denied by the goal-post after defying outstretched Heart 'keeper Andrew Redmayne in the 76th minute.

Despite being without key defender Jade North, who was selected for the World Cup qualifier against Oman in Sydney on Tuesday, the Roar put up a brick wall against the Heart.

Roar 'keeper Michael Theo pulled off his sole save of the match in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The Roar will learn their finals fate after they host fellow top six hopeful Sydney FC on Thursday night.

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Bulls in need of Shield miracle

Miracle ... Peter Forrest was one of the few Queensland batsmen to succeed. Source: Luke Bowden / News Limited

Queensland will need a miracle if they're to have any chance of defending their Sheffield Shield title after crashing to 7-185 at stumps on day three of the final at Bellerive.

SHEF - Blundstone Arena

22 March 2013 - Day 3, Session 3

Queensland 1st Innings

J. Hopes	23	56	0	0	41.07
N. Hauritz	0	1	0	0	0
E. Gulbis	15.4	4	39	3	2.49

The Bulls were still 234 behind the home side's first innings of 419 as their batsmen misfired on a rain-disrupted day.

Only Peter Forrest (56) and wicketkeeper Chris Hartley (36) looked like building substantial innings, but a slow Bellerive pitch meant they struggled to gather any of the momentum their side needed.

Skipper James Hopes (23no) and Nathan Hauritz (0no) will resume in what looks increasingly like a lost cause, with only a win being enough for the Bulls.

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Tasmania's attack stayed patient, dead-pitch specialist Evan Gulbis bagging 3-39, while a disastrous runout late on Sunday added to the visitors' woes.

More than two hours were lost because of rain, despite bright sunshine for most of that time.

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Players left the ground at 11.50am (AEDT) as a short but heavy shower hit Bellerive after only 14.1 overs had been bowled in the morning session.

But an apparent delay in covering the pitch meant it became wet and umpires weren't satisfied the ground was safe until 2.25pm.

"You could see the weather coming in for a couple of overs before that,'' Forrest said.

"A few of the boys said the world was going to end out there, it looked that dark and we were still trying to play cricket in it.

"I think the umpires probably should have had us off a bit earlier than that.''

It wasn't the only setback for Queensland after Joe Burns (6) was dismissed controversially.

The rising star was out to a superb low-diving effort from Tigers keeper Tim Paine, but commentators questioned whether the ball had carried and replays were inconclusive.

"If he has a look and it does show that it's bounced I'm sure that he'll obviously apologise,'' Forrest said.

"I don't think that's the way he plays the game.''

Forrest said the Bulls had not given up on the unlikely victory they need for back-to-back titles.

"I'd like to back our bowlers on that wicket with the ball going up and down to try and bowl them out and hopefully have a run chase on the last day,'' he said.

Burns' loss left the visitors 4-81 after they had resumed at 1-12 and needing to force the pace of the match.

Opener Luke Pomersbach (17) and Forrest had put on 46 before Pomersbach was bowled by Luke Butterworth (1-30), and it was 3-70 when Nathan Reardon (13) prodded at a good length delivery from Gulbis.

Australian one-day representative Forrest took 172 balls for his 56 and the Bulls were left 5-128 when he was trapped in front by Gulbis.

A sluggish attempt at a single by Hartley resulted in him being run out at 6-163 as the lights began to take effect late in the day before Gulbis had Michael Neser caught behind.

The Tigers need only a draw to claim their third title and a first state trophy for champion Ricky Ponting.

Gulbis said the Tigers were chasing victory, despite what the critics said.

"We're trying to win the game just as much as they are,'' he said.

"It makes the last two days a lot longer so it means more can happen when the wicket's probably going to be at its worst.''

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Raiders hoodoo haunts Dragons

Jarrod Croker ... shines for Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons at Canberra Stadium. Source: Ray Strange / News Limited

Canberra Raiders have continued their home ground hoodoo with a much needed 30-17 victory over St George Illawarra at Canberra Stadium on Sunday night.

5 Tries 3
Reece Robinson 31'	Brett Morris 17'
Reece Robinson 43'	Daniel Vidot 48'
Jarrod Croker 52'	Nathan Fien 65'
Sandor Earl 60'
Jarrod Croker 77'
5 Conversions 2
Jarrod Croker 32'	Jamie Soward 49'
Jarrod Croker 45'	Jamie Soward 66'
Jarrod Croker 53'
Jarrod Croker 61'
Jarrod Croker 79'
0 Field Goals 1
	Jamie Soward 40'

Brett Morris opened the scoring for the visitors, diving in the corner to catch a cross-field kick from Nathan Fien.

It took half an hour for the Raiders to score and it came from a Blake Ferguson grubber kick which was grounded by Reece Robinson.

Unlike Jamie Soward's attempted conversion, Jarrod Croker has no trouble kicking the goal to hit a two-point lead.

With the siren sounding for half time, Soward potted a field goal from 40 meters out to go into the break trailing by just one point.

The home side got the second half off with a bang, Robinson getting his second following a magical passage of play from Jack Wighton and Jarrod Croker.

Daniel Vidot scored against his old club in the 48th minute to reduce the deficit to just one point but three minutes later Croker crossed and converted his try.

Sandor Earl muscled his way across the line with 20 minutes left on the clock while Crokers goal furthered their lead 24-11.

A huge play from Trent Merrin saw Nathan Fien cross with 15 left on the clock and a Soward conversion made it seven points the difference.

Robinson sealed the Dragons fate, making a spectacular run before passing to Croker who sealed the victory.

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