A month after retiring from his third broken neck, Pat McCabe is back on the front line for the ACT Brumbies. McCabe has moved into the Brumbies office and is taking charge of special projects, which include generating sponsorship and being part of the club's negotiations with the ACT government. McCabe took just three weeks off after his playing retirement to gather his thoughts before getting behind the desk. "It's a huge change of pace, but it's good," McCabe said. "I'm in at about 8am until about 6pm. Having a real job is pretty tough compared to being a rugby player. It's nice because I'm still talking about rugby, but I'm not hands-on so that helps with the transition. I'm not missing rugby too much now. I think that will come when I get out of the neck brace. I didn't realise a real job would be so exhausting. It's been a shock, but I'm enjoying it. It's a hell of a lot better than moping around and feeling sorry for myself." McCabe will spend up to three months in a brace. He still had a year to run on his Brumbies and ARU contracts. The Brumbies will honour the deal. ARU boss Bill Pulver has floated the idea of McCabe becoming a referee and McCabe has spoken to the ARU's referee department. "But it's not really something that interests me at this stage," McCabe said. "I love the idea of referees being former players, but it feels a bit soon to be that close to the game to be honest."
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FOSTER A RAM, NOT RAIDER?
Discarded Raiders forward Jake Foster isn't losing hope of an NRL career and is even prepared to battle his way back from Canberra suburban footy. Despite playing for the Indigenous All Stars and making the NSW Residents team for the past two years, Foster, 25, is still looking for a new NRL club. Foster has been approached by NSW Cup team the Wyong Roos, but he could even stay in Canberra because his partner has a teaching job. If so, Foster is looking at the Woden Valley Rams. He can take inspiration from a former Rams player. Manly prop Brenton Lawrence was captain-coach of Woden in 2008-09, before getting a break with the Gold Coast Titans and making his NRL debut at 26. "There's blokes who've gone away and come back like Brenton Lawrence. He debuted at 26. Now he's starting prop in one of the best teams in the comp. I still love the game. Whatever comes next year - NRL, NSW Cup or local footy - I'll just enjoy it, and if something comes up it's a bonus." Sami Sauiluma has signed with the Cronulla Sharks and Reece Robinson could announce a new Sydney club in the next few days.
RADCLIFFE'S RUN-IN WITH SIR RICHARD HADLEE
Big scalps during his cricket career included West Indian opener Desmond Haynes, Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram, England stroke-maker Allan Lamb and New Zealand captain John Wright. But Cricket ACT's latest life member, former fast bowler Murray Radcliffe, recalls his biggest run-in was against New Zealand great, Sir Richard Hadlee. Radcliffe had taken three wickets for the ACT against the touring New Zealand team when Hadlee came to the crease. The New Zealander wasn't aware though that Radcliffe had torn muscles around his ribs in his previous delivery, so Radcliffe sent down a bouncer at Hadlee from a one-step run up. "He wasn't happy. He wanted respect," Radcliffe said. Radcliffe, who went on to become a Cricket ACT administrator, was one of the first campaigners to bring the Australian cricket team to Canberra. "Cricket Australia thought I was joking when I said the Australian team should come to Canberra," Radcliffe said. "They basically laughed at me. I pushed it every year and I was extremely happy to see the Australian team come here [last year]." Australia played the West Indies at Manuka Oval to celebrate Canberra's centenary last year and will return to play South Africa in November. Radcliffe and John Meszes were inducted as Cricket ACT life members on Thursday.
JETS SIGN COACH FOR AFL CANBERRA PUSH
The Gungahlin Jets have made the first move in their bid to be part of the AFL Canberra first-grade revamp next year, signing former Queanbeyan Tigers assistant coach Adrian Pavese for the 2015 season. Pavese spent six seasons with the Tigers in the NEAFL and led Corowa Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray League last year. Pavese has stepped aside as the ACT women's coach to focus on the Jets. Australian football in Canberra will be overhauled for next year after dramas in the NEAFL. Eastlake and Ainslie will be Canberra's only representatives in the NEAFL, with Belconnen and Queanbeyan returning to AFL Canberra. The league is yet to decide on the structure of the competition, but AFL Canberra hopes both the Jets and the Molonglo Juggernauts will step up to first grade in 2015 as part of an eight-team comp. Pavese has been coaching for 23 years, has led teams to 11 grand finals and won seven premierships. "This appointment, combined with new facilities at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval and our emphasis on developing pathways for juniors into senior ranks, we continue along the path of sustainable development as a strong football club," president Rohan Wilson said.
BATTER-UP CAVALRY FANS
Reckon you can hit a 150k/mph fast ball? The Canberra Cavalry is challenging its members to attend a batting practice at The Fort in Narrabundah on October 31 and face some Cavalry pitchers. Be warned though, these guys are no slouches. Former championship-winning Cavalry pitcher John Holdzkom has been promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates MLB team and he will be a part of their play-off campaign. Holdzkom is the fourth Cavalry player to make it to "The Show", but is the first pitcher. Meanwhile, Cavalry mascot Sarge, Joshua Williams, will host a trivia night at the Queanbeyan Bowling Club on October 11 to raise money for Lifeline. Williams opened up about his battle with depression last month and wants to raise $10,000 for Lifeline to give back to the organisation that saved his life.
BRUCE HOPES TO PLAY PAIN-FREE
Versatile St Kilda defender Josh Bruce hopes being "sliced open" will allow him to play pain free for the first time in almost five years as he prepares to take the next step in his AFL career. The Canberra junior had an operation to ease shin splint pain. He has two more years left on his contract at St Kilda and made the move to the club's forward line late in the season. "I've had shin splints for about four or five years and compartment syndrome," Bruce said. "They sliced open down the shin and pulled out a lot of inflamed tissue. I should be able to run again by late October or early November." St Kilda finished at the bottom of the AFL ladder this year, winning just four games. Bruce will be out to avoid a fourth consecutive wooden spoon after also finishing last with the GWS Giants last two years. "I'm really excited about my future at the Saints and I think we illustrated that we have the potential to beat some of the best teams in the competition this year."