Cuts » catch, Saker said. It was a bit frustrating in the dressing roo

For Trent Merrin, the goosebumps began in June.Long-time Penrith starters James Segeyaro had been let go, veteran Jamie Soward dropped, and international centres Dean Whare and Peta Hiku were sidelined for the rest of the season.They were clinging onto their spot in the NRL top eight, and much of their fate now rested in the youthful hands of 18-year-old rookie halfback Nathan Cleary.However, that didnt stop Panthers boss Phil Gould from daring his team - a roster he had torn down then rebuilt since saving the club in 2011 - to make a fairytale run to the grand final.I hear commentators say the words, In a couple of years, theyre capable of winning the premiership, Gould said at the clubs 50th-anniversary gala dinner three months ago.In a couple of years they might be ready for us. In a couple of years they might see us coming.But he told the squad there was no time like the present.If you want to dedicate yourself for the next 14 weeks to each other, to your coaches, play hard and play tough, theres no reason why we cant sneak up on them this year.And make it a real celebration to remember.Merrin, who turned his back on St George Illawarra to take up a big-money move to the foot of the Blue Mountains last summer, remembers the speech distinctly.I got goosebumps at the time because I believe it, he said ahead of Saturdays semi-final against Canberra in the nations capital.Ive been around some great teams and this is definitely one of them. Everyone keeps talking about the future, but were all looking at the present and were preparing for the present.And despite the Panthers being the youngest and most inexperienced team left of the six remaining in title contention, Merrin in unashamedly convinced they can go all the way.If they do, theyll become the first team to lift the trophy from outside the top four in 20 years.I believe we can, for sure. Ive got total belief in that and I know that everyone else in the team does too, he said.Its not about that though. Its about Canberra this week. Weve got to take it one week at a time and prepare each and every day the hardest we can. Anthony Miller Bears Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Mike Ditka Bears Jersey . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. 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Australias assistant coach, David Saker, has questioned the wisdom of an extra half hour being taken on the fourth evening at the Gabba as Australia sought in vain to wrap up victory over Pakistan.The final session was already extended to make up for earlier rain, and Australia had claimed only two wickets in the two-and-a-half-hour session when the extra half hour was granted. They still needed three wickets to win.The extra time meant the session ballooned to three hours and nine minutes, and Australia managed only one more wicket during that period, while Pakistan added 51 runs and went to stumps only 108 runs short of their monumental target of 490.The ICCs playing conditions state that the umpires may decide to play 30 minutes (a minimum of eight overs) extra time at the end of any day (other than the last day) if requested by either captain if, in the umpires opinion, it would bring about a definite result on that day. If the umpires do not believe a result can be achieved, no extra time shall be allowed.The wording of the rule suggests that Australias captain, Steven Smith, would have to have requested the extra half hour from the umpires, but Saker believed Australia might have been better off ending the days play on time and coming back fresh on the fifth afternoon.Actually I dont know what happened, Saker said. It was a bit frustrating from where we were sitting. We were quite happy to come off, as a support staff, because I thought wed done quite a bit of work and wed probably rather our fast bowlers put their feet up. We werent sure what was going on.I know the umpires and Steve were talking out there. I havent had the chance to talk to Steve about what happened. Obviously theyve just given them the half hour extra, which is allowable. I suppose with an in batter in, that probably wasnt the right decision. But a lot of people wanted the game to finish today, and the umpires are probably one of those.ddddddddddddPakistans No. 6 Asad Shafiq was well set on 77 when the extra time was taken, while No. 9 Wahab Riaz had already faced 31 deliveries. Shafiq went on to raise his century and Wahab struck a pair of sixes before he fell in the final over of the day when he edged Jackson Bird to Smith at slip.Smith was pleased to pouch the chance after earlier missing two opportunities at slip during the evening session. He gave Sarfraz Ahmed a life on 19 off Josh Hazlewoods bowling, and then missed another straightforward chance when Shafiq was on 72 and edged Mitchell Starc.Hes obviously a very good slips fielder and he has dropped two catches that hed usually catch, Saker said. It was a bit frustrating in the dressing room as well. I think he wouldnt have wanted to have been in our rooms with Darren [Lehmann] and I going off.But thats the way it is, and thats cricket. Hes usually a very safe pair of hands and then he ended up taking a pretty good one at the end, which is a pretty important wicket in the context of the game.Although Australia remain favourites and Pakistan would need to complete the highest successful run chase in Test history in order to win, they at least gave themselves a slight chance by their fighting work with the bat in the second innings. By stumps they had 8 for 382 in pursuit of 490, and already had the highest fourth-innings total in Gabba Test history.Right towards the end of the day when they were hitting some boundaries quite at will, Saker replied when asked when he began to think Pakistan had a chance of winning. The game hasnt really gone like that throughout. It sort of came into our mind. You think youre just one wicket away from breaking that. Were still in a very strong position. It has been a pretty heroic run chase so far from them. ' ' '