Clan-Members » pensable players. "Theres no way

His team sit just behind Melbourne on the competition table, but Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson insist the Storm are still the club everyone wants to become.A week after knocking Cronulla from the top of the table, the Raiders will become just the second team in 30 years to take down league leaders in consecutive weeks if they can beat Melbourne on Monday.The Sydney Roosters are the only other team since 1986 that have defeated leaders in back-to-back weeks.In one of the most-anticipated clashes of the year, Canberra, winners of six straight, host the Storm, winners of seven straight, in a possible preview of a qualifying final.Another win for the Raiders would see them usurp the Storm as the hottest team in the NRL, but that still wont be enough for the Green Machine.Theyre very good at what they do and not only that, theyre very consistent. Thats something that were striving for, to be consistent every week, Hodgson said.Were not quite there yet, but were slowly and surely improving.In-form Hodgson also faces off against Australian captain and Dally M favourite Cameron Smith in a clash of the games premier hookers.Hodgson was just two points behind Smith, Storm halfback Cooper Cronk and Gold Coast forward Ryan James when voting went behind closed doors at the end of round 16.The English international laughed off the possibility of being in contention for one of the games highest honours, which has been taken out by backline stars for the past nine years.Smith was the last forward to claim the medal in 2006.My family used to tell me the standings, but I dont really worry too much about that, he said.I just worry about myself, churning out, working out and whatever I get off the back of that is a bonus. Its always good playing against great opposition and great people in your opposition.In a fascinating contrast of styles, Canberras league-best attack meets Melbournes league-best defence, as well as two of the competitions best exponents of Monday night football since 2007.Both teams have won more 60 per cent of their games played in the final game of the round.Raiders pivot Blake Austin is set to overcome a shoulder issue to take his place in the team, while Jordan McLean is expected to come back from an ankle injury for Melbourne after Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Felise Kaufusi were sent back to Queensland Cup.STATS THAT MATTER* Canberras 10 wins from 36 matches against Melbourne is its worst record against any opponent all-time. Melbourne won 14 consecutive matches against the Raiders from 2003 to 2009.* Melbourne is on track to become the best defensive team of the NRL era, leaking an average of just 11.5 points per game. 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Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins.CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Mark Sanchez is getting the first chance to start. Locked in a tightly contested quarterback competition with rookie Geno Smith, Sanchez got the nod on Tuesday to be under centre for the New York Jets in their preseason opener Friday night at Detroit. "Certainly, hes the incumbent," coach Rex Ryan said of Sanchez. "The competition starts off and well see how it goes from here, but it seemed like the natural thing to do." Offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg took it a step further, saying there was one clear factor in choosing Sanchez. "The first thing is, hes earned it," he said. "Hes had an outstanding training camp. The second thing is, hes been the starter here and the first game would typically be his, and hes earned it as well. Those things kind of go together." Smith, the teams second-round pick, will also get some snaps with the first-team offence against the Lions, but Ryan and Mornhinweg hadnt determined exactly how the playing time would be distributed. "Mark, this is his game," Mornhinweg said. "Hell start and go with the 1s and then we certainly would like to get Geno in just a little bit with the 1s and then hell take the 2s and well progress from there." Normally in preseason openers, starters rarely play more than two possessions. Both Ryan and Mornhinweg said there is a chance the starters could play a bit longer than usual, given the circumstances. "Well put our 1s out and well play it," Ryan said. "The preseason doesnt end after this first preseason game. Well take it through as much as possible. We said this was going to be an equal competition, and it is going to be a competition and thats exactly what it is." Sanchez, entering his fifth season, and Smith have been rotating practice days with the starters, usually switching up on every third day. Ryan had mentioned Monday that he could change up that rotation by having Smith work with the starters Tuesday, but instead kept Sanchez with the first-team offence. "Really, weve been going every two days," Ryan said, "so well kind of stay with tthat same kind of rhythm and then both guys will play in the game.dddddddddddd" For a second straight day, Sanchez was very solid. He was accurate, going 4 for 6 in team drills and zipping some long tosses to receivers in one-on-one drills. Meanwhile, Smith threw his first interception this summer -- working with the second-team offence -- in 11-on-11 team drills, getting picked off by Ellis Lankster after going nine-plus practices, including the scrimmage, without one. He finished 2 of 5 in team drills. "Geno had a terrific start to the camp," Mornhinweg said. "He has dipped just a little bit, and he has to recover. Well see how he rebounds." Ryan is eager to see how both Sanchez and Smith handle Detroits pass rush, especially with protecting the football a major point of emphasis this summer. "Thatll be a good test," Ryan said. "No question about it." ------ NOTES: Despite the Jets using CB Antonio Cromartie on kickoffs at times in practice, Ryan said that wont happen in preseason or regular-season games unless "you need to win a game." As the No. 1 cornerback, Cromartie is one of the teams most indispensable players. "Theres no way were going to use Cro back there," Ryan said. "Weve got some good returners." Ryan said hes always reminded of Jason Sehorn, a former standout defensive back for the Giants who tore his ACL and MCL in a knee while returning a kickoff in a preseason game against the Jets in 1997 and was never the same. ... WR Vidal Hazelton injured his right leg, but Ryan was not sure of the severity. He got tangled up with a cornerback in drills and went down in heap before being checked out by trainers and getting help off the field. Hazelton, who spent last season on Tennessees practice squad, has been an early standout in camp. ... TE Kellen Winslow was back on the field after getting three days of rest, but RB-KR Joe McKnight (head), WR Braylon Edwards (rest day), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring) and LB Josh Mauga (back) didnt practice. ... The Jets placed WR Marcus Davis on injured reserve a day after he was waived-injured. ' ' '