Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has renewed calls for superstar playmaker Johnathan Thurston to be offered better protection by referees.Thurston was collared early in a high tackle by Kiwis enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in Australias 26-6 in Perth on Saturday.The Australian five-eighth was smashed soon after in a borderline tackle by Martin Taupau.North Queensland coach Paul Green has been at pains to point out questionable tactics used in targeting his premiership-winning pivot.And Meninga has brought the issue to a head again ahead of the Four Nations starting later this month.He is the best player in the game and he is always going to have a target on him, Meninga said.Every game he plays he knows he is going to cop it left, right and centre in club footy, Origin or Test footy but he just gets up.Thats why he is such a champion player.More than anything else he is such a tough player.Former Queensland coach Meninga did question the legality, or otherwise, of tactics opposition sides employed to shut down Thurston.As long as it is within the legitimate rules of the game, he said.I think Jareds tackle should have been put on report.He is OK, JT, but it has to be within the rules.He is as tough and resilient as they come.Skipper Cameron Smith said the Kangaroos were moving in the right direction under Meninga.Their 26-6 win, followed up a 16-0 defeat of the Kiwis in Newcastle in March in Meningas first match in charge.We have set a standard now, we dont want to go back on, Smith said.We have made two good steps forward.We were better than we were in Newcastle and now we have to continue to build on that.Josh Gray Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Jahlil Okafor Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Lonzo-Ball-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Zion Williamson Pelicans Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Jaxson Hayes Jersey .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore.The Toronto Maple Leafs organizations centennial anniversary no doubt will be a glorious celebration of the game of hockey. The bright, young talent that has taken over the team will be on display and will give a glimpse of whats to come. The odds are against the Leafs earning a postseason berth, however, but the arrival of Auston Matthews, last Junes No. 1 overall selection in the NHL draft, already has Toronto fans revved up.While the Maple Leafs and the NHL will honor the past, it will be a great season to look toward the future in Toronto. Theres a lot to be excited about. It might take a few more years, but the dawn of a new era has arrived. The Toronto Arenas won the first Stanley Cup during the 1917-18 season. Maybe history will repeat itself 100 years later. But before we get ahead of ourselves, lets focus on the upcoming season.Best new facesMatthews, 19, is the fresh face of the future. The kid from Scottsdale, Arizona, proved his worth for Team USA at the World Championship last May and again for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey. Hes big, strong and extremely talented. Hes smooth, and comfortable in his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. And his No. 34 Maple Leafs jersey is flying off shelves in Toronto. Theres so much to like about this kid, and Toronto should be a perfect fit.Theres more to like about Torontos ongoing rebuilding process than just A-Matts (Im sure hes being called Matty, but I like A-Matts better -- just saying). Anyway, the Maple Leafs added veteran forward Matt Martin during the offseason. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder will add strength and grit to the Toronto lineup. The Maple Leafs also added defenseman Roman Polak along with goalie Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth.Biggest unknownsThe biggest unknown is how Matthews game will translate at the NHL level. Playing pro in the Swiss Elite League last season, when he registered 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 36 games for Zurich SC, was a good starting point. Plus, his contributions at the World Championship and the World Cup make it appear likely that his transition to the NHL shouldd be relatively seamless.dddddddddddd. But lets not put this kid in the Hall of Fame just yet. He will have his growing pains, as all rookies do. He will be under a microscope in Toronto and expected to contribute right away. Fortunately, he seems built to handle the pressure.?Goaltending has been an issue for the Maple Leafs, so thats why the organization added Andersen and Enroth. The No. 1 spot could go to Andersen, but hell quickly learn that Toronto is a long way from the Anaheim Ducks. The 27-year-old will see a lot more action now than he ever did, and it might take him a while to get used to seeing so much rubber. Enroth, 28, has served mostly as a backup in his NHL career, and that will be the same in Toronto.Which?Morgan Rielly?will show up? This is a big season for the developing 22-year-old defenseman. It will be his fourth full season in the NHL, and he needs to contribute more offensively, especially on the power play.Sure thingsEven though William Nylander, 20, has only 22 games of NHL experience from a season ago, upper management knew he was ready even before he made his debut. He had six goals and seven assists for 13 points during those 22 games, but he showed high-end skill and a strong enough hockey sense to make everyone believe hes the real deal. While all eyes will be on Matthews, keep a close look on Nylander as the favorite to win the Calder Trophy (the rule states a player can have no more than 25 NHL games under his belt to still be considered a rookie).Im not sure you can consider Nazem Kadri as a sure thing -- but hes making improvements. The 25-year-old top-line center had 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points last season, and hell need to boost those numbers in 2016-17. He needs to become a leader on and off the ice for the younger players on the team.PredictionThe Maple Leafs will make strides again this season but ... . The organizations continued progression will be fun to watch, though. Eighth in the Atlantic. ' ' '