Kangaroos veterans Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk believe the bond between the current squad is the closest theyve ever experienced.Victory over New Zealand in Sundays Four Nations final at Anfield will see Mal Meningas side leapfrog the Kiwis and return to top in the world standings and cap off a successful first tour in charge for the Queensland great.Cronk, Thurston and Smith are all featuring in their fourth tour of the UK and despite having never been on a losing side, the trio said theyve never been part of a happier and more united squad.Not to denigrate or disrespect anything from previous teams, but this team is a special bunch of guys and Mal deserves credit for what hes brought in, Cronk told AAP.The senior players have followed what Mal says and the younger guys have really bought into it as well and were all rowing in the same direction.Meninga stated before the tour departed Australia that he valued good character above all else when he selected his squad with the likes of Semi Radradra, Greg Bird and Andrew Fifita among those overlooked following recent off-field issues.After a spiteful State of Origin series there were concerns Queensland-NSW rivalries could spill over into camp but Thurston said Meningas approach has ensured no tensions have arisen.He knows how to bring a team together, he knows how to get the best out of players and working to one common goal, Thurston told AAP.Were playing in the green and gold and theres never been a mention of Maroons or Blues, its all about the green and the gold.Hes seen the game evolve over the years and in this day and age there are so many different personalities. Some need to be loved, some need to be pushed and he knows that.But Thurston said there was a side to the coach that could still instill fear into even the most seasoned player.Hes got a presence and aura about him, he said.But Ive seen the hard side to him as well, which is not pleasant and you dont want to be on the wrong side of him.Skipper Smith is only one of eight players left from the last 24-man squad to tour the UK in 2013 and he said Meninga laid down the law in no uncertain terms when the team were in camp in PerthThings were said by Mal to the group about what he expected after the grand final when we met up, said Smith.Its not to say that previous Australia teams were not united but we are really working towards a common goal here together.So far we have achieved one goal and that was to be here in the final. Now we have one more which is to win the match on Sunday. Air Max 90 Outlet Store . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. 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"Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. DENVER -- Von Miller is back to lead Denvers devastating defense. Still undetermined is who will direct the Broncos revamped offense.Journeyman Mark Sanchez, rookie Paxton Lynch and the unheralded Trevor Siemian are in the mix at quarterback for the Broncos, who lost Brock Osweiler to free agency 48 hours after Peyton Mannings misty-eyed retirement.No team has successfully defended its Super Bowl title since the 2004 New England Patriots. The Broncos are the first team since the 2001 Baltimore Ravens to try to go back to back after losing its top two QBs.After losing the bidding duel with Houston for Osweiler, GM John Elway acquired Sanchez from the Eagles and outmaneuvered Jerry Jones to select Lynch out of Memphis in the first round of the draft.Yet, it was Siemian, the 2015 seventh-rounder with just one snap on his resume, who looked the sharpest in Denvers drama-filled offseason, putting him in prime position to upset Sanchez for the starting job.I think theyre looking each other right in the eye throughout the whole course of the offseason as far who is ahead and who is one or two, coach Gary Kubiak said.I think those two guys are right there with each other. I think its a very competitive situation. Theyre obviously ahead of our young guy just from a mental standpoint right now.Ideally, Lynch would sit a season as he adjusts to the NFL after running the spread offense in college.Both Sanchez and Siemian took the briefest of summer vacations before returning to Denver to continue their quest to take over an offense that features just four returning starters.The defense lost Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan to free agency, but returns most members of the one of the best defenses in NFL history. His defense is so devastating that Kubiak wont have to wait for the preseason games to see which of his quarterbacks is his guy.Kubiak said hell ratchet up the pressure -- easier with Miller back in uniform -- and run plenty of no-huddle over the first couple of weeks of training camp to see wholl win the job.Other things to pay attention to as the Broncos defend their title:MILLERS MILLIONS: Miller predicted peaceful contract negotiations 12 hours after spearheading Denvers 24-10 win over Carolina in the Super Bowl. Although things got testy at times and Elway refused to let Millers camp seek a trade, the sides got a deal done that they believe is a win-win. Miller ggets $70 million guaranteed and Elway gets several more seasons out of the man hes called the best player on the planet.dddddddddddd After spending more time on the dance floor than the football field over the past six months, the Broncos need Miller to be the same demolition man he was in the playoffs.MILLERS MINIONS: Two big question marks still face Denvers defense: DeMarcus Wares balky back and Aqib Talibs wounded right leg. Ware didnt participate in a single snap in the offseason as his bad back that limited him to 11 games last season acted up again. Talib said he feels fine and is full-go after recovering from a gunshot wound to his right thigh and calf last month in a shooting in Dallas. Even if he returns to his superstar level, Talib, whos had firearm incidents in the past, could face legal consequences and punishment from the NFL.NEW O-LINE: The Broncos won it all behind a patchwork offensive line that was dissembled not long after the victory parade attended by more than a million fans. Elway jettisoned right guard Louis Vasquez and let left tackle Ryan Harris and left guard Evan Mathis sign elsewhere. With Max Garcia moving to left guard and Michael Schofield to swing tackle behind free agent acquisitions Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson, only center Matt Paradis returns at his 2015 position.NEW OFFENSE: The Broncos ditched their hybrid offense when Manning retired. Expect more two tight end sets and heavy doses of hand offs to C.J. Anderson and rookie Devontae Booker, who will be running behind fullbacks Andy Janovich and Juwan Thompson. At tight end, the Broncos said farewell to Vernon Davis and Owen Daniels and brought in Garrett Graham and Henry Krieger Coble. Jeff Heuerman, who missed his rookie season with a knee injury, returns alongside veteran Virgil Green.SANDERS NEXT: Elway said he had a trio of priorities this summer: re-signing linebackers Miller and Brandon Marshall along with receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Hes 2 for 3 with Miller and Marshall (four years, $32 million) done. Sanders is entering the final season of his three-year, $15 million deal.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '