Seeing one Reid coming at you is enough. Seeing two is enough to make even the bravest quarterback weak at the knees. And that is just what the Aussie Battlers have got. A twin threat at the Defensive End position.

At 6'2" and 259 lbs, Connor Reid, the elder of the brothers, is already boasting 20 tackles and 5 sacks in just 8 games. Connor has become one of the most imposing figures in the league.

Proving how hard it is to stop him, he ran over two attempted blockers in the 27-0 victory over the Makati Red Robins to sack QB Estevan Grimm for a 6 yard loss. Late in the game, with nothing really left to play for, he did not let up. "I don't take plays off. Every down I play, it is my job to destroy the QB. First minute or last minute, I want to see the white's of their eyes."

See Connor Reid destroy the blockers and Sack Grimm

Thomas Reid is already making a name for himself, coming out from the shadow of big brother Connor, where he forced the QB into throwing the ball away on at least 5 occasions.

"It's great having your big brother on the team, especially as he is such a dominant force out there. He leaves no stone unturned during the week and on match day. He sets a great example not just to me but to the rest of the team. I would not like to be playing against him, I can tell you that!"

Connor is equally impressed by his younger brother, "He listens to his coaches, and unlike when we were young, I think he takes on board what I tell him. He is just keen to learn and improve, and I can see him doing big things in the future."

The problem as this reporter sees it, for opposing Offensive coordinators, is - who are you going to double team? Things have never looked so grim for opposing Quarterbacks.

Bart Favre'd

In an eleventh hour meeting, Bart Favre (pictured), elder brother of legendary QB Brett, and Battlers owner/general manager, GG Eden, discussed the possibility of Favre coming out of retirement after 40 years as a hardware store proprietor, for one last err first hurrah. The clandestine meeting was arranged after Favre made some praiseworthy comments recently about how great an organization the Battlers were building.

Favre even bought himself a Battlers helmet in anticipation of being signed. However, a team source has said that the meeting was very brief, with Mr Eden telling Bart to "Replace the helmet with a tool-belt and he'd have a deal."

Favre was seen storming out of the Battlers offices not long afterwards yelling, "Do you know who I am?!"

Hitting the Holes

Aussie Battlers Mark Larson has been caught in a boozy, boob filled night just hours before his team's crucial game against the Penetrators. Patrons report seeing Larson cavorting on stage with the girls, "he seemed to be enjoying himself up there, I think he got a few phone numbers that night," reported one of the witnesses.

The Battlers have refused to respond to questions posed to them about their star HB's behaviour. No doubt though that Larson, who has been performing well for the team, will be under pressure to put in a good performance against a Penetrators who are fighting for a playoff spot tonight.

Team-mates Daniel Zarko (Center) and Guards Biggen Fatt and George Patton have all recovered Mark Larson fumbles in the past four weeks of action.

Are the Battlers Unraveling?

Rumors have surfaced that prominent agent and entreprenneur, Edward Tinker, has been in secret talks with team captain Harry Hood about a move to another team. If true, this would rock the Battlers on the eve of their playoff match against the Gamecocks next week.

Tinker, who cut his teeth at the Brees-Rosenhaus Agency before embarking on his own lucrative company, confirmed the rumors, saying, "I have spoken to Harry Hood, I offered him a huge contract and I believe I will get his signature. But don't think I'm done there. I have spoken to a number of prominent Battlers players and they are all interested in coming on board to Tinker Agency."

Hood, when confronted by the media in his post-match press conference, denied the rumors, saying, "I am the team captain of the Battlers, we have a berth in the playoffs. The last thing on my mind is contractual issues and money. I love the Battlers, and am here for the long-haul. Any contractual discussions will have to wait till after we win the South East Asia Championship."

Battlers general manager, GG Eden, did not return our calls. However, we did manage to speak briefly with Battlers financial director, Delroy Donnelly, who commented, "If these rumors are true, the GLB Commissioner would be very interested in this matter. I believe there are grounds here that the league tampering laws may have been violated."

We rang Edward Tinker's offiice this evening, but he was not answering his phone. More on this story as it develops...

Roid Rage Speculation

On the eve of the Battlers playoff, back-up defensive end Scott Welsh has been arrested after destroying the car of a fan. Welsh was driving home from an intense training session with his girlfriend, playmate Amber Richards (pictured), when a fan pulled up alongside his car, commenting on how gorgeous his girlfriend was and if she could sign his chest.

According to witnesses at the scene, Welsh dragged the man, later identified as Wilson McBurver, out of his car and urinated into it. Welsh then returned to his car, fetched a lug wrench from the trunk, and proceeded to destroy the man's car. Fearing for his life, McBurver ran to a deli across the road.

Deli owner, Ravi Krishnamaharicantrisankavishnapurvi, commented on the state of McBurver, saying, "He was a very very spooking, I cannot understanding the words he come from his mouth."

As news filtered out, Battlers owner GG Eden, who was attending a healthy diet function, responded to the Welsh incident by saying, "That's what I like to hear. Welsh has been showing a lot of promise in training but has yet to push for a starting role. If he can play with the same intensity, I'll be giving him a pay raise."

Meanwhile, there is speculation in league circles that this incident could be a case of steroids abuse inside the Battlers team. A player from the Alpha Conference, speaking on the grounds of anonymity, said today, "I mean look at them, they were also-rans midway through the season, and then suddenly they go 5-2? Come on, it seems suspicious if you ask me. I'm just hoping we don't meet them in the playoffs because I don't fancy undergoing corrective plastic surgery."

In a final twist, Wilson McBurver has refused to press charges, despite the complete destruction of his car. "Are you kidding?! I'm a Battler's fan--it would be like strangling a child. That was like the thrill of my life, man. I'll be able to tell my grandchildren one day how I got beat up by a Battler!"

Rudd > Hammurabi

As playoff fervor sweeps the nation, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has expressed his support for the Aussie Battlers in their upcoming do-or-die playoff game against the Compton Cougars.

Just back from his political jaunt across Asia and the United States, Prime Minister Rudd was holding a press conference during a book-club luncheon when he offered some words for the Battlers on behalf of the nation.

"Sport is more than an Australian pasttime, it's a way of life. A cultural signifier that reverberates around the world and gives this proud nation its identity. Following along the legacy of Don Bradman, Phar Lap, and Dawn Fraser, who have put this nation on the map internationally, comes the Aussie Battlers. Let me say on behalf of all Australians, "go you good things!"

Before Rudd's speech, Bazza Battler (pictured), the team mascot, brought out a team helmet and jersey with Rudd's name embroided on the back. Rudd was so taken with the items that he continued his press conference with the items displayed and was said to have told a political aid to take them back to his office in Canberra.

The big playoff match against the Cougars will stream live throughout Australia tonight at 7pm Eastern.

Playoff Loss Outrage