Anthony Mundine links with top US trainer Freddie Roach at famous Wildcard Gym -- Daily Telegraph

By Josh Massoud and James Phelps, The Daily Telegraph

ANTHONY Mundine will hit America next week to link with world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach in a bid to shake off cobwebs from a three-month injury lay-off.

Since his scrappy points win over Robert Medley in January, The Man has been laid low by a painful groin problem that's required surgery.

But we can reveal Mundine is booked on a flight to Los Angeles this weekend, bound for Roach's famous Wildcard Gym where boxers including Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr have all become champions.

With trademark black-rimmed glasses and spiky hair, Roach is one of the most charismatic figures in world boxing and is a four-time winner of the Trainer of the Year Award. The Parkinsons' disease sufferer previously worked with actor Mickey Rourke and his current stable includes Pacquiao and British WBA light welterweight champ Amir Khan.

Mundine has previously trained in the USA with Roy Jones Sr. It's not certain how long he will stay abroad, but it's understood The Man is still some way from a return to the ring after cancelling a planned fight in May.

He's scheduled to take on The Contender winner Garth Wood in December.

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IT'S little wonder Parramatta Eels CEO Paul Osborne survived for years as a politician, because he sure knows how to say a lot without giving anything away.

We last night contacted Osborne about yesterday's item regarding his club's interest in off-contract Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston, and the former ACT parliamentarian boxed very clever when asked if he'd spoken to the player's manager Sam Ayoub.

"I speak to Sam all the time, but I don't think much will come of it," Osborne said. "He's staying with the Cowboys, isn't he?"

All we know is that, despite Osborne's hot shoe shuffle, Parramatta are dancing closer to making Thurston an offer to rival North Queensland's $1.8 million, three-year bid.

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GREG Waddell - the teenage sensation who inked a $100,000-a-season deal with Penrith while still in school uniform - will return to rugby league this weekend.

Regarded as one of the best up-and-coming backs in rugby league, the product of St Dominic's College in Kingswood is expected to play Toyota Cup after a horror two years plagued by injury.

In 2008 Waddell busted his knee and returned only to injure his arm.

Source: dailytelegraph.com.au