The Wrap - A Peloton of Fools

1. Is there a more powerful instrument than the media for making a goose of someone? Mal Meninga has had a bad brain snap. Can't disagree with the right to bag them, but it was a poor call. Bagging the press amounts to nil. They always have the last word. Bagging everyone, he'll get a start on The Wrap soon.

2. NRL. Starting to see the champions rising. Melbourne will be hard to toss. Slater is the best fullback of our time. His resilience is unbelievable for a small bloke. V. Tough, but advertising Suzuki products will not help his cause. Duffie is something special too.

Manly are firing too with both teams having very few injuries at this stage. It can change quickly. Broncos will be there at the end too. Dragons favourites. Tigers still dangerous for mine but a number consigned to the dustbin (Titans, Roosters, Canberra, Eels, Dogs, Bunnies, Knights even). Injuries can change things big time. eg. Thurston.

3. Parramatta. The performance at Penrith defies belief. This comes after the capitulation a few weeks ago against Manly. They are simply a lazy football side. They do not compete for each other, rather leaving it for others. The kick inside..if you get a look at it, Moi Moi, Morgan and others...all walking. Next year they will be heaps better - a team of all highly focused and highly committed Pacific Islanders (Hayne, Uaisele, Loko,W. Tonga, E.Tonga, Roberts, Moi Moi, Lasalo, Horo, Maitua) plus Mannah and Sandow.

The performance of Jarrod Maxwell (looks like Tim the Toolman) with time off with a second to go is one of the worst home town decisions we have seen in a long, long time. Surely this was out of line but he seems to be getting defended as usual.

4. AFL. Collingwood too good. Richmond are finished too. They are the AFL Parramatta, this time losing to the Gold Coast who were down by about 50 at one stage. Third win for Gold Coast is extraordinary. Swans will be lucky to make the eight. Their SCG form is poor.

5. Despite rumours, I have not been hacking the phones of NRL and Super 15 coaches....Brumbies' Andy Friend, Matthew Elliott, Kevin Moore. All gone. I am hearing Steve Kearney is not safe after June/ July next year if he doesn't make some changes to the team's toughness under pressure.

6. As rare as an honest snow report from Thredbo (even the bloody sun is brighter than normal - and of course, more snow is expected THIS weekend...of was that NEXT weekend. It does not snow mid week of course), Samoa had a Rugby victory, but is this not the best demonstration of the arrogance of Robbie Deans/ Wallabies? No respect for the opposition and a squad of 40 blokes!!! 40 blokes...sounds like a wedding, not a rugby team.

7. Why is the British Open so boring on television? Sounds like the Ashes cricket coverage when they had one camera from one end. Appalling.

8. Is Cadel Evans slipping into a permanent third or fourth spot? When it is all said and done, he is a long way off the pace in bicycling parlance. The performance of the French film crew's car swerving into the peloton was magnificent!