The Wrap - Tom Blabhorse.com

1. The disgraceful front page - and back page - performance by The Daily Telegraph on Friday 26/4/13 with the death of Jon Mannah and their effort to sensationalise it all and link it to peptides defies belief. They need to be slammed and shamed. No journalist was even prepared to put their name to this pathetic piece. The family were justifiably shattered and embarrassed. The Mannahs are a deeply religious and quiet family of good people going through a lot of grief. Tim Mannah has shown a lot of ticker and composure around his brother's passing and has stood up.

I wonder whether we will get the same style of article on the recent passing of a journalist known to many of the boys on The Wrap - Rod Allen. Of course not - and hopefully not - but you get the point. It is always someone's brother, son, friend and husband/ partner. There are boundaries - especially when there is speculation and no proof...just the ruminations of some independent report. There seems a keen determination to fit a square peg into a round hole. The thought of someone - presumably from the Cronulla club - leaking this to the media is deflating. That club needs a makeover.

2. Steve Matai. This bloke needs to meet Jim Comans. He has an appalling record for foul play and his hit on George Burgess should rub him out for an extended period. Ok, not reckless..probably careless (off the ball), but how many more? He also vanished and did not touch the ball after later hitting Sam Burgess with an unpunished shoulder charge (!). He did not cover himself with glory...everytime he got the ball he passed it after that point. He needs to be spelled from the game and Manly need to promote younger more talented players. Send him away, we've had enough.

3. Jamie Lyon. Ran away from Parramatta, Man of Aluminium in the UK, refuses to play tough for NSW Origin and spends every moment on the field whinging and whining. He leads a team who niggle and play dirty when they are not winning. Manly are getting tired and cranky and deserved to be smacked hard on Friday night. Lyon is a hated man unfortunately. Richard Fa'osa is a grub as well. He needs a suspension of length to learn the lesson. Has played at more clubs than Slim Dusty and was the one who escaped significant punsihment for his hit on Ashley Harrison earlier this year.

4. Great to see the NRL pack out Allianz for the ANZAC club game - and Brookvale - and the Melbourne stadium...that CEO Dave Smith has got it all worked out. Never been a better operator.
However, this shoulder charge rule is going to plague the game. Determined by the board of the NRL...and now saving tries cannot involve a shoulder...strange days.

5. It took all of two days before Ryan Harris fell in an injured heap again. Chad Sayers is the man to be selected in his place. Led the Shield as biggest wicket taker and plays hard. From Sth Australia so has had plenty of time to perfect the art of bowling and a lot of other things.

6. Noticed Shane Watson is back bowling and hitting runs in the IPL. Amazing what cash does to someone. By the way, I cannot see that Glenn Maxwell has played any IPL games so far. His $1 million looks like a mirage at this point. Like his Test career.

7. Tom Waterhouse.com. Sounds like Singo might have been stitched up by some mates - or Tom Waterhouse is about to get his Fine Cotton family moment. Tom of course would never lie...he seems well versed in the truth and the way to manoeuvre within its bounds.

More Joyous has been a great performer, but probably like Singo, its best days are past. I'm sure Gai couldn't give a fat rats if he took all his horses. There are plenty more where those came from.

8. Liking the style of Geelong in this year's AFL. But what about the Richmond goal umpire travesty. A video review system? Farcical.