Wrap - Victorian Cricketers and Victorian Accountability Wanted

1. Love the Boxing Day Test. A magical time and always great theatre.

Peter Siddle. What a great test he has had. Dropped a sitter of a catch and then hit Warner on the arm as well. Are net sessions returning to the days when Wasim Akram used to select net bowlers to play in the national Pakistan team? Why is Siddle bowling so well in the nets to trouble the world's best opening batsman? Or are the Indians correct...crook quality of practice wickets.

Siddle is the last of Victoria's players in the national mix. I have mentioned it before, but Victoria needs to start improving. Rogers is from WA...who else have they contributed in recent times to Test cricket? Dean Jones is older than most of us now.

2. Kohli. A spoilt brat? I think he must need his ears cleaned...surely that is not the best we have for him? He plays like Javed Miandad and is equally as talented. Interesting comment from him that Australia struggles to stay calm when under pressure. I think Kohli is correct!

3. Bill Lawry's commentary. Superb. He adds a special brand of humour and quality to the Boxing Test. He hates a misfielding terrible fieldsman and is courageous to make calls when others pussyfoot around. This is what makes Warnie so entertaining too. Informed opinions. I think we could comfortably trim off Ian Healy and no one would miss him. Keep the Victorians - they make better commentators.

4. Noticed Mitchell Starc is still waiting for Shane Warne's apology...could be waiting a long time. Starc got Kallis with a ripper inswinger, but he does lack fire and aggression. Most significantly, he also lacks wickets.

5. Watched Aiden Blizzard play a killer innings the other night for the Thunder, but I also saw another Victorian hack - Andrew McDonald - "Ronnie" - try his best to lose the game as well. He leaves the ball, blocks the ball and drops catches. He is washed up and done. He should never play another game.

The Big Show's effort v the Heat was a special sort of incompetence. An underperformer, but a rich talent in the field. A bit like Ross Conlon...a great goalkicker, but....

Wrap - Crickets Chirping

1. The efforts of Warner in the Adelaide Oval test were absolutely legendary. His ability to excel under pressure time and time again - with a fair bit of luck at times - is extraordinary. He can play a fast game, but when he is playing responsibly he is at his most lethal. He just needs to learn how to shut up and not get baited.

2. Steve Smith. I have been singing his praises for a long time and he is set to be a superstar. Calm, composed and enjoys a fight for supremacy. Absolute sheer talent.

3. Michael Clarke. Not surprising that he is talking retirement. We already foreshadowed that here some time back for ODI cricket. He needs to just play tests but he needs to work hard on his recuperation. I'd like to see a bit more strength work from him. Blokes have knee reconstructions and shoulder reconstructions in league and AFL. Surely he will be back - but just not in the reduced formats of the game. He has amazing mental strength and batted wonderfully well. He is a tough hombre. perhaps life with the wife is a better option. Kids must be on the way too.

4. How about Sean Abbott? 6 for 14 against QLD who are renown fighters. The QLD coach's (Stuart Law) career,  surely is on the skids as he simply cannot produce results. They were rolled for less than 100 - as was the useless South Australian team. However, Abbott has shown his ticker and remained quiet at every turn. Professional. Wait till we see him unleash his batting prowess. The boy can play, although T20 may not be his bag. A fantastic perfromance. He will have offers from everywhere now - IPL and County cricket.

5. To the dark side...Siddle you are gone. You have been mediocre but tough for a long time. You are the Kasper...the Allan Hurst...the Hilfy...2/ 85 with two lower order scalps helps no one. Buy the DVD's of the 2013 Ashes series and enjoy them. Chris Rodgers. He is due and needs a ton or he may be wondering how it feels to bat at the Junction Oval again. They may be more patient there however. Watson too needs runs. He is a 30's expert. An underperformer on a large scale. Always has been, but he has the gold pass...the bad news is that it's turning yellow.

6. 2UE Radio Cricket Coverage. A sensational line up with Mo, Chappelli, McGrath and a host of others. Even Embers gets a run! No Kerry on the ABC is hurting them. He must be on big coin at 2GB with no cricket to call. Doesn't sound like he is having a lot of fun though.

7. Kohli. I really like this bloke's attitude. He wants to win more than most and battles till the end. Tremendous.  He may be the Indian skipper sooner than he thought. Two tons in the test...amazing and could well have won the thing for them. A superb batsman.

8. No one would believe it if there was a suggestion that the Western Sydney v Mexico World Club Challenge game was rigged. Especially if you were a ref from an imporverished nation and worried that you might not make it home.

Wrap - Ballyhoo, Malarkey and Buffoonery

1. Nearly fell over when I read that Jana Pittman has had a sperm donor to produce her second child while she studies to be a doctor and make her comeback on the track after her second marriage bust up and third knee reconstruction. Probably a delightful lady, but she would not be the sort of stable doctor most would visit.

2.  Thrilled midweek to be privy to a pitch report from Adelaide Oval centre wicket by the great GJ Dalton. If he's not courtside with Rafa or on the America's Cup yacht in the San Francisco Bay, he's at the Adelaide Oval chatting to Boof Lehamnn after breakfast. John the Bookie has a rival.

3. How pathetic are soccer players...really? The Western Sydney Wanderers need some player leadership as they call the "Windies Wracket" and plan to protest about pay and withdraw from their inevitably failed trip to Morroco for the World Club Challenge. If they beat up anything there - except their own reputations - it will be a miracle. If you can't beat Perth Glory...Barcelona, Man City..? We would be akin to playing the Soloman Islands.

4. Has anyone seen this Jack Hale from Tassie? A sprinter doing amazing times for a 18 year old. We may have someone who can be a star on a drug free world stage.

5. You've gotta laugh when you see Gallen, Watts, Mason et al in the ring. Good fitness yes, but bad for their reputations and bad for the game of rugby league. Could the game do without both of them? Maybe the NFL might be a good career.

I went to the NRL recently and had Dave Smith speak with us at length. He showed us stats (they like their data at the NRL) on the Todd Carney water bubbler ballyhoo, palarva, shennanighans, high jinks, tomfoolery, ratbaggery, buffoonery, skylarking, hoohar, caper - and the 'Rise for Alex' stats for female viewers and female reaction to the game. Carney was instantly sacked..and so will others as well. Hence the big Gallen fine. The game can't afford to keep them!

6. Worried about Shane Watson when he starts talking about 'demons' post Phil Hughes. Hopefully he can hold it together because he had plenty of those demons before Phil Hughes' passing and we can ill afford more. He may be closer to retirement than a few of us might think.

7. What about the rain on the weekend? Not good for car racing at Homebush. Whincup won the cup.

Wrap - Hugs For Hughes 63

Lads,

Phil Hughes. A tremendously sad passing of a cricketer hit in a freak accident. Not the first or the last bloke to be hit, but surely the most tragic. A bloke who was dropped more often than most. Talented, but somehow limited as a batsman too. A square cut from hell. Unbelievable power. Immense potential and always destined to play a lot of tests. Great in the field too.

I think we can all remember Andy Roberts hitting Hooksey, Ambrose nearly took Graeeeeeeeeme Wood's head off at Perth one year, we recall Geoff Lawson, Sandeep Patil...Jenner, McCosker...there are plenty of them. Bill Woodful springs to mind.

In a funny sort of a way it was often seen as 'fun'..Thommo style...to hurt a few batsmen like Tony Greig and others. Never fun if you were facing it. Suddenly no fun at all. In fact, I read with interest that Lennie Pascoe is advocating for silly batting shots to be outlawed so bowlers don't look to get more reckless...a hard argument to mount when a standard short ball hits someone playing a regulation pull/ hook shot.

It really makes Brett Lee look bad after that fiasco at Melbourne when he bowled full tilt at that Pommie journalist. And it makes that journo even more stupid than he was. Was it Ian Chappell who was fronted by that journo who said "sorry Ian, I don't think I've met you..." to which he replied..."yes, I know you. you're a dickhead".

And so it is that the number 63 will be remembered fondly for ever more.

I am not sure how young Sean Abbott bounces back. He is a cracking batsman too (even if 20/20 is not his batting go), so maybe this like others before him (eg. SR Waugh), he will retire the bowling one day and make it as a number 6 for Australia. But he too is in the prime of his life...succeeding and achieving.

The game itself will plough on. Hopefully helmet technology will improve too. In this game and in others like baseball too. Maybe a few park cricketers may pull their collective heads in and show a bit more sense at times.

Perhaps helmets may become mandatory in some competitions - or mandatory in every kit in every club - and a standard helmet style/ standard is dictated by the governing body.

Would the ICC do that between counting their cash? Is anyone listening?

Wrap - Smith Clicks

1. I think I said it a week or two back that Michael Clarke should retire from ODI's. Steve Smith was absolutely superb on Friday night. He is a special talent. His ability to improvise and crisply hit the ball is something else. Captain? Two weeks ago he was mixing the cordial! Aaron Finch needs to step up soon in the Test arena. Too talented not to figure heavilly, but I suspect he may have been branded a short form player.

Is it just me...why would you declare at 0/17..Got me beat. Surely you either declare at 0/1 or you bat on. Great to see the same corrupt spirit of Parramatta cricket prevails under their dreadful leadership as it ever did. They then got to 120 and declared...dumber...surely you bat on til lstumps and take a big lead into week two when Clarke turns up in his Porsche.

Richie Benaud or Doug Walters was their last star. Sad. They have a great knack of turning players to other clubs and states. Short odds that it rains next Saturday.

2. Is Danny Weidler's article in the Sun Herald the most boring article known to media worldwide? If he's not trumpeting SBW or the Man Mundine, he is defending Paul Gallen, his mum, his mates, his ex mates or his grandmother. Bring back a Matt Rogers tatoo story...please!

3. Reni Matieu is hard work. He belts taxi drivers and nite club bouncers. He has one of the worst off season records in the NRL. Where's Blake Ferguson when you need him?

4. Love a coach sacking and Mike Mulvey from the Brisbane Roar is the best one for a while. He won the comp last year and now he goes after six rounds! Tough markers. Must have lost the car park.

5. Dan Cullen's brother wins the Australian Golf Masters. Is this better than playing one lone Test v Bangladesh like Dan did?

6. Nick Phipps scored two tries v Ireland and needed to. His intercept was a killer moment when on the attack. The Aussies have competed, but I am seeing L's not W's!

7. I'm starting to think that we are not going near a World Cup of Soccer for some time. Our depth has been tested and we have come up empty. We are done for a few more yet and won't have to worry about the heat and sand of Qatar.

Wrap - Second Stringers

1. NZ rugby league beat the Australian team and did a good job on them really. Our forwards were too small and our lack of spark around the halves was a problem. How much did we miss Thurston? In fact..no Hayne, Slater, Scott, Tamou...a whole heap of blokes. Suddenly Steve Kearney is a legend again. He should hang around the Titans as they may call him up real soon. There is no doubt about the Kiwis...they know how to butcher an event on TV...why is their production so far behind the times? It was like watching something from the 70's. No replays and no spontaneity. Surely that botched effort in the corner late deserved a super slo-mo moment!?

2. The Australian ODI batting order needs Steve Smith in it. Clarke should bring forward his ODI retirement to this week coming and just stay in tests. Not a form thing - just a body fitness thing. Stupidity to prevail - but then again..having said this, by that measure Watson would have retired ten years ago. Smith is a winner through and through.

I was going to write that Josh Hazelwood needed to perform better or he'll be a memory...I note he got five late wickets!

Has Jackson Bird defected to Russia? What about Pattinson? Where are these blokes? Maybe on John Cougar Mellancamp's ranch.

3. Rojit Sharma. 264 in a ODI is something out of this world. It may never be beaten - ever. His hitting was exceptional and all off some 180 balls only! Some of the bowling was colour comp stuff. It was quite an extraordinary display...like the Lara score - or the South African 500 they chased down v Australia all those years ago. Massive moments in world cricket.

4. Union. Beale back in a flash...funny that. Chieka actually looks like he enjoys the game and making things rugby centric...not egos and reputations. I suspect players may well want to play for him and he may actually attract players to the game. Strategically, Folau is tied up too after the Tahs Super 15 championship this year. However, lazy forwards dropping the ball is still a curse.

5. Andy Murray. How bad is he going? He was down 0-6 and 0-5, 0-30 v Federer before getting to 1-6. No one is too concerned. He may have to be satisfied with four Bentley's not five. In contrast Federer is on fire - and Djokovic. Federer's longevity is something else.

6. Love to watch that Adelaide United coach - Gombau. He coaches with spirit. Another bloke who brings fun into the game through structured freedom. I will never forget his controversial statements when he arrived at a club rife with in-fighting and back scratching. He was overheard on FOXTV saying loudly to a team official who was trying to get a family favour..."Your son...well...he is a shit goalkeeper...shit". Love the honesty. It had to be said.

7. Did anyone see that pathetic Sepp Blatter try and smother the corruption in his sport? He is abysmal. A world game with no spine and who scrape the filfth of the world and deposit it neatly in their pocket? The famed report over the Qatar fiasco will now never be released. Don't want the lid being blown on the excess and bribery. Some should retire and join the IOC instead.

Wrap - Talent and Greed

1, 20-20 Series. Finally Australia win something. But what have they won and why is this being played? The ACB are greedy. Simple. I am now convinced Glenn Maxwell has no brains whatsoever. His talent is there, but zero brain power and totally impulsve. On the other hand, Cameron White is a much smarter cricketer now (captain?), but clearly has interpersonal issues and is on the nose. Pat Cummins is very bright and if he can stay well, he may become one of our new greats (and don't we need some).

2. Talk of Michael Clarke's demise are way off. Imagine how we would go without him. He is flashy, mouthy and irritating perhaps, but there are plenty in that boat. His press conferences are becoming that little bit more irritating with each one. Less front and more reality might help.

3. Australian Rugby League Team. Have bounced back and the game v New Zealand will be intriguing. That David Klemmer is something else. He will be outstanding and the Bulldogs will dominate soon. What about the brainsnap that is Joey Leiluia? He has no chance of being an Origin player. How that can even happen with a Samoan international is beyond me.

4. Great to see Parramatta in Seattle. For the life of me I cannot understand why you would go there in temperatures less than 10 degrees when we will start the season in plus 25 degrees...All fabulous PR, but is it the real deal or a gimmick to cover for the pending year of decline?

5. Rugby Union. What gives with Wales? It's like Papau New Guinea beating Australia in league. They can't take a trick when they play us. The Chieka era has started like the McKenzie era...hopefully it ends better. Ireland the stars v. South Africa and England are consistently narrowing the gap with the All Blacks.

6. Day-Night Cricket Tests - and day/ night Sheffield Shield/ Pura Cup fixtures. Is this stretching the goose that laid the golden egg? Every sports executive wants to get their product on at night and if they stood back and gave two cents worth of thought, the afternoon audience at the ground and on TV would rival it. The pitches are poor at night but bowlers would be keen to see it happen. The batsmen will be running away as their averages plummet.

Wrap - Western Sydney Bling

1. The Western Sydney Wanderers juggernaut rolls on! A tremendous win of gravity and steel and despite many odds. What is it with the World Game? A world of idiots and blatant cheats? This business of shining lazers in a player's eyes is outrageous. Not to mention the spitting in the face of an opponent. That grub should have been belted by a whole heap of players. A disgrace and you watch...he will slink off with no penalty. In the end little old Parramatta gets the first piece of silverware in the suburb since 1986. Nothing from rugby...nothing from league...nothing from cricket...

2. The Barbarians. How does one qualify for this gig? It reminds me of old time rugby when turnstile defence was the norm and brutal forward head clashes reigned supreme. "Winning" an exhibition match is a bit of a stretch to guage form around! The world of Michael Cheika is going to get messy eventually. No prisoners and this hard line might just upset a few precious rugby types.

3. Have the Windies made it home yet after running out of India? What a pack of clowns.

4. Australian Cricket. What is that malarkey? But for Mitchell Johnson last summer, it could have been terrible. I think deep down we know we will face this at some stage. However, how terrible is Chris Rogers to spin? Awful. Looks like he is playing French cricket. Then there is the super talented Maxwell who is a wasteful git sometimes. Throw in the benign Siddle - why does he keep getting selected and when do you ever remember him ploughing through the top order in the last five years? What of Nathan 'Doorknobs' Lyon? The worst spinning record in world cricket almost. How can the Pakis spin it and we can't? He was telling everyone the great Murali was teaching him...moneyback please ACB. Lyon needs to go. We seem to have physios, psychologists, academies, talent squads and hangers on by the dozen...we now need a few blokes who can play. A schemozzle.

Younis Khan is pretty special however. Up there with the great Javed. Is this Imran Khan playing now in this test as good as the great 'Immy'?

5. Australian RL. What gives with those horrid blue and violet jersies? Are we not still green and gold? England league would have a worse record than us at Eden Park I reckon. They are here for a holiday, not much else. Liking Samoa. It will be some sort of upset if New Zealand do not win the thing.

6. Sydney FC. That Graham Arnold has plenty of grit and determination. He makes teams look good. What a performance early with Sydney FC!

7. The San Francisco Giants. An extraordinary perfromance to win the MLB World Series. The October specialists strike. Three rings in five years is unheard of!

Wrap - Al Kebab

1. Big crowds in the Pakistan Test match! Didn't know Blatchy's Blues had made the trip. Siddle needs to go...awful figures and never seems to get wickets when we need them. Nathan Lyon could be on the skids too. He is an honest toiler, but little else. Very few wickets when we really need them. Doolan is also surely on notice. Another number 3 head case. His first innings run out was appalling.

Interesting to see the pre test hype from Clarke telling us all how great he was and how his form was the best ever...can only ever lead to disappointment. And it did.

That Ladies Stand at the UAE ground was full - did you see it?

2. Is it bad to say that in view of the outrageous self centred 'player power' in league, that the lustre of Australian league teams is fading rapidly with the fans? Are we truly that upset with a loss?

Are we also witnessing a shift in national power in rugby league where New Zealand may just be a regular winner? Is the arrival of a total Polynesian game in all countries that far away?

3. One ref in Four Nations. Fantastic...and an Englishman to boot. No crap. Cherry-Evans' defence was terrible...he needs to lift or perish at that level. We missed Thurston more than anyone else. Toovey apparently does not rate DCE...surprisingly, it seems there is a growing group who think the same of Geoff. There may need to be an investigation into that too.

4. Brett Morris to Bulldogs. They will again be awesome in 2015. Why do the good players look to go to good clubs? Meanwhile, great to see Jarryd Hayne's replacement at Parra as Reece Robinson. Can't wait to see the season memberships that this brings. Remember Jamie Lyon?

5. Asian Champions... Al Hilal had some very skilful players. Better than many of our players. Wanderers have fight. The fans are awesome. The way they rally and rejoice it is transforming our sporting landscape in Australia. The A-league fans and crowds are amazing, but tend to tail off. Handstands all round at present. The Wanderers will struggle in the UAE, but you never know...could be Al Kebabs all round.

6. Great to see Beale has been retained. The Telegraph article today with the girlfriend was a magnificent read. The extra sleep was invaluable.

7. San Francisco Giants secured a great win today. Going down to the wire in the World Series. The rest of the world are loving it, even if they were not involved.

 

 

Wrap - Playstation Gurus

1. The Hayne Plane. A huge gamble but an insurance policy of a connection with the Eels. Has a big entourage going with him. You get that bad feeling like SBW and others like 'The Man' before him. We all hope he goes well, but he is never seen with a girlfriend or close female company and this could be the undoing of him...regardless of his ambition. The USA has done that to a lot of blokes.

Basing your dream on your skill on Playstation is dangerous.

2. Phil Hughes has edged out Shane Watson as the most selfish cricketer in our country. We all knew it with his slow ODI batting, but his ability to be in a run out and stay at the crease himself through it all is staggering. Yesterday it was Chris Rodgers' turn. A loss to Pakistan A in a trial game is hardly the test prep required.

3. Link McKenzie. Will Link now have time to meet up with Di Patston?The Wallabies played strongly, spreading the ball with confidence and good hands. Sadly as soon as we kicked the ball back to the AB's (a common historical source of pain), we suffered. The dufus half back did this very poorly while under pressure....I suspect thinking a penalty goal may have been pursued...this ref - JOUBERT - outstanding! He let the game run and created a wonderful spectacle.

Why do rugby referees have so much more respect from players?

4. Jake White - that famous coaching mercenary - is girt by crap.

5. A-League. The crowds at this year's games are stunning. Their timing to pick up after the RL and AFL season is clever. Instant dearth of sport...filled! Happening right across the country.

6. Netball. That team is something else at present. 17 'test' victories in a row! Great competitors all!

7. Great to see the NRL biffing off season has started...a patron king hit (with a Roosters player close by)...when are the failed drugs tests...the DUI's...?

The Wrap - The Big Beale

1. Kurtley Beale. What a saga! The whole Ewan McKenzie thing is joke too. It is hard to fathom that the great Link would allow this to happen. The sudden resignation of this Di Patston was met with condemnation by some female sports writers too...giving them a bad name. Rebecca Wilson savaged her. What a shock it was however to read about the fact that some Wallabies have too much to say and are too precious! Stunned!

2. V8's - Bathurst. Never thought I'd ever say this, but the last five minutes of the 160 lap coverage were rivetting. Whincup on the charge...petrol nearly gone...passed in the last straight. Royal Commission pending...Mostert/ Morris...winners!

3. NSW Cricket. On fire. A cracking start to the Gillette/ McDonalds/ ING/ FAI/ Mercantile Mutual/ Ford Ranger/ Ryobi/ Matador BBQ's...This Ben Rohrer has Australian ODI rep player stamped on him...so too Ryan Carters...superb both under pressure.

4. Super League Grand Final. A win for the Nathan Brown (next NRL coach when the first bloke is sacked in 2015) by St Helens, but how about the actions of Ben Flower punching Lance Hohaia...outrageous and at least a twelve month ban after king hitting then punching him while he was knocked out and motionless. Absolutely gutless actions and should have been killed by the St Helen's forwards. Where were they?

4. San Francisco Giants leading the Cardinals 1-0. Kansas City Royals leading the Baltimore Orioles 2-0. Best of 7. Could be a show down of the 'wild card' teams...Giants v Royals. This is like 7 v 8 playing an NRL GF!

5. Federer beat Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters...There is life in him yet! Even rarer...Sam Stosur won the Japan Open. Not heavily subscribed by top players, but easy cash....

6. Swimming. What is doing there? Phelps has now cracked. Get your kids out of the sport and keep them sane. It's all that staring at a black line..it isolates, it confounds and it makes them implode ultimately...think Brooksy, Perkins, Hackett, Thorpe, Heugill, Rice, Magnussen even Leisel Jones, Hayley Lewis, Grant Kenny's wife, ...the ugly ones seem to stay sane. Think Big Red., Janelle Elford, Petria Thomas...or maybe they are media targets?...wedding breakups, childless couples, sexuality, drugs...they are in the spotlight.

7. Sad to see Nathan Blacklock meet depression head on. Always seemed like a quiet and highly talented player. He's bouncing back well!

The Wrap - Rocktober

1. GF. Souths far too strong. Their defence was brutal. Losing Sam Burgess and Ben Teo in 2015 will be huge. Glenn Stewart has made a good decision. The bulletproof strength of James Graham's head is something else. He breaks everyone else's head - except his own! Love Rusty...love Sam...but George Burgess should have received the Clive Churchill. Where were the photos of George Piggins and Rusty? (New Idea exclusive?).

2. Vettel has always been a brat - however successful. No number 1 man anymore and now he leaves Red Bull to join Ferrari. Amazing how Webber kept him there for so long. Riccardo has run laps around them all at Red Bull, but Lewis Hamilton has dominated. Who was responsible for the earthmoving equipment that has nearly killed a driver? Silliness before the race was stopped.

3. Great to see Josh Hazelwood amongst the wickets again. He is one for the future if he can stop getting injured. How about Mitchell Marsh...about to secure a permanent test spot in the Aussie team and like Shane Watson, he strains a hamstring. Really? Maybe from carrying the cash home from the useless T20 Champions league that everyone is bored stupid about. It didn't take long did it, before T20 was on the nose for the fans too. Still like watching Dave Warner's reverse sweep, however.

Noticed young Parramatta boy (now Sydney Uni Grade) - Sean Abbott - debuted for Australia in the 20-20 game v Pakistan. A great achievement from the young fellow. The opportunities for good all rounders are something else...but Henriques was overlooked and a number of others, so he has the right wraps from the right people clearly...well earned.

4. Kurtley Beale. He is a troubled soul. Nearly as troubled as a staff member who did not cover off the basic rules to all and sundry before departure. Fancy getting to this point mid flight. Amateurs all. Rugby league? He would be perfect at the Panthers as an ex- Mt Druitt lad. Gus would get him right. In the mean time, a loss to the Argies is hard to cop.

5. Major League Baseball. There are some huge shocks there - the favourites are struggling! The Kansas City Royals smashed the more fancied LA Angels, the Cardinals staged one of the great comebacks v the LA Dodgers and the Detroit Lions were conquered by the Orioles...and the San Fran Giants (the October specialists) are looking like beating the Washington Nationals.

6. Japan are set to joing the Super Rugby comp soon. SANZAR are really in more trouble than we all thought.

7. Wenger's shove of Mourinho was not hard enough for many.

The Wrap - The Culture of Success

1. The biggest question outside of how many sessions in the hyperbaric chamber Michael Ennis will fit in this week, is will George Piggins go to the GF? Or be mentioned on the (roy) dias post game! That and Isaac Luke going to the International Court of Sports Arbitration.

2. Souths look to have the edge. Powerful forwards but the Bulldogs know how to fight and win. They have a special understanding of the big occasion. Went to both games and was worried about the super seriousness of Souths pre game. Too over the top too far out from the start of the game - and they started like Parramatta in their GF v Newcastle. Bulldogs had a significant measured confidence, but were on the right level. They have Hasler's genius on their side.

Want to take you back to this from two weeks ago: The club (Parramatta) needs a new ethos and a team visit to Belmore Park to see how Des Hasler does things. You only need to walk into that joint and you can feel success.

Was that Parramatta losing the unthinkable and impossible game under pressure at the back end of a U/20's major semi? No...never. Getting close, but the difference between momentum and moment...um...um...!

3. Panthers were average (but won the NSW Cup), but part of something bigger long term. Roosters marginally better, but none as bad as the Swans! How terrible were they? They are now going to be physically harassed more and more by a lot of teams. Maybe it will toughen some of them up. An old fashioned ambush! Tippett was absolutely terrible! Longmire looks to have underestimated Hawthorn too. They did not have to scrap and fight v North and did not lift. It will haunt thenm.

4. Wallabies. Classic one win, one loss stuff. Typical rotation. No surprise. It's a rare day we win over there. There is something missing...brain power? Intensity? Maybe it is sheer talent.

5. The hardest job in the world is the radio sportscaster or journo who has done every story imaginable already. Looking forward to a week of hype and dead end stories in newspapers about things that will all be forgotten by 10.00pm next Sunday. Should be fun!

6. The motor sport rev heads are psyching up for their October fix.

The Wrap - Call A Taxi For The Refs

1. NRL. The video ref has lost the plot. This nonsense re faking high shots and trying to milk penalties is a scourge. James Graham tried. Tom Symonds tried it on. Both should then have been penalised. Simulation like soccer. Maybe we should bring back stretchers and cart them off like the Oman soccer team.

Then go to the punching rule. This is clearly worse than all the other niggle and wrestling crap. Joke.

Now we will have an outbreak of players kicking the ball at a ref on the last tackle...you watch...

2. Players yelling at refs and standing in their faces...this is OUT OF CONTROL. The 30 metre penalty will iron this out. We have given birth to a monster here. What about NFL? "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"..15 metre penalty.....we need to get a grip.

2A. Is it just me or is that black headband with the camera on the ref's head just the most ridiculous thing you have seen? A kickback from The Thunderbirds? Devo?

3. The footy however was superb. The fight and toughness was extraordinary. The patience to fight back when facing a huge deficit has never been this remarkable. Three one point semis. Outstanding. It is just from the 60 minute when the antics begin. Crowds not good enough however!

4. Minichello. Legend and retiring and I never thought I'd ever say it, but he is a liability at present under pressure. He has done some remarkably dumb things. Out of character. Think the final minute v Penrith. Think the dropped bombs. Think the terrible pass in his own in goal. Cowboys intensity was great, but a woeful start. Thurston is the best we have in the game. Class.

5. Nice to see Ennis copping some of his own medicine. Is he a good addition to a new club?

6. AFL. North were hopelessly outgunned. Sydney though will need to amp things up more. They did not need to be as aggressive or scrap. They will v Hawthorn. The Hawks were really strong. However Port were dynamic. An era of excellence awaits them.

7. This Daniel Riccardo is something else. He has been brilliant all year. No excuses or whinging either. Just excellence.

8. Liverpool seem to give others the jump every year. They then play catch up...Chelsea and Man City will fight it out.

9. Can anyone explain this NRC rugby competition with the NSW Country, Perth, Sydney Stars, Melbourne Rising...What possible use does this comp serve? It's all in the wrong order....maybe this first...Super 15 selections from this...then Wallabies? Rugby is an absolute schemozzle.

 

The Wrap - Finals Fever

1. AFL. North Melbourne have a spirit that is amazing. Always battling and never faltering. Into the Prelim Final v Swans. A huge effort for a comparative minnow. They get a week's grace, but sadly it will be no longer. The Hawks and Swans in the GF for mine.

2. Like Geelong, Manly appear to be waning. They need a clean out. I'd sooner have Matai than Watmough. Leader. However, Manly rarely lose two games in a row.

3. Souths were impressive, but turning it up at the end has shown a bit of weakness. Their 80 minute concentration has been an issue for a while. They continue to churn out big and talented outside backs who are tough - and not salary cap sponges.

Three first half blow outs for Souths, Bulldogs and Cowboys...interesting.

4. Davis Cup Tennis. Beat the Zkalathumpian team. We seem to be celebrating returning to the World Group these days (top 8 in the world), rather than winning the thing.

5. Roosters. Looked good, but met a Panthers team who were very committed. Great to see Matt Moylan doing well. He spent a lot of time working at my school two years ago and is a genuinely great lad. Down to earth, funny and sincere.

Soward was outstanding under pressure. Funny how Gus speaks of this:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/how-penrith-panthers-put-grey-days-behind-them-20140906-10dato.html

Well worth a read of this after last week's Parramatta spat.

Also, I note Hasler has extended the winning culture of the Bulldogs in finals...amazing steel at that club.

 

6. The Paul Green blue checked Cowboys shirt is very hard on the eyes. Looks like an F1 Motel curtains has been removed and put together by the seamstress who used to work at the Pizza Hut restaurants. Thurston is an immortal in waiting. He is the best we have seen since the King.

7. I noticed the commentary team very affirming of the refs this weekend. A change of tune? Tiring of the whinging across the field by all players to refs. It needs to be eliminated...and very quickly, lest the game become a farce at all levels. Yet to see a ref change his mind.

Nothing an automatic thirty metre penalty could not fix. This would sort it out real quickly.

8. Wallabies. Did it tough v Argies...However, the Link has a great record as coach. He has value added.

9. Noticed the Great White Shark has been using a chainsaw...could he have be cutting down those tall poppies of today's game...or maybe it is the Majors which always had the wood on him?

The Wrap - Parramatta Manifesto

Parramatta. The future of coach Brad Arthur needs to be looked at very closely. Sure a million players to offload, Board unrest, new this..new that. However let's look at the plain facts. The last two weeks have been appalling. A fantastic win v Manly two weeks ago and suddenly the coach, who has been lauded with much justification all season, cannot get his players excited about beating two teams lower than his on the table with a semi final place there for the taking. Abominable really.

Arthur needs to ask himself why? What has he done to bring this about - and what should he have done to have avoided it? If he can't answer these, he needs to walk away. It should be making him physically sick when he thinks about it. It speaks of rotting attitudes.

Tim Mannah is a lovely fellow, but he lacks leadership. Memo to J Hayne...talking and purpose is different too to whinging at refs. Who are the leaders in that squad? Our Pacific Island talent is magnificent, but their leadership ethic is different. It is collective and consensus driven. They need spark and inspiration from a leader...sadly Jarryd Hayne is not in the right class as a leader...and proves it most weeks. He revels in Origin where he is not that guy either. A player - magnificent...a leader, not so. Can Sandow be traded? 40-20 kicks are great things, but he leads their demise and the tension with Hayne is obvious.

The rest of us in the real world work like lackeys all week and these blokes turn up and deliver that? What do they do all week? Honestly. Spoilt brats who need to get more professional...and need to be told. The gutless nature of the sycophantic modern sport coach is a massive problem. Don't upset the senior players or you walk. Stand strong with more purpose and resolve than that...please.

Are they ever asked the hard questions: "What are you absolutely passionate about at the Parramatta Eels rugby league club?", "What difference do you see you can make?" "When you leave, what will this club and fans miss?" "When you leave, what will this club remember that you gave it?", "What will the fans say you gave them?", "What learning and ethos will you take with you from this club?". "What are our shared values, beliefs and understandings at this club? and does anyone know this?".

There is a decided lack of spirit and fight at Parramatta. No resolve. No grind. No concentration. No passion. The club needs a new ethos and a team visit to Belmore Park to see how Des Hasler does things. You only need to walk into that joint and you can feel success. Funny that. But, do we share best practice and learn...locally and not just in the expensive end of year tour to the USA?

You get the impression that we are all supposed to be doing handstands on O'Connell Street because they didn't get the spoon. Lucky the comp has ended or seemingly they could have had it soon enough.

While Brad Arthur has talent, he is inexperienced and needs more hand and more acumen with a group of lazy, underperforming blokes who should be cleansed ASAP. He also needs leaders at the club who WILL NOT TOLERATE OR ALLOW this culture to continue to be re-invented. It is entrenched. It re-invents with similar new signings...it is not going away. Why not? Who is going to reverse this? Brad Arthur? Seemingly not in the last two rounds.

The off season at Parramatta should be based on "Moneyball". A full viewing of how a club may need to strip its soul to find one.

They also need to get absolutely serious about visiting AFL clubs and finding out what it is that those clubs have that make them successful...NOT MONEY/ SPONSORS and all that crap...what is the way to the fans hearts and souls? The lazy approach they exhibit on the field? Membership numbers are a bluff...

The best clubs understand the fans. Not the crazy loons...how many games did you see at Parra Stadium this year? No seriously? They do not connect with the fan...they do not understand what a fan wants...and they are unprofessional, turning up awful work...tantamount on Saturday night to jamming their fingers in the photocopier or getting the tie caught in the shredder.

Upon retirement, a few of them may realise what terrible inconsistency and appalling work brings to one's personal life. There are very few $300,000 contracts in real life.

What about this? Two poor lower grade players attend the Parramatta Schools KO presentation AGAIN in 2014. Awful. Awful. Awful. The cream of the District's future and that is what they serve up? Gone ASAP. No leadership. The head coach...could he spare a moment or are we so obsessed by strategy, we forget what really draws kids to a club...a real club. What about one of the so called superstars? Couldn't care? Couldn't make it? No clause in the contract for that crap no doubt.

They repeatedly avoid the opportunity to inspire the next generation of stars..they DO NOT captivate or enthral, because they do not care. The ethos stinks and is at the core of so much more. Lazy. lazy. lazy...off the field and on it.

They have even stopped giving the kids party pies at this night in the past two years. This has coincided with the wooden spoon performances. A sympton of the disease that is rife in the joint. "Bloody nuisance those kids...they get in the way of our wodges of old failed contracts chokking up the caravan of mediocrity we wheel out every second week". The saved funds are no doubt in the bank account of a high profile player who has no soul or spirit of love of the club...

So where does it end? Contentment at ninth or tenth place I guess. "The self satisfied go no further".

If Brad Arthur does not want to turn into Micky Arthur, he needs to be brutally frank with the fans - and his players. He needs to state it as it is...a debacle of a conclusion to a season which had some promise. Who are the leaders? Who are local products in that team of imports and retreads? Where are the Parramatta champions...the local kids...all at Manly yet? In every year of junior footy, there is lucky to be ONE kid in the ranks...they need to look at that. Are they building champions...why not?

Have they set up a junior Academy for U/12's upwards (NOT 15's...they are playing AFL by then) ...what are they building...what is the vision for the place football wise...? When has that EVER been articulated by anyone at the place? Where are the FREE targeted Parramatta excellence camps that build future Parramatta champions (not open days for 500 silly kids)...not rep teams and all the hangers ons in crossed out old Pirtek jackets.

What will change at that place? Is there anyone there who is capable of transforming it?

AFL is coming to get league sadly...it will happen.

They need to work their players through leadership courses and truly understand what leadership really is.

In the mean time, set yourself for some more mad Monday misbehaviour...a DUI or two...an assault...an incident with a dog... filfth to a female journalist...groping someone in the local niteclub...

Gotta go and get some RIDICULOUS suit or dress up onesy for Mad Monday...for God's sake, give us a break. Des Hasler goes to work instead.

Parramatta can be a consistently great club...we all want to be part of something great...but does it have the greatness within it to make it so?

The Wrap - A Dank Rank Prank

1. Hard to believe that Manly got out of jail v Penrith today. There is spirit in that lot which will be hard to replace once retirement and other salary cap nonsense takes hold at Brookvale. Conversely everyone wants to tell you how brave Parramatta has been this year. Let's be clear here...they needed to be. The appalling waste of money at that club through reckless salaries is a disgrace...especially when the value is indexed against poor performance. It really is hard to believe that if there is a full week's preparation for a side, they thay cannot do well every week...injuries...refs...yadayada...We need players to become more professional. Simple.

2. Referee review? First rule to change is time off as soon as a try is awarded. When the try is awarded, the clock stops - every time. Secondly, if a player approaches a ref...captain or no captain...thirty metre penalty with a penalty at the end...like the AFL. If there is petulance, argument or dissent...this will make it evaporate. Nothing like free metres to make a dent in a whinger like Ennis, Hayne, Lyon, Smith....

3. Nick Kyrgios. Pretty awesome, but so raw and wasteful too. He could be good, but needs to keep a check on his ego. Good signs and bad there too. Hard to escape the spoilt rich kid syndrome around tennis players...even if Australian.

4. Will Power (good name) wins Indy Car championship. Great effort. Hard to believe that Daniel Riccardo is doing so well. After years of Webber excuses, there seems to be silence...the only noise really is champagne corks from him.

5. AFL. A loss by Sydney won't hurt them (stuff the punters though who had no idea that Franklin was not playing), but Freo will be hard to toss. Default minor premiers really. Richmond showed some great spirit and played better than they have in years. There is hope for a club that was close to being shipped to Tasmania.

It's funny how Sydney give up a major advantage at the SCG to play semis at Stadium Australia.

6. Cricket. We really struggle on flat slow tracks...even v Zimbabwe. We just do not have the bats with correct technique for that sort of play. It's about time James Faulkner did something. He is overdue big time and is VERY lucky to be even walking onto the field at present. Clarke's 68 not out off 102 deliveries needs to be questioned. He changes the tempo of the ODI side when he is in there. It regresses. He should not be playing ODI's or 20/20 games. Test captain only.

7. Let me end by saying that Stephen Dank is innocent and should be canonised; The Gazelle is misunderstood and should be in Hollywood films and Danny Wiedler should be chased by both of them with big needles and jars of crappy looking pills and made to ingest the lot. Paul Gallen can then deny he saw anything and tell everyone how he was ripped off. Good night.

Wrap - Ad Lib Softness

1. Wallabies. Can anyone explain what our team are in tracksuits until kick off - and the All Blacks are ready to play? Any team whose haka is better than our set plays will always win! The haka was better than our lineout and our scrum was appalling. The ref was the exact opposite to most Bledisloe Cups..he actually let the game flow. How disappointing are the Wallabies? They show signs of hope...then fade...then fail...

2. AFL. Geelong and the Hawks turned it on during their clash on Saturday night. An open race at this point, but Port, Freo and the Swans will be there at the end. Some critical battles to come yet. Finally Richmond are looking the goods.

3. Souths and Manly rolled over in embarrassing fashion. Still like the Roosters. They crushed the Warriors. Don't write off the Storm either. Parramatta played well and have started to throw the ball around and utilise second phase play like they did in 2009. Teams who play ad lib football will perplex the robot coaches and telegraphed plays. Defences cannot predict that style of play.

How good have St George gone since getting rid of Steve Price? Amazing!

4. Outside of Shane Watson, Michael Clarke always seems to be injured around this time of year. There is never sympathy when cricketers get injured...how would they cope in the NRL or AFL? Softness is the immediate reaction.

5. Pan Pac Games. A decidedly better quality of contest than the Commonwealth Games. Michael Phelps is phenomenal. Been back five seconds and wins gold. His records will never be beaten - especially at the Olympics.

6. The Sharks. How does a struggling club think that a herbal crapologist could lift them out of the mire into glory? Flanagan must have been asleep at the wheel. The whole ASADA mess is boring, but now we have admitted drug cheats, it gains a sinister edge. The Sharks players have all this sympathy, but who stood up to them at the time? No one. Suffer collectively and feel the pain.

Wrap - Rooted To The Bottom of The Table

1. It didn't take long...the world's most injured bloke - Shane Watson - has done it again and is out of a useless tournament in the back of Zimbabwe. Hard to believe I know. Phil 'The Plodder' Hughes comes back in and again produces an uncanny knack of being a duck or a double hundred specialist. 243 not out is good going - even if it is v South Africa A. When are Bangladesh A touring?

2. Joe Root is becoming quite the batsman v India. India though are keen to disintegrate. They have developed a great ability to lose and give up when touring abroad. Equally, the Pakistanis know how to throw away a test match. Herath for Sri Lanka is killing them. A nine for is rare gold.

3. Wallabies. Rugby lets itself down time and time again. The typical debacle of a stupid imported ref - who thinks he's bigger than the game - after butchering the game, inexplicably told the players he would not blow a penalty in the final minutes. If there is no direct impact on the momentum of the game, it should be play on...not advantage...play on!

Empty seats is hard to fathom. More at the Waratahs Super 15 final than on Saturday night. Must say that McKenzie is starting to get some outstanding results strung together. He may have beaten Eddie Jones' record already!

4. Put a line through Parramatta, Tigers, Titans and Broncos and put an asterix next to Warriors who had a dreadful loss for a top four candidate. It would be remiss of me not to point out that the Raiders and Sharks will now battle for the spoon. ASADA have been slower than John Cougar Mellancamp to put things down on record. This may save the Raiders.

Cherry Evans is fast becoming the game's most valuable player.

5. Swans. Book your Grand Final tickets immediately. They put away St Kilda in a canter but have so much depth. Their rejuvenation as a squad - big names aside - is the most impressive part of Longmire's reign. Continuous improvement. Collingwood have imploded losing to the Brissy Bears. Fair dinkum. Paul Roos is staring at a spoon too and may have to borrow the Geoff Toovey hymn book..."there has to be an investigation into this...somebody has to be accountable for this".

Liked the steel in Freo v Hawthorn. Maybe a GF win is not far away.

6. ManU are in everyone's sights now - even the unimaginable teams like Swansea. Some magic performances there again in the EPL. What a competition!

Wrap - No Bunnies

1. The might of those Souths forwards was pretty awesome v Manly. They seem to have a production line of super talented outside backs too. The SCG setting was a great idea, but bring back the Saturday afternoon 3.00pm start. Why a railway station was never built at the SCG when they put that airport train line in, I'll never know. Talk of premierships is way of the mark however. Storm and Manly will be back.

2. "Glory, glory to South Sydney...."..."Up, up Cronulla..."..."Click go the shears..."...These traditions of singing the victory song are slowly being realised by greedy CEO's. Has anyone heard from Bruno Cullen lately (Ox?)? Or from John Ribot de Beresac?

The Bulldogs are shot. Cowboys look good - especially at home. Bad loss by the Storm. Parra are over achieving and Tigers...forget it. Am liking the Panthers' defence.

3. Robbie Farah. Has he thrown all his toys out of the cot yet? YAAAAAAWWWWWWN. Axe him and let the club move on. They sure need a fresh start. They were horrible! Farah is not helping.

4. Loving this India v England Test series. Chris Broad is so hate-able, but so talented. Was wearing a stupid looking (think Michael Carberry) helmet and got pinged. He and Jimmy Anderson will go down as one of the great parings of fast bowlers for England in years to come. A great victory. India looking soft. Kohli is being found out. No wonder India wanted Anderson banned.

Has there been any announcement of any of those Indian ex-players involved in cricket corruption yet? Mmmmmmmm

5. AFL. Sydney - Port Adelaide was a cracking game again. The Swans are great to watch at present. They are killing it. Hard t obelieve Richmond are stringing a few together.

6. Juventus v A-League All Stars. Bring on the EPL next week...overdue!

Wrap - Malaysian Ticker Tape

1. Waratahs. A sensational result in a see sawing affair. At 30-29 up, there was that inevitability about a penalty and sure to rugby tradition...there it was 10 metres out and directly in front to the Crusaders. As a sad commentary on the game, the crowd was audibly willing a return penalty to NSW in the final moments of the game. Sure to rugby tradition - and in the full knowledge that the game is all about the ref's ability to discern the undescernible infringement - there it was...the winning penalty. Sad but true.

2. It's official. Australia is the best nation in world in swimming, shooting, lawn bowls and athletics. After all we are Commonwealth legends and gurus - undisputed world champions...cut up the ticker tape, dust off the words to God Save The Queen and bow to the faded print of her majesty at your local club. We're back.

3. Canberra. When will Ricky be punted? He can really lose the dressing room like no other. He may get a job looking for the lost Malaysian airliner because that is well and truly lost too. He has pretty much sent the signal that a spoon is good enough. Watch for Neil Henry to return home there.

4. Newcastle. they are a schemmozzle too. No thanks to the most injured duo in the NRL - Mullen and Gidley. Bennett cannot get out of there quick enough. However, he's happier than a dog with two dicks. Seemingly, no one else is.

5. Great to see English cricket stand up to India and refuse to yield to their whim (unlike James Sutherland and his cronies). James Anderson was exonerated and on with life we go on! There is a series to win there for the Poms. Set to be a cracker.

6. Warriors a smoky for the title. Also cannot go past Manly. Only Port, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Swans can win the AFL.

7. Interesting to see Pat Cummins has moved to the Sydney Thunder. He will be injured soon and miss the whole lot. Another great signing.

8. Sally Pearson. Good enough on the day, but no crushing time performance there. Lucky to be in the Olympic final. How about the goose coach? He lost the plot. Had the rest of them been listening he would not have gotten to Glasgow.

Sally is only crankier than Robbie Farah. Both attend smiling lessons from all reports. Ray Price runs them.

Wrap - Common Games

1. Commonwealth Games. Is this not just another track and field event and an emblem of how far removed from the Queen and England we really are? Its value is much reduced - and reduced further from our minds and hearts when the gold medals appear to be just given to everyone. Its grandeur was built on the legends of the past when they couldn't just rock up to Studgart or Instanbul for a Grand Prix athletics meet next week.

Let's count them: Chantal Newberry, Kieran Perkins, Grant Hackett, Skippy Heugil, Scott Miller, Nathan Baggeley...even Thorpie doesn't know if he's Arthur or Martha....is this what happens after too many years of lookng at a black line too early each morning?

2. Waratahs. Great effort to show steel and defence that has gotten better across the year. Have always liked the look of the South African dude in the forwards. The might of the Crusaders is phenomenal and with the skipper, McCaw back, it will be a tough climb.

Cut to the ARU offices..."now...we need a referee for the Grand Final showpiece - the first in Sydney ever...is there a useless referee who blows up penalties every two minutes when even legends of the game don't know why..have we got someone to ruin this thing on Saturday night...?

3. Manly are a club of steel. no matter what you think of them, they have ticker and rally under strong and powerful leadership on the field. Off field they are a basket case, but on it - Grand Final favourites. melbourne too are rallying. Bulldogs need some attacking options or they will perish. Don't forget they won by one or two points in four games this year. Parra look to have avoided their third successive wooden spoon, but are very limited.

Mick Potter will be axed now...McGregor to be a great choice at Saints, who have done quite well since he arrived.

4. Hawks v Swans. Great game. Swans not sharp enough and Hawks pipped them. Will be a strong tussle at the top of the AFL this year.

5. Daniel Geale. Smashed, but a classy performer. A shame, but he may be on the slippery slope out of a career.

6. Keep an eye on this Angelo Matthews, the Sri Lankan middle order bat and skipper. He has an amazing record of scoring first innngs runs. He may need to become yet another consultant for our top order.

I noticed an unusual dismissal this week in the Sri Lanka v South Africa Test in Columbo:
N, Dickwella - run out for 72 by Q.de Kock.

Wrap - Rory Story

1. The 'Rise For Alex' initiative has been extremely positive, but maybe it could extend to others similarly afflicted. Is the Rugby League Players Association more disfunctional than the Obeid family? Hard to believe that the NRL could not have got the $1 per ticket thing and then matched the lot. The corporates seem to have gotten it right. Is it care or conscience? Hopefully both.

2. Gold Coast Rugby League Club. Just to let you know that if you want to win, just announce a club review and suddenly under performing players (eg. M. Minichello, K. Gordon, D. Taylor) will lift and the club will avoid having to pay out a coach who has mediocre results, but a fat pay cheque each week.

3. Daley Cherry-Evans. Hopefully for the Eels, Brad Arthur knows him really, really well. He will be the star player of the future, but even if he was Brad Arthur's son, I doubt the Eels will be on his play list. There is a big difference between Parramatta River and Freshwater Beach.

4. England v India. A close series, but like Test cricket world wide, the crowds are terrible. The sanctimonious high ground taken by chirpy Indian cricketers when it suits them (this time v Jimmy Anderson)...mandatorily supported by the captain who is cornered by his masters who pay huge cash to him (despite the fact the courts of that country issued a warrant for his arrest). Still waiting for all the names of those Indian officials and players involved in corruption worldwide. It must be just those evil South African, New Zealanders...Those countries with those T20 competitions where Indian cricketers refuse to play.

By the way, Duminy is some sort of cricketer. Another ton on the weekend.

5. Tour de France. Great scenery and great footage, but it is so hard to believe that sport is clean. Tiny skinny blokes motoring up mountains quicker than they go down them...hard to believe. The silence on doping since Armstrong is not helping. What changes have they implemented?

6. Rory. Not since Greg Norman butchered a similar lead could anything but victory eventuate in the British Open. Is it fair to say that close victories seem to be less familiar in a British Open. Didn't like the course. You could see a neighbour's clothesline, an old car and back shed at one hole. No Masters that joint!

7. What is it with Port Adelaide. Limped to a victory v Melbourne (gallant, brave, work in progress...you know how it goes) and have lost for a month after looking world beaters. Carlton, St Kilda...surprises. Not many in AFL, but nice to know they still exist!

Wrap - Outhouse Journeymen

1. NRL Betting on your own team. Who said footballers are thick? David Williams knows a good team when he sees one...and has probably made a motza on backing Manly. Interesting to note that there was no Warriors players, no Parramatta players and definitely no Sharks players. They would never put money on themselves - they'd lose it!

Williams is very up and down. Some might say a depression sufferer one moment and the life of the party the next. The sort of bloke who does a bomb from your top balcony into the family swimming pool after being at your house for five minutes.

What penalty would Lillee and Marsh receive after their bet in 'Botham's Test' at Headingley in 1981, if it was in a modern context?

Stunning to see the arrogance of the NRL - too many English accents in their heirarchy for mine - when they announced player names - but NOT officials. Why? Something to do with the cash the game earns from gambling companies?

2. Brazil. Appalling 7-1 loss. All that is wrong and weak with soccer was on display. Lack of fight against the odds, infighting and blaming of teammates, poor refereeing, stretcher survivors, diving...the sooner the thing ends now, the better. The time lag gaps between semi finals and finals sees momentum lost. Their third place playoff loss (0-3) was no better. Coach with a gut to go and the fuzzy headed Brazillian defender, Luiz, has cut his price in half. Terrible.

3. Tom Outhouse. $4.00 on Germany...but he limit it to $25 bets. Glitzy, glossy and opportunistic...Rope a dope into something else, but at least get their $25. No irony in the fact that his live TV image has now turned into a shady caricature.

4. Cricket. Please stop the rot. The tendency by England, India and our own Australia A to go into four day games with 'all rounders' is further narrowing off the remnants of class top order batsmen. But for a Mitchell Marsh double ton, we would have bitten the dust v India A. Typical Phil Hughes 20+ score and some great batting from the keeper - Whiteman. Does anyone know what has happened to Tim Paine? He might be at the Tim Zoerher school of what could have been.

5. Cricket II. Alistair Cook. Brilliant for years and now not so. A typical Pommie display letting in 111 for the last wicket. The Trent Bridge groundsman has a death wish...a flat, dry deck for the first test of a series...outrageous when the seaming and rising decks would obliterate the Indian bats.

Great effort by Root and Anderson to wash away the Hughes-Agar world record in test cricket for the tenth wicket. Dohni will not be remembered for his astute captaincy.

6. Noticed the world's second most injured player will leave Parramatta at the end of 2014 - Willie Tonga. Bennett's exit from Newcastle puts them in a corner with the equal most injured players in the NRL - Mullen and Gidley - waning and ageing.

Parramatta were back to their awful best v Warriors. 48-0!. How predictable, without Hayne. Unfortunately their lack of discipline under pressure is horrible. No smart, intelligent leadership unfortunately. They lack brains on the field - pure and simple. Same old problem they have had for years.

7. Also noticed the Storm released Ben Roberts for next year. He still has a UK contract and must be a brilliant after dinner speaker, because his on field work is scratchy and confused at best.

8. Is Lance Franklin outstanding or what? Unbelievable goals v Carlton. Swans will be tested next week however.

9. Like what I saw of the Waratahs under pressure on an away homeground. I still have this view that the Crusaders are tougher. A good effort however to be more consistent, but can they win the thing? Maybe we might see the SFS filled for a change? An afternoon gig would suit them better than at night. The Crusaders rarely lose under lights.

10. Noticed the NRL ref Shayne, Wayne, Dwain, Laine Hayne is up to his old arrogant tricks. Will he ever learn?

Wrap - Mouthguards Never Fail

1. Luis Suarez. We admire his skill on the field but omitted him last week from the Wrap - like Carney - because of the goose element gone horribly and inexplicably wrong. Suarez is a proven racist, a biter, and a jerk....and a wonderful soccer player who happily lets down his team mates...with send off's and extended bans. He has no care or concern about this. Nothing to the power of bugger all. What about this:"I lost my balance and ended up falling on my opponent (Chiellini) At that moment, my face hit the player (Chiellini) leaving a small bruise and sharp pain in the teeth.”

 Luis you are dopey...what about the mouthguard excuse. It never fails.

Carney. He must have been some sort of entertainment package at high school. What a tool. Time to axe the idiots and get NRL into the professional world. Mick Cronin was annointed 'Champion Eel' in the same week...case closed. Reg Gasnier passes on in glory. A shame they didn't get the cash of some of these current day blokes.

Was that Ray Price whinging again? Apparently the pigeons even refuse to crap on his Parra Stadium statue.

2. Sydney Thunder. Thankfully this mob have gone beyond a glossy pre season poster and realised that when you have both Michael Clarke and Dave Warner on the roster - and they NEVER play - the fans don't like it. They have silently axed both - and in good time. Instead they bought the great Jacques Kallis. Will be OK, but based on the IPL, the best buy would be Kohli...then JP Duminy...AB de Villiers....

3. Lou Vincent. I am looking forward to hearing who the Indian crooks were - and the terribly corrupt ex-players. That country makes a great deal of others but no one from the so called "upper classes" ever seems to get pinned with offences that stick. The back scratching and back slapping hides the rank corruption that runs on unabated in elements of that glorious country. Iron it out. Lou may need a body guard or two.

4. AFL. North Melbourne came good this week after they did our punting club cash last start v Brisbane. Adelaide on a roll. Swans steamrolling ahead. Is there a more injured bloke than Kurt Tippett? He is up there with Jana Pittman.

5. Rugby. Is it time to give Super 15 the boot? Do the South African teams add anything? You can never watch their games (and often don't want to). Get rid of them, add Japan, Pacific Islands and get us on the same/ similar time zone.

6. NRL. Another weekend with no Origin stars. The Bulldogs effort was incredible. A bit sick of Michael Ennis. He is getting worse, tapping opposition blokes on the head when they make an error. He is lucky the punching rule has arrived in league. It might prolong his career.

Sharks were outstanding under pressure. Jeff Robson is a class act, although no media expert. Too boring.

7. Watched a bit of the Warney Rest of The World circus. Brett Lee's beamer at Warney was a great summary of his career. Fast but hollow and erratic.  Surprised to see Siddle and Finch playing (Warnie's mates of course) as it was a game of yesterday's heroes. Siddle looks finished. Sachin still has it. Noticed that there was no New Zealanders (Cairns? Steve Fleming?) or South Africans (Cullinan, Symcox)...

8. Nice to see Matt Ryan admit he was a rank dud at the World Cup. Time to move on however. He might not have another chance the way he keeps re-living it all.

9. Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic has lost a SEVEN Grand Slam finals: 4 x US Opens, 2 x French and 1 x Wimbledon. He has still won 6 as well. Can't see him beating Federer. If Federer wins he will be the undisputed king - the oldest winner ever. Like Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters at 40+ years of age.

Eugenie Bouchard was crushed...badly. Too many 6-0 losers in the final of the women's singles at Wimbledon (six 6-0 sets in finals in the Open era - and 6-1 has occurred 14 times in women's finals in the Open era - since 1968)...soft.

Wrap - Raw Score

1. Socceroos. DID NOT win. "Gallant, brave, young team, great achievement, top opposition..." I do not hear the word 'win'. Does a goal of the tournament make you a team of the tournament?

Our goalkeeper, Matt Ryan, was appalling. Let's call it early and loud and clear. Save the excuses. With Schwarzer, we draw with Netherlands.

Columbia look good. Just fearing the first bloke to miss a penalty kick...do you remember Escobar who was gunned down after his 1994 own goal?

2. Waratahs. Do we dare to get excited - or will it be the usual collapse? More steel, but not in the Crusader's class.

3. Souths. They can disappoint too often. Lack of backline awareness. They crunch up the middle behind the markers and get very little enterprise in their play. It is too easy to defend against...yet they have their stars out wide getting cold.

Here is a bold prediction...the team that offloads the most in the semis will win the comp. The rehearsed defences are strong, but so predictable. Enterprise and the unexpected will win. Are Souths the new Storm? They are so similar it is ridiculous.
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4. This Konrad Hurrell is something else for the Warriors. Blowing kisses after tries...he gets a lot of practice.

5. AFL. When will the limit on backwards kicking and marks over 20 metres be the new standard? I must say that if you were watching the Swans v GWS on Saturday night, at the commencement of the fourth quarter, GWS ran the wrong way...yes, no dressing it up as strategic...they fair dinkum did an U/6's and ran the wrong way. Unbelievable. Raw.

6. I'm liking this onslaught of Aussies picking up draft positions in the NFL and NBA. There is something logical about our players being no different to others in other countries - if the coaching and focus is similar. Surely our products in our country of sports obsessed folk puts us on par or above other lands?

7. England losing to Sri Lanka. That characteristic softness is rising again.

8. Need to let you know that the St Michael's U/12 footy team (my son Liam's team) completed a FIVE-peat of successive Parramatta KO wins this week. 2010 - 2014. My coaching career is over. (Hard to see it being beaten just quietly...and humbly).

Wrap - Paving The Way To Turning Up

1. State of Origin. An arm wrestle and a tight loss to QLD. Probably not a lot different to most of the past years of origin points difference wise - only that NSW won this time. There was plenty of niggle and stuff that makes mothers ban sons from playing the game. The cheap shots in tackles wears thin after a while. Felt like Dallas Donnelly and Les Boyd were playing at times.

By the way, the media know how to do a story to death. Every year there is an injury nonsense - this year it was Cherry-Evans. Next year Jana Pittman will be playing.

2. Wallabies. An impressive - and long overdue - resurgence. Can anyone explain why the Super 15 comes to a halt just as it was gathering momentum? Tests yes, but are they that important? Seemingly yes. Seems ridiculous. The 45,000 crowd however says it is important and underlines the tradition of Saturday afternoon sport - and its overdue absence - in Sydney. Last week it was the Swans...this week rugby. Nothing like not having to come home in the dead of night. The NRL is asleep.

3. I noticed Sam Stosur has again sacked her coach. Surprised coaches go anywhere near her. She looks like high maintenance, sounds like high maintenance and surprisingly, guess what...she IS high maintenance.

4. Heard a Triple M piece on the cliches of "giving full credit" for everything...your team, your coach everyone....in post match footy interviews...". Thought I'd add a few: "our forwards paved the way...established a platform for us..."; "it's easy playing behind a pack like that"; "we're a work in progress"; "we turned up today"; "all week we've been speaking about that..."; "We're taking it a game at a time...week by week"; "we don't want to get ahead of ourselves"; "We've been going from strength to strength"....on it goes.

5. Sandow. Can you afford to have him in the club. Talent, but at a price. Sometimes too high. Fancy asking a ref "how much are they paying you?"...no matter what the issue. To hell with the team.

6. GWS. Surging, but is Mick Malthouse failing to a point of the sack? In two years, GWS are meant to be a powerhouse. Good signs...but they could lose by 100 v Swans nex tweek to ground them.

7. It's all positive about the Socceroos, but no points...'gallant', 'courageous', 'brave'...Spain could ruin it all. We need to aim up.

Wrap - Chile Peppers

1. There is something about the World Game that reminds you of the 100 metre final at the Olympics. There is glitter and glam and a great spectacle, but beneath it all...there is something that seems more sinister. Like Ireland getting five LBW calls against them in the Cricket World Cup, so it is that the Socceroos got calls that underlined their unimportance in this carnival.

Ange Postocoglou it must be said was found out in the opening exchanges. Save the criticism of your 'young' team...what about yourself - an A League coach only? 2-0 after 14 minutes...hopeless. This is all new for him too. The lack of experience showed as we looked more A-League than World Cup. Our error rate and lack of intensity in defence was staggering. There was no desperation...only later did it appear. Gus Hiddinck was up to it. Our second guessing and nerves were terrible.

In the end we were respectable, but lost. Having another World Cup goal puts Tim Cahill ahead of some of the real greats of the game at that level. A legend.

Netherlands will be a test!

If I hear again that we are a "work in progress"...or this  tournament is a "building block"...I'll vomit. This is it. Be ready or go home.

2. AFL. I went to the Port v Swans game on the weekend. A cracker of the game, deserving of a semi final. A big animated crowd. Buddy Franklin was in a different post code to the rest. He was awesome. His brute strength and power killed them. The Swans swarming mid field and busy defence may have helped us in Brazil. A brilliant game.

Can you believe this? There were crazy and angry mob scenes post game when the SCG green coats tried to stop people coming OUT OF the ground (to avoid a clash with the tiny Roosters v Newcastle NRL crowd) in the members. Nothing like a scuffle between two fifty plus blokes! They are a joke organisation.

3. Rugby. The All Blacks are getting a real test from the English. Still winning mind you...

In Australia, France seemed to respond to their shellacking last start. The penalty count is still killing the game. It can never be on TV as a strong product. Too slow and too many stoppages. Nice to see an Aussie skipper get through to the eightieth minute!

3A. Timing of games. Gotta say that the AFL time off rule when the ball is not in play ultimately adds excitement. The rugby play on after the bell also adds excitement. Time stalling and time wasting in the NRL is terrible.

4. NRL. Penrith are the thieves in the night this year, winning all games when Origin stars are out of action. They are really well placed now. So too the Roosters...professional! The Eels played tough and now will need to win six more and get to 30 points for a semi birth. Easier said than done. They are over achieving...

5. Noticed Joe Root hit a double ton in the first test v Sri Lanka. No trouble and no biff. Also noticed that there is no TV coverage of their cricket - like the IPL. Is cricket outpricing itself...it seems to be full of greedy gutses who quite happily kill geese that lay golden eggs! Sangakarra continues to rake in the tons. An amazing talent and record.

6. Martin Kaymer will have to do a Greg Norman to throw away the US Open. 5 shots to the good...dominant!

7. Surprising wins to the GWS and Melbourne clubs on the weekend. The lesser lights are jumping the Essendons, St Kilda's and Brisbane's...I wonder if these clubs had any of the 30 drug takers who evaded censure under the AFL's dope (doping) policy. This needs to change.

Wrap - The Ricky

1. We now have a new phenomenon in rugby league. It is called "The Ricky".

DEFINITION: The rugged realisation and recognition of a runious and ridiculous rabble where the rotten ritten riting is regretted.

This phenomenon sweeps the mind of every trash talking, dumb, self promoting young league player whose greedy manager influences their narrow minded view of the world. When that player meets with their club management and gets a hard time from their mates, "The Ricky" is applied shamelessly amidst quiet tears and relief at a local cafe.

2. Brazil. The Aussies are going for work experience purposes only. A goal will be a miracle. A win unthinkable.

3. Sharapova. An amazing study in focus and a changing manner in press conferences has been intruiging. More humble, more relaxed and much better results. Now a five time Grand Slam winner. Her physical prowess has improved dramatically (less the grunting). Her looks remain unquestionably the best ever on the women's circuit...so says Zorba.

Watch for Nadal tonight. He is one of the absolute greats of world tennis - ever. 13 Grand Slams so far and only aged 28 years old. He equals Sampras (14) with a win at the French Open in 2014. For five in a row and nine out of the last ten. He has only ever lost ONCE at the French Open.  He also won an Olympic Gold medal in 2008. Awesome.

At a time of the greatness of Federer (17) and Djokovic (6). Intense and phenomenal under pressure. His semi final demolition of Andy Murray was something else.

4. Origin. Good to see us announcing our team after Queensland. Strategic after eight years of stupidity. Do we need Greg Bird? Tough, skilled and experienced, but an habitual loser and often the ill disciplined galloot at clutch moments.

5. Wallabies. Stunning display. Finally Link McKenzie has got a bit of rhythm and his timing to meet such a useless French team was well executed. Stephen Moore's tenure as skipper could be one of the shortest in world history of elite sport.

6. Sam Robson's defection to English cricket should send tremors through our cricket administrators...first Martin McCague, then Pattinson's brother, Darren and a couple of Hollioakes and now Sam. Legends all.

7. Ponting. Stayed too long? As soon as he started hitting pull shots to deep backward square, he was in trouble. A sure sign of slow footwork, poor technique and laziness. I've been doing it for years and know it better than most.

8. Le Bron James. He is a genuine legend of sport. His resolve and clarity of purpose post loss is incredible. Miami Heat will win the NBA Finals show thing...yet again.

Wrap - Loving Brazil

1. The State of Origin game this week just gone was a journey back to the old days. An absolute cracker. My calls of its slow demise with more support staff than players, longer camps than Vietnam, excesses and boring media stories on injured 'will he or won't he play' players....all have been exaggerated, because the game (and the result at long last) was of exceptional quality and toughness.

Not even Ricky Stuart's boring weekly Sunday Telegraph article could tarnish it.

2. The arrogance of Shayne Dwain Wayne Hayne (parents are comedians) at the end of the game to keep believing that Queensland would triumph was staggering. Only Gomersall would have done this. Bill Harrigan would have delighted in ruling the other way.

3. Waratahs. Can anyone believe that they may get into the Super 15 finals? Surely there will be a melt down or brain explosion. A tough game and great win (after many years of coming up empty) in New Zealand v The Chiefs.

4. They tell me the IPL ends this week. The Punjabbers to win. Really looking forward to seeing how many useless fat blokes with nothing better to do can cram onto the winning stage to hold onto the ridiculously oversized cheque that has already been spent on excessive salaries for so so performance.

5. Great to see the famous Sammy Soliman (Solo-man!) win a world boxing title. They do give them away like shoppa dockets - we all know that, but fancy this Felix Sturm losing to another Aussie. He is bank rolling the Aussie boxing hangers-on something fabulous. Hope Sam sees his cash before others do.

6. So Steve Price is sacked as the second NRL coach to go this season...Matt Elliott then Price. Who is next? Ricky?..great to see Brian Smith back at the Wigers..after a surprise mention last week too...you will be joining another club sooner than you think. Check your text messages.

7. Put your cash on Nadal to win a fifth straight French Open. A certainty the way he played last night. Stosur will get rolled by Sharapova. Maria not only has style, but skill in abundance. If Stosur wins a set, she will definitely lose in three.

8. I noticed Spain left out two Manchester City players from their World Cup squad. Kick them into ours...please!

Many Australians have never been near Brazil but often admire its benefits.

Wrap - Honeybadgers Don't Kick

1. Is it about time for a rethink of the structure of the NRL comp? North QLD get pumped by Canberra with four Origin stars out. I think Ricky smiled. Same with Canterbury. Unbelievably, the Tigers - who have fallen in an absolute heap - have nothing either and got done by the Broncos.

Basically, if you are not in the top eight by the end of this round, you will not get near it at all.

Is a "play everyone once" comp the best option? 15 rounds. Then two conferences based on that... State of Origin on three weekends. Then an expanded semi final comp....something has to be done to make it fair and interesting. I suspect State of Origin is tiring as a concept. Promotion - relegation is what I'd like to see.

2. Waratahs. Hitting a bit of consistency...shhhh...lest they lose the unthinkable. The Brumbies are chasing wheels down the road. Terrible.

Why do we look at results in three conferences? Is this to make local rugby franchises happy? This comp needs a longer semi final period as well.

3. Can we select more rugby players into the national Wallabies train on squad? Please, there are not enough. It cheapens the guernsey. Not to mention the cost on the rugby purse when it is already under pressure.

4. Western Force: Memo to Honeybadger. Never, ever kick. His effort from the ingoal area on Saturday night was worse than the Paul Carige drop kick all those years ago in the semi that should never ever have been lost under Brian 'Text Message' Smith.

5. AFL. Liking the effort of Port Adelaide. GWS have collapsed. Bright start early on, but now confirming they are a pack of duds. Not fit and hard enough for a full season of AFL.

6. Is the IPL the world's longest sporting contest? Talk about milking the TV rights.

7. Interesting to see Ronaldo scoring yet again for Real Madrid in the Champions League Final. He is absolutely prolific! Troubled by his fat guts however.

Wrap - Origin Sized Headaches

1. Swans continue to impress. The fight they put in at each and every contest knows no answer from most sides. Their brand of football is changing the game.

You have to give it to Gary Ablett as the Gold Coast Suns start to look good. His perseverance looks to have gained an incredible reward over and above his Brownlow Medal.

2. Waratahs. When everyone else fell over, they have positioned themselves nicely now. Can anyone genuinely believe the Cheetahs knocked over the Brumbies? A horrible loss really. The Reds have a deserved spoon now.

3. NRL. The NSW side will be interesting. Another 3-0 loss for mine. We are on old legs and have some proven losers amongst our team. Gallant and respectable, but simply not in the hunt. QLD are a  mile in front. To watch Hodges' pass between his legs on Friday night, Thurston's supreme quality and toughness and Slater's genuis that befuddled the hopeless Rabbits...they will lap us. Even poor old Ray Hadley will be supporting Queensland this year. His ex-wife won't.

For NSW, who is left? Possibly this might serve as a blessing as we get rid of the complacent and the overly familiar.

4. Hope you saw the Josh Morris trysaver v the Warriors. Those Morris twins are something else. Amazing pace and honesty when they have performed poorly. Brett was scathing after the Dragons were belted by the Eels...on himself too.

Was that Ricky Stuart spraying the referees again? (Get on them next week).

5. Arsenal. Almost lost to Hull in the FA Cup, but did enough to win Arsene Wegner a contract renewal. They may have used his head as the ball next year if he fell to the lowly Hull boys.

6. Good to see the Socceroos changing the guard. About time. There must be some happy countries to see us drawn against them!

Wrap - Deja Vu

1. Rule Changes. As you know one of my favourite stalling and defensive consolidation tactics in the NRL is when an attacking player deliberately kicks the ball dead in general play. It used to be just a tap. They then allowed the quick tap and a 'tackle zero'. It needs to now become a tap from where it was kicked and a 'tackle zero' commencement point. It needs to be put out of the game.

2. State of Origin. Mitchell Pearce. Strikes me he is the closest thing to Shane Watson in the NRL. He has had every opportunity possible and still seems to shoot himself in the foot. Yet he is always selected and is described as a "prodigious talent". His effort in Kings Cross over the weekend underlines how spoilt and privileged some players are - and how they know very few limits. Where were the mates? Talk about a NSW implosion...injuries to Jennings, Luke Lewis, Hayne, Dugan and Maloney..a possible suspension to Bird...Ferguson wiped out of the game.

3. Manly. How gutsy are they? No matter what happens they turn up and fight...usually winning.

It is all starting to unwind for the early movers - St George, Titans, Eels and Tigers. Depth is simply not there.

4. Ricky Stuart. Deja vu? Looks like Canberra are heading for the spoon to finally put Ricky's coaching career to bed. A familiar pattern: some early season hope...Ricky taking the blame...problems with the halfback (Ricky was the only good one as we know) and then an apology to the fans...maybe an open letter to members and sponsors...soon the real cards come out as retirement beckons.

5. Western Reds. A head case for so long...now some prosperity - extraordinarily given the departure of Nathan Sharpe et al. A great season result regardless of the final finish. The Crusaders still look the goods - and the Brumbies. Funny how the usual suspects just know how to get the job done each year.

6. Loved the Swans AFL Game on Friday night. Hawthorn will be hard to beat once fully stocked with their guns. Port on fire. Like Geelong too.

7. Can Adam Scott please take the No 1 mantle and put us all out of our collective misery?

8. Like this Daniel Riccardo. Tough and cheeky. Sadly, a better option than Webber.

9. Can Man City fall over tonight and gift Liverpool the premiership? An exciting competition. Made so much better with the struggle to avoid relegation - and those fighting to join the EPL. This would sharpen up the NRL big time if introduced.

10. Love witnessing a West Indies cricket blow up. Sacking captains and coaches...hard to believe they were so dominant for so long. It is a tough job trying to convince your kids that they were once a powerhouse.

Wrap - Get the Moa Out

Boys,

1. The A League GF was unbelievable. The atmosphere - once the preserve of the EPL that we only dreamed about - is now on our doorstep. The other codes should be worried. Western Sydney tried hard but folded under pressure really. Not helped by injuries and ridiculous free kicks. A great effort with a new coach on board for the Roar. Enjoy the toilet seat trophy.

2. International Rugby League. I went out there on Friday night and the one ref footy is SO much better. The over officiating we have seen is eliminated. It is a much more pure game then. The only thing we have not seen in 2014 is a 'one up - one down' touch judge decision. Shouldn't be long.

 I must say that Allianz Stadium is a terrible looking field these days. A real patchwork quilt. Tired look of chairs that look like your chalky pool furniture that has seen too much sun. The pre match entertainment - a women's footy game and a poor garage band was standard NRL excellence. We were also treated to a lap of honour of the men's and women's Australian touch football team at half time. The NRL are a shambles.

3. The game itself was excellent. Thurston is the pick of the Smith-Slater-Inglis-Cronk dynasty. He will be an immortal one day. He never flags under pressure - ever. There is no room for all of them. Loved the haka at the start. The non-playing NZ haka leaders each looked like the 2013 Origin streaker. The Dean Whare tackle on Inglis was top shelf. The great Sam Moa - best on ground easily! Slater fading. The Morris boys have sheer pace like the great Slippery Morris.

4. The Fiji v Samoan game. The crushing defence and silly kicks and flick passes...Love the enthusiasm of the crowd. It is entertaining!

The U/20 game however was a terrible advertisement for league. Small boys turning the biff on, niggle, foul mouths...everything that is ugly about the game. Please...does anyone really care about U/20 State of Origin? It simply reinforces the spoilt brat component of the game of young boys getting too much TV exposure, too much money and too much attention. The quality of the game was only so so too.

5. Benji Marshall. Saints?...sadly there is a sniff of underperformance about him before he has put a boot on.

6.Sydney FC. Who wants to apply for the most despised job in world sport? Maybe a Captain Coach? I'd like to see it make a comeback! Not since Graham Langlands or the King Wally Lewis have we been treated to such self indulgence and internal club confusion.

7. Australia back on top of world Test cricket. A great achievement, but hard to follow how this is determined. Could be a short stay if we're not careful.

8. Super 15 Rugby. Waratahs won well under pressure of their 'GF'. Thankfully for them everyone else seems to be falling over at key times too.

9. AFL. The Fish Gil is now in command. Finally an opportunity to crack down on drug cheats!

10. EPL. Man City in the box seat, but Liverpool and Chelsea will fight them all the way. A few turns ahead yet.

Wrap - When Pressed

1. Wladimir Klitschko looked absolutely nervous pre fight! Petrified that he might kill Leapai. What a phenomenal athlete. No wonder he has dominated forever on the heavyweight front. He is an intelligent, insightful speaker too. Unbelievable. As for Alex Leapai, he was out of his depth and really struggled across the bout. He took some frightful hammer. Would you do that for $1.5 million?

I got the feeling that Klitschko could have beaten Leapai and that other goose who kept interrupting the pre fight weigh in's and press conferences - at the same time. Awesome.

2. The Storm will never be keener to sign Benji Marshall than when they look at their Big League program and notice one Ben Roberts at five eight. You will never win a comp with him there and his defence is awful. Sometimes even Bellamy can't force the miracle.

3. On Parramatta, their form away from home (and at home most of the time) is terrible. Interstate it is at its worst. The effort against a desperate Cowboys was very, very poor. Willie Tonga was back to his worst. The right side defence was abomnible. Penrith are on a slide...Saints following them and the Tigers proved pretty poor as well.

Did anyone notice Ricky Stuart had a blow up in the post match press conference after getting belted by Manly. He is a supreme liability - especially when there is a loss. Loved the attitude of the Fremantle Dockers coach on Saturday who said...'no use getting fired up and upset in a press conference..that won't help anyone...we just need to keep working on the paddock and getting better'. Simple.

4. Western Sydney Wanderers. A great second year effort again to make the GF. Surely Popovic is a hot coaching target worldwide now. The referee decision not to award a penalty late in the Roar v Victory game was special. How to end your season unfairly. Kevin Muscat delivered the traditional spray...but did not deliver any silverware.

5. Glenn Maxwell is fast becoming a likely two million a year man. His form has been sensational. Gautam Ghambir may be the next Indian player to have his family home attacked with rocks. He has had more ducks than Cumberland golf course.

6. We were almost tricked into thinking the Waratahs had a GF in them. Their pathetic displays over the past month has ended that thought.

7. Marcus Ambrose putting the biff on in the NASCAR pitts. Great for TV and for the fans. Could be worth more on his next contract.

8. Love that ANZAC Day, Easter Monday footy. Great atmosphere and crowds. Is anyone getting sick of the amount of advertising/ writing on the footy field these days? Much of it is actually added by TV producers - not by groundsmen. Most of it is fake (have a close look)...it is the new Tom Waterhouse.com interruption.

10. By the way, I noticed the Ladbrokes odds are nowhere near as generous as the other providers. Maybe to pay for those silly advertisements. There is something about betting via blokes with USA accents and silly hats..Pommy mobs and the like...most blokes will only part with their cash locally...odd Australian righteousness - even when getting ripped off.

Wrap - An Archer's Bows and Arrows

1. NRL referees. It is a fair dinkum lottery. I get this feeling that they are also under massive pressure from within. Tony Archer's sell out after the split second siren decision in the Storm v St George game was phenomenal. He could quite as easily protected his staff and called on professional judgement at a clutch moment in a noisy stadium as an explanation. No wonder their collective performance is appalling. Archer has always struck me as pretty headstong and single minded. Maybe as an NRL ref there is no alternative.

How often can the NRL apologise to the Cowboys?

2. The Storm. Are we witnessing a fading star? So good for so long, but can it go on forever? No.

3. Waratahs. A strong win at home. Not sure if anyone saw this article on the future demise of rugby by 2018. Interesting. See: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/aru-has-everything-to-lose-in-super-rugby-expansion-20140418-zqvz7.html

4. Swans. Not sure if you saw their game v Freo on Saturday evening. It was a cracker. Intense, toughness at the contest. A huge performance against the Grand Finalists. Magnificent victory really. To do this every week may be beyond them.

5. Glenn Maxwell is much maligned - and with good evidence. However he is starting to become a pretty good show on his own. Our best player at the World 20-20 and setting them on fire in the IPL. Getting used to collecting the millions perhaps.

6. EPL. Chelsea's loss to Sunderland was diabolical. Swartzer in goals did not look like booking a return gig. Liverpool need to fall over to lose out now. It is in the red handbag.

7. Sydney FC should have won v Melbourne Victory squandering absolute dolly chances at key moments. The Victory surge on but Brisbane are so much better than the rest it would be an absolute upset if they did not win the thing.

8. If ever there was a clear sign that Australian Women's tennis is still light years behind the world, it was there in the Fed Cup on the weekend. Our women were soundly and thoroughly trounced by Germany. Hopeless after such promise. Stosur is more inconsistent than the first shake of the day at McDonalds.