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.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
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.
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.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Wrap - Bubba Boy
1. What about Canterbury? The Berries always look scratchy, yet they seemingly win many more of the 50 per centers than any other team.
Eels had a great win on Saturday night. The great Villi Tooonga seems set for another contract, but Hayne's late defence on SBW did the job (after he blew a certain try to himself). Good to see some toughness. Like the cut of the Peats and Norman gib. There is a mental toughness and leadership quality there. Hats off to the new coaching staff. I noticed the Ricky Stuart boring style is getting the standard boring results in Canberra.
The spoon scrapers - Titans, Tigers and Eels are suddenly making other clubs a bit nervous. North Queensland are the biggest underachievers.
2. Bubba Watson is as consistent as concrete. His display to date has been tremendous. Fred Couples is the tip of the tournament every year for a top ten finish. He hits it true - and often. The veteran is quite impressive. How good does that course look? Struggling to remember a wet day finish to that tournament. Scott - only a miracle will do him any good.
3. Swans. Going backwards and missing Jude Bolton. Possible comeback? Jack needs to step up. Only Carlton in more trouble. Saw that Paul Roos has a facial injury after cracking a rare smile when Melbourne won.
4. Sydney FC. The season from hell ended on the usual rollacoaster. A good effort to win in the end. Semi finals are a different gig and their record v Melbourne Victory is pretty good.
5. Yankees beat Red Sox in the derby. A tremendous history there, but revenge will be sought and delivered soon.
6. Waratahs. As soon as you think that they are on the roll, they deliver this... The disappointment in this mob defies belief. All the while, the Brumbies surge on...
Eels had a great win on Saturday night. The great Villi Tooonga seems set for another contract, but Hayne's late defence on SBW did the job (after he blew a certain try to himself). Good to see some toughness. Like the cut of the Peats and Norman gib. There is a mental toughness and leadership quality there. Hats off to the new coaching staff. I noticed the Ricky Stuart boring style is getting the standard boring results in Canberra.
The spoon scrapers - Titans, Tigers and Eels are suddenly making other clubs a bit nervous. North Queensland are the biggest underachievers.
2. Bubba Watson is as consistent as concrete. His display to date has been tremendous. Fred Couples is the tip of the tournament every year for a top ten finish. He hits it true - and often. The veteran is quite impressive. How good does that course look? Struggling to remember a wet day finish to that tournament. Scott - only a miracle will do him any good.
3. Swans. Going backwards and missing Jude Bolton. Possible comeback? Jack needs to step up. Only Carlton in more trouble. Saw that Paul Roos has a facial injury after cracking a rare smile when Melbourne won.
4. Sydney FC. The season from hell ended on the usual rollacoaster. A good effort to win in the end. Semi finals are a different gig and their record v Melbourne Victory is pretty good.
5. Yankees beat Red Sox in the derby. A tremendous history there, but revenge will be sought and delivered soon.
6. Waratahs. As soon as you think that they are on the roll, they deliver this... The disappointment in this mob defies belief. All the while, the Brumbies surge on...
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Wrap - Tat Tah
1. The performance of the NRL referees has hit rock bottom. The late penalty to decide games is back. The ref who claims not to have heard the hooter...the video ref who ducks out for a pie and keeps the game on auto pilot...whistle happy...video ref happy and a ref in charge of the whole show. That is the problem.
Semi Radradra is carving them up still. A Parra win away is like a win on a scratchie...impossible. A bit like having an NRL game without Steve Matai causing a stink. Impossible.
2. Can someone please tell Paul Green - the Cowboys coach - that his blue check shirt on game day is terrible and the hotel wants their curtains back. Get rid of it Paul. It has been unlucky.
3. Interesting to see the National Women's Soccer Coach of the Matilda's under the pump the week after Elise Perry is forced to make a choice. Typical appointment in soccer - an overseas person with no idea. Ask rugby and cricket how that daft experiment went.
4. 3 million for Benji Marshall? Take it Benji...the Tigers have moved on and the Blues are in the land of regret. Tigers look strong, but Tedesco needs to work on his body in the gym. He is fast becoming the NRL's Pat Cummins/ Van Persie/ Kawahja injury expert.
5. The Waratahs had a great win in South Africa over the weekend. Even without Folau who copped a saucepan to the throat Mad Max style.
6. 20-20 World Cup. The prestige and glamour of winning this cup is like winning the world sevens tournament. India's Kohli is prolific. His bat speed is phenomenal.
7. Finally GWS may be starting to improve - albeit over the hapless Melbourne Demons (How certain is Roos of his future?). Interesting that since Sheedy has gone, GWS have started to improve more significantly...coincidence?
8. Perhaps it is possible that the A league competition may end soon. It is a LOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGGG season. Brisbane a mile in front and playing an exceptional style of football. However the ever plucky Central Coast Mariners or Western Sydney Wanderers are ready to pounce. Sydney FC look to be making up the numbers and will be lucky to make the semis.
9. Loving the EPL season end...Manchester City look the goods. A draw or loss at this time of the season will be catastrophic for them, Liverpool or Chelsea. ManU finally hitting some form again...but too late.
Semi Radradra is carving them up still. A Parra win away is like a win on a scratchie...impossible. A bit like having an NRL game without Steve Matai causing a stink. Impossible.
2. Can someone please tell Paul Green - the Cowboys coach - that his blue check shirt on game day is terrible and the hotel wants their curtains back. Get rid of it Paul. It has been unlucky.
3. Interesting to see the National Women's Soccer Coach of the Matilda's under the pump the week after Elise Perry is forced to make a choice. Typical appointment in soccer - an overseas person with no idea. Ask rugby and cricket how that daft experiment went.
4. 3 million for Benji Marshall? Take it Benji...the Tigers have moved on and the Blues are in the land of regret. Tigers look strong, but Tedesco needs to work on his body in the gym. He is fast becoming the NRL's Pat Cummins/ Van Persie/ Kawahja injury expert.
5. The Waratahs had a great win in South Africa over the weekend. Even without Folau who copped a saucepan to the throat Mad Max style.
6. 20-20 World Cup. The prestige and glamour of winning this cup is like winning the world sevens tournament. India's Kohli is prolific. His bat speed is phenomenal.
7. Finally GWS may be starting to improve - albeit over the hapless Melbourne Demons (How certain is Roos of his future?). Interesting that since Sheedy has gone, GWS have started to improve more significantly...coincidence?
8. Perhaps it is possible that the A league competition may end soon. It is a LOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGGG season. Brisbane a mile in front and playing an exceptional style of football. However the ever plucky Central Coast Mariners or Western Sydney Wanderers are ready to pounce. Sydney FC look to be making up the numbers and will be lucky to make the semis.
9. Loving the EPL season end...Manchester City look the goods. A draw or loss at this time of the season will be catastrophic for them, Liverpool or Chelsea. ManU finally hitting some form again...but too late.
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