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.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
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!
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!
Sunday, May 11, 2014
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.
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.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
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.
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.
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