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.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
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.
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.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
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!
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!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
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!
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!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
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.
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.
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