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.