Wrap - One Legged Barbers

1. Australian NRL Team. Slater's selection is intriguing granted he has not played for weeks. Thought Hodges was hardly done by, but he is now so injury prone it is probably understandable. Interesting to see Dugan on the wing. Will Chambers? Solid, but Australia's best...please... Surprising Ryan Morgan wasn't picked. The rest pretty predictable.

The most in form forward in the comp at present is Jack de Belin (St George). He has a haircut only Robbo could fix. Not in a City-Country team either. From a team so dominant in defence so early, there are only two players - Dugan and Merrin. Hard to believe, but plenty of Poms and NZers!

When a club starts talking about season 2016 already it has massive problems. "Be where you are".

2. Swans and Hawthorn. Both teams lost this weekend after giving up ridiculous big leads. However both fought and clawed back to almost clinch it. Very exciting footy. The Swans are making this a troubling habit. Their starts have been pretty bad really. Having said that, Port and Freo will be there when the whips are cracking too. Sparkling.

GWS continue to shine. A coach in strife is easy to spot and you have to feel for Rodney Eade who has inherited the Gold Coast curse.

Alistair Clarkson. Biff of an annoying fan. Fair enough, but watch the legal action emerge. His emphasis of the fan being drunk will be challenged. Never a good look for a senior coach who has just lost in a far away town.

2. Waratahs. Solid win, but hard work. They are clinging on and looking OK. They could surge if they can string some intensity together for a few weeks and stay injury free.

3. Souths. The wheels are loosening there. Like the Roosters they are losing tight moments which they used to smash. Souths miss Reynolds big time.

The resurgence of Canberra, North Qld and St George is creating massive tipping headaches for everyone.

4. Poms v Windies. The Windies know how to collapse and lose. They are nearing the bottom of world test cricket. England's top order bats rate themselves highly. A shame the ICC does not agree.

Interested to read of the possibility of World Series Cricket II. Gotta love a rebel league. They are generally filled with old blokes on the way out and don't last long usually.

5. EPL Relegation. This is the most exciting battle of the season - better than the Premiership title race in many senses.

6. A League. Melbourne Victory are powering on. Kevin Muscat last smiled a few years back but is a fighter. I still think Graham Arnold's teams are best placed to win finals. His effort to have his team undefeated on the road this year has been massive. Unprecedented really.

Wrap - Dragsters

1. How about that St George Dragons defence? There is some sort of steel in that. They will struggle if they can't put points on - and the physicality will take its toll eventually, but they are impressive at this stage of the season. Such belief. A coach who has learned a lot in his apprenticeship.

2. The FA Cup howler ("I used to be a werewolf, but I'm not any mo -oor - orrr- orrrrrrrre!) by the Aussie ex-pat goalkeeper - Federici was pretty woeful, but not as bad as the effort from the Tigers  at - of all places - Leichhardt Oval (the spiritual home)...Still waiting for a game to be taken back to Lidcombe Oval.

3. How many tight games has Cooper Cronk won for the Storm? He is a man for a crisis!

4. Not often of late do Parramatta, Canberra, the Western Wanderers, the Melbourne Rebels and the EPL's Leicester all win on the one weekend. There's a multi of value.

The GWS juggernaut is gaining speed. They are starting to be quite competitive. I went to their Homebush High Performance centre on the weekend. It is an impressive piece of work for a club definitely on the rise. Finals footy is getting closer (as it should with so many start up concessions).

5. Interesting to see Jimmy Anderson break Ian Botham's record in the Windies. Great performance, but how long did that record stand? Just shows how erratic and inconsistent the Poms have been over a substantial number of years.

6. I noticed "the finisher" - James Faulkner - was at it again on the weekend. The Rajasthan Royals are on fire in the IPL. But really, does anyone truly care? Outside of knowing how much money is being wasted, does it have any appeal?

7. Can anyone - outside of Eddie Maguire - get truly excited that Michael Clarke is joining a Melbourne Big Bash 20-20 team? I suspect many people are getting over Michael and are looking to the future...except Michael himself.

8. A great win by the Waratahs who are bubbling one week and stuttering along the next. Is it true to say that you can only afford about four losses in Super 15 before you miss out on the finals? Pretty cut throat. A case for a broader finals format. Too narrow at present. It shows something about the administrators. Your top money spinners would have to be finals footy...so what do they do? Eliminate this when the game needs cash to float. Go figure.

Wrap - A Marvellous Wrap That

1. Richie Benaud story... I need to share a Richie story... Coming out right of the end of a day's play of test cricket at the SCG some 5-10 years back with another Richie (Roberts), we were heading up that old driveway from the back of the MA Noble on foot. It was absolutely packed. Suddenly, against all odds, came a very austere and regal looking yellow Sunbeam - number plates CAT 212 - looking to politely nudge its way through a spirited and drunken throng of fans. As the crowd recognised the great Richie Benaud behind the wheel, the calls went up "Hey it's Richie"..."get out the way"..."it's bloody Richie"..."two-one-two"..."what a catch!"....Suddenly and majestically, the crowd parted and his car got plenty of bitumen. Richie had the window down and in that Billy Birmingham voice he said "thanks fellas"..."great work"....the car disappeared onto Moore Park Road. Very bloody funny.

One final word - his uniqueness is in his name. How many words have a silent 'd' (as in Benaud) at the end?

2. I was quiet last week after watching the pathetic game last week (Eels v Tigers), but it needs to be said: this Eels team is worse than in 2014. Fan or no fan, the truth needs to be told - and told early.

The main problem is not Hayne's flight...it is the same problem - a lack of brains in that squad. Sign dumb blokes, get more dumb plays. Logical. Who is their leader? Who seriously inspires? Again, a total lack of recruiting intelligence. Foran is a start, but get rid of dumb arses.

Half the team have been in the clink...or in trouble with the law...betting scandals and on it goes Watmough, Ma'u, Sandow, Wicks...Peats, Nelson... Tough yes, but smart?

That team also lacks try scorers. They simply do not have points in them.

Sandow needs to be sacked now. How his re-signing could be seriously entertained is beyond me. He is mediocre and not a leader. His fifth tackle options are horrible. He is also a total liability in defence which hurts his exhausted teammates. Am I the only one that sees this? Paulo is ordinary too. Too slow. Who re-signed Ryan Morgan? Surely that was a pissed joke. Sandow being re-signed will prolong the current agony.

Can someone get in their car and find blokes who are not dumb? When will the psychometric test become part of signing competition winners? It matters.

Their displays in the last two weeks have been appalling. Mickey/ Wayne/ Brad Arthur is under pressure...he might need to find the local Centrelink. To be thumped so badly by the lowly Titans at home is terrible, terrible club leadership that costs the whole organisation.

Hard to believe there is not one kid in the whole Parramatta area who can score tries...or a half back...come on! Weren't Robson, Green and Hodkinson all ex Parra players? Keep Morgan and now seek Tupou who was let go? A mess.

3. Jamie Lyon. Manly will be different when he returns. They will not get the spoon.

3A. That St George defence is awesome. Sustained over numerous weeks. September material.

4. Swans awesome in Adelaide. Where was that defence in the GF? North looking in good touch...Western Bulldogs too. Can there be light for GWS? Two wins but some tough opponents are needed. The Demons need a bullet. A hopeless display after such promise in round one. What about the Bulldogs? A great effort v the ever disappointing Richmond Tigers. Essendon have done well. Better than could ever be expected.

5. Is there a bigger excuse maker than Mick Malthouse? His Carlton team is going backwards fast.

6. What gives with the stupid jersies for some NRL clubs? Newcastle look like Balmain...and the Tigers look like Newcastle - why? Stick solid to your own. Do fans really buy these crappy jersies?

7. Perth Glory. Don't you love that David Gallop whining voice re salary caps? There needs to be new thinking on this space. I am quite partial to overspenders contributing double that overspent amount to the other clubs.

8. Speith has been sparkling. The Masters continues to be a tremendous event. However, the last round at Augusta is always haunting. Tiger has done surprisingly well.

10. Lewis Hamilton is absolutely dominant. Call it now.

Wrap - Typical Bulldogs

1. It is no surprise James Graham (Canterbury captain) is at the centre of another example of crass stupidity and ill discipline. Is this the same bloke who bit Billy Slater in a Grand Final? Is it the same bloke who on a Mad Monday passed lewd and disgusting comments against a young female journalist who would rather eat crap than touch him? Is this the same bloke who smashed heads (deliberately?) with Sam Burgess in the opening tackle of the Grand Final Terry Lamb style? And is it the same bloke who has become captain of a club that seriously needs to look at itself when it is not succeeding? Sorry Adam, you're out for five months now. Of course it was a penalty. The timing was poor of course, but grow up.

2. The inconsistent NRL will probably impose a life ban on someone the way they are going. Not a good look for the CEO to have a string of driving offences. Gravy train perceptions abound. One thing is for sure...for instant change, deduct points off the Bulldogs and have games with NO Bulldog fans permitted in the ground (possible?) at a neutral venue eg. Central Coast. That might surprise a few people connected with the club and show the likes of David Klemmer that his behaviour was a disgrace too.

Can anyone explain why Klemmer went to the bin - and not Graham? Both should have gone.

3. Cut to the AFL where apart from their drugs policy and a few wayward niteclub incidents - and a schemozzle with ASADA, they get most things right. The Western Bulldogs were sensational. The Swans unimpressive, but magnificent when it counted. Richmond might just cause some problems.

4. Well done to Grant Hackett on his comeback, but you have to wonder where the rest of the talent is hiding. Perhaps the critics are right...there are too many soft people these days for true success. Is Hackett that good...maybe he is. At least if he's in the pool he can't throw furniture at anyone.

5. Brad Haddin. Has he announced his retirement yet? Seemingly he is a protected species with Clarke around the team. I noticed Peter Nevill won the NSW Cricket Steve Waugh Medal - and he was selected for the Ashes Tour. The clock is ticking.

6. Jarryd Hayne. His publicity machine is working overtime - and successfully. The hangers on will be happy every time they get some obscure 49ers official in the NFL to say what we already know..."the guy has potential"...time to deliver or return to the NRL.

Here's a question...do Parramatta go better without relying on him, accommodating his every wish and allowing him to run his own race? The Tigers might answer that tomorrow. I can't see that there is a massive difference in their results...no star quality and sparkle necessarily, but not a significant loss. The game moves on.

7. How's that QLD Reds coach travelling? I think I gave him till May. The Super Rugby quality is getting worse. Does it deserve a TV deal?

8. What issue/ topic is most boring: (a) Stephen Dank (b) Ian Thorpe or (c) ASADA. One thing for certain, Shane Warne is not. He can say anything he likes and gets away with it. He should be knighted very soon. If Botham can get one...