1. Parramatta were best summed up today by a comment from my youngest son "Ryan Morgan did well today dad. He didn't stuff it up at the end and lose the game with poor defence in the last five minutes". He actually played alright to be fair, but he has hands like Dolf. Their defence was willing, but their attack is terrible. A bad loss by Manly, but Parra will be doing handstands. No wooden sppon in 2015. They are back (to rank mediocrity, not terrible underperformance).
2. Troubled by the anti-NRL sentiment flowing regarding TV rights. The NRL simply have no presence in two states (SA, WA) and a fledgling at best presence in VIC with zero interest in NT and TAS. They are probably lucky to have received what they have got. Smith has actually done pretty well attracting what he has. As for sponsors worried by the shoulder charge, Smith is too smart by half with all these journos. Law suits for damages will mount up. Are these the same people calling for a shorter season to ease the load on player's health and their welfare. Spare me! The critics have been brought undone with a tighter more professional approach (complete with errors) minus the leaks and mates deals. The NRL has become a financial powerhouse, operating with backward clubs who are mostly if not in, are certainly nearing in, on the shithouse. Does anyone really care these days if there were only 12 teams. There is a lack of care in most people who know that crowds on game day are a thing of the past.
3. The Australian Cricket Team. Clarke has plummeted with the bat although apart from his feisty leadership, we will miss his fabulous hands in the slips. God help us with our batting order this summer. The Windies might get closer to us than we think - especially if they select Chanderpaul.
Good to see Siddle has put away the maps and the Tom Tom and is playing cricket. He has bowled well. Accurate, but all too late. Warne's criticism of Rod Marsh is absolutely spot on. Rod Marsh has lost the plot. Mark Waugh was in on that too wasn't he? He needs to get his act together too. Faceless.
Interesting to see we have scored more tons (3) than the Poms (1), but have lost. Inconsistency has cruelled us. Nothing like a dead rubber victory. It feels the same as painting the dog house after the dog just got killed by a motorbike. Empty. Noticed Steve Smith has scored 9/10 test tons in the first innings. Handy strike rate. Nathan Lyon has the wood on Cook. Even if it takes him 90 runs to crack.
4. Just when you thought Hawthorn were definites, the West Coast are forming a new threat - especially with a home final. Their work v Western Bulldogs has certainly helped Sydney's top four cause too.
5. Jarryd Hayne. Hopefully he can produce the goods tomorrow v the Dallas Cowboys, but certainly under pressure and the microscope. Something massive.
6. Noticed Ricky Stuart has presided over another end of season free fall. He could yet get another wooden spoon. He must like baking cakes.
7. England beaten by France in a Rugby Test. Maybe Sam Burgess is needed after all.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Wrap - Plane Dumb
1. This Kyrgios fellow fits the bill for a tennis player. Self absorbed, selfish, all about me and spoilt. Reminds me a bit of Olympic swimmers. He will forever be tainted. Not just for the latest stupid comment, but for the feigned injuries, the tantrums, the pathetic effort at Davis Cup for Australia, the ridiculous colours through his hair and the fluro clothes and nasty comments to ball boys/ girls. In short, he is a grub.
However I am also concerned by his form. He is inconsistent and erratic, unpredictable and boringly lacking in self awareness. He seemingly tanks and turns, gives up and gives out. There will be more stories soon...the world's media are out there now after him. His cards are marked and there will be no limits, as he himself has set none.
Then when it all ends, the sychophantic relatives and friends who have feasted on the gravy train vanish.
The unfortunate world of "booing" has just taken another turn.
2. Is it just me or is the turn for home in the NRL a true indicator of the worth of a coach? Which coaches can rally their teams and exert the required pressure in a 'conduicive to success' manner...Bennett...Robinson...Bellamy...Hasler? While others flounder despite their best efforts (and their limited rosters)...Stuart...Taylor...Arthur...McFadden...McGregor...
However Toovey is the one who is most tenacious. Yet sacked. Get him to your club ASAP!
Some players, hurting from injury no doubt, simply refuse to lift when it matters. Some coaches remain incapable of lifting them. Poor players...they play for 80 minutes, less stoppages and breaks, interchanges and substitutions...some play for half an hour a week and make $200K...player welfare...player welfare cheats...
Surely too in the next round of greed, the NRL need to look at centralised salary cap payments to players...pay from the centre and eliminate third party (cap dodge) arrangements. After all, they are providing the money. The clubs will then be clearly tagged as rorting as it is not for them to pay players at all. They sign an NRL contract so they should pay them directly. All TPA's should be published as well.
3. AFL. The whips are cracking now...Hawthorn, Freo and West Coast are most likely...Swans are no chance. West Coast win v Freo was a big statement. They have done well to rebuild post Ben Cousins and are getting better!
4. NFL. Will the plane fly or die? He has immense talent and has probably done better than anyone thought. However, one injury and it is curtains. A bright start on debut v Houston. There are plenty of Australian media banging the drum. It will be some sort of story if he pulls it off.
5. Wallabies. Michael Chieka is losing the plot. Fancy playing Quayde Cooper at Eden Park. He lacks composure under pressure and is not calm or considered in his judgement. Plainly, he is a liability in such games. Giteau, while not spectacular, has been sound or better and the whole balance of the side is suddenly undone. What a shock we lost. Refreshing to have a game of footy start earlier than 8.30pm. Bring back the 7.00pm start at the latest.
6. US PGA. Has John Daley got bigger in the guts? Jordan Speith is something else. Great to see new legends emerging in the game. It has been in the doldrums post Tiger. Jason Day's unbelievable record at majors continues to impress.
7. Dave Warner Australian Vice captain? Hard to believe. I doubt he has the maturity to carry it off. He is probably the only bloke likely to be picked regularly in the team so it was him or Johnson! Him.
8. Australian Netball. A great effort to win the World Cup. A huge event with massive crowds...whn will it get mainstream media support. There is a lively market there!
However I am also concerned by his form. He is inconsistent and erratic, unpredictable and boringly lacking in self awareness. He seemingly tanks and turns, gives up and gives out. There will be more stories soon...the world's media are out there now after him. His cards are marked and there will be no limits, as he himself has set none.
Then when it all ends, the sychophantic relatives and friends who have feasted on the gravy train vanish.
The unfortunate world of "booing" has just taken another turn.
2. Is it just me or is the turn for home in the NRL a true indicator of the worth of a coach? Which coaches can rally their teams and exert the required pressure in a 'conduicive to success' manner...Bennett...Robinson...Bellamy...Hasler? While others flounder despite their best efforts (and their limited rosters)...Stuart...Taylor...Arthur...McFadden...McGregor...
However Toovey is the one who is most tenacious. Yet sacked. Get him to your club ASAP!
Some players, hurting from injury no doubt, simply refuse to lift when it matters. Some coaches remain incapable of lifting them. Poor players...they play for 80 minutes, less stoppages and breaks, interchanges and substitutions...some play for half an hour a week and make $200K...player welfare...player welfare cheats...
Surely too in the next round of greed, the NRL need to look at centralised salary cap payments to players...pay from the centre and eliminate third party (cap dodge) arrangements. After all, they are providing the money. The clubs will then be clearly tagged as rorting as it is not for them to pay players at all. They sign an NRL contract so they should pay them directly. All TPA's should be published as well.
3. AFL. The whips are cracking now...Hawthorn, Freo and West Coast are most likely...Swans are no chance. West Coast win v Freo was a big statement. They have done well to rebuild post Ben Cousins and are getting better!
4. NFL. Will the plane fly or die? He has immense talent and has probably done better than anyone thought. However, one injury and it is curtains. A bright start on debut v Houston. There are plenty of Australian media banging the drum. It will be some sort of story if he pulls it off.
5. Wallabies. Michael Chieka is losing the plot. Fancy playing Quayde Cooper at Eden Park. He lacks composure under pressure and is not calm or considered in his judgement. Plainly, he is a liability in such games. Giteau, while not spectacular, has been sound or better and the whole balance of the side is suddenly undone. What a shock we lost. Refreshing to have a game of footy start earlier than 8.30pm. Bring back the 7.00pm start at the latest.
6. US PGA. Has John Daley got bigger in the guts? Jordan Speith is something else. Great to see new legends emerging in the game. It has been in the doldrums post Tiger. Jason Day's unbelievable record at majors continues to impress.
7. Dave Warner Australian Vice captain? Hard to believe. I doubt he has the maturity to carry it off. He is probably the only bloke likely to be picked regularly in the team so it was him or Johnson! Him.
8. Australian Netball. A great effort to win the World Cup. A huge event with massive crowds...whn will it get mainstream media support. There is a lively market there!
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Wrap - Dark Clarke
1. As soon as Clarke announced a family was on the way, the writing was on the wall. After all he has been doing this for a million years. Forget about the Duke ball, the WAGS and the like, we were outgunned and mentally fragile. The mental hopelessness was the most striking thing about it all. We gave up and did not fight. One can only wonder at the impact of the disaffected Clarke fanclub in Watson, Haddin and Siddle in the background of the team set up and the impact this had on some feeble minds.
Clarke's exclusive with Warnie almost guarantees his inclusion on the commentary team next summer in Australia. He joins the likes of Swann, Prior and Trott who have bailed out mid Ashes tour.
We have learned a few things:
a. Shaun Marsh is terrible and as I have been banging on about, moves habitually laterally - not like a Langer and Hayden who hit in the V down the ground. Phil Hughes (RIP) suffered bit from this too. When was the last straight drive for four runs in this team? Steve Smith maybe. Those who can execute that shot are the batsmen of class and distinction. S. Marsh may have had his papers stamped - "never to be selected again"...despite some good pre Test series batting v counties.
b. Rod Marsh and Mark Waugh as selectors are on the skids. How you drop Mitchell Marsh, diddle yourself a bowler and get no runs...a terrible selection of S. Marsh instead.
c. Boof Lehmann is incredibly unlucky. Bayliss has made him look third rate. Bayliss will get his own back though when England travel abroad.
d. Clarke will be gone. Voges is done. Haddin is done. Siddle is done and Watson is done. The loss of Harris was significant. He would have been handy on this tour.
e. Rogers must play on a little longer. Ed Cowan looks better in jeans and a coat on Fox Sports than in whites.
f. Starc, despite getting two Michelle's, is erratic and cannot build pressure. Having he and Johnson in the same side is not real clever.
g. Hazelwood looks like he does not concentrate and lost form terribly with each test.
h. Johnson rarely gets wickets when he should. He surprises yes, but no wickets of substance in England's first innings? Please.
i. Steve Smith for all his talent is a wasteful millionaire at times...like Warner. God help us when they decide to be wasteful on the same day.
j. Kevin Pietersen is never playing again.
k. As Chappelli says though, what new talent? Have we got any?
2. Wallabies. A bright performance against a wasteful and surprisingly off beat All Blacks. Not often you go home from ANZ with a smile after an All Blacks test. Forwards looked a lot stronger and this selection change regarding blokes abroad is common sense. South Africa losing to the Argentinians was as big a story.
3. Roosters look good things for the NRL GF. Manly are surging and were never getting the spoon. They might surprise further. Both the Cowboys and Bunnies looked weak on the weekend.
4. AFL. Freo and Hawks still loom. The demise of the Swans has been staggering!
5. I noticed the fans at Sandow's new club have been chanting "what a waste of money!"...who would have thought.
Clarke's exclusive with Warnie almost guarantees his inclusion on the commentary team next summer in Australia. He joins the likes of Swann, Prior and Trott who have bailed out mid Ashes tour.
We have learned a few things:
a. Shaun Marsh is terrible and as I have been banging on about, moves habitually laterally - not like a Langer and Hayden who hit in the V down the ground. Phil Hughes (RIP) suffered bit from this too. When was the last straight drive for four runs in this team? Steve Smith maybe. Those who can execute that shot are the batsmen of class and distinction. S. Marsh may have had his papers stamped - "never to be selected again"...despite some good pre Test series batting v counties.
b. Rod Marsh and Mark Waugh as selectors are on the skids. How you drop Mitchell Marsh, diddle yourself a bowler and get no runs...a terrible selection of S. Marsh instead.
c. Boof Lehmann is incredibly unlucky. Bayliss has made him look third rate. Bayliss will get his own back though when England travel abroad.
d. Clarke will be gone. Voges is done. Haddin is done. Siddle is done and Watson is done. The loss of Harris was significant. He would have been handy on this tour.
e. Rogers must play on a little longer. Ed Cowan looks better in jeans and a coat on Fox Sports than in whites.
f. Starc, despite getting two Michelle's, is erratic and cannot build pressure. Having he and Johnson in the same side is not real clever.
g. Hazelwood looks like he does not concentrate and lost form terribly with each test.
h. Johnson rarely gets wickets when he should. He surprises yes, but no wickets of substance in England's first innings? Please.
i. Steve Smith for all his talent is a wasteful millionaire at times...like Warner. God help us when they decide to be wasteful on the same day.
j. Kevin Pietersen is never playing again.
k. As Chappelli says though, what new talent? Have we got any?
2. Wallabies. A bright performance against a wasteful and surprisingly off beat All Blacks. Not often you go home from ANZ with a smile after an All Blacks test. Forwards looked a lot stronger and this selection change regarding blokes abroad is common sense. South Africa losing to the Argentinians was as big a story.
3. Roosters look good things for the NRL GF. Manly are surging and were never getting the spoon. They might surprise further. Both the Cowboys and Bunnies looked weak on the weekend.
4. AFL. Freo and Hawks still loom. The demise of the Swans has been staggering!
5. I noticed the fans at Sandow's new club have been chanting "what a waste of money!"...who would have thought.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Wrap - Peter Siddle Holiday Edition
1. Ashes. The seaming deck is our nemesis. We get negative and then fold. Adam Voges has been an immense disappointment after a stunning Shield year. Clarke has been soft too. Where's the mongrel and fight he was renown for? He has become a passenger. No good telling the press you are either Michael. They know. We know. Maybe instead tell the scoreboard assistant you might trouble him/ her. Not often an Aussie skipper does not fall to pieces in an Ashes series...we have had Kim Hughes, Graham Yallop, Ponting with his run out and now Clarke.
Clarke also needs to back Nevill. Haddin is past it. He is not good at accepting the selectors' decision. His own decision is suddenly a lot closer. Clarke is dividing the camp - not Nevill.
If Shaun Marsh comes into the team, watch the slips catching. He does not use his feet properly. Broad and Anderson will get him in a heart beat. Is Siddle getting paid?
2. Adam Goodes. Way back on 7 June 2015, two month back, I wrote this:
This Adam Goodes thing is dividing the game, not uniting in its indigenous focus. There needs to be some cool heads, but this wholesale booing of Goodes is a terrible look. I note that at the SCG he is applauded more loudly than ever with every touch. The AFL have a significant problem with their fans.
They still do. In a sport where drugs can be consumed without penalty, they need to fix that up too. I notice that Mr K Hunt will be in court this week. maybe the tightening up will be quicker now.
Richmond have turned the corner (and in good time). Their defeat of Hawthorn was sensational.
3. The 'Shoot Me Shield' in NSW Club Rugby has continued to roll on this weekend. Surprised to see Beale playing in the park to get some touch back. Any reason why there was no SA-NZ-Argie games this weekend? I wonder how the Penrith Emus and Parramatta Two Blues clubs feel about rugby union. I would get rid of both and turn it into a four team comp. Are we having another edition of the WA v Canberra Rugby Comp this season? It was such a cracking success, surely we are...
4. SANZAR. Is it possible they are suffering from 'headupone's arseitis'? To appeal Hooper's penalty? Daft. I didn't know Sepp had moved codes.
5. NRL. Like Toovey's style. He is a hard head and should be snapped up by another club...Titans? Knights? He is an out and out winner. I have my doubts about Barrett. Raw and an example of the Peter Principle (promoted to a level of incompetence).
Is a Crusher tackle more dangerous than a shoulder charge? Is a crusher tackle more dangerous than a punch? Surely wrestling moves need to be banned. The NRL will have some serious litigation against it one day.
6. I read that Ryan Morgan is set to be re-signed for two years. Might be the money left over from Sandow's car ashtray. Parramatta are on the up. Great news Foran will skipper the group.
7. Has anyone seen this Ronda Rousey fight? She is awesome. 34 seconds and 12 undefeated titles.
8. Is the Jarryd Hayne NFL saga over yet? Getting close surely.
Clarke also needs to back Nevill. Haddin is past it. He is not good at accepting the selectors' decision. His own decision is suddenly a lot closer. Clarke is dividing the camp - not Nevill.
If Shaun Marsh comes into the team, watch the slips catching. He does not use his feet properly. Broad and Anderson will get him in a heart beat. Is Siddle getting paid?
2. Adam Goodes. Way back on 7 June 2015, two month back, I wrote this:
This Adam Goodes thing is dividing the game, not uniting in its indigenous focus. There needs to be some cool heads, but this wholesale booing of Goodes is a terrible look. I note that at the SCG he is applauded more loudly than ever with every touch. The AFL have a significant problem with their fans.
They still do. In a sport where drugs can be consumed without penalty, they need to fix that up too. I notice that Mr K Hunt will be in court this week. maybe the tightening up will be quicker now.
Richmond have turned the corner (and in good time). Their defeat of Hawthorn was sensational.
3. The 'Shoot Me Shield' in NSW Club Rugby has continued to roll on this weekend. Surprised to see Beale playing in the park to get some touch back. Any reason why there was no SA-NZ-Argie games this weekend? I wonder how the Penrith Emus and Parramatta Two Blues clubs feel about rugby union. I would get rid of both and turn it into a four team comp. Are we having another edition of the WA v Canberra Rugby Comp this season? It was such a cracking success, surely we are...
4. SANZAR. Is it possible they are suffering from 'headupone's arseitis'? To appeal Hooper's penalty? Daft. I didn't know Sepp had moved codes.
5. NRL. Like Toovey's style. He is a hard head and should be snapped up by another club...Titans? Knights? He is an out and out winner. I have my doubts about Barrett. Raw and an example of the Peter Principle (promoted to a level of incompetence).
Is a Crusher tackle more dangerous than a shoulder charge? Is a crusher tackle more dangerous than a punch? Surely wrestling moves need to be banned. The NRL will have some serious litigation against it one day.
6. I read that Ryan Morgan is set to be re-signed for two years. Might be the money left over from Sandow's car ashtray. Parramatta are on the up. Great news Foran will skipper the group.
7. Has anyone seen this Ronda Rousey fight? She is awesome. 34 seconds and 12 undefeated titles.
8. Is the Jarryd Hayne NFL saga over yet? Getting close surely.
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