1. Have we seen the outbreak of abbreviated sport en masse this week - a new standard of intolerance and impatience for the long form - Sevens, Nines, T20...
2. Auckland Nines. Entertaining and good footy package. Defence not great but all about the attack. Excellent that we see flair and experimentation. Parramatta's victory was bigger than their 1980 Tooth Cup victory...the National Panasonic Cup of 1986 win - or the World Sevens in 1997 or 2003.
A few learnings for NRL coaches in the NRL:
i. Vary your kick offs and try and find touch to get the ball back. The short aerial kick off is a lottery, but finding touch is not. Still no other player can get the same amazing 'hang time' as the Cowboys kick off machine, Kyle Feldt. This needs a lot of NRL coach work.
ii. One on one defence for a one on one strip should be coached more religiously - especially for the last five minutes of a game.
iii. The Shot clock works well and keeps the fans interested. I still believe the signalling of a try should be "Time Off"...no time for kicks.
iv. Scrums are dead. Never should be in nines - nor in the NRL these days
v. The quick restart from a penalty is what the fans want. It also stops players arguing with refs which we are all sick of!
Not sure that form in the Auckland Nines defines your season. I'd rather have NRL form! However the Parramatta team did the business well. With Souths and the Cowboys the previous winners - who won the big GF in the same year, there is some sort of expectation.
3. Apparently there is a rumour that Michael Jennings signed with Parramatta because he was sick of working in September. Hope it is wrong.
4. Semi Rangirangoo looks like he has lost weight and is much quicker. Slick. Bevan French needs a good feed and a better weights program (less supplements). A good prospect. Will score another million tries in the Toyota Touch Football Comp again this year. Moeroa was awesome. Peni Terepo (who joins the Currency XIII) was also pretty devastating. Good fitness generally, with more required. Junior Paulo looks fit enough to run away from police.
The $370K will come in handy to pay back the historic salary cap breaches.
5. John Hastings is a superb competitor. Tough hombre who is welcome on any Australian cricket team. He has earned his stripes. His batting under pressure to win Game 2 is a ticket to his future. Superb under pressure. Mitchell Marsh may have felt his brother's pain from being dropped on his head and lifted. Smith needs to deliver in Game 3. So too Bailey.
6. Great to see Watson get 2 million in the IPL. He might need it if Chris Gayle sues him. Amazing what a T20 ton against India does for your price. Hence nothing for Kahwaja. Not selected.
7. Rugby Sevens. Fiji unlucky and NZ an unpopular finalist. Australia looked keen, but need stronger personnel. NZ reign supreme. Sonny Bill is still the best athlete in the game.
8. Leicester. Can they do the impossible and win the EPL? They are in the box seat. A superb year really with two losses only. Have only been in the top flight league for two seconds.
9. Super Bowl L. That Colin Scotts is an impressive and highly impressive voice of NFL in Australia. He knows his stuff and still looks big!
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