Wrap - Pakistani Cardboard Project

1. Souths were terrible on Good Friday. Their forwards (less Burgess bros) are too small for mine. Mobile, but were walked through. Conversely, Klemmer dominated. He and Bryce Cartwright are the form forwards of the competition. (Really like this Jack de Belin at Saints too - needs a haircut, but has the goods. Nursing a bruised man bun).

The Dogs' forwards may struggle in the heat of September but will be ruthless in the colder months.

How many tries must Kasiano have scored as a junior? A ridiculously big bloke. Maybe the biggest to have ever played to game at the top level. Outside of Mark Tookey and Phil Drake.

Major problems for Souths without Reynolds, Burgess and Sutton (who wouldn't?). 32-0 at half time made it 'Terrible Friday'! Greg Inglis was looking for the field goal at 32-0. He forgot about it at 40+.
The newspaper hacks love an Easter story with the Rabbits. Myxomatosis...No Show Easter Bunnies.The letters in the word 'Rabbitohs' can be changed to 'Rabbo shit'. Closer to the truth.

 

You need to admire the Gold Coast. Doing well with a shallow roster. St George too. Roosters under the pump on zero points.

 

Have you noticed that Manly and the Broncos will rarely lose two games in a row? Something in the rich culture of those clubs.

2. The rugby league rule for all lines is 'on the line is out'. It is this rule on all lines in the game, including the 40/20 line. Why then is a try awarded on the try line (ie. 'on the line is in'). The thin paint line marker may make a comeback. Get over the line and plant the ball. Maybe we need an x-ray version of Hawkeye with a GPS tracker in the ball. We've been implanting dogs at the local council for years. Hot spot should also definitely be used for contentious high ball contested knock on decisions for tries - especially in State of Origin and Semi finals/ GF.

The bunker is a failure with decisions like the Thurston no try. That was its test. Under pressure and in a clutch moment. They rushed it without really thinking. Poor effort. Disgrace really.

 

Have you noticed a growing tendency of the bunker personnel (still having plenty of fun in there by the looks) to back track well in the set or play, well before contentious decisions of interest, sniffing around for an easier explanation?

 

The Cowboys know how to get a dud decision from an NRL ref!

3. Steve Smith (61no from 43) produced the goods under pressure v Pakistan. Overdue. I like this Wahib. Sheer pace. Reminds me of the great Wasim Akram. The great underperformed Shane Watson (44 off 21) did really well. Sensational hitting. Amir is always a gamble. You can bet he was giving his best. Just a throw of the dice in that last over. Watson has looked the retiring type in recent years - as soon as the kids arrive, the career closes down. Fair enough too. Was hitting the pull shot as well as he did in the underarm spray advert.

 

The Pakistani fans love a piece of cardboard - and some dodgy grammar. There must be some cracking Year 6 projects in that joint. They also love being on TV. They can cram in for a good TV shot.

 

Long odds to beat India however. Thanks must go to Mitchell Johnson for firing up Kohli pre game via Twitter. Kohli loves a contest and will be the key. Funny that...I can never remember Johnson ripping through Kohli's defences.

 

4. Rugby. Tahs limped in against a suddenly improving QLD Reds. Funny what a team can do to get rid of a coach!

5. AFL. Who would have thought...a drug culture in a sport that has been going soft on drugs for years. The sport needs a clean out and naming players and officials is the first step.

 

Swans were super impressive in their first game v the Collingwood Hashpipes. It is a young man's gig when you run 15 kilometres a game.

6. Shield Final. South Australia could crumble here. The Vics are on their tail after two days. I  marvel at the stupidity of cricket administrators sometimes. Their penchant for changing the format of the comp in a final is ridiculous. They play four day cricket all year and add a fifth for the final? They are also not even playing on the Adelaide Oval which is terrible too. Maybe an earlier finish is required to the season? It seems to be getting later each year. Start earlier and finish earlier if need be. It's tough making sensible decisions with the weight of an old green coat weighing you down!

 

7. In the A League, as good as the Western Sydney Wanderers were going, the goal scoring power of Adelaide and Brisbane seems like they will over run them when it matters. Grit and fight - as admirable as they are - only gets you so far with tired legs. Goals matter.

8. Great to see Beau Scott has risen from the dead and named to play for the Eels. It is Easter after all.

Wrap - Long Levers

1. Eels were impressive. Beau Scott again exhibited tremendous leadership - but now he is seriously injured. The forwards have genuine quick feet in 2016. Kenny Edwards is even skinny and fast. Moreua hard, Gower using the ball and running with greater ferocity. There are no dumb penalties and fewer excuses. Foran is a high quality leader. Paulo is even fit. Much more intensity in defence, more ball play and offloads. The offloads kill the traditional defence patterns of the Bulldogs, Broncos and Storm. However they need to stop the opposition from offloading and work on kick off receiving and hang time. Kicking to hit the grass would be a nice start too.

Was Greg Inglis concussed at the end of the game? He did a Terry lamb field goal two points behind!

2. T20 World Cup Loss v NZ. Long levers on Ashton Agar - and long over the fence too! Pitch was diabolical for our blokes - who should have been on the subcontinent pre tournament getting used to these conditions when it is a little wet. NZ played well. Brendan McCullum should be playing. Didn't he just retire from tests?

3. I'll say it now that Steve Smith is lucky to be in the Australian T20 side really. His T20 form is terrible and while it may be harsh, but he may not be a T20 player of note - however much we may be uncomfortable with it all. The missing ingredient of a Michael Hussey type player with brains and composure in the middle is hurting us. George Bailey played this role up until Rod Marsh started losing the plot.

I called it some time back, but Aaron Finch needs to lose weight and improve his fielding. I recall there was some staunch defence of him at the time south of the border.

Mitch Marsh threw it away in the 18th over. Silliness at a crucial time. Gee there must have been some dumb play in the Marsh backyard over the junior years. Broken windows, disobedience and refusing to listen to Geoff when called for dinner, bats slipping out of hands, six and out in ridiculous situations. Lots of stupid skied balls at the end of our innings. Virat Kohli is the best bat in the world. Make no mistake.

4. Can anyone explain why we did not go to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh before this tournament? Spinning decks? No we go to South Africa!

Is it just me or does Tom Moody sound exactly like Mike Coward?

5. Shield Cricket. Dragging on! Trent Copeland has been phenomenal in recent weeks for NSW. He is a tremendous player and leader. Watch him with Test squad selections! Cameron White's stoic defence gets the Vics in the final against - of all teams - South Australia who have not won a prize at so much as a trivia night in recent years. I note Nathan Lyon got very few wickets...has he spun his side to victory in recent times?

6. Reds. Coach gooone - as predicted! (McFadyn next at the Warriors). Brumbies a tough loss. Has the addition of Japan and Argentina added an ounce of interest? I suspect not.

7. We said it last year, but how many weeks do we want the AFL pre season? It is a joke. Have a NAB Cup weekend...get on with the main show. ENUF!

8. Leicester power on. They have an impossible draw on the run home in the last four matches, but may be too far ahead when it counts. Their coach is a sensation. Genuinely happy when it matters and enjoys his work and players. Players actually want to play for him. Rare.

9. Alonso's crash in the F1 is sickening. That is a risky business right there. Are these racing cars travelling too quickly these days for the tracks presented?

Wrap - Meldonium Melodies

1. Meldonium and Maria Sharapova. Apparently this stuff gives you blonde hair, good looks and makes you grunt loudly when coming second in sport. I've been taking it for years - I can confirm it does nothing. See your local chemist - or the back trunk of that van with licence plates 'SD 2230'. Announcing your guilt before WADA does it, apparently reduces your eventual sentence. Sharapova is extremely negligent - or dumb. Who is next? Maybe that is why Warnie was dumped off "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here".

2. Afghanistan have qualified for the T20 World Cup. A great effort. Apparently they came out all guns blazing with their heavy strike power. Had great artillery in the sheds. Hit the ball like a rocket and bombed a few into the stands. Really dug into the trenches when it mattered and battled hard in a do or die situation.

One clever new move they have brought into the game is when that last ball run happens and the keeper rolls it towards the striker's end for a run out, they had their striking batsman stay in the crease until the non-striker arrived safely. Then the striker ran. Not out if it hits the stumps as the striker is still in his ground! Clever. No doubt strategy and some clever lieutenants on board.

3. NRL. Rabbits and Sharks were impressive. Canberra too. Parramatta too it must be said. However suddenly their work looks to be unravelling with fines and point deductions likely. What is the next debacle at that place? When does it get better?

4. Rugby - QLD Reds. That coach, Richard Graham, did not last a day after The Wrap got hold of him last week. Why you would allow the off season to be led by him I would never know - and axe in week two...a contract issue perhaps.

Who will be the first NRL coach to go? Must be Andrew McFadden at the Warriors.

5. T20 Cricket. Great win v South Africa (without AB de Villiers) to take the series (does it matter?). India are a long way in front in that format. Finch looks cooked as predicted, despite the Victorian pleas. Kahawaja and Finch cannot be in the same side as their fielding is terrible! Steve Smith...is he a 20-20 player? I don't think so.

6. Kyrgios. He is so boring. When does he join another country? Hated in the USA costs you money. Ask Anthony Mundine.

Wrap - Bunker Fun

1. Is there a more exciting, vibrant or dynamic workplace setting than the NRL Bunker? Really looking forward to the first scandal when someone is busted watching MKR or worse! "Camera five top left and Camera 7 bottom right...". This is going to drive us all mad. Ref's on field decision seems absolutely irrelevant now. Too many screens for the viewer to make an ounce of sense. Consistency is better. Faster too.

2. Surely we need a shorter shot clock. There is time to burn. Maybe this shot clock time should be added as extra time at the end of the game?

3. Vossy has officially lost the plot. To say in Game 4 "that's the try of the year" for the Tigers v Warriors is a little ambitious!

4. Eels. Very worried that Foran - who has not played since last August - may not play enough to make any impact. The Eels are a few injuries away from misery. They simply have not got enough points in them. Calls of them making the top eight are well wide of the mark. They could be 0-4 with the draw they have.

5. Definite 6 for the 8 after the weekend: Broncos, Storm, Cowboys, Souths, Roosters, Bulldogs....then the rest: Cronulla? Raiders? Warriors? Panthers? Saints? Eels?...Manly?

Has anyone asked Mitchell Pearce how he feels about letting his teammates down and putting his team in a position of weakness? And what his definition of 'captain' is? I think the sympathy angle really dries up once your team starts losing with inexperienced halves.

6. The QLD Reds are a rabble. Their coach, Richard Graham surely needs to go. How did he last into 2016? Two losses and plenty more where that came from. "Sack the Dick" signs will be floating around the crowd by now. Brumbies back to their awesome best. Tahs need a makeover.

7. Apparently at the Super Rugby, all fans receive a complimentary blanket and pillow upon arrival. The standard early has been woeful at times.

8. The resurgence of Adelaide United in the A Grade Flare Fool League has been stunning. Undefeated 14 games straight and sitting on top of the table. Great work.

9. Highly predictable that the Aussie T20 team lost. Why is Watson rested? Khawaja better start making a few. Maxwell has a golden ticket...bowl crap, get no runs and keep getting selected!

Ed Cowan is surely finished. His run of low scores for NSW and The Sixers is terrible. Trent Copeland has probably gotten more runs in the last fortnight than Cowan's season tally! Shaun Marsh got a rare duck this weekend too. Captain Inconsistent!

10. Note to GWS. It is a mirage. You will not beat the Swans in the season proper!

11. Nick Kgyrios. Yet another reason to dislike him. He is back in the Indian Wells championship this week after being oh so sick and unable to play Davis Cup. He is a selfish brat. We should brush him altogether! Maybe Damir Dokic needs to coach him.

12. EPL. The Leicester foxes are moving in for the kill, but have four games at the end of the year which will be hard to win. Spurs and Arsenal - even Man City - will be spewing if they can't win it! Love the Leicester coach celebrations. No pretensions - just sheer joy!