Wrap - Mankad Mania

1. NRL Penalties. Penalties are the cruellest punishment in the NRL. I must say that if you are at the bottom of the table, you get penalised much more readily than a 'high flyer'. Melbourne rarely get pinged and are the worst at it. Why is that? Fewer penalties need to be the NRL's goal if it is to remain the premiere TV choice to watch.

The abundance of 'get square' penalties in the NRL in the attacking 22 metre zone requires some serious attention. The penalty happy refs can even things up, but it is no real advantage to the attacking team (especially if they are trying to make up points). Penalty goals don't win modern footy games.

One idea, is that ANY penalty given away in that attacking 22 metre zone meets with a five minute sin bin (player waits in a box behind the posts). He re-enters if the attacking team score a try - or after five minutes. This will sort out the problem.

The deliberate kick dead of the past has been ironed out with the fast 22 metre re-start. A great innovation.

2. The NRL Offload. This can be worth as much as ten extra metres and is again proving to be the most valuable attacking strategy in an otherwise predictable attacking pattern in EVERY NRL team...block plays...terrible 'wish' bombs... Is the game becoming too formulaic? We need some new coaches on the scene who are not Brian Smith clones. Who can be innovative and different? We had Jack Gibson-Warren Ryan-Wayne Bennett-Brian Smith - now Craig Bellamy impersonators...

3. NRL Update. St George march on, but went to sleep...the Panthers remain asleep and the Sharks are by far the most unified team in the NRL. They will put Bird's defection to the side, but they are strong. Melbourne are amazing, but boring. Raiders bring excitement and interest. Matt Moylan is a really decent bloke. He was on my staff for two years, but is not a loud leader type.

Is James Graham next to go? A million $$ back ended contract...crazy.

4. AFL. Is it any surprise that all teams are now wise up to the 'push' of the Swans and the Hawks which has been so mesmerising over the past five years. Their surprise swarming defence is the same for every team now. Business as usual. Geelong and Adelaide look awesome early. A long way to go yet, but the Hawks and Swans are up against it. Both need some serious roster changes for the future. Even Richmond are winning!

5. Waratahs. Some bright rugby type scheduled a bye on Easter weekend when crowd numbers may have rescued sponsors from the mire. They cannot get anything right. Their coach Gibson needs to go. He is a fool in critiquing other Australian franchises when the Waratahs may have been a better choice to be given the punt on present form.

6. IPL. Steve Smith, Dave Warner, Henriques, Lynn and Tye have all excelled so far. The IPL table is unpredictable. There are no certainties with those dodgy pitches under lights!

Interested to see the new ICC cricket rules this week. Cannot for the life of me see why they have gotten rid of 'handling the ball' as a mode of dismissal, but kept it under 'obstructing the field' instead. There will now be "Mankad" mania in park cricket. Interested to see the arrival of a bin for dickhead cricketers. Could be a big innovation. Looking for the first international cricketer to be sent there!

7. Chelsea...Chelsea...their demise is something else. An unassailable lead has been minced. They could be in trouble but have an easier run into home.

8. A League. Liam Reddy's effort with the ball at his feet as the goalkeeper, well out of his goal area was terrible. No wonder he has played at more clubs than Slim Dusty. Surely Sydney FC will win the comp given their record breaking win this season. I can see Melbourne Victory lifting and Perth Glory look like they have more goals in them than most.

9. Lewis Hamilton. He is a prize goose. His effort in pit lane was disgraceful. He should be suspended.

10. Bells Surfing. Mick Fanning seems to be the gatekeeper of Bells most years. A gun.