Wrap - Near Miss

1. The Sharks. A very disappointing display in attack by the Sharks v Manly. Manly were well rested (no game for two weeks - one Origin player), but they have been great this year after a terrible start. The lack of pace in Cronulla with the loss of Barba is a worry. Holmes seemed jaded and will be in danger of losing his spot to Oates in Origin III too.

2. State of Origin. Playing at ANZ at night in June is very different to the GF in September. That slower, greasy surface makes it a favourite for Melbourne Storm players. NSW were abysmal really when it mattered. Great first half, but protecting a lead is never a good tactic. One problem they face is the surprising ill discipline of the Cronulla players - Maloney, Graham, Fifita...too many penalties. They were all a heap better for the Sharks v Manly. The other is a malaise when you need to keep attacking. It reminded me of the night Wayne Bennett did the same in a Broncos v North QLD Grand Final. Feldt scored and they won in extra time. Score points to kick ahead. Don't protect a lead. Blokes simply cannot concentrate that long in the NRL.

3. Ricky Stuart is imploding. His players tire of him at all clubs. Too intense and demanding, especially after a string of losses. Panthers extremely disappointing and lose under pressure. How good was the Ethan Lowe conversion under immense pressure? He is a player. He, Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess. They can produce a mobile back rower.

No one worse than the pathetic Tigers. The form of Woods and Tedesco in Origin must amaze their fans. Look at who they have lost and add Marty Tapou and Addo-Carr. A shambles.

4. Swans out of jail. Any win by less than six points swings your season. Some teams jag a few each year (GWS), but prior to this, the Swans had lost two of these earlier in the season. 8 points there is some turn around.

5. West Coast Eagles. A bad loss v Melbourne at home. They have become a frustrating team to follow. They also need stronger lights at their ground. There are more shadows than a park training ground.

6. Wallabies v Italy. Thank goodness we have Foley in the team. His try and leadership under pressure got us out of strife. Compare that standard to the All Blacks v Lions. Sadly, a terrible hiding awaits us in the Bledisloe. The ball play on a greasy surface at Eden Park was a joy. That is how rugby should be played. A southern hemisphere ref helps as well.

7. What about Ash Barty in the tennis? Turns her hand to the women's T20 cricket then back to tennis and suddenly she's in the top 50 players. Doesn't look like a lot to manage, but has immense talent. The right coach could turn her into an absolute machine - Stosur like.

8. How about this rule interpretation on jason Roy being given out for 'obstructing the field'? Ridiculous. This will create mass confusion and controversy world wide now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH_v43SGpb4  . You are now apparently supposed to turn on a dime and give the fielder a clear shot at the stumps. Not sure when that rule changed. Another example of video refs getting in the way of the game and trying to look important. Can you imagine Saturday afternoon cricket now?

Wrap - Good Homework Fakhar

1. Champions Trophy. Bangladesh do a Steve Bradbury. How can you schedule a one day cricket tournament in England with no replay dates? Unless it is a meaningless tournament that counts for zip - other than lining your own ICC wallet. Weather kills it. Really, you get the feeling with international cricket that the money/ the wage matters more than the result. No one quite cares - especially with an ICC tournament that does not matter beyond fund raising!

Surely India cruise to victory. Kohli has been dynamic. A string of half centuries and no panic. Dharwan and Rohit are superb. I like the newfound fight in the Pakistanis. Clearly Mickey Arthur has them doing their homework. I always like to see those Pakistani names. Fakhar scored a ton tonight.

2. Wallabies. If that is our nation's best we are doomed. I continue to be fascinated by the way international rugby try to control Southern Hemisphere rugby with their test rugby referee appointments. Not sure how these work, but this game was appalling in every sense. What do these tests matter - or count for? All with two Scots in the Lions team too. I doubt we would get one player in a World XV or even a second World XV. Cheika is nearing the end. Lions - All Blacks will be awesome.

3. Sharks. Winning ugly has become their specialty. They have some super second tier players - Bukuya, Lewis, Lee...The Tigers are soft. Maybe Jason Taylor wasn't so bad. They won more with him. Ivan looks like a tremendous fellow, but he has a horrendous win-loss ratio.

Melbourne Storm won a beauty the other night when the Cowboys refused to defend. They have some talent, but no one replaces legends like Smith, Cronk, Slater. Blokes try, but these are rare talents.

4. Swans. A great win against the card folding Richmond Tigers. A great year to start on zero for over a month. All teams keep losing to each other! No real gap between the front runners. Swans are suddenly back in it, but can't Richmond find a way to lose. Melbourne Demons looking good.

5. Some big EPL dollars for two Aussie soccer players this week - Mooy and Matt Ryan. Maybe there is hope for the zillions of Saturday morning hopeful players.

6. US Open Golf. A huge field reduced to tears and whinging. Aren't golfers a precious lot. Please, if you are that good, ignore the rough. When I play, I look at the rough as I give it a lot of business. These blokes should not be concerned. Had to laugh at the reaction of Johnny Miller who held the lowest score in a US Open in one round. He bags out Justin Thomas and looks like an absolute tool. Anyone would have thought it was Greg Norman for an instant. Sure, he did it to win the thing in the 1970s, but give the guy some credit on that course.

7. 'The King' Gutherson. A great trainer and great bloke. Lots of points in him. Kicking goals better now that earlier. However Brad Arthur is a slow learner. Gutho is not a five eight (learned - sign Moses) and he is not a centre (learned - get Jennings back in). He is a winger who occasionally spends his holidays at fullback. Parramatta will turn after the bye rounds on 20 points which is a fair effort. Things ramp up now.

8. America's Cup. Are they kidding? This thing has become a circus. A best of 13 - yes, count them in - finals series. Please. USA v NZ and no one cares. Those boats may be better to watch, but it is hardly stuff to get excited about. Bring back the winged keel!

Wrap - Coach Wheels Turning

1. Champions Trophy Cricket. Australia's batting was awful when it was there to be won. Warner really struggles when the ball seams. No patience. Henriques (Smith's mate), Maxwell and Wade are simply not good enough for a middle order. No composure. Henriques averages while Lynn sits on the bench. They lost 5/15. How Wade is there I will never know. He also dropped Morgan with a sitter catch missed down the leg side before he was 10 which has gone a bit quiet in the media. Surely we have better ODI options. Thankfully Starc and Hazelwood can bowl, but even they were too short. Zampa would not get a run in colour comp. He is money for old rope and Smith knows it. That said, Smith lacks creativity as a captain. He panicked.

A humiliation, but really does anyone care? Now they will be able to focus full time on whinging about how much money they are all owed. Cricket has some serious problems. We need new blood - and I must say...a new coach. Lehmann's time is almost up.

2. AFL. Pathetic travelling teams...West Coast, Freo and Port Adelaide. Teams that turn their toes up when travelling away from home cannot win comps. They lack mental strength. I also note that GWS have hardly played in Melbourne this season too - and have lost both times. A narrow loss to Carlton who look to have more running in their legs than most. As they say, you can't win a comp if you don't win in Melbourne!

3. These soccer tours of old Liverpool players and half rsd teams from Brazil are a cynical fundraiser for desperate stadiums. Like reunion tours of old bands. Is this as good as Australia can muster?

4. NRL. Thurston is a champion. Norman is a pretender. 32-6. End of story. Can someone tell me how you play Gutherson at centre? He is a winger. Repeat...winger. And if anyone suggests he will win the DallyM, get them to the psych centre. Melbourne Storm look absolute dead certs for the comp this year. They now rest key players like Cronk and still win!

Canberra are losing too many tight ones at present. Manly have done exceptionally well this year again. Love a Ricky Stuart press conference blow up!

5. Wallabies. A tired and unimpressive win v Fiji. They lack flair and will be belted by anyone decent. Chieka may be reaching his expiry date too.

6. French Open. How Jelena Ostapenko wins the French Open is beyond me. 20 years old and unseeded. She should be thankful Serena is pregnant. Serena would have won it again in a canter.

The pending glorious triumph of Rafa Nadal should not be missed. Stan Wawrinka is an awesome striker of the ball, but no one knows clay like Rafa. 10 French Open wins is unlikely to ever be beaten. He already has 14 Grand Slam titles (7 other finals lost). One loss in the Australian Open to Stan. We are watching one of the greatest ever.

Wrap - Champion Clowns

1. Champions Trophy Cricket. What is this tournament? We are dead. Smith and Warner fail? We are done. Warner on a seaming deck is in trouble. He lacks patience at key times. Mediocre crowds abound.

Plenty of work ahead for (Rob) Duckworth and (Wally) Lewis who will be modelling the world's most complicated methodology with some regularity based on their weather. A terrible time in London at present.

However, I cannot believe in 2017 that we still have practice wickets on the main field! Amateur hour and bad viewing for the fans.

2. Rafael Nadal. Possibly 10 wins in the French Open. He is a legend like no others in the current game. Andy Murray can be so tiresome. An early exit with him is a god send.

3. Margaret Court. Who really cares? Did she actually say those things. I liked McEnroe's comment "sure let everyone marry...why should they be spared from the misery?". Margaret and Ille Nastase seem like a good pair.

4. AFL. GWS continue to ignite the comp and win the tight games. this is the key difference for those who are semi final bound. they do not lose tight games. Special mention to the West Coast Beagles who were appalling this week. Their efforts away from home are abysmal. They cannot win jack with that attitude.

5. NRL. State of Origin ripper mid week. The game played by Tedesco was superb. Fifita was immense. Queensland will be back however. They have some bottle and will not lie down...ever.

I am struggling with golden point. It is oh so predictable. We need to get golden try into it. This will showcase the real skills of the players. It would be absolutely captivating.

6. Ronaldo. A showpony like no other, but how skilled?

7. Waratahs. They are appalling and are contributing to the death of the code like no others. No intensity and play best in the last ten minutes when it doesn't matter.