Wrap - Storm Clouds

1. NRL. Let's give the comp to the Storm already. They have been outstanding again this year. What about Cameron Smith? 350 games and another 100 in him! He has set every longevity record in the game - NRL, Origin and Kangaroos. A true great of the game. Terrible displays by the Titans, Rabbits and Saints. Souths done for the year and the Dogs (although I suspect the Eels might struggle to beat them this week coming). Saints were awful losing unexpectedly to the Knights too. Eels a surprise and Manly soft. Manly are leaking a lot of points of late and have fallen in a heap. Broncos will not enjoy no McCullough for the rest of the season.

Whether the Eels can make the semis is another point. Moses looks slick and sensible. Kenny Edwards has unfortunately become a complete goose. Two or three seasons back Parramatta required ONE win to make the semis three weeks out - and failed. They now require two wins to seal it. Surely...

2. Cricket I. India have annihilated Sri Lanka. Kohli yet another ton. The work of Cheteshwar Pujara is amazing. He has chalked up yet another first innings ton. He has twelve tons from 49 tests at 52.18. His concentration is immense. He meditates at the crease and simply cannot be removed. Sheer talent.

3. Cricket II. The continued blitz of South Africa by England has continued. Jimmy Anderson is outstanding, but South Africa has been found out with the bat in hand. They have crumbled like the Australians do in England. Meanwhile England have the hippy hippy shakes with their top three bats. They simply cannot find a number 3.

4. Super Rugby. Has anyone any idea where this comp is at? Who won the semis? How poorly promoted are the semis. What a schemozzle! For the record the Lions play the crusaders in South Africa. A great reward for the Crusaders after NZ smashed all teams all year!

5. AFL. Hawthorn could do a lot of damage in the finals if they can get there. They have the absolute wood on the Swans. Play on a big field like the MCG and they win. Geelong are looking sharp. Adelaide need to pick things up away from home and were super lucky to draw v Collingwood after the siren. Western Bulldogs could surprise again from lower in the semi final mix.

6. Swimming World Championships. One world championship swimming medal for Emily Sehbohm - and no one else (?). What is going on in that sport?

7. Sport Rort. I get the distinct impression that in Australia, everyone in sport is trying too hard to be greedy in and around sport. (eg. Cricket, NRL, SANZAR....on it goes). At the local level, sports management and high performance hangers on are being funded heavily by parents. It starts at the junior level where rego fees are a joke. Everyone is trying to screw over the parent or the participant and accumulate funding for their opulent specialist coaches and directors of duds. Time for an absolute clear out.

8. How about this for an injury in sport? Baseball pitcher, Robbie Ray (AZ Diamondbacks) copped one this week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kdm4BcZeJ8