1. NRL. So Parramatta have been a lot stronger than anyone - especially me - thought. There is a strength that Moses has brought to their attack and Semi is on fire. Since Moses arrived, Jennings looks like he can play again. While the rusted on Eels fans don't want to admit it, they have actually been better since Gutherson has been injured. The Broncos were terrible, but Parramatta still have much to work on. Penalties is the first thing. A 2-10 penalty count v Broncos is hopelessly ill disciplined. Offloading a few of the reckless blokes will be needed once Scott returns to full fitness. He can lead a team to glory.
A final round win v Souths gets the Eels a top four finish. Unfathomable.
However, Grand Final winners? Not a chance. Not strong enough defensively. Their hooker needs more pace and their defensive concentration across 80 minutes is not a patch on Melbourne, or even the somewhat inconsistent Cronulla or Roosters.
The strength of St George and Manly under pressure situations were the weekend highlights. Both should be doing a lot better, but are delivering with their necks on the line. A bad loss by the Panthers in their circumstances.
2. Daley Coach. It is hard to get emotional about Laurie Daley's passing as NSW coach. It is based on results. Laurie has had his shot, but has come up empty. It is a fine line -- sometimes a point or two - between the glory and the glum. My fear is we will have half the Channel 9 commentary team in the sheds in future. Staggered to read that Sterlo may throw it in already. Please...toughen up.
3. Test Cricket v Bangladesh. Has there been a time in Australian cricket over the last 50 years where so many have cared so little about our cricketers abroad. It will be interesting to see the impact of the pay dispute on TV ratings and the like this summer. Especially if we continue losing.
Cummins, Agar and Lyon all combined well to roll them for 260. Lyon now is the second highest spin bowling wicket taker for Australia, eclipsing the great Richie Benaud. An incredible effort really. However the old Khawaja run out tactic and the silliness of a night watchman has Australia reeling at 3/18. Who would have thought it...Warner failing on a tough deck overseas. Is it unthinkable, or could he be benched for the first time in his career?
The star of Jimmy Anderson continues to burn bright. Yet another five for v West Indies. How good is he? Is he the only world bowler that swings the ball?
4. AFL. Heaven help them all if Hawthorn - and the Western Bulldogs - had squeaked into the final eight. It must be said that outside of the first six weeks, the Swans have been immense in 2017. However Adelaide, Geelong, GWS and Richmond have been the best. It is anyone's flag. The inconsistency of all of them has been staggering. Sydney (sixth) head to an elimination final v Essendon. This silly week off before the finals business is a disjointed reality that the AFL cling to for some reason.
5. EPL. More than likely the best world TV sport week in, week out. AFL would be up there too. ManU have been electrifying early in the season. The less the coach talks, the better they do.
6. Wallabies. They were brighter and led for strong stretches. How you can allow a kick restart to come loose is beyond me with so much on the line. The hunger of the All Blacks is awesome. The clutch moment saw a familiar weakness. A lot of players are happy to come close.
Chieka seems incapable of stirring them. It would be interesting to see how the high rotation of players through the Wallabies jersey at present compares to the Wallabies numbers of the past. There is a distinct lack of knowledge regarding the identity of too many Wallabies. Better, but still hard to get any traction with an already perplexed and agitated fan base.
Conversely, the Rats v Norths at the North Sydney Oval showcased all that is great about rugby - to its absolute faithful in the GF of the Shute Shield.
7. Winx. I neglected to mention this last week. An unbelievable horse with a stunning penchant for winning. How we all love a winner...even at $1.01.
8. 'Money' Mayweather did all that everyone thought he would... win. Some sort of spectacle. Some sort of record for 50-0. What a champion. The Irishman McGregor reminded me of a Monty Python character claiming he was dudded by not being able to smashed to the canvas. Please! Now how would Jeff Horn go here?
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Monday, August 21, 2017
Wrap - Reward Equals Effort?
1. Wallabies. Is there anything more predictable than a Wallabies loss to New Zealand? The inept first half display was staggering. The defence is atrocious and the will to win seems vacant. The affection for the jersey and its tradition sadly seems to be fading under the weight of money internationally and locally for this group of players...I am seeing a pattern from cricket to rugby league as well. Are we becoming a greedy nation where rewards need to be twice as much as effort?
Surely there needs to be some serious surgery here. Chieka...can he stay? Surely not.
2. NRL. The Melbourne farm system of player development is superb. Why does this club get it so right when so many others fail? If you are a CEO, the future of your club needs to be richly invested around Cameron Smith as your coach. That is where future success lies, but I suspect melbourne have already got him signed up for life!
Canberra gone. North QLD and St George are on a thread. Manly have been a major disappointment of late too. Brisbane and Cronulla may trouble The Storm for a short period of a semi, but it all looks like a purple shower of glory in 2017. Eels have over achieved. I had them for spoon winners early, but a terrific 10 point Origin stretch got them into the box seat. They will need a huge replacement for Semi when he moves on.
It could be a busy week for the Bulldogs at the stationery store, buying lots of paper for release forms and signing agreements to shed excess players. Pens too. Mbye is super over paid.
3. Alistair Cook scores 243 with the coloured cricket ball in their test v West Indies. His form over many, many years has been super impressive. Especially given he has survived for so long. The top order of the English is a worry, but no less than our worries...The bangers may really trouble us this week.
4. ManU looking very sharp and positive early in the EPL season. Chelsea and Liverpool too. Great to see Mooy score the first goal for Huddersfield in the EPL for a million years.
5. Nick Kyrgios. A solid performance in Cincinnatti v Nadal and Ferrer. A final in an ATP event...and a crushing loss. We are dreaming but maybe Nick may in fact get it before too much longer.
6. Swans. The win away at Adelaide on the weekend was incredibly tough and well earned. No contract offer to McVeigh for next year is a de-stabiliser as his composure is so important. I suspect that Jack may be the man to fall on a sword. Richmond may be seeing some light this year, but they have been inconsistent at times in a year of major inconsistency across all teams.
Surely there needs to be some serious surgery here. Chieka...can he stay? Surely not.
2. NRL. The Melbourne farm system of player development is superb. Why does this club get it so right when so many others fail? If you are a CEO, the future of your club needs to be richly invested around Cameron Smith as your coach. That is where future success lies, but I suspect melbourne have already got him signed up for life!
Canberra gone. North QLD and St George are on a thread. Manly have been a major disappointment of late too. Brisbane and Cronulla may trouble The Storm for a short period of a semi, but it all looks like a purple shower of glory in 2017. Eels have over achieved. I had them for spoon winners early, but a terrific 10 point Origin stretch got them into the box seat. They will need a huge replacement for Semi when he moves on.
It could be a busy week for the Bulldogs at the stationery store, buying lots of paper for release forms and signing agreements to shed excess players. Pens too. Mbye is super over paid.
3. Alistair Cook scores 243 with the coloured cricket ball in their test v West Indies. His form over many, many years has been super impressive. Especially given he has survived for so long. The top order of the English is a worry, but no less than our worries...The bangers may really trouble us this week.
4. ManU looking very sharp and positive early in the EPL season. Chelsea and Liverpool too. Great to see Mooy score the first goal for Huddersfield in the EPL for a million years.
5. Nick Kyrgios. A solid performance in Cincinnatti v Nadal and Ferrer. A final in an ATP event...and a crushing loss. We are dreaming but maybe Nick may in fact get it before too much longer.
6. Swans. The win away at Adelaide on the weekend was incredibly tough and well earned. No contract offer to McVeigh for next year is a de-stabiliser as his composure is so important. I suspect that Jack may be the man to fall on a sword. Richmond may be seeing some light this year, but they have been inconsistent at times in a year of major inconsistency across all teams.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Wrap - Piercing Performance
1. Sally Pearson. The self-coached Sally Pearson is an intense athlete. But how impressive is she? So focused and determined and has screamed back to the peak of her powers once more. An incredible effort from a driven and determined athlete. An exceptional highlight of the weekend. Dual world champion.
2. Usain Bolt. A sad way to end. He looked cooked to me at any rate, but the injury will be debated. Was he pulling a school athletics carnival fake trick? Why was the race starting so late? I was watching it live and the high jump presentation did drag on, but it was outstanding. Maybe Usain should have left after the last Olympics. A shame the winners were not given the glory.
3. Mo Farah. No go for the Mo 5K/ 10K distance running double this time but is he the world's best athlete outside of Bolt? He now turns his attention to the marathon...watch out!
4. The Swans' demolition of Fremantle was immense on the weekend. They monstered them early and were relentless, chalking up a few more points in their percentages. They look sharp, but I still think others can get them in the end. It has been some sort of fabulous effort to get this far. A huge test v Adelaide coming up. Geelong look there or there abouts and GWS seem to have it, if they can keep their discipline and intensity across four quarters,
5. Brad Haddin. A champion bloke by all reports, kind hearted, competitive...but fielding coach? That is hard to buy. With respect, what does he know about throwing and proper fielding? A silly appointment of looking after an ex-player who is not "ex" enough.
6. NRL. In the tight game, the Storm rarely lose. The Roosters pressed and pressured, but could not hang on...the QLD origin effect. Parramatta absolutely horrible last weekend (they could not win two games three years back to make the semis...is this happening again?) and the effort of the Titans was pathetic again. Jarryd Hayne could be in rugby by the end of the month! Canberra getting on a roll, but could be too late. Manly getting the hippee, hippee shakes!
7. Are the Tigers kidding? They have signed Josh Reynolds and Lolohea and have Brooks. Now they want Marshall? Next thing we'll have Benji up on top of that crowded scoreboard at Leichhardt. What a backward step. And there was Cleary offering hope. He has really only offered a chance of a wooden spoon so far.
8. Jason Day. Seen better days... a terrible end to his PGA round. Pampling's Happy Gilmore shot to speed things up for his playing partners is worth watching: https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/8/12/16137994/rod-pampling-drive-2017-pga-championship
9. Bledisloe Cup. The scoreboard attendant has been in the gym all week. His arm is warmed up and ready to go. It should be being played at the SCG.
10. EPL. What a crazy start to the campaign. Chelsea got smashed. That competition is stunning. majestic. Good to see Rooney score for his new (and old) club, Everton. The sooner this show gets back to its rightful home on Fox, the better.
2. Usain Bolt. A sad way to end. He looked cooked to me at any rate, but the injury will be debated. Was he pulling a school athletics carnival fake trick? Why was the race starting so late? I was watching it live and the high jump presentation did drag on, but it was outstanding. Maybe Usain should have left after the last Olympics. A shame the winners were not given the glory.
3. Mo Farah. No go for the Mo 5K/ 10K distance running double this time but is he the world's best athlete outside of Bolt? He now turns his attention to the marathon...watch out!
4. The Swans' demolition of Fremantle was immense on the weekend. They monstered them early and were relentless, chalking up a few more points in their percentages. They look sharp, but I still think others can get them in the end. It has been some sort of fabulous effort to get this far. A huge test v Adelaide coming up. Geelong look there or there abouts and GWS seem to have it, if they can keep their discipline and intensity across four quarters,
5. Brad Haddin. A champion bloke by all reports, kind hearted, competitive...but fielding coach? That is hard to buy. With respect, what does he know about throwing and proper fielding? A silly appointment of looking after an ex-player who is not "ex" enough.
6. NRL. In the tight game, the Storm rarely lose. The Roosters pressed and pressured, but could not hang on...the QLD origin effect. Parramatta absolutely horrible last weekend (they could not win two games three years back to make the semis...is this happening again?) and the effort of the Titans was pathetic again. Jarryd Hayne could be in rugby by the end of the month! Canberra getting on a roll, but could be too late. Manly getting the hippee, hippee shakes!
7. Are the Tigers kidding? They have signed Josh Reynolds and Lolohea and have Brooks. Now they want Marshall? Next thing we'll have Benji up on top of that crowded scoreboard at Leichhardt. What a backward step. And there was Cleary offering hope. He has really only offered a chance of a wooden spoon so far.
8. Jason Day. Seen better days... a terrible end to his PGA round. Pampling's Happy Gilmore shot to speed things up for his playing partners is worth watching: https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/8/12/16137994/rod-pampling-drive-2017-pga-championship
9. Bledisloe Cup. The scoreboard attendant has been in the gym all week. His arm is warmed up and ready to go. It should be being played at the SCG.
10. EPL. What a crazy start to the campaign. Chelsea got smashed. That competition is stunning. majestic. Good to see Rooney score for his new (and old) club, Everton. The sooner this show gets back to its rightful home on Fox, the better.
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Wrap - Mo Go Bolt
1. NRL. A few NRL teams have almost given up. Surely the decline of the Warriors under Steve Kearney has to be arrested. Steve seems like a lovely fellow but has an awful coaching record. He has to go to a place where the trees sway and not a lot happens.
2. Ashley Clown. I noticed that the world's worst ref, Ashley Clown, is up to his usual standard. Paul Green will pay his $10K and nothing will change. He might win the penalties next week though.
3. NRL Violence. How that Ofehengaue was not sent off for the Broncos late v Gold Coast I'll never know. May not play again this year once the judiciary get hold of him with their lettuce leaf treatment package. Terrible, terrible tackle. League has violence issues and a send off would have delivered a powerful message. Mums everywhere that were watching (rare) may just have decided this will be their son's last season of rugby league.
4. Pujara and Pommie Power. I noticed the Poo Jar - Pujara scored another first innings ton v Sri Lanka. He is prodigious. Unbelievable focus and an unbelievable resilience level. So too are the whole Indian cricket team.
The Titans were pathetic. A 54-0 loss is a 'coach ender'. It is an embarrassment to every bloke who walked on that field in their jersey. Where has Hayne's pace gone? Left it in San Fran? I wonder how much impact Hayne has had on the attitude and culture of that team. Is League on the Gold Coast ever going to work? Coach Henry will be on the scrap heap soon enough too.
The Dragons were terrible in their last ten minutes and seem like they have had enough. No desperation or energy to win. Bulldogs are keen to show their coach up too. They are done. Des will struggle to stay. James Graham needs to move on. I like how Newcastle are playing for their contractual lives too...plenty of new signings for 2018+ has woken a few up.
2. Ashley Clown. I noticed that the world's worst ref, Ashley Clown, is up to his usual standard. Paul Green will pay his $10K and nothing will change. He might win the penalties next week though.
3. NRL Violence. How that Ofehengaue was not sent off for the Broncos late v Gold Coast I'll never know. May not play again this year once the judiciary get hold of him with their lettuce leaf treatment package. Terrible, terrible tackle. League has violence issues and a send off would have delivered a powerful message. Mums everywhere that were watching (rare) may just have decided this will be their son's last season of rugby league.
4. Pujara and Pommie Power. I noticed the Poo Jar - Pujara scored another first innings ton v Sri Lanka. He is prodigious. Unbelievable focus and an unbelievable resilience level. So too are the whole Indian cricket team.
England have South Africa cooked too. 2-1 up in the series and getting plenty of wickets through Jimmy Anderson and Broad. Batting on English decks in overcast conditions is one of the toughest assignments in world cricket. Tougher than India these days with IPL exposure giving world players a lot more experience on their dusty decks. Tough County cricket import rules in England are closing off exposure there too.
Moeen Ali continues to impress...a hat trick to end and win the third test. A very, very handy cricketer. He will torment and triumph in the Ashes.
5. Speaking of Poo...what gives with Tennis brats and their parents as coaches? This week Poo's father is arrested for a despicable child-related crime...John Tomic continues to look more and more like Damir Dokic. Kgyrios makes a fool of himself yet again at the Washington Open, not understanding that his trashed reputation in the USA will hurt him in the pocket...speak to Anthony Mundane.
All the while, Thanasi Kokannakis reaches his first ATP final in Los Cabos, Mexico and arranges an autograph session to thank his fans. he beat Tomas Berdych to make the final. Not a bad effort.
5. Cashola. Thank goodness all Australian cricketers will continue to get lots of cash. We can all rest easy now.
5. Cashola. Thank goodness all Australian cricketers will continue to get lots of cash. We can all rest easy now.
6. James Pattinson has pulled out of the Australian cricket team tour to Bangladesh with yet another injury after a huge county cricket season. Hopefully with plenty of treatment he'll be ready for next year's very important English county season. Joke.
7. AFL. That win by the Swans over Geelong down there was outstanding. What a performance. Exceptional. I watched the North-Collingwood clash on Saturday night. What a bumbling klutz of a game. Hopeless. What does Nathan Buckley do all week? Skills were awful.
8. Super 15 Final - Crusaders Eight Time Winners. And there it was... the reason for the ordinary nature of Super 15s...midnight plus time scheduling for us to access games in South Africa. Can any Australian bear that? The break dancing of the winning coach, Scott Robertson, was outstanding. Sounds like a top bloke and doesn't take himself too seriously. That might just be the best thing that has happened in the game all season! Maybe that is why they won!
9. Bolt. Beaten by Gatlin, the multiple drug cheat. The crowd hated him and the International Athletics Federation of Fools should not have had him on the track. A disgrace, but Bolt was not making excuses. he struggled most of the week. Mo Farah didn't though...what a drug free legend he is. Ten successive wins on a highly competitive world stage. Amazing.
We might struggle to beat the Bangers over there too. They can play these days and we are typical big heads with little respect...this can cost you in the sub-continent. Now that would be a wake up call to our team and the embarrassing administration of the game. Cricket may just have set itself back many years over these past six months.
7. AFL. That win by the Swans over Geelong down there was outstanding. What a performance. Exceptional. I watched the North-Collingwood clash on Saturday night. What a bumbling klutz of a game. Hopeless. What does Nathan Buckley do all week? Skills were awful.
8. Super 15 Final - Crusaders Eight Time Winners. And there it was... the reason for the ordinary nature of Super 15s...midnight plus time scheduling for us to access games in South Africa. Can any Australian bear that? The break dancing of the winning coach, Scott Robertson, was outstanding. Sounds like a top bloke and doesn't take himself too seriously. That might just be the best thing that has happened in the game all season! Maybe that is why they won!
9. Bolt. Beaten by Gatlin, the multiple drug cheat. The crowd hated him and the International Athletics Federation of Fools should not have had him on the track. A disgrace, but Bolt was not making excuses. he struggled most of the week. Mo Farah didn't though...what a drug free legend he is. Ten successive wins on a highly competitive world stage. Amazing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)