Wrap - Astro-noughts

1. Rugby League World Cup sounds good in principle and may do better being in Queensland venues as they prepare for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Can't believe Robbie Farah is still playing there for Lebanon, but good luck to him. Surely Australia will win the thing. It appears it is one up on the Auckland Nines, but not much higher than that.

Cannot believe the Roosters are seriously looking at Cronk. Those Third Party agreements are an absolute joke and as Bernie Gurr suggested, should be published. Failing this, the NRL should publish all salaries for their own NRL Operations staff - and of their players. Why they do not pay from the centre with their own money for clubs when they register contracts, I'd never know. A contract between the player and club sure, but clearly this could be a hell of a lot of more transparent.
Pearce is on the skids and deservedly so in recent years. He is not a natural leader, although he has won comps.

2.  Wallabies. A great win on the weekend v the All Blacks in Brisbane. A lot more discipline. A shame it wasn't a decider, but even still, time to get excited when we ever beat them. Israel Folau's try scoring record is mammoth. Stunning pace and toughness really.

3. Cricket. Great to see such rigorous preparation for the Ashes...the ING/ McDonalds/ Gillette/ Mercantile Mutual/ Ford Ranger/ Matador BBQs ODI Cup...a useless tour to India. When will we get serious? Dave Warner's bat is so much more brilliant than his mouth. He just needs to believe in this lifetime advice, before making stupid comments re 'hating' the English cricketers in an Ashes series.. even if we all do.

An outstanding list of rule changes to cricket is available at: https://www.lords.org/assets/Uploads/Law-Summary-Paper-Interactive-V6.pdf  

4. World Series Baseball. The Cubs lost the National Championship game v LA Dodgers. The Yankees also bowed out leaving: Houston Astros v LA Dodgers to fight it out. The Dodgers have been the best all year, but you never know!

5. Aaron Mooy for Huddersfield win 2-1 v Man United. A stunning display by a clever and skillful player. He will not be at Huddersfield for too long. Offers will follow him soon enough from some of the top clubs.

6. Lewis Hamilton has been awesome. What a star in the F1s. A fair bit of the goose about him, but amazingly talented. A few more points in the USA GP overnight and he wins another driver's championship. That will take it to 4...the same as Vettel, Alain Prost and one less than the great Fangio (5) and Schumacher (7).