1. NRL World Cup. Tonga have placed a fair bit of pressure on themselves with Fifita and Taumalolo jumping ship to represent. Half their luck. This multiple representation is a joke, but a rugby league World Cup needs something as it lacks a lot. The problem for Tonga is that smart halves and little generals are in short supply in the Pacific Islands and those with cunning leaders who drive their team around the park, trump all others.
Can someone please explain the Josh Mansour selection? Please. Surely Ferguson, for all his sins, is a better option...or Addo-Carr. Unbelievable. What about Tedesco on the wing? Mal seems to have forgotten a number of things...Thaiday's phone number and the 'choose the best players first - then determine a position' philosophy...?
Fifita made a great decision to head to the Sharks over the Bulldogs and won Cronulla a premiership. However, his choices around abusing junior league referees, supporting criminals in jail, running across field in the last moments of the semi final where a straight run to the posts would have netted a chance for a field goal...his decision making is pretty poor.
2. Grand Final and State of Origin. And so it was that the Storm smashed the Cowboys in a pretty drab affair. Methodical and incisive. The "big three" are now no longer, but what a ride. Maybe now the Storm may become a bit more human. Hopefully their salary cap is in check and not being rorted so this one stands. The most dominant team since St George in the 1960s...? Easts? Parra? Manly? Bulldogs? Raiders? Broncos? have all enjoyed their moments over the last 50 years, but the Storm have eclipsed them with so many GF appearances and so many premierships.
When will there be an update to the State of Origin concept to include the Island nations/ NZ? The 'two International' option would be outstanding eg. Sam Burgess, Jason Taumalolo, etc...As would an Islander team or 'north' and south'?
3. Cricket. Liking the look of Coulter-Nile, but James Pattinson has done it again...broken down. A shame, but he needs to get himself right or be forgotten for ever. It is crunch time for him. I am extremely worried about our batting...Handscomb needs to make some hundreds. Renshaw, Warner, Khawaja, Smith, Hanscomb, XXX? WK XXX? Starc, Lyon, Coulter-Nile, Hazelwood. I think this Stoinis could be the answer. Mentally tough. Sure as hell Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Moises and Maxwell are not!
Pete Nevill got eight dismissals in a ODI v Cricket Australia today...a world record. Great timing.
4. Ben Stokes. Fame does strange things to people. Stokes is lucky he did not kill that bloke who collapsed to the ground. He appears to be yet another sports star who makes it big and no one is there who can contain him from himself! Self discipline vanishes and hope takes over.
I note that Warnie has somehow had all allegations of impropriety with a 'porn star' quashed. He is either the world's unluckiest bloke - or the world's luckiest, beating allegations and negative publicity repeeatedly. His behaviour seems to be spiralling.
5. Winx. What a horse! After 21 victories in a row is it simply a case of other owners and connections running away and leaving Winx to rake in the dollars? Does 21 become 30 soon enough because of this?
6. A (Minus) League. The public want to fall in love with it, but the standard at times is horrible. We need to attract some of Asia's best players to make it a better league. It really speaks to the misery that is the Socceroos...a 1-1 v Syria was unlucky, but when it is all said and done, do we really deserve to be there? Will it be that disastrous if we are not there for the two mandatory losses? Conversely, the EPL remains the most engaging, spectacularly entertaining game in the world. Spirit, excitement and strength as a brand.
7. Bathurst 1000. One of the great days for the petrol heads...A David Reynolds victory. Popular and great to see the lesser lights profiting when the big boys fade fast... Hope for all the lesser lights burns bright!
8. Japanese GP. Lewis Hamilton has been dominant all year. Riccardo...a great year with many podium finishes, but not much gold! A highly consistent performer!
9. Tennis. Nick Kyrgios in the China Open in Beijing - in the final v Nadal. Kgyrios has done well, but only for the ATP Cash Cup at year's end. A conundrum of a human. Talented, but more goose in him than your average farm.
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