The Wrap - Slate of Origin

1. Wallabies. Outgunned by the Irish 26-21. Too strong and these northern hemisphere teams love a penalty. There were 26 in the game! There is a reason they are recognised champions in Europe. The decider/ showdown commences. Meanwhile the All Blacks juggernaut just steams on v France. Outside of the combined Lions Team, have they lost a home test at night in the last five years? Hard to recall.

2. World Cup Soccer. Great to watch I must confess. Intensity in all games - especially the last twenty minutes. Deliberate free kicks need harsher punishment - a sin bin in soccer? Matt Ryan and Aaron Mooy were stand outs for mine. Hard to beat the arrogance of a soccer ref. Just hope the video doesn’t let them down at the key moment. The goalline technology is a good invention. How good is Ronaldo, C.? A hatrick to save his team was stunning, regardless of what you think of him. Minnows get bad ref decisions...that is how FIFA work. Accept it.

3. Australian Cricket. Fill it with West Australians or ex WA players.... Agar, Tye, S Marsh, Short, Stoinis, Richardson (with Bancroft, Cartwright and M. Marsh to come)...and watch us struggle. The obsession with all rounders is destroying the team, esp. when they go for 80+ runs anyhow! Jack of all, master of none.

4. AFL. Swans have morphed and suddenly have more pace. Cracking win v West Coast. They will need every ounce of speed when they get to the MCG again.  They genuinely struggle to compete with the incredible width it offers. Carlton simply awful. Richmond are firm flag favourites today after their number on Geelong. Hawthorn’s footsteps are never far away.

5. State of Origin. The clean slate that Fittler has brought in is refreshing. Great timing with the retirement of so many QLD legends. Regan Campbell-Gillard reminds me of a young Mark Geyer. Mad and powerful. You get the feeling this broken jaw won’t stop him playing Origin for long. Tariq Sims would be a similar replacement! St George have been decimated and will be tested over the next month. However, St George have a winner in James Graham...he leads and has more steel than most - and the Berries are about to punt Aaron Woods!!! Terrible recruitment. Recruit Raelene Castle and Ray Dib instead.

Talking of poor recruitment...had the Cowboys ended Thurston on top of his game, they would still have Ponga, who they treated poorly when he signed with the Henny Penny Knights. The Cowboys have been appalling this year. It's about to get worse with Michael Morgan out for the season too!

6. Parramatta. Poor, poor defence. Poor, poor attitudes. Wayne Bennett to Parramatta? Revealed here two weeks ago.

7. NRL. Lots of close games tells us the salary cap may just be working. Souths are mighty impressive. The Tigers and Raiders are entertaining sides, but lose too often. Manly horrible. Very few can win it. Broncos, Panthers, Storm, Dragons and Souths...that's it. Maybe the Roosters and Sharks too with more consistency. half way through and the sheep and the goats are well and truly separated.

8. US Open Golf at Shinnecock. Tough conditions. Scott got massacred...and was not alone. The arrogance of Mickelson is breathtaking. It was actually pretty smart as it would have cost him at least two shots had it rolled away....but nothing more in the USA for a favourite son like Phil. He should withdraw from the tournament. Disrespectful to the game. If they slow the course down as promised, Dustin Johnson should clean up and win.