Wrap - A Tale of Two Barretts

1. NRL. The crazy end of season form of a few top clubs continues to perplex the fans. Souths had the minor premiership in their sights and have gone to the dogs when it mattered. Then so did the Roosters, while the St George team has just capitulated. Saints look horrible. The Panthers have also just thrown it all away. It will be interesting to see if the Warriors can surprise a few in their first semi final appearance for a while. Somehow the Storm and Sharks just seem to be the most stable in big games. The Roosters have been shocking the last two weeks. The comp is anyone's guess.


2. Spoon-a clock. One thing needing no guessing is the wooden spoon winner. Their 14th such honour - is going to the Parramatta Club, replacing the triple crown winners and ending an era of supreme domination of the Henny Penny Newcastle Knights 2015-2017. Parramatta have now easily secured more spoons than the North Sydney Bears (9) and the Newtown Jets (8). Only Manly remain spoonless.


On Manly, I must say that Trent Barrett is beginning to look quite silly with some of the comments he is coming out with now. His inability to manage his players and win is the issue. Inexperienced and promoted before his time really. That club is on a knife edge. If the Penn family walk away, where will they be?


3. Wallabies. I thought the under fire Michael Cheika managed himself quite well in the press conference after yet another loss. He remained strong and clear but managed his agitation well. The bottom line is that we simply cannot compete with the All Blacks. Our Queensland rugby juggernaut is spluttering and with it our national team brings very little. Beauden Barrett is easily the best oval shaped footballer in the world. He is an awesome competitor and a machine in attack. A complete superstar.


4. BBL Cricket. I noticed the Thunder have signed both Joe Root and Jos Butler. Handy additions. I would also be signing JP Duminy or AB Devilliers. Those two are unbelievable. Andre Russell is another bloke the franchises should be queueing up to secure. A hat trick and a ton in his last game.


5. Virat Kohli. India look like they are hunting down England in their Test Series. Down 1-2 with two tests to play... and Kohli is by far the best in the world. It could be very interesting.


5. AFL. The Hawks may have what it takes to knock over Richmond in the first qualifying final. They are awesome for a team which was written off. They are so resilient and absorb pressure better than most. GWS seem to be falling apart when it matters and Sydney will take them on at home which makes it more difficult yet again for them. The Melbourne Demons are confident, but Geelong could spring a big surprise for mine. They have the best in the business in their squad and they will be itching to dominate in the finals. West Coast and Collingwood... it will depend on venue.


6. EPL. I am liking the look of the Bournemouth operation at present in the EPL soccer. The year looks a lot closer already which is a great thing. Even Manchester City are dropping points to Wolves! Plenty happening and such tremendous atmosphere at all games.

Wrap - Bledisloe Bleeding

1. Wallabies. It’s not often you go to the Wallabies v All Blacks at Stadium Australia and come away with a win. In fact since games were played there, the record is better than many venues, but not great....17 games played there. 7 wins and a draw only...mainly in the Eales/ Gregan era. Up 6-5 at half time then a complete capitulation. Found out badly on our left edge - especially when Folau exited. The laziness of the forwards is staggering. hard to ignore that when Queensland rugby is weak, our whole show is weak.





2. The Spoon. The Eels have just about sealed the wooden spoon for 2018 (after the Dogs won v the pathetic Warriors) and what a mighty effort it has been. Another appalling waste of money and with a spectacular new stadium, the thought of it being half empty is firming. They lack discipline in all facets of the game. Maybe this may attract someone who knows the game and can direct the club into the future...but not through the Saturday paper advertisement. Perhaps they have to get a bit corporate and be more sophisticated in their approach...more modern and more contemporary... maybe use the internet?


The only thing missing in this advertisement is the lacquer administration skill set for the fine collection of teak, pine, oak, ash, blackbutt, maple and mahogany wooden spoons.

The Sharks are warming up. The Storm too. Rabbits have squandered the minor premiership, but the Roosters were disappointing. How they ever lose with their roster is beyond me.


The Panthers, Warriors and are wasteful. They will need to lift.

3. Swans. What a mighty effort in recent weeks: Collingwood, Melbourne and GWS all knocked over against the odds. 15 semi finals in 16 years us awesome. I think Ricky Stuart has two in twelve years.

The big test is Hawthorn next week at home. No team wins tougher than them. Melbourne into the finals for the first time in 12 years is striking. Richmond is streets ahead of all of them.





4. Adil Rashid. Not often in Test cricket does a player not get a bat, not get a bowl, not take a catch and contribute nothing across four days. But so it was in the second test between India and England. Jimmy Anderson’s match figures 9/49. Much better than Adil. Adil, thanks for coming!




It was Chris Woakes who killed them with the bat and then with the ball in the second test. He has doubled up again in the third test which is on now to take more wickets. Handy player.





5. Tiger Woods. Tiger’s surge home in the USPGA was awesome. Spirits in the crowd were lively. This Brooks Koepka is something else. Composure and poise! More majors (3) than the nudist now and all in two years. A brilliant player from down Florida way.





6. Winx. A brilliant effort. Surging down the Randwick straight at supreme speed. What a record. Special to watch live. We may never see the likes of this again. Certainly not in our life times.




7. Usain Bolt. A joke or not, he can run but he can't play. The Mariners will have Manfred Moore there very soon.

Wrap - My Word Is Stronger Than OAK

1. Jimmy Anderson. In England and especially at Lords, Jimmy Anderson wreaks havoc. His swing bowling is easily the best in the world and he can rip through an attack like India with ease. He is almost unplayable after rain. Night Test cricket would make him also unplayable. 550+ Test wickets says he is a legend of the game. India's top order are on notice...nervous and unable to make a difference on foreign soil.



2. US PGA Golf. Brooks Koepka and Gary Woodland are on fire at what appears to be an interesting PGA course. Adam Scott is also well placed. Such days in majors are rare in a professional golfer's life. You have to rise up and seize the chance.



3. AFL - Hawthorn. This footy club has spirit and tenacity. Amazing strength and will to win. There are never any easy victories against this mob. Geelong are disappointing under pressure and all that with a roster that screams premiership. No one beats Richmond this year on what we have seen so far.



A gutsy win by the Swans and all of that away from home at the MCG where they are typically barbecued! GWS on a mission and on a roll now. They have more speed that most other teams and it could just make the key difference.



4. Memo Anthony Griffin and Phil Gould. There is no use crying over spilt (OAK) milk. Reminds me of the Jerry Maguire movie..."my word is stronger than OAK"


See Gus and Anthony Griffin in their negotiation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1exKGizfJ0s




5. Clearyesque. This dad and son combo is fascinating. Obviously Ivan will walk away after his Tigers contract is up. He hasn't been a real successful coach when it is all said and done. He's won 137/288 (148 losses and three draws), a tick over 50%. Not good enough really. Would you want him?



6. NRL. The Roosters look good things this year. They'll have Sonny Bill next year to replace Blake Ferguson as well. Angus Crichton will be a star there too. Storm will need to lift now that Slater is fading out. It will be intriguing to see how long Cameron Smith continues, but he never gets injured. He is made of steel. The Storm are looking like becoming like everyone else again. A few losses back to back and they have to play Parramatta next week. That should fix it.

Souths and the Roosters will challenge the Storm this year. The others don't seem to have it. Penrith are loose. Saints are falling hard. Sharks may have some bite left, but are way too inconsistent.


7. EPL. Back underway with the shortest off season in world history. These guys are machines. Entertainment machines...and fit! The usual suspects are in line to win it, but the minnows still love it and those small English grounds make for outstanding atmosphere.


8. Bledisloe... can we come within 20 points of the All Blacks?

Wrap - Monumental Wins

1. AFL. Buddy Franklin was outstanding for the Swans scoring six goals and hitting the post with three more. His hands were excellent under pressure too. A big win for the Swans who were under a lot of pressure. may not get there in the end however with a tough road home (Demons, GWS, Hawks). They simply cannot score points! Is Nathan Buckley a double of that bloke who rapped and caused mayhem from the last series of Married At First Sight (Dean)?

 

How close was the AFL this weekend? Five games determined by three points or less. Hawthorn win tough by a few points over Essendon as do Richmond over Geelong and North Melbourne by three points over Brisbane. Adelaide by three over Port. Close games showing fight and steel under pressure. No wonder AFL crowds and ratings are through the roof.

 

2. NRL. Souths beating Melbourne was an upset despite being on the same points. Anthony Seibold has worked a miracle so far with the Rabbits, but I can't see them winning the comp. The Eels win against the Gold Coast was a match of the most woeful. The Gold Coast are appalling. Parramatta have thrown away games all year. The wooden spoon race is one of the most interesting in the comp at present. Wins to Manly and the Dogs too. St George have also hit a bad patch which is an annual event. Widdop and Hunt need to step up. Cannot believe how terrible the Sharks were. Valentine Holmes was awful when it mattered.

 

3. Super Rugby. Crusaders won their ninth Super Rugby title and the coach Scott Robertson’s dancing celebration post game was again outstanding. He needs to keep up the lessons as they will no doubt continue to win it. What a dominant force.

 

4. Surfing. Stephanie Gilmore zooming in on seven world surfing titles. A staggering success rate.

 

5. Hockey - Hockeyroos. Penalty shoot outs in hockey are ridiculous. Keepers running out from the goal one on one with a player running in. Silliness.

 

6. F1. Daniel Riccardo to Renault from Red Bull. He needs more tall podium finishes. Surprising move, cash talks and he obviously needed a change. Red Bull's loss. Perhaps a more marketable European star (Maxy Verstappen) was chosen over an Australian star with a 'shooey' or two?

 

7. Cricket. Virat Kohli. Scored 200/ 436 of the team’s match total runs. The highest percentage ever for India in a single Test match. A truly great performer but needs some mates. India’s batting away from home is poor. Ben Stokes brained them. He will kill Australia if he can stay on the park. And he bats. A phenomenal test played with great intensity. Edgbaston is a fortress for England. It is 17 years since England lost a Test there to an Asian side. England’s 1000th Test ends in victory.