Wrap - C'mon!

1. Test Victory. Great work from Travis Head on being man of the match in a Boxing Day Test. Great concentration when needed the most. Matthew Wade is now in the frame of being sacked. (Has anyone spotted Kurtis Patterson? A quad injury at the worst of times). The New Zealanders have been terribly disappointing. Winning the toss and bowling was a terrible decision in this last Test. The role of Warner in this Test cannot be underestimated. He was what held us together after Joe Burns tried his best to get sacked from the Test team in the first morning of the Test. The Australian attack is lethal - Pattinson, Cummins and Starc. Hazelwood is a long way off returning for mine.


The NZ big guns have not fired and they have struggled against our sheer pace. 0-2 down is a bad result for them. So many teams simply do not win away from home, including Australia.


2. Siddle Retires. The great Peter Siddle has thankfully retired from International Cricket. A war horse, but well past his best. We'd still be playing if he had played in Melbourne.


3. Classic Catches. Where has the BBL backyard cricket classic catches segment gone? The crowd catches? Some of these bits and pieces from the original BBL coverage actually made it work... then they stray from the formula. Like the original Classic Catches.


4. Bumpers. Neil Wagner's bumper barrage and seven wickets. Have the laws changed? Why are you allowed to bowl so many short pitched balls, a la the 1980s Windies? Surely this needs to be looked at. I bet if it was Starc bowling 140-150kph, the ICC would already have corrected this. It is almost that the underdog is allowed a bigger break than most here.




5. BBL Super Over (Sixers v Thunder). Cracking game. Can anyone work out why Khawaja faces the first ball of a Super Over - other than playing with a "hero mind set" and selfishness? This and the wide from Morris were fatal for the Thunder. Morris' efforts at the end were terrible. Hales was the man to win it for the Thunder and should have faced all deliveries. This is why Khawaja is easily dispatched as a Test player... lacks team spirit.


What gives with the indoor stadium in Melbourne? A terrible surface that is simply second rate - and has been second rate for a long time.




6. Australian Women's Cricket. Brilliant promo with the old "C'mon Aussie c'mon" jingle. The original Mojo voice seemed to be a bit croakier but great to hear it. The women's game get a lot right.




6. EPL. Liverpool are dead certs, but we had Man City win 14 straight last year to edge them out. Liverpool have beaten all the key rivals. Theirs to lose. Leicester holding up well. Arsenal have been abysmal.




7. A-League. So even and so drab... the teams are all the same. No one dominant. They are in desperate need of some star power.


8. Maika Siva. Hopefully not true and all will be well, but there is a disturbing trend for our Samoan/ Tongan players to be caught up in these matters this off season. Are they aware of their star status and what that brings? Some of the Integrity Unit findings of late have been quite special.

The Wrap - Commission of Feather Dusters

1. BBL. Chris Lynn is a matchwinner. Staggering talent but too often injured. 11 sixes in an outing is impressive in anyone's book. Threw away the ton really. The yellow cap (leading run scorer) is a good initiative. I am also proposing a blackcap for the worst bowling strike rate and a red cap for the bloke who drops the most catches. The BBL is very good TV however. Lots of Afghanis, South Africans, Pakis and Pommies. Not a West Indian in sight this year... Good to see matt Renshaw do something. Hasn't scored a run in two years.

2. Adam Scott. Big win in the Australian PGA. Nice to see Stewart Cink playing golf still. Scott has excellent poise, but I thought the broomstick putter was banned if anchoring was involved. Is Scott doing this? Obviously not, but is it policed? Disappointing crowds.

3. Boxing Day Test. Not sure that Steve Smith is in a batting slump. He just needs to alter his technique fractionally and stay composed. I will back him in for a Boxing Day ton. He seems easily frustrated this summer. Pattinson could be awesome in this Test. Bring in Cameron Green as well and get rid of Mitchell Marsh.


I noticed Peter Siddle had to be treated for smoke inhalation after the abandoned BBL game v the Sydney Thunder in Canberra on the weekend. I wonder if it was smoke being blown his way by Justin Langer who indicated he gets a call up before Jhye Richardson, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird and Riley Meredith!


4. NRL Integrity Commission. Some of their finest work with David Fifita. In jail for a few days, but no case to answer. Shapelle defence lawyers perhaps?


5. ManU. Hitting rock bottom in losing to Watford 2-0 when Man City and Chelsea power on. It is their lowest ever points total at this stage of the season. pathetic really for one of the great clubs ever. Liverpool a mile in front now and still winning silverware with the Club World Cup v the Brazilians - Flemenco.


6. NRL Sex Tape Scandal. Is it just about time for this sort of scandal to rock the NRL again?


7. New England Patriots. They have just won an incredible 11 straight AFC East Championships. Tom Brady and his team are steaming on to the Superbowl again.

Wrap - Circus Comes To Town

1. The President's Cup is extraordinary with how many world golfing stars descend on us so quickly. Super field and huge crowds really. A little raucous and merry, but amazing quality. The Internationals folded badly. Tiger was immense and is such a star. The Internationals were pretty weak comparatively, but the crowds were immense. Reed copped it badly, but outside of a boys' weekend of golf, you can't do that stuff. Iron it out!


And then the private jets were all gone again...!


2. Cricket. I have been struck by Steve Smith getting super frustrated this summer. He seems very tense and irritable. This is what got him into strife in South Africa. He needs to loosen and lessen the tension. His dismissals v Pakistan and NZ have been awful really. Both in this Test were appalling really. The trap set and he hits a catch twice!


3. Mitchell Starc. For someone with 236 Test wickets, you get the feeling he should have a hundred more. In scintillating form this summer. He has been the difference and if they still had the Benson and Hedges smokers BMW, he'd be favourite to do the lap of the SCG in it in early January.


4. Nathan Lyon. 375 Test wickets in 94 Tests. One short of Malcolm Marshall and on the way to Ian Botham's 102 Test 383 Test wickets. He has certainly picked up his game of late and seems to be picking up key wickets as he did once upon a time.


5. EPL Liverpool. Surely it is all over now. They are unstoppable and seem to find a way to win every time. A long season yet, but they are supremely positioned.


6. BBL. Starts again this week. The Melbourne Stars have every star in the book. Surely they win, although the Brisbane Heat with AB De Villiers won't be far away.


7. Peter Siddle. Is this bloke the luckiest cricketer in the modern era? Fancy bringing him back into the Australian team... surely we have better.


8. Shayna Jack. We might now be more worried than ever about her drug charge. Kissing someone who has had cocaine? Is she telling us something about her partner?


9. The Cricket Australia administrators who have barred the WBBL player for posting the team sheet early... please. That is over blown and ridiculous from an organisation who cannot get its crap right first. It is poor form and needs to be reversed. Would they have done it to a male BBL player?


10. Latrell. Can someone give Latrell a hug and a cheque so we can all move on?

Wrap - Gutsy Performers

1. Intriguing NFL Season. There are five teams on 10 wins-2 losses as the snow begins to fall in the USA. The New England Patriots of course are up there, but the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints. 16 regular season games a year means these teams are certainties really, unless they completely implode. The Ravens look the goods.


2. Australian Open Golf. How does that tournament keep surviving? Jones too good, but nearly came home in a hearse! It gets fringe players at best. I would have thought with the President's Cup so close, it could have pulled more names. Cash is the almighty in world golf. The Hero Golf Challenge hosted by Tiger just has more cash!


3. Andy Ruiz Jr. Proving the first world heavyweight title was a fluke, Ruiz was showing more guts than the SCG Hill. He has a power punch however and is tough! Anthony Joshua out boxed him with superior power and reach. The heavyweight belts of the world are well worn items!

4. Latrell Mitchell. How sad is it to see a bloke surrounded by bad advice and open hands. He should be staying at Bondi, but the attitude was not going to be tolerated. Disrespect I suspect landed him offside with the Roosters. He was still the highest point scorer for the season out of all clubs.


5. Moises Henriques. Please don't tell me he will be recalled. He has had a bumper batting season thus far, hitting a few tons and a ninety odd. Another 116 on the weekend. Has never quite delivered on his promise.


6. MCG. Can Melbourne get anything right at the moment? Their cricket wickets are appalling. Fancy in this day's level of technology, getting a drop-in pitch so wrong. Too much water? Check the dials and gauges and give yourselves an upper cut. True to cricket's pathetic obstinacy, do we go to a neighbouring oval... no call the whole thing off. Fools. You would not be happy if you were pressing your claims for national selection. Stoinis looked sick playing on that deck. No different to the West Indies pitches way back.


7. Besart Berisha. This guy is amazing the way he keeps scoring goals and he doesn't mind who he plays for...Roar, Victory...now Western United.


8. Son - Tottenham. The goal on the weekend in the EPL by Son was stunning: https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/tottenham-hotspurs-star-son-heungmin-scores-goal-of-the-century/news-story/af6e168ae6ddb647d1d3ebcdb2375ff6


9. Patrick Reed. He needs to come on a boys golf weekend and educate us all on how to improve your lie in a bunker! Cracking 'camera angle' excuse! And he was leading at the time.

Wrap - Currency of Runs and Wickets

1. David Warner. Much maligned and deservedly so. However he gets 335* that probably could have been over 400. I love the critics who dare speak out about the quality of it or the timing or the Hayden record...lap it up it is rare. We have seen three in our lifetimes! (Taylor, Hayden and now Warner). He has extraordinary talent and has redefined the game. Now though is not the time to be talking about cutting back on cricket. Brain first...then mouth.


The way the Aussies fielded they needed to declare. Their catching and ground fielding was woeful in the first innings. Starc should have had 8 for. The ineffective nature of Nathan Lyon is another concern. Rarely does he rip through a team for us. Can you recall a recent one? Yasir Shah should never score a 100 against you.


2. Selection Problems. You have to give credit where it is reluctantly due sometimes and despite thankfully leaving the Australian Cricket Selection table, Greg Chappell is still coaching/ mentoring/ guiding our youngest U/19 cricketers. (Not sure why they can't just send him into retirement with Trevor Hohns?). It was Chappell that unearthed Marnus Labuschagne in the Test arena. A good find now he has matured his game, but let's see how he goes against India and South Africa... even New Zealand.


3. Captain-Coach Selectors. A new era. Interested to see how George Bailey fares. Is he tough enough? He said he might use social media to inform players of their sackings... how ridiculous. You are either selected or you aren't. More runs and wickets - the only currency that matters.


4. Pink Ball Tests. No one really wants to bat under the lights with the swinging pink ball. Australia even enforced the follow on to avoid it. One thing the sub continent teams love doing is batting! Under lights tests everyone, especially when Starc is steaming in. We could regret the missed stumpings and catches.


5. Oh The Pain... Paine looks like he is struggling. A chronic finger/ hand injury could be the perfect out for him as skipper. His batting is terrible these days. Meanwhile Carey belts 143 for South Australia...


6. Latrell Mitchell. Is there anything sadder than a sports star with a million hangers on and a future of regret? Evander Holyfield lives in a two bed apartment these days. The player becomes filled with silly greedy ideals (for the benefit of others) and loses out. His entourage rivals that of King Lear. No club needs a star who is hard work. Think Hayne. The Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys and now Tigers have shunned him. Is there a message there? The saddest thing is that Latrell is the last to see it. Then roll out the old "I'm going to rugby" line.


7. Anthony Mundine. Perhaps Mundine is sadder, but he is not stupid. He gets beaten in the ring by a nuffy. Time to stop Anthony... you are losing credibility. Does he need it on social media to advise him? He has the cash however.


8. Liverpool. 11 points ahead and now destined to win big in the Premier League this year - barring a disaster. They rarely lose these days!

Wrap - Pakistani Birth Certificates

1. Naseem Shah. Can you imagine the precision at the Karachi Births, Deaths and Marriages office? A bit like the Samoan/ Tongan one. This Naseem Shah would cause a bit of pain for the U/16 lads in school cricket. He bowls at pace. A little like Shoaib Aktar. It seems extraordinary, but I think Waqar Younis was 20 for about three seasons too.


2. Great innings by Warner and by Labuschagne too. These were big tons in the context of the series. Tim Paine needs to focus on his game. More silly comments about the scentof an opponent to go with his babysitting ones. He should concentrate on scoring runs and getting dismissals. I suspect he needs these more than the ridiculous comments. Starc looking sharp. Cummins powerful.


3. B.J Watling. The New Zealand keeper is a star performer under pressure. The number of times he rescues the Kiwis with the bat is stunning. 8 Test tons is impressive in the modern era. He has saved them again v England. A double ton under pressure works well! An understated star of the NZ Blackcaps.


4. Valentine Holmes. Signs for a squillion...but where are Cronulla in all of this? They have been dudded. Nonetheless the NFL Dream was basically a quick snooze on a Saturday afternoon and not much more. Good luck to him, but I doubt a six year contract will be seen through by him. He is restless. SBW like.


5. NRL. Have we reached a time where no one cares enough anymore about the pay packets or drama... so long as they get their fix on TV?


6. Rugby. Interesting rugby move to get the All Blacks Academy on our soil. Just don't let any Australian coaches or past players near it and we should be right.


7. Nick Kgyrios - Davis Cup. The  new system of Davis Cup was all going well until Nick Kgyrios hurt his collarbone at night and cruelled our chances... collarbone at night? Wrestling on bed? Fight? How does one do a collarbone at night? Very odd. But of course we then lost and the rest is history. Nick is as popular as a dirty dunny seat. It seems odd, but he did say something smart...tennis has too many nothing tournaments and needs a revamp.


7. Cameron Smith. Playing on for another season... When will he become head coach?


8. EPL. Leicester sitting second and 9 points adrift. Liverpool just keep winning. Klopp has a stunning record since arriving at Anfield.


9. A-League. We could have an unfolding fiasco on our hands here. No big names and no glamour. Failing crowds and interest...a new TV deal which could be a complete dud. Maybe they need a heap of sixteen year old kids to ignite the public interest.


10. W-League. How about the over reaction of the "corruption" in W League. Providing a team list... wow. Don't invite Cricket Australia to a BBQ...they bring sledgehammers to kill flies. Honestly...

Wrap - Take No Prisoners

1. International Rugby League - Kumuls Pummel Them!. The changing world order in rugby league has been a long time coming, but surely the Pacific nations are positioned to become the dominant partners now. I have trumpeted a State of Origin concept involving them as well. If they were smart in New Zealand, they would pit the mainland against the island nations and replicate the success. The Kumuls had a great win 28-10, but how ordinary are Great Britain? Bennet should retire immediately and forget he ever went near them.


2. Over It. How long can the league season go on for some of these English players? John Bateman must be well over it by now. They need a rest. The prisoner, David Fifita, left for Bali with a million dollars a season offers, uncertain of his future. He hits shale and now his career is back on track at the Broncos? Something is not right here.


Really liked the NFL stance on stupidity of players involved in a brawl at the end of the game with that 'helmet donging' incident. They fined the clubs $250,000 each. This is a good way to keep them in check and remind them that they are registered by the governing body each year. Imagine how quick that would cure nonsense in the NRL?


3. Paul Gallen v Barry Hall. What gives with a 'draw' in boxing? What a disgrace. There is a grubby underside to some of these decisions unfortunately. They need longer rounds. The money in this pay per view boxing is outrageous.


4. Sheffield Shield. With four outright victories already, NSW may well make the final after only four rounds. They will take some stopping now.


5. Kurtis Patterson. Has he been kidnapped? What has happened to him? Surely he is a better prospect than Cameron Bancroft? Bancroft has literally done nothing all year and he is picked. Surely not as a fieldsman, no matter how good! Not because of his WA connection?


On that, would the exit of three top shelf players from the one state citing mental health alarm you if you were an official? (Maddinson, Maxwell and Pucovski). I get the feeling that Pucovski is a rough diamond, but every time he gets close to a Test debut, yet another challenge mentally arises. Hopefully they are all fine. Cameron Bancroft could not be happier or luckier.


Don't dismiss Daniel Hughes as a future Australian opener either.


6. A-League. Can we have a marquee player or two please? This will change the comp to its original intention. We will have a mediocre, going nowhere comp forever soon. It brings great joy to many.


7. NBA. A record crowd of 17,000 watch the Kings v Illawarra Hawks. Impressive!


7. Tennis New Era. Thiem v Tsisparis. The old guard of the brilliant three - Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have vanished momentarily. I suspect they will be back!

Wrap - Cup Winneth Over

1. Rugby World Cup. Awesome win by the Springbox. They were tough and relentless. They surprised the English. We have certainly learned a few things about rugby these past two months. Japan was an amazing venue with great crowds. The quality of their fields were even better than their team however. England were tremendous, but in the end South Africa just did it all better. The defence in world rugby is so good that fifteen players looks about five too many. Eddie Jones will surely not take the Australian reigns again... What of the deposed NZ coach. We need a road map plan for the future of juniors and the achievement of excellence.


2. Rugby League - Tonga Win. Unlike those critical of the Australians, we need not be surprised. The NRL has become a massive talent base for all Pacific Island nations and has really promoted those players. How good would it be to get them involved in an Origin type game as well? We need more regular games. No shame in this loss...it could well become the norm!


3. Melbourne Cup. After the winning tip last year on Cross Counter, I am on Mer De Glace. Looking for seven wins in a row. It was rocketing away with the Caulfield Cup at the finish (2400m) and should prove too strong at the end of the Cup (3200m) for mine. I also like Surprise Baby at $15. When will the Frankie Dettori stories start saying how hopeless he has been in Australia?


Liked Kerry O'Keefe's line "anyone can have a bad decade or two with the Cup"...he last won on Doreimus. It feels like this most years!


Are the overseas horses killing the Cup? Having a proportion of Australian runners locked in needs to be safeguarded. Otherwise it holds no interest. eg. The chances of ARWON (Nowra) being represented these days is dead.


4. EPL. Both ManU (10th) and Arsenal (5th) are apparently about to punt their coaches. Both teams are doing diabolically! It is Liverpool's to lose now. Interested to see Melbourne United the new A league team doing so well. Depth will tell in time. The Perth Glory are seeking Zlatan Ibrahimovic which will surely lift crowds. They will need some sheckles there as he is an (ageing) gun!


5. Cricket. Once again, no real stars in the Shield. Marnus still absolutely excelling... Trent Copeland is still reeling the wickets in for NSW. Chadd Sayers is doing the business in SA and S. Marsh keeps scoring. Wade is steady and wins games for you. The test series will be a good grounding for some that need a chance. Kurtis Patterson has vanished!

Wrap - All Hansen Deck

1. Rugby World Cup. England wins v All Blacks. A great effort by the best pack in the game. Their strength coaching is awesome. Their halves and backs look like they eat full grown wallabies. That draw is something else. Wales and South Africa have a hell of a lot of luck riding on it all. Is it just me or is this the world's longest tournament? Is Steve Hansen available to coach Australian rugby and transform its lumbering carcass? Surely Raelene's position comes under heavy scrutiny. She has not had a happy time of it in Australian sport.


2. Idiot Watch. Not sure how the Storm did it, but Vunivalu seemed to escape any punishment - or the player tackling drunk idiots into the Bali pool. They then got Nelson to miss getting hammered by the Kiwis...not a Storm game touched. Genius. Not surprising to see Josh Dugan in the news sadly. I am also fearing that Barry Hall may whack Paul Gallen into another hemisphere. He is a big man.


3. Women's Cricket. This is fast becoming more interesting than the BBL. The concept could well fade under the weight of retired world hopping ex- players... and Chris Lynn gets upset he didn't get a phone call from selectors? Please. No whinging from the girls...Perry, Healey, Blackwell... superstars.


4. Alex De Minaur becomes our highest ranked tennis player with decency for some time. Forget 'No Brains Nick'. Great effort from someone who never gives up. Ash Barty has set a new standard I suspect.


5. EPL. Leicester City have brained them early this season. 9-0 v the hopeless Southampton. That is impressive! ManU are in free fall and need rescuing. Impressed with Chelsea under Lampard.


6. T20 Cricket. Why do we play these useless tournaments? The ICC have no systems and no shape to their world playing schedule. Money, money, money... Some would say it has fallen apart since Richie Benaud and Tony Greig left us. Warner's ton and the other batting was pretty entertaining - especially Maxwell - but Sri Lanka are a shambles whenever they come here.


7. International Rugby League. Great that rugby league has an international stage, but it is a small one really. Lots of good Pacific nations - and a spectacular Tongan try, catch it here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=408247176754899



8. MLB. Amazing World Series of the Washington Nationals v Houston Astros. Teams that lose the first two out of the best of seven games (Astros) and have to claw back to win the whole thing are very, very rare. With the series locked at 2-2, it is exciting times here.


9. Cox Plate. The short straight at Moonee Valley gets them every year! What a great time of racing for the punters. Lys Gracieux won in style. These Japanese horses can run! Chief Ironside at $27 was a cracking overseas player too! Derby Day will be outstanding!


10. A-League. Suddenly the A League has sprung to life with the Sydney derby and a full Bankwest Stadium. Jamie McLaren is in sparkling form too.

Wrap - Cheikmate Everest

1. Cheikmate. "The Rugby world is in shock with the resignation of Michael Cheika who had simply had enough of all the useless players and staff around him and demanded more. Speaking via satellite, Cheika reported feeling betrayed by the media, the back and front office staff and stated he was sick to the back teeth of all the losses they were handing him". Renee Castle may need to watch the locksmith doesn't surprise her when she turns up for work too. They need a complete clean out. Too many coaches and assistant coaches and bag carriers and gear stewards... honestly.


2. Wallabies. Terribly ill disciplined and lacking flair. Excited about the junior Wallabies who beat the All Blacks. Can we turn things on their head a little and actually get some more enterprising halves? Genia...please. We need smarter players with more speed. England were far too good and will go close. Wales no chance...NZ awesome. Barrett, B is simply the best there is in the world.


3. NRL World 9s. How can you have a tournament like this and only play on a Friday and Saturday? Most peculiar indeed.


4. The Everest. That race is the most cracking horse race in the country - if not the world. Yes, Yes, Yes was a superb winner. Great to see old Glen Boss (our age) win too. The Melbourne Cup is still the dux, but the Everest with so many horses known by everyone locally, is a hit. Get rid of the international horses at the Melbourne Cup to rediscover that feel. All Cup runners should have to have a minimum number of appearances in Australian races eg. five runs before competing.


5. Shield Cricket. Regretably, Shaun Marsh is back (214) and will hit another series of pathetic form bubbles across the summer but having him start with a double ton means both he and Mitchell will be back in Australian colours. Justin  Langer could not be happier! Mitchell is meant to be captaincy material so the papers say, but he is out of action because he punched a wall! Give me a break!


5/40 and 4/20 from Starc is much better...Warner two ducks (what is going on there?). No runs from a whole heap - Khawaja (2 and 0), Burns (39 and 22), Wade (20 and 40), Head (0 and 12), Harris (69 and 8)...Labuschagne (32 and 33no) is still showing tenacity, but cannot crack a ton. Pattinson 4 wickets... no Cummins or Hazelwood at present.


6. EPL. Leicester and Jamie Vardy are surging at present. Onto 17 points. Nine points in front of the struggling ManU. Even Crystal Palace are performing better than them in 2019. Liverpool will stretch their competition lead out to 8 points with a win over ManU in their game tonight.


7. A League. The new Western United team are looking pretty good early. Maybe put another team on the Gold Coast!
8. The Storm almost got away with the Nelson Asafa-Solomona issue. Surely these folk cannot play the game for extended periods, but they are painted as victims and we roll over!

Wrap - Spectacular Fails

1. NRL Grand Final. Hard to explain away a loss on the strength of a 'six to go' call that was reversed. Extraordinary though it was... Canberra dropped too much ball out wide and could have used the shorter kick through the line occasionally for mine. Joey does some great things and some dumb things ('dead marine' lying in the play the ball when the try was scored) so he will not really be missed if picked up by another club.


Croker for all he does well, worries me, but he was OK. Taking Charnz off at the end with cramp was not helpful either as he was a star. Ricky's decision to go into the game with Simonssen was curious. Wighton has grown up a lot since Origin too and played hard. He will be an Origin star in years to come with his electrifying pace and toughness. Soliola and Horsborough were two who excelled for them. They toughen the middle well and straighten up the play. The red headed one needs more minutes! Bateman was superb as usual too - so tough and sensible.


For the Roosters, Latrell Mitchell is not getting the accolades he deserves for the pass to Tupou that set up the Tedesco try. Talent. His goalkicking under pressure was pretty amazing too. JWH was powerful. Brett Morris impeccable under pressure. Too strong in the end. Cronk has delivered two premierships. They will certainly miss his lead in years to come. Young Flanagan is talented, but no Cronk. Cronk should be signed immediately as a coach by an NRL team who wants to win. No wonder Melbourne dominated for so long and no wonder Smith was so annoyed he left!


Suddenly Trent Robinson is up there as one of the greatest coaches of the game has seen: 3 wins out of seven seasons. Ricky has one GF win (2002) and three GF losses now (2003, 2004, 2019) as coach.




2. NRL Debacle - Half Time Entertainment. Tuesday's team meeting at NRL head quarters should be interesting.  The honest debacle of the Ryan James Acknowledgement of Country (shades of Mal Meninga's political resignation speech) was added to by the fiasco of the pass the ball competition into the back of a car at halftime. We then got a bloke in his Julius Marlow's kicking for goal only to shank it 10 metres. Then Daryl Braithwaite and Ian Moss were playing 'Horses' and all of a sudden the players returned to the field. Amateur hour.


Our obsession with fireworks continues. At least last year's relay of the club mascots was put to rest - and we were spared a cheating running/ pass the footy relay. I still think there is scope for the "League Olympics" across the semi finals and onto Grand Final Day. Kick for goals from ridiculous angles on the 10 metre line, drop kicks from 30m - 40m and 50m for goal, league's fastest man over 100m, longest punt kick... simple, but the crowd would love it.


Then of course now we hear that there were two Clive Churchill medallists - JWH and Wighton. Two Canberra blokes, Laurie Daley and the horn blower, Mal Meninga were the judges with Lockyer... please. When does Peter Beattie leave and will Greenberg own any of this?


Add this to the trainer impeding the ball (and how did the Roosters get it back - please?) and the 'six to go' controversy... All we needed was a parachutist hitting the roof of the stand or an Optus TV bursting...or a few metal spikes left on the ground from 'Rip Rip Woodchip...'., or Billy Idol.
Do we have an iconic rugby league song? Boys Are Back In Town (Thin Lizzie) or Simply The Best (Tina Turner). Can't beat 'Up There Cazaly'!


3. Rule Changes NRL.
A couple spring to mind:
(i) Trainer lingers on field? Penalty at half way to the non-offending team.
(ii) Ball not handed to the opponent at a turn over - 30 metre penalty against. Like the AFL 50 metre penalty.
(iii) No injury time outs when not near the play. What happened to that rule?


3. Next? So we head into Hardie Ferodo 1000 Territory. Love a bit of Bathurst and a few crazies. The Marsh Cup is over hopefully and maybe some proper cricket will appear soon...


4. Rojit Sharma. Two tons in the South Africa v India Test. Rare days, but South Africa are in some bother now without Amla and Steyn. Du Plessis and de Cock are stars, but not many others.


5. EPL. Very impressed with the work of Liverpool who are already eight points ahead. Is this unbeatable already? Man City (16) and Arsenal (15) sit next and the early efforts of Crystal Palace, Leicester and Burnley pit them well on track for a cracking year. 30 points just about gets you out of relegation problems.


6. AFL Draft. The time of year when the disaffected, dishonest and the turn coats come out to play. Daniher to Sydney is huge, but there is no love this week. Papley is a curious character. Surely you cut them free when they want out. Tomorrow.


7. Rugby Union World Cup. Once again a World Cup of something with minnows wasting everyone's time. Get rid of them and tell them to "get good"! Have a minnows World Cup instead somewhere else and relegate the useless officials to that one. There may not be enough in the main cup from what we are seeing. The advantage rule is killing the game. It was a better game without it.

Wrap - Grade 1 Lime Green Donuts

1. Canberra. Great to see the lime greens making the Grand Final, but they are not beating the Roosters for mine. Never like seeing too much celebration in getting to the Grand Final, which they did, but the Canberra team deserve great congratulations. They will need to play the game of their lives and they have done it twice v Melbourne this season.


Their outside backs do not tackle like the Roosters. I really worry about Jarrod Croker in defence. Wighton can only do so much. The toughness of their forwards is a strength - Bateman, Horsburgh, Papalli. I just don't think they can match the fire power across the park that the Roosters boast. Manu, Morris and Toupu... these guys are amazing in defence. Cordner is superb out wide. His defence is awesome and he does the tough runs from his own line so well.


The HIA is a serious matter these days and the game can shift rapidly with these cases to key players. Yet head gear seems a forlorn part of the kit bag. Will it become compulsory? Interesting that mouthguard technology is being trialled and tested at present for tracking severity of concussions in AFL, Rugby and NRL.


Tedesco the Dally M for mine. He won the Origin and the semi v the Storm on his own. A superb player.


2. Storm v Roosters.  Nothing like a team beating the Storm. The fans love it! No one in Sydney is that disappointed that Melbourne faded. They are an astounding success story regardless. Interesting that Smith is no guarantee to continue on next season. They did better than most thought this year. Souths also overachieved. Cook has been injured for weeks. When he runs from dummy half he is a different player and menacing. He hasn't done it for four weeks.


3. GWS. Thumped - absolutely crunched! 114-25. Stagefright, like the Swans v Hawks a few years ago. I can't cop a coach who makes no changes when the game is getting away from them. Leon Cameron wanted to play a game with lots of hand passes and finesse. He was pig headed and arrogant when it was failing fast before half time. Instead he persisted.


Unfortunately, Richmond just own the MCG and have been winning since 13 June this year...12 in a row! A superb performance. Dominant. GWS will struggle to come back from this for a while. Richmond meanwhile have started a dynasty that may continue a little while yet. My tip is Brisbane to surge back. They had the NEAFL in hand this year and have pace to burn.


4. World Cup Rugby. Great win by Japan over Ireland (shocking loss really).


Rugby is still a rank amateur sport. The refereeing standards across the globe are woeful. The TMO is no better. Australia lose and at best will now be in the worst side of the draw. Rugby is yet another of the great unaccountable sporting organisations in the world. Honestly, this sport lets its players down all the time.


5. Dumb Rugby League Ideas - Caddies. When will we have caddies for NRL kickers? I can see it with wind and other pressure moments. A great new invention. That way we can have another delay and more Grade 1 charges! Grade 1 hair pulls, sirens...


Dumb Rugby League Ideas - Face Slaps. Is there much difference between an angry open hand slap to the face - and an open palm fend to the face?


6. Marsh Cup. Of course it is called this in tribute to Justin Langer. Khawaja a ton. The women's T20 saw two stunning performances...Beth Mooney 113 off 61 and Athapaththu 113 off 66 balls. Good going in anyone's book.

Wrap - Sin Bin Whim

1. NRL. Souths will be kicked hard by Canberra. What an advantage to have beaten Melbourne and get away from the Roosters/ Storm side of the draw. Great reward. Souths were pretty flat and Manly were marginally worse. Terrible sin binning of Trobjevic, but don't grab blokes in support I guess.


Melbourne were just too clinical for a Parramatta team that simply cannot defend in their own red zone. They put the ball in the in-goal time and time again and simply dominated possession. They were more desperate and know how to win. Parramatta make too many handling errors and basic poor tackling reads. Under pressure, the Parramatta decision-making was awful. The nerves and stupid kicks... the shoulder charges... the slow defensive line speed... Luck off Moses leg, the Fijian flyer, Vunivalu, was exceptional knocking the ball back in.


It was like the 2009 Grand Final. Shell shock and inadequate play under pressure by Parramatta. Their Grand Final was last week v the horses.


Sivo had a complete shocker. Did a shoulder charge, knocked into the winger not even looking at the ball, dropped the ball, took the ball when he should have let it go dead...scored a try in his own in goal. The naive newcomer Fijian player cannot wash any more after 22 tries. Parramatta's inability to take the line on in attack was pathetic really. Gutherson and Moses were the main offenders. Gutho's efforts from the back were woeful really. They got a little lucky but Parramatta deserved nothing else. The difference between blokes who make poker machines and blokes who use them.


2. The NRL Referees have lost the plot. Open palm slaps - fair dinkum. The Jake Trobjevic and Cameron Smith sin binnings were ridiculous. The NRL referees want to become the star of the show in finals time and have once again over reacted to the whole Storm v Canberra game. can't believe they dropped Ashley Clown... he'll be back.


The Souths fight under the posts...the Souths blokes are both fined and the Manly bloke who used the initial open palm gets off! Go figure.


Referees are best not seen - ever. That is the best ref. Bill Harrigan was good at this.


Three Parramatta players gone to HIA in three minutes. This is where replacements should be able to come into the game. Silliness.


It may be time for Todd Greenberg to step up - or out.


3. AFL. Richmond will be pretty impossible to beat at the MCG. The GWS stagefright (Parramatta) factor may become real (?). If it is dry, both teams have players who have so much speed. This needs to be observed by other clubs. Speed wins in the modern game. Note that Swans. GWS finally deliver on their promise and against the odds it must be said. Will be a cracker. A Grand Final in the middle of the day is such a better thing. We miss this in the NRL.


4. World Cup Rugby. Great stadium and awesome atmosphere. Ireland, NZ impressed and France/ Australia impressive in patches. However the game is far too slow for viewers these days. Some re-assessment of rules need to occur in rugby:


1. Time off when ball not in play. Eliminate the NFL approach which has crept in however. Laboured.
2. "Scrum clock" to enable scrums to be completed and done in a set amount of time - no more. Scrum resolved or penalty given.
3. Quick tap in rugby is excellent but it needs to happen more often.
4.  No stupid bombs/ kicks from the scrum by the fly half. Useless tactic.
5. Advantage is only for 10 seconds  - no longer.... then it is play on! It goes too long.
6. The 'play on' for the final play at the end of the game is excellent... but why not save a few more minutes across the game.
7. Replacements are made in the flow of the game - not to slow down the game when it is getting interesting or a a team is under pressure.
8. Get defenders back further at the breakdown.


5. Marsh Cup OD Cricket (Did Justin Langer name this?). Stoinis hits a six on the last ball of their innings to get a ton...and brings up Will Sutherland's ton as a bowler (1/102). This is a ridiculous tournament with super poor timing...Why are we playing it now? Young Nick Bertus from Castle Hill debuted for the Blues on the weekend making 69no. Great prospect.


**Must say that Matthew Wade produced in that final Ashes innings under pressure. I wonder whether his mouth pushes him out of contention. Surely Kurtis Patterson and Will Pucovski need to come in and Head needs to make runs.

Wrap - Fireworks Overload - Touch and Go

1. Ashes. There is a decided worry when you win the toss at the Oval (noted batting deck) and bowl. Why do you do it? Is it a rain forecast (clear), arrogance (possibly) or is it that your batting is so terrible you want to test the opposition's terrible batting (tick). Across the system, the top order batting of Warner, Harris, Bancroft, Khawaja, Wade (one ton aside), Paine has been awful. Horrible. Stuart Broad never tires of playing us. His wicket tally blooms against Australia. James Anderson would be very upset. Warner and Harris can't get out of there quick enough. Pathetic really.


I noticed Australia needs a bowling coach...Jimmy Anderson might be worth using? I noticed Brad Haddin is returning home too... I like the presence of Steve Waugh around the team - and if Warney could pull his head in for a short amount of time, he would be useful too. I think he gets too much money elsewhere. Imagine if Warney was a selector!


The best news of the whole campaign is that Greg Chappell is finished as a selector... Hopefully Hohns follows him out the door too. He should join Kevin Chappell playing golf making a 59!


Steve Smith to return as skipper ASAP. Wade never to play again. Carey in for Paine. Joe Burns in as opener with Warner and Pucovski and Patterson included and patiently nurtured as the future with Labaschagne and Smith. Positions are up for grabs. Travis Head has let his position slip badly. He was 'a lock' going over.


2. Fireworks. Have we become fireworks mad as a country? We seemingly need fireworks whenever we step out to watch sport at night - or so some people think. One in the eye for little Joey... there's a court case right there. The fireworks metaphor is so clichéd in contact sport at night, but this might represent a re-think. The gas flame burst is the other approach....warms you up on a cold night at least. More day time games for me. A better standard.


2. NRL Finals. You have to give it to Canberra. Two wins in Melbourne this year on the back of thumping defence. Love this Horsborough and Bateman is a superstar (best pom since Ellery Hanley). Jack Wighton has become a super player this year. So quick on his feet and tougher for the Origin run. Sezer is also playing really strongly. Compare that game to the Manly-Cronulla game. Chalk and cheese. Manly won well, but no intensity really. What a disappointment Cronulla have been. They are set to go backwards like all premiers, but need to offload the salary cap "sponges" of Moylan, Woods, Johnson and Prior... expensive players who should go to England. Where was Fifita when you needed him? John Morris may need the hall of mirrors in the off season. He is on thin ice.


3. Touch and Go. Storm blow up about a touch judge call late in the game. Why can't that be reviewed? Anyhow, bad luck. Storm will still be there. Parramatta were awesome 58-0 v the terrible horses, but somehow you struggle to believe Parramatta will trouble them. As for the touchie...it could be "go" for him. BankWest stadium is a great venue it must be said.


4. AFL Finals. A great game between the Brisbane Lions and GWS. A great advertisement for supreme pace and its dominance in sport. Both teams are incredibly young and quick. That is the future. Liked the Geelong effort through Dangerfield. Always great to see the back of West Coast... so Collingwood, Geelong, GWS and Richmond it is... Richmond are specials for mine. A massive unbeaten run is their only issue.


Can GWS overcome their qualifying final hex? They need to be smarter in the key contests under pressure. Really like Toby Greene (grubby at times, but exceptional) and the flying blonde wig at the back, Nick Haynes. Supreme talents.


5. Basketball World Cup. The worldwide strength of this game is getting better and better. We just never seem to get to that gold medal game... Bogut is close to the Kgyrios of the sport. No medal in the end was disappointing.


6. EPL. Man City a loss to Norwich Canaries. Thank goodness. The EPL needs more upsets to keep its spice. It can become too predictable.


7. US Open - Nadal. How good is Nadal? He may pip Roger.... but those three will always be remembered as the best ever. Dominant.


8. Rugby World Cup. Does anyone hold any hopes for our chances? Maybe the fact no one does, is our best chance?


9. Great run on the weekend by Bivouac in the 'Run To The Rose' - and by our mate Tony Macrae's horse, Spanish Dream in the ninth at Rosehill on Saturday. A Sydney winner - sensational effort.

Wrap - Steve Smith Duck

1. Serena Williams. Still the greatest but has lost four out of the last eight finals. She appeared a shoe- in at the US Open and lost. She has been in 33 Grand Slam finals for 23 wins/ 10 losses... still two away from beating Margaret Court. I cannot see Rafa having any troubles in his final. He will go to 19 Grand Slams once behind Federer if he wins. Awesome player.


Meanwhile Ash Barty is in the doubles final. She keeps on winning but was disappointing in the singles.


2. The Ashes. Steve Smith is incredible. Sure, it is against a lower ranked side in England, but he is amazing. Gets 82 in the second innings toying with them. If he ever gets out we will struggle.


I think the whole of Australia lives in fear of a Smith duck. That might be bigger headlines than sandpaper gate! A Steve Smith duck is when you get belted so hard all you can do is duck! How good is it seeing the opposing skipper get a golden?! Joe Root under pressure.


The openers have been abysmal. Warner is the first since the great Graeme Wood to get three ducks in a row as opener. Wood was the greatest 'duck or a hundred' man you had ever seen. Mark Taylor had a terrible Ashes series going back and got a career saving ton at the Oval...hopefully Warner gets the chance, but Broad has him beat! Harris has been abysmal. I would be tempted to bring Carey in from county cricket - or Kurtis Patterson/ Will Pucovski, especially if we win this test.


Smith should be reinstated as skipper and Paine retired this summer. Carey is needed for the future.


3. AFL. Super wins by Richmond, Collingwood, GWS and West Coast. The crowds at GWS are getting worse. They are not western Sydney at all and have no traction there. Homebush is not west - sorry. West of Bondi, but not heartland. Richmond will be too strong again. The MCG masters.


4. NRL. Staggering that the Broncos will get a semi spot after the year they have had and they could knock over Parramatta first week as well. Tigers v Sharks was a cracker, but a shame they could both not be there. Loved the Gal field goal. He struck it well. Still believe Roosters are foxing and can win it again. Storm are strong as usual and with the NRL giving them rings and concessions left right and centre under Greenberg, they will be there at the end. Sam Burgess is a liability these days. He needs to be punted soon. Too ill disciplined.


Talking of which, how bad is this Hudson Young? What gives with this galoot? Suspend him for a long time and get rid of the current match review mob. Too confusing and pot luck.


5. NFL. How about the great coach, Bill Belichick? He gets a disaffected Antonio Brown from the Oakland Raiders on the cheap and again it will be a master stroke. He will star for them and they will go close again under Tom Brady's lead. Nothing like the attraction of success.


6. EPL. What about Watford? Four games in and their coach is sacked! Love it.

Wrap - Rough and Tough Calls

1. Ashes Cricket. (I need to get you to re-read last week's first Wrap item...scary). It didn't take too long. Mitchell Marsh is back in the selection frame (and Graham, PJ, Rod and Mrs Marsh...). This WA obsession will ruin Langer eventually. I thought he was smarter. Wade is on the rack - so is the great under performer Usman. He never gets runs when you need him and really needs the Shane Watson treatment that Shane never got...drop him hard and make him learn through pain. Don't be surprised if Bancroft gets in there somewhere too.

 

Our capitulation in the Headingley Test was a disgrace. I love how the media cast it as a great cricket moment. It was for England, but our bowling, fielding and poise were not world best. As predicted last week, we seem to bring great cricket moments to others and rarely if ever own them ourselves (SCG Test with India and the great Ishant Sharma glove fiasco, when Clarke got wickets is one notable exception...and then the team was attacked in the media!). We have lost too many tight ones to England (Botham, Flintoff.... Windies at Adelaide all those years ago...South Africa at the SCG... on it goes).

 

I put a lot of the blame at the feet of Tim Paine. The media coverup of his hopeless batting ("he's a great leader"...like Mike Brearley) is pathetic. See it for what it is...we cannot pick a bloke who is good with the gloves alone. Otherwise Darren Berry would have played 100 Tests for Australia.

 

2. NRL. The eight will come down to a Tigers v Sharks game for a spot. I cannot believe Cronulla have struggled so much in 2019. Injuries, sure but so has everyone. The coach and off field nonsense has hampered them. They are in strife with their roster and salary cap moving ahead. Poor leadership. Penrith is worse. Titans pathetic...Knights an amateur show. Storm-Roosters-Raiders...the best teams. Manly a terrible loss.

 

3. AFL. The big showdowns are on this weekend. I have dollars on Richmond (over Brisbane), Western Bulldogs (over GWS), Geelong (over Collingwood) and West Coast (over Essendon). Geelong-Collingwood stands to be a cracker. Still out on the week off and whether that adds to or diminishes the tension.

 

Once again the Hawks show the way with Roughhead being offloaded at the right time. Keran jack goes too which is well timed...and McVeigh. Attracting players to Sydney will be a challenge. If Papley and Zak Jones leave they will be in pain. Offloading Buddy Franklin needs to happen soon too.

 

4. EPL. You can almost call the show off after four rounds. Liverpool are on 12 points ($wins from 4 games), Man City on 10 and ManU/ Tottenham/ Chelsea are all scratching for form. It is such a competitive comp at the big end. Leicester showing good early form. Their win a few seasons ago was incredible when you really stop and look at it.

 

5. NFL. Shocked to see Val Holmes cut. We have had so much success with blokes who play X-Box NFL and then head there for glory and fame. It is a tough gig. Plenty of punters making their mark however.

 

6. US Open Tennis. Nick the dick has gone again thank goodness. Barty carving it up again in her incredibly stylish manner. Cannot see anyone challenging outside of the big three for the men's championship, but really like Djokovic on this surface. Djokovic has won 4 of the last 5 Grand Slams since Wimbledon 2018. Awesome. Osaka will be hard to toss in the women's as well.

 

The amazing facts of the big three are:

 

• Federer (20 titles, 31 finals, 45 semi finals, 55 quarter finals)
• Nadal (18 titles, 26 finals, 36 semi finals, 39 quarter finals)
• Djokovic (16 titles, 25 finals, 32 semi finals, 45 quarter finals).

 

They are the three leaders in these categories of all time. Domination.

 

7. Mad Monday. Is there anything more ridiculous than dress ups for football players? Honestly. Fools. Why do you never see Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith dressed as superheroes, etc? They are too busy playing finals and for their country!

Wrap - Ashes Miracle

1. Ashes Miracle. No matter what way it turns today, there will be an Ashes miracle. A miracle that Australia with their poor batting and lack of application could retain them - or a miracle they could score so many fourth innings runs to win it. Ben Stokes is the man for it if they can do it. Hopefully Nathan Lyon will produce. He is the GOAT Australian off spinner, but he rarely rips through a team to drive us to victory. perhaps tonight is the night. We have had a fine history of not being able to win the tight one, so hopefully we can tonight...I think Botham/Border/ Thomson... Flintoff/ Brett Lee... can we win a tight one?


2. NRL. Manly seem to be getting better and better. Des Hasler has done a spectacular job this year. Their wins away at Melbourne and Canberra are tremendous. Canberra need to tighten up under pressure. Brainless Joey Leilua needs to be more composed under pressure. He put his team behind when they did not need it through his ill discipline and resulting 8 point try. Roosters and Storm both look commanding. There are not that many in it this year. Souths still look awful. Eels a bad loss this week.


3. Nathan Brown. Newcastle are an amateur show there in so many ways. Getting thumped this week is a bad sign. The clubs not in the semis are imploding... the Cowboys' coach and Morgan are bluing, the Titans are hopeless and Saints are no doubt looking for a coach like Flanagan with McGregor going south. McGregor's pre game chat was appalling. He has lost the dressing room and the carpark.


4. Richmond - now nine in a row. I suspect they will be unbeatable on the MCG if they stay there. So in control when on that field. Geelong are rallying...Collingwood a possible, but the Western Bulldogs could surprise.


5. Rugby. Sydney University win the Shute Shield and 67 players are selected for the Wallabies World Cup team. It is harder to miss out on that one and the newspapers just don't bother listing all the names any more.


6. EPL. A slow start and you are doomed. ManU look to be suffering this curse as Liverpool stride on.


7. PGA Golf. Rory, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka are in line for the FedEx $15 million prize. Big dollars.


8. US Open Tennis. All getting underway this week again. Put your money on Djokovic and Serena for mine.

Wrap - ICC Incompetence Yet Again - Near Death at Lords

1. Steve Smith. The efforts by Steve Smith confirm our worst fears. England can knock us over cheaply when the sun is not shining. If it was not for him, the Test could well be almost over, even allowing for two days missed through weather.

Like many, I was watching when he was dropped by the Archer delivery. I honestly thought he was dead - like Phil Hughes. The mandatory inclusion of side levers on helmets is a continuing disgrace following Phil Hughes' death so long ago. Uncomfortable? Awkward? Bad luck. Death is more uncomfortable. I have been banging on about this for years. That was a sickening blow live. Archer was generating some huge speed. Scary. Then Siddle comes out wearing the side levers. Go figure.

While we are at it, when is someone going to produce cricket gloves that withstand a cricket ball? Has the technology improved in the last 30 years?

The booing from the Lords crowd was disgraceful. Those Pommies wonder why Australians hate them so much in sport. Arrogant and pompous. We love thrashing them.

Jofra Archer was generating great pace after lunch on Day 4. Jimmy Anderson, as good as he is, was not really missed. Broad is amazing against Australia. He lifts and executes brilliantly. Smith was unflappable. Awesome leadership under immense pressure. The rest come and go far too quickly.

2. Wallabies. After a big week last week, the Wallabies were punished badly. Not having a Test win in NZ for 23 in a row is terrible. However 36-0 may have looked a bit harsh. Rarely do the ABs lose a game at home under lights. get them into the sunshine! We really never looked like winning. We have plenty of people believing, but it came crashing down after 20 minutes, if not before.

3. AFL. North Melbourne crushed Port Adelaide to do an 'All Blacks' on them. One week terrible, the next awesome. Both Adelaide sides have fallen in a heap. Collingwood storming home and the Lions are doing the business with Charlie Cameron on fire. Nine in a row for the Brisbane team whose pace and fight is killing the opposition. McCarthy's mark was awesome! Geelong have some worries heading into September. Richmond will be the team to beat. Geelong and the woeful GWS are too inconsistent.

The standard of footy is getting better and better as the weeks go by.

3. Cameron Bancroft. Great catch at short leg, but simply not sharp enough with his batting technique. He labours around trying to absorb the strike and see off the bowling, but fails when it matters. Broad has a field day against him. He potters, wafts at thin air like a golfer before teeing off on the first, and he has had more edges than a 50 cent coin. He puts incredible pressure on his batting partner. His steel has been tested and he has not risen to it. Warner has been a massive disappointment too after a splendid World Cup.Warner is in a world of pain...dropping catches reveals the inner mentality.

5. NRL. South Sydney are in a world of pain. They are looking worse and worse as the year unfolds. Sam Burgess was not himself (under threat of joining his brother in England I suspect), but Foran and Cogger were solid. Damien Cook is not running the ball enough. They are stopping his creativity and the same is true of Cody Walker. Bennett needs to lighten up or his season will crumble. Reynolds looks uncertain too.

Canberra made a stunning statement as Melbourne lost another one at home - but after having led 18-0. The scrutiny on the Storm tackling techniques on the ground are important for the game. Ben Cummins is woeful gifting Melbourne two sin bins.. even still Canberra bounced back to win. Papalli did the business. How many tries would he have scored as a junior footy. He is a big man.

Parramatta have stuck to the task well and face a stern test with the Bulldogs this week. The Bulldogs have had a great second half of the season.

The Sharks are struggling. Is Moylan worth the cash? Woods? Roosters on fire.

6. NRL. There are some heads that need to roll in that joint. The great cover up (not the deed) after giving Barbara Smith, Cameron Smith's wife a diamond ring; the inability to get the Match Review Committee's consistency right; the refusal to acknowledge James Graham's 400 top flight games and the concussion test fiasco. Peter Beattie makes it all a bit comical at times. What else?

7. Ash Barty. Still having to put up with being World Number 2. Hopefully she can lift in the chase to US Open glory. Not sure she is fast enough on that surface, but she will go close. Can we fine Kgyrios a million? Fool.

Wrap - Reverse Swing Retires

1. Wallabies. Beauden Barrett. He still can write his own cheque to move to NRL. What a star he is. Kerevi strong. Nic White very sharp. O'Connor looks bigger and humbler. I liked To'omua at the end, but the game was done by then. The All Blacks were ordinary it must be said. Not having won a series since 2002, the Bledisloe decider at Eden Park will be great watching. 47-26 is a good result for Cheika. Can we have a daytime test v New Zealand? That is our best chance? Bring back old afternoon time rugby. Hooper is an amazing player. NZ cop a red card for a shoulder charge and Ponga almost puts Gutherson in the grandstand and cops nothing...


Can we get a ref who has some fitness? That ref from France had a gut. The northern hemisphere stooges love to try and sink our showpiece games.


2. NRL. Upsets. Warriors over Manly and Bulldogs over Tigers. Paul Momorovski had a shocker at the end with a goalkick you would have been embarrassed with down the park. Parramatta are winning and you can't argue with that, but they will need to work hard to beat the loss of Ma'u and Moreoa next year as well. Signing David Fifita would be huge. Alvaro and Gower will not win you a comp. Amazing when a half back takes the line on, how the team wins. Look at Croft at the Storm, understated, but the best in the business. The half back who stands and passes all game is not threatening the opposition and not driving the team forward. Look at Keary, Cronk, Munster..to the line and a really late pass. The cut out pass to the winger is the key play these days! Rushing up and in defence by wingers is extinguished with that tactic.


3. AFL Upsets Weekend. How awful were Essendon? 21 goals in a row for the Dogs at one point. 137 v 30 odd (and Essendon kick the game's first goal - their next one was with 4 minutes to go). Just tipped out the Gold Coast Suns who should be shipped out and closed down.  Rodney Eade was laughed out of town way back, but he did best there. Geelong beat North 69-14 to confine them to their lowest score ever (one goal only). Hawthorn crushed GWS who are easily the most inconsistent team in the comp. Teams did not cope with the cold at all - or the snow. Geelong, Brisbane, Richmond and West Coast continue to dominate.


4. Ashes. Can Bancroft stay in the team? He should be banned for another year the way he batted in the first Test. He can't get a run and needs to lift big time. Bancroft is under a lot of pressure and should be punted if he can't produce. Harris is easily our best bat over the past twelve months and is very unlucky. Wouldn't be that Bancroft is a West Australian would it?


Great win by the Australians. Lyon three wickets shy of the great DK Lillee and only 31 years old. He could hit 500 wickets by the time he is done. Smith a superstar and captain in waiting. Smith has 25 Test tons (same as Kohli) and Ponting ended on 41. Smith has played 65 Tests, Ponting 168 Tests. Tim Paine is a great guy and gloveman, but we have never chosen fieldsmen as skippers. Score more runs!


5. Retired. The great Hashim Amla has retired. South Africa have a lot of rebuilding to do now. Faf du Plessis is 35 years old and AB de Villiers is gone. (I notice he still kills them in the County Cricket T20 blast.. and Darcy Short too).


6. Reverse Swing. Has anyone noticed that since the sandpaper scandal, there has hardly been a ball that has reversed in world cricket? I wonder what has happened... maybe those new Kookaburra and Duke balls... or would it be that illegal tactics have been stopped? I still think Starc and Hazelwood knew a lot more than they have ever revealed. Ironic that both were left out of the first Test? I wonder how the Pommy lolly supply is going?


7. The Quick NRL Tap. Is there anything other than poor fitness from referees that stops the quick tap? Or the right spot of paspalem to take it from? Open up the game please... This would smarten up the game, but instead they are not using the correct mark (please...). Refs need to speed up at the breakdowns and shut down arguments and captains questioning decisions. Yet to see a decision reversed this season! "Sure, you're right...let's reverse that penalty or overturn the bunker's hopeless work"...never happens - move on!


8. EPL. Back on as the world's longest and possibly most entertaining comp. Liverpool come colliding back into form and the top five clubs will thrash it our as usual - Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, ManU and Arsenal, perhaps Tottenham. The English crowds are awesome as usual. Very amusing seeing the second tier debutants go around. They need to learn quickly how the game is played at the highest level.


9. Who is the bigger galoot at present - Josh Maguire or Nick Kygrios? One grabs your eyes with his hands, the other makes you put your hands over your eyes and wonder what could have been.

Wrap - Overcoming Sandpaupers and Paine-staking Ashes

1. The Ashes. The pathetic softness by our batting was best revealed in the pre Test shootout between our batters. Most players got single figures in both teams. This then continued at Edgbaston in the first Test as well. Our openers with their sandpaper memories and the boos needed to did deep and really be patient. They were sloppy. Warner's form in England has never been great. He has never hit a ton there. He needs to knuckle down and get hectic. My worries re Bancroft's temperament have been founded. He needs to be rested already. Marcus Harris needs to enter the fray.


We also need to quietly remember that these are two teams not at the top of world Test cricket. England (4) v Australia (5).


The selectors are clearly overthinking things. Too much left hander/ right hander obsession. Is Greg Chappell still sniffing around or has he gone? Fancy not playing Starc and thinking that Rory Burns was a soft dismissal that would be easily achieved? Brad Haddin has said that the rest/ rotation policy needed to occur across the series (please...). Rory Burns batted all day and we had nothing - not even Carpet Burns. In fact, Cummins bowled around the wicket to him at one stage, inadvertently emphasising how silly the decision to omit Starc actually was. Sure, Hazelwood rarely gets big wicket hauls, but nor does Siddle. When Matthew Wade is needed to bowl it shows the error too.


The crowds were not strong in number really either. Small grounds. However the theatre and excitement when Steve Smith was in full flight was incredible. A great theatre for cricket at Edgbaston. Smith has been extraordinary and really it is time for Paine to exit quietly and let the real captain takeover. This batting was the quality of a batsman who knows how to lead. Paine meanwhile is painstaking - and his batting in complete ashes...


The crowd's rendition of "He's got sandpaper in his hands..." was very funny. They sing like no other nation those Pommies. However, how much do we love a pompous, arrogant Englishman who thinks their lolly rubbing on the ball and other tactics with zippers on the ball are all forgotten. They are a strange lot.
The efforts of the bowlers are worth congratulating, but Siddle still looks like a trundler. Lyon may be the key man. An Edgbaston Test can turn on its head at times.


2. NRL. Melbourne Storm should do the lap of honour now. No one gets close to them unless there is a major injury to Cameron Smith or someone else like Munster or Chambers. Brisbane, Warriors are finished. Penrith are too (pathetic loss to the Berries) and it looks like the Knights as well. Tigers are rallying and with the semi finals up for grabs, Parramatta. The eight looks like: Melbourne, Roosters, Souths, Raiders...Sea Eagles, Sharks, Tigers.. Eels? St George have a great roster but have been awful. Their coach is under immense pressure.


3. The Gold Coast. I have called for it to be banned for all sporting teams and nothing changes my mind. Thumped in every code. Justin Holbrook is crazy. A cash pit.


4. AFL. GWS again beat the Swans - and the Swans lose by less than a goal for the fourth or fifth time this season. Richmond march on. Geelong are weak...they need to switch on and start dominating or they will bow out early, despite the excellent start to the season. West Coast could do a Storm and sneak back to back titles!


5. Robbie Farah. Almost gone, but continues to mouth off. As a bloke with ability, his attitude has held him back a lot. He needs to become the world president of Lebanon Rugby League now. Oh and don't forget a beer on the scoreboard before you go...


6. Nathan Brown to Jesse Ramien..."I won't take it personally that you want a new club and are looking around without telling me.  So don't take this personally... take your gear and go!". They say that Ramien may head to the Storm. He won't be getting the dollars he seeks there either. has talent however.


7. Tennis. Kgyrios winning in Washington, but can never exhibit enough discipline to win when the whips are cracking. Not getting anywhere near Federer, Djokovic or Nadal in the US Open. Will enjoy the seniors tour when he gets there.

Wrap - Capabianco Capers

1. Ashes Team. The First Test starts this week. Not sure about Bancroft. His temperament worries me at times. That he is a right hander he is lucky as Harris has been the dominant cricketer in Australia in long form cricket. Why did Harris not go to England to play County cricket in advance? Silliness.


Of course Langer ensured Mitchell Marsh was there...and Mrs Marsh, PJ Marsh and Dan Marsh, Rod, Graham, Geoff...


The English crowds are going to be fierce. Steve Smith's form is not great either. The pitch they played their warm up game on was a dangerous joke. Michael Neser may be the x-factor who moves the Duke ball. If Hazelwood gets more than one wicket an innings we should all do handstands. He needs to lift and get multiple wickets if he is to play. What version of Mitchell Starc is going to show up? They have too many blokes in the squad too - 17? Really. When will some of these other blokes actually play? I hope there are tour games in between like the old days... otherwise there will be a lot of blokes practising their scoring and bowling in the nets.


If you are not in the first Test team you are only looking at the third Test. Honestly, when will Siddle play?


This Chris Woakes is bowling really well. He's sharper than he looks. Jimmy Anderson, Stokes and Broad will be tough on their decks as usual.


2. Rugby League. What a stupid rule it is when two footballs come onto the field...as if we need to worry about the other one. That is a new time delay used by players, runners and even the crowd. Get rid of it.


3. NRL. Des Hasler has made a stunning difference at Manly. Their two props - Fanua Blake and Marty Taupou are tremendous players. Finally the value of the off load is being appreciated by NRL coaches. Moses Sueli has been transformed into a super force. Three clubs couldn't cope with him.


Who is coaching this Gold Coast rabble? They need a complete rebuild.


4. Golden Point - Melbourne v Manly. A great game of footy, but can we agree on something else? When they do the Golden Point toss, one answer is needed... either "WE WANT THE BALL" or "WE DON'T WANT THE BALL". Referees of course try to over complicate it all.  Seven tackles plays with silly kicks kills you. The Jake Trobjevic tackle was bad, but that's despite having made 66 other good tackles. 67 in the game - awesome! The first half of golden point was awesome footy - two drop kicks hitting the post, great finish. Manly's effort away at Melbourne was amazing... it was like a GF win with 38 seconds left. I was worried by the Melbourne response to the loss. They are on edge a bit too early for mine. Big deal...a close loss and they are miles ahead on the table. It happens.


5. AFL. Richmond look the powerhouse now on the run in. Brisbane too fast and slick v Hawks...looking sharp. Great tough wins by the GWS who were so strong at the loose ball. Their game v Port was a cracker, winning by a single point away from home. This Nick Haynes from GWS is superb. I also like the Toby Greene competitiveness. Opposing teams hate him, but his teammates love him. A top four finish looms for GWS. Geelong powered over Sydney too. Is Buddy Franklin still alive?


Brett Ratten doing well with the Carlton team. They are surprising a few now.


6. Wallabies v Pumas. Not since Hugo Porta have the Pumas looked this good. A solid win by the Wallabies. It is tight, but also boring. Even the TV commercials in the game breaks are boring. More crowd at Riverview v Joeys. Great effort by the Springboks v ABs... they may surprise.


7. Global T20 in Canada. The worldwide gypsies of T20...Pollard, Gayle, McCullum, Narine, Bravo, Bailey...the world champions at finding a buck. This stuff is ripe for match fixing. Does anyone really care? I noticed even the recently retired Yuvraj Singh is playing. A shame Indian cricketing administration arrogance continues to get in the way of the world seeing their cricketing talents.


8. Swimming. Can you believe another unknowing Australian drug taking swimmer...a stray tablet perhaps? Not great when Mack Horton is standing off the dias! Maybe she should go to the International Court of Sport Arbitration like Dean Capabianco? Arianne Titmus is a legend. She could be our best ever if she stays fit. Interesting reaction when she found out about Shayna Jack, a stablemate.

Wrap - Perry Perry Hittin'

1. Ellyse Perry. Stunning performance. Rarely misses out with bat or ball. She is a superstar and may end her career with a better bowling average than any male - and a better Test batting average than the great Adam Voges, but shorter than Don Bradman's 99.94.


2. World Cup Final. Jofra Archer was impressive but Ben Stokes can change a game like no other. He will dine out on Nathan Lyon and a few of our other players in the Ashes. He will be the difference, like Botham and Flintoff before him.


I cannot believe that there is talk of Mitchell Marsh joining the Ashes squad. A joke. He is no Stokes. The team will come under enough scrutiny without his brand of mediocrity. We all know Langer loves the Marsh family and tries to get them in the team at every turn. Trent Copeland is a better all rounder. A big Australia v Australia A game this week coming, but not too many spots up for grabs.


Will Tim Paine be the first captain sacked since Kim Hughes? If he doesn't score runs, we will hear the calls for axings! Surely Smith returns as skipper in time. Keen for the young opener Cameron Bancroft to miss out on selection. He has much to learn still.


Likely First Test Ashes Team:
Dave Warner
Marcus Harris
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Kurtis Patterson/ Matthew Wade/ Marnus Labaschagne/ Will Pucovski
Tim Paine
Pat Cummins
Mitchell Starc
James Pattinson/ Josh Hazelwood
Nathan Lyon




2. Gold Coast Suns. What a disgrace! The coach, Stu Dew should know better than to blame the opposition coaches box for their woes. Coach better and all changes for you. Take ownership of the performance of the terrible roster. On the other hand Paul McGregor believes his team can win the comp. A dead set optimist!


3. Gold Coast Titans. They axe their coach and then get the Storm the next week with a whole heap of guys rested (Munster, Kafusi, Addo Carr, Chambers, Welch). Couldn't help but notice that Ashley Taylor has suddenly come good now that Garth Brennan has gone. Interesting. Meninga needs to show some stronger leadership. I get the feeling he has not excelled either in the tricky circumstances. A test for a would be immortal of the game. Can he rescue this dismal lot?


4. British Open Golf. Rory at his home course, Tiger and Jason Day all perish before the cut and get a chance to have a good lie down to think about things. How good is Brooks Koepka? Amazing strength and consistency in majors. Four Major wins and two Runners Up. As many majors (4) as Ernie Els, Ray Floyd, Rory McIlroy and the classic...Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris from the 1860s! However it is Lowry's to lose with a seven shot lead heading into the final round. Local knowledge! An 8 under 63 is a clever round in any Major!


5. Wallabies. What has gone wrong with the game? Our team faced a second string Springbox team and lost. Cheika said he would throw it all away if he does not win the World Cup. Newsflash... keep looking for jobs! The number of Polynesians in the national team is incredible. There seems to be a complete over reliance on these boys. Hopefully they do not all do a Fifita and all bail out to a Pacific Nations team. We need anyone who still likes the game. Sad really after the greatness of the Campese-Ella-Eales-Gregan era.


6. NRL. Something needs to be done in the game re penalties by the defensive team in the red zone. Lying on players and the wrestle needs to be met with fire. A five minute sin bin - sent to a cubicle at the end of the ground behind the deadline is necessary. A penalty in the last five minutes or in extra time should be something more dramatic. Refs need to be more vigilant with time on and off too. The game meanders at times and then there is an almighty desire for precision in the last five minutes.


7. AFL. Swans v Freo. Cracking game between the cellar dwellers. Tight one point losses cost you semi final positions. The Swans know about this in 2019! They had plenty of chances. GWS are up and down. If they can get a home semi they would be a chance. They smash Collingwood but will fall in a heap next week. If the Richmond Tigers get a finals game or two on the MCG they will win it! My calls for a free kick from where the ball is kicked out on the full is getting louder with the intentional stuff creeping in - especially when scores are tight.


7. Netball World Cup. A cracking performance, but do minnows just get in the way? Lots of Aussie wins... 88-24 vs Northern Ireland, 73-37 vs Zimbabwe, 99-24 vs Sri Lanka, 91-22 vs Barbados, 74-24 vs Malawi, 50-49 vs New Zealand. Their semi final v South Africa was harder at 55-53. The GF and championship awaits!

Wrap - Group Hugs and Head Pats

1. Cricket. Talk of drop in pitches at the SCG will certainly not help Test cricket in Australia. The predictability of the MCG Boxing test has ended it as the spectacle it once was, making it a "bat-a-thon" and giving bowlers nothing. Made for five days of advertising revenue for Cricket Australia? When will Lords have a drop in pitch? The same answer should be there for the SCG - never.


Can anyone accept the type of pitches England have dished up for the World Cup semi finals in England? Ordinary really. Rain is inevitable, but they should be smarter than this. England too good regardless and have the final to lose. If NZ bat well, they can win it.


2. World Cup Cricket. Stoinis was the dud of the tournament (the new mid career Shane Watson). Overhyped and one dimensional. Can our all rounder obsession end with the departure of Hohns and Bug Snappell? Maxwell of course was not far away from terrible either - and throw in Handscomb. Complete duds and all from Victoria.


Yet Australia put Handscomb forward for all the media in the lead up to the semi final and made him front and centre. Most unfair when you just come in for a semi final. They did not deliver when it mattered. Cummins was too quiet as well. He needs to lift for us to get near a Ashes victory. Only ticks to Finch, Warner, Smith, Carey, Starc (terrible late in the tournament). I get a bad feeling re the Ashes. We do not have the batting skill on the seaming deck...but who does? As soon as the sun shines we are set...if it doesn't, we are in strife!


No ticker tape parades in Sydney this year. Love a ticker tape parade. What is ticker tape? Maybe shred left over fax paper?




3. State of Origin. Tedesco scores a cracking last minute try and the rest is history. How NSW could almost blow a 12 point lead is staggering. The secret to points is out wide in Origin, but how impressive was the Cook try. He is a star. Fittler triumphs and all the critics can dream on. Even though QLD were short staffed (Ponga, Arrow), so was NSW (Cleary, MItchell, Sims). The NSW kicking game is ordinary. Fittler believes in the high bomb. You win more games in Origin when your kicks hit the grass more often that your opposition.


3A. Player of the Series. Apparently Alf Langer, the QLD trainer, was nominated as player of the series.


4. The Team Group Hug in Sport. Does this guarantee a loss? It is out of control? So many teams do this now... I'd love to see the strike rate. I preferred the Jack Gibson method of the team clapping each other on as they entered the field circa 1980.


5. Wimbledon - Serena. 32 Grand Slam finals for 23 wins/ 9 losses... Federer 31 Grand Slam finals for 20 wins/ 10 losses (1 unresolved). Incredible record when you consider she has made three of the last five Grand Slam finals contested. Thumped nonetheless. Halep is a dynamo and hard to beat. Not many Romanians have succeeded on the international tennis stage.


Incredible women's tennis history of USA-UK-AUS women up until the 1990s giving way to Czech-Germany-Belgium and now to the Russians, Serbs and Romanians. Evolving game. Even two Columbians won the men's doubles!


6. Wimbledon - Men. Federer is a magician - and at his age. How good is he? That semi v Nadal was extraordinary. Not getting the No. 1 seeding at these events hurts you big time when there are only three blokes contesting every tournament. Two of the three sit on one side of the draw. Djokovic has had the best of it lately. It makes a big difference with one final (not two) to win!


7. AFL. Swans lost by 7 to Carlton and Collingwood and 10 to Essendon. These tight ones swing your season one way or another. Interesting that Longmire was sought so powerfully. When does a club need a recharge? The players really did not lift for him. A terrible loss quite frankly. Maybe a group hug was needed pre game? Or maybe they had one?


GWS are done. They are perennial losers at the MCG. If Richmond get there, they will be hard to toss. Brisbane look sharp too, but a bit raw. Western Bulldogs coming home hard. Love the pace of Jason Johannisen.


8. Cameron Smith. 400 NRL games is extraordinary. His long term longevity is exceptional. He looks like he could crack 500! The Storm don't lose a lot, but they rarely if ever lose big milestone games. makes Benji's and Cooper's 300 games seem trivial.


Xerri is supremely talented, but he has terrible hands. No Origin for him any time soon. His drop ball rate is horrendous. Group hug him... or shower him with high fives when making an error. Where did this come from in the game? Get around the bloke that makes a terrible error...? A quiet word of encouragement, no head pats, high fives or back slaps. It is still a stinking error.
By the way, Nick Cotric deserves five weeks for his tackle. The NRL needs to toughen up.


9. Gold Coast. As mentioned last month, the Gold Coast should be shut down as a sporting destination and taken to Brisbane. Garth Brennan apparently had the desk packed last week! Goooone! Stuart Dew in a world of pain too with the useless Suns. Most fans would rather give them a new moniker - the moons - and provide samples.


10. INF - Netball World Cup. Surely the minnows are a time waste. Lovely and all that, but in the end, no spectacle v Zimbabwe or Uganda and these games won't fill the stadiums. This was a good feature of the recent cricket world cup...every nation there was competitive, even Afghanistan who have improved more quickly than most other minnows.

Wrap - Mullets and Mulligrubbers

1. World Cup Cricket. It will be an important test for some of Australia's players' futures this week. England is beatable, but how predictable was a loss to South Africa? For all his heroics, Starc was wasteful and terrible early. I cannot see that Maxwell and Stoinis have earned their positions so far, yet they continue being selected. Talk of Mitch Marsh coming in makes the stomach churn. Steve Smith needs to lift as well. Ponting used to rise up so powerfully on this stage.


Matthew Wade could be the man coming in. I think he is a better bet to fill the void. If he gets a duck however... He deserves his chance. He has been completely prolific.


Handscomb in for Shaun Marsh. Hard to believe we have broken wrists from net sessions...What is that about? Cummins needs to do some damage on the pitch instead. He has been average really. Time to move for him. I am not seeing Ashes glory in his efforts to date. Harsh, but true.



The English conditions are cruel. Sunny skies you look like a champion. Cloudy skies you struggle with the seam. Uncanny how Australia finds the cloud in an Ashes series.


I notice that Marnus Labaschagne has hit over 1,000 County runs this season. Impressive. There is an Ashes showdown match coming up of the current v Aus A players. A score there gets you on the plane!




2. NRL. Would it be that bad if every team had to aim up each week, despite Origin stars being out of action? Blood youngsters and keep the fans happy. The TV is a bit quiet without it of a weekend! Being treated to the Warriors at their worst ill disciplined version of themselves is hard to take, but they won regardless.




How amazing is the 400 games by Cameron Smith for next week..he has peeled off 20 games every year he has played. Indestructible. Tests, origins...300 by Benji too. These are big numbers. The brain testing should include these guys. Concussions are staggeringly common so to get to 300-400 is amazing. Smith may be the best we have ever seen.




The footage of Jordan Periera scoring a try and getting hit is sickening from the weekend. https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/jordan-pereira-injury-st-george-illawarra-canterbury-cup-newtown/u0fksz2au6x11avvowe2fb2v5


2A. Are the Sharks that bereft of goalkickers that for three successive weeks they score more tries than their opponents and lose? Millionaire NRL! They have some underperformers there...Moylan and Johnson - both horrible at times. Sharks have always had good goalkickers... Greg Cox, Dean Carney, Barry Andrews, Dane Sorensen (yes), Eric Archer, Steve Rogers, Phil Hurst, Sean (seen) Watson, Allan Wilson, Mitch Healey, Eoin Crossan, Matt Rogers, Luke Covell, Michael Gordon, Valentine Holmes. They need a fix and quick.




3. Wimbledon. Ash Barty. Fabulous to see if she can move through. If she meets Serena, that will be a test. Serena on grass is a sight. She can be awesome.




Bernard Tomic is a complete disgrace. "Tomic The Tank Engine". He should go away and retire. Kgyrios is also an embarrassment. His immature press conference displays and lack of grace says more than all the racquet abuse, swearing and nonsense put together. The world media love it in a twisted sort of way which makes it hard for us to ignore him. If he never played again, would anyone really notice? His disrespect for a legend like Nadal is him at his absolute worst.


4. AFL. An outbreak of mullets has been detected at the Western Bulldogs. What is going on? Port Adelaide are looking powerful. Still liking Geelong despite their dip in form. West Coast are rocks and diamonds. Collingwood are getting the wobbles, but the best teams are stretching away now... this is the hard part of the comp when you need to lift. Brisbane have made a great resurgence...but how hot and cold are GWS.? They can't win it.




Gold Coast are horrible. They give up 100 points by half time. Terrible. They should be closed down for bringing the game into disrepute.




5. Crusaders. The coach, Scott Robertson has been practising his dancing for weeks. Well placed as they smashed the Jaguares. They were never losing that game. A crushing 19-3 victory.

Wrap - Bad English

1. World Cup Cricket. How good is it to see England struggling? Jason Roy was a huge loss for them, but returns v India. Bairstow is a gun and has not fired yet - until tonight. No matter how many they score, Kohli will go close.


Finch and Warner have been immense and I never thought I'd ever say it, but Shaun Marsh may be required in the team. Is Stoinis doing enough? Khawaja has done some good things at number 3, but his fielding? Starc in cracking form. Cummins has not quite had the desired impact yet, but could change a game soon. The GOAT must play. Surely as the weather dries, the off spinner becomes more important. The greatest World Cup player for Australia - Ricky Ponting - is in our corner in that dressing room. He is clever... even plotting to get Smith to bowl a leg spinner or two.. that may have put the knife into Zampa's chances.


The NZ team always seem to produce the goods. They punch well above their weight. I liked Kerry O'Keefe's line about Kane Williamson..."when he hits a hundred he looks like a bloke walking to the letterbox and waving to a neighbour". Composed.


Plenty of left handed pacemen doing some damage in all sorts of teams. Amir and Waib for Pakistan...Boult (hat trick)...Starc, Berhendorff....even the great West Indies salute man: Sheldon Cotterell.


2. NRL. Is Clint Gutherson the worst kick return fullback in the comp? Seriously, he is incredibly average and gets hammered. Better around the ruck and from dummy half,  but no incision through the line from the back. Jarrod Croker's defence continues to be shocking. Good goal kicker however. Liked the Andrew Voss description of Jack Wighton's game - "snakes and ladders"....diamonds and rocks. Impressed with Josh Hoffman's defence. Like this Shaun Lane too. Makes a lot of metres.


Would there be a worse punishment than sitting next to Ricky Stuart on a flight after a loss?


The Broncos have rarely been this poor. Too young and Boyd, Millford and some of the experienced guys have been terrible. The coach is suddenly under immense pressure...but Bennett is not going too much better after five straight losses. Reynolds will change that. Hoping to see George Burgess stamped out of the game (a Parramatta recruit? Just what you need...more ill discipline).


3. The Crusaders. They march on ruthlessly. 30-26 an a home final. Well positioned for more Irish dancing/ break dancing. Three in a row beckons loudly. The Jagures are pretty handy and did a number on the Brumbies. Set to be a cracking game.


4. Melbourne Storm. Six points clear and the minor premiership well in sight. What a powerhouse of a club. No one close now. Their Origin form has been excellent without their stars.


5. AFL. Sydney Swans suddenly just one win out of the eight. They are storming back. However Geelong, Collingwood and Port look the best. Why are video reviews so hard to get right in every code? AFL is one of the worst? Looks like they use a BETA videocam... give us a clearer picture, please...


6. Wimbledon. Upon us already from 1 July - 14 July. Had to laugh about Kygrios who said he can't wait to play Nadal and get his revenge. I suspect Nadal won't be able to (a) contain his laughter and (b) drop a set. Hopefully Barty does well too.


Federer (38 years old) heads the Grand Slam list at 20 wins, Nadal next at 18 (33 years old) and Djokovic third at 15 (32 years old) have shared the Grand Slams since August 2014. No one else but these three! Amazing.


7. MLB Baseball - New York Yankees v Red Sox in London. A crazy time in England at present... they have the cricket World Cup, the baseball, Wimbledon... Hopefully the weather stays clear. Their women's soccer team are into the semi finals of the Women's Football World Cup as well! Very soon they will have the British Open Golf and the British F1 from Silverstone!


The baseballs used in London must be lighter. They were popping them over the fence with absolute ease! Big score...big crowd. What a great spectacle with the two great rivals and the best eastern conference teams. The Red Sox pitching rotation is terrible this season.

Wrap - Lebanon Island

1. NSW Origin Win. A much better performance. Kicks that hit the green grass. Quick defensive speed and spreading the ball. Interesting that they went away from Cook running the ball too much. Maloney has the Origin mongrel and was great. Sadly Cleary was not missed and is under the microscope. Tedesco superb as usual. Cordner tough, but Finucane was a big difference. Even Saifiti went well. Ado-Carr made plenty of metres and was more aggressive too. Both Tobjevics are the best two players in the comp at present. Amazing...and another brother yet to arrive on the scene who is a gun.


The selections of Fittler last week proved to be good at this stage. Jack Wighton played pretty well but never passes the ball to unmarked players.


Interesting that one Sims brother plays for Fiji (skipper) and one plays for NSW... go figure.


2. Lebanon in the Pacific. Does anyone remember when Lebanon moved into the Pacific? They were small and unfortunately a bit dreadful. One good winger only. The great Tim Mannah even offloaded more for Lebanon and played pretty well. Admittedly they were missing a fair few of their best players. Robbie Farah's kicking game back at Leichhardt almost had him heading to the scoreboard ledge for a fire side retirement chat. He tried hard, but was found out. Liked the young centre. Incredible talent.


The pacific teams have talent...Tonga, Samoa, NZ, PNG... great contests, even if the crowds were a little thin.




3. Barty. Destined to be world number one after the Birmingham Classic on grass against Goerges. A tremendous effort and it shows what determination can bring. A loss brings her two points short of being world number one. Hopefully not.


4. AFL. Port Adelaide trounced Geelong really and are on track for the semis. Good win by Sydney again and they are not far away. A few tight losses will prove costly. West Coast and the mighty Brisbane looking better.


5. Super Rugby. Apart from the Crusaders, the Brumbies have the next best and quite an amazing record. What a franchise record they hold? Again winning a final and progressing. Their steel under pressure has been immense for a long time. Mercifully, the end of Daryl Gibson came after our mention last week. The Waratahs need surgery. Combinations and youth might be a great start.


6. World Cup Cricket. A big week ahead for Australia v NZ and England. How good would it be to knock England out? They have been disappointing, but we have beaten those we needed to beat. India still look too good for mine. Great matches this weekend with the Afghans and the power of Carlos Brathwaite. NZ are also tough in ODI cricket. They have more all rounders than most.


7. Israel Folau. It is starting to become a circus now... Clyde Rathbone has had a complete shocker however with his comments. Silliness seems to be repeatedly duplicated in this sorry mess.