Wrap - Eight Is Enough

1. Top Eight. The top eight in the NRL is almost set for mine after two rounds (early call!):

 

• Melbourne Storm
• Roosters
• South Sydney
• Broncos
• Cronulla
• Penrith
• North QLD
• Warriors/ Parramatta/ Tigers/ Newcastle/ Saints

 

No chance: Titans, Raiders, Manly, Bulldogs.

 

2. Parramatta. Great to be able to say they have one two in a row, which is rare. They only won seven last year in total. Blake Ferguson has a lot of ability. Keeping his ego in check will be the hardest bit. The Eels will stumble along, but a brighter start than usual with plenty of points scored. The biggest challenge will be to keep their forwards fit across the year. I don't see a lot of depth there.


Interested to see Joey Johns suggest that 12 teams is enough in the NRL. Home and away games only and a massive salary cap too.


3. Dylan Brown. Seeking a million dollar pay day after one round? Really? As Sterlo said, he should focus on more gym work and more tackles before he goes to his bank manager. Fair dinkum. He is not that good.

 

4. Winx. What a sensational horse! 32 straight will take some beating. The acceleration without the whip is pretty special. Bowman just lets her go. Winx has made Hugh a very wealthy man too.

 

5. AFL. Brisbane looked impressive with their speed and youth. Port as well. GWS absolutely blitzed the Dons. Sydney also struggled with the Dogs and may be headed for a top ten finish outside of the eight. The Saints almost had a catastrophe. the Suns can collect their wooden spoon straight away and go to Mad Monday tomorrow.

 

6. Tennis. The tennis players are warming up... but being in Miami is not where it needs to be. Clay court season is upon everyone and the French Open beckons. Why play hard courts? Kgyrios is exhibiting terrible manners again and he needs to be banned for a time to get the message. World tennis seems to be enabling him and giving his poor behaviour oxygen.

 

7. The Reds. A top win v the Brumbies. Tough work and has Thorn turned the corner?


8. Sheffield Shield. NSW did well to make the final in the end. Abbott's inswing (7 for...) was like the ball was wet with tape around it. The batting around the grounds has completely collapsed with the Duke ball sliding around everywhere. Trent Copeland has dominated (best Shield bowling average at 18.80) and a good final with plenty of wickets will get him to the Ashes (the new Alderman). Maybe Jhye Richardson still knocks him out of the ring. Marcus Harris remains the highest 2018-2019 Shield run scorer and will end like that too. The others need a triple century each. The Shield final may throw up an Ashes tourist (Holdsworth or Mark Taylor like), so there is hope yet for a few. Pucovski looks good, but is earning a reputation as a 'duck or a hundred' man.


9. Good to see the IPL back in action. What a tournament! It survives without any TV coverage in Australia.


8. The other good news of the weekend is that Allianz Stadium is about to get knocked over.