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!