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.