Sunday, December 27, 2020

The Wrap - Rexona Umpiring

1. Test Cricket. Australian Test Cricket batting has been bad for twelve months. Burns is a laughable selection. I am sure that if you were an opener in Shield cricket you would be none too pleased. Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Marcus Harris? Steve Smith single handedly kept us afloat, but as for some of the others. Wade is not a Test opener either. There just seems to be too many excuses for mine. Green needs more guidance, but has the goods bowling at 140kph+...impressive numbers  He needs to watch his hands hold up.

I would like to see Tim Paine be a little more attacking at times. He can be negative with one less slip or no leg slip. The only way we win is to take wickets.

Jadeja is an old pro cricketer who knows what is required and when. He plays key moments better than most other cricketers world wide. Rahane was brilliant!

2. Test Cricket Fumbles. There was some really poor catching on Sunday which cost Australia. None worse than that effort by Travis Head at the end. Honestly. So poor for a Test player. He disappoints too often, yet has a lot of talent. He is in trouble if he doesn't produce in the second innings.

3. Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc. As good as they both are, is it harsh to say that neither seem to get wickets when we need them most? Lyon rarely gets first innings, upper order wickets. Maybe because he doesn't open the bowling, but interesting stats below...





4. Kane Williamson. How good is this bloke? 22 Test tons at 52.50...not bad. He is hard to toss. Non-descript...like the bloke who reads your gas meter!

5. The BBL. Slowly picking up impetus. Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) was awesome on Saturday night for the Melbourne Stars. A big hitter and crisp! One to watch. Daniel Hughes was amazing too in reply. Liking this young Oliver Davies for the Sydney Chunder as well. A clean hitter of the ball. The Renegades were awful. The Sydney Sixes will be hard to beat again. They bat deep. Does there need to be so much noise from the ground MC at these games? Chris Lynn has more injuries than Eric Grothe.

Loving the shoe wear in season 2020-2021... Faulkner looks like he is wearing his school shoes, Rashid Khan looks like a tourist in Bali for the first time with his blue shoes and Chris Green's blue shoes are just shocking against the fluro outfit. Maybe a kid who visited the Nike shop for the first time.

6. BBL Umpiring. These BBL umpires are terrible. The number of howlers is extraordinary. You have to laugh that they then go to Hawkeye for the commentary team! What about for the players and crowd? This Nathan Ellis could become an Australian player.

The BBL umpires are worse than the umpire's decision in that Rexona advert where the umpire rules against his boss. Clearly too far forward and a shocking decision. He would get a start in the BBL with that!

7. NRL. We didn't have to wait long...an arrest of David Fifita and then a wedding cancellation from Mitchell Pearce. Poor Mitchell, his decision making has been questionable at times on and off the field, especially under pressure. 

8. EPL. Arsenal burst back to life and knock over Chelsea which is terrible from them. Leicester continue to sparkle while Man U and Man City circle ready to strike Liverpool. 

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Wrap - Paine Staking

1. Skipper. Tim Paine really staked his claim as the longer term skipper with an innings when it mattered in our first innings v India, something he has been a little poor around since his arrival to be frank. He stamped his arrival when it mattered this time in the first Test of the summer. The batting of Travis Head is under the microscope. He under delivers frequently. Not sure Wade is a long term solution, but he fights hard which we all admire. Everything about Cameron Green looks good - especially his humility.

Joe Burns was shocking to be honest. In the first innings awful and then the same early on in the second innings. The only one off the middle was one off his shoulder. He was squaring up terribly to the short of a length ball. Lunging to the fullish ball too. As soon as he started playing shots (something Langer did well in his career when under pressure to be fair), he transformed. Nice to see his aggression against the short rubbish from India. 

Warner in for Burns I suspect. Wade will be nervous as that will be it for him if dropped.

2. Indian Batsmen. The Indian batting effort in the second innings was curious. All out for 36 is a complete embarrassment. Very few if any Indian players put the boot in however in the media. They are very reluctant to bag their own players. They will never get into the lucrative inner circle if they criticise. Instead there is the hollow compliment to the Australians. So many batsmen got edges it was amazing. The bowling length really troubled them. Hazlewood getting 5/8 is so much like U/10s it is scary! Not to mention the pink ball which was seaming around like a tennis ball with tape on it!

No Kohli will make for an interesting tour from here on. He is a gun.

3. COVID. Where is Peter V'landys when you need him? As the COVID-19 pandemic hype grows, the Sydney to Hobart yachting race has been canned, talk of the SCG New Year's Test being canned... All the while, the MCG Test continues without a whisper. I bet there is no one at Cricket Australia talking to V'landys. They need an overhaul. The A-League is also floundering without too much of a plan. 

4. Golf. Young Charlie ('The Cub') Woods is looking like his old man Tiger and playing like him too! A great swing for an eleven year old.

5. Boxing. Paul Gallen was fortunate and probably should have been knocked over. Lucky to get the decision. On the other hand Tsyzu looks to be capable of some serious international inroads. 

6. Raelene Castle. She keeps landing the big gigs. SportNZ CEO now. She must have some talent.

7. NRL. No outrageous scandals this week, but maybe because it is Christmas!

8. EPL. Liverpool are warming up now with a 7-0 victory. Arsenal have been terrible with Everton dusting them. Liverpool well poised, but a few teams are huddling up close to them. Very interesting this year.

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Wrap - Can Openers

1. Openers. The lack of decent opening batsmen at present is a big concern. Joe 'Carpet' Burns surely can't play after 5 runs in four innings against the Indians this summer. They have his measure! Then genius Coach Langer (who is under pressure) suggests Shaun Marsh should play. That would be Marsh's seventh call up to the team! Staggering that Langer's allegiance cannot be separated from the future of the country's team. Is the answer not simple... Green has to play. Then we need one opener and we need to convince one of our current top six to open as well!

If Green plays we only need one opener... Marcus Harris = Opener 1 and Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Wade, Green, Paine, Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Hazelwood. 

When the bouncer is outlawed, openers will be in plentiful supply! The pink ball Test cricket is farcical as well and will die off soon. Too much night time advantage to the seamers. 

2. BBL - T20 Batsmen. The fascination with all rounders in cricket is mystifying. Although Cameron Green is a special talent. Rare, but most teams simply do not have enough batsmen. Often times, does it really matter who goes 0/30? Hard to think it does. I noticed another all rounder, Roston Chase in the Windies Test team picked up a pair on the weekend...not enough batsmen!

3. BBL Standards. The standard of players is a problem...I am with the TV executives here. Too many old names and no current ones. Why have we not got an IPL window so our best play? Can we not also have an Indian or two in each side? Our imports are sub standard. The ratings are tumbling already...except if you have the Cricket Australia calculator. Not a publicity campaign in sight either. 

Added to that, no DRS as it costs cash and the integrity of cricket is at an all time low. Hopeless joke.

4. Australia A. A complete disgrace. They got hammered and were awful. No spine. They all need to be asterisked. Joe Burns is woefully out of touch mentally and Swepson was horrible too. Thumped and belted on Saturday night. Again, not enough batsmen and an obsession with underperforming all rounders who bowl mostly.

5. EPL. ManU v Man City. Is the fierce rivalry waning? A tame draw.

6. Boxing - Gallen v Hunt. Gallen could be ended here once and for all! Hunt will not be a pushover.

7. NRL Rules Changes. Still the two biggest rule changes needed in the game go untouched: (1) When the ref rules a try...time off until kick off. (2) Throw the ball away or delay surrender of the ball (any situation) = a 25 metre penalty with quick tap permitted. These time wasting tactics need to be eliminated.

8. The Olympics. The Olympics are an expensive waste of money when you allow 'breakdancing' into the games...Sure we have had rhythmic gymnastics, synchronised swimming and a few other odd ones over the years...skateboarding, surfing, taekwondo, BMX biking, beach volleyball, rugby sevens, but surely this tops them all. 

9. The Panthers. Starting to get worried that big heads and big mouths are dominating in the club when big hearts and big reputations were once there. They have won nothing so far and will need to replace Tamou as well. An experienced forward is required to win a comp - Lazarus, Edge, Bugden, Nikau, Webke...it has been ever thus.

Sunday, December 6, 2020

The Wrap - Wallabies Spoon

 1. Wallabies. Great anthem, but same rubbish product. Rugby simply refuses to shift to accommodate the modern viewer. As such, it is a park sport at best (bring back half time breaks in the circle on the field) and will never rake in the dollars that it did, once upon a time. There is a complete lack of patience with stodgy referees who believe the game centres on them.

We also need someone who can kick straight. Reece Hodge step aside. Diabolical draws v the Pumas. Honestly, mark them down as losses. The Spoon is ours again.

2. Cricket. The ODI series came and went and most people were wondering whether Mitchell Starc should ever be selected again. If he doesn't get a wicket in his first two overs, he is shot. Yet to get anything like runs in an ODI too. The frustration of Glenn Maxwell as the talented guy that rarely delivers is another challenge. Finch is cooked too. Far too slow in the field. Liked the look of Cameron Green - big, athletic and a powerful striker of the ball.

3. Justin Langer. Simply put, he should not be the coach of all forms of the game. Ricky Ponting is the best T20 coach in the world. We need to prepare for life after Langer. I am seeing some bad signs. This 'like for like' is the current rule. It suited India to put their replacement in, but it did not mean that our batsmen needed to turn it up when things got challenging. It was our fault and we wanted to blame India! Please. Langer needs to check himself.

In the Australia A v India game, Pujara (54) and Rahane (108no) were amongst the runs and James Pattinson was clearly our best. I suspect we will need every good ball he owns!

4. Captaincy Joke. Fancy putting Matthew Wade in as skipper of Australia (T20) ahead of Steve Smith. Please, when does the bloke get a break? Wade lacks credibility and should not even be in the team. Josh Phillipe is the best performed Australian keeper-batsman. The current CA administration needs a rocket. They can't get a thing correct.

5. NRL. Great to see some off season biff with a Canberra player again. Last year it was Curtis Scott. This year, Tom Starling. He looked like he was being a complete clown and then the biff. Far too common. After Ricky's reaction last year, I will be interested in how Ricky reads this one. And they signed young Hopoate as well. Hopefully his discipline holds.

6. Daniel 'Dry Shoes' Ricciardo. It is almost a weekly mystery how a different excuse seems to be made to explain Ricciardo's poor form. He is an under achiever in F1, despite the fairytale many want. Bring back Mark Webber. 

7. EPL. Kevin Muscat has been sacked from his club as coach in Belgium, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's job looks safe. ManU are back with a bang! Suddenly EPL order has been restored with ManU, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all clustered at the top of the table. Sheffield United are almost spent already after 10 games. They will need a miracle!

8. Boxing and UFC Fighting. Every weekend the same story...dodgy officiating, massive injuries and outrage...until next weekend!

9. AFL Draft. Braeden Campbell from my son's junior team and a Swans Academy product looks to be in the frame for a top 5 draft pick. A great effort from a kid from Pennant Hills way. He lacks a little pace, but has steel and smarts.

10. Manny Ramirez. He has arrived to play for the Sydney Blue Sox this season (starting 17 December). He is an absolute legend of the MLB and has already made his mark in the new team. Already gifting his bats to young team mates, like my son. It is the pre-season team party that has me worried. ASADA are already all over the team!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Wrap - Keeping Up With The Smiths Part 2

 1. ODI Cricket. It's a long time since the Australian public was excited about a cricket season. Not sure fooling around with the traditions in Australian cricket works...start with Tests...ODIs in late Jan. The diversity of media forums these days also makes it hit and miss and so few actually ever care about commentators. Bull, Tony and Rich were legendary, but these days... Kerry O'Keefe, maybe Warnie is who you'd feed. Ponting perhaps...the rest... 

There has been no investment in media publicity by that shoddy Cricket Australia leadership for years now.

2. Warner Injury. Suddenly Pucovski has got the sprig tightener out... Carpet Burns must be a lucky bloke. He has done nothing. Dave Warner did not look too happy in the back seat of the station wagon leaving the stadium after getting injured. He actually looked like he was part of a family going on holidays to the North Coast after the old man had just launched a scathing summation of the family's behaviour.

Thank God Finch can bat, because he can't field and is a serious liability really. Skipper for how long?

Steve Smith was awesome. His hitting and stroke play was something else...back to back hundreds. Warner and Maxwell too. 

Not sure if Mitchell Starc deserves a spot in that team either. Wayward and wasteful. No early wickets...no glory.

3. Indian Batsmen. The strength of some of the Indian batsmen - as thin as they appear physically - is highly impressive. They generate power through fluid stroke making.

4. Humanitarian. Mike Tyson has turned into a lovely fellow. He did not seem too worried by yet another ridiculous boxing judgement v Roy Jones Jr. They have both still got lots of skill. Talk about wanting more money to have a re-match. Tyson looked well cut. Looking like the rest of us 50 year olds!

5. Thunder T20 Girls. Great success by that team. The standard of girls cricket has become a lot better.

6. English Super League. The end to that Grand Final when the missed field goal resulted in a try off the posts, was incredible. James Graham played there in the winning ..that bloke has played forever.

7. EPL. Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester look the goods this year. They are all falling over each other and leaking points, but intriguing nonetheless. Man City may finally be lifting their game. Sheffield United and Fulham can just about pack their bags already. Disappointing for them.

8. Rugby. The Pumas glory lasted a week. The All Blacks can do that to you. They have been doing it to Australia for the past 20 years.

9. Great Signing. Great to see Parramatta's new signing the reformed Bryce Cartwright keeping a low profile in his first week of a new contract...definitely has changed his spots. Out on the punt and in the papers with Corey Norman and Matt Moylan (who needs to get his head and body right). Corey is a great familiar face at the disco in Jupiter's...seen him there myself a few years back.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Wrap - Keeping Up With The Smiths

 1. Cameron Smith. He better write his book quickly and start writing one for Harry Grant. Keith makes a good point...how do Sydney clubs keep missing out on these guys? Harry Grant changed Origin in what was a tired and lacklustre affair really. NSW simply do not have the firepower in attack (not helped by Tedesco's early exit). Fittler has become a little stubborn of late and to leave Papenhuyzen out was daft. Cody Walker unfortunately is not the answer. Jack Wighton is at five eight.

His namesake also did well at the masters and gets a return invite. Tied second on -15 and now the first EVER golfer in the history of the Masters to post four rounds in the 60s! Some sort of effort...when is his book out? 

Never like reading a sports story where the wife/ partner starts to be a dominant figure. It is about the player. Not sure that Smith needs to retire either. This seems something that the media want more than the player or his partner! The form of Munster the other night tells you that Melbourne will be a success for some time to follow... especially when Harry Grant arrives home.

2. Manny Ramirez. Has jetted into Sydney and tails off his remaining days in quarantine, before hitting the ballpark for the Sydney Bluesox baseball team. A rich pedigree. The crowd will be hoping he stays injury free and hits a few out of the park! There is some suggestion he may play a couple of park warm up games. That would be something! Drug record or not, his reputation is unbelievable.

3. ODI Cricket. The start of the cricket season is hard to warm into. The game is like an old jumper. Much loved but needs a revamp. ODI series do not take the eye too much now. Richie Benaud, Tony, Bull and the boys made cricket in this country. A new batch and new ideas need to arise. Nine is flat and so is their product.

4. Rugby - Wallabies. Some sort of fortnight for the Pumas beating the All Blacks and drawing with us (not such a great triumph really). Chieka would be enjoying this. We have learned little and the leadership around the park looks haphazard. No tries...please. What sort of spectacle is that? Great for the self centred refs and turtle-like TMO...they would love the spotlight. The fans switched off hours ago. The balance of the team looks out. Surely Vunivalu comes straight in to that team.

5. EPL. Tottenham under the Great One, "Jose I say" are striking form, but Man City are not. Liking the open competition this year, but it is a multi bet killer! Liverpool are ready to strike still, as are Leicester. The foxes are on the run!

6. Wests Tigers. What a unfortunately miserable reputation they have for keeping and recruiting talent. They have Joey Leilua, James Roberts, Douhei and Reynolds, Mbye, et al. I cannot see them beating their customary ninth position on the ladder. No Fox. No Harry Grant. No real leadership. They are losing decent forwards like McIntyre. They could have a lot of blokes mowing the grass at Leichhardt. They need young guns and stars on the up. 

7. Paul Gallen. Love the media hype with boxers. The trouble is it is so familiar and so tiring. Paul was a good footballer, but does he really need this? The silent player who does the business (eg. Sonny Bill) is far more impressive.

8. Court of Appeal. Michael 'Flash' Gordon, Jarryd Hayne and Jack de Belin are all in strife. How players can become so muddled professionally and put themselves in bad situations is one thing. Putting others in danger is another thing. The off season seems to be where most of the NRL salaries are spent - defending themselves. The Burgess case is another one. The media love an NRL court case with all the angst, powerplay, battered reputations and pain - and sadly can't wait to make it their own. Why do some clubs never face this?

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Wrap - Mastering the Course

1. The Masters. This Cameron Smith is a talented bloke. 400+ games of NRL and a Green Masters jacket in sight. No wonder he doesn't want to retire. What's more, he has a book out at present that stands to do what Steve Waugh used to do...make heaps of cash out of an average book!

Odd tournament without the galleries, but great it progresses in view of the woeful USA management of the dreaded disease. Surely Dustin doesn't enter the dust bin.

2. Justin Langer. Just when you thought we may have had traction, Justin makes a complete goose of himself in saying that Joe Burns is a better fit for the Test team than a bloke who is currently in form after two double tons. Langer is kidding surely. His loyalty (think PJ Marsh, Mrs Marsh and Graham Marsh) has been misguided before and it will bring about his undoing. I suspect that young Pucovski needs certainty and clarity in his life - not more mind games. We have a very traditional coach here who needs to modernise the thinking.

3. The Pumas. An incredible win, but the All Blacks are human. They have lost before and will again. Rarely do they lose the ones that count however.

4. State of Origin. Amazing how we get crowd concessions by the dodgy Queenslanders on the eve of Origin. This should not be forgotten. Seeing Papenhuyzen on the golf course Sunday is another poor selection by a coach who sometimes loses it as well. How Gutherson keeps a centre position ahead of others with his poor defence is staggering. Hopefully Gus can get there for the game too. We need polarising figures of derision and fun. For as useless as he was, Gomersall made Origin a contest. Lewis...Gillmeister...

Should be a NSW win ahead, but stranger things have happened in Origin...especially in the cauldron!

5. Lewis Hamilton. Basically now the best ever. What an extraordinary talent. Equals Schumacher and wins a seventh world championship to tie with the great man. He has more to come yet. His Mercedes team has dominated for too long as well. 

6. AFL Trades. Collingwood have suffered, but needed to shed players. A great lesson to others about hanging onto players too long (Swans - Jack, et al). It can stuff your club up. The best clubs recruit the best.

7. Tigers. Lose out on Addo-Carr, then can't sign anyone except Jimmy The Jet Roberts... please. They need young talent - not recycled guys who for sad reasons, would rather be elsewhere. They need an overhaul. Douhei is one who I would cut instantly...Reynolds, Mbye, Packer... All signed by the great Ivan Cleary who inherited Anthony Griffin's squad of gun juniors. Saints will be hoping for this in 2021. There is a marked difference between AFL and NRL in our Tiger cousins!


Sunday, November 8, 2020

Wrap - Horse Has Bolted

1. IPL. David Warner. Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL team (Warner, Stanlake) have done the extraordinary, squeaking into the semis and then winning. A showdown with the Dehli Capitals for a place in the final v the Mumbai Indians is on the cards. Watch Warner do something special tonight v Delhi Capitals (Stoinis, Carey, Sams). The Mumbai Indians await in the final (Bumrah, James Pattinson... and Chris Lynn who has not had a hit yet!). That compettiion goes on for weeks, but it is the best of the best. India has far too many expert players. How we ever beat them in any cricket game is a miracle.

2. Will Pucovski. Has scored two double hundred Shield scores (one last week) and late in the Shield v WA he is again 173 not out. He has some skill. Hopefully he has the right composure and disposition to bring it together at the International level.

3. State of Origin I. Talk about a lack lustre game. Really, great timing that the comp goes on further and a bonus week or two of footy, but the players look busted - except Dane Gagai who seems to lift for QLD much more than Souths ever see. Dropping Keary is not the solution, however Bennet targeted him in defence in the second half. Nathan Cleary was awful. He does not take the line on sometimes and therefore it does not propel NSW forward. Not sure if any changes there are going to get NSW over the line. They simply do not want it enough. QLD want to win more than NSW. Simple.

Gutherson is simply not fast enough to be a centre and we have Lomax and Crichton on the bench. Bennet smashed him too with Capewell lining up against him. He was found out badly in an unfamiliar position too. The lack of offloads by NSW in the second half was too obvious. Brad Fittler needs to stay aggressive. He retreated when it mattered and has not taken responsibility for it.

4. Boyd Cordner. Is the modern 'tough' actually the modern 'reckless'? He needs a break. His future cannot be much fun the way he is going. It is a tough sport, but is it a reckless one too?

5. Wallabies. Awesome effort at the end by Korebetti. He would be a top league signing as well. A great result. We love winning the dead rubbers and the inconsequential games... at least it is something. Like winning the fifth Ashes test when the series is over. The horse had bolted!

5. Parramatta 2021+ Signings. What a disaster this has been so far. Oldfield, Roache and Hipgrave...No names, has beens and cut price blokes whose bad knee, recurring illness or health disaster has been ignored. They will seriously lack depth and these signings are too plentiful and too shallow. However, the annual photo on the back of the Parramatta Advertiser will look great!

They seem incapable of making the tough decision... What is that decision? Sack Blake Ferguson and Waqar Blake (England surely would love to have him). Buy Mansour. Put Mitchell Moses on notice. 

6. EPL. Southhampton seem like they are well on track in the EPL. How about the form of ManU? How the mighty have fallen, but an unexpected bounce back v Everton. It is so good to see the top teams struggling a bit.

7. Benji Marshall. Can anyone believe a club is seriously looking at him as a player for the future? Surely he retires.

8. TAB. 'Long May We Fail'. Amazing ITD failure on the weekend costing them millions. No matter, drop a dollar off every bet return and you are back. Bluey would be nervous about his job on Monday... Bivouvac caned them! 

9. Melbourne Cup - Anthony Van Dycke. What an horrific end to a horse's career. These overseas horses really struggle on our turf and in our conditions sometimes. Not sure why, but the distance travelled and recuperation must be a huge factor. Hugh Bowman did well to manage the horse in the straight. This horse could not bolt. Hauntingly empty stands too.

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Wrap - The Cup Runneth Over

1. Openers. A great weekend for Australian batsmen across the country. A rare day really. The highest ever Shield partnership of 486 by Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris. An excellent performance. Pucovski has five first class tons and two double tons. Throw him in with Cameron Green and we may be moving.  This Pucovski is a rare talent. I just hope mentally he has the required steel. It can be a lonely place in cricket when it doesn't come together for you. We've all been there - even in the park!

Then we see Bancroft and Whiteman bag tons each for WA (Shaun Marsh of course scored his mandatory selector impressor ton to get the media excited about his eighteenth comeback). Travis Head also knocked off a ton too. The evergreen Trent Copeland bagged five wickets, but NSW are up against it to try and reel in the remaining 135 runs for a victory. Mitchell Swepson is killing them too! Surprised at how ineffective Nathan Lyon is in Shield cricket for the mainstay spinner in the Australian team.

2. Wallabies. The TMO is a complete joke. Fifteen replays and satellite/ terrain/ street-view vision before a decision. It is exactly like the the NFL all of a sudden with a quarter of the crowd and interest. 18 long years of no Bledisloe and after five minutes it never looked like we were a serious contender.

For any improvements in the Rennie era, I must say the total disrespect for ball control and possession is staggering. Miracle flick passes and overhead passes must be the order of the day and don't start me on the box kick. The most useless move in world sport.

The Wallabies had a chance to claw back fans and show people what it used to mean to be part of that game. Instead, we get show pony referees and TMPO officials who are that slow... Honestly the game needs a V'landys figure to cut through the rubbish.

Otherwise, bring back halftime on the field and tea towels for touch judges in tracksuits. 

The anthem singer was the highlight for Australia.

3. League and AFL. Love the signings, the player movement and the non-events. There really are not too many players out there and available. Apparently Mitchell Moses is now able to field offers from other clubs... 'hello...is anyone there...?' The Fox will stay. Smith will play on and we will resume normal transmission. Cameron Smith has done some particularly odd things... a testimonial game three years ago...being chaired off Suncorp this year... A bit of 'me, me, me' there.

Jarhome Hughes must take a big money offer. He will not see it better than now. Corey Allan on the market with James Roberts? Good luck there. Parramatta are investing heavily in Bryce Cartwright. His bad defensive reads in 2019-2020 won't be needed by many. Brad Arthur will convert him into a Shaun Lane clone. He can offload the ball too. Just get him vaccinated before the season. 

Before you head anywhere, get over to NZ and sign some pace in the outside backs. 

4. Melbourne Cup 2020. Verry Ellegant, Finche, Anthony Van Dyck and Russian Camelot will be working closely together there for a win for mine. Get on Titan Blinders the place the race before. Paying $7.00! Could be worth getting down to Electronic Sales and Rentals to get yourself a big TV this week... remember the phone number: 6-4-8-0-1-double 0!

5. GWS. It looks like coach Leon Cameron has well and truly lost the car park. Surely you sacrifice Leon before Jeremy. Classic club where there is a lack of senior players with cool heads and stability. Do they have a true supporter base? They started with western Sydney and now have moved east. A flag could be a long way off.

6. IPL. This is becoming interesting. Close till the end. Lots of Australians benched... Maxwell, Watson, et al. However, it still has the best of the best. Why Cricket Australia don't have a similar concept in place I would never know. Two or three Indian players per team, especially the second tier ones who are better than most Shield players regardless. 

7. EPL. Liverpool back on top with a few less likely teams - Everton, Wolves, Leeds, Leicester! Far more entertaining this year with the big spenders not profiting!

8. NFL. The greatest hoopla on earth really! Chiefs, Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all doing good business. Tom Brady is still in the top ten QBs on may stat points thus far. An old timer who still has the magic!

9. F1. Dry shoe Riccardo is wheeling it out again. More wins and less chat might help. He's had one more 'shooey' than Jeremy Schloss this season.

10. The Morphettville Doctor. Watch out for DR Jolly, the successful South Australian trainer who is killing it over there at present. Two huge wins: Biarchi and Thompson's Reward and then Bajan went well too for a close tussle. Could want for another furlong. get on it!

Monday, October 26, 2020

Wrap - Grand Finale

1. NRL Grand Final. The rain makes it tough - and a long day before a 7.50pm kick off! (too late). The last wet GF was when Penrith won in 2003! However the weather was OK through the game...terrible on the way back to the car! Too many errors by the Panthers who did well to get so close. Quicker play the balls v the Storm are critical. Playing wide works, but turning the inside ball does not deceive anyone. The Panthers were overawed and panicked when they did not need to. The panic gets a lot of teams in trouble.

2. Clive Churchill Medal. Ryan Papenhuyzen has been incredible in 2020. Great pace and tough. How good are the Storm at recruiting...lose Smith pick up Harry Grant...lose Slater, pick up Paps...lose Cronk, pick up Jerome Hughes. The play to bat the ball back in from over the sideline was incredible by Papenhuyzen in the second half. Watch how George Jennings goes there and becomes a huge success next year.

3. Aftermath. Kikau is devastating, but he made too many errors. He and a few others at Penrith panicked. Their discipline was found wanting. Cleary scored a great solo try, perhaps one of the best in GF history, but too late. Top class. The pace of Melbourne wins however... the Fox, Vunivalu, Paps... it wins. Crichton was great in the closing stages. He has a great step, speed and size. He could be amazing in a few years time.

4. AFL Grand Final. Pretty good for not being at the MCG, despite the rain. Pitch invaders - idiot Queenslanders! Did I miss the 'Up There Cazaly' version this year or was it a victim of COVID? The AFL do a lot of clever things in their GF that the NRL miss out on. The half time at the NRL is a joke... egg and spoon races, potato sack races. Bring back the League Olympics with specific events that entertain!!! They don't have to cost a lot of dollars. Loved Sheppard. Great band choice which set a top standard. A great way to reinforce your talents to an absolutely massive audience as a band!

Is it time our advertisers in Australia started getting serious about Grand Final advertisements - like the Superbowl?

Not sure what to make of the shorter quarters in 2020. Not certain it makes the game better.

When will the rule change to take the ball back to the spot where a ball is kicked out on the full? That will make the game more exciting....no negative tactics.

5. Dustin Martin. What a champion! Had to laugh when Bruce said that "it was the first time he has ever failed on the football field" following a missed banana kick. Martin's upper body strength and mobility is pretty special. The start after half time was immense and Martin's four goal effort was incredible. The three time winner of the Norm Smith! 

81-50 was a smashing in the end really. To be able to win 2017, 2019 and 2020 premierships after the 11th, 13th and 15th placings of the early 2010s has been a remarkable transformation. That song 'Tiger Town' was on high rotation at the after match!

6. Norm Smith Medal. Thank goodness a typical NRL or Cricket Australia stuff up (submitting votes before half time, miscounts, loss votes, missing drunk judges, leaked outcomes) with MOTM votes did not occur and Dustin Martin received it. Leigh Matthews seemed to be struggling to do it right, but they got their man in the end. 

7. The Gabba. The field there in Brisbane is amazing. How dry was it after a million inches of rain? Not sold on the night Grand Final  however. Peter V'landys missed an opportunity this year to go back to the daytime in a special rescheduled year. I must say though, he did a good job this year. A few key changes. He needs to look at the NRL pre-game approach though. Reserve Grade games before the main game need to return and the players need to warm up somewhere else. They are a boring part of the modern game.

It reminds me of Tommy Raudonikis who said that you never see Winx stretching the leg on the rail of the racecourse before running. Let's move beyond this amateurism! Next thing we'll have half time on the field and ABC doing the coverage (oops...that is rugby).

8. Sir Dragonet. Glen Boss has an uncanny ability to deliver on whatever horse they give him. He is an old wily hoop! That Mooney Valley track gets them every year - no real straight and sloppy jockeys... How ordinary was Kolding in Melbourne after nailing them in Sydney for weeks?

9. IPL. Marcus Stoinis is certainly making a name for himself in the T20 game. The Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals look the two best teams. Pat Cummins finally got some wickets. Finch has struggled. Warner solid, but not spectacular. Watson playing his last season. Ponting continues to be the star coach.

10. EPL. Manchester United are a schemmozzle once again. Man City are not much better and suddenly the competition is wide open. Leeds are carving it up! That makes for such better viewing!

11. MLB World Series. Locked at 2-2, the LA Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Some sort of ending to Game 4. Errors and panic and a loss to the Dodgers. They seem like they are destined to lose!

Sunday, October 18, 2020

The Wrap - Grand Final Glory

 1. NRL Finals. Well then there were two left... Storm v Penrith ('The Rith' for anyone who is an outsider!) and the Tigers v Geelong. Cannot get past the whining from Ricky re the QLD government may have unsettled the team. It was a joke, but they did not turn up in the first twenty minutes. Even though he got two tries, Nick Cotric had a shocker...and was placed into the Origin team! Surely not. They looked weather beaten. The cold of Canberra v the heat of QLD! 

The bye for the AFL teams (Port Adelaide and Brisbane) counted for zip, but the NRL teams who had the week off both won. How fortunate were the Panthers when Reynolds kicked what everyone thought was a 40/20. Still waiting to see a 20/40 kicked...maybe in the GF!

Hard to see Melbourne being beaten. Their forwards are immense. Munster's recovery from his knee injury is quite amazing too. The whole Cameron Smith retirement thing is very bizarre. Chaired off, but no media announcement. Odd.

Brisbane squandered a GF birth in front of their home crowd. A shame there is no MCG this year as Richmond v Geelong would have packed the stadium. I will be interested to see Gary Rohan's form in the GF. He has struggled with the Swans in a GF.

2. Origin Squad. Do we really need 27 blokes in a State of Origin squad? Honestly. Ridiculous.

3. Everest v Caulfield Cup. Classique Legend in the Everest. Remarkable speed. So dominant and yet every other horse would lick most opponents in their own right too. Great wins by Graff in the earlier run and Verry Elegant in the Caulfield Cup. The Everest has certainly taken the sheen off the Caulfield Cup north of the COVID infestation.

4. Brownlow Medal. A complete dud of what is usually a cracking evening. Different timing and all over the shop. Selfie photos, etc. Picnic tables. A dominant winner in Lachie Neale. 

5. Wallabies. How many missed tackles? 40 plus! Really ineffective to be honest. Then there is this impulsive silly movement of the ball at time too. Great passing sometimes, but really low percentages. Admittedly two tries disallowed too. Great to see a day time test again. When will Australia ever consider this? A big crowd will flock! Viewers make the adjustment. Totally walloped really. Some really bad defensive reads out wide too. Not sure we have the pace. Vunivalu will walk into that team next year.

6. Tennis Slam. Nadal equals the best ever on 20 titles. Awesome power and poise.

7. MLB. Baseball's World Series is coming to an end. The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Astros who are shrouded in controversy after their cheating...and The LA Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are locked 3-3 with one to play!

8. The Wash Up. Looking at a Melbourne - Richmond double for mine this week. Enjoy the carnival atmosphere and the media hype!

9. Recruitment. Love the ins and outs in the post season...Can anyone think of a reason why you would chase Bevan French and not Josh Addo-Carr? Apart from cash and costs. He has supreme pace. Put Ferguson into the back row. Clubs are desperate for centres. St George are happy to take Jack Bird back at top dollar. Just can't see the value there... even though the talent is there.

10. Bathurst. Suffered for atmosphere this year, but Shane van Gisbergen joins the ranks of the greats! Lots of excitement on the Great Western Highway tonight I am sure and some fools getting booked by the Police endlessly.

Sunday, October 11, 2020

The Wrap - The Winning Post(s)

1. NRL. Ricky Stuart and Wayne Bennett saved some cracking coaching tactics and plans for this weekend. Both crushed their rivals. I liked Bennett's reflections on the COVID period where over working the team backfired and how pacing the team for the full semi final run was wisest. That was a Broncos special for 2020. Roosters and Eels...out in straight sets!

Parramatta's attack was too limited at key times and was more vulnerable as the game went on. The ball hitting the posts off the Moses kick was dreadful and the lack of desperation afterwards (esp. Takarangi) - bring back Pricey! 

I think it is also a significant worry when teams like Parramatta are super hyped up when they run onto the field. Every point was roared for by the players...too over the top. The composure required was not there. The wasted energy and emotion - especially for some early points - really costs the team late in the game. How many times have we seen this with Origin teams in the past? Inexperienced finals exponents.... It is a long journey. 

When Taka starts on your centre/ wing position you have troubles. Too slow and Souths were probably not too severe on it. The Parramatta roster needed some rejuvenation and more depth with outside backs. It could be time to farewell Fergo too. Gutherson can't do it all alone. He needs speed and size from a few friends... they need flair and speed. More speed for Sivo - less weights. Is Semi Radrardra sick of union yet? Moses needs more work too. He will struggle to lead a team to a GF victory on current form. Unfortunately, he goes quiet when it matters most and forgets the basics.

The character of South Sydney to score 30-6 in the second half was outstanding. The mistakes as Parramatta started to panic under pressure with 15 minutes to go was staggering. They lack leadership (Moses?) and Dylan Brown has hopefully woken up to himself with newfound humility...All Blacks? Million dollar contracts? He made three horrific errors in the last ten minutes. 

I think it is time for a 30 second  'time out' to be given to both teams at the 65th minute of finals. 

The skills of the modern backrower as ball playing forwards are amazing. It started with the James Graham/ Jake Trobjevic examples, but Junior Paulo has changed the game again. A super talent. His offloads, his hit and spins and his grunt work... so many hit ups from the scrum as well. So tough. His step is like David Solomona who killed teams out wide for a long time. A deserved NSW Origin jersey for Paulo. He brings to the game what great ball players like Arthur Beetson brought... excitement and anticipation when he touches the ball.

2. Jennings - Drug Drama. Fancy Michael Jennings letting down his team in such a serious and stupid manner. He vows to clear his name...a bad kebab, toothpaste, a rogue tablet in the bottom of the sportsbag, a cocaine fuelled flatmate, a bad piece of meat.... Surely taking such 'dirty' basic drugs is either an incredible mistake or one of the dumbest errors in NRL history. Interesting that there are other athletes in this same drug category (the swimmer, Shayna Jack). 

His brother George plays better these days. Michael has been on borrowed time for mine. Hopefully he is not another desperate league player, intent on extending a flagging career. It may be gilt edged with more speed coming into the team as a result. However Michael Jennings has the best manager in the game. He has just negotiated a two year contract extension...! The Sailor lad has a highly serious time ahead too.

3. Passing Fad. The passing game of Cook and Mahoney is something else. Both are supreme talents from dummy half. Not since Darren Lockyer have we seen the quality of passing as this year. Throw in Cameron Smith and Munster's skill here...it is critical in the modern game. Canberra struggle in this area from dummy half with the injured Pommy hooker, Hodgson out. The Panthers have it from Cleary outwards. 

4. AFL. The halftime of 60-6 from Geelong v Collingwood was embarrassing (100-32 final score). Richmond still look very good. Their game v Port will be a cracking showdown. Not so sure about Geelong v Brisbane. I think Brisbane have too much pace and talent...but Geelong have the experience. The Melbourne teams are getting a good taste of what it is like for a team outside Melbourne to win the flag. Geelong are up and down. Next week they could get lapped! 

5. Bledisloe Cup. Just when you thought we were no where near the standard.... we bounce back and have everything go against us really. The new NZ - AUS coach, Dave Rennie is to be congratulated! The power of youth and opportunity. The refereeing oversights however were staggering. That last one in front of the posts...incredibly bad. His brother must be the trophy engraver. The touch judging from an Aussie was equally terrible. The VMO checks things fifty times, and is the world's slowest, but still an error. How can a NZ ref go to training with the All Blacks and then do the game? COVID-19 seems to be the excuse that carries most weight in society at present. Maybe Michael Jennings needs to think about this one in his defence! 

Anyhow 16-16 it is and it is not changing. Fancy the ball hitting the goalpost again and causing such turmoil! Two pivotal moments in crucial games in two different codes in two days!

6. Sheffield Shield. This Michael Neser (5/32) seems to get more wickets than most, but the invisible ceiling on 140kmph bowlers making the Australian team is alive and well. Interesting to see Siddle playing at Tassie (1/50 expert off 25 overs). Surely a younger bowler would be a better investment? Lloyd Pope got 5/164 as well... back the brilliant red! The absence of dominant batsmen domestically is a real weakness of Australian cricket. Hopefully the new season unearths some talent. Labuschagne hit a dominant 160+ but other than that.... Liking the look of the WA middle order player - Cameron Green. Seems an incredible talent. 

7. NBA. LA Lakers v Miami Heat. Hotting up, but surely Le Bron wins on the back of his skill. Time will tell.

8. Great French Open Finals. To have the 19 year old Iga Swiatek (Poland) win the women's final v Kenin, really shows how the axis of the world tennis game has shifted to the European strength. She has been phenomenal. She gave up 28 games in ten sets of tennis ie 84 v 28...dominant and did not drop a set all tournament. 

Nadal has given up 46 games and won 110, without dropping a set so far. The final is tonight.

Nadal v Djokovic in the final was almost inevitable too. This will be Nadal's 29th Grand Slam Final and Djokovic's 28th Grand Slam Final. If Nadal wins, he equals the great Roger Federer with 20 wins and makes it 13 French Open wins - surely this will never be beaten! Djokovic zooms in closer to it too and would land on 18 Grand Slam wins!

 9. MLB. Tampa Bay Rays, LA Dodgers, Houston Astros (post suspensions for cheating!) and Atlanta all through. The next phase sees Rays v Astros and Dodgers v Braves for positions in the World Series. A truncated season, but the world is getting there still! The terrible COVID-19 situation in Florida has elevated the Rays' success to great heights!

Get ready for the Astros games to really hot up with their cheating proven over recent seasons. Emotions will be red hot!

10. Ole Kirk. How good was he in the Caulfield Guineas? Looks like now it will never be seen past the doors of the breeding barn, given its bloodline connections to Black Caviar. Sounds like a popular career move.

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Wrap - Finals Fever Pitch

1. NRL. A wide open comp with pretty poor defence from all sides at different times on the weekend. Entertaining nonetheless. 57 points (Roosters v Panthers), 52 Points (Raiders v Sharks), 60 Points (Storm v Eels) and 66 points (Souths v Knights). Panthers looked great, then ordinary...Storm looked weak wide, then strong... Roosters terrible in patches, great at other times...Eels inconsistent...Raiders up and down too. Souths will beat Eels and Roosters will defeat Raiders. Roosters-Storm and Panthers - Bunnies....for the GF.

Standout players: Cook, Wighton, Papenhuyzen, Cleary... State of Origin beckons for them all.

2. Parramatta. The poor defence of Waqa Blake out wide for Parramatta is staggering. He had 8 runs for 8 post contact metres, dropped balls, went into touch and generally struggled. The worst since Steve Mavin had that forgettable day at the SCG years ago. (Newcastle's centre was awful too - Tuala - 8 tackles, 7 runs, 4 post contact metres). Talent, but pressure hurts. 

It has been a problem all season and yet Brad Arthur keeps him there. They signed a bloke called Rankin who could hardly be any worse. The long passing game of the Storm absolutely dazzled them. The quick play the balls by the Storm kill other teams. The Storm are expert at then delaying the opponent's play the balls. The poor game awareness of Ferguson and Blake has really hurt Parramatta. Mistakes, errors and poor decisions. They will go out in straight sets.

The Reed Mahoney pass to both sides is incredible...so accurate. The Junior Paulo work is amazing - and tough too. Shaun Lane does well too. They need more pace out wide and tougher backline defence. Jennings has done his dash for mine. Too small and not quick enough these days. They need some dynamic outside backs of strength... Folau?

So next week is: Roosters v Raiders and Eels v Rabbits. Great games ahead.

2. Storm. It is extraordinary how few Melbourne players get injured in so many games of high intensity. Munster is unlucky but he also lacks composure. There will be a few first graders looking to get hold of him once Smith disappears into retirement. He has a poor attitude and perhaps it is the finals intensity, but we all recall how he made a goose of himself in a Grand Final v the Roosters from memory.

3. Referee Ashley Clown. How we all love a surprise or unexpected Ashley Clown decision. Really want him in the NRL Grand Final. What about his miraculous recovery from last week when he looked like he was bound for the morge He is courageous and ridiculous all at once. Stopping the game for cramps...please. Only Ashley...

4. New Rule. Not surrendering the ball back to an opponent at a break down or penalty should be an automatic twenty metre penalty and a quick tap option (sin bin if inside your own 20 metres). There is too much of this. The AFL '50 metre penalty' is a ripper in this regard. It returns sportsmanship to the game (even if grudgingly) and the players are entirely cooperative.

5. Canberra. Jack Wighton killed the Sharks, but that decision by the ref on the quick tap was the first quick tap we have seen in months of footy. Poor. The refereeing inconsistencies need to be ironed out. Now if the Sharks can offload Moylan, Woods, Dugan and Townsend, they could be awesome. It is amazing how premiership windows for any teams are really narrow. The Roosters may be discovering this after a massive few years.

6. Panthers. Nathan Cleary was awesome in their narrow win v Roosters. A hat trick before half time was pretty special. The Roosters looked like they wanted to win this week, but had some uncharacteristic lapses. They are really missing their quality hookers (Verrills and Friend) and the toughness of Victor Radley. They are also suffering with their halfback Flanagan. He reminds me of Jason Taylor - great goalkicker, good passing game and clever...but not fast enough and sharp enough in defence...yet.

7. French Open Tennis. Nadal and Svitolina will go close. Halep a shock loser tonight. There is lots distracting the players who seem easily distracted at present... except Djokovic and Nadal. Hopefully the whinging about schedules and game times vanishes soon. Australian tennis is a schemozzle. No one left after the first week. I can't believe Barty did not defend her crown COVID or no COVID!

8. AFL. Port on fire v Geelong. They will be hard to toss. Brisbane Lions (aka 'The Bears') did well to win v Richmond. Having a permanent home ground advantage makes a difference too. The work of Collingwood v West Coast was sensational. Loved the light show at the start of the final quarter...setting a new standard of anticipation! The small forward is dominating now in the shorter format of the game. Agility and great hands and a vertical leap that is amazing. West Coast absolutely dominated possession and field position, but Collingwood would not be shaken! One point winners! Suddenly West Coast, who were earlier specials for the comp, are gone.

Richmond v St Kilda and Geelong v Collingwood. Tipping Richmond and Geelong to triumph here. Geelong need to be up for the arm wrestle!

9. IPL Championships. Really like the spirit of the IPL. A shame Cricket Australia doesn't insist on a premier competition with Indian players out here. They have such depth and the integration of nationalities (with the exception of Pakistan) represents all that is great about sport. The amazing thing about the competition is that all teams win games, so no game is easy. That is the perfect competition. Jofra Archer is still the worst fieldsman in the game. The Dehli Capitals are the best team for me (but Stoinis better start hitting a few or he will be banished! Pat Cummins too for the Kolkota Knightriders...KKR). Shreyas Iyer is a complete gun... and yet largely unknown. A superb T20 bat. Surely he and a few mates can come and play in the BBL!

10. Sam Burgess. There are some extraordinary claims in all this. I suspect the Police might need to act, rather than journalists to ascertain any truth or case to answer. There is always something not so right when the Police hear about it after it is in the newspaper. Shouldn't the Police have heard about it all first? Something is not so right here. The timing is always curious too.

11. NBA. Incredible that the LA Lakers are already 2-0 up. Le Bron is surging to greatness. Three championships already... another nearly in the bank. Game Three tomorrow and another likely victory!

12. Horses. What took the eye this weekend?  Persan at Flemington in the Bart Cummings was a super run... Melbourne Cup hope. Two regular place getters also got up at good odds...Toffee Tongue ($16) and She Shao Fly ($8). Khoekhoe did well too. In Sydney, Libertini blitzed them as did Montefilia. Kolding won again too - a top reinvigorated horse in the Waller stable. Starting to hot up for the spring championships and the Everest!

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Wrap - Mad Malarkey, Buffoonery, Tomfoolery, High Jinks, Codswallop and Skylarking

1. Roosters. Roosters suddenly getting beaten by 60 by Souths a week out from the finals? Please, this is most unusual. Most. Despite all the injuries, they had been winning every week until this one. That needs investigation. Suddenly they locked in fourth position and avoided the Storm in a final who have an awesome record. Staggering good fortune in the Chinese Year of the Rat.

1a. Parramatta. They are bound to go out in straight sets. Beating the Storm is near impossible for them. They have no strength and composure in the tough moments. They lack speed out wide and the defence of Sivo, Blake and Ferguson is poor....the hands are not much better. Getting the five eight back may change it up a little, but speed is lacking.

Look at Gutherson. Kick happy all night v Wigers (ridiculous in many instances) and then with twenty seconds on the clock, he goes to dummy half. He is the skipper. He has just made a superb try saving/ season saving tackle at the other end. He could have kicked the ball out and wasted time...instead he tries to score a heroic try and gives the Wigers two extra tackles... no smarts at the key moments. No premiership. The great first half offloads evaporate when the team is on the chase too. No composure. The elephant ears go off and the hippopotamus ears go on and their play loses structure.

1b. The resting of players en masse could not be seen favourably by the broadcasters. An unusual year in some respects with so many teams not pressing for a semi position in the last moments of the regular season.

When was the last time we had a midweek playoff? Those were the days! A promotion/ relegation fight would be interesting too. Broncos and Bulldogs relegated in 2020. Newtown and North Sydney Bears in!

2. Wigers. Farewell Wests. Goodbye Tigers...it is official... Vossy has announced that Benji Marshall is the best ever Wests Tigers player. Forget about Keith Barnes, Tommy Raudonikis, Keith Holman, Vic Hey, Noel Kelly, Sironen, Elias, Roach, Jack, Les Boyd, Dallas Donnelly..and Mick Neil or the Viking Hardwick. 

In the hype of Saturday night, Benji is now officially better than Robbie Farah (great to see him down safely off the Leichhardt scoreboard), Brett Hodgson, Anthony Laffranchi, Todd Paynten, Liam Fulton, Keith Galloway, Dene Halatau, Chris Heighington, Ben Galea and John Skandalis. Auckland Blues via St George and Broncos. Well done Benji.

Michael Maguire seems to be reinventing himself and clearing the decks. More composure too. He has worked out that he simply has the wrong players. Nothing wrong with his coaching of course. Get rid of the useless Assistant Coaches instead!

 3. AFLA week off for the AFL before the semis? Is it 2020? Are we still using a VCR? Fax machine? They are taking a silly COVID-19 risk. Keep the show rolling on! Do the players get better or worse with the week off?

4. Mad Monday. No doubt we will see the usual clown costumes, drunkeness, abuse of police and know that the game is back to normal. Why is it restricted to Monday? A Mad Week? Saturday night is always another option. The Super League clubs in England benefit a lot from a terrible mad Monday, so they will be hoping for the usual tomfoolery, malarkey, shennanighans, hanky panky, buffoonery, ratbaggery, highjinks, skylarking, scuttlebutt, claptrap, bunkum, codswallop, hooey and horseplay.

They just send out their eye gougers to play in the NRL. 

Park that sort of behaviour in the 1970s and throw away the keys.

5. Racism in sport. Please, surely we need to crack down on this trash talking too. It is 2020 and we need to accept that if someone calls you out by the colour of your skin, it is the worst of the worst ignorance and stupidity. Tyrone Peachey has every right to get upset. How judgement against another based on skin colour is ever rational thinking is staggering. It is old time elitist prejudice which can do serious damage to another. Low grade. We see it too much. Ban them all.

6. Dean Jones. The legend of Madras needs no repetition. However only 52 tests, but a million ODIs...he really did re-invent the one day game in terms of running between the wickets, wearing sunnies and charging fast bowlers. Insisting bowlers took white wrist bands off was another favourite. He never really warmed to the public, but gone too early in life (reminded me of David Hookes who died 16 years ago now!). I think we all will really miss his recent cricket newspaper articles too which were spot on, honest and insightful.

7. Ashley Clown. The ref gets injured and may miss the semis? There may be a few without much sympathy. Although Ashley is always good for a grandstand finish and a binning at the wrong time. The 2020 season needs him back.

8. NBA. LA Lakers win v Denver Nuggets and Le Bron goes to his tenth finals series. Staggering impact as a player. Miami Heat and Boston Celtics (Heat up 3-2) are both going deep into the best of seven conference finals series. Great use of 'electronic crowd' there.

 9. Olympics cut backs? The IOC have finally woken up that if they don’t change...the concept and gravy train dies! They seem suddenly cooperative. Is there a country that still wants to host the Olympics?

10. Tour de FranceRichie Porte. Superb work in the Tour de France. Third overall is an amazing result, especially now that most drug cheats have been sifted out. 

11. French Open Tennis. The French do controversy better than most countries. How? They usually don't really care and cannot stand someone who complains. The rest of the world genuflect to the person offended on behalf of someone else...not the French. They keep rolling on.

12. IPL. Ricky Ponting’s Delhi Capitals are carving it up. Ricky clearly should be appointed as our National T20 coach. He has built an imposing record and gets the game more clearly and easily than others. He is a winner. His regrown hair also looks entirely natural. He doesn't get much wrong!

13. Mitch Marsh. Injures his ankle in the IPL. Honestly, he is up there with Brett Papworth for injuries.

14. Worst NRL Buy of The Year? Esan Masters, Adam Doueihi, Brodie Croft... Curtis Scott?

15. Best NRL buy of the year? Junior Paulo. A remarkable footballer. Silky hands, a step and offloads the ball like a top shelf basketballer. State of Origin bound.

16. EPL. ManU somehow win late v Brighton. Three losses this side of Christmas and you are gone! Chelsea in grief. It is that close the competition. Really liking Leeds early. Flamboyant, but it could become too loose in time!

Sunday, September 20, 2020

The Wrap - Attitude Without Gratitude

1. Brumbies 'Super Rugby AU' Winners. Still a powerhouse in Australia after so many years (last won a title in 2004? Maybe that is a sign that our best provincial team still can't win overall!) in winning the Australian Championships. Do we actually need the NZ teams? I don't think so.

Some great attacking rugby at times and top intensity, but if only the players were allowed to play the game. The TMO seemingly needs to get out the Encyclopedia Brittanica to look up the rules. So slow. The errors from the Reds in the last ten minutes just cruelled them. Their attack was a shambles really. The ref was OK, but the tempo of the game was frightfully slow. It is a comedy show when the ref tries to get the scrum technique right in the 79th minute of a final! Fair dinkum they have problems in that game. It is ruined too regularly. I feel sorry for the players and fans, but those officials are pleased!

2. Australian ODI Series Win. Great innings by Carey and Maxwell to secure a series win v England in the ODIs. Pressure cricket. They still need another bat who can bowl. Stoinis could be it, but his bowling is not strong. No Ben Stokes helped Australia. All without Steve Smith was a pretty impressive effort. Carey has ability.

3. Wests Tigers. Michael Maguire has got some issues on his hands. That team cannot score points and has an attitude problem when they are required to really dig in. They should not be leaking 50 points so regularly.  That speaks to character and teamwork surely. Very disappointing. They need a complete clean out - Packer, Joey Leilua, Josh Reynolds, Lawrence, Marshall... all need to go. A clean out of large proportions is required to clean the team up. Not sure if Maguire models the right composure at times, but when Harry Grant goes... Doueihi is on the skids when the Fox arrives.

4. Manly. What a disaster they have been all year too. It has been a long time since we have seen so many poor defensive efforts in a Manly team. Contrast it to the Roosters who with SBW, look invincible for a three peat of premierships. Mitch Aubusson has done well to get to 303 First Grade games.  Nice to see his understated leadership so instrumental at the club. Rare gold these days.

5. NRL Injuries. There are so many serious injuries in the game these days. Too many. Are we getting to a point where, like the NFL, we simply have one game against each team  home and away from one year to the next? Clean, simple, rep season at the end of the year. Transfer window and loan deals of players. Relegation?

6. Touch Football. I am really worried by two plays I saw on the weekend. The Sharks and the Knights both did it. The wall of defence was so impenetrable, the players concerned (Rudolf and Saifiti) just stopped and stood still and looked for a quick play the ball. No structure, no rhythm and an old touch footy tactic. Never thought I would see the day.

7. The Knock Back. Nice to see the knock back make a comeback now we get near the finals. Not everything that hits the ground is a knock on. 

8. GWS. Leon Cameron is surely gone. This club is imploding. Incredibly poor performances in recent weeks. To miss the semis is bad with the quality of their roster. They need a new broom.

9. AFL. The might of Port, Richmond, West Coast and Brisbane has impressed all season. Richmond look like favourites. The Crows (like the Broncos) are new spoon winners. It will be good to see some serious finals footy. It may be more open this year than it looks. Geelong are so inconsistent, yet potentially awesome. Just hung on v Swans and in fact if that last second smother didn't occur, they could have been in fifth place, not fourth.

9. EPL. A quick new season, but the new signings are just catching up! Gareth Bale will be a good pick up at Spurs. Corona virus has sent a few well paid sports stars back to reality. Liking the attitude of Leeds early on, but ManU losing to Crystal Palace..please. A loss like that early on and you are almost dead in the water for the title these days.

10. US Open Golf. Patrick Reed and de Chambeau...two blokes who have hurt the game a fair bit. Both were at the top of the tree, but Reed has fallen with a 77. Good to see the 2010 British Open champion, Louis Oosthuizen in contention. 

It will be interesting to see if they stay composed under pressure or chase photographers and use the leather wedge... Liking the display of the Woolf at a young age. Not since the great Penrith and Parramatta centre Ken, has there been a Woolf like him. Apparently, he used to be a werewolf, but he is not anymooooorrrrreee!

11. Classique Legend. Blinding pace at Randwick on Saturday. One to watch in the Everest. Chautauqua-like!

Sunday, September 13, 2020

The Wrap - You Have To Be Djoking

1. NRL. The Panthers are carving it up and will take the JJ Giltinan as minor premiers (often forgotten on Grand Final day). As Brad Arthurs says, by losing the spine, especially Cleary, they will be in bother....but what team wouldn't be? That doesn't excuse the way Moses runs across field and the lack of punch up the centre that the team has inherited. The offloads are not landing. It was a little disconcerting to see Gutherson so charged up in the panthers game. A distraction from playing better! 

The Storm keep rolling on and so do the Raiders. The Storm finish top two again - incredible! Parramatta are in a bad way. No pace and so slow - especially without the bullet passes of the young hooker, Reed Mahoney.

2. Roosters. The Roosters with injuries and issues are still a powerhouse. SBW gives them an absolute edge. Trent Robinson is an absolute gun. Always stays single minded and never distracted by nonsense. Too busy winning comps!

3. Commentator Curse. Is it just me or is Blocker getting more generalised and off the pace as an NRL commentator? His defence of Townsend last week was a worry. Maybe it is me.

4. Adam O'Brien. Starting to worry about the composure of the Newcastle NRL coach. The team are playing with the same erratic style.

5. US Open Tennis. Novak Djokovic made a goose of himself. Disqualified in the tournament for hitting a ball at a line umpire that was his on a platter. Anyhow, with next to no one there, Serena also stumbled and Naomi Osaka triumphs for her third Grand Slam. In the men's either Zverev or Thiem is set to win their first title. Zerev may care to send Kgyrios a text!

6. EPL. They have hardly had time to get to the travel agent and banana lounge and they are back! Never ending play and still the sensational quality continues. Leeds who were recently promoted have risen to the challenge, going down to Liverpool, but only just. We will know the EPL winner by November. It wouldn't be the EPL without West Ham getting poleaxed in the first round. A long season ahead.

7. GWS Giants. The coach, Leon Cameron, is under the pump. That team should be top four every year. It is time for a change there. Crows launching back, but Carlton are floundering. Nearly fell over that the AFL are thinking of having their week off before the semis again in a season where they have played every night! Old habits...

8. Wallabies. 16 uncapped players selected...maybe this is the time to rebuild, with so much dead wood over recent years, this may keep a few from signing with rugby league.

9. Daniel Riccardo. Is this guy out of excuses yet? A few W's would help him. It seems to be everyone else's fault. No 'shoeys' this season.

10. Tour de France. No coronavirus problems there...pile in together and the crowd three deep. Maybe time for a few from Victoria to get to the travel agent. 

11. Curtis Scott. The Police are kidding there, but what is wrong with a grown man on a big salary on the drink and having a sleep in the park? He was a long way from the Ivy.

12. Australian Cricket. Thumped in T20...still no secrets uncovered yet. We simply have the wrong balance in the team. The ODI team has fared better. Mitchell Marsh might just be hitting his straps. Bowling at night in England - does it get any better for a medium pacer?


Sunday, September 6, 2020

Wrap - Better Crowds in COVID Than Before It

 1. NRL Fools #1. Josh Reynolds and Russell Packer. Too cold to stay at the game and you leave at half time? Both need releases from their contracts. They would not get a start at the Swans as their recruitment policy would disqualify them both (although they would be scratching their heads re Elijah Taylor). The Russell Packer effort against  Ryan Matterson earlier in the year summed him up. How do they look their team mates in the eye? They are salary cap sponges and show the divide in the camp. They need a clean out in Tiger town...both of these blokes, Macqueen, Marshall, Lawrence, etc... Ivan Cleary did the club no favours (but is going alright now at the Penny Panthers).

2. Canberra are fraying. Absolutely smashed by injuries and have done well to recruit all sorts of other players, but now Josh Papaali wants to go home. Ricky has an expiry date with some players (Bateman is another). They did well to hang in there, but Rapana and Simonsen/ his replacement are not giving much value to them out wide this year.

3. Manly. It has been a long time since Manly have been this bad. Des Hasler is not getting them on song. Their depth is getting there with lots of . The St George misery in 2020 continues. Zac Lomax is having a brilliant year. Awesome.

4. Humidor. That horse still has it after a blinding win at 20-1 on Saturday at Moonee Valley. Superb training effort from Chris Waller.

5. Australian T20 in England. Not that any one gives a tinker's cuss about it, but is there any logic that we send cricketers abroad to play in front of no one? Staggering. Interested to hear how Cricket Australia have now given up everything and traded off the farm and are one of the international paupers of the game. Incredible how useless the administration has been of late. The way they started looks like a clean series whitewash is on the cards.

Can we have day cricket at some stage? Night cricket is wearing thin too.

5. Waratahs. Another year of misery is undone in the usual way. Under performance, no stickability and lack of desperation. Awful to say, but a terrible year really. They are a franchise on the nose and would be one of the few franchises with the same crowds before, during and dare I say after COVID-19.

6. AFL. A sorry state of affairs with the Richmond Footy club just tripping over itself endlessly. They need to toughen up. The COVID-19 bubble certainly tests player sensibilities and stickability... and coaches and clubs. The ability to last and endure seems to be the same off the field as on the field for some.

7. SBW. For all the criticism, he is always the statesman and so talented. He takes a hit and always looks to progress the footy. What a superstar to get on the way to the GF. Awesome. Not sure how the salary cap allows it, but no one understands that bloody thing. If it was a public document, everyone would understand.

8. US Open Tennis. Djokovic is warming into the easiest Grand Slam win of his life. He has the rat cunning and skill to land this one again. Serena looks sharp but the US Open has been home to some of her worst losses in finals, including against Sam Stosur. Top effort from Hills kid, Jordan Thompson...into the forth round and possibly quarter finals of the show against a tired Coric!


 

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Wrap - The Bling Thing

1. Cricket. Jimmy Anderson picks up Test wicket number 600. An awesome achievement as the first fast bowler to hit that mark. Unbelievable talent and longevity. Broad has just brought up his 500th wicket too. Two legends and two of the best ever in the same team. Like Warne and McGrath. England will stammer when they are both gone, but not yet. Two series wins back to back for them and they are rocketing up the world ranking charts! They are stirring for one more crack at us on their seaming decks. We are in for some trouble unless we can unearth some decent batting prospects.

2. NRL. St George were woeful, but the Titans and Warriors are fighting back. Nice to see their changes and the demise of the Broncos. Too many whingers and complainers and they need a shake up.

3. Panthers. They were amazing for their eleventh win in a row. Liam Martin is a future Origin player.  Tough. They were so aggressive in defence attacking the Wigers’ runners. They look like they are GF bound. They have pace and passion. Ready to pounce. Joey Leilua once again makes a dunce of himself. Unlike Parramatta who were exposed expertly by Bennett's masterplan. A comprehensive thumping that underlines their greatest flaw...lack of pace and size in their five eight/ centre position. Compare that to Penrith. No contest.

4. Loss of Seibold. Not a pleasant club with stupid ‘cancer’ comments by an owner. Anthony seems to be chasing social media like his next win and spending a lot of his money in so doing. He needs to move on. Bennett will be back there soon, but surely they also need to uncover fresh territory in the coaching ranks.

5. Lionel Messi. What a great signing he would be for the EPL. 2 million a week is great COVID-19 coin! Manchester City will be winning the EPL if that happens.

6. Arsenal. They keep winning all silverware except the one that matters. The Community Shield is theirs again. An amazing club, but under performance personified.

7. A League. Sydney FC surely win the silver dunny seat. Dominant all year but a bad run in to the finals. An incredibly successful club. The end of the world’s longest competition!

8. AFL. Port, Geelong and Brisbane are all in the frame for the flag. GWS also showed flair at long last. Richmond are never far away either. Toby Greene has talent, but needs more smarts. Forever caught up in dramas. I suspect he needs to be told to grow up and pull his head in. Not sure if the current coach, Leon Cameron, strikes me as the man to do that.

9. Melbourne Cup. Former Melbourne Cup winning horse, Subzero, goooone! A great horse. Not many grey horses win the thing.

10. Baseball. Sydney Bluesox baseball sign the great Manny Ramirez (ex- Red Sox in his mid 40s!). Hard to know what role he’ll play, but I know my son will be trying to learn everything from him! There may be a dispute for work at first base, but that will last all of about one second. He is a baseball legend! An amazing signing for little old Australia. We'll wait to see what entourage and bling arrives. It could be a publicity myth yet.

11. Tim Tszyu. Too quick and powerful. Horn was caught counting cash too early. Under done. He is finished, but has been a great statesman for the sport. When Bob Arum calls you great, he too is counting wads of it. An interesting game the fight game. Where is Don King these days? 89 years young they tell me.

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Wrap - Losers Have Meetings

1. NRL. Five more rounds to go and some teams are dusted already. The Tigers and Manly have almost given it all away now. Crushing losses both and really bad defence. The Panthers (almost perfectly injury free) are striding ahead but are 15 points ahead of the Tigers, Manly and St George! The Tigers need a complete clean out - Mbye, Marshall, Lawrence, Packer... get rid of the whinging goose element too. 

Warriors are doing well in tough circumstances. Coach Todd Payten ticking boxes everywhere.

2. English Test Cricket. Great batting from Jos Buttler and 22 year old (!) Zak Crawley (267) for England v Pakistan. Pakistan can fall in a heap like very few other teams...such talent unrealised. The wretched English weather has played havoc. Growing up, the first time I can remember seeing sunlight over there in England was on the Mark Taylor Ashes massacre all those years ago. If you bat in the overcast conditions, you pay a heavy price.

Look for a Stuart Broad-James Anderson special end to the series in the Third Test. Jimmy Anderson was in unplayable fine form. Could be over very soon.

3. Australian Cricket. There is something remarkably boring about an Australian ODI Team going in a chartered jet to England to play. Please. Who cares? The only reason they are playing is that the Cricket Australia people have ruined the game and its resource base. Not sure that cricketers are the top of any one's care list. Meaningless tournaments overseas by overpaid whingers appeals to very few. Amazing how sportstars get the green light to travel overseas when Joe Average needs to stay at home.

4. Cameron Smith. Plenty want to tell him what to do. I think Cameron can decide that... even if he needs to do it soon. Fair enough that those other players want to move on too, if he stays. Both Brandon Smith and Harry Grant are exemplary players. The Brandon Smith jaw break is bad.

5. Losing Coaches. Interesting how losing coaches whinge and whine about dives/ mock crusher tackles, etc. Winning coaches never seem to see this stuff. 'Losers have meetings and winners have parties!'.

6. NRL - Manly. Talk about imbalance in their salary cap. DCE, 2 x Trobejvics, Dylan Walker, Tapou...cap gone. A few injuries and so is their season. Their defence has rarely been so bad. Souths were slick.

7. Swans. Their current style of footy is so bad (lucky crowds are not required at present or they would truly have COVID crowds!). I am sure Buddy Franklin (remember him?) will never want to come back. They are appalling. As soon as the weather arrives, it goes down three levels again. Rebuilding phases of club need to be pretty quick these days, otherwise the end of player and coach contracts are quicker.

8. Tim Tszyu v Jeff Horn bout. A cracking one ahead. Tszyu talks a big game. Noticed the big Russian boxer has a nice uppercut. Jeff Horn can do damage if you are slow.

9. Seibold Forensics. Not sure who goes to jail first? It seems like it might be busy at the courts around this one. He is under a lot of pressure and this is cruel. Society has had enough of this nonsense (a bit like the road rage phase).

10. Bronson Xerri. That B sample should be arriving any day now...

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Wrap - Going Bunkers

 1. NRL Coaches. Souths are really struggling (yet keep winning) and Bennett seems as though he should join the coach exodus - Dean Pay, Paul McGregor, Steve Kearney and Paul Green. Interesting to see Michael Morgan return when the coach was sent packing. A tough gig. The Seibold nonsense stories don't make it any easier (Who thinks this ridiculous stuff up to attack a coach? Very sad), but it is a winning game the coaching game. Very few coaches have won greater than 50% of their games! 

Hard to know why Kevin Walters has not been ushered into a coaching role. He must have out priced himself or he is on the nose with management.

2. Bites. The dumbest thing about the Kevin Proctor biting matter was that he was not wearing a mouthguard. He may be found to be 'reckless' by the judiciary on this count alone! Must know a good dentist.

3. NRL - Parramatta. Shocking loss v St George. Their forward strength has improved, but they still lack strike power in the backline. The team needs to be more astute at the pressure moments. They lack brilliance. Israel Folau may be an option? The lack of sheer pace in some teams holds them back. 

Manly have become soft too which is staggering really after years of being the toughest of all. I suspect salary cap imbalance (Trobjevics x 2, DCE) has a price. Newcastle keep rising, without impressing.

4. England - Cricket. Stuart Broad is already at 510 Test wickets and surging forward. A great chase by the Poms in the First Test v Pakistan. There is no team like Pakistan to let you off the hook. When they ever return to the top of the tree it will be when they can get a few mentally tough players again.

A day or two of no cricket in the latest Test will get the illegal bookies anxious. Collapse?

5. NRL Team Songs. Noticing a lot of dressing room fist pumping/ group dancing in the NRL post game in victories. Surely that is not to the traditional team song. 'Glory , glory to South Sydney...' and 'Click go the shears...' or 'The red white and bloosters..' should become legend like the AFL do so well (less the sexual touching nonsense - juvenile fools all).

6. NRL State of Origin. The selected NSW and Queensland teams may be like the Prime Minister's XIII team they send to Papau New Guinea, by the time the season ends. The injury toll keeps mounting and it will be a test of roster depth. The form of Wighton and Cook is most alarming. There is no one troubling Melbourne on current form. Melbourne will do a number on Parramatta next week too.

7. NRL Rules. Scrums are a farce... knock backs are a thing of the past and one challenge is needed in each half. A review is needed.

8. NRL Bunker - Jarrod Maxwell. What a cracking bunker voice he has! Big brother! This bunker voice is more popular than Tevita Pangai-Junior.

9. AFL. The effort of GWS is appalling. So inconsistent and lazy. To lose to the Swans this year is awful. Geelong are storming back into contention for the flag. Port have been great but are struggling a bit more now. It is a long season! Brisbane were fortunate, but they have won! St Kilds may finally be turning a corner too.

10. US PGA Golf. Collin Morikawa's win was pretty special last weekend. Jason Day did well but not enough. A future star perhaps...but how hard is it to string together greatness in golf? Sergio...Rose.. Retief ...Rory...Speith...all have had the tag of the next great thing in golf. They certainly have had their moments, but to win over a long period of time is tough. IBF, John Daly, David Duval and Vijay have all had the wheels fall off at different times... Nick Faldo (6) is the most major winners in our lifetimes outside of Tiger Woods (15). A tough craft. Koepka blew it and needs to watch his mouth is respectful.

11. Waratahs. What? Two wins in a row. Another win in the next fortnight and they make finals... hard to believe but the loss v Rebels will be costly. Bonus points will be critical.

12. US Open Tennis. Starts 31 August. Of course Novak Djokovic (17 Grand Slams) is attending and should pick up a cheap major here in the absence of Rafa (19 Grand Slams/ carry over champion). No Wawrinka (3 Grand Slams) or Federer (20 Grand Slams) either. 

13. Football. Barca thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich. Incredible. Messi may be on the move to the EPL. That would make it the star league in Europe for sure. In our parts, Sydney FC may deserve the 'dunny seat' trophy the way they have been playing the past couple of weeks!

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Wrap - Fools Paradise

1. NRL Fools. Occassionally we hear the statement that "he doesn't tolerate fools". I am still waiting to find someone who does tolerate fools. Peter V'landys needs to come down hard on these fools.

Alan Langer (trainer no brainer), Pangai-Junior (bikie club links), Paul Vaughan (dumb prop), Wayne Bennett (King Lear clone)... are all fools. No one is under any illusions in "the bubble" re behaviour for all NRL players and officials. They all know what is expected. Talk about selfishness and self centredness. The game will fall in a heap if these idiots are let loose. It didn't take that long. Bennett should retire and disappear so he can go to a cafe every day he wants then. Then there was also a junior match stabbing or two today. Great look for the game this weekend!

2. Ivan Cleary. He has done some stupid things in recent times ... breaking the salary at Tigers, blowing kisses, now comments re refs that Canberra were being "managed back into the game". Is this why Gus sent him packing? Panthers are killing it without any help from the refs. He needs to get on with winning. 

The Eels had a tight win, but hardly impressive. The hands of Ferguson are a worry. Under pressure he struggles. Blake in the centres is a nightmare too. They need a better centre who is devastating. They are harder to find than an ASADA B-Sample.

3. Tigers. Woeful. Hopeless. Adam Doueihi can cry for Lebanon, but his form has still been woeful. Thumped again. Bottom line is they are dreadful - especially Benji's defence sadly. They are flat and Michael Maguire is on thin ice. They need an absolute clean out at that place, starting with Benji and Chris Lawrence... old world and time to move on.

4. AFL Injuries. Fancy hitting an opponent's injury on the field. Fancy putting strapping around the injury - without the usual decoy strapping on the same limb in a 'healthy' part of the body? The grubbiness of the AFL is being exposed badly in the COVID-19 times. Their image is suffering. Not sure if playing every night of the week helps either.

5. AFL Groping each other in the dressing room. Are they for real? Richmond AFL Club grabbing crotches, poking butts... honestly. Save the nonsense and play better. What an embarrassment. Especially when a younger and newer African player is targeted. Fines? Sackings? Or just counselling? Amazing how apologies only arise when the media get hold of it all.

6. Nathan Brown to Warriors. Not sure of this one, but good luck to him and them. Gus Gould will help, until they get sick of each other. The signings they have earmarked are not great...Adam Elliot, Euan Aiken, Jack de Belin and some English player...That is not going to win a comp for you. Roger Tuivasa-Shek has been limited this year, but he and Ken Mamalo and Tohu Harris are very good. They need leadership.

7. USA PGA Gold Championships. Brooks Koepka looks poised to strike. Bryson DeChambeau hits it off the tee that hard, the club head drops off...never had that issue. Dustin Johnson will go close too.

8. Waratahs beating the Reds. Surely not...their biggest win ever? I hope the ASADA people were there. Remarkable, but how the Reds have folded. Brad Thorn has simply not gotten this team right.

9. Horse racing. Some new exciting types are coming back from the paddock for the spring. From last week, Brooklyn Hustle is a sensational horse!

10. England Cricket v Pakistan. A fourth innings chase for victory is very difficult and extremely rare. The Poms, thanks to Buttler and Woakes got there... not without panic! A great effort.