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!