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!
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