1. Tom Trbojevic. He could well be the most dominant player in any team all year in a number of seasons and a favourite for the Dally M award (and Cleary), despite missing five weeks or so. Manly have suddenly burst to life since his return. Saab is well named, but five weeks ago no one could understand the hype. Since Tommy T has returned, his speed is awesome, his aerial work amazing and he is tough. Watching guys like him, Papenhuyzen and Tedesco thrill the crowds. Speed wins... unless you try it late at night in the Manly Corso. That was a heavy loss.
There are also some very slow wingers in the game now...Don, Sivo, Ferguson, Mamalo, Oates, Cotric, Feldt.
2. Adam Reynolds. Signed by Brisbane, but surely Souths know something they are not revealing about his health. A three year deal is exceptionally generous at his age. Souths need to trim players to retain their other talent and I think he is slowing down, yet runs a good game. He may be the best goalkicker we have ever seen in the game. Townsend will need to buy himself a goal kicking coach and a sprint coach.
3. Head Contact Crackdown Blitz. Rugby league head contact crackdown. Can anyone explain why this did not happen at the start of the season? This is the mystery. Have lawyers come knocking?
It is certainly a worry long term for the game as multi-million dollar legal suits loom. The game will be crippled. However, if Tedesco continues to slide and dip low at the point of contact, his concussion woes will continue. Where is the line between accidental and deliberate?
There were some other worrying signs in the rugby league this weekend... stupid "advantage" rules and returning sixty metres back up field for a delayed decision... rugby union style, two minutes later. The rugby league bunker is full of fear too, taking ridiculous amounts of time to make a decision. There were a couple of tries where they were looking for the cast of CSI to help them, worried they may get sacked. There are delays and looping back two plays for a penalty. We were meant to be speeding the game up I thought, but the interruptions...
That said, when they announced punching was banned, lifting tackles, crusher tackles...we had the same reaction. Impossible? Yet they have been stamped out pretty much.
However that ridiculous rule that you can hammer a bloke the instant he catches a bomb needs changing too. A 20 metre bonus quick tap for the bomb catching team could change coaching tactics. Fewer bombs, more contested high balls.
Interesting to see referee Ben Cummins hit the Bill Harrigan record number of games. 390+. Good achievement and one to help erase Bill's memory perhaps. I like the new line from refs when the inevitable dispute at a breakdown arises.."well, review it then...". Great response to the whingers. This actually needs more microscope in the game. If you are not the captain...have a break.
It may be time to implement a "penalty box" concept (like the NHL - US ice hockey) where a player stays a short time behind the goal posts of the end their team are running from...before returning to play).
4. Cronulla. Former coach, John Morris apparently told Andrew Fifita to retire. I think he was right. If fit, he is awesome. He has immense talent but does very silly things sometimes. Like the Tigers centre, old mate Joey Leilua.
Unfortunately too, Fifita has a target on him from the NRL referees too. Joining him in retirement will be Dugan, Woods, Moylan, Chambers, Tolman..maybe Wade Graham too. They may need a retirement home adjoining their home ground of Endeavour Field/ Ronson/ Toyota/ Caltex/ Remondis/ Southern Cross stadium.
4a Predictions - We've Been Saying It For Weeks. It is eight weeks too late, but sad to see the Kyle Flanagan press conference. He is simply not up to it yet. He needs to learn more - and not from Dad. Sprint work and run to the line, draw defence and use a smart quicker pass on both sides. He is too slow sadly for the modern games. More Jason Taylor than Jason Nightingale. Straighter running and tougher to the line. Eliminate silly kicks.
Adam Doueihi was the other one. Stifling opportunity in the team by handling the ball too often at five eight. Finally moved wider with better impact. You still need a court order to get the ball off him.
Sam Walker is the smarter option, but needs to work on his defence. He is being targeted big time now by opponents. Trent Robinson is much smarter than Trent Barrett. Both went to St Greg's Campbelltown, but one seems to have opened more books.
5. AFL. Still liking Geelong and their strength across the park. Gary Rohan looks great in patches, but can go quiet in a GF. Amazed to see Melbourne still carving up the competition. Swans are bright, but fading a bit, despite crushing Collingwood. Buddy has been very subdued this year. North Melbourne winning is rare, but they are on the board.
The Tigers v GWS contest was sensational. Dustin Martin moves so smoothly. Taking out the umpire was a little comical... he tumbled, did the shoulder and then got a standing ovation because his judgement of a critical goal helped the Tigers win! GWS look tougher now and the camp look to have eliminated the earlier angst. The journeyman Jesse Hogan went well too, compensating for the loss of Jeremy Cameron. Western Bulldogs are still the benchmark. Crisp, united, slick across the park and tough. They will be hard to toss for the 2021 flag.
Melbourne 9-0 record is their best season start since 1956!
6. Cameron Bancroft. This guy has always worried me. Arriving a bit too early and before his time. Ever since the silly laughing post match interview in 2017 re the Jonny Bairstow headbutt incident...then the sandpaper gate..then the ridiculous singlet sympathy interview. Now he is resurrecting the ball tampering issue to uncover a conspiracy involving the bowlers in that game. He might need to concentrate on his forward defence. His form has dipped and he may just have had his papers stamped.
7. QLD Rugby. Well that didn't last long? Thumped 41-9. IN fact a typical "sweep" by the NZ teams. The Crusaders almost got pipped by the Brumbies (why are they always so competitive?) but they are still break dancing! The Waratahs score 40+ points and still get hammered? What is going on with that joint?
8. Man City confirmed as EPL champions. Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United all relegated. Leicester coming third...a great effort. West Ham fifth is also impressive.
9. FA Cup. Always remember staying up to watch the FA Cup as a youngster. A top event in front of a reduced crowd this year. Leicester are firing! 1-0 win v the fancied Chelsea. The VAR can be cruel, but rarely inaccurate. There are so many blokes with sheer speed playing that game. Is it the footage, the crowd, the hype or is there no one within a bull's roar of this in the A-League?
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