The Wrap - The Sin Bin

1. NRL. The Roosters are hanging on by a thread. So many injuries have killed them, but new guys are stepping up. Joey Manu did well in calling out Latrell. He was quite classy in calling him out for that terrible shot. There should be more of that as it hurts the brand of the offender more than you can imagine. People remember it and the player is put on notice. Latrell needs to sharpen up his game in this area. So talented, but not helping his team getting a six - nine week suspension. Yet another suspension. He is a lot better than that.

He needs to apologise publicly to Manu, but seems unable to do this.

What a misery the Dragons have been all year. Seven straight losses. They were crushed and have not won a thing since the BBQ. Lucky they had a few more points or the spoon would be theirs.

The Bulldogs need a complete broom. Trent Barrett - like Anthony 'Hook' Griffin - are on notice. They need to lift their club and their players. Selling stuff on eBay as a joke and restaurant bathrooms are not a great look - nor is putting Jack de Belin as your skipper. Note to self. Elliott needs to go, but will be re-signed by a club somewhere. He has tremendous ability, but is he good for your club culture?

2. Parramatta. A much better performance and famous win for them. The new centre Penisini was excellent. When a player has good defence it is a magnificent sign - especially against Jacob Olam. He needs to be a little speedier, but promising. Dylan Brown needs a big contract. His defence was awesome, saving at least two tries. He makes a huge difference when he has space to play. 

Fascinating to watch Melbourne under pressure and how they respond. Almost like the game they needed to lose before the semi finals. Lots of lying down and feigning injury looking for penalties and confusion. They seemed to put a lot of pressure on themselves at key times. Losing the fox was huge for them. This is what semi final pressure is all about - twists and turns and staring down adversity. Equally fascinating was Gutherson going off injured. Moses actually started taking on the line and using his pace. It also freed up Dylan Brown to play footy with flair and style. 

Poor Waqar Blake. He seems like a really nice guy. He'd be a great neighbour who you'd trust to take the bin out and bring the mail in, but not as your prime defensive first grade centre. When he plays wing he is a lot better. Niukore is a much better defensive option out wide. Much more trust.

Souths, Manly and Penrith suddenly have a spring in their step!

3. England v India Test Cricket. Jimmy Anderson is extraordinary. His command as a swing bowler has not been seen for many, many years. I am thinking maybe Hadlee was the last like him. A green pitch on an overcast day makes him impossible to play. This Ollie Robinson is accurate and talented too. Kohli v Anderson has been great. Kohli called him an 'old man' the other night. How old does that make us feel? Joe Root hits another first innings ton to equal Kevin Pietersen on 23 Test tons. The great Sir Alistair Cook has 33 test tons. He just might have a government ambassadorial job in Australia soon as well.

A great series unfolding with a crushing innings and 76 runs. 1-1 after three tests. Two tests to follow. A gripping series. However, India are still favourites to win 3-1 for mine.

If you bat under overcast skies in England you are playing a completely different game to batting under sunshine. Incredible differences. Like a 'day-night' test match to be honest. India look a bit short on batting. Pant at six looks a bit early. No Ashwin? He is the second best in the world who rips through left handers. England have a heap of lefties. 

Funny thing Ian Chappell said to Botham after a bar stoush (something like)... 'If you fight, only two things can happen - you go to hospital or jail. I don't fancy either of them..for you or me'.

4. AFL Semi Finals. Great intensity. Geelong got whacked on Friday night against Port Adelaide. They really know how to blow a game and lose. Yet they have a flag winning roster. They could fall over yet again, but surely they shine when it counts? They may need to trade a few of their older players or perish in future years.

Swans v GWS was a cracking game, but the Swans were exposed on two key fronts. One was their woeful accuracy on goal (three hit the post in the last quarter) and the other was pace. They have the skill and combinations (they can ill afford not to re-sign Parker just quietly), but the poise under pressure was lacking. Toby Greene needs to go to the hall of mirrors. So much talent but not a lot of thinking. He is a repeat offender sadly. GWS could still get through to play Port Adelaide with a win v Geelong.

The Melbourne juggernaut was extraordinary. They just steamrolled Brisbane and regathered their momentum when it looked shaky. Dominant. Max Gawn was again a star. Petracca was dominant too. Clayton Oliver has to be the Brownlow winner. He is everywhere. Brisbane seem to go to sleep at key times...like Geelong. Leadership issues on the field perhaps?

The Western Bulldogs had the tougher assignment when the heavens opened. They crushed the Essendon team and the stars gathered as one. They would have been devastated with an exit after a top four finish was let slip last week. They will atone v Brisbane who were flat and face Melbourne for a spot in the GF.

5. EPL. Ronaldo back at ManU. Amazing signing and huge for the club. They have surged in popularity again. He will continue to dominant. Could you imagine if he went to the arch rivals Man City? Arsenal's loss 5-0 was catastrophic. They are falling apart quickly. Artera may be in strife.

6. Socceroos - Graham Arnold. He is looking old but determined. One of our best ever coaches underway again for World Cup qualification.

7. Super Netball. Swifts beat Giants in a tight GF. A popular game in Australia, but television don't seem to be able to see the appeal.

8. Daniel Riccardo. Lots of great photos, great promises, smiles...but not many wins still. He has done better so far in the Belgium GP, but there is only one currency... podium finishes!

8. Paralympics. There are so many stories of inspiration and sadness. A great celebration.

9. Ash Barty. A winner again. mentally tough. Now just hoping she can stay fit on those hot hardcourts at Flushing Meadow in September! Back Djokovic for the win instantly now. He stands to become the greatest of all time with Federer and Nadal resting. 21 Grand Slam victories...ahead of the current 20 Grand Slam triple lock! An awesome feat that may never ever be beaten, even by Nadal and Federer.

The Wrap - By Buy Bye

1. NRL. The Knights are locked in to the semi finals which is a good recovery from earlier in the season. Pearce is still a clever player. The Tigers are just an embarrassment. They need a new mini-series with a better storyline. Coach Maguire has simply not got the cattle and they are not able to hear the message between the swear words. His efforts in 'Tiger Town' tell us why he has not clicked. You need to watch these stories from the inside...the casualties seem to mount up!

The Cowboys have been awful too. Todd Payten has been a huge disappointment after a bright start. St George looked good in patches but they were awful in the end. Surely de Belin was not put forward as skipper? The Roosters with all their injuries, still keep winning. Amazing really. Surely a few blokes might be ready to return for them soon.

Great work from the NRL and AFL television sound team. Amazing how the game can still sound exciting when no one is in the stadium!

2. The Coach's Sons. Jacob Arthur-Brad Arthur, Billy Walters-Kevin Walters and Kyle Flanagan and Shane Flanagan. You have to admire their passion for the game, but as soon as the son goes to the club. Watch out, bad things can happen. Not all are like Ivan and Nathan or John and Martin Lang.

3. Dud Buy of The Year? Chad Townsend to the Cowboys? Kyle Flanagan? Nick Cotric? Corey Allan? James Tamou? A cruel tag, but it does happen.

4. Best Future Buy? Ethan Bullemor is a ripping signature by Manly, once confirmed. You heard it here. This bloke could be like Menzies and will play State of Origin - no risk. Top talent spotting. An awesome signing.

5. Moses Mbye. Have I missed something about how he was so hotly in demand? St George have picked him up for 2022, but I hope they got a bargain. Has he done anything? Great person I am sure, but he must share the smartest manager in the NRL - Chad Townsend's manager.

6. AFL. A cracking final round. Very exciting. Port Adelaide crushed the hopes of Western Bulldogs in a tight win. Wines will go close to the Brownlow award this year.  Clayton Oliver should win it for mine however - so consistent. Bontempelli was very disappointing when he needed to excel. Brisbane then jam them out of the top four in an exciting chase to get their for and against right. . A costly loss by the Western Bulldogs who slipped to fifth. They have won it before from the impossible position, but this was a bad one. 

West Coast have been a misery it must be said in 2021, particularly lately. Interesting to see Buddy enter the nervous 990s for goals scored. A legend of the game with eight more goals till the 1,000th is reached!

A draw by the Hawks and Tigers too... a great send off for Alistair Clarkson. The great Bachour Houli retires too.

The Melbourne v Geelong game was simply outstanding. Geelong know how to lose after an unbeatable lead. How does that happen? The Melbourne comeback was stunning....and there they were...two points in it with a few seconds remaining... the great skipper himself Max Gawn marks on the siren and converts soon after! For the win... the minor premiership and the home final. Oliver awesome.

Eddie Betts has had a distinguished career too. Amazing efforts right to the end by Eddie for Carlton. Their coach, David Teague was funny... "I'll be sacked this week". Something to look forward to. Surely Ross Lyons is not the best option to replace him.

How much longer can the AFL persist with the Gold Coast Suns disaster? They are terrible...every year. Stuart Dew should resign and leave before he never ever gets another coaching job.

7. Justin Langer. As mentioned some weeks back, Langer is clinging on as Australian coach. Ponting is next choice surely. A winner in every way - or Steve Waugh. Langer has too many spoiled brats in the team and in the end, the coach is easier to shift than the coach. Too many squads, too many captains and when they falter, they whinge loudly. Some of these blokes would complain if a pot of gold fell from the sky at their feet while at training.."How do you expect me to get that to the car? Where's the trolley?"

8. Rugby Union. The amateur status is alive and well when the opponent (All Blacks) cancels out on the game without telling anyone. Essentially a forfeit! We'll take that outcome anyhow. A win for the Wallabies. The series sits at 2-1! That is as good as a series win. We're back!

9. Scottish Premier League. Well done to the prickly Ange Postocoglou, who it must be said is pretty successful as a football manager. His Celtic team are on top of the comp now. He may need to coach Justin Langer in media relations too! 

10. EPL. Everyone loves a sporting fairytale, but Brentford are newly promoted and unbeaten to start the season on 4 points. They need to get to 35 points to be safe from relegation, but these early points are gold! Ridiculously early days, but I fear for Norwich. They have already let in 8 goals in two matches!

11. Cameron Smith. A course record 60 at the Northern Trust PGA event. Still he is only the joint leader with Jon Rahme (a walking COVID success story). They are shooting the lights out of Liberty National in New York. Tomorrow will be different, Hurricane Henri is bearing down on the area and I'd be surprised if they get started at all - even for a couple of days.

12. Tennis. Ash Barty is killing them in Cincinnati ahead of the US Open. Hoping she doesn't go too hard ahead of the US Open like she did with the French (and had to withdraw injured). Into the final.

The Wrap - Trade Door and Mathematical Impossibilities

1. NRL. At the risk of sounding negative, I will plough on regardless. The Eels have hit rock bottom. Terrible in all respects.They were smacked and will do well to get a win v the Cowboys and any more wins in 2021. A shame there is a trade window - we need a trade door (double door!).

Brad Arthur is on shaky ground because there is something chronically wrong. He looks like he has lost the carpark and the dressing room. It all seemed to start around the time Gutherson started his on field blow ups with team mates, Ferguson was sacked, the Jacob Arthur selection and the contract fiascos. The wheels can't fall off that quickly in a stable team. The ill discipline is rampant... inside the team and clearly on the training paddock and leagues club. The basket case continues. 

At the press conference, Arthur says he is not sure what to do now. Can we assist Brad?

(a) Sack Waqar Blake instantly. 

(b) Put Nuikore in the centres. Remember how well he did and how you won when he was there?

(c) Allow players to offload the ball and play footy. You have shackled that and Junior Paulo has been stifled.

(d) Omit your son from the squad and look beyond.

(e) Get the defence right out wide as other coaches are making you look stupid. Stop leaking tries on the fringes and see (a) and remove Blake from the team.

(f) Get rid of the hopeless inside ball from a lacklustre half back edging across the field. Watch Jarome Hughes at the Storm and compare notes.

(g) Recruit speed in your outside backs.

(h) Hire Dylan Brown in a five year deal - no less.

(h) Sack Haze Dumpster and let him play for the Rouse Hill Rhinos. Send Oldfield there too.

(i) Trade out the whole backline. Start again and recruit talent that works toegther.

(j) Sack Gutherson if he can't agree to terms quickly. 

2. Mathematical Disaster Cases. When teams talk about "mathematically" making semi finals you know they have had a pathetic year. The Tigers fit this. I still think Newcastle will make it based on their draw.

3. Manly. Manly have built a tremendous team and if Tommy Turbo stays fit, they could go close. His injury could derail the current run. Hasler has been the coach of the year... just after Craig Bellamy.

How many times can we hear that a player has "wound back the clock"? Kieran Foran is Mr Daylight Saving.

4.  NRL Millionaires. The millionaires are rare NRL players. Gutherson and Kikau are not in this class.

5. Wallabies. A loss 57-22...can it get any worse? We are clueless and the game is so troubled. Such a shame. Pop quiz: name five Wallabies!

6. EPL - Brentford. Promoted to the EPL and they beat Arsenal. A great story. First victory over them since 1947! The canaries of Norwich are back again and they already look like relegation chances.

7. AFL. Awful loss by the Western Bulldogs. Melbourne back in the winners list and the Swans too good. Get rid of the bye round before the finals! A blight on the game.

Apparently the Delta virus is refusing to go to WA! Their stadiums are full.

8. Test Cricket. Jimmy Anderson continues to be the best seamer in the world... still. Another five wickets v India. Joe Root is in special form. Five tons for this year and a 180no. He is fast becoming one of the all time greats for England.

He is two tons short of being the second best ever! Lots of 50s and a better conversion rate now.

9. Kevin Costner Field of Dreams. What a cracking concept! White Sox v Yankees! Superb and the cane fields still in tack too. Loved it!

10. Nick Kygrios' sister, Halimah. She is a better singer than Nick. Even Shazam recognised her song. Talent.

The Wrap - Gold Medal COVID Lockdown

 1. Olympics. Some great Aussie moments, including Rohan Browning and Peter Bol. The Decathalete looks the goods and our distance runners seem to have lifted dramatically. Rare we are there. Starc looked good in the high jump (jumping higher than his brother's bouncers), so did our discus throwers, but we are fourth and fifth so much...not terrible, but no medals there. Most have been to US Colleges to strengthen their understanding, training and ability. The Nicola McDermott high jump silver medal was a great effort. How that bar dropped off on the last jump I will never know.

Really enjoyed the track and field coverage - Bruce is gold and Dave Colburt was also very funny and knowledgeable. One of his lines in the high jump..."A close shave for the Brazilian".

How Emma McKeon doesn't carry the flag at the closing ceremony is beyond me. Seven medals? Sounds like a classic Olympic administration decision. Had anyone thought to put her in the penthouse of the Toyko Hyatt or similar and keep her there for a week to deservedly lead the nation into the stadium? Don't give the COVID excuse...

What about our Australian hurdler that knocked down every hurdle? That is the stuff of the Year 9 heats at a school athletics carnival. Drunkeness on the plane going home...sneaking out to get a few beers... Very Aussie!

Interested to see how the US track team has lost some of their mojo - but not in the 4 x 400m relays! The absence of drugs generally is noticeable with the times and size of athletes. Hopefully the 100 metre champion Italian, Jacobs doesn't fall for the old post Olympics steroid trick. The same for the 4 x 100m. Can't cop the ROC being involved. How does that work after a ban?

Loving that new track and field entry point and introduction start - and the tense music pre-race. One for Spotify. Good innovations!

2. NRL. Manly v Storm was their first real test in seventeen weeks! Manly did really well, but were still not good enough to beat them. The Storm are so far in front it is ridiculous. Christian Welsh is outstanding. He is also very smart. So is Jarome Hughes and Brandon Smith, let alone their superstars. Brilliant team and coaching. Their discipline is amazing...not a silly boring inside ball in sight! No charge downs, no loose play and rarely is there poor discipline. Conversely, is there a reason Will Chambers was not wanted back?

The Panthers miss Cleary, but they also need more speed in their team too. Quick and quality outside backs are hard to find. Manly have made some sort of comeback. Tommy Turbo is the Dally M winner clearly and it is amazing to see how good Foran is playing at present too. A different player to his efforts at the Bulldogs. The Dogs will be happy to get Burton however. A gun.

3. AFL. How bad were the Swans when a top four spot was on the line? The pressure and intensity of the St Kilda team really exposed the Swans. Buddy was barely seen. Very disappointing. Geelong were even worse v GWS with such a star studded roster. At least Port held on. The Western Bulldogs collapsed too. The desperation of teams to make the finals is a powerful motivator.

Extremely disappointing re racist comments by players and fans to other humans. Tex has had a great year on the field. A sad disgrace. Allir Allir has made a massive difference at Port Adelaide this year and was the MOTM on Saturday night...he too cops it.

4. Australian Cricket. Out and out dud performances, but a consolation final win. We truly are flat track bullies and the Bangers smashed us. Our arrogance is unbelievable in cricket. It is a team that the nation barely cares much for these days. Our T20 team could well be the worst in the world. 

Great series of India v England at present. Jimmy Anderson still has the goods and on English decks he could rip through Australia for years to come! Our batting is just awful and the nation needs some serious work here or we will be whipping boys for years to come. You see it in England too. All flashy T20 bats and money vacuums.. no hard grinding bats.

5. Rugby. All Blacks v Wallabies. We are just an automatic loss to be frank. Our late tries flattered us, but we simply do not compete at the key times. You do wonder if there is a plan at all. Rennie says we are getting closer. Closer to what? Closer to respectable losses perhaps? We look so out of our depth.

6. Parramatta and Brad Arthur. Brad has the full support of the Board. Watch out! Not sure how Jake Arthur figures here, but this may be the undoing of Brad Arthur. The slide has coincided with this meteoric rise to first grade. A good young talent, but maybe a good leg up or two at times too. Brad may not be splitting that fine line between family and business well enough. With Manly, Storm and Panthers to come, they will be out in the first week of the semis if they get there. 

The downhill slide has also coincided with the lack of adventure in their play. Offloads need to happen! Simple. They have dried up and Paulo needs to be able to play footy. The forwards are certainly good enough, but their backs.. get rid of the lot of them. Campbell-Gillard is a real loss when he is injured. 

Haze Dumpster is not first grade material. Opacic, Ferguson, Blake... trade the lot. If they were footy cards, you'd leave them on the bus. They are not good enough and certainly not fast enough. The club lacks speed - simple. Speed wins, especially with the current rules adjustments. There are no speedsters in the club. Poor recruitment.

While Gutherson is a talent, I would also give the captaincy to someone else. Lack of composure. I am not convinced Moses is your only option as well, but a top half back is hard to find. Gutho has suddenly lost all speed too. This nullifies his abilities. Re-sign him? I'd be in New Zealand looking at young rugby talent, with Dylan Brown before he walks out the door. Dylan Brown is a premiership winner. He just needs backs who are too. He played at his best without Moses. I would put him at half back and buy a five eight.

7. Oh Brother. Has anyone in NRL or Parramatta approached Beauden Barrett? He and his brothers (Jordie and Scott) would be better than the other famous NZ brothers: the Crowe brothers (Jeff and Martin RIP), the Bracewell brothers (John and Brendan), the Marshall brothers (Hamish and James), the McCullum brothers (Nathan and Brendan) and the Paul brothers (Henry and Robbie) - or the Gear brothers (Hosea and Rico) or the Brooke brothers (Robin and Zinzan). 

8. Skateboarding/ BMX. If nothing else is ever gained from lock down, we may have produced a generation of future gold medallists in these two sports! 

9. Lionel Messi. Gone from Barcelona? It's like Cameron Smith leaving the Storm and playing for another club! PSG may pick him up. Great if an EPL team did. Noticed Leicester won the Community Shield game v Man City on the weekend. What a great success they have been in the past few seasons. 

The Wrap - Medals Like Water My Friend

1. The Olympics. They are fabulous regardless of what comes or what disease lands. Great to see Australians doing well at the Olympics. Class efforts, often at huge personal expense. Olympics - amazing strike rate in, on and underwater. All our medals bar two have been water related - swimming, canoe, rowing, sailing, surfing...and one road cycling and one BMX medal only. Typical island country!

We have Kaylee McKeown (the 100m and 200m backstroke was the first time ever for an Australian!) and Emma McKeon (a million medals for the games!) - hard to keep the head across which is which! What we do know, is they are stars. The efforts of Ariane Titmus were superb. The Harvey Norman marketing crew will be thanking themselves on their 'ambassador' signing of Titmus pre games. 

McKeon has been superb and deserves to carry the flag at the closing ceremony. The most ever Olympic medals by an Australian with another Olympics at least to follow. Five gold as well, equalling the great Thorpey. A legend! A greater legend than the Dawn Fraser and Shane Gould stories... a few more events these days it must be said, but keep that bit quiet.

Australia has had a really strong Olympics really. 58 medals is our best ever (Sydney 2000 - 35 total medals in Melbourne in 1956) and 17 gold medals at Athens in 2004. 

At present we have 31 medals with 14 gold medals... could it be our best ever?

2. Rohan Browning. Great to see an Aussie run fast in the 100m! It can be done if drugs are removed from the Games. Suddenly, certain teams are not as dominant. Poland winning the 4x100m Medley would have been unheard of some years ago. Good that Flo Jo's soiled record has been eclipsed too. I am filthy about cheating athletes. They should be listed in a Hall of Shame. that is well publicised. They deny the legitimate athletes from glory and represent weakness in officialdom.

3. Discus Golfer. That Australian discus thrower - Denny - has a great golf swing too. Liked the Matilda's women's soccer great focus and belief too. Our long jumper looked like he had just mowed the lawn in his black socks. 

4. NRL. As mentioned in the past few weeks...if COVID gets to QLD there is a problem. They should be moving to North Queensland as soon as possible.... or the Northern Territory. They are in trouble if it all falls over. 

I cannot believe how poor the standard of NRL match-ups has been this weekend (outside of Storm v Panthers). Warriors v Tigers...North QLD v Broncos... Can't wait for the Gold Coast Titans v Bulldogs...? Terrible. Perfect weekend for COVID mayhem really. Canberra are a disappointment too. What a bad loss. Newcastle could make the semis based on their draw.

Saved by Storm v Panthers, but the Storm stamped their class. They are not losing this year unless a terrible injury or two strikes.

I noticed the quick tap is being permitted again... lazy refs have been put on notice. Such inconsistency.

5. AFL. Woeful effort by Brisbane this weekend giving up their key position. West Coast were poor too. Freo v Tigers was a cracking game of desperation...as was the Swans v Essendon. Great intensity for semi final positions!

6. Tennis. Djokovic default for the bronze medal? Barty and Peers get a medal which is special for them. How Barty lost a singles match I'll never know... Djokovic will never be as admired as his tantrums and poor behaviour should never be seen in the Olympics. In fact, tennis should be barred. A joke. Golf is another one that could be trimmed. They are simply not the pinnacle event in their sport and are meaningless. The Masters or the Olympics gold? I think most golfers would say the Masters - as tennis players would say Wimbledon. 

7. New Celtic coach. Ange Postocoglou. I hope he is ready for the ride and a thicker skin than he had as Australian coach. He will be under the pump. A first up loss to Hearts doesn't help. He cannot manage media questions at all well.

8. Trevor Hohns is resigning. Now pass the tissues. He has had a hand in there for too long. Successful first time around and second time around, a little tired and uninspiring. George Bailey and Justin Langer are the selectors. Surely Langer gets a say, but not that much longer. Langer is on thin ice - paper thin.

9. Cricket. A win v Windies in the ODI series. A shock with our form. What a boring, uninspiring series. No stand outs on dud pitches too. Starc was the difference.

10. NBA Draft. Interesting US reaction when overseas players get drafted in US Sports ahead of local players... Josh Giddey the Australian basketballer gets the nod over locals for the Oklahoma Thunder and there is hell to pay. Jealousy is certainly a curse!

11. Gold Medal Commentator. Bruce McIvaney's spirit and passion at the track is a Olympic Games highlight. Hoping we may get a medal. He'll almost die like he did that night in 2000 with Cathy Freeman, if we do!