1. NRL. Without doubt the Panthers at home are the hardest team to beat - no matter if their stars are all at State of Origin. Matt Burton is definitely one of the best players in the game. I would be pursuing him closely if I was Parramatta. Mitchell Moses may need to move on as Dylan Brown moves to half. In fact, there could be a lot of clubs doing similarly in making salary cap room. His kicking game and the try for Addo-Carr was just superb and he is tough to tackle. Origin material.
A few coaches are starting to get pressured with woeful results - Nathan Brown (Warriors) and Justin Holbrook (Titans) especially. The wagons are circling the Trent Barrett lounge.
The Dragons are quietly progressing, now onto 14 points (the same number as the Rabbits and Roosters). The minor premiership is almost as good as won by the Panthers who are six points ahead of the Storm with their two bye points to come.
2. State of Origin. The usual media hype, but I suspect Billy Slater will have his team primed and ready. Lots more youth in the game from both sides. Addo-Carr unlucky, but the price paid for going to a failing lesser team. Jake Trobjevic will be missed too, but he is getting a little slower. Nothing wrong with his crushing defence. Looks to be a tight game, but QLD might just have the wood on NSW this time.
3. AFL. The Western Bulldogs are amazing to watch when they get going. The Geelong story of course is usually fade and fold after a great start, but Jeremy Cameron did an extraordinary job to keep them focused and lead them to a win. They have quality right across the park. Bailey Smith snapped at three quarter time with an old fashioned AFL headbutt. Hard to believe in the modern era. He has a holiday planned already.
4. Swans v Melbourne. A towering 50 metre goal at the end by Errol Gulden was just outstanding. His leg size and strength has increased so much in two years. A smart footballer who enjoys a scrap. Max Gawn was tremendous for the Demons, but the swarming defence of the Swans was exceptional. A crushing win, without Buddy Franklin, which positions the Swans really well with a bye coming soon too. Young Amarty is not the answer on the forward line.
Not really a problem for Melbourne, who need to lose and get stronger. Longmire continues to be a hard coach to beat. He often defies the critics and the odds!
Hawthorn have looked so much better this year, winning by 8 (Geelong) and 5 (Brisbane), but losing tight ones by 1 (Carlton), by 10 (Melbourne) and this weekend by 4 (Collingwood). Their current 16 points could have been top eight at present. Skinny margins matter.
5. George Kambosos Jr. Promised a lot, plenty of tough and fast talk before the bout, a failed weigh-in drama, throat cutting gestures, wild eyes and promises about being the undisputed lightweight champion of the world with four belts. However, Devin Haney was brilliant in a foreign land and belted him really. Kambosos is now belt-less, but needs to settle on the hype and trash talk next time. He got distracted, but the cash and media can have an interesting impact. $10 Million for a fight (win, lose or draw) can change anyone.
6. England v NZ Cricket. James Anderson can still move a cricket ball like very few others. Incredible game with a 132 (NZ) and 141 (NZ). Anderson 4/66 and 2/57. England can still lose a game with their poor batting - even at home. New Zealand is one of those teams where the bottom half of the order can often out score the top half! Coach Brendan McCullum is under instant pressure, but Jo Root looks like saving them with 77no and 61 runs required. Intriguing Test match.
7. Rafa Nadal. Seeking his fourteenth French Open tonight at the oldest age of any French Open winner prior. 22 Grand Slam wins beckons! He will surely be stamped as the greatest of all time if he wins here. Federer is effectively retired and Djokovic will never be seen in his class, no matter what comes.
8. Cameron Smith. The half way leader of the Memorial, looking to become the first man since Tiger to win the TPC and the Memorial Tournament in the same season. He has slipped and now needs to power home in the third round to make up five shots from second place. A cracking standard of golf where one error nails you!
9. Socceroos. Big week ahead. A loss and we miss on the World Cup finals for the first time in twenty years. Back to the bad old days possibly, but at least no massive wins over the Solomon Islands again - just Jordan and Vietnam. If we win v the UAE on Wednesday, it gets us a look at Peru for a place in the World Cup. A big 'if'. Fonzie would be proud that Peru is making it big now.
10. Boston Celtics. 1-0 up over Golden State and looking for their first NBA championship... Strange best of seven game series, but it could well go down to the wire.
11. Vale Rocky Laurie. Not an old man at all and Mark his son is one of the best blokes you could meet. Sad times for the family.
12. Waratahs. A much better season is all over now after a weekend loss in NZ to the superior Chiefs 39-15, but pleasing signs and some excellent work from their new coach, Darren Coleman, it must be said.
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