The Wrap - Boo Who?

1. NRL - Tiger Sharks. The 2023 Sharks team has so much potential. Their backline is all signed for another three or so years and they dominate in their silky, sweeping raids across the field. The fullback, Will Kennedy, is a gun. He has really stepped it up and is part of a team playing with great spirit and skill. The winger, Ronaldo, could press the mute button more often and Jesse Ramien could become one of the most terrifying combinations with Talakai out wide in any club. 

The Tigers did the impossible, beating the Panthers, who it must be said are ridiculously priced as premiership favourites with some surprising losses in 2023. A one point loss to the Broncos and Parramatta and a one point win v Newcastle. A two point last minute loss to Souths and a four point loss to the Wigers. Losing close games is not the part of a premiership favourite. The Tigers meanwhile celebrate their unexpected success... hard earned and a long time coming. Sheens and Marshall are outstanding coaches all of a sudden.

2. NRL - Jack Wighton. Is Wighton's exit a sign that Ricky Stuart is also nearing the end? Ricky's style is intense, but possibly too intense perhaps? His emotional press conference underlined this. The club's whining over salary caps and the like does you no favours when a star leaves the ranks. No idea how Souths fit him under their sombrero either...Graham, Mitchell, Walker, Wighton, Johnston, Murray, Cook.... seems odd they there was no room for Adam Reynolds a short time back. The forecast increase in the salary cap next season is timely.

Not that Souths need any more firepower out wide after they crushed the Broncos. Latrell is an awesome player and dynamic force. He has already won two premierships at the Roosters in 2018-2019. Hopefully in the NSW Origin side soon. 

The Souths performance shines a light on the validity of a Darwin trip north by Parramatta to play the Broncos. Souths have done it at Suncorp in fine style. Parramatta were impressive v Newcastle, but how bad were they? Mitchell Moses completely dominated and is showing some excellent speed in 2023.

3. Gusball. Interesting that Phil Gould has released two players this week (as well as speculation this may well include the halfback he never wanted - Kyle Flanagan to Manly) and the injury prone Andrew Davey back to the Eels. Phil does this with a fair bit of planning... harvests a million players and then off loads the ones he does not fancy later on. This is a smart way to keep players on edge and shuffle new talent in as well. I fancy that Manly's coach Seibold is not only covering off Cherry-Evans at the Origin period, but keeping his assistant coach happy. Shane Flanagan seems to be on the move to every coaching vacancy worldwide! Great to see Geoff Toovey returning to the Manly club. Thankfully the investigation is over: Geoff Toovey unleashes on reffs - Bing video

A combination of young Johns and Kyle Flanagan is a worry - especially after the Gold Coast Titans knock you over - at fortress Brookvale too.

What about the Storm? Still coming fourth despite all injuries, controversies and nonsense. Bellamy is a legend.

The Fins are still doing the business, losing 31-30 in golden point to the Raiders, but what an effort. Round 9 now and a bye to come. In a few weeks, they could well have been leading the competition if a few pieces of luck fell their way. Lost by six to the Broncs as well. Letting teams get a huge start on you is not great, nor is their defence at times. Sharks and Storm upcoming will test them.

4. AFL. The weak administrators in this game need to take a stand and stamp out the ridiculous and exaggerated booing of players en masse. The treatment of young Port Adeliade gun, Horne-Francis is disturbing. No crowds of opponents in grounds will fix it quickly.

AFL crowds are easily the biggest and most passionate world wide in any sport, but a message needs to be sent when it is this targeted.

5. Swans. Again lose a tight one. It is becoming a real concern with their inability to ice a game. Lost by two points to the Power on the bell and one point to GWS (8 points squandered). They are in need of speed and when Buddy misses, they are considerable misses these days! His class still shines too.

Four straight goals to GWS to crush them again in the fourth quarter. This is a mental issue now and players like Parker, Lloyd, Mills and Heaney need to step up their leadership role. The leadership maturity is not there. Nor sadly is any hope of a premiership.

Brisbane v Collingwood Grand Final looms at this early stage.

6. Arsenal. How they have crumbled... Man City continue to power through the table and swept them brilliantly mid-week: 4-1. Erling Haaland continues to surge. He is on 33 goals, one behind Andy Cole and Alan Shearer who, it must be said, achieved their marks in a much longer season. He will smash it injury free.

Man United and Man City now face off in the FA Cup final. Man City play Real Madrid for a chance to play Inter Milan or Milan in the final of the Champions League and an EPL Premiership awaits Man City too. It is some sort of time to be a Man City supporter.

Leeds, Nottingham, Everton, Leicester and Southampton look to be now the only ones who can be relegated. Burnley and Sheffield United are definitely coming up so far from the English second tier competition. Yo yo teams.

Chelsea, for all their expenditure, are in a miserable spot. Losses don't pay the transfer bills.

7. Scottish Premier League. Celtic's 1-1 draw against Motherwell last week was cancelled out by a shock 2-0 defeat by Rangers to Aberdeen. The 13 point lead is preserved by Postocoglou's Celtic team.

8. IPL and Cricket Internationals. Ireland scored over 400 v Sri Lanka and then lost. Some sort of record there no doubt. Sri Lanka racked up four top order tons, including two double tons as they pile don 700 runs plus! There is a long gap between Sri Lanka and other nations in tests - let alone Ireland. Always interesting to see a young Jayasuriya taking lots of test wickets in the early phase of his career. Young Tendulkar is bowling well in the IPL too.

Speaking of which, the IPL is throwing up a few better Australian performances. Maxwell is a regular high class performer and is not disappointing. Warner is slow and steady still with four fifties and Jason Behrendorf has one of the better strike rates in the competition. Zampa spun the Rajasthan Royals to victory with three wickets v the Chennai SuperKings and Stoinis belted 72 off 40 and took the prized wicket of Shikhar Dhawan to get the Lucknow Super Giants back on top of the table. 

Steve Smith is about to get underway at Sussex in the County Championships pre Ashes. A number of players are already there... Labuschagne, Handscomb, Neser... I wonder if Australian states would be as generous pre Ashes?

Mitchell Marsh comes back into the team again and Neser, who is ideally suited to swing bowling in England, makes way...ummmm. Marsh has just come off 4 wickets and a blistering 70 in the IPL, but Tests? Quite a few blokes enter their last overseas Ashes series...Khawaja, Warner, Hazelwood, Boland, Lyon (?)... Smith (?).

I noticed that Fakhar Zaman for Pakistan hit another 180no in the current ODI series v New Zealand. He is prolific, with the same number of ODI tons now as Matt Hayden. Interesting the highest averages in ODI of 100+ ODIs played ever: Babar Azam (59.36), Kohli (57.32), Michael Bevan (53.58), AB deVilliers (53.50), Dohni (50.57) and Fakhar (49.70).

9. Waratahs. A top tight win v the Highlanders. Into sixth place now, but still only on half the points that the Brumbies (second place) have at the same time.

10. NHL. The semis are almost locked in, but the Boston Bruins are doing it tough v the Florida Panthers. With the best ever season proper winning record in the NHL, it is now down to the wire 3-3 in a best of seven game series. You do not want to lose ice hockey to one of the hottest areas in the States in Florida!

11. NBA Semi Finals. The shock result was Miami turfing out the top hope, Milwaukee. Awesome work. Just eight teams left now:

• Eastern Conference Semi finals: Boston Celtics v Miami Heat; Philadelphia 76ers v New York Knicks.
• Western Conference Semi finals: Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets; Sacramento Kings/ Golden State Warriors (3-3) v LA Lakers.

12. Courage. If ever there was a courageous sport, it is horse racing. The death of jockeys like Dean Holland this past week, who are tiny human beings on the most awesome of animals, reminds us of this. RIP.

13. NFL Draft. A huge event in the US this week. Such a brilliant array of fine NFL talent... such an opportunity missed by the NRL. Publicity, character assessments, injury histories, playing skills and weaknesses analysed, attitudes and work ethics, family values, great stories and insights (like Miss World competitions sometimes). 

One player, Will Levis (Kentucky) has learned a hard lesson by explaining pre draft that he puts mayonnaise in his coffee and eats bananas with the skin on them. An attempt at humour perhaps, but it may have cost him a first round pick and probably $5 million as clubs wavered.. not to mention an historical toe injury!

14. LIV Golf v PGA Golf. Young Talor Gooch (Graham) has won again in Singapore. If nothing else, he has emerged as a world force. The familiar name of Jon Rahme hovers close to the lead after three rounds in the Mexican Open and Vidante. BIG Tony Finau (from Scottsdale, Arizona) makes another appearance on the leaderboard too.

The Wrap - aLIVe!

1. LIV Golf. The scenes in Adelaide would seem to be those wanted worldwide by the Greg Norman brigade when the whole complex concept started. Unbridled crowd and player enthusiasm, irreverence (shoey?) and highly talented golfers playing to packed and vocal fairways and greens. 

Cameron Smith has rockstar status there in Adelaide, but young Talor Gooch (Graham's son) really turned up with back to back rounds of 62-62 and the win. Forget about the dirty Saudi money and the absurd financials players get for playing with little regard for grassroots golf and programs for the future... LIV has arrived. It may be hard for some to accept, but the scenes in Adelaide will be played out in other Australian states too. Imagine the crowds in QLD on a hot day! Not sure about the team names, but again, a different format and style.

At the same time, Lucas Herbert wins a thrilling play off in Japan too.

2. NRL. Some familiar stories are unfolding. Newcastle lose another tight one (they have played the Cowboys and the Warriors twice already). The Dolphins win a tight one (fins out!) - and the Gold Coast lose the impossible. The Broncos surge on and in style in the hot Darwin conditions. They are super fit and playing strongly. Not sure that they have been tested with injuries yet, but they are powerful.

The Roosters sack Sam Walker and need to be careful. Keary is getting on in age and Walker would be signed up by others quickly. Gus Gould is desperate for a No. 7. Kyle Flanagan is finished. Fancy playing Burton as half back...strange. Ciraldo is learning a fair bit about top flight coaching.

The Eels again keep to form. They are a 50-50 team with a coach who has a 50% record. One week win, one week lose. Knights-Titans-Raiders-Rabbits-Cowboys lie ahead. The best they can do is scrape into the top eight. A complete disappointment, but they have struggled to secure an outside back or two for three seasons now. No surprise they struggle. Dylan Brown is just mediocre this year sadly.

Are teams more petrified of being the first to lose to the Tigers than beating them? The Tigers looked much stronger v Manly. Still no points. Brooks dropped a sitter pass in space that could have won it for them. 

3. NRL - Bennett. There is a reason he is the premier coach. Bennett advises refs to call 'held' earlier and avoid hip drop situations. Logical. A boring distraction...at least there are no chicken wing tackles now. He also stays composed when all else is lost and masterminds a massive comeback - the biggest ever in the NRL's history we hear to beat the Titans today.

4. Rugby. Did we read correctly that International Rugby are trying to change national jersey colours because of colour blind viewers?  That seems odd. It is typically the contrast between colours - not the actual colours. I wonder if colour blind viewers care or have been asked? The game needs to concentrate on the rules and stupid over-officiating in the game first. Talk about a red (or green) herring.

I noticed that Brad Thorn intends to step down as coach of the Reds. He looks like he may move somewhere else, but is quite the legend of the game. The Western Farce step up and beat the Highlanders, but the Tahs can lose anywhere - and did to the rampaging Blues, who put 50 points on them. What a disappointment they have become. The Tahs coach Coleman even said post game that this loss won't derail their season. Is he living in a parallel universe? Honestly. 

No matter, sign another league player for multiple millions... that is a ridiculous plan. In fact Eddie Jones tried this last time he was in charge (Rogers, Sailor, Folau) and fell in a heap... hopefully he has learned something. Payne Haas, Penissini? Murray? Crichton? Already Suaalii has cost a bomb when other players are struggling in a sport which struggles big time. Salary cap exemptions for rugby players might just rock rugby too. Imagine if NRL clubs could each get one rugby player on decent coin that did not count against their salary cap? There's a cross code fight which V'landys is up for!

5. AFL - Swans. They have massive problems now. No speed across the park to counter attack with venom, too many small players who are very similar in style, too much finessing of the ball with clever little kicks and handballs overplayed, a complete lack of height, the absence of targets up front... They really need to get busy on recruitment and real quick. 

Geelong massacred them again. The scars of the Grand Final still run deep. This is yet another capitulation under pressure for them. They lost v Port Adelaide in a tight game and similarly, Geelong's onslaught was unable to be stopped. They are the real deal after a slow start to the year. Memo to the Swans: Buddy Franklin will no longer win you a flag. Move on.

Speaking of which, Port Adelaide, Adelaide and St Kilda continue to build strongly. It is hard to believe how poor Hawthorn have become at key times. West Coast too.

6. EPL. Leicester (3) and Everton (1) eek out points to get to 28 points, but not out of relegation danger. Man City just keep winning everything... EPL games, FA Cup fixture v Sheffield 3-0 (and now into the final), Champions League (playing Real Madrid on 10 May now in the first leg of the semi finals). They are five points behind Arsenal with two games in hand. They also play Arsenal on 27 April... it could be all over very soon for Arsenal if they are not careful and sadly, they will only have themselves to blame.

7. NHL. The Boston Bruins. A 'best ever', most "winningest" ice hockey season ever... and their play off series remains on track for the coveted Stanley Cup. Every Eastern and Western Conference series (8 in total) are locked at 2-1 at the moment. The First Round... (best of seven), Conference semi finals (top four in each conference), Conference final (top two in each conference)...then the final series. The US sure know how to milk the semi final series for their sports. Huge crowds of course too.

8. NBA Finals. The NBA has a very similar structure. The 76ers are through already... others to follow in their best of seven series. After 76 NBA Finals Series, the East champions have won 40 and the West champions have won NBA 36 titles.

The Wrap - Ban The Bye

1. NRL. Hard to tip! The lack of domination by the Panthers and Storm in 2023 has turned tipping into a disaster. Instead, the Warriors are carving it up, placed second with a bye in hand. The Warriors have played the Knights and Cowboys TWICE already. Ridiculous.

The Sea Eagles, Titans and Knights are all a lot stronger in season 2023 and are doing really well early - and the Dolphins of course. The Bulldogs, for all their pre-season hype, are struggling, especially with a string of injuries. Mahoney was not at his best today and young Flanagan better get his passport ready. He is not winning you a comp any time soon.

Not to forget the Broncos who play at home every week and have had an incredible 2023 NRL leg up. They are on top with a bye to come as well! Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo are absolute guns. Look out State of Origin. So fast.

The signing of Adam Reynolds has been highly successful. Nathan Cleary continues to show the world why he is one of the best in the game... yet another field goal to win in golden point. The Panthers need to tidy up their sloppy work at present as well, but are still running second!

2. NRL - Duds. The Cowboys are doing their best to miss the eight which is a little unforgivable, granted their high quality roster. Interesting that the Dragons are the only clubs speaking of coach changes. They are flat and have some weak defence. Jack Bird needs to stop spraying his teammates. That is no way to lasting success.

Parramatta were a lot better v Bulldogs. As soon as they off load and progress to second phase play, they are dangerous. Against the Tigers, they were obsessed about playing one out football which is simply not good enough for the NRL. In fact it is spoon challenging play. Junior Paulo brings so much more energy and ball playing to the game. Campbell-Gillard was strong and Penisini played his best game.

Unfortunately, they lack the size and speed in their outside backs (signing the very small, but talented Jayden Preston will not solve this!). Smaller players, like Hayze Dumpster, will not cut it anymore in NRL. Hayze is brave, but has limited on-field communication and misses too many tackles. Sean Russell is raw but needs to get a lot better. The coach is there for another ten years, so hopefully it doesn't end in tears for him. Trent Barrett in the coaches box can make fans nervous. Has he attracted any players to the club? Brendan Hands and J'maine Hopgood (ex-Penrith) perhaps. Hands is a gun with a wide passing game that assists attacking football. They did not miss the much slower and less intuitive Josh Hodgson.

3. NRL - Bye Bye. The Tigers have beaten the bye. Officially on two points. Is there a reason anyone gets any points for a bye? Should it just be no points?

On a commercial note, the bye represents lost TV, crowd and merchandising revenue. Simple. Ban the bye and bring another successful franchise in.

4. IPL. Dave Warner has already hit over 200 runs (three fifties and second most runs, best average), but he has taken an age to score them and is under an interesting kind of pressure. Too slow. As a result, the Delhi Capitals are sitting at the bottom of the table, winless after five games. Mitchell Marsh has chalked up two ducks already for them. What is it about Western Australian batsmen and slower, turning wickets? They simply cannot play them...think Josh Inglis Ashton Turner... No exposure.

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting is learning a few things as well. Stoinis for the Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) is our most consistent (brief 10+ run cameos, a couple of wickets and a catch is standard fare), but Matthew Short, the Adelaide Strikes BBL star is already making his mark with the Punjab Kings. A couple of quick and powerful 30+ scores and some handy bowling at the top of the order. Such form can be life changing come auction time.

5. EPL. Erling Haaland has scored two more goals on the weekend v the hapless Leicester and now sits on 32 goals and equal with Liverpool's Mohammad Saleh. He is two behind Alan Shearer's all time record and looks set to smash it apart with 8 games remaining. He is only part of a 38 game season too!

In the relegation battle, Southhampton look gone, Leicester will need a miracle and Leeds, Everton and Notts Forrest will also struggle. Intriguing times. Vincent Company's Burnley are already promoted.

The performances since another legend (with a Greg Chappell coaching record), Frank Lampard returned to Chelsea, have been miserable. Frank's managerial career is on the line, if it wasn't already.

6. AFL Window Shutting. The demise of Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and even Richmond (with their premiership windows closing like shutters) is something else. Brisbane look strong at present - and Port Adelaide too. GWS were lucky, but have no fans. This was always the risk and a relocation could be on the cards.

The Swans bounced back, but they seem very close to capitulation in the third quarter each week.

Horne-Francis being booed en masse by the crowd is a bit sad. Like the Collingwood star - Jack Ginnivan, who then got himself into drug and media troubles. 

Horne-Francis is 19 and was a little mouthy at North, but honestly. Anything learned from the Goodes treatment? The head of the AFL only needs to say one thing: if it or any ridiculous 'pile on' targeting by crowds of specific players, playing games in empty stadiums will occur. This might send a message to AFL fans and clubs. They would all be petrified of the financial impact.

The Wrap - Masters of the Greens

1. The Masters Legend. Synonymous with Easter (who can ever forget Norman's 1986 six shot lead disaster?) and it never disappoints. Brooks Koepka is a gun, but has surrendered the lead in a similar crash. He had been a bit of a pop gun recently. A four time major winner already when he burst onto the scene winning the US PGA in 2018 and 2019 - and the US Open in 2017 and 2018. 17 professional tournament wins.

Phil Mickelson still has a bit of life in him yet! Jon Rahme is easily the best in the world at present. He was World No. 1 for 46 weeks in 2020 and has 19 professional wins and one major only. He will add to this record.

Interesting to note that the LIV Man, Greg 'The Great White Goldfish' Norman won two majors and had seven (!) second places in majors. 88 professional tournament wins however and 331 weeks as World Number 1 (and three marriages). This is second to Tiger who holds the record with 683 weeks as World Number 1.

What about the performance of the US Amateur champion, Sam Bennett? Super talent. One to watch.

The conditions in the wet at Augusta were outrageous for those finishing their second round. What a disadvantage on the greens. 

2. Masters - It's Over. Finally after so many years, Larry Mize (Masters winner in 1987 with that ridiculous chip) has completed his 40th Masters and has pulled the pin. Sandy Lyle (equally ridiculous Masters winner in 1988 and British Open in 1985) goes too, after racking up big numbers for many years. Nostalgic however and part of the magic of the tournament. Gary Player holds the record with 52 Masters appearances (Arnold Palmer 50, Jack Nicklaus (45). 

The other bloke still playing well is Fred Couples in his 37th Masters appearance. He has made the cut 31 times, including this year at age 62! Jack Nicklaus holds the record number of cuts made at 37. (Gary Player - 30 times). Couples is second! An amazing record.

3. Good Friday. Annually, this day always dishes up gold or dust sporting wise. Gold was Latrell Mitchell, who can polarise the fans, but he is a superb player. So strong and tough; a real game changer. The Bulldogs fell apart after a really bright start. They are building a new empire, but were found out. Cody Walker was exceptional too - and always is when he puts the niggle away and the antagonism to the game officials. This takes some effort from him.

Really liking the patterns that The Dolphins play with. Fast and fit. Their line speed is so unified and strong. Quick play the balls and pace. Kodi Nikorima has never played better. Isaako and Tabuai-Fidow were awesome (put them in an 'Anytime Try Scorer bet!). Both so athletic and strong. 

In the AFL, North Melbourne were game, but hardly a great game. Carlton steam rolled them eventually. Both games found a similar end. Tight early and loose later. All of a sudden Carlton rush to top spot on the ladder and are the only undefeated team on 14 points.

4. NRL. The rest of the round saw some devastation... Manly belted by the Panthers and The Bulldogs belted too. The Raiders did the impossible at Suncorp Stadium. What a draw Brisbane have received? Five games at home in a row! The NRL need to get this stuff ironed out to be fairer across the 24 regular rounds of NRL in a season.

One home/ one away game is a long season (17 teams but 32 home/ away games), but every other code does it (eg. EPL has 20 teams but 38 home/ away games). 

Getting a really bad feeling re Parramatta on Monday. Their defence when Junior Paulo is out is terrible. Waqar Blake has finally been dropped 20 games too late. His defensive errors at that level are woeful. Sean Russell has a chance to prove himself and at least has some pace! They need an outside back with size, pace and skill. There are a few rattling around in England Super League. Maybe a player swap for Mr Blake?

5. NRL Fairer Restructure. In the NRL, what about one game against everyone - a year about home/ away, making the main season 17 games long. But then, like the Scottish Premier League (12 teams), split the comp after 17 rounds into one pool of bottom 9 teams/ one pool of top 8 teams. This gives another seven rounds to make up the existing 24 rounds (one bye for the lower team pool). 

The bottom teams cannot enter the top tier however many games they win, consigning the bottom nine teams to the dustbin. However, they had a fair chance like everyone else.

In the top pool of eight teams, it allows the order of the final top eight to be decided against top opposition, but it gives every team a fair chance to make that top eight after playing everyone once across the year. At present, not playing some teams at all and playing some teams twice, etc is a biased nonsense. The bottom nine teams play - first game early on Friday night, early two games Saturday and late game Sunday. The top teams fill prime time - Thursday night, Friday night second game, Saturday night second games, Sunday 4.00pm game timeslot. Much slicker! No extension to the season length! Better games leading into the semi-finals. Bad teams are punished, but still play. 

The bottom teams might also consider playing a game on Wednesday nights like the old Amco Cup/ Panasonic Cup for those last seven games.

It would make the 17 home/ away premiership games even more valuable and intense.

5. AFL. In other games, the Swans are fast earning a 'choke' reputation which is very unfortunate. Lots of blokes with neat kicks and handballs, but no forwards. They were up by 20 points with ten minutes to play. They capitulated against Melbourne last week too. Is Sam Reid around still or injured again? Buddy is largely ineffectual these days in so many ways. The only bloke with some toe is Chadd Warner. He has to run fast to get away from the fans! Swans need to recruit pace to win on big grounds. They will get lapped again at the MCG.

St Kilda crushed the Suns who are taking on a familiar character in 2023... one week good, one week bad (Arthuresque). Love the Geelong v Hawthorn Easter Monday clash. A lot of theatre!

6. Australian F1. Max Verstappen won in fine style late last week. Huge Melbourne crowds and not an Aussie in sight of the podium. Daniel Riccardio is the reserve Red Bull driver. Young Oscar Piastri registered an encouraging eighth place at McLaren. Talk of a night fixture next year at Albert Park. Interesting.

7. Green - NBA. Delighted to see young Castle Hill lad, Josh Green, doing well for the Dallas Mavericks. Delmus the old man was a massive architect of the Castle Hill Basketball Centre and taught at Kings.

8. Green - IPL. It is striking how few Australians are in this tournament now. We have not succeeded on Indian soil in the T20 form of the game, but did win the ODI series recently. It looks like fewer international players world wide are included now.

Another Green, Cameron Green, is struggling but the bank manager is not. Stoinis solid, Warner fortunate, chalking up fifties (2), but not flash and still very slow! Nathan Ellis is the pick of them so far, getting wickets for fun at present. No one standing out early, even the great midnight tennis court runner himself, Glenn Maxwell. However, Tim David continues to shine in lower order cameos!

9. Scottish Premier League: Celtics v Rangers. Big showdown over this weekend with that familiar nine point lead for Celtic sitting strong going into it. In the end, Celtic won 3-2 extending the lead to 12 points. 

Interesting to see the record of Celtic. In the past 24 years, Celtic have won the Scottish Premier League Championship 16 times and been Runners Up 8 times. High performance! Add one more to Celtic for season 2022-2023, to make it 17 titles in 25 Years. Extraordinary. One of the most successful clubs worldwide in any sport.

10. EPL. Arsenal are getting the hippy hippy shakes as Man City close in with their trademark ruthlessness! The 38 game EPL season has only seen Saleh (Liverpool) crack 32 goals for a season. Both Andy Cole and Alan Shearer got their 34 goals in the old 42 game EPL season (pre 1995-1996). 

Norway's Erling Haaland is on the verge of greatness in season 2022-2023. He sits on the magic 30 goal mark already, with plenty of games (eight) to follow. Shearer is an EPL legend, breaking 30 goal in a season three times! Haaland may make his EPL season record beyond reach forever.

The Wrap - Greg Chappell NRL Coaching Tips

1. Dave Warner. Back in the runs (56) in the IPL for the Dehli Capitals. He is the skipper of the Delhi Capitals in the absence of Rishabh Pant. Hitting them a bit too slowly, but he is a super star in the IPL. One of the great records (acknowledging the newsbytesapp.com website) - and pay packets to match: 

• Warner is the highest run-getter in the IPL among overseas players - ever.
• Warner is just 63 runs away from touching the illustrious 6,000-run mark in IPL.
• Warner requires 76 runs to complete 2,000 runs for the Delhi-based franchise.
• Warner, who owns four IPL tons, has a chance to become the lone owner of the second position.
• Notably, with 11,179 runs, Warner is the sixth-highest run-getter in T20 history.
• With 5,881 runs in 162 games, Warner is currently the third-highest run-getter in IPL (SR: 140.69).
• Among batters with at least 1,000 IPL runs, his average of 42.11 is only second to KL Rahul (48.01).
• His tally of 59 fifty-plus scores is the highest for any player in IPL. He owns 55 fifties and four centuries. No one else has 50 such scores.
• Warner has a chance of becoming the first player to lift the IPL trophy with two teams as a captain.
• Warner is the only player to claim the Orange Cap (most runs) three times (2015, 2017, 2019).
• His tally of 848 runs in the 2016 season is the third-highest for any batter in a particular season.
• He has hit the 500-run mark most times in a season (6 times).

2. Murray Goodwin. You may recall this old warhorse Zimbabwean and Western Australian state cricketer. Just copped a 16 week ban after knicking off to the keeper. A sledging opponent was given a clip over the head with his bat on the way back to the pavilion in a club game! 

3. Parramatta. Didn't quite get there to 0-5 (1-4 instead), but a loss is a loss. Hard to cop this "we are competitive" talk. Losses by 4-4-4-(win by 1)- 8 are great in the coaches room, but not good on the premiership table. 

They actually do lack a super star back with size and pace (not on in the whole Parramatta area?) and the loss of Mahoney is telling. Hodgson is a warrior, but he is not going to win you a comp with a lack of creativity and enterprise. Dylan Brown is really struggling this year and needs to lift. He does not seem to have the confidence and the speed this year. The defence out wide - Blake and Sivo especially is atrocious. Really poor reads which unfortunately is a coaching problem. 

Trent Barrett continues his outstanding awful coaching record, this time as an Assistant Coach. Only Greg Chappell has a worse record in senior coaching.

The Brad Arthur 50% record is alive and kicking - one week good... one week bad. It is just that the bad ones are stacking up under a new contract extension.

4. Wests Tigers. Some excellent forwards, and not as bad as it looked v Broncos, despite an horrific scoreline. They could trouble the Eels. They also need more 'Wests' in their strip to be competitive. Ban the orange for a week or two. 

Brisbane have played five straight home games on a dry home deck. Once they start travelling this will test them out. The Broncos are in the semis already with that start. An NRL gift...and Parramatta get every opponent off a bye for four weeks straight! Incredible how they can stuff this up. 

The Warriors were impressive again. Sitting second on the table is incredible. Young Coach Webster has started his career well. Having been coached by the great Pete and Chris McCallum combination as a junior, they taught him everything he knows. Like this Blacktown Pats lad, Curran. Tough and fearless. Sign him up.

It would be remiss not to add the great work of St George-Illawarra as well. Crushed the Dolphins and looked sharp. Bravo!

The NRL is close this year. Two golden points (Manly-Newcastle and Bulldogs v Cowboys) and a penalty kick on the siren (Warriors v Sharks). The Sharks were unlucky, but entertaining stuff!

5. AFL. Collingwood are looking awesome. Their superior fitness and skill level is incredible. They will be hard to beat in the semi finals - especially on a big ground like the MCG. Cracking game on Saturday night in the 'showdown' with Port Adelaide and Adelaide too. Port started the season with a bang but are falling apart. Really enjoying the massive crowds and their passion for their teams. Huge followings and so tribal. Essendon...St Kilda...Richmond. A lot of tradition and joy, even in the loss.

The Swans suffered GF nightmares again on the MCG with a huge deficit at the end of the first quarter. They got it back to be tight early in the third quarter and were then blown away. Clayton Oliver is just superb. Melbourne looked like they had more licence without Gawn in the team. Full of running. The Melbourne umpires enjoy a penalty to the locals too.

Geelong are doing a Parramatta. No points thus far and a crushing loss to the Gold Coast this weekend.

6. EPL. Arsenal still 8 points ahead of Man City and powering on. Hard to feel confident however with the perennial loser tag dangling nearby. They really struggle at times to land the decisive killer blow, but are getting closer in season 2022-2023. There are 38 games for each team (19 home/ 19 away) and they have played 28 of them with 10 remaining. (Same for the Scottish Premier League). 

A championship is within sight for Arsenal. At the other end of the table, Leicester are suddenly in strife (with West Ham and Everton). It is much tighter at the bottom this season, so there could be some surprises.