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.
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