1. NRL. Hard to believe, but the Roosters look to be in trouble, roasted by the heat of the Riff on Friday night and beset by injuries. The Sam Walker sacking does not look to have paid any solid dividends, but they did beat the Warriors last week. Cleary and his Penrith side just continue to lift and excel. They have not been as sharp in 2023, but they are still an ominous threat. Origin time will be a test for them however when their stars are away. The Warriors continue to impress too, but will need to do it against the top teams too. Bellamy seems to achieve this more than most. A slashing win v the Broncos on Thursday night. Sharks still winning, but not at their sharpest at present.
The Eels? They are on a predictable slide with Souths next week too. Dylan Walker, Campbell Graham and Latrell Mitchell will have a carnival with Parramatta's outside backs next week. Simonsen is limited, Sivo's defence is questionable and their centres...? Meanwhile, the Raiders get the grind of the annual mid season battles. They can 'win ugly', but win nonetheless. They rattle along to sixth place. The Eels are fourteenth, equal with the Bulldogs. A disgrace and made worse with officiating excuses from the head coach.
Why is it that every club with a Centre of Excellence, goes backwards? Eels, Tigers, Bulldogs? I think the Roosters opened one this year too. The same with long term extensions on coach contracts... eg. Brad Arthur, Todd Payten, John Longmire (Swans).
St George? Surely a new coach arrives soon. Jack Bird's comments this week were bizarre. The whole place seems shambolic at present. Michael Cheika as coach seems like scuttlebutt.
Ban the bye. We missed the excitement of the Dolphins this week.
2. AFL. A cracking win by the under siege Richmond Tigers on Friday evening. Geelong had been travelling so well, but they can disappoint as well. This was the cats of old. Gold Coast building solidly and moving to 16 points.
The Swans are in need of an overhaul. They have to orchestrate a clean out and soon. Too much finesse, too few talls and too slow. Fremantle beating you at the SCG? Please. They are mirroring Parramatta - fourteenth! Carlton have hit the wall... Port, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs look the best. Collingwood take top spot on their own with a comfortable win v GWS.
Eddie Maguire always seems to weigh into discussions re the treatment of indigenous players (Buddy Franklin). I suspect there are other better sources. Eddie Betts has great credibility. Buddy's end of career announcement cannot be too far away.
3. A- League. Following their surprise victory over the Western Wanderers last week, a draw v Melbourne City is announcing Steve Corica's team as one to watch. Corica has had a terrible time of it in 2023, but this is a strong finish, with a return leg in Melbourne potentially going to swing the dunny plate trophy their way again. The Central Coast Mariners are finally back in the wins too after the Graham Arnold years. A top win v Adelaide United, with one more ahead.
4. NBA. The Celtics were dreadful mid-week in Boston Gardens poised at 2-2 (best of seven) and the might of Philly's (named after the 1776 signing of the US Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia). Joel Embiid shone brightly. James Harden is an impressive specimen and talent - with an equally impressive black beard. However, the return bout in Philadelphia was highlighted by a devastating final quarter by Boston to snatch the sixth game and lock it up at 3-3, with a final game in Boston. Riveting stuff. That game is Sunday night US time. A blockbuster. See: 2023 Playoffs | Bracket for Hub Summary | NBA.com
The East Conference Final will be the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers/ Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. The Knicks fade away again. The West Conference Final will be the Denver Nuggets v LA Lakers. Both winners of these Conference Finals play in the final series. The Lakers look sharp. Le Bron is so good. His record is immense. Four NBA championships (the same as Shaq O'Neill), but behind the six NBA championships won by Michael Jordan, Kareen Abdul-Jabbar and Scottie Pippen.
The Boston Celtics and LA Lakers hold the most impressive all time records as winning NBA franchises (17 each).
5. Super Rugby Pacific - QLD Reds. An impressive win v the previously unbeaten Chiefs (Waikato) 25-22. Amazing defensive resolve. They will be smarting having lost to NSW recently. The Drua, Crusaders and Pasifika await the Waratahs who beat the Rebels on the weekend. If they could win all three, they will be in the semi final mix. Dream on...
6. Cricket. Michael Neser is carving them up in County cricket for Glamorgan (16 wickets) and no surprise he is now being brought into the Australian prep squad. No County games as preparation either... we are slow learners. Warner is hitting fifty again in the IPL, but is this the best prep? Mitchell Marsh is racking up the ducks - but taking wickets. Surely playing him when Cameron Green is fit, is extremely unlikely.
The BBL season is shaved down further next season, but surely it is time for some better quality players!
7. IPL. The four semi-finalists are nearly over the line. Ponting's Mumbai Indians have made a remarkable recovery (Cameron Green, Tim David). The Gautam Tigers, the Chennai Super Kings, the Mumbai Indians and the Lucknow Super Giants lead the way in the top four teams. Two games remain for each franchise... Kohli and Maxwell's Royal Challengers Bangalore are steaming home.
Warner and Maxwell are tied for ninth highest run scorers, having scored 384 runs each (Warner at 32 and Maxwell at34, but the fifth highest strike rate). Adam Zampa is still taking wickets for the Rajasthtan Royals.
8. EPL. Southhampton have been relegated. Everton, Leicester and Leeds hover close. Intriguing times, but the top four look safe too: Man City-Arsenal-Newcastle-ManU. A huge year by Newcastle.
9. Ange Postocoglou. Wins the Scottish Premiership again in 2023, but a crushing 0-3 loss to Rangers this week will not have been received well. They are a proud club, even if they are runaway leaders.
10. LIV Golf. Signs of growth in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bigger crowds than most events... Branden Grace hit 61, but DJ leads by two shots! The PGA Byron Nelson sees Jason Day two off the lead after three rounds too! Minjee Lee is also ahead in the LPGA event in New Jersey.
11. NHL - Stanley Cup. The all conquering Florida Panthers team won in a tight fifth game v the Toronto Maple Leafs (4-1) and are into the Eastern Conference final v the Carolina Hurricanes.
In the Western Conference final it is either the Dallas Stars or the Seattle Kraken (3-3) OR the Las Vegas Golden Knights or the Edmonton Oilers (3-2) as teams enter the decisive sixth and seventh games. See: Stanley Cup Playoffs | NHL.com
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