1. NRL - Wests Tigers, St George and Bulldogs. For the Tigers, a 70 point thrashing is an appalling statement on club organisation, leadership, coaching and morale of an ordinary playing roster. No player at the Tigers appears to have improved under Marshall and Sheens, except the young fullback Bula, who is supremely talented.
A 66-0 thumping from Newcastle is not much better. Gus Gould and Cameron Ciraldo surely thought they would do better than this. The Fox and Burton are questionable inclusions for Origin now...sorry. Ben Hunt is not doing much for the Dragons at present either. Two 50 point losses in a fortnight. They need to clear the decks and move on.
140 unanswered points certainly helps your for and against as the Cowboys rattle back into contention for the top eight again and the Knights are saved from a loss of coach Adam O'Brien (who definitely needs media training). They have some rich talent in both squads.
At the Tigers, recruits go backwards and new players are ineffective at the Tigers presently (Bateman, Klemmer, Korisau, Papalii, Staines). The place needs a sustained review of its operations and playing personnel. The arrival of a new recruitment officer seems to be the last thing the place needs. The surname is powerful, but a huge job to turn this lot around. They mistreated Brooks looking for a million replacements (Munster, Moses, Pearce, Johnson...) and were surprised when he wanted to go to Manly! Stunning hypocrisy. A shemozzle of the highest order.
The Richmond Tigers were nearly as bad too v Brisbane who crushed them without a whimper. Home ground bullies abound in the AFL.
2. NRL - Entertainment. How good are some of these outside backs in the game at present? Selwyn Cobbo is unbelievable. Hammer is up there too. So is Latrell and Val Holmes. So strong and tough...speed and strength. Bradman Best goes well too...and what do you know the ill disciplined and mouthy Zac Lomax is looking for a new club. Parramatta will go knocking there, but not for $800K.
Alex Johnston scored two tries this weekend and is now onto 180 tries and equals Steve Menzies. Billy Slater stands on 190 and Ken Irvine on 212 tries. Barring injury he could pass Ken Irvine next year! Especially lethal when Latrell Mitchell returns.
3. Ashes Test Cricket. Steve Smith knocks his 32nd Test ton in 70 fewer tests than Steve Waugh who now both sit in second place to Ricky Ponting who has 41 Test tons. It took Steve Waugh 26 Tests and 4 years to hit his first Test ton (at Headingley on the Ashes tour). A critical first innings ton and yet another one abroad for Smith.
The loss of Lyon is a tough blow, but young Todd Murphy may have to step up sooner than he thought. He was pretty good in India but will face the sting of an English side intent on aggression. Hazelwood is not doing the business yet. Sure, injured and all that but don't play if that is a factor. His batting is atrocious and is a determining factor in any selection. Murphy needs to improve his batting too to play regularly.
The 15 run last wicket stand between Lyon and Starc could yet prove to be very valuable.
The barrage of short pitched bowling is not how you win a Test - it saves face. The English team don't know what to do really... they love the media hype of 'Bazball" but cannot play freely or distinctively. Staring at 0-2, they have serious issues to confront.
The umpiring in this test - especially Day 4 - was abysmal. England retreat to bouncers every delivery - bumper after bumper is bowled without a whimper from the useless umpires. Not great cricket to watch, that is for sure and TV ratings would have taken a considerable hit. Then they deny Starc a clear catch. What a nonsense! Honestly, cricket does a top job of shooting itself in the foot a lot. Have we had bad light yet? Maybe on the last day.
Kevin Pietersen continues to be extremely painful as a commentator. He is a little demented in suggesting Lyon may have been looking for a concussion in going out to bat late. Kevin has always sought controversy. Ponting however, is insightful but you can tell why he was such a winner...confident and teflon coated. Others would be intimidated by his strength and steel. He takes no prisoners.
4. AFL - Finals. Western Bulldogs are back in business and semi final bound now, especially with the Melbourne Demons inexplicably losing to the GWS Giants who have won 4 of their last 5 games. Too many stars for the Bulldogs not to be there, but there is a problem with Bailey Smith's form that needs to be fixed. Big wins by Collingwood and Adelaide. It was interesting to see West Coast run on with cricket pads this week, but it helped them more this week.
The twelfth consecutive win by Port Adelaide v Essendon was gripping. An after the siren win - like the one earlier in the season v the Swans at the SCG. This is eight valuable competition points they have and they keep the record rolling. A superb kick by Dan Houston under pressure. Marked with 17 seconds to go and he lands it from 50m+!
5. AFL - Swans. This season they have been pipped by Port Adelaide on the siren by two points, lost to GWS by one point and then squandered a win v Geelong and had to settle for a draw with 18 behinds. Really poor kicking. They have wasted so many opportunities this season and will pay a heavy price... no semi-final football.
6. Sydney Swifts Netball. A close win on the weekend against the West Coast Fever (named pre COVID?) and will play the Grand Final they thought they had missed v the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Not a top spectator sport, but big crowds filling the sport's coffers which they then sadly waste, despite the huge junior playing numbers.
7. West Indies Cricket. In the cellar at present, failing to beat Scotland and extremely unlikely to qualify for the ODI World Cup. Ouch. The old legends must be shaking their heads.
8. Wimbledon Starts This Week. Great tradition and grace, but Novak Djokovic wins this in a canter. I cannot see him dropping a set in winning this title, even if he is set to play Kygrios at some point. Swiatek will be hard to toss in the women's draw.
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