The Wrap - Kon Job

1. Sam Konstas. Dashing first innings display that did a great job to challenge the momentum of the game. It was courageous (could have looked stupid too with an early departure...like Pant!). He triumphed and really unsettled the Indian team on the biggest stage in world cricket (Session 1, Day 1 at the Boxing Day Test). His work against the spinners however is a worry. The great Jadeja nailed him. There is a problem between bat and pad for such a successful young player. It happened when batting for the Sydney Thunder as well last week. Would probably prefer fewer selfies and Bay 13 rev ups - and a few more runs. 

He cannot be so 'public' without brushing up the basics...forward defence and his fielding. Misfields don't cut it. These will prove his undoing if not addressed. McSweeney seems eons away from a recall after only five days!

2. Yasprit Bumrah. He is a phenomenon. 200 Test wickets at a ridiculous average. He especially likes batsmen who are poor exponents of foot work. McSweeney-Khawaja and Marnus have all been guilty here. He has Khawaja 5/30 this series, yet he did not shine v New Zealand at home in the recent series loss so much (5 wickets in two Tests on dead tracks). He could have had all ten wickets in Australia's second innings.

The batting of Travis Head this Test has been poor. He needs to develop a defensive game where he understands the tempo of a game. He has no idea in defence - fine when attacking. Not when jumping. Mitchell Marsh did not want to be there either. He is a funny bugger, but could be one of the greats. The bison has the confidence of a meercat under pressure, but hung onto a few decent catches on the second grab. A Marsh sibling trademark sadly - as well as fifty chances each from the selectors. Our middle order batting collapses in all Tests have proven costly to our mindset.

Thankfully for Cummins, Boland and Lyon - mentally tough!

Does a sight screen partially in shade become self-defeating?

3. Virat Kohli. Great batsman (and a terrific fieldsman - 120 catches in 122 Tests. Smith has 190 catches in 113 Tests!), but his shoulder charge on Konstas was sub-standard. 'Weak gutted dog' could become a new sign on the hill. He has been super cranky from the time his family arrived at Tullamarine. Nothing changed Day One. He will continue to be targeted. Might be time to retire.

4. Test Selectors. What the hell were they thinking? Inglis was understandably covering Head (now 7 Test ducks - 9 Test centuries), but Webster, Abbott and Jhye Richardson… why were they all needed? I am smelling some rugby squad nonsense here. Inglis has now pulled a calf while fielding for five minutes too. Hard to believe that would have happened if he was in his rhythm with the Scorchers.

Webster was released to the BBL last night... ummm?

5. Wigers Worries. A bit concerned about Jerome Luai already talking it up that he wanted to be the main man at the Wigers (unlike at the Panthers). Sounds a bit selfish. How will he work with Galvin? Two big egos and no proof yet that Galvin can dominate anyone decent. He needs to be more humble and work on strategy...otherwise it will be like playing for Samoa! Lots of feel good moments but lots of 'Ls' in the team progress tally. 

6. Nicho Hynes. Where do you play him for the Sharks? He has a lot of talent, but is not quick enough as half or fullback. This could be season defining for the Sharks. Fitzgibbon has a first world problem there.

Finally Ezra has been hammered... and deservedly so. A big fine, but a light suspension really in the scheme of driving disqualified, driving drug affected and causing injury to others too. Men of League usually pick up the fine revenue so they will be happy!

7. BBL 2024-2025. Spencer Johnson, Nick Hobson, Aaron Hardie, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett and Cooper Connolly… gun performers.

The 0-5 start from the Melbourne Stars is hideous in such a big cricket market. Stoinis and Maxwell are two of the most inconsistent cricketers in the world - and are proving as much. How many years can Peter Siddle keep playing?

8. BBL Imports. James Vince produces every year for the Sixers. Seifert has been great so far for the Renegades and Duckett superb for the Stars… both excellent. Finn Allen (Scorchers) and the West Indian middle order bat, Rutherford (Thunder)… awful. Jamie Overton doing OK.

9. EPL. Liverpool are suddenly streaking away. The other big guns keep stumbling (Chelsea, Man City, Tottenham, ManU). Notts Forest are the surprise package. With the January EPL Transfer Window upon us, the annual miracle will be hoped for by a lot of teams. Southampton are relegation bound, yet seem to do nothing about it. Ange is driving his own hearse now.

10. NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals had a ripping overtime win over the Denver Broncos to stay alive in the play off hunt. Lots locked in now! Bills- Chiefs and Eagles-Lions look the favourites.

11. Max Purcell. A worry when an Olympic Gold Medallist (doubles) is a self-confessed drug cheat (no matter the means and techniques). Will he now lose his medal or like Sinner and Swiatek... all is forgiven? Tennis have a huge problem here and it is not just the return of Kyrgios either.

12. World Test Cricket Championship. How the hell does South Africa make the final? They drew with India 1-1 and lost to New Zealand 0-2 when they refused to provide a Test standard squad. They have then beaten the might of Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka and lead Pakistan 1-0 in skinny test series. What a joke!

The Wrap - Driving to Distraction

1. Sam Konstas. This will be interesting. McSweeney has had the toughest initiation of all time v India and has been dropped on his head. Konstas is meant to be the next best thing but is so raw. Did they drop the wrong opener? Usman has been dreadful this summer so far. Marnus and Mitch Marsh may need to wake up too.

Konstas looked so nervous for the Thunder and got out to an horrific shot on Saturday night. Wait until he bats against the Indians in front of 90,000 people. He will be tested. Potentially he will become the youngest Australian Test opener in history. All strength to him. We've had Finch, Wade, Smith and now McSweeney when Warner has been out. All were failures as Test openers sadly. 

This latest batch of players has been significantly impacted on the Test arena by the unfortunate loss of Pucovski, Phil Hughes and injuries to Cameron Green too. It has also coincided with T20 cash worldwide where players like Tim David and Jake Fraser-McGurk have prioritised the short form. 

2. The Sydney Chunder. The Thunder have major problems playing on that dog of a wicket at the Sydney Showground. WSC used better decks. The only bloke who plays well on that wicket is Warner. He is small and has a compact style, but throws away his wicket too often too. Is 20 runs in a T20 a triumph for a batsman? Or is it rank underperformance?

The Thunder crowd are the smallest and worst in the comp - like GWS AFL who use the same ground. They need to play on a proper cricket wicket at a venue people can get to easily. Sydney Olympic Park is not that venue. Watching a looping sky ball fall between two players can reduce a crowd quickly too. Honestly.

2. Annabel Sutherland. She is crushing international cricket, picking off tons for fun. What a player. She then turns around and bowls at pace. Impressive. Best cricketer in the family?

3. EPL - Ange Postocoglou. Everyone is an expert with Tottenham who are sitting mid table (unacceptable). Too attacking? Not defensive enough? Typical English with their conservative style, yet Bazball has captured their imagination. A big win this past week v ManU 4-3 in the Carabao Cup. The next game will be v Liverpool. They also play Liverpool this week too in the EPL. A win there will be one of the great wins, given their current injury levels. They have not lost a game by more than one goal this season.

Man City have hit the wall. For all that money spent... Notts Forest have over achieved and well done to them.

4. Ravi Ashwin (537 Test Wickets) Retirement. One of the absolute greats of the game but his retirement has been odd. It looked more like an impulsive tantrum than a retirement. Kohli has never seemed to have liked him. Jadeja is his preference. How good is Ravi Jadeja? He can turn a game like this last test. An absolute winner and multi linguist.

Why are India always so precious when they visit our shores? There is always a blow up - media, etc, especially when they get into the back end of the tour. Pressure reveals true elements of personality.

5. NRL - St George. A great signing from the Sharks - young Daniel Atkinson, but extending Kyle Flanagan? Curious with his father as coach. Shane has always struggled to promote and defend Kyle's game. A steady, but not a striking player of strength or leadership. At least Ben Hunt's saga is behind them. 

What about the Cowboys - two players missing for the season with pre-season knee injuries. What is happening with their coaching methods? Terrible.

6. Ezra Man. Ezra was a victim to the slur from Leniu at the start of last season, but at that point he had two licence disqualifications under his belt too. He has now been disqualified from driving THREE times. That is dangerous, reckless and careless. His lack of concerns for others is disturbing. You would be filthy if he ran into your family. Then he gets a court fine of $800? He needs to be banned for a season by the NRL. It is unacceptable. You get more for steroids. Surprising that the NRL is not apprised of police records of their players. 

Is the Integrity Commission asleep? They need to act quickly and crisply. It will send a strong message to all players and clubs.

6. NFL. Some dominant teams are really emerging now deep into the 2024 season... in the AFC: Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. In the NFC: Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Minesota Vikings. Play offs await. It is pretty open still, but the worst teams are a familiar roll call: Giants, Patriots, Raiders, Browns, Titans and Jaguars. Super bowl favourites? Chiefs v Eagles?

7. NBA. Oklahoma Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers (more to cheer here than with the Browns) and Boston Celtics look to be the pace setters. Early days, but a never ending draw. Daily almost!

The Wrap - Deja Vous

1. Australian Test Cricket. Usman's backlift looks like his bat path is coming from far too square. He cannot get behind the lifting ball on off stump well enough and is suffering, edging everything. He may do well to last till Sydney.

Nathan McSweeney's style is fresh with a quiet confidence. To start your Test career against Bumrah and India is the toughest of tests. He needs to be championed for a while yet, but Bumrah has his measure. He is sharp in the field which shows his stamp as a player. However, he too is under threat. He holds one of the worst records for a starting opener in Australian Test Cricket history.

Travis Head was again superb. He is critical in our flimsy order. Smith and Head were outstanding really. Head now has nine test tons and six of them are in the first innings. Marnus has massive problems but has an exceptional test record. Hopefully he can bounce back. Mitch Marsh... really? Pat Cummins looks safer than Mitch Marsh with the bat. He is on notice. A lame caught and bowled chance not taken, a top edge that fell safely and then a lame edge to second slip. 

A great end result from Day Two. Is there any memory of Australia hitting over 400 in recent Tests? You need to go a long way back... 14 December 2023 - a year ago v Pakistan.

2. BBL. It is the deja vous competition. No one can barely remember much about it from one year to the next, except that we need new players and new talent to cheer. The lack of superstar quality is a worry and this three week contract before jetting off elsewhere is not how we like our sport. It is viewed as a low level tournament on the world stage as everyone world wide tries to grab cash. Sad. T20 is a rare night out for anyone over 30 years of age.

The Scorchers are the exception. Huge crowds and lots of traditional success, but they are not what they used to be.

3. Oscar Piastri. He seals McLaren's (Mercedes) victory in the constructor's championship and finishes fourth in the driver's championship. He is earning $30M plus. A good year by anyone's standards.

4. EPL. Ange is suddenly really on the ropes. A loss to Chelsea and a draw with Rangers. Injury stricken but struggling. A 4-3 loss to Chelsea showed enterprise, but defence is near non-existent. Angle has started to target players too (Timo Werner)...a sure sign that he is in need of a complete form reversal, or the axe. 

The songs have been silenced in the one win from his last eight games. He moves on to play the lowly Southampton on Monday morning. A victory is the only outcome for Ange or he could be gone by next week.

Liverpool and Chelsea look strong this season, but all the top teams keep dropping points. Nottingham are surging into the top five.

Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish League Cup Final is tonight too. Ange may be wishing he was there. 

5. LIV-USPGA. Interesting that Trump hasn't solved this yet. Anytime now... tick tock.

6. Wests Tigers. Talk of them losing their identity and becoming the 'Wests Magpies' sounds revolutionary, but it comes with a warning. The Wests Tigers have won three wooden spoons, Balmain Tigers won four wooden spoons, but the Wests Magpies have won 18 wooden spoons! PNG have a great tax free incentive, but wood is not a big export or import. They could surprise in time. 

7. NZ v England Cricket. Tim Southee is about to call it quits and sits on 98 sixes in Test Cricket (the same number as Chris Gayle). There are only four players to have hit 100 sixes in Test Cricket. Ben Stokes (133), Brendon McCullum (107) and Gilchrist (100).

They are really loose in this series after a cracking series in India. Down 2-0 already to England, but they have been tougher this Test.

The Wrap - Diamonds From Pressure

1. Australia v India - Test Cricket. A classy win to lock up the series 1-1. Marnus looked a bit better - more aggressive and more balanced. McSweeney and Marnus really did well late on Day 1 and probably turned the game our way. Smith continues to worry (still averaging 56+ in Tests) and Usman will be lucky to make it to Sydney. He looks slow and old all of a sudden. His catching is dreadful - a sure sign that retirement beckons.

Travis Head was awesome. 8 Test tons to equal Yallop, Trumper and the late Ian Redpath... He can change a game like Warner or Gilchrist did. Amazing strike power. Mitchell Starc under lights at Adelaide is also an awesome threat. He has 367 wickets at 27.53 which is pretty impressive. Ahead are Waqar Younis (373 wickets), Malcolm Marshall (376) and Ian Botham (383).

Mitch Marsh can be amazing, but other times the Bison is brainless. The walk off without hitting it...honestly. No words.

Meanwhile Sam Konstas is chalking them up for NSW with 88 on a green top. He is hovering, but if he is selected he needs to be given time and space. Pucovski is missed - as is Phil Hughes. Two blokes who would be certain inclusions if they were still around. I notice Kurtis Patterson is back scoring runs as well - 167no.

2. England v New Zealand Test Series. England are dominating them. The New Zealand bowling ranks are thin. Too thin. Harry Brook keeps chalking up the tons. Even Atkinson is getting hat tricks! Joe Root yet another ton.

3. Tottenham. Ange is in deep water. He beats ManU, Aston Villa and Man City, but keeps losing to the lesser lights and that is something the fans, sponsors and others can't cop. He has drawn with Fulham and lost again to Bournemouth this week. Throw in losses to Ipswich Town, Newcastle, Brighton... he is under watch. Sad but true. They play Chelsea tonight which will be the toughest of tests,

Arne Slot. Who is he? he is Liverpool's Head Coach (Dutch man) who is leaping ahead to the EPL title.

4. F1. Mick Doohan's young bloke, Jack, is looking like he has a long F1 career ahead. His old man Mick won five 500cc Motorbike World Championships which sets a high family standard. A back marker, but an emerging gun.

The last race of the season tonight so McLaren may jag their first constructor's championship for some time!

5. Athletics - Gout Gout. An amazing prospect. Still has not beaten Patrick Johnson's 9.93, but is a pup. He has a lot of promise and will improve a lot more. We may have a running prospect to cheer in years ahead...especially if drug taking is policed properly. He welcomes pressure and is positive about pressure. An incredible mindset for someone so young.

6. Cam Smith. A playoff in the Saudi International, but no win. He is so talented, but has been quite inconsistent of late.

7. Sha Tin. James McDonald has won another two Group 1s today. Incredible strike rate!

The Wrap - Time, Timeliness and Timing

1. Sam Konstas. He has nailed it with a ton v India A. McSweeney is on notice now. A great innings in the conditions. The best players have the sustained emotional intensity to succeed. Let's hope Smith and Labuschagne were watching.

2. Australian Cricket. A fascination in the current set up is how many Australian sub-continent players don't get an opportunity in our rep teams and national teams. Unlike New Zealand, England and South Africa, we seem very homogenous as a national cricket team. All of those talented players surely can't all be overlooked or desire to play Parramatta A Grade only as the pinnacle of their career. Lots of talent and we can't develop or identify any of it? Strange. 

3. Wallabies. A great effort against Ireland (better than Scotland), but should we celebrate a loss? A 2-2 series outcome? There are signs of improvement, but please minimise then consolidate the squad and pick and stick! Promising signs, but more discipline is critical.

4. Matildas. A talented bunch who entertain and who the fans enjoy watching. However, they don't win so often these days. Brazil crunched them in the first game and the second game too!

5. AFLW and WBBL. Two comps over in one weekend. North Melbourne and the Melbourne Renegades. Both are rank underdogs in the mens' version, so an uncharacteristic set of colours on the victory diases!

6. Ian Redpath. RIP. 'Redpath it's good to see you back'. He passes this earth, but he was always a gentleman... and a talented opening batsman. Humble, stonewaller and used the old 'SS' bat. Legend who was tough and uncompromising. Loved by the Chappells.

7. Ben Hunt. Thanks goodness he has signed and the sorry saga is over. The Broncos will rue this one. Cobbo, Staggs and their young hooker, Blake Mozer, now become massive targets for other clubs. 

An intriguing battle for young halfback, Jonah Pezet. The family are from the Central Coast and he could land a motza at Newcastle if he goes there.

8. England v New Zealand. A great win by England away from home. 1-0 up. This Harry Brook can play. Seven Test tons, a double century and a triple century, averaging 60 in 22 Tests. South Africa smashed Sri Lanka - all out for 42 does not help your cause. 

9. Australian Open Golf. A surprise win by Ryggs Johnston for the Stonehaven Cup, when Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert were absolute specials to win it. Smith plummeted to T39 behind Castle Hill's Daniel Gale. Elvis and Herbert T5 were solid. Prizemoney is scant compared to the bigger international tournaments. A little worrying really, especially when you compare it to horse racing in this country.

10. EPL. Tottenham surely have to win tonight. If Man City lose to Liverpool it will be six losses in a row with huge injuries of course. For Tottenham, they can head to fifth spot with a victory v Fulham. Surely they can't blow it again.

The Wrap - EXXTRA Effort

1. Test Cricket. One Test loss is not the end of the earth in a five Test series, but this will be a significant thumping. Yashasvi Jaiswal is the next Indian legend. Such quick wrists and feet! He can bat a long time. It is hard to imagine a loss of this magnitude on Australian soil. Maybe back in the World Series days with Tony Mann, Gary Cosier, Paul Hibbert, Jeff Moss, Wayne Clark and Sam Gannon.

Our bowling was solid early, but our batting... awful. No chance of holding on for five days with the pitch seaming and playing tricks now.

The Australian public are completely out of love with the national team and sadly, the game. Are the multi-million contracts and the spoilt antics... with a useless governing body...taking their toll?  The withdrawal of players from the Pakistan ODI series has proven to be another nail in the coffin of Australian cricket. Lucky we withdrew our players, otherwise we could have been caught short and under prepared and possibly lost the first test!

The IPL auction is later tonight, so this will be another opportunity for the general public to judge the playing group and their priorities. Smith has himself at top freight but has not been picked up for two years. It would be a surprise if he is signed.

Our batting has been suspect for a number of years. Smith looks terrible and Marnus... he is nearing the 'getting dropped' phase of his career. 50 balls for two runs? Please. Head is a duck or a hundred man and Carey scores Shield runs, but too often looks handcuffed on the international stage. It has been coming for a long time. 

Greg Chappell has been warning about this weakening of Australian batting techniques and mindsets for a long time. Greg sure writes a top article, but can't coach.

2. Sheffield Shield. Back in Sheffield Shield today, Bancroft got another duck...Harris 2, which gives no joy to selectors. No one is scoring runs consistently. Oh for the days of Barsby, Siddons, Maher, Hills, Cox, Lehmann, Law who all reeled off ton after ton week after week. Poor buggers couldn't get a look in at the national level. These days they would be automatic picks and captain!

3. Wallabies. Yet another six changes... how can this be? Honestly, what sort of crazy crap is this? Too many blokes in the squad. A win against Scotland would be a surprise, but a showdown with Ireland would be a top result from the tour. Scotland can play...so hopefully we are ready!

Interested to see if Harry Potter can provide that extra magic out wide. Cruel parents.

4. NRL. Ben Hunt. Sign him and move on... please. Is he that good? There is a hint of the Adam Reynolds here. Flashes of brilliance, but an imminent decline. Not sure of his mindset at that age.

Jason Ryles seems to be a walking headline. Poor bloke. Some good signings with much needed pace. The media will be gunning for him. 

The spoon race will be interesting in 2025. Surely it can't be the Tigers, so then who? Auckland Warriors loom large. Eels? Broncos? Titans seem better than previously.

5. EPL. Tottenham played Man City... close to an impossible ask with so many injuries, but Ange delivered. A 4-0 thumping of Man City at home - to hand Pep his worst loss ever. Their 'goals for' is second best in the EPL now. Plenty of attack, but what of defence? Sixth on the table is solid, but I am not hearing the Robbie Williams  "I'm loving Ange instead" song too often.

6. Australian PGA Golf. Cam Smith and young Elvis Smylie really served it up for the Joe Kirkwood Cup at Royal Queensland. Mother Liz was smiling through her chewing gum. Exxtra! Impressive work by a 22 year old! A great achievement. Greyhound build, but a tremendous future in the game.

7. A League. Alen Stajcic the Western Sydney Wanderers coach seems to enjoy the headlines. He did it on the Central Coast and now he is refusing to start/ play his marquee signing - Juan Mata, the Spanish midfield legend... despite the string of three losses from five games. Alen may need to change tactics before he is shown the exit door.

8. Davis Cup Tennis v Italy. Not a fan of the new structure, but de Minaur is no match for the top 10 players. Hopefully he can improve further, but as it stands, we are solid, but not spectacular. Sinner dominated him.

9. F1 - Champion. Max Verstappen is now the four time consecutive F1 drivers champion (replacing Lewis Hamilton who was a four successive winner from 2017-2020 and now joining Man City and the Penrith Panthers as 'four-peat' achievers). The WA Shield team and the Wests Tigers are on track too! So are the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL (four Super Bowls for three wins in the past five years).

The Wrap - A Careless Bunch (ACB)

1. Wallabies. On the cusp of turning things around the dreaded "Rugby Coach Curse" has struck. Pick a squad of a 100 for a tour and change your team every second day. How Aukuso-Suaalli can be put on the bench defies logic. Joe Schmidt's tenure is going to end soon if he does silly things like this. Honestly. 

New Zealand All Blacks have a bad loss v France by a point and England lose again v South Africa.

2. T20 Cricket. No one really cares about Australian short form cricket anymore. mainly because the ACB don't care. What a pack of wombats. They schedule international games and rest half of the team. All about the money, but has anyone seen a cricket promo on TV in the last five years? The tickets and food prices are ridiculous. You could get a very big dinner at home for that price.

By the way, Australia won on Saturday night and lead 2-0 in the best of three games somehow.

They have lost the hearts and minds - and the car park. Maybe a jingle or two from Mojo could help!

3. Football - Socceroos. A draw v Saudi Arabia was a good result this week just gone. Popovic has had two draws now...v Japan and v Saudi Arabia. The Socceroos sit in second spot after a recovery of sorts. They need a few goals though... Japan have almost wrapped up one of the spots. The loss v Bahrain will be costly, however they have a chance to avenge this on Wednesday night.

4. Mike Tyson. Nearly died and came back, but it was all a bit embarrassing. He looked overweight, but will always be remembered as a tough hombre, amid other things.

5. Shield Cricket. Renshaw has finally hit a ton. Sirens please as some one like Greg Chappell will now recommend him. Cameron Bancroft has fallen in a hole sadly. None of our bowlers are dominating... Jackson Bird took ten wickets, but we are in a weak era all of a sudden. India will be ready for us.

6. NRL. So many loose signings at present, but a brutal game now. Produce or be ended. Parramatta's pace improvement is long overdue. Both Joash Papalii and Jordan Samrami are inexperienced but blistering...with the Fox, Lomax and Isaiah Longi, the likely new fullback. Pace wins with Brown and Moses as well. It turns games. Hunt and others better get cracking with the BIC biro or England beckons.

Soni Luke is a top hooker who should be targeted by a lot of clubs. He has played 20 games in three seasons for the Panthers... surely a good option for clubs like Parramatta.

7. NSW Open. Lucas Herbert (67 final round) winning by 3 strokes was pretty smart. Cam Smith (74 final round) gave it away a little sadly. He needs to consolidate over the bigger four round distance. Does LIV golf affect them that much? Trump should have that PGA-LIV divide cured any day now...

The Wrap - A Bad Week for the Harris Family.

1. Pacific Rugby League Championships - Australia v Tonga. The Tongan crowd was awesome - and their singing... amazing. A 20-14 win to Australia sees international rugby league almost having a completely different balance of power now.

We should get used to overseas nations supporting their team more than what the general public in Australia will. We have been so conditioned to watch it all on TV - in all sports. Sparing the parking thieves, the hot food price hikes and the nonsense, Australians are less inclined than most nations to watch their national teams in any sport. The decline of the Wallabies in recent years, the Australian cricket team being on the nose... women's team support is growing at the same time.

The Jillaroos had a resounding victory. The women's game is a great game to watch for the spectators too. Lively, no nonsense and played in the right spirit.

2. Australian Test Cricket Team. South Australian captain, Nathan McSweeney has been deservedly rewarded. Marcus Harris is far too inconsistent. He like his namesake Kamala have been rolled this week! Interested to see Inglis included. Carey might need to watch his Test form.

3. ODIs - Pakistan v Australia. Jason Gillespie was foisted into the ODI coaching role when Kirsten got the usual Pakistan marching orders. A 2-1 series win is a handy start to his coaching resume. Pakistan's Test series victory over England sees him rising through the world coaching ranks. Andrew McDonald has been extended for another five years so he needs to bide his time.

Zampa is now quite a liability in the field. Honestly, he is dropping catches you should take in the park. Our batting was terrible... Maxwell, Stoinis. These guys are under achieving big time at present and really are at the end of their ODI careers. The hype around Fraser-McGurk is getting a little out of control. He needs to show more discipline and discernment in his shot making.

It should come as no surprise that our players have been snubbed by the IPL. We are inconsistent and overestimate our own value.

How ridiculous is the current scheduling of an ODI series v Pakistan ahead of the Tests? A Monday night game and then resting nearly every top line player is a concession that they got it wrong. Who would go and support that? Cricket Australia are a laughing stock these days. This current debacle has not changed anything on that front.

4. LIV-PGA Golf Reconciliation. Donald J will be on this just before solving the Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts. Good luck!

5. Wallabies. A stunning win v England at Twickenham (first since 2015). Aukuso-Sua'ali'i answered the critics (how could they be so accusatory when Australian rugby is on its knees?). He is a super talent and shone. MOTM. England mind you are nearly as bad as us! Not a lot of defence, but highly entertaining with a scintillating win after the siren.

New Zealand crushed Ireland too...the Scott Robertson wheels are starting to turn. 

6. A League. Western Sydney Wanderers are going to need a big turn around. They are struggling big time after four rounds. Four points only after much pre season hype. The champions of last year, the Central Coast Mariners are winless!

7. Man City. Another EPL loss v Brighton (who are now in third spot). Not sure what is going on outside of injuries, but that is the fourth straight loss (the first time in Pep Guardiola's career as manager). Work to do, but the competition is closer now. Tottenham have a great chance to leap into third tonight.

8. Women's BBL. Some excellent play. Lots of women playing the game now and doing it in fine style. How long will it take before it is more popular than the men's game? The arrogance of the modern male cricketer is killing the game. The public are not convinced.

9. NFL. Chiefs, Bills and Steelers in the AFC are dominating. Lions, Commanders and Falcons in the NFC too. It is a hard run to turn a NFL franchise around. Maybe taking five years! A little like the NRL too. The New England Patriots have hit rock bottom at 2-7. 

10. Womens Fast5 Netball. A great win by the Australians with Amy Sligar in the front row (next to coach on right hand side). Congrats to the Sligars!

11. James McDonald - 'JMac'. How good is he? Punters should simply back his horses to clean up! Winning 11 races in the one Melbourne Cup carnival is pretty amazing. Onto 104 Group 1 wins in a twinkling of a eye!

The Wrap - The Quick Fox Eaten by the Lazy Dog

1. NRL -Tonga. A dominant start and almost a late choke, but well done to them. Through to the Pacific Championships Final v Australia. The second time they have beaten New Zealand, but they will be hard to toss in the final. Their halves are sharp. Plenty of Katoas in the team... Eli, Isaiya and Sione. Like Smith in Tonga! Not sure that the Australian forwards are that dominant.

This is the same Pacific Championships where Samoa are not involved, instead playing in England. That is a strange one indeed.

Great time of year for sackings and new homes... Gutho, Hunt, The Fox. Unfortunately the quick fox tried to jump over the lazy dogs and failed. He is looking for a new club. Parramatta?

2. F1 - Oscar Piastri and McLaren. Half a chance for Lando Norris to win the drivers championship, but McLaren are right on top in the constructor's championship. Verstappen is looking for his straight F1 win. Piastri has had a great year coming foruth at present, but being a team man he will gift Norris the priority position to get valuable points.

3. Test Cricket. New Zealand Test Cricket has really risen on the back of this Indian tour after some pretty poor results leading in. Drawing with Bangladesh, losing to Australia and losing to Sri Lanka...

They pushed India really hard at 6/92 at lunch when only defending a low total. Pant continues to prove himself as a match winner. After lunch 4/55 was needed by New Zealand for a whitewash. Too many run outs by India at present. They had another two this Test.

NZ were extraordinary in getting 3-0 result. That is unheard of in India and at Mumbai. First time ever for an Indian whitewash! Ever! No Santer. No Williamson. Incredible! India actually look a bit unfit and their batting was not good enough. Heads will no doubt roll!

4. Nathan McSweeney. What a tremendous effort v India A when all the other hopefuls crashed and burned. Bancroft has been terrible (10 runs in five inns in 2024) and Harris and Konstas, just mild efforts. McSweeney could open. He would be as good as any others. The interesting news is that Renshaw has disappeared from contention. Thank goodness for that.

Beau Wester also had a ripping game. Hilton Cartwright a 150 for WA in the Shield too.

5. Rugby. NZ beat England in a slashing Test overnight. Some costly goal kicking misses, but NZ are amazing. Scott Robertson has not had an easy start, but he is starting to fire!

6. EPL. Man City beaten by Bournemouth and Notts Forest now coming third! Arsenal are fading. Man U have sacked their coach and Liverpool are on top!

7. James McDonald. Two new Group 1s on the weekend. On great terms with his bank manager, but no Melbourne Cup ride... what? Owners should be scrambling! Flemington was glorious on the weekend. A stunning course and huge Derby Day crowd.

The Wrap - Zeal and Zealots in New Zealand

1. Australia v NZ Rugby League Internationals - Kangaroos and Jillaroos. A cracking game of great intensity. The gap between both teams is very narrow - in the mens' and the womens' brands. A great win by the women. Millie Boyle is some sort of player. Tamika Upton looks gangly and too small, but she is impressive. Two tries in a 14-0 win.

If the men were at full strength, it would be even closer! Dylan Edwards is a gun. Saving tries left right and centre. Such a big body coming in from the back too. A four time premiership winning fullback tells you he has the goods. Lomax played well too. Under pressure, he is very solid. An excellent signing by the Eels. 

On the Eels, Papenhuyzen looms large. Nikora, Wishart... Extraordinarily, Paps actually earns less than Gutherson. The 1 November window gets all the journos a bit excited at this time of the year. Surely Parramatta need to bolt down Penisini. The rest of the forwards... they need to produce the goods to stay. 

Mam looks like staying on the sidelines for a long time. Addo-Carr is in for a rough week too. Ben Hunt? He seems like a bloke who needs to communicate with his coach more regularly. Hitting 35 years of age tells you his time is almost up. If only Ben understood this too.

2. Pakistan v England Test Series. A mighty comeback 2-1 series win for Jason Gillespie's team. Extraordinary result really with lots of big reputational players dropped (including Babar Azam) and Gillespie stripped of selection duties mid series. For England, a terrible result. They had been playing well and Stokes returned to lead them to a series loss.

3. New Zealand v India Test Series. Incredibly, New Zealand have played without Kane Williamson all series in the Indian conditions overseas and still win. Poised to take the series, the arrival of Jadeja at the crease always spells trouble. He is such a fierce competitor. Mitchell Santer and his 13 wickets was incredible too. Slow, tame looking tweakers, but a very smart operator. He joins the folklore of NZ cricket now with a win for the ages. Beating India in India is an amazing achievement. Australia haven't done it since 2004.

4. Zeal. Awesome NZ. This weekend, New Zealand Breakers beat the Kings on the weekend. Auckland FC beat Sydney FC 1-0 and in the netball, NZ beat Australia to take a 3-0 winning lead in the Constellation Netball Cup. 

This is unheard of for Australian Netball. Heads need to roll.

In the past week, NZ has also won the America's Cup (catamaran boats on steroids) in Spain and the womens' T20 Cricket World Cup. Busy at the airport check-in this past few weeks... not just rugby union either!

4. Steve Smith. Is it just bad luck or is he on the massive decline? An amazing performer for a long time. His theatrics when he gets dismissed are becoming tiresome. He is not the answer as a skipper, but has an excellent record (38 tests at 55% win rate. Chappelli was 50%). Nice to see the silly ACB captaincy ban on Warner overthrown too. 

4. MLB World Series. Two old foes - east v west LA Dodgers v NY Yankees. Pretty clever work from Freddie Freeman to hit a Grand Slam to win Game 1 for the LA Dodgers. An awesome win. A 2-0 lead by the Dodgers is a handy start. A definite leg up for the World Series win!

5. Matilda Football v Switzerland. 1-1 was a fairly decent result. A lot of hype over this team, but results and goals are the only currency. Lots of egos are impacting their results.

6. EPL. A big run of matches tonight... ManU, Tottenham and Chelsea have very winnable games. Arsenal v Liverpool is the pick of them! Haaland another goal to have scored 10 in the EPL this season so far.

Interesting to note 'Sunderland Till I Die' are leading the English Championship after 12 games with a return to the top flight EPL gathering momentum!

7. The Cox Plate. The effort on Saturday by Via Sistina was awesome. Absolutely smashed them and beat the track record set by Winx. Moonee Valley is an interesting course with such a small straight. You need to be on your skates by the time the field reach the school! 

Could be a smokey for the Melbourne Cup... James McDonald is the greatest. 100 Group One wins at such a young age. The recently retired Damien Oliver's record of 129 Group One wins is the record. Oliver lost his father and brother to deaths off falls as jockeys. A reminder of how dangerous the work is too!

The Wrap - An Everest on Many Fronts

1. NRL. When will points be docked for stupid player behaviour in the off season? The amount of drug taking in the off season is clearly extraordinary too. I note that the Melbourne Storm rarely if ever have this happen. I wonder why? (Curtis Scott was the last one). Perhaps a guaranteed axe hovering over your head for embarrassing a proud club will do it. Ezra Mam...honestly. Wasn't he involved with Reece Walsh in Bali doing some silly stuff? 

The Australians beat a top shelf Tonga team. How good was Tom Trbojevic? Mitchell Moses looked fresh. The Kumuls beat Fiji which is quite extraordinary too. They are getting ready for the NRL!

2. GWS Giants. Now we can see why the club is struggling when it matters. Lots of lower grade fringe blokes doing dumb things and bringing a losers culture to the place. Mad Monday is not a highlight of the calendar for many clubs.

3. NZ v India Cricket. An 8 wicket win by NZ in India is impressive. India are the experts at dropping the first Test and then roaring home for a series victory. It remains a fascination that in a nation with the quality and depth of cricketers that India has, that they could do anything but win! Every time. Well done to NZ who have been woeful recently. Rachin Ravindra is an exceptional talent (134 and 39 no). No Kane Williamson too!

Pakistan beat England too for a 1-1 series leveller. Incredible after massive sackings and team upheaval. Jason Gillespie smiled for the first time as Pakistan's coach.

4. EPL - Ange Postocoglou and Tottenham. Roaring back with a 4-1 win over West Ham. Looking good. Arsenal have done their usual trick...a bright start and then they fall over. Man City will put them all to the sword very soon and streak ahead. ManU had a win which is unusual!

5. A League. Two sold out games in one weekend... Sydney FC v WS Wanderers and Auckland v  if only they could get their stuff together the sport would leap ahead in Australia. Flares, fires and pitch invasions are never far away. A much better effort v Japan in the World Cup qualifier this past week. 1-1 over there is close to a win.

6. The Everest. Such a monumental event now. Huge! So many of the younger brigade too. What a sizzling win by Bella Nipotina ('Beautiful grand daughter'). A top ride from a wide gate by Craig Williams and such strength under pressure, including from a resurgent Giga Kick. Sunshine in Paris should have done better...got back and was just not quick enough! A big winning training weekend for Ciaron Maher stable...Caulfield Cup as well... Duke de Sessa. $25 million won in one Saturday afternoon.

7. Tim Tszyu. Terrible result, but Russian fighters are typically awesome. His career is in real danger of ending prematurely. He needs a new approach and trainer. Too much hype and carry on.

8. Sheffield Shield. Great effort by NSW and Sean Abbott today (4/50 .. Peter Handscomb is still in good form as a batsman. His Test career is not finished yet). Alex Carey is still getting runs (dropped mid week for the T20 team for Josh Inglis). Beau Webster out for three.

9. The Greatest Everest. 160+ games of baseball later...New York Yankees v LA Dodgers! A World Series of epic proportions this time around. It cannot be missed!

The Wrap - Contracts and Chiko Rolls

1. The PM XIII. Despite the great energy and hard play, it is hard to see how the Papua New Guinea expansion team will work long term. Plenty of home town support, but travel and training (?) - and attracting new coaches and players will be challenging. Such a political stance seems strangely at odds with the merits of our sport. How powerful are some of their players. There has to be an NRL star or two there under the right coach.

Clearly Brad Fittler is being readied to replace Mal Meninga as Australian coach soon. The PM XIII team he had was not one of the strongest. Luke Brooks again killed it. He has really bloomed over the past twelve months. Cook was clever from dummy half too. A few backs who should go straight to the framers with their jersey. It may be the last they ever see, but good luck to them.

The Perth Bears can't seem to get anything right with a dodgy franchise leadership and rogue requests. Surely there is a more professional line of sight over this serious work than what appears here. Thankfully V'landy's is a clear thinker.

2. Contract Dramas - Ben Hunt and Clint Gutherson. Reluctant contract renewals by clubs is a tough reality for some players - and clubs. The arrogance and self-centredness of some players is breath taking. They assume they will continue to reap in huge money even though they are tired and aged. We have all seen this movie before...Sterling and Kenny stayed on busted and the club didn't have the courage to move on. Wally Lewis was cut. Bellamy cycles old wood well. 

Players are not paid to have an understanding of the club culture and the long term impact on a club. They either take a pay cut or move on. 'Sympathy salary cap decisions' get clubs into trouble. Matt Cameron is the genius of the salary cap. He should run lessons.

Gutho, as good as he has been, is slow and this does not win comps. He is not a ball player. $950,000 is a big wage. The media seem to think we should feel sorry for these blokes ("give him the respect he deserves"...not on my cash register!). Hunt has won many things, but he has limited time left. Time to go. Not sure Kyle Flanagan is going to win you a comp however.

Wigan have stamped itself as one of the greater teams too... yet more silverware on the weekend. Bevan French carving it up yet again, but not good enough to make the Parramatta team. Surely his speed is so valuable. Interesting to see Jason Ryles prioritise speed in his recruitment and retention. Sean Russell may need to do a Corey Oates and convert to the forwards to survive.

3. Sheffield Shield Cricket. Three drawn games in Round 1. Two back to back tons by Sam Konstas (NSW -152, 105) will see Hookesy's brown paper bag theory come rushing back. A guaranteed Australian baggy green cap now by the looks. South Australia were headlined by Carey's batting of 122 and 90 (Inglis scored a ton too - 122). Our man Beau Webster hit another ton (113) and got a wicket. Marcus Harris hit a ton and a fifty to take MOTM honours too. Nathan Lyon was the standout bowler with 8 wickets. Plenty to see...Neser bowling well in the first innings (rarely a second innings).

4. English Cricket. A typical second innings capitulation by Pakistan to lose the impossible test. Joe Root is in stunning form. The most ever English test runs - 12, 578 and most ever Test (35) (and ODI - 16) tons. Harry Brook is some sort of talent too. They are on a solid run v West Indies, Sri Lanka and now Pakistan (all without Ben Stokes). Some generous scheduling after the Ashes and India.

5. MLB. Dodgers play the Mets and the Yankees play the Cleveland Guardians now. A Dodgers v Yankees World Series finale would be an awesome heavyweight battle.

6. EPL. A rest week with International rounds. World Cup qualification is looking better for Australia, and a win against Japan this week would almost be a definite direct qualification step. The Socceroos are like the Wallabies... no one knows many of them... we hope and pray every time they play...but we are always resigned to the worst outcome, despite our hopes and dreams!

7. Bathurst. Usually rolls around with the McDonalds Cup/ FAI Cup/ Ford Ranger Cup... Plenty of excitement as always. Plenty of speed cameras on the way home too, just to remind the Sunday drivers that they are not invincible.

Not so for Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood. Too slick and from pole position to the (Roy) dais - impressive. Brought back some excellent memories with "Chiko" as the key car sponsor. Cabbage...too much salt...unique packaging. "Chiko beats the others - single handed" was the catch cry from memory! Poly waffle need to sponsor next year.

8. Police matters. Bali police are on Olarenshaw's hammer (his 50th birthday looked like an interesting event), Rocky Elsom is being sought by Interpol and Josh Addo Carr needs a new club! The police are kept far too busy by the different sporting codes. Perhaps it is a product of affluent contract la la land.

The Wrap - A Panthers Christmas

1. The Pink Panthers. How good are they? This is the fourth different GF winning jersey in the last four years for the Panthers. Good for the merchandise sales! Having a Grand Final every year for the past five makes it look like a local Christmas event!

Can there be any more pre game analysis for a NRL Grand Final? It is near impossible. It was interesting to see so much more for Sydney audiences from Penrith. The big and most sensible pre game points were the tall timber in the outside backs for Melbourne (kick to the wings and add pressure - the controversial bunker call was one such moment) and the phase of the game when Fisher-Harris and Leoto go off the field... a small opening. The Panthers seemed so much more composed pre game. No pressure and plenty of media exposure.

In the end it comes down to the absence of errors. No More Luai, Turuva, Fisher-Harris... can they keep re-inventing themselves? Will an era end there...or keep rolling on?

The exceptional standards, are best summed up by the following which we got in a visit to the Panthers last year. What a club!

Jarome Hughes was unfortunately and uncharacteristically disappointing, but the Panthers shut down the speed men and their tactic to wrap up the attacking bomb taker was golden.

How good is Bellamy? So strong all the time and no bitterness. He is nearing the end, but what a legacy.

2. NRLW. A top premiership decider and on the biggest stage - Roosters v Sharks. Very impressive to see the women's game on at the same event as the men's game. A sensible, respectful and strategic NRL decision by Abdo and V'landys. The nursery in the Central Coast area is awesome...Berkeley Vale, Wyong... The Roosters use Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College as their northern base and it is paying major dividends. The rest of the comp are asleep. 

A challenge for the Panthers there!

Millie Boyle/ Elliott is awesome for the Roosters, Jess Sergis, Olivia Kernick, Sam Brenmer, Isabelle Kelly, Jocelyn Kelleher... the Roosters did it really well, but made hard work of it in the end. The unluckiest player who was best on ground for the Roosters was their massive front rower, Amber Hall. Tiana Penitani was awesome for the Sharks. Great hosting at the Dally M and magnificent on the field, inspiring an incredible comeback.

The impact on young girls playing the sport is immense. These NRLW women are opening major doors which will continue to make the sport a real powerhouse. 

What a disgrace that Olivia Kernick missed the Australian Jillaroo team. She was the Dally M winner and no room for her? She should have been the player of the Grand Final too. The Australian coach clearly does not like her - and he was a judge of the Grand Final player of the match. Incredible.

3. NSW Cup v QLD Cup. Identifying talent for the future is a good feature of this game. Two standouts... the Newtown Jets fullback, Liam Ison and the back rower of the Northern Devils - Oryn Keeley. Hopefully more to come for both. A tough game reminding us that taking penalty goals when on offer is essential in Grand Finals. You are never safe! Even if it takes you from 2015 to win it as a QLD team!

4. Pacific NRL Championships. All gets underway soon. Absolutely fell over when Sean Russell (5 tries in 2024 and a small number of assist and line breaks) was included in the Australian PM XIII squad. Surely not! The Australian team need to do better than last time...they were dreadful! Mal Meninga looks keen to avenge it...his job depends on it.

Not sure no Tedesco and no Ponga is wise... Moses at half is also a worry. DCE was in amazing form this year. He has not played for months. A shame Cleary continues to be injured and has not put his stamp on the international scene.

5. Australian Domestic Cricket. The ACB are asleep as usual when they could be making inroads into the NRL gap before cricket season wit h a sharper strategy. The Big Bash is becoming a second rate T20 comp. Some advertising to announce the season would help. Otherwise we get motor racing, horse racing, Women's T20 World Cup cricket, boxing and not much else... a UK Summer Rugby trip.

6. AFL - Clayton Oliver. He needs to knuckle down and play for Melbourne and stop whining. He has slipped and needs to get better. Simple. A breaking of his contract is not the answer. Neale-Bullen is already going. They need to hold tight.

Bailey Smith? He owes the Western Bulldogs big time. 23 years old and they all want to go to Geelong? Smith hardly played a game all year so the Dogs can do it without him. They need to milk the move for lots of other positive options.

North Melbourne sounds like a retirement home - Jack Darling and Luke Parker? 

7. Wallabies - The Rugby Championship. Dead last in the South African-NZ-Argentina comp. If they think Sua'ali'i s going to cure their ills they are completely deluded.

8. EPL. Liverpool and Arsenal are neck and neck... and Man City is back too. Tottenham are back at it leading v Brighton Seagulls 2-0, who have been a testing team for them over time - then losing. Tottenham have started their Europa competition in style this past week, but this is their worst EPL start for 15 years! No singing of the Robbie Williams song this year so far! Chelsea were held to a draw, but they look sharp this year.

9. Madge - Broncos. Is this the best option? Plenty of pressure and lots of big heads needing to be let down gently too. Madge will do it well, but the critics will be sharpening their pencils and filling their ink wells!

10. Sheffield Shield Cricket. Starts this week! Can't wait (!), but an Australian opener's position is up for grabs will prove more interesting!

11. MLB. Down to the final eight. The Phillies v NY Mets... San Diego Padres v LA Dodgers.... The Padres were a surprise... all locked up in both series 1-1. The Kansas City Royals v NY Yankees and the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians are hard at it too. The Yankees and the Guardians take an early 1-0 lead.

The Wrap - South Melbourne Geese

1. Swans. What a monumental disappointment. Promising so much, but once again obliterated on a big field on the biggest day of the year. Sure, they make Grand Finals to be in contention, but it is a sorry recent history. Some of these players need to have a good look at themselves. The absence of pressure...the lack of aggression for the ground ball...barely a tackle all day and hardly a contested mark. The danger signs were there early again. But for some wayward kicking by the Lions, they could have been up by 40 after the first quarter. 

It is not the loss, but the capitulation really. How does this happen time and time again? The older heads in Rampe, Lloyd and Parker now have four GF losses. The team needed more from them all. What sort of preparation occurred? What sort of readiness existed, because this is the fourth time it has happened.

Is it the lack of daytime games? Or is the myth that the MCG (160m long x 141m wide) is far bigger than the SCG (149m long x 136m wide) or something else?  It's doubtful that the two metres at each end and on both sides makes that much difference. The TV angle at both grounds is as deceptive as the team itself sometimes! 

Longmire was incapable of changing tactics under pressure. Short hand balls and deft short kicks stifled their play. Slowing it all down was seen as the solution, but really the Swans were not quick enough (again) and really got found out. That team lacks aggressive forwards who have height and attitude. Amartey was so disappointing. There is little mongrel there. The possible signing of Jake Stringer looms large. 

We joked about more tats and sharp haircuts last week, but it is a factor. More mongrel and physical power is needed in that roster. There are a lot of lovely blokes, but how intense are they? Want...want?

In the end, a weak, meek sad display with no intensity is a huge concern. An absence of desire… rarely did we see tackles or ground ball wins. John Longmire needs to aim up here too. Has he failed to plan or simply failed to understand? He must take responsibility. His future depends on it. Longmire would be interesting to hear from about his team's preparation.

1A. Pre game GF Entertainment. Why does Melbourne do this so much better than Sydney? Katy Perry was pretty awesome...but Robbie Williams, KISS, Lionel Ritchie, Chris Isaak, Tones and I, Sting, Tom Jones, The Killers, Irene Cara (1996)..one disaster: Meatloaf.

The NRL... Jimmy Barnes has played seven Grand Finals!...biggest disaster: Billy Idol. Tight arsed NRL who have little respect for the fans, yet charge top dollar. Do better.

Cody Simpson did a ripping AFL national anthem this year. What a talent...swims like a fish, acts, dances and sings... and is a good looking rooster. SO unfair.

2. Panthers - Nathan Cleary. Five Grand Finals in a row! Talk about drive and desire. And yet they are set to lose Luai, Turuva, Fisher-Harris to add to Burton, Crichton, Staines, Salmon, Hopgood, Leniu and Kikau. Paul Alamoti came the other way as a ripping signing. His defence is so much better.

Nathan wants to ‘achieve great things..,’. yet walks around the ground signing and taking photos well after the end of the game. Truly a legend of the game and a future immortal. Better than Joey Johns.

3. Cronulla. Bridesmaids again and lacking a halfback who can turn games. Nicho is not a matchwinner and sadly lacks speed. That is the essential ingredient to win comps. Who are your speed men? This is where the Panthers are lacking in 2024. Outside of Papenhuyzen, the Storm don't have a heap either. 

The good news for Cronulla is that their NRLW team has made the Grand Final. Sadly, not a hope against the Roosters team... Millie Elliot is exceptional, but so is the older fullback, Sam Bremner and the half Jocelyn Kelleher. Too fast and strong.

4. Newtown Jets. It has been a while, but they won a scrappy affair v the Bears. Such a long way from that standard to NRL - or NRLW it must be said.

5. Broncos - Kevin Walters. Not too surprised, having suggested in August after a bit of mail, that he would be sacked:

6. EPL. Man City draw again and slip a little, but it is a long way to May 2025. Tottenham need a win v ManU tonight, but they are a bit flat in 2024/5. I am not hearing the song from Robbie Williams being sung too often this season. Liverpool on top again! How about Chelsea's Cole Palmer? Four goals himself in the first half v Brighton. First player to score four goals in one half of the EPL! He is a product of the Man City junior system (of course).

7. President's Cup Golf. The USA lead 11-7 over the International team in the President’s Cup. The first International win since 1998 seems a long way off despite the second day heroics. Adam Scott scored a record number of points and the first two days were reverse clean sweeps! Very unique. In the end it seems that class wins again. A much better showing however.  

8. The Wallabies. They are hard to like and harder to know. They therefore feel like they are not a team we all love. Last in the Rugby Championships under new coach Joe Schmidt. Honestly, choose a team and stick at it. The backs are in slow motion and like the Swans, not enough guys prepared to put their bodies on the line! 

9. International ODI Cricket - Australia v England. Locked at 2-2… the decider tonight! Starc copping a bit of tap early, but Aaron Hardie has stepped up. The injury to Cameron Green sadly does not seem to have had much impact. Hardie and Beau Webster are ready and able. The Aussies need to get middle over wickets and turn the screws. The Poms have obliterated us on the chase! Hopefully we can turn this around.

10. Doping - Tennis. Janik Sinner's drug doping case is back on. There seems a need for some sort of penalty. A massage gone wrong? Please. Makes the excessive sex stories, the cocaine kissers, the contaminated meat stories, the three hundred cups of coffee stories, the toothpaste baitings and the pill from mum (Warnie) or in the bottom of the bag (Sam Riley-Scott Volkers) seem a little more authentic! Even Dean Capobianca looks innocent sometimes! Werner Reiterer was one of the earliest offenders.

The Wrap - Shake Down the Thunder

1. The Opening Phase of Big Games. Getting a strong start in finals games matters. Incredible how the start becomes the critical and pivotal part of semi final success, regardless of the sport. The Wallabies give up 21-0. The Sharks get a flyer. The Roosters were super aggressive early and set the tone. Hard to come back in a finals game - which makes the Brisbane Lions efforts quite amazing! The Swans have lost three GFs with poor starts in Grand Finals!

2. NRL - Sharks. Nicho Hynes bounced back and the Sharks' finals misery was eased. Their stretch of finals' losses ends, but the Panthers await. Is there a weakness in the Panthers outside back defence? It must be said that Paul Alamoti, a signing from the Bulldogs, has been terrific in defence, but is a little inexperienced. There is a little flicker of hope there for Katoa, Mulitalo, Ramien, Trindall and Talakai.

Not sure they can beat the Panthers, but a good finish in the end for them at any rate. The year long inconsistency of the Cowboys became telling in their final game. Holmes will be a great Dragons signing. he looked better than most literally playing on one leg.... with a leg in the air!

3. Manly v Roosters. How important are the enforcers in big games? JWH, Radley come back and add so much. They had a horrific start last game, but not against Manly.

The Roosters are a better chance of knocking over the Storm. A shame Sam Walker is not playing. That would make it very interesting! At any rate, it will be an enthralling contest. Why do the Storm get two home finals? This is a joke and a massive leg up. Time for this to return to a common playing field for all.

4. AFL - Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide. The Swans were 'on'. Great use of the field and absolute experts at the SCG. The MCG is going to be a big challenge for them. Are they tough enough? (Do they need more blokes with tats and fierce haircuts?). Their marking across the park was a vast improvement.

Some mental toughness is needed now. It is time for Sydney to step up and make a difference. In the 2014-2016-2022 GFs they were rubbed out in the first half of each game. Surely they have learned a lesson here.

Callum Mills? Injured? Karma is a troubling thing for some... for a player who hurt his shoulder horse arsing around at Mad Monday and disadvantaged his team all year, this could be his annus horribilis.

5. AFL - Geelong v Brisbane. Brisbane's defence and turnovers cost them big time early on. They lacked intensity at key times, but came home hard. Cam Rayner was immense. Geelong faded in phases of games all year and it has cost them at the worst time. They seem to be a superstar team, but need a recalibration, which will come through retirements of Hawkins and Tuohy.

Lachie Neale is so good. Tough, clever and a deft touch under pressure. A definite for the Brownlow.

Brisbane lost last year's GF to Collingwood (2023). Sydney lost to Geelong the year before that (2022). Both are ready to rumble now. Set to be a cracker! An out of town Grand Final is an intrigue in Melbourne, but they love their sport and are not fussy!

6. Wallabies. 23 years of Bledisloe gloom continues, but they did not embarrass themselves thankfully. The 0-21 start made us all think this would occur, but they recovered this well. 68,000 in the crowd was the most extraordinary thing too...day time international rugby is popular! 

Even more popular for Argentina who beat the Springboks!

Joe Schmidt is proud of everyone, admired the effort, loved the passion, appreciated the commitment, saw pride in the jumper...but sadly lost. We have so much to learn. Stopping this outrageous mixing and matching of key combinations with huge squads is the first thing. Trim the squad to 20 blokes and stick at it!

James Slipper. Most capped Wallaby ever? Hard to believe, but good on him. Hooper deserved this honour.

7. F1 - Singapore GP. Oscar Piastri's win last week gets him up the rank order. Incredible effort really. McLaren dominating.

8. Travis Head. What an incredible player he has become. He wins games single handedly for us now. he has won 7 man of the Match awards in test cricket at an incredible rate (out of 49 tests). He is an absolute match winner.

The overnight ODI effort from the Australian team was outstanding. Interested to see Hardie lead the way and Green on the bench. Star and Hazelwood returned...too good! Not sure how much longer Maxwell has left, but nice to see Alex Carey making a difference there. How shoddy does Steve Smith look sometimes of late? Hopefully he can do a Joe Root and rack up a few more test tons this summer.

9. EPL. Tottenham win, but the Man City v Arsenal clash tonight will be the one! Chelsea in good form too. Liverpool and Aston Villa join Man City on top. Everton get a point and all teams are off a duck egg.

Interesting to see Sunderland coming second in the English Championship! The Netflix series "Sunderland Till I Die" may become a best seller soon if they get promoted to the EPL! Early days of course...they have a special knack of pulling themselves into the fire!

10. Horse Racing. Fangirl won running away on Saturday. The form of Autumn Glow was impressive. Liked McHale's win... big price too. Buckaroo had the Waller stable excited at Caulfield with its win... Liked Jimmystar too.

The Wrap - Call Off The Fight

1. NRL - Panthers. How good is Nathan Cleary? His ability to slot into that team post injury as if he has never left is incredible. He creates such doubt by running to the line with an amazing short and long kicking game and a passing game the equivalent of the best ever players. He is an immortal in waiting surely. Three comps and still very young. He transforms the game when he plays.

Ashley Klein is an interesting ref...loves a close game and a controversial call! The Roosters were unlucky, but they were also outclassed. 

Panthers play the winner of Sharks v Cowboys. They will surely go through to the Grand Final. This will be their FIFTH successive Grand Final! Hard to know when that might ever be beaten again.

The work of Ponga on Saturday night was incredible. A tough man to tackle, especially with his footwork and speed. A really bad decision to pass right when the left was completely open. The heat at this time of the year in Cowboys land is hard for visiting teams to beat - especially in the second half Tom Dearden has become a super force in the NRL. A massive transformation after being cut by the Broncos going back.

The Sharks need a bigger home ground. They talk about their new financial prosperity, but they need a ground that suits a modern football team. That may arrest the seven successive final losses. They give up such an advantage by not having this.

2. NRL - Storm. How awesome are the Storm? They just win and win and win... They do it with new personnel and have such strong patterns, recruitment practices and styles of players that deliver in an amazing culture. A home final every year too helps.

The funny thing is that this team is possibly not one of their stronger groups in recent years. Yet they crushed the Sharks who looked completely over awed at times. Nicho Hynes is a problem unfortunately...like Matt Moylan was as well. Not quick enough. He needs some experienced halfback coaching around him. Cooper Cronk?

The Storm play the winner of the Roosters v Manly. They surely progress as well. 

The Josh Addo-Carr behaviour at this time of the year (any time?) was so disruptive for his team. Not what the Bulldogs needed. However, it may be bad news for Addo-Carr. They played really well without him! Maybe they don't need him at all. Can anyone work out his cocaine story? Surely it can't be that complicated!

Young Hopoate is tough. Small and targeted big time, but saved a try and took the bomb just before half time for a slashing try. 

The commentators make out that we all supposed to be grateful that Manly supporters make their way to watch a finals game at Homebush. Sounds like Burke and Wills when it is a few kilometres really.

3. AFL - Finals. The Port Adelaide v Hawthorn final was a cracker. Hawthorn have over achieved in 2024 but they had their chances late. The Ken Hinkley blow up at young Ginnivan was great theatre. Ginnivan needs to be a better team mate sometimes and not put pressure on his side with silly social antics and social media commentary. Ken needs to grow up, even at the age of 58. There are many looking to have him fired and he keeps rallying, but this makes him look stupid. The Swans will find Port tough to toss next Friday night.

The GWS v Brisbane final (with the chance to play Geelong for a GF position). Toby Greene was strong, but Jesse Hogan was incredibly wasteful (scored a few but missed a few uncharacteristically easy ones as well). GWS seemed so much more switched on in defence early, but a familiar story then unfolded. 

Applying pressure across all four quarters is the test of all AFL teams if you want to win finals. GWS fade late too easily...they need to invest in a stronger pre-season of fitness or perish. The ghosts of the Swans game hit them hard. They needed stronger leadership in clutch times. What a terrible two losses for GWS in successive weeks. Devastating. This kills off teams. The crowd was worse. They have an identity problem. Homebush is not true western Sydney and they don't publicise the game.

4. Socceroos or Wallabies. Who are our worst international team at present? It would be tough to distinguish which one. There was a time we used to beat Indonesia by eight goals... and Argentina in rugby got beaten by 60 - not us! NZ will be an embarrassment if something magical doesn't happen. 

5. EPL. Tottenham v Arsenal will be a huge game for Ange Postocoglou tonight (they are all huge,. but this may be more huge than most!). Thank goodness the international week is over. It is a bit tiresome to be honest. The club football is so much more entertaining and exciting. Man City continue to dominate. Haaland scored another double, hit the woodwork and missed close calls twice and could have had five! Nine goals after four matches is extraordinary. Liverpool's first loss was bad, but Brighton stay undefeated.

6. Davis Cup Tennis. The whole concept has been ruined, but it appears we have done well. If you can understand it. Our doubles success in recent times is continuing to pay dividends in this form of the game. How the tennis authorities ever gave in to the almighty dollar around Davis Cup tennis is staggering, trading off their tradition for a private entrepreneur's great idea! Hard to believe.

7. T20 - England v Australia. No one really cares of course, but... Matthew Short took five wickets and scored runs which surely puts him in our best team. Head is possibly the most damaging T20 bat in world cricket at present. Fraser-McGurk hits a 50, but have we got a strong enough middle? The second game should have been iced, but David and others in the middle order need to dominate. Not sure why we are there playing this series, but someone does! Our bowling stocks are thin but Sean Abbott is doing fine business there.

The Wrap - Toothless Tigers Can't Change Their Stripes

1. AFL - Swans. Great game and finish. Braedon Campbell played his best since he ran out for Westbrook at Cherrybrook 10 years ago. A greater level of intensity was evident in the fourth quarter. They need a little more confidence and dare I say it...arrogance early. Some of the defensive efforts were terrible early on. Blokes running into each other...like a fear factor in the culture. A home preliminary final now v the winner of Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. GWS must be shattered now. They really were the better team and will find it hard to come back.

It is one of the first close wins they have had this year.

Incredible how the Swans actually warmly acknowledge the fans and head to the seats at the end of the game. They are a team easy to like and very popular. A lesson to a few other teams out there from all codes. They know what it means for the fans and their leadership insist they know why they play the game. 

Incredible how some players on $500K a year dish up very ordinary displays. This is unacceptable to fans and clubs.

Geelong smashed Port and Brisbane absolutely obliterated Carlton. The GF winners look to be  Geelong on the weekend's performances. Brisbane play GWS. GWS still have some life left.

2. The Wests Tigers. In the end they were just awful in the Spoon Bowl. Giving up 60 points is horrible. A full house and a need to win, yet totally unable to do it. Incredible. Three successive wooden spoons. The Jets, Newcastle, Gold Coast Seagulls, the Eels (6) and Sydney University have also achieved three spoons in a row since 1908. They should have to front up at the Dally M Awards and at the GF Pre Game to collect it. Wage deductions too.

I can't see them doing much better in 2025. Their recruitment of Luai is excellent, but who else? A lot of players to offload.

A really bad season for Souths too who came second last on for and against. Parramatta were third last in the end, surprising many, including themselves. The Dragons and Broncos fell in a heap at the end. So bad.

The Panthers look dusted in 2024 unless they sharpen up their line speed. The loss of Cleary is huge for them, but they made plenty of mistakes too. The Bulldogs were abysmal. A massive turnaround from recent successes. Manly not much better, but the Sharks looked impressive. 

The semi final match ups:

• Melbourne v Cronulla
• Penrith v Roosters
• Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
• Cowboys v Knights

3. Scotland v Australia T20s. Hard to believe we are playing over there, but interesting foggy conditions.  Not many would have played in such conditions. It will be interesting how we go against England. Head and Inglis have starred with the bat. Green too.

4. EPL. Ange Postocoglou is under pressure suddenly. That team looks like it has no cohesion or flow. At the same time Man City are totally dominant. A lay week this week for Internationals... how bad was the Socceroo loss to that powerhouse, Bahrain?

5. The America's Cup. Strange name still, but no Australian crew contesting it all in Barcelona. NZ doing well, but sailing on AC75s is hardly Denis Connoresque - more like Ben Lexcen on steroids. I must say, a return to the traditional hulls and spinnakers is more appealing. The technology however is extraordinary.

6. US Open Tennis. Jessica Pegula is a successful woman. She is also incredibly talented, playing Aryna Sabalenka who crushed her spirits and game in a tight result. Jannick Sinner is in the final tomorrow against Taylor Fritz (the first US man in the final for many years), but his accidental positive drug test earlier this year is casting a cloud over his work. The world wide excuses for drugs infringements are pretty inventive.

Alex de Minaur seems unable to crack it higher than a quarter final. It was a little bit of a capitulation to be honest.

Great win though in the US Open Finals doubles...Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell. We have had rich doubles success in the men's for a while now. John Peers and Matt Ebden only won the Olympics a fortnight ago as well.

7. England v Sri Lanka Test Cricket. England just continue to dominate, although Root's run of tons has been ended. The Sri Lankan bowling is pretty ordinary. Mark Wood is injured again with an elbow injury. Jofra Archer is another one on the recovery. Fast bowlers with elbow injuries are a real risk long term. Tommy John surgery is the only answer.

Intriguing to see Olly Pope as the England captain while Stokes is out. He was struggling to make the team a year ago. He hit a nice ton on the weekend.

8. Wallabies. It is sad how awful they have become. Leading and turning up their heels to let in 60 points meant this was the worst result ever for a Wallaby team. Not a great tag.

One point of possible improvement? Pick 20 players (not 40) and keep and develop combinations. Changing the team every Test was an Eddie Jones tactic. We know where that led. The new coach Schmidt is under immense pressure now. Hopefully the All Blacks don't wipe us off the park and we can bounce back...even a little.

The Wrap - Terrible Smugglers

1. NRL - St George. Terrible. Even the collapsing Parramatta team who leaked 30 points in a half hold on when Saints needed a win for the semi finals. So bad after a good year. As for Parramatta...how can their defence be so poor? Completely unfit and they have done nothing about improving it. Saints have come home in a hearse. 44-40. Young Blaize needs complete surgery on his defence to be the great signing he and his family and his manager think he is. Good luck to him however.

Parramatta need to sign some mobile, smaller guys with quick feet...Wishart (Storm) and Plath (Dolphins) are two such guys. The Connor Watson/ Brenton Nikora style player is so valuable. Big boppers can only do so much. The Spoon Bowl awaits! Trent Barrett is a relaxed fellow... perhaps too relaxed. When you can't hold on when 30 ahead, there is a severe attitude problem. The Tigers look to be improving.

Seeing Clint Gutherson appear at the post match interview in his budgie smugglers and answer questions in a smug way, tells us that as the club captain, he may be lacking in leadership too. It said a lot about their season. Is Moses back for the final 'spoon' game - or just ready for the Kangaroos?

NRL - Broncos. What a poor effort when the semi finals were on the line. They lack spirit after a Grand Final last year. Kevvie looks out of sorts. 

The eight looks much clearer now... Manly produced under pressure. Broncos gone and really it is Dolphins v Knights for eighth spot.

NRL - Sharks. How do you lose that one to the Warriors? They had so much riding on the result. A win was almost a definite top four finish. How good was Shaun Johnson v the Sharks. Suddenly teams are being exposed under pressure.

NRL - Roosters. What an horrific afternoon of injuries - Walker, Smith and Radley...This tests a team and their character. The Raiders have shown a lot over the last month, but what a terrible mid season effort. Too inconsistent.

2. AFL. Is it wise to have a whole week off for everyone? Some bad trade moves too (Petracca could not be let go from the Demons...and Bailey Smith owes the Bulldogs big time. I wonder whether he will be available if they go deep into the finals?). We love the AFLW, but it seems to lack a little at this early stage and then it will be cast aside for a month too.

3. Test Cricket. Joe Root loves a mediocre attack, but as an expert batsman, he cashes in regularly. He has picked up two tons at Lords in this current Test v Sri Lanka, adding to one in the last test. He now has as the most tons for an Englishman and more Test tons than the previous leader, Alistair Cook (34 at 50.93). Incredible record, despite having had some lower moments, mostly against tough attacks like Australia. 

Apart from most Test centuries for England, Root becomes England's highest ever run scorer, most Test runs in England, most runs and centuries at Lords - and first Englishman to take 200 catches. Handy.

4. EPL. Liverpool v ManU is always special, but the Tottenham v Newcastle game is a telling one for Ange. Man City power on and are like St George NRL in the 1960s! Haaland scored his second hat trick this season. He now has seven goals in three games - a record and as many Premier League hattricks as some of the game's greatest ever players. He is one of the greatest ever.

5. US Open Tennis. Alexi Popryin beats Djokovic. Unheard of in recent years. Maybe when the Poo beat Sampras one Australian Open night rivals the upset. Won the Montreal Masters last week and was seeded, so not ridiculous. 14 double faults for Djokovic is a worry. The crowd loves to boo Novak. An unexpected early exit for the Olympic champion. No Djokovic, Nadal or Federer left in a Grand Slam since 2002!

Jordan Thompson is doing well too. Alex de Minaur has now made all four Rounds of 16 in all four Grand Slams this season... a rare Australian feat. One of these two make the quarter finals from here.

Not sure how Sinner is there after a drugs testing controversy. He should have stood down for a time, but hasn't. He is a whippet, but even still.

6. PGA Tour Championship. An awesome concept with a staggered scoring start. Shades of LIV! Adam Scott at 44 years of age is playing some great golf. A 66-67-68 start is handy. Tied fifth after two rounds in a $100M tournament puts you on good terms with your bank manager. 

Scottie Scheffler though is a mile in front after a staggered start (10 in front, up front...now 26 under!). He is a gun and will net multiple millions...following his recent Olympic gold medal. He can't afford to have a free shot, let alone 10! He looks like winning his seventh PGA title for the year. Tiger at his peak won nine in a year. Byron Nelson holds the yearly record at 18 wins in a year. 

7. Gout Gout. A memorable name and some memorable sprinting performances as a sixteen year old flyer. His efforts in the U/18 World Athletics titles are very promising. We get very excited about sprinting prospects in Australia. Our last appearance in an Olympics 100m sprinting final was in 1956 - Hector Hogan. There is something in the athlete's name perhaps that makes them great.

8. Wallabies. Once upon a time we never cheered when we beat Argentina. However, these days it is like winning the Bledisloe Cup. Great to see Laurie Fisher in the coaching staff for Australia. He has one of the best Australian domestic rugby coaching records. The Springboks beat the All Blacks in a boil over too. Rough times for Scott 'Raygun' Robertson's break dancing career.

9. FI - Oscar Piastri. A Melbourne lad doing well for McLaren... starting on the front row of the grid and is half a chance at the Italian Grand Prix tonight. Riccardo is starting twelfth.

The Wrap - Aint No Second Prize

1. Melbourne Storm. Six minor premierships in 14 years. Incredible. What a club and success story from its early years. I vividly remember sneaking into the post match with about 20 other blokes to be part of their early culture build post game.

Superb recruitment and development. Craig Bellamy is surely the best ever coach...but has not done it at Origin level, like Wayne Bennett. They keep powering on and players are queuing up to stay there for less money. A luxury problem.

Fascinating penalty against the Dolphins' Bostock throwing the ball away and wasting time. About time. Hand the ball over or lose metres. 

What a dreadful loss by Manly v the Tigers! Honestly, that was their worst effort (and refereeing) for a long while - and at the worst possible time. They were semi final definites with a win. Business time now at the top of the table. 

2. NRL Premiership. St George have had a great year under Shane Flanagan. Saints have a dreadful for and against however and the Broncos loom large. St George's effort v the Sharks was ordinary. Parramatta might be a chance to finish them next week. Sloan is a super talent, but he makes some big errors at clutch times. 

The Spoon Bowl' - Eels v Tigers. Tigers should win comfortably. Parramatta are truly appalling. They should have beat Penrith leaking late points, they get a 16-0 lead v the Broncos. They are seasoned losers sadly. They have lost SEVEN games by eight points or less in 2024. That is attitude.

That whole roster needs refreshing with a bit of pace in it. Penesini has gone backwards, Russell awful and they lack imagination. I am not sure what they do about Dylan Brown as well. He lacks size and seems to have dropped off his pace as well. The whole club cannot crash down when Moses is out. They have injuries, but who doesn't?

Trent Barrett also sadly is consigned to the same NRL coaching dustbin that Paul Langmack, Peter Sharp, Ivan Henjak, Ken Shine, Anthony Griffin, Matthew Elliott and a few others inhabit. Why the Broncos want him is hard to fathom on his past form...although he was at Penrith for a time too. Nice bloke who you would enjoy having as a neighbour. NRL coach?...mmmmm.

3. AFL. An 'early' end of sorts to their comp, but Swans are minor premiers. They still look shaky at times, brilliant at others. Bringing back a few from the injured list (esp. Papley) will be immense for them. Richmond get the spoon and they need an overhaul. Not sure we have seen the end of Dustin Martin. 

North Melbourne were appalling on the weekend. Not a lot of growth there under Clarkson. Hawthorn have been the big improvers this year. St Kilda do Freo the world's biggest favour and they fall over... don't deserve to make the semi finals on that. Carlton could be damaging. The Western Bulldogs will be the surprise packet. Caleb Daniel makes a big difference to their play. Finally he is back and regular.

4. Test Cricket. England are chalking up the Test cricket series wins at present...v West Indies and now 1-0 up v Sri Lanka. They lost to India, drew with Australia, drew with India before the current run. Some world championship insurance here now. Root cashing in with Stokes injured. Their new keeper Jamie Smith looks promising (especially with the bat).

5. BMW Championship Golf. Adam Scott absolutely blitzed them in the second round with a 63 (then fell away to trail by one shot). Pretty impressive for an ageing warrior who famously won the 2013 US Masters, but who has not won on the tour since 2020. Bradley and Ludvig stand in front of him for the win! Can he do it?

6. EPL. Manchester City are immense. Erling Haaland is one of the legends. Another hattrick overnight. He will lead Man City to yet another title. The coach Pep Guardolia is something else too. ManU are stuttering already. 

Man City? Winners in 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 winners. SIX titles in seven seasons (Liverpool under Klopp won in 2019-20 and Man City came second). Incredible.

7. F1 - Piastri. Looking for a podium finish in the Dutch GP. He sits fourth with one win and four podiums for McLaren. He could leap into second spot with a top finish. Pretty impressive. Meanwhile Daniel Riccardo is struggling away... car issues, management issues, contract issues... 

The Wrap - Hall of Spoons

1. NRL. Cronulla always seem to get out of jail at Shark Park. A great effort. Knights, Raiders, Dolphins and Broncos all look done now. Saints may sneak in! The Bulldogs have excelled. They are really nailing their defence and are potent in attack too. Speed to burn. It wins comps. The Cleary injury was unfortunate, but how good is that team. Reinventing every year as personnel changes.

2. NRL Wooden Spoons. Unfortunately, Parramatta deserve this again. Their efforts in defence are hideous and the Tigers look to make a greater effort more consistently. Parramatta turn it up when it is all a bit hard.

• The run home: Parramatta v Broncos, Dragons, Tigers.
• The run home: Tigers v Manly, Bye, Parramatta.

Parra are looking to add to their 14 Wooden Spoons. The Tigers have (18 - Wests Magpies; 4 - Balmain; 2 - Wests Tigers).

The recipients should be made to collect a giant wooden spoon at the NRL Grand Final.

2. NRL Hall of Fame. It is a crowded hall. The Les Boyd inclusion is curious...not a premiership win, not a World Cup win, not a Dally M Medal - not even a National Panasonic Cup title. He was on the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and then was MOTM in the Super League Final in 1985-86. That's it. Won a few spoons and moved to Manly and didn't win a comp there. Brohman does need to get over it 40 years on, but Les as tough as he was, does not seem to fit the bill of most others in that hall. Anyhow, he doesn't choose himself.

3. EPL. Underway again after the shortest ever off season. The intensity of this competition is the rival of the world - in all sports. Every week a massive event in multiple towns. Incredible.

4. AFL. The Swans have scrapped and scraped and strung two wins back to back to take the minor premiership. Carlton and Collingwood on a knife edge to make the eight. A misery of a year for Gold Coast and the other regular losers, Essendon, St Kilda, Adelaide... Melbourne were not great in 2023 either. Their premiership window closes.

5. Black Caviar. Just on 18 Years old, 9 foals and now gone. Despite the foals, the likes of Black Caviar will never be seen again. 25 starts - 25 wins. Awesome! The owners have done well there.

6. Rugby Union. The Wallabies are still a mile off the pace. Sad, but true. It is amazing how much a country can slip so significantly. Eddie Jones has a fair bit to answer for...as has his predecessors!

7. Sports - Social Media. Incredible how addicted sports stars are to social media...Olympians the lot. If you are not on it, you don't read the sewer that is social media. Stay away and live a happy life. The sadness of the Latrell Mitchell case is like so many others before him, their "friends" are not really friends at all. If Souths cut him there would be ten clubs wanting him tomorrow.

The Wrap - Olympic Tug of War

1. Olympics. So many excellent athletes and what a result from Australia? 50+ medals makes us the world powerhouse for the number of medals v the number of athletes/ population we have. Per capita it is quite incredible. Especially when we can beat the host nation in different events too. Host nations invest heavily in their athletes and often shine brightly.

By the way we were pipped by the Japanese today and missed out on an overall podium finish (a familiar tale in recent days!).

Kaylee McKeown is a deserved flag bearer choice. Matt Wearn has done well too with two gold medals back to back, so a great tribute to both.

The Australian women water polo team - 'The Stingers' (great name), really excelled. However, our basketballers always seem to struggle on that stage. The Opals snagged a late bronze which is a great effort...the men? Like so many events...a disappointment.

Jess Hull in the 1500m was a superb highlight this weekend. Coming into the event, she was in awesome form (fastest 2000m time ever by a woman!), but to win a silver medal in an Olympics 1500m is some sort of effort. What about the Kenyan winner... Faith Kipyegon. Unbeaten since 2021 in the 1500m and now three gold in three successive Olympics - like Usain Bolt. No doubt our exposure to the US college system and their training and focus is making a huge impact.

The Men's 100m? Trash talking Olympians are in the lowest category. They should be banned. It is the one time you like to see friendship on the podium. Hull exemplified that Olympic spirit.

2. AFL. How close are some of the games these days? The effort after the siren by Mac Andrew (Gold Coast)  v Essendon was exceptional for a one point win. West Coast won by five against North Melbourne. The Swans beat Collingwood by a handful... The Swans lack a bit of height in key positions and rigour in defence. Lots of small quick runners now when speed was an issue...now it is height.

An awful loss by the Western Bulldogs v Adelaide. After such a great run...misery when success mattered most.

3. Ricky Stuart. Ricky has unloaded as he usually does after a loss. Refs are confusing players, now apparently resulting in 40 point losses. They are terrible. The refs should front press conferences and tell us how ill disciplined some teams and their coaching styles are as well.

4. NRL. The Bulldogs have really improved. Interesting seeing the same defensive structures as Penrith. This Ciraldo can coach! He is very composed and sensible. NO excuses either. The Parramatta capitulation was something else. They simply cannot defend their own line... Panthers or no Panthers. An abysmal season where their whole roster looks like being upended, including Mitchell Moses. Save us from another media saga there please!

5. Rugby. Springboks demolish the Wallabies. We are still a mile behind, despite beating Georgia (eventually) and the lowly current Wales team. Argentina beating the All Blacks 38-30 was a shock however. They are really improving as a nation and would topple Australia for fun. A good weekend for no breakdancing by the coach.

6. Breakdancing. I would back the All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson to win something, even the argument over whether it should be an Olympic sport. I remember seeing the press conference before they left, thinking they were very different breakdancing moves to those seen on the New York subway. The performances there are a bit strange, but rock climbing as an Olympic sport is too. 

The inclusion of a number of Olympic sports gets the head shaking. BMX racing and Taekwondo raised eyebrows. Clever and all, but hard to get excited about. Do we really need golf and tennis there? Ten pin bowling has missed out for years. Darts could be ready to make a claim?

Perhaps it's time to bring back 'Tug of War', which was an Olympic event many years ago. Plenty of the viewers could relate to the rope burn from an old athletics carnival or two on dud surfaces with incorrect footwear and some massive kid coming into his or her own as the anchor (after folding in the mandatory 100m race!).

Totem Tennis should be considered as well. Also 'British Bulldog' and 'Run Across'... Then look closely at french cricket, elastics, marbles, hand ball, matchbox footy, footy card flicks and "forcings back" with the footy.

Nice to read of the 'League Olympics' destined to make a comeback soon on Grand Final Day.