The Wrap - Ripper Cynical Disruptors

1. NRL. The teams losing by fifty with the season not half done is a worry to the fans (Parra, Saints, Rabbits - all gone. Canberra woeful tonight). Brad Arthur is surely gone. Surprised to hear him saying in the media that he wanted to keep his job, so he dropped players! That sounds like he has been tapped on the shoulder. Surely Wayne Bennet comes in there. Demetriou is almost done too. The Gold Coast are doing much better, but the Warriors are struggling too. 

Cronulla have just been awarded the April premiership. Congratulations.

How talented is Reece Walsh? We all thought Slater was good, but this bloke has more speed and is simply outstanding. That talent wins comps.

2. NRL.  When they consider yet another rule change, the run back from a kick off is surely less dramatic than the treatment a fullback gets when he is waiting for a bomb and then gets smashed a millisecond later. The rule needs to be contest it or stay five metres away.

3. AFL. Speaking of April Premiers, Geelong are sometimes similar. Lots of flare and skill, but they need to pace themselves to get the end prize. The GWS v Swans game next weekend looms as a cracker. Both have made a cracking start to the year. (6/7) The Swans may yet rue the loss to Richmond earlier in the year. The Suns are shining a bit more brightly this season and remain on the cusp of the eight.

4. LIV Golf. The fans have spoken again. Adelaide do it better than most. The watering hole... great euphemism for lots of cynical disruptors! Ripper GC...top name. Top quality golf. 

5. IPL. Tim David looks solid. Fraser-McGurk is blistering. Amazing three fifties to start his IPL career (247 runs @49.40, striking at 237.50 - third best). Travis Head amazing too (325 runs). Maxwell and Warner have seen better days and have reached the end of their careers sadly. The IPL is brutal - especially for bowlers. 

Dizzy Gillespie...a class bowler, but could not win a game for South Australia. Now he is heading off as the red ball coach of Pakistan. How might this end?

6. EPL. Man City loom as a definite winner. Liverpool and Arsenal have a few draws in them at this time of the season. Too many. Man City will dismantle other teams for the win. Sheffield United are the first team gone. Everton keep kicking and look almost safe now. They cannot nail that club, taking points off them, the lot! Leicester City are back up into the "top flight" too. 

Tottenham are in need of wins, but face some of the leading teams in the coming days and weeks.

7. NBA Finals. Josh Giddey is doing good business for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The finals are hotting up. Patty Mills is still nailing three pointers for Miami, but the Celtics look strong. The Conference Semi Finals loom, but best of seven games make for some long viewing!

8. Waratahs Win! The women's team win the comp v the Drua at the great Ballymore Oval! The men are still running... The Brumbies are still excelling!

9. Nadal. Gets beaten last week by the Demon, but absolutely pole axed him this weekend. Rafa is one of the greatest ever. 

The Wrap - Home Game Genius

 1. NRL. Are home and away outcomes becoming more predictable? The Cowboys, Warriors and Eels when playing away are almost definite losers. Storm, Sharks, Broncos and Panthers at home... winners.

2. NRL. Some big losses on the weekend for Newcastle, Canberra, Cowboys, Warriors and Eels. As injuries and the comp hits week 7, depth and attitude is tested. All of these clubs are fringe top eight teams and are playing like it. One won, one loss typically. The loss from Parramatta was one of the worst losses on record by any team. Up at half time, they then let in try after try, eight in all! Incredibly poor attitude. The bells will be ringing for the end of Brad Arthur's reign once again. When a coach blames the players, things are not great in the camp. St George and the Bulldogs impressive and the Broncos look like April Premiers. Ricky lost, but was not blaming anyone. Interesting.

Penrith losing James Fisher Harris to the Warriors this week was outrageously unlucky. Poor Matt Cameron is having his work upended weekly at present. It will be one of the greatest achievements ever for the Panthers to win in 2024. A four-peat...not forgetting that in 2020 they were beaten by the Storm 26-20 (L, W, W, W). That is four successive Grand Finals already (like Parra 1981-1984...gap and 1986 - W, W, W, L, NIL,W).

3. AFL. Swans bounce back and Carlton far too good for GWS. Great to see a little resurgence from the West Coast Eagles. Two wins in a row...it has been a long time since they could say that!

4. IPL. Travis Head is now the second highest run scorer in the IPL for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (Pat Cummins' team). He hit a ton earlier this week. He absolutely smashed them for 89 off 32 balls (11 x 4s and 6 x 6s). He and his partner had 125 runs off 6 overs! Then Jake Fraser-McGurk steps up for the Delhi Capitals with the fastest fifty of the tournament...hitting 56 off an incredible 18 balls (5 x 4s and 7 x 6s!). He also has the third highest strike rate (Head is fifth highest). Warner is getting worse this tournament and needs to strike back!

5. Michael Slater. I suspect Slater may be in the clink soon - for his own good. He needs a forced ban from women and from the alcohol. Very sad demise from a bloke who had it all for a long time. He needs to get well and leave others alone. His life is spiralling and this always brings fears for all.

6. Chinese Swimmers. What a disgrace this is sadly. A complete farce they are allowed to participate in the Paris Olympics. At least there will be alternative competitors for the drug rampage games. Sun Yang started the rot.

7. Australian Women Swimmers. They are incredible - the McKeown sisters, MOlly O' Callaghan, Ariana Titmus...the whole crew. They will clean up once again. A little quite on the male swimmer side of the coin however.

8. The Masters. Incredible four shot win by the emerging great Scottie Scheffler. Two green jackets now for him. Cameron Smith will be ruing this one as he tied for sixth. He could have done so much better with a hotter putter in hand.

9. JMac. Just bet on him every race, One of the greats. He has 76 Group 1 wins v the final tally of Damien Lane (125). He has won 13 in the 2023-2024 season.

10. EPL. Tottenham in action early this week, but still fifth. The relegation is narrowing off now... Everton (27) and Nottingham (26) are in an arm wrestle with Luton (25) and Burnley (23). Sheffield United (16) are gone!

The Wrap - Cam Stars

1. Masters Golf. How good is the Masters? For all the critics and the LIV-PGA nonsense, it is the pinnacle. So open going in to the last round with so many players in contention. Such a challenging course, anyone can slip up at any time. Physically, Tiger looks extraordinarily strong given his car accident. He looks muscular and fit, but has struggled late. Making the record for the number of cuts made too is amazing. Rose, Garcia, Hovland and Speith all MTC...a cruel game.

Can one of the two Cams (Smith or Davis) do it? Davis came 46th in 2022 in his only appearance. A smart finish and he keeps on returning! Cam Smith has four top ten finishes in his last six Masters starts and was within an ace on a number of holes of scoring a much better round three result.
 
2. EPL. Tottenham 4-0 losers at Newcastle was a crushing loss, anchoring them in fifth spot. Ange making comments this week that Champions League (top four finish) was not important to him or his team was strange. The team played like that was gospel. Man City…5-1 win v Luton. Erling Haaland now leads the EPL with 20 goals. Incredible after a lengthy injury this season too. Man City go top and are about to win yet again!

Since 2017-2018 season, Man City have won six titles out of a possible seven, coming second to Liverpool in 2019-2020. Incredible under Pep Guardiola.
 
3. NRL. Parra a strong win v Nth Queensland (how vulnerable are they when 10-12 points ahead… they finish poorly most weeks and you wonder how fit they really are...lots of big boppers, but not real mobile under pressure). Asi settled the team nicely and his left boot helps. The young five eight had to go, as mentioned last week. Interestingly, the heat ratcheted up a notch on Brad Arthur this week.

Nice to see Ray Price crack it for a smile at the reunion day. Andrew Johns is still zero personality on that Sunday football show and needs to smile a bit and relax.

St George look good, but then look bad...then good. Lomax is in excellent form and will be highly valued out wide for Parramatta who have needed a tough robust centre (who kicks goals too) for many seasons. Talk of the Dragons signing Turuva from Penrith seems like a fair replacement.

Amazing 22-22 draw between Manly and Warriors. Narrow wins to Roosters v Newcastle and the ability of the Storm to win tight games is staggering. They are on top of the comp yet again with the Sharks (who it must say have not hit their straps. They miss Moylan in attack, but not defence).

The Titans were cruelly denied, but a much better effort. Canberra's GIO Stadium is a real fortress. Interested to see Ricky Stuart sharing a lot of half back love for Jamal Fogarty this past week...who then ices the game! Belief. Painful for the Titans who cut him a few years back!
 
4. AFL. GWS. They are the real deal this year and are sitting pretty at the top of the comp. A narrow win, but these are what create wining seasons. Some stunningly close results this weekend after so much play and with big scoring values too. One point GWS v St Kilda; two points Adelaide over Carlton and Port three point winners over Fremantle.
 
5. IPL. Glenn Maxwell for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has had three ducks in six innings (32 runs, including one innings of 28!) and his team is going terribly. They have Kohli in their team as well but are coming last! Jake Fraser-McGurk scored more runs in one innings for the Dehli Capitals (50+). 

Cameron Green has won the IPL lottery but now is not playing due to poor form. He has struggled, but is set for life. Stoinis going pretty well, but gets a solid 10-20 most outings for LSG. Cummins doing great things too at the Sunrisers (top 15 bowling averages and economy rates). Wade one innings for four for the Gujarat Titans. Warner struggling for the Dehli Capitals as he continues to play the reverse sweep to fast bowling (however, 166 runs still puts him in the top 15 run scorers so far!). 

Starc, playing for the Kolkota Knight Riders, has two wickets at $3 million each. Hang on, he just got another one right now ($2M each)! Tim David is in excellent form for the Mumbai Indians, striking the ball at an unbelievable rate. he is a rich talent.

In County Cricket, no tons for the Aussies, but Renshaw and Bancroft hit 70-80 each. Nathan Lyon got three wickets. Handscomb a half century. Harris 20 odd. No one Aussie dominating yet.

6. Waratahs. Another win v The Crusaders. A great effort. Two wins against them in a season!

7. NBA. Boston Celtics warming up for a huge finish again. The Nuggets, Timberwolves and Thunder may have something to say about that!

The Wrap - Glass Half Full Fifty Percenter

1. Daly Cherry-Evans. What a great achievement to play the most ever games for Manly (310), beating the great Cliff Lyons (309), but Steve Menzies played for the Northern Beagles as well (280 games for Manly and 69 for the Beagles = 349 games... um?), so not just quite there yet. 350 is the mark. That's a few more seasons yet. He is evergreen and rarely if ever injured. Tough and a winner through and through. Interestingly he is only four tries (86) behind Tommy T (90) for the club. Four extra years mind you. One Premiership in 2011, but a tough and uncompromising customer. A great win by Manly v Penrith.

2. NRL. A few real heavy losses this weekend. Souths were appalling for the strength of their roster. They have massive problems and Cody Walker may be one of them. He has slowed down a lot with age - like many of us all! Campbell Graham is a big loss. 

The Tigers plunged back to earth under the weight of exceptional speed from the Dolphins. Speed wins as play the balls are on the increase and fewer stoppages in the game. St George also lost heavily in the wretched conditions v Newcastle. A smart win by the Bulldogs as well. The Storm keep powering on and the Broncos look sharp (with Walsh and Haas yet to return!). 

Penrith got nailed by Manly. Maybe there are signs of a changing of the guard...until Cleary returns. The Cowboys have had a dream draw, so they look glamorous, but the Dolphins and Cowboys will be levelled out soon. Kyle Feldt is now their leading tryscorer of all time, not forgetting he also won a GF for them as well in the corner.

Get the engraver onto the wooden spoons for the Titans. Better v Cowboys, but not up to it.

3. Parramatta - Brad Arthur. Brad Arthur is a fascination. He dines with Zac Lomax mid week but then starts Willemu Greig as prop - not Junior Paulo. He also has no pace in the backline which he has recruited. Sivo looks like he is transporting billiard tables when running the ball back. He is also in a world of pain with his forwards giving away far too many penalties this season. The experiment with the young five eight is not working so well either. His defence is dreadful at key times. Too many shifts in tactics...offloads evaporate at key times too. He seems lost and frustrated. 

50% success rates bring a W-L-W-L start to the season - like many other seasons in recent times.

10 seasons and five where he has made the semi finals. 50%! Glass half full. Unfortunately, the clock is ticking on his reign. Wayne Bennet would be interesting.

3. NRL Safety Issues. A few safety issues arising this weekend. 10 concussions now to James Tedesco. That sounds a lot, even across a long career, and you wonder what damage this causes longer term. The two other rule changes that clearly need to be looked at:

i. The kick off return at speed into the defenders. Huge contact and good for the crowd, but not great for the body of attackers or defenders.

ii. The other one that needs scrutiny is the fullback under the bomb. It is a ridiculous rule that you can take the bomb under no pressure and then be walloped. Two changes: either no contact for the fullback under the bomb and stay five metres away - or seriously contest the bomb. Simple. Maybe fewer silly rules like "cynical disruptors" and more protection for players.

3. AFL. The Swans are starting to stammer and West Coast showed signs that their three year slump may be about to turn. Geelong were fortunate really v Western Bulldogs and Carlton being gifted a dissent penalty for the win v Fremantle was quite incredible. Richmond are an entertainment machine, but St Kilda showed some surprising strength under pressure (for them). GWS are the danger force this year yet Melbourne lead the way at the top of the comp!

4. Waratahs. Another loss to the all conquering ACT Brumbies (our most successful rugby franchise over the past twenty five years). The Super Rugby comp remains wide open, but the Waratahs narrow losses earlier are getting wider. Injuries mounting too. The crowds will be contracting as well.

5. EPL. Aston Villa are holding fourth spot, but are stumbling into draws and loss territory. Ange has a chance to pounce, but there are no easy games anymore in the run home. Desperation of lower teams rises. The promotion from the Championship is sealed... Leicester, Ipswich Town and Leeds are all ready for promotion!

6. IPL. Awesome strike power. Royal Challengers Bangladore, Kohli hits 113 off 72 balls and then gets run down by Jos Buttler who was coming off a string of ducks with 100 off 58 balls for the Rajasthan Royals. Kohli has scored the most IPL runs and most centuries (8). He is incredible. Plenty of stars there...but no one as awesome as the new Indian quick who hits 155kph regularly! - Mayank Yadav.

Cameron Green is doing it tough, but not as tough as Glenn Maxwell. He is close to being dropped.

Olly Davies got his hundred in the second innings for Manly in the Sydney Grade Cricket Final. Some sort of talent. St George won it.

7. Masters Week ahead. Some great golf at the Texas Open this week. Bhatia well in front, but Rory lurking. Rory will be looking for the Grand Slam of golf this week. The Masters seems to be the hardest to win for all. For the last ten years, incredibly there have been seven top ten finishes by Rory. Only twice MTC as well. He needs to build on his four majors (British Open, US Open and 2 x USPGA) soon as he hits his sweet spot of golfing age (mid 30s!).

8. F1. Max Verstappen restores normal order winning the Japanese F1. No good in Melbourne, but back to the top of the driver's championship after three wins and four pole positions in the first four races of the season.

9. Rafa - Tennis. He looks cooked and ready to retire in this year's clay court season ahead of the French Open in May. Sadly injuries have plagued him. He is so committed on the court and that hurts the body longer term.