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!