1. NRL. Well that didn't take long. David Fifita walks away back flipping all the way to his car from the Roosters, adding to this circus of a trade window and dulling his reputation. Des Hasler seems to be a bit of a gun at doing this for players (think Cherry-Evans). There are really not many players available for clubs, so New Zealand rugby surely becomes a target zone.
Amazing how NRL has never really made inroads there... but have in UK league. Beauden Barrett or his brother are surely ready to do something else pre or post World Cup (2027 is a long way away). The Crusaders demise tells us that NZ rugby may just be getting a little stale (even if three excellent performers make the semi finals!).
Newcastle and Raiders still keep 'winning tough' and are firmly in the eight. 13 wins gets you there (or a couple less with the byes boosting you). The Sharks continue their charge. Beating top eight opponents is the test and the Sharks are delivering! The Sharks look united and strong.
Meanwhile Parramatta...8 points, inclufing the bye! Unfortunately, when you see Trent Barret as an Assistant Coach you can't get excited, no matter how dedicated he is. They have mismanaged their roster and are simply not fit enough. Crumbling badly in the second half tells you that. No outside backs either. Sad, but Brad Arthur looks done too. Time for a change perhaps.
2. Criminal Element - Allegedly. A player arrested at training for his role in an alleged drug bust. Four A League players arrested on alleged corruption charges. Taylan May stood down on alleged domestic Violence charges. A Queensland NRL player on alleged rape charges. A bad week for sport. Not seeing any women's players doing this at present, save Sam Kerr arguing with a cabbie and being arrested.
3. AFL. How do GWS survive? Their crowds are very poor - and it always seems to rain at that venue...even for the Sydney Chunder. They have an identity problem...not really western Sydney and no local clubs really 'warm' to them. They need a re-think for the future and present as a franchise ready to move somewhere should the AFL decide that.
4. IPL. Getting to the semi final stage this week. Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants) continues to be a stronger performer...Green fighting back with bat and ball for the Royal Challenger Bengaluru, but Warner and Maxwell both dropped. Wade on the outer. Tim David dropped as well. Nathan Ellis got a look in finally and Starc continues to be a disappointment for his $4.4 million price tag. However, the finals await for Starc and the Kolkota Knight Riders.
There are so many excellent Indian players and such a shame they cannot play in the Big Bash (one per team?). These guys will generally never play for their national team either - in any form. Kohli continues to dominate.
The Rasthastan Royals have hit the wall, losing four in a row coming into the semi finals. The Sunrisers Hyderabad with Travis Head and Pat Cummins loom as ominous semi finalists, but Jake Fraser-McGurk is not going to be troubling the semi finals for the disappointing Dehli Capitals. They are out.
All eyes on Head this week. Starc too.
Bancroft finally hit a ton...160 in County Cricket. Renshaw and Labaschagne not doing much. Harris up and down. Hanscomb is probably our best performer, but none of our bats or bowlers are in the top 20 of either discipline. Ummmm.... sound familiar?
5. EPL. Man City are striving to win their FOURTH consecutive championship. They just need to win against West Ham to do it. All final round EPL games start at the same time...tension. The relegation 'race' is almost done... Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town look like they will need new sponsors and jerseys next year! They are out. In come: Leicester, Ipswich and one of Leeds or Southhampton by the looks.
36 EPL goals for Erling Haaland in 2023-2024 and another 27 this season as the leading goal scorer. What a dominant force. Name your contract price.
Ange is back at the drawing board. He needs to recruit a star or two. He also needs to be clear about his language and drive to make the top four teams. This confused everyone.
6. A League. Central Coast Mariners. Into the GF v Melbourne Victory after a 0-0 result v Sydney FC. They are looking for a third piece of silverware at the Mariners Stadium next week.
7. Super Rugby. The Tahs are locked on the bottom of the table, destined for the spoon. The coach looks lost. Brumbies...thank goodness for their professionalism and expert recruiting.
8. NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics await an opponent for the Eastern Conference finals (New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers - series locked at 3-3). It is uncanny how deep the different series go into the best of seven in NBA basketball finals. Dallas to play in the Western Conference final v the winner of the Denver Nuggets and the Minesota Timberwolves (series locked at 3-3).
9. NHL Finals. Starting to hot up on the ice! The Florida Panthers are a top team and ended the Boston Bruins this week.
10. US PGA Golf - Valhalla. One of the greatest circus acts of all was the 'arrest' of Scottie Scheffler trying to get into the course. Honestly. Talk about a rookie cop and a big noter. Spoiled golfers doing the indulged thing is one thing, but creating a drama and holding onto the side of the car... what? The US PGA have been noticably silent. A new PGA venue is needed. Talk about discrediting the tournament.
Xander Schauffle was something else in the first round...but it is a long game! Cam Smith (T38) has been disappointing, but has a good habit of finishing in the top ten. Lucas Herbert (T16) impressive after three rounds, but what about the performance of Shane Lowry, mirroring Schauffle with a 62! Only four blokes have ever hit 62 in a major. Two in one weekend. Shauffle did it at last year's US Open as well! Incredible golf.
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