1. 'Testing My Value on The Open Market'. David Fifita and Blaize Talagi have been there this week. Fifita is an incredible talent, especially with the right coach. Not sure he is $800K+ worth, but time will tell. He has an incredible physical shape for a footballer. Talagi has talent, but also an overly ambitious manager. You can fully understand why some clubs won't deal with certain managers.
How ridiculous are all these myriad of transfer/ signing rules... standard NRL contracts need to be in place. Fancy having that clause for Fifita there. The Titans are probably happy to free up some coin as they rebuild too. You have more windows than a caravan to sign blokes and let them 'test their value on the open market', which is simply code for 'I am looking for a new option and you are not it!'.
Cronulla storm into premiership contention now... amazing win v the Storm who are short staffed at present, but who isn't? Cronulla was too. Top of the comp is a great achievement so far.
Manly, Cowboys, Eels and Warriors are all hitting the wall at present.
2. State of Origin Debacle. Tom Trobjoevic and Nathan Cleary. Disappointing that injuries continue to plague NSW. They need every ounce of luck and good fortune. Campbell Graham? Mitchell Moses? These guys on long term injuries surely don't come into selection contention after their clubs have slaved away at trying to get them back on the paddock. Hamstring injuries are bad... why so many?
3. AFL. Carlton seem to have a special steel this season. The Swans are carving it up, but the MCG is their nemesis! This will test them in big games ahead. Carlton, Bulldogs, Geelong and Adelaide over the next month will test them. Richmond seem to have fallen in a heap. They did beat the Swans however. Where is Bailey Smith? Still in Bali on holidays? The Western Bulldogs seem to be imploding.
4. Cricket. Talk of Jimmy Anderson retiring has landed, but you feel an asterix awaits. He is supremely fit and has 700 Test wickets. Incredible. One thing is certain, Dave Warner is on his last tour. He is somewhat fortunate with Fraser-McGurk hovering large. The selectors have gotten a few of these experience calls right more recently... but the wolves will be howling if he doesn't produce. Ironically, Warner was exactly like Fraser-McGurk when he burst onto the T20 scene v South Africa.
5. IPL. Travis Head is playing unbelievably well in the IPL for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is in the top three run scorers (533 @53.30 in 11 inns) and belted 89 mid week to chase down 167 in less than 10 overs! Amazing eye and talent. He is set for a major, major IPL contract next year. He should have picked one up this season after his World Cup heroics too. Meanwhile Kohli is the highest run scorer - 634 off 12 inns. Incredible talent over a long, long time. He wins tournaments. Averaging over 50 in T20, ODIs (50 tons) and test cricket (29 tons).
The next instalment of 'Test Cricket' on Prime looms as fascinating! Prime are back with the Test Cricket series from 24 May. Looks unreal... Lords, esp post Bairstow.
Almost fell over...a rain delay in the IPL this weekend. When was the last time you saw a rain delay and reduced overs in the cricket from India? Incredible. The Duckworth-Lewis system is most rare there!
6. Central Coast Mariners. Crowned AFC Cup Champions is no easy thing and then in the same week they return from Oman and beat Sydney FC 2-1 to progress to the GF as well. Lost their first few games of the season before winning a million straight and the premiership too! Up 2-1 on aggregarte after one of two legs v Sydney FC to get into the GF. Quite the amazing success story.
7. EPL. Hotting up now. One game to come for most, but Tottenham squeaked past Burnley after four straight losses. A miserable end with a tough draw, but they need a few more answers. Ange has had a tough reality check this past month. None tougher than ManU who look destined for one of their lowest finishes. Love the last week of EPL when all games start at the same time and the tension over retention/ relegation bubbles over simultaneously.
8. US PGA. Starts this week. can anyone get near Scottie Scheffler? Maybe our own Cameron Smith @ $26 the win? In Kentucky at Valhalla, another one of mighty Jack Nicklaus' designed courses.
9. NBA Final Series. In the Western Conference Semi Finals, the unheralded Minesota Timberwolves lead last year's champions, the Denver Nuggets. The Dallas Mavericks with Josh Green are looking quietly dominant leading 2-1 v Ohlahoma Thunder (Josh Giddey's team).
In the Eastern Conference Semi Finals, the New York Nicks are finally delivering and are at 2-1 up v the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics, after a shock home loss are 2-1 up v the Cleveland Caviliers. It will all unfold this week for the conference finals.
No comments:
Post a Comment