1. NRL. State of Origin. This is meant to be the biggest week of the year (outside of the Grand Final). Mitchell and Moses are back. They look a better team. However, it is a little wearisome in the media these days. Moving the games to Monday nights could be a master stroke. Players have more recovery time and fans have less media nonsense.
The NRL comp has seen the Warriors go right off the charts now, losing by 60 to the Titans. With Souths and the Tigers both winning well, the Eels under Trent Barrett (not in coaching contention surprisingly) are spoon bound. The underdogs have been barking.
Souths are an outside chance for the top eight now. Ben Hornby has done a top job. Interesting see them muscle up now they know Wayne Bennet is arriving. He has already sent Cook to the Dragons (handy signing, provided he runs the footy). The Tigers big man Stefano, who is mucking around with contracts... not one I would touch.
The Roosters seem judiciary bound too often of late. The arrival of Mark can't come soon enough.
2. AFL. Swans have the worst record in the first quarter which is a big worry. That is how they lost two comps (v Geelong in 2022 and Western Bulldogs in 2014). Get out of the blocks quickly and pile on pressure. The 'even-ness' of their roster is the key. So many blokes who can step in and step up.
North Melbourne are hitting some strides now under Alistair Clarkson, but a narrow loss to Collingwood (1 point) and now Melbourne (3 points) is soul destroying.
3. Super Rugby. The Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10 for their fourth championship. NZ are so far ahead of everyone else. The Chiefs have back to back losses now but the Bledisloe looks safe with their domestic depth. It is truly incredible.
4. T20 Cricket. 'Slow, dewy, humid'...that is the forecast that worries Australian cricket fans...The turning decks sort blokes out. Travis Head is officially the new 'Duck or a Hundred' man. Graeme Wood set aside. His shot was appallingly wasteful. Good to see Maxwell shine, but a win was not to be. Afghanistan were awesome really, playing best in the conditions.
If you get both openers out for less than 10, you almost win T20 cricket games. That is where Starc is critical (where was he in this game v Afghanistan?). We showed a bit of arrogance I suspect and paid the price. Pat Cummins...two hatricks in a week is surely a record. India will be ready for us.
5. NHL Stanley Cup. The Edmonton Oilers. Down 0-3 to the Florida Panthers, they stand to make history as only the second team on record who have come back from 0-3 to win the Stanley Cup. They are back at 3-3 now! Florida will not recover from this if they lose it. Another underdog doing amazing business.
6. Golf. The criticism of the Rory US Open 'implosion' is a bit unfair. He is such a consistent performer. There are more critics in golf than in most sports, that is for sure. Majors are hard to win. Only three golfers have ever won double figures numbers of majors (Nicklaus, Woods, Hagen). Mickelson (6), Koepka (5) are the only current players ahead of Rory (4), who incidentally has twice the number Norman won.
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