The Wrap - Zeal and Zealots in New Zealand

1. Australia v NZ Rugby League Internationals - Kangaroos and Jillaroos. A cracking game of great intensity. The gap between both teams is very narrow - in the mens' and the womens' brands. A great win by the women. Millie Boyle is some sort of player. Tamika Upton looks gangly and too small, but she is impressive. Two tries in a 14-0 win.

If the men were at full strength, it would be even closer! Dylan Edwards is a gun. Saving tries left right and centre. Such a big body coming in from the back too. A four time premiership winning fullback tells you he has the goods. Lomax played well too. Under pressure, he is very solid. An excellent signing by the Eels. 

On the Eels, Papenhuyzen looms large. Nikora, Wishart... Extraordinarily, Paps actually earns less than Gutherson. The 1 November window gets all the journos a bit excited at this time of the year. Surely Parramatta need to bolt down Penisini. The rest of the forwards... they need to produce the goods to stay. 

Mam looks like staying on the sidelines for a long time. Addo-Carr is in for a rough week too. Ben Hunt? He seems like a bloke who needs to communicate with his coach more regularly. Hitting 35 years of age tells you his time is almost up. If only Ben understood this too.

2. Pakistan v England Test Series. A mighty comeback 2-1 series win for Jason Gillespie's team. Extraordinary result really with lots of big reputational players dropped (including Babar Azam) and Gillespie stripped of selection duties mid series. For England, a terrible result. They had been playing well and Stokes returned to lead them to a series loss.

3. New Zealand v India Test Series. Incredibly, New Zealand have played without Kane Williamson all series in the Indian conditions overseas and still win. Poised to take the series, the arrival of Jadeja at the crease always spells trouble. He is such a fierce competitor. Mitchell Santer and his 13 wickets was incredible too. Slow, tame looking tweakers, but a very smart operator. He joins the folklore of NZ cricket now with a win for the ages. Beating India in India is an amazing achievement. Australia haven't done it since 2004.

4. Zeal. Awesome NZ. This weekend, New Zealand Breakers beat the Kings on the weekend. Auckland FC beat Sydney FC 1-0 and in the netball, NZ beat Australia to take a 3-0 winning lead in the Constellation Netball Cup. 

This is unheard of for Australian Netball. Heads need to roll.

In the past week, NZ has also won the America's Cup (catamaran boats on steroids) in Spain and the womens' T20 Cricket World Cup. Busy at the airport check-in this past few weeks... not just rugby union either!

4. Steve Smith. Is it just bad luck or is he on the massive decline? An amazing performer for a long time. His theatrics when he gets dismissed are becoming tiresome. He is not the answer as a skipper, but has an excellent record (38 tests at 55% win rate. Chappelli was 50%). Nice to see the silly ACB captaincy ban on Warner overthrown too. 

4. MLB World Series. Two old foes - east v west LA Dodgers v NY Yankees. Pretty clever work from Freddie Freeman to hit a Grand Slam to win Game 1 for the LA Dodgers. An awesome win. A 2-0 lead by the Dodgers is a handy start. A definite leg up for the World Series win!

5. Matilda Football v Switzerland. 1-1 was a fairly decent result. A lot of hype over this team, but results and goals are the only currency. Lots of egos are impacting their results.

6. EPL. A big run of matches tonight... ManU, Tottenham and Chelsea have very winnable games. Arsenal v Liverpool is the pick of them! Haaland another goal to have scored 10 in the EPL this season so far.

Interesting to note 'Sunderland Till I Die' are leading the English Championship after 12 games with a return to the top flight EPL gathering momentum!

7. The Cox Plate. The effort on Saturday by Via Sistina was awesome. Absolutely smashed them and beat the track record set by Winx. Moonee Valley is an interesting course with such a small straight. You need to be on your skates by the time the field reach the school! 

Could be a smokey for the Melbourne Cup... James McDonald is the greatest. 100 Group One wins at such a young age. The recently retired Damien Oliver's record of 129 Group One wins is the record. Oliver lost his father and brother to deaths off falls as jockeys. A reminder of how dangerous the work is too!

The Wrap - An Everest on Many Fronts

1. NRL. When will points be docked for stupid player behaviour in the off season? The amount of drug taking in the off season is clearly extraordinary too. I note that the Melbourne Storm rarely if ever have this happen. I wonder why? (Curtis Scott was the last one). Perhaps a guaranteed axe hovering over your head for embarrassing a proud club will do it. Ezra Mam...honestly. Wasn't he involved with Reece Walsh in Bali doing some silly stuff? 

The Australians beat a top shelf Tonga team. How good was Tom Trbojevic? Mitchell Moses looked fresh. The Kumuls beat Fiji which is quite extraordinary too. They are getting ready for the NRL!

2. GWS Giants. Now we can see why the club is struggling when it matters. Lots of lower grade fringe blokes doing dumb things and bringing a losers culture to the place. Mad Monday is not a highlight of the calendar for many clubs.

3. NZ v India Cricket. An 8 wicket win by NZ in India is impressive. India are the experts at dropping the first Test and then roaring home for a series victory. It remains a fascination that in a nation with the quality and depth of cricketers that India has, that they could do anything but win! Every time. Well done to NZ who have been woeful recently. Rachin Ravindra is an exceptional talent (134 and 39 no). No Kane Williamson too!

Pakistan beat England too for a 1-1 series leveller. Incredible after massive sackings and team upheaval. Jason Gillespie smiled for the first time as Pakistan's coach.

4. EPL - Ange Postocoglou and Tottenham. Roaring back with a 4-1 win over West Ham. Looking good. Arsenal have done their usual trick...a bright start and then they fall over. Man City will put them all to the sword very soon and streak ahead. ManU had a win which is unusual!

5. A League. Two sold out games in one weekend... Sydney FC v WS Wanderers and Auckland v  if only they could get their stuff together the sport would leap ahead in Australia. Flares, fires and pitch invasions are never far away. A much better effort v Japan in the World Cup qualifier this past week. 1-1 over there is close to a win.

6. The Everest. Such a monumental event now. Huge! So many of the younger brigade too. What a sizzling win by Bella Nipotina ('Beautiful grand daughter'). A top ride from a wide gate by Craig Williams and such strength under pressure, including from a resurgent Giga Kick. Sunshine in Paris should have done better...got back and was just not quick enough! A big winning training weekend for Ciaron Maher stable...Caulfield Cup as well... Duke de Sessa. $25 million won in one Saturday afternoon.

7. Tim Tszyu. Terrible result, but Russian fighters are typically awesome. His career is in real danger of ending prematurely. He needs a new approach and trainer. Too much hype and carry on.

8. Sheffield Shield. Great effort by NSW and Sean Abbott today (4/50 .. Peter Handscomb is still in good form as a batsman. His Test career is not finished yet). Alex Carey is still getting runs (dropped mid week for the T20 team for Josh Inglis). Beau Webster out for three.

9. The Greatest Everest. 160+ games of baseball later...New York Yankees v LA Dodgers! A World Series of epic proportions this time around. It cannot be missed!

The Wrap - Contracts and Chiko Rolls

1. The PM XIII. Despite the great energy and hard play, it is hard to see how the Papua New Guinea expansion team will work long term. Plenty of home town support, but travel and training (?) - and attracting new coaches and players will be challenging. Such a political stance seems strangely at odds with the merits of our sport. How powerful are some of their players. There has to be an NRL star or two there under the right coach.

Clearly Brad Fittler is being readied to replace Mal Meninga as Australian coach soon. The PM XIII team he had was not one of the strongest. Luke Brooks again killed it. He has really bloomed over the past twelve months. Cook was clever from dummy half too. A few backs who should go straight to the framers with their jersey. It may be the last they ever see, but good luck to them.

The Perth Bears can't seem to get anything right with a dodgy franchise leadership and rogue requests. Surely there is a more professional line of sight over this serious work than what appears here. Thankfully V'landy's is a clear thinker.

2. Contract Dramas - Ben Hunt and Clint Gutherson. Reluctant contract renewals by clubs is a tough reality for some players - and clubs. The arrogance and self-centredness of some players is breath taking. They assume they will continue to reap in huge money even though they are tired and aged. We have all seen this movie before...Sterling and Kenny stayed on busted and the club didn't have the courage to move on. Wally Lewis was cut. Bellamy cycles old wood well. 

Players are not paid to have an understanding of the club culture and the long term impact on a club. They either take a pay cut or move on. 'Sympathy salary cap decisions' get clubs into trouble. Matt Cameron is the genius of the salary cap. He should run lessons.

Gutho, as good as he has been, is slow and this does not win comps. He is not a ball player. $950,000 is a big wage. The media seem to think we should feel sorry for these blokes ("give him the respect he deserves"...not on my cash register!). Hunt has won many things, but he has limited time left. Time to go. Not sure Kyle Flanagan is going to win you a comp however.

Wigan have stamped itself as one of the greater teams too... yet more silverware on the weekend. Bevan French carving it up yet again, but not good enough to make the Parramatta team. Surely his speed is so valuable. Interesting to see Jason Ryles prioritise speed in his recruitment and retention. Sean Russell may need to do a Corey Oates and convert to the forwards to survive.

3. Sheffield Shield Cricket. Three drawn games in Round 1. Two back to back tons by Sam Konstas (NSW -152, 105) will see Hookesy's brown paper bag theory come rushing back. A guaranteed Australian baggy green cap now by the looks. South Australia were headlined by Carey's batting of 122 and 90 (Inglis scored a ton too - 122). Our man Beau Webster hit another ton (113) and got a wicket. Marcus Harris hit a ton and a fifty to take MOTM honours too. Nathan Lyon was the standout bowler with 8 wickets. Plenty to see...Neser bowling well in the first innings (rarely a second innings).

4. English Cricket. A typical second innings capitulation by Pakistan to lose the impossible test. Joe Root is in stunning form. The most ever English test runs - 12, 578 and most ever Test (35) (and ODI - 16) tons. Harry Brook is some sort of talent too. They are on a solid run v West Indies, Sri Lanka and now Pakistan (all without Ben Stokes). Some generous scheduling after the Ashes and India.

5. MLB. Dodgers play the Mets and the Yankees play the Cleveland Guardians now. A Dodgers v Yankees World Series finale would be an awesome heavyweight battle.

6. EPL. A rest week with International rounds. World Cup qualification is looking better for Australia, and a win against Japan this week would almost be a definite direct qualification step. The Socceroos are like the Wallabies... no one knows many of them... we hope and pray every time they play...but we are always resigned to the worst outcome, despite our hopes and dreams!

7. Bathurst. Usually rolls around with the McDonalds Cup/ FAI Cup/ Ford Ranger Cup... Plenty of excitement as always. Plenty of speed cameras on the way home too, just to remind the Sunday drivers that they are not invincible.

Not so for Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood. Too slick and from pole position to the (Roy) dais - impressive. Brought back some excellent memories with "Chiko" as the key car sponsor. Cabbage...too much salt...unique packaging. "Chiko beats the others - single handed" was the catch cry from memory! Poly waffle need to sponsor next year.

8. Police matters. Bali police are on Olarenshaw's hammer (his 50th birthday looked like an interesting event), Rocky Elsom is being sought by Interpol and Josh Addo Carr needs a new club! The police are kept far too busy by the different sporting codes. Perhaps it is a product of affluent contract la la land.

The Wrap - A Panthers Christmas

1. The Pink Panthers. How good are they? This is the fourth different GF winning jersey in the last four years for the Panthers. Good for the merchandise sales! Having a Grand Final every year for the past five makes it look like a local Christmas event!

Can there be any more pre game analysis for a NRL Grand Final? It is near impossible. It was interesting to see so much more for Sydney audiences from Penrith. The big and most sensible pre game points were the tall timber in the outside backs for Melbourne (kick to the wings and add pressure - the controversial bunker call was one such moment) and the phase of the game when Fisher-Harris and Leoto go off the field... a small opening. The Panthers seemed so much more composed pre game. No pressure and plenty of media exposure.

In the end it comes down to the absence of errors. No More Luai, Turuva, Fisher-Harris... can they keep re-inventing themselves? Will an era end there...or keep rolling on?

The exceptional standards, are best summed up by the following which we got in a visit to the Panthers last year. What a club!

Jarome Hughes was unfortunately and uncharacteristically disappointing, but the Panthers shut down the speed men and their tactic to wrap up the attacking bomb taker was golden.

How good is Bellamy? So strong all the time and no bitterness. He is nearing the end, but what a legacy.

2. NRLW. A top premiership decider and on the biggest stage - Roosters v Sharks. Very impressive to see the women's game on at the same event as the men's game. A sensible, respectful and strategic NRL decision by Abdo and V'landys. The nursery in the Central Coast area is awesome...Berkeley Vale, Wyong... The Roosters use Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College as their northern base and it is paying major dividends. The rest of the comp are asleep. 

A challenge for the Panthers there!

Millie Boyle/ Elliott is awesome for the Roosters, Jess Sergis, Olivia Kernick, Sam Brenmer, Isabelle Kelly, Jocelyn Kelleher... the Roosters did it really well, but made hard work of it in the end. The unluckiest player who was best on ground for the Roosters was their massive front rower, Amber Hall. Tiana Penitani was awesome for the Sharks. Great hosting at the Dally M and magnificent on the field, inspiring an incredible comeback.

The impact on young girls playing the sport is immense. These NRLW women are opening major doors which will continue to make the sport a real powerhouse. 

What a disgrace that Olivia Kernick missed the Australian Jillaroo team. She was the Dally M winner and no room for her? She should have been the player of the Grand Final too. The Australian coach clearly does not like her - and he was a judge of the Grand Final player of the match. Incredible.

3. NSW Cup v QLD Cup. Identifying talent for the future is a good feature of this game. Two standouts... the Newtown Jets fullback, Liam Ison and the back rower of the Northern Devils - Oryn Keeley. Hopefully more to come for both. A tough game reminding us that taking penalty goals when on offer is essential in Grand Finals. You are never safe! Even if it takes you from 2015 to win it as a QLD team!

4. Pacific NRL Championships. All gets underway soon. Absolutely fell over when Sean Russell (5 tries in 2024 and a small number of assist and line breaks) was included in the Australian PM XIII squad. Surely not! The Australian team need to do better than last time...they were dreadful! Mal Meninga looks keen to avenge it...his job depends on it.

Not sure no Tedesco and no Ponga is wise... Moses at half is also a worry. DCE was in amazing form this year. He has not played for months. A shame Cleary continues to be injured and has not put his stamp on the international scene.

5. Australian Domestic Cricket. The ACB are asleep as usual when they could be making inroads into the NRL gap before cricket season wit h a sharper strategy. The Big Bash is becoming a second rate T20 comp. Some advertising to announce the season would help. Otherwise we get motor racing, horse racing, Women's T20 World Cup cricket, boxing and not much else... a UK Summer Rugby trip.

6. AFL - Clayton Oliver. He needs to knuckle down and play for Melbourne and stop whining. He has slipped and needs to get better. Simple. A breaking of his contract is not the answer. Neale-Bullen is already going. They need to hold tight.

Bailey Smith? He owes the Western Bulldogs big time. 23 years old and they all want to go to Geelong? Smith hardly played a game all year so the Dogs can do it without him. They need to milk the move for lots of other positive options.

North Melbourne sounds like a retirement home - Jack Darling and Luke Parker? 

7. Wallabies - The Rugby Championship. Dead last in the South African-NZ-Argentina comp. If they think Sua'ali'i s going to cure their ills they are completely deluded.

8. EPL. Liverpool and Arsenal are neck and neck... and Man City is back too. Tottenham are back at it leading v Brighton Seagulls 2-0, who have been a testing team for them over time - then losing. Tottenham have started their Europa competition in style this past week, but this is their worst EPL start for 15 years! No singing of the Robbie Williams song this year so far! Chelsea were held to a draw, but they look sharp this year.

9. Madge - Broncos. Is this the best option? Plenty of pressure and lots of big heads needing to be let down gently too. Madge will do it well, but the critics will be sharpening their pencils and filling their ink wells!

10. Sheffield Shield Cricket. Starts this week! Can't wait (!), but an Australian opener's position is up for grabs will prove more interesting!

11. MLB. Down to the final eight. The Phillies v NY Mets... San Diego Padres v LA Dodgers.... The Padres were a surprise... all locked up in both series 1-1. The Kansas City Royals v NY Yankees and the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians are hard at it too. The Yankees and the Guardians take an early 1-0 lead.