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.
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