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.
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