The Wrap - Over Officiated and Overblown

1. NRL. What has happened to the great game of rugby league? Anything slightly high or loose is penalised (this weekend) and sin bins result. The retrospective sin bin five minutes after it was meant to happen is so frustrating. Think Rugby Union. We had this crazy overreacting at one point last year too. Too many appeals, protests, complaints, reviews…stoppages galore. Players who thrust the arms out sideways or fake injury should be binned too. The shape of the game has been changed. … for the worse. 18 players sinbinned in one weekend? Please…

Over governed, over officiated and a complete over reaction. Penalties, fines and judiciary intervention is a better result for the fans.

2. AFL. The Swans were terrible after leading at half time. Giving up 11 straight goals is horrific. They are certainly a bottom five team on that performance. Gold Coast could finally be the real deal. Carlton looked solid v Geelong. Carlton have won three in a row and Collingwood look too strong for most. The West Coast continue their quest for the spoon, getting hammered by Hawthorn. Brisbane still the faves.

3. EPL. Liverpool will be crowned champions tonight by dusting off the excuse laden Tottenham. Too strong and business like every week. Consistency. Great effort by Crystal Palace to make the FA Cup Final.

4. A League. The final weeks are nearly upon us. Auckland FC are certainly favourites, but the Wanderers are a smokey.

5. Super Rugby. Brumbies a loss but in the top four with the Reds. Chiefs and Crusaders, especially, looking far too strong. 

6. IPL. Hazelwood has moved up to the top of the highest wicket takers list - equal first on 16 wickets. Amazing health recovery for the IPL and not the ICC Champions Trophy. Maxwell and Fraser-McGurk have been dropped and banished too. A simple lack of currency...runs!

7. NBA Playoffs. Lakers and Celtics with work to do. Oklahoma Thunder already through! Not missing Josh Giddey, although he had a cracking season for the Bulls! 

8. F1 GP Victory. Piastri was in fine form winning in Bahrain last week. There are plenty more to come yet... The Australian drivers in F1 with the most ever wins? 14 (Brabham - won three F1 championships in 1959, 1960 and 1966), 12 (Jones - won one F1 championship in 1980), 9 (Webber), 8 (Ricciardo) and Piastri on 5 wins so far.