The Wrap - Web Stars

1. NRL. The class of some NRL players is incredible. Brian To'o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, The Hammer, Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Zac Lomax... these blokes are Origin and Australian players who are tougher and stronger than others. They play at a different pace and intensity.

The Panthers are about to go on a huge roll. They have the softest of draws...bye, Eels, Titans, Souths, Knights...They could figure in the top four yet. An incredible turn around. What a game v the Bulldogs? Superb. It was semi final class.

The Canberra Raiders keep winning and fight so hard every game. They have some superb big backs too. They are so consistent.

How bad have the Warriors looked in recent weeks? They have crashed. Now Luke Metcalf is injured. The Sharks are not going so much better. 

The Dolphins could be an incredible powerhouse. A point scoring machine. The number of fans in Sydney on Saturday night was incredible. Katoa the half back (yet another ex-Penrith player) is outstanding.

What ever happened to the quick tap from last year? The kill joy refs can't keep up.

The Wests Tigers continue to get whacked. Zorba Peters called it last year. Luai will win a few, but mostly he will experience a Samoa type experience. They are risk of a fourth straight spoon. Hard to believe Benji has nailed it as a coach. He is far too tense for composed performances. Now their promising hooker is on the move to the Eels.

2. Test Cricket v West Indies. The Australian bowlers were awesome. Hazelwood in particular (288 Test wickets at 24.4). He was possibly the best IPL bowler and now is becoming one of our better Test performers on the tough pitches. He was moderate v South Africa in the ICC Test Championship Final with only two economical wickets. However, he struck back big time v the Windies. Starc continues to be awesome (391 Test wickets at 27.49). Cummins (304 Test wickets at 22.15) so accurate and tough. Poor Scott Boland (13 Tests. 56 Test wickets at 17.66) can't get a game!

However, Nathan Lyon (556 Test wickets at 30.26) is a worry... no wickets in the ICC Test Final. Picked up three soft ones v Windies. The day is coming...

Where is the latest instalment of Test Cricket the streamed series? Missing so much great work really... v India, etc.

A bit rich of the Windies criticising third umpires. The great Joel Wilson was the worst umpire in the last 25 years in world cricket. Unsurprisingly Joel was relieved of his duties from the 2025 ICC Test panel. Look at his overturned review rate below!

Our batting? Threadbare. Head stepped up but was dropped three or four times. He hits his knicks hard! Marnus has to play. Konstas looks awful. He has not really achieved much yet. He needs to bat sensibly and get tighter in defence. Does he have this? The Poms will rip him apart. Harry Brook will lap Konstas. Brook is simply outstanding.

Loving the work of Beau Webster. Great hands often define the best cricketers. He catches, bowls spin or pace and gets runs. He is our premier all rounder and a hardened amazing cricketer. Green is a wreck. His dropped catch was horrific and his batting at number three is unfair. Wrong spot. He does not have the technique.

3. AFL. The Swans have shown a weak under belly this year. They have been very loose defensively at key times. Full credit to the Western Bulldogs. They look and play like finalists. Carlton have given up and their coach will be ended very soon. Hawthorn caned North and the Gold Coast came back to the winners list beating the Dees, who have imploded it must be said. Adelaide look sharp.

There are really only nine teams left in contention now. Very different to the NRL

4. FI - Austrian GP. Norris is surging now. Piastri needs to lift in this one. He has slipped a little in recent GPs, but still has a hot car.

5. NBA. Incredible final series with Oklahoma City Thunder hanging on to win it. Incredibly it is the twentieth time an NBA series has gone to the final seventh game since the 1950s! The first time since Le bron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a famous victory from a 1-3 deficit.

6. US PGA - Rocket Classic in Detroit. Noticed Aaron Baddeley is still rolling around. Not going great, but it is now 26 years since his first 1999 victory when he won the Australian Open as an amateur. Incredible longevity.

7. Wimbledon. Pile on Carlos Alcaraz to win his Grand Slam. Another win (he has won twice already - 2023 and 2024) puts him on six Grand Slam victories, joining the likes of Becker and Edberg. He wins at Queens last week and is the prime favourite. Granted the Jannik Sinner (3 Grand Slam wins) drug sins, the crowd will be roaring for Alcaraz. Alcaraz has never lost a Grand Slam final. 

8. Maya Joint. A new name and the new womens' 2025 champion at the Eastbourne grass court tournament. This is a Wimbledon lead-in tournament. An Aussie winning a women's tennis title and beating a few bigger names? One to watch. #41 in the world now! Incredible.