1. The Panthers. As predicted many weeks back, into the top four after beating back a string of minnows and now a big test v Melbourne this Thursday night. They are getting back a bit of style. So patient. The new Stephen Crichton - young Maclean - is starting to shine.
The mathematical chance teams stack up and are all cooked really... Manly, St George, Wigers and the rest, including the Dolphins. Their defence was appalling v the Roosters. Hitting 50+ points conceded is a sure sign you cannot do much long term in the competition. Conversely, the Roosters are on the cusp of the eight now. The discipline of Leniu continues to be a problem. Such a talent but needs to mature and become a leader.
2. Ethan Strange. What a talent he is for the Raiders. Ricky calls him the next NSW five eight and he is correct. (He also said "you may think I am putting pressure on him and I am, so bad luck, get over it!"). He and Marky Mark from the Roosters are two sensational talents. Both could be in the Kangaroos at year's end. Superb talent. Strange has pace, an excellent step and strength. He is humble and hungry.
- Parramatta's Bailey Simonssen is sulking and it is this type of culture killing, self centred player who Ryles has had a gutful of...Matherson, Cartwright, Simonssen and Ofahenguae. All gone. Bailey seems to think there are a heap of clubs wanting to sign him. Not quite. It is a large never ending factory the NRL and blokes who leave are easily replaced.
- The race for the spoon remains open still...Titans (games to come in 2025: Cronulla, Warriors, Dolphins, Tigers), Knights (Cowboys, Broncos, Cronulla, Parramatta), Souths (Parramatta, Dragons, Bye, Roosters) or the world record holders, Parramatta (Souths, Roosters, Warriors, Knights).
- Daniel Tupou now gets to 179 NRL tries, one behind fourth placed Steve Menzies (180). Slater sits on 190, Johnston 209 and Ken Irvine 212! Fifth most tries ever in the game. Incredible. Two more seasons and he will also beat Irvine's record too. Johnston just picks up another two tries for fun too (lethal when Latrell plays). He could equal it next week v Parramatta!
- St George upset the Sharks, but will DCE go there instead of the Roosters?
- Surely trainers need to be restricted. We never had that problem years ago. A significant meterage penalty against the trainer's team - or game time limited trainers - 5 mins max. That was a schemozzle in Parramatta v Cowboys as it was for the Panthers v Gold Coast last week.
3. AFL. Swans got a little nervous late with a string of late Brisbane goals before a narrow win over a well beaten Brisbane - 92-90 away in Brisbane. Some small revenge for the GF smashing last year. The Swans are a crumbling outfit at tough times. They really need a clean out of some personnel. It's a rare upset in the AFL this year.
- Meanwhile, Collingwood crumble v Hawthorn and the Gold Coast surge forward.
- Simon Goodwin pulls the pin from coaching Melbourne, despite winning a flag a few years back too. he'd had a gutful.
- Four teams leading the comp, but the Crows and Cats are the two with the commanding points differentials.
4. Oscar Piastri. A narrow nine point lead over Lando Norris in the Drivers' Championship and it is almost a two horse McLaren race now. The next GP is the Dutch on 31 August 2025...a long break.
5. Test Cricket - India v England. A cracking series, reminding us all that Test cricket is the best form. A six run win by India to level the series 2-2. So few Tests are draws these days. The top tier team Test match concept has more merit than we all believe. Australia-India-England and Pakistan playing each other would be much more exciting than Test series v the Windies, Zimbabwe and the perennial under performers, Bangladesh and those countries that rarely go the extra mile for Test cricket...Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
6. St Jude Championship - PGA Golf. Tommy Fleetwood ahead after three rounds in Tennessee (-14), but he is a perpetual runner up or top 10/ 25 finisher. Not that there is anything wrong with that! He has never won on the USPGA tour. Maybe this weekend. Lerking close is the outstanding Scottie Scheffler who is two shots behind. Now if I was a betting man...
7. Nikita Tsyzu. Hopefully he can do better than Tim Tsyzu. Must have been some interesting sibling biff in the backyard back in the day. "Oh Nikita you will never know... anythin' about my home".
8. Giants Netball. The nicest media release in the world..the new coach, Nerida Stewart has "replaced" the former long standing coach, Julie Fitzgerald (since 2017). They have not hit the heights they should in recent years (but have been in two GFs), so change may be a good thing here.
9. T20 Cricket. Ho hum! Australia v South Africa with many stars in the UK at their rich "Hundred". Dave Warner was the MOTM for the London Spirit across the weekend (70 no).
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