1. Robert 'Alien' Allenby. What is it about this bloke? Cranky and hard work. Has had more caddies than breakfasts. The Hawaii abduction story and any sympathy wears thin when you see the way he goes on. They may have thought he was an alien. He is simply not normal. He rarely wins these days and should move on. Goose of the highest order. Up there with Tomic in the popularity stakes. Did you notice Tomic playing a small town tournament and is into the final. Cunning rat.
2. Swans. They are in a hole. There needs some serious recalibration or they will simply fade when the pressure really mounts. Tired legs? Longmire needs to reinvent them and fast. Not enough midfield pace for mine. Skills and over finessing are fine, but they lack pace at the break.
3. Cronulla. They are powering to the semis at present. A tough win at Belmore. 19,000 fans. There must be some fit dogs fans with the parking at that joint. They would have been walking for miles. Great tempo and atmosphere. Ennis is a competitor who while hated by the opposition is loved by his teammates. Like Javed Miandad.
4. Tour de France. Is it still as glamorous as it once was? Every time you watch it you feel like it is the Olympics...great performance, but is it legitimate? What new drug is taking hold and is presently undetectable??
5. Wallabies. Good solid performance, but it was Argentina. Still hard to watch. The All Blacks on the other hand are red hot. Great entertainment. However any thoughts we hold of beating them will evaporate soon enough. Cooper is a clear liability.
6. Fifitas. Real tough guys. Lucky no one belted them up too - or arrested them. Again, too much money and not enough brains.
7. Mitchell Marsh. Looks tidy. Good pace and hopefully injury free! Would like to see Rogers play. He offers such wisdom and experience, but may not play again. Shaun Marsh opening the batting in a Test will be a nightmare. Poor footwork. Moves laterally but not down the pitch. Anderson will get him every time. Interested to see Peter Nevill behind the stumps v Derbyshire in their tour match. Is Haddin gone?
8. Geoff Toovey: "There has to be an investigation into this...somebody has to be made accountable for this". Personally I cannot see Trent Barrett as a smart enough coach to carry the Manly club. Have you heard the rumour about Jamie Lyon returning to Parramatta? He is looking for a white ute and a blue cattle dog from a third party provider - and a casino. The Obeids deliver.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
The Wrap - Loud and Late, But Feeling Fresh
Every now and then there is a weekend with too much sport. It was this weekend! The remote is still recovering.
1. The Cricket. The featherbed of a deck at Lords will take some work to unlock as the Poms chase over 500. Love the style and poise of Smith. He has sent a bit of a message. Rogers looks strong too - wobbly overnight - but strong mentally. I like his style. Johnson better, but Starc is a bit soft. Just before lunch he bowls wide when the pressure is on. He gets injured waking up in the morning. Toughen up! Nevill looked sharp too...great footwork. That was very promising. I am also impressed with the work of Lyon. He is looking good after a terrible start to the tour before the Tests started.
2. NRL. Is it a "go to the ground" spectator sport anymore? I suspect the game has now almost made itself redundant to a live crowd.
The Dragsters. Six losses in a row is a bit worrying. Where has their great defence gone?
3. Tennis Disgrace II. Nick Kygrios. For him to lose a Davis Cup tie was appalling v Kazakhstan. Deservedly sacked for the return singles and that old fighter who is a tremendous strength in world sport - Lleyton Hewitt - steps up to rescue us. I hope Nick was watching closely. 40 Davis Cup appearances for Hewitt...amazing! Sam Groth did well too. A rare thing to win a Davis Cup tie after being down 0-2.
By the way, can Tomic act a bigger tool than at present? The thought of him getting his Dad's advice to change countries for tennis would now be less of a surprise than last week!
How many serious injuries have occurred from advertising hoardings, fences and rogue foreign objects... I can think of Marcus Bai, Luke Lewis...advertising
hoarding injuries...Ricky Ponting at the SCG...
8. Warnie Gold. I must say, no matter how crass, loud or overbearing, Warnie is a funny bloke. Talking to Tubby about the previous night's drinking and socialising activities, he said to a demure Taylor.. "I was loud and late, but feeling
fresh today!". Magnificent!
1. The Cricket. The featherbed of a deck at Lords will take some work to unlock as the Poms chase over 500. Love the style and poise of Smith. He has sent a bit of a message. Rogers looks strong too - wobbly overnight - but strong mentally. I like his style. Johnson better, but Starc is a bit soft. Just before lunch he bowls wide when the pressure is on. He gets injured waking up in the morning. Toughen up! Nevill looked sharp too...great footwork. That was very promising. I am also impressed with the work of Lyon. He is looking good after a terrible start to the tour before the Tests started.
2. NRL. Is it a "go to the ground" spectator sport anymore? I suspect the game has now almost made itself redundant to a live crowd.
The Dragsters. Six losses in a row is a bit worrying. Where has their great defence gone?
4. Lucky escape for the Wallabies. Why you would persist with Cooper is beyond me. Toomua or even Foley not kicking in such a big event... ridiculous. Is Giteau big enough?
I must say that the
Rugby advantage rule was no doubt well intended. Meant to get the referee out of the way and let play continue. The stupidity of rugby however has now meant that the advantage stretches far too long...stupidly long...and the ref brings it back and continues to dominate and ruin games. Nice to see the Irish failure of a ref - Paddy O'Dud - not there this week. The refs should also focus on all the drinks/ huddles and nonsense time wasting between set
plays...too slow to ever become prime TV viewing. The refs are to blame and the players/ coaches exploit it.
5. Footballroos. Someone is making some huge cash out of these Juventus- Liverpool- ManU - Chelsea visits....they are everywhere.
6. British
Open Golf. Has anyone asked the question about why there is not a wind farm at St Andrews? They are something else. Aussies well placed.
7. Hawthorn.
Give them the flag. Roughead too good. Swans appalling. No running and defence
not there. Tippett terrible. Forward line ineffective including Buddy.
Permanent scars! The only scars for Hawthorn were from the rogue dynabolts. Did anyone see the stupid groundsman put the mat over them. Amateur hour and rudeness to Lingy who was explaining it all. The folk at 'The Back Page' will have a lot of fun with that this week.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Wrap - Let's Banish Watson (LBW)
1. If Shane 'LBW' Watson is not dropped - finally - we are all surely to boycott watching the team at Lords. How Mitchell Marsh could be omitted is beyond me. Firstly Watson's inability to change his technique is because he has NEVER been dropped. He has NEVER had to dig deep and feel the pain and embarrassment to make himself better. The selectors need to take responsibility for that one. His bowling is also not that great. He only bowled 13 overs in over 700 runs scored.
This is where Clarke is dangerous. He surrounds himself with his captain picks - Haddin, Rogers, Watson, Johnson...His own form has been horrible. The form of Haddin has been woeful too. Both need to look closely at themselves or they too will be sacked. Rod Marsh and Mark Waugh will need to have a careful look at whether they like staying employed.
Theoretically, these four Haddin, Rogers, Watson, Johnson - and Clarke himself could all be retired in the coming year.
As for the bowling, Starc was a major disappointment. Sure, got five wickets in the first innings, but so reckless and wayward. He did not build pressure. Then he falls down injured. Too precious for mine. How can this poor performance happen if you are truly concentrating? Wasteful rock star cricketers. Johnson was as terrible. He must be terrible to bowl along side at times. No pressure and worse, no dismissals this time, when they were needed.
There is a valid theory that you cannot have Johnson and Starc in the one team.
Trevor Bayliss has been masterful again.
2. Is it fair to say that going to an Ashes series in England is similar now in psychology to our teams of the 80's travelling to India. We had food, accommodation, umpires complaints then...now it's the pitch, the curators, the swing, the DRS, the weather, the ball...damn that Duke ball...everything except close preparation and professionalism.
I was so disappointed in Voges. He fights hard through a whole Shield season, he plays well in the lead up games, gets a plumb opportunity and plays two very bad, extremely poor, shots. He needs to stand up or perish in Lords.
3. Hawkeye. Is there an instruction manual? It seems as though no one understands it - or owns the decision. There is a ridiculous level of scrutiny now...suffice to say the West Indies would have been dismissed a lot more cheaply - and no team would have gotten half the runs they did against them.
4. When will hotspot be introduced into rugby league for those contested bombs? It shouldn't be too far away, but surprising it is not there already for Origin.
5. Speaking of which...NSW were absolutely pumped. QLD just have that stamp of class and intensity that is undefeatable. We may not see the like of it again. (We live in amazing sporting times really...we have seen many of the best ever in ALL sports like the Windies pace bowlers, Tendulkar, Warne, Tiger Woods, Kelly Slater, Federer/ Nadal/ Djokovic, Ronaldo, Messi, Serena, Phelps....) and throw in Thurston and Inglis.
Unfortunately, those referees were again far too whistle happy and far too influenced by the QLD crowd - as Ennis indicated. But the dropped balls and ill discipline by NSW was the real source of their demise. Mitchell Pearce, Will Hopoate, Ryan Hoffman, Michael Ennis, Trent Hodkinson...have all had their papers stamped 'never to play again'.
6. Serena Williams was awesome. She will retire as the best ever. The 'Serena Slam' has now occurred twice. All four Grand Slams in a row - but not in a calendar year.
7. Such a shame that Warnie lost in the world poker tournament. Imagine him in Vegas post tournament.
This is where Clarke is dangerous. He surrounds himself with his captain picks - Haddin, Rogers, Watson, Johnson...His own form has been horrible. The form of Haddin has been woeful too. Both need to look closely at themselves or they too will be sacked. Rod Marsh and Mark Waugh will need to have a careful look at whether they like staying employed.
Theoretically, these four Haddin, Rogers, Watson, Johnson - and Clarke himself could all be retired in the coming year.
As for the bowling, Starc was a major disappointment. Sure, got five wickets in the first innings, but so reckless and wayward. He did not build pressure. Then he falls down injured. Too precious for mine. How can this poor performance happen if you are truly concentrating? Wasteful rock star cricketers. Johnson was as terrible. He must be terrible to bowl along side at times. No pressure and worse, no dismissals this time, when they were needed.
There is a valid theory that you cannot have Johnson and Starc in the one team.
Trevor Bayliss has been masterful again.
2. Is it fair to say that going to an Ashes series in England is similar now in psychology to our teams of the 80's travelling to India. We had food, accommodation, umpires complaints then...now it's the pitch, the curators, the swing, the DRS, the weather, the ball...damn that Duke ball...everything except close preparation and professionalism.
I was so disappointed in Voges. He fights hard through a whole Shield season, he plays well in the lead up games, gets a plumb opportunity and plays two very bad, extremely poor, shots. He needs to stand up or perish in Lords.
3. Hawkeye. Is there an instruction manual? It seems as though no one understands it - or owns the decision. There is a ridiculous level of scrutiny now...suffice to say the West Indies would have been dismissed a lot more cheaply - and no team would have gotten half the runs they did against them.
4. When will hotspot be introduced into rugby league for those contested bombs? It shouldn't be too far away, but surprising it is not there already for Origin.
5. Speaking of which...NSW were absolutely pumped. QLD just have that stamp of class and intensity that is undefeatable. We may not see the like of it again. (We live in amazing sporting times really...we have seen many of the best ever in ALL sports like the Windies pace bowlers, Tendulkar, Warne, Tiger Woods, Kelly Slater, Federer/ Nadal/ Djokovic, Ronaldo, Messi, Serena, Phelps....) and throw in Thurston and Inglis.
Unfortunately, those referees were again far too whistle happy and far too influenced by the QLD crowd - as Ennis indicated. But the dropped balls and ill discipline by NSW was the real source of their demise. Mitchell Pearce, Will Hopoate, Ryan Hoffman, Michael Ennis, Trent Hodkinson...have all had their papers stamped 'never to play again'.
6. Serena Williams was awesome. She will retire as the best ever. The 'Serena Slam' has now occurred twice. All four Grand Slams in a row - but not in a calendar year.
7. Such a shame that Warnie lost in the world poker tournament. Imagine him in Vegas post tournament.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Wrap - The Haircut of Truth
1. With the start of the Ashes this week coming we will no doubt be thrown up the biggest furphy of them all...the Duke ball. This will detract from the seaming decks and any wastefulness of Warner and Watson in particular. If Mitchell Marsh misses out on selection, that will be one of the greatest travesties...especially after two tons. Couldn't help but note how he ran out Adam Voges (nearest rival), so he will fit in perfectly in place of the selfish Watson. A shame we will not see Ryan Harris in action over there. Pat Cummins is a handy replacement. He might just strike fear into their hearts. Surely Siddle is finished. A good net bowler however on a long tour.
2. NRL Player Health. This is one of the annual nonsense stories, especially looking at the demand on EPL and European footballers, NBL players, MLB players...these NRL blokes are handsomely paid and the most "hard done by individuals" play once a week for 80 minutes (less about 15 minutes for stoppages and deduct the interchange interruptions too). Maybe player health should focus on the vile high shots and nonsense to player's through wrestling moves...not to mention the riding of mechanical bulls at QLD Origin camp.
3. This week will be important for Klemmer. He has suffered acute over exposure in the press and stands to be a massive hit or a great dud by Thursday morning.
3. Sam Stosur. Like Shane Watson you will always hear these words from Sam: "I feel like I am hitting the ball well at the moment". She has become terrible. Weak really. She wins the first two games of her most recent loss this weekend - and wins not a game more! She is frail mentally, sadly.
4. Kgyrios. Why is a haircut the best and most accurate judgement of a bloke's personality? This was raised as a major looming issue on The Wrap over 18 months back.
5. Tomic. I am tipping we might see a change of country very soon...like Jelena Dokic before him. Croatia...Serbia? He is as valuable to us as the Greek drachma. I also note that the mighty and famous Poo is making a senior men's tour comeback. He was woeful when at his prime most weeks. He will fade.
5. Death of Adelaide AFL coach, Phil Walsh. A sad and terrible situation, but the game v Geelong should have been postponed by the AFL. As it was both will share points which might just cost one or other a valuable semi spot or rank order position. Phil Walsh would not have stood for this.
6. Highlanders v Hurricanes. 35,000 in the crowd to the GF? Is this good enough? Good to see the Penrith Emus are back v Warringah. Lost 209 - 27 this week across the different grades above colts..
7. Western Sydney Wanderers - world wide offcuts are the best you get in the A League. The absence of any loyalty makes soccer hard to warm to...no one has any loyalty..players, clubs, fans...no one.
8. As honest as Karmichael Hunt. A new saying. A very honest Hunt.
2. NRL Player Health. This is one of the annual nonsense stories, especially looking at the demand on EPL and European footballers, NBL players, MLB players...these NRL blokes are handsomely paid and the most "hard done by individuals" play once a week for 80 minutes (less about 15 minutes for stoppages and deduct the interchange interruptions too). Maybe player health should focus on the vile high shots and nonsense to player's through wrestling moves...not to mention the riding of mechanical bulls at QLD Origin camp.
3. This week will be important for Klemmer. He has suffered acute over exposure in the press and stands to be a massive hit or a great dud by Thursday morning.
3. Sam Stosur. Like Shane Watson you will always hear these words from Sam: "I feel like I am hitting the ball well at the moment". She has become terrible. Weak really. She wins the first two games of her most recent loss this weekend - and wins not a game more! She is frail mentally, sadly.
4. Kgyrios. Why is a haircut the best and most accurate judgement of a bloke's personality? This was raised as a major looming issue on The Wrap over 18 months back.
5. Tomic. I am tipping we might see a change of country very soon...like Jelena Dokic before him. Croatia...Serbia? He is as valuable to us as the Greek drachma. I also note that the mighty and famous Poo is making a senior men's tour comeback. He was woeful when at his prime most weeks. He will fade.
5. Death of Adelaide AFL coach, Phil Walsh. A sad and terrible situation, but the game v Geelong should have been postponed by the AFL. As it was both will share points which might just cost one or other a valuable semi spot or rank order position. Phil Walsh would not have stood for this.
6. Highlanders v Hurricanes. 35,000 in the crowd to the GF? Is this good enough? Good to see the Penrith Emus are back v Warringah. Lost 209 - 27 this week across the different grades above colts..
7. Western Sydney Wanderers - world wide offcuts are the best you get in the A League. The absence of any loyalty makes soccer hard to warm to...no one has any loyalty..players, clubs, fans...no one.
8. As honest as Karmichael Hunt. A new saying. A very honest Hunt.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Wrap - Parramatta Reminisce
There is no doubting the legions of support for Parramatta. Blind faith that there is club and football team leadership and direction at the top. Regardless, the good and madly simple Parramatta supporter folk just want to see victories and cheer on their local team. They are a loyal lot, lurking in every office across the nation. Maybe the 'Friends of Parramatta Park' might just be the last fans left if they are not careful. Moeroa is a champion...Pauli Pauli potentially awesome...Radradra exemplary...Norman outstanding...Takairangi (rangdoo) making a difference...Peats a rep player... they offer hope.
So where did it all go wrong? Is it just that the beaches of Cronulla and Manly are better places than the banks of the upside down Parramatta River? Was it just after the Cumberland Oval grandstand fire - or was it when 'Click Go The Shears' gave way to Jon English's song that was seemingly recorded down a coal mine? Or was it when 'Kick on at Kicks' and the famous dollar drinks gave way to Sterlos? Maybe it was when "The Pit" was disbanded downstairs.
Many also point to the greatest dud signing of all time - a 14 year old kid called Barney Haslett. Poor bugger. Crusher Cleal's last brainwave before he, his shopping trolley full of pasta and his modern day boys home concept was shipped out. Or was it when the club signed Jeff Fenech (love youse all)? However the crazy/. unfortunate/ mad signings have continued to this day.
We all recall the terrible luck in signing Adam Ritson, but how did they ever let Andrew Ryan go to the Bulldogs? To this day, no one also knows what happened with Jamie Lyon and that contract fiasco. He apparently even pocketed those fifties waved at him over the fence and collected those coins thrown at him. It was as mysterious as the annually renewed Mick Cronin contract in his playing days. As mysterious as why Justin Poore became a rank dud once signed and how Kevin Kingston - a smart leader and player - was not signed up.
How about the foray into England...first it was Chris Thorman, a renown dud, then it was the Englishman Lee Mossop who played three games after being signed with a chronic shoulder injury, Gareth Hock bailed out before even arriving, while this year young Ben Crooks was meant to be the next great thing. Never seen. Will Hopoate was signed and allowed to forgo two years of his prime - and has not been the same player since. Don't forget the Israel Folau signing contract schemozzle too. But we just re-signed John Folau who is as good, so who cares. We have had ex jailbirds in Mahu and Wicks (playing well), ex druggies like Rene Maitua and we even re-signed a bloke who was there but only after he had returned with a possible broken neck (Fa'aoso). Now the Foran hullabaloo, malarkey. Apparently, Beau Scott is more nervous than a garden gnome in John Ibrahim's garden.
We've also signed Peter Sharp, sent him packing and signed him again. The success he has brought to the club is unparalleled. Just better than his namesake, Steve Sharp. Hard to get that early 1980's image of Steve Sharp with a tyre lever at Brooks Tyres near Parramatta Jail out of my mind. But at least he won a lot of comps.
Oh for the glory days of bouncing on the wooden seats at Cumberland Oval and later watching Mike Eden pot them from the sideline with his left and right boot, seeing Paul Carige try and singlehandedly lose a semi final, cheering Shane Whereat the fastest man in rugby league, hearing Guru Grothe had slipped over in the pre game warm up v Canberra and was out again, hoping young Guru Grothe grew up and discarded his stupid guitar first, or watching Lee Oudenryn beat Martin 'Chariots' Fire in a foot race. Like the League Olympics from way back. Enough to make Chook Herron choke on a World Rugby League Sevens 2003 winners medal! That or gnaw away at the Tooth Cup of 1980.
Bring back the long plastic Eel with human legs underneath, the Aboriginal guys who ran out with spears and posed so powerfully leg on knee on the quarter lines pre game or even the flying wedge from the late 1970's. There was character in those days. Where are those nets that held the blue and gold balloons?
Character it was that saw all those locals at Pennant Hills identify Paul Mares and Guru Grothe making a hash of the Molotov cocktail and land themselves in the clink. The association with police and jails knows no bounds. Why even the great Jarryd Hayne proved himself in those early days in Kings Cross, sidestepping bullets well before hapless defenders.
And who has been the next Sterlo? First it was Stu Galbraith, Jason Bell, Andrew Fitzhenry, Tulsen Tollett and Ben Kusto, then Witt, Speechley, Dykes, Johnny Simon, Andrew McFadden, Casey McGuire, Gary Freeman, Troy Pezet, John Morris, Tim Smith, Kris Keating and young Mortimer. Sandow is better than the lot. He has been dropped more often than a dollar coin in a poker machine at Wenty Leagues - or dropped more often by a toothless woman (or bloke..) after 2.00am at the same place.
Brian Jackson and David Woods - even Michael Beuttner were the next Steve Ellas...the great paspalum chewing junior nursery has been corrupted by Brian Smith cloned coaches who forgot about flair and talent, preferring left sides and right sides. Jack Gibson did it all from a bus at Granville Park. Now we have weekends away in Coffs Harbour with massages and facials. Even now, local juniors are as rare as the National Panasonic Cup winner's photos.
So for every new fan, hoping for the future, there is one who remembers the Danny Crnkovich sidestep at pace, the Peter Johnston big hit, Graham Settree's head gear, the Bear O'Reilly's red cheeks, Eddie Flahey's sidestep, John Kolc's mo, Graham Murray's mo, Graeme Atkin's mo, Phil Mann's stride, Graham Olling's bald head before his steroid confession, Scott Mahon's mullet, Greg Drake's gut, Mark Tookey's gut, David Vaealiki's low socks, Inu's smile, David Solomona's black head gear rat's tail or Ray Higgs' blonde curls.
Pricey's statue has never had more bird crap on it. Board/ Club Elections that would make Robert Mugabe blush..with outcomes as predictable as Neil Hunt's sidestep... Fake ballots...gravy trains and the words 'Fitzgerald-Spagnola' that make the fans wince and churn. You always know when an election is coming...they renovate the Leagues Club. A perfect distraction from the main game.
Often too we have all cried out for some Tingha vouchers to halt the ex player whinging - Kenny, Price and Guru have led this. Of late Leadbeater has shown more talent for offending the opposition than he ever did as a player. Then there is Fitzy getting marched off the premesis...Fui Fui putting the boot in to all in his best selling novel...the Sandow car accident...Peats' car repossessed. Salary cap fines. Docked competition points. Players avoid drug tests with an old fashioned switcheroo...
Enough to send you straight to the Tollgate. Surely it has to improve.
So where did it all go wrong? Is it just that the beaches of Cronulla and Manly are better places than the banks of the upside down Parramatta River? Was it just after the Cumberland Oval grandstand fire - or was it when 'Click Go The Shears' gave way to Jon English's song that was seemingly recorded down a coal mine? Or was it when 'Kick on at Kicks' and the famous dollar drinks gave way to Sterlos? Maybe it was when "The Pit" was disbanded downstairs.
Many also point to the greatest dud signing of all time - a 14 year old kid called Barney Haslett. Poor bugger. Crusher Cleal's last brainwave before he, his shopping trolley full of pasta and his modern day boys home concept was shipped out. Or was it when the club signed Jeff Fenech (love youse all)? However the crazy/. unfortunate/ mad signings have continued to this day.
We all recall the terrible luck in signing Adam Ritson, but how did they ever let Andrew Ryan go to the Bulldogs? To this day, no one also knows what happened with Jamie Lyon and that contract fiasco. He apparently even pocketed those fifties waved at him over the fence and collected those coins thrown at him. It was as mysterious as the annually renewed Mick Cronin contract in his playing days. As mysterious as why Justin Poore became a rank dud once signed and how Kevin Kingston - a smart leader and player - was not signed up.
How about the foray into England...first it was Chris Thorman, a renown dud, then it was the Englishman Lee Mossop who played three games after being signed with a chronic shoulder injury, Gareth Hock bailed out before even arriving, while this year young Ben Crooks was meant to be the next great thing. Never seen. Will Hopoate was signed and allowed to forgo two years of his prime - and has not been the same player since. Don't forget the Israel Folau signing contract schemozzle too. But we just re-signed John Folau who is as good, so who cares. We have had ex jailbirds in Mahu and Wicks (playing well), ex druggies like Rene Maitua and we even re-signed a bloke who was there but only after he had returned with a possible broken neck (Fa'aoso). Now the Foran hullabaloo, malarkey. Apparently, Beau Scott is more nervous than a garden gnome in John Ibrahim's garden.
We've also signed Peter Sharp, sent him packing and signed him again. The success he has brought to the club is unparalleled. Just better than his namesake, Steve Sharp. Hard to get that early 1980's image of Steve Sharp with a tyre lever at Brooks Tyres near Parramatta Jail out of my mind. But at least he won a lot of comps.
Oh for the glory days of bouncing on the wooden seats at Cumberland Oval and later watching Mike Eden pot them from the sideline with his left and right boot, seeing Paul Carige try and singlehandedly lose a semi final, cheering Shane Whereat the fastest man in rugby league, hearing Guru Grothe had slipped over in the pre game warm up v Canberra and was out again, hoping young Guru Grothe grew up and discarded his stupid guitar first, or watching Lee Oudenryn beat Martin 'Chariots' Fire in a foot race. Like the League Olympics from way back. Enough to make Chook Herron choke on a World Rugby League Sevens 2003 winners medal! That or gnaw away at the Tooth Cup of 1980.
Bring back the long plastic Eel with human legs underneath, the Aboriginal guys who ran out with spears and posed so powerfully leg on knee on the quarter lines pre game or even the flying wedge from the late 1970's. There was character in those days. Where are those nets that held the blue and gold balloons?
Character it was that saw all those locals at Pennant Hills identify Paul Mares and Guru Grothe making a hash of the Molotov cocktail and land themselves in the clink. The association with police and jails knows no bounds. Why even the great Jarryd Hayne proved himself in those early days in Kings Cross, sidestepping bullets well before hapless defenders.
And who has been the next Sterlo? First it was Stu Galbraith, Jason Bell, Andrew Fitzhenry, Tulsen Tollett and Ben Kusto, then Witt, Speechley, Dykes, Johnny Simon, Andrew McFadden, Casey McGuire, Gary Freeman, Troy Pezet, John Morris, Tim Smith, Kris Keating and young Mortimer. Sandow is better than the lot. He has been dropped more often than a dollar coin in a poker machine at Wenty Leagues - or dropped more often by a toothless woman (or bloke..) after 2.00am at the same place.
Brian Jackson and David Woods - even Michael Beuttner were the next Steve Ellas...the great paspalum chewing junior nursery has been corrupted by Brian Smith cloned coaches who forgot about flair and talent, preferring left sides and right sides. Jack Gibson did it all from a bus at Granville Park. Now we have weekends away in Coffs Harbour with massages and facials. Even now, local juniors are as rare as the National Panasonic Cup winner's photos.
So for every new fan, hoping for the future, there is one who remembers the Danny Crnkovich sidestep at pace, the Peter Johnston big hit, Graham Settree's head gear, the Bear O'Reilly's red cheeks, Eddie Flahey's sidestep, John Kolc's mo, Graham Murray's mo, Graeme Atkin's mo, Phil Mann's stride, Graham Olling's bald head before his steroid confession, Scott Mahon's mullet, Greg Drake's gut, Mark Tookey's gut, David Vaealiki's low socks, Inu's smile, David Solomona's black head gear rat's tail or Ray Higgs' blonde curls.
Pricey's statue has never had more bird crap on it. Board/ Club Elections that would make Robert Mugabe blush..with outcomes as predictable as Neil Hunt's sidestep... Fake ballots...gravy trains and the words 'Fitzgerald-Spagnola' that make the fans wince and churn. You always know when an election is coming...they renovate the Leagues Club. A perfect distraction from the main game.
Often too we have all cried out for some Tingha vouchers to halt the ex player whinging - Kenny, Price and Guru have led this. Of late Leadbeater has shown more talent for offending the opposition than he ever did as a player. Then there is Fitzy getting marched off the premesis...Fui Fui putting the boot in to all in his best selling novel...the Sandow car accident...Peats' car repossessed. Salary cap fines. Docked competition points. Players avoid drug tests with an old fashioned switcheroo...
Enough to send you straight to the Tollgate. Surely it has to improve.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Wrap - The Difference of a Day
1. Origin II. Melbourne have once again outdone us lads. Sorry to say it, but they have. A huge crowd. 91,000+. Most had no idea who was playing and who they were cheering, but they turned up. Slow in winter down there.
Got to say that the ref - Gerard Sutton - is dreadful. His effort to march across both team's ten metre line and blow a penalty in front of the sticks was the legend of Jack Danzy or Kevin - 'Bilko' - Roberts. Amazing time warp stuff for the modern era. He did it twice!
How Aaron Woods did not win the MOTM is beyond me. He was dominant and tough. Farah was down on form with a busted shoulder (good story when you win), Hoppa is still mediocre and Pearce must run with the footy. We look electric when he runs the ball. A much improved player. Love the way Merrin and Klemmer play. Hard. Cordner is a bit of an imposter however.
This Klemmer is truly mad. We need a bit of that. Jennings...how he could be such a galoot is beyond me, but just for a moment would a policeman get a bit starry eyed and suddenly intolerant at 2.30am in Parramatta and make a name for himself? Never. Not much good happens in Parramatta after 12.00pm. Not a lot of good happens before 12.00pm either, just quietly.
2. Interesting to see Thurston get agitated in Origin footy. It happens a bit. Not a sign of it in club ball, but when playing for QLD he seems to lapse into it - especially if scoreboard pressure is mounting. Still the best in the game and by far the best player we have seen. Quite amazing really. He backs up and beats Canberra on his own. The Cowboys have won so many games in the final moments this year (v. Storm by 1, Warriors by 4, Knights by 2, Manly by 4, Parramatta by 6, Canberra by 1...). Thurston is the difference. That's 12 NRL points!
3. Cricket. Will be interesting to see when Mitchell Marsh replaces Shane Watson. Can't be too far away surely. Ryan Harris has joined the team so the big dilemma is who is left out. Harris will play. I suspect it will be Lyon - or Johnson. Johnson seems down on pace again for mine and nothing like his last Ashes in Australia. How can you lose it so quickly? Grow that mo!
4. Super 15. Highlanders won well. The Brumbies have been gallant winning yet again in South Africa, but need some more spark. Not enough in the tank for mine. Tomane's opposite was terrible.
5. Swans. The week off, but well set for the semis again. Like the look of North Melbourne but Port Adelaide are on a fast downwards spiral. They were terrible to lose to Carlton. The video ref in AFL is one of the worst. The beer must flow steadily into the video ref box.
6. US Golf. Jason Day has had a vertigo relapse, but still finished strongly. A great story with the news editors across the world gathering their headlines...He has shown amazing character. Here's hoping for a better than top ten in a major.
Is it unfair to suggest Adam Scott may be a one trick pony in winning majors? A magnificent pony it was, but top 20 is often as good as it gets. How soon a No 1 in the world fades...What to make of Tiger? He seems to have almost lost it. I suspect he will be back sometime, but not soon. Speith is the new champion to beat. Calm under pressure!
7. Intriguing to see that another innocent Australian sportswoman has been done for drugs in swimming this time. Kylie Palmer. Looks like a cross between Petria Thomas and Dimity Douglas. No idea how it got there of course...maybe toothpaste, too much sex, infected food, crook drink, fine print on medicine...or maybe Warnie's mum gave it to her. It was a diuretic.
8. UFC. I find it very hard to believe this to be a credible sport. Tough. Uncompromising no doubt. Fit. Strong, but oh so brutal. One of those sports that no one knows the names of its best players. Like ten pin bowling. Maybe it needs to be in the Olympics too?
9. The netball. These women are superb athletes. Tough and skilful. Big in the shoulders. Unbelievable comeback by the Queensland Firebirds. Edging towards a choke by the Swifts. Superb theatre. Let's hope the Matilda's can knock over Brazil tonight. Now that would be a glorious choke!
Got to say that the ref - Gerard Sutton - is dreadful. His effort to march across both team's ten metre line and blow a penalty in front of the sticks was the legend of Jack Danzy or Kevin - 'Bilko' - Roberts. Amazing time warp stuff for the modern era. He did it twice!
How Aaron Woods did not win the MOTM is beyond me. He was dominant and tough. Farah was down on form with a busted shoulder (good story when you win), Hoppa is still mediocre and Pearce must run with the footy. We look electric when he runs the ball. A much improved player. Love the way Merrin and Klemmer play. Hard. Cordner is a bit of an imposter however.
This Klemmer is truly mad. We need a bit of that. Jennings...how he could be such a galoot is beyond me, but just for a moment would a policeman get a bit starry eyed and suddenly intolerant at 2.30am in Parramatta and make a name for himself? Never. Not much good happens in Parramatta after 12.00pm. Not a lot of good happens before 12.00pm either, just quietly.
2. Interesting to see Thurston get agitated in Origin footy. It happens a bit. Not a sign of it in club ball, but when playing for QLD he seems to lapse into it - especially if scoreboard pressure is mounting. Still the best in the game and by far the best player we have seen. Quite amazing really. He backs up and beats Canberra on his own. The Cowboys have won so many games in the final moments this year (v. Storm by 1, Warriors by 4, Knights by 2, Manly by 4, Parramatta by 6, Canberra by 1...). Thurston is the difference. That's 12 NRL points!
3. Cricket. Will be interesting to see when Mitchell Marsh replaces Shane Watson. Can't be too far away surely. Ryan Harris has joined the team so the big dilemma is who is left out. Harris will play. I suspect it will be Lyon - or Johnson. Johnson seems down on pace again for mine and nothing like his last Ashes in Australia. How can you lose it so quickly? Grow that mo!
4. Super 15. Highlanders won well. The Brumbies have been gallant winning yet again in South Africa, but need some more spark. Not enough in the tank for mine. Tomane's opposite was terrible.
5. Swans. The week off, but well set for the semis again. Like the look of North Melbourne but Port Adelaide are on a fast downwards spiral. They were terrible to lose to Carlton. The video ref in AFL is one of the worst. The beer must flow steadily into the video ref box.
6. US Golf. Jason Day has had a vertigo relapse, but still finished strongly. A great story with the news editors across the world gathering their headlines...He has shown amazing character. Here's hoping for a better than top ten in a major.
Is it unfair to suggest Adam Scott may be a one trick pony in winning majors? A magnificent pony it was, but top 20 is often as good as it gets. How soon a No 1 in the world fades...What to make of Tiger? He seems to have almost lost it. I suspect he will be back sometime, but not soon. Speith is the new champion to beat. Calm under pressure!
7. Intriguing to see that another innocent Australian sportswoman has been done for drugs in swimming this time. Kylie Palmer. Looks like a cross between Petria Thomas and Dimity Douglas. No idea how it got there of course...maybe toothpaste, too much sex, infected food, crook drink, fine print on medicine...or maybe Warnie's mum gave it to her. It was a diuretic.
8. UFC. I find it very hard to believe this to be a credible sport. Tough. Uncompromising no doubt. Fit. Strong, but oh so brutal. One of those sports that no one knows the names of its best players. Like ten pin bowling. Maybe it needs to be in the Olympics too?
9. The netball. These women are superb athletes. Tough and skilful. Big in the shoulders. Unbelievable comeback by the Queensland Firebirds. Edging towards a choke by the Swifts. Superb theatre. Let's hope the Matilda's can knock over Brazil tonight. Now that would be a glorious choke!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Wrap - Holding On
1. Swans. Buddy Franklin is in some sort of form. Worth every cent. His dominance and length of kick is unparalleled in the game. Popular? Not really, but all class and is a clear matchwinner. His teammates love him. A good sign. The work of the Swans midfield is also exceptional. Jarred McVey is a calm legend of the game. However Kurt Tippett may be on the look out for a new club - and Rhys Shaw. Too many ineffectual plays and looseness. No place in the modern game.
2. The Warriors. Has there been a squad more powerful and dynamic than this lot - and a bunch of more disappointing underperformers? They are woeful at times.
3. I noticed Andrew McFadyn has donned the slimline jumper - and Paul Green has gotten rid of the blue checked shirt. Says something.
4. Waratahs. Despite my ongoing baggings, they have triumphed once more and are well positioned to make another final. Congrats to them all and like Graham Arnold, Michael Chieka is one of our best man managers in all of Australian sport (conversely, look at the Western Force!). I suspect the Brumbies - whose defence has been one of the strongest all season - may have something to say about that.
5. When will an Australian sport take the US lead and make the Grand Final a best of three? One home. One away. Final one dictated by the highest finishing team. What a money spinner (a la Origin) that would be. Think MLB, NBA...Some of these sports need to start thinking differently.
6. Cricket. Steve Smith looks in good form - again (has he ever been out of form?). I still think his lateral crease shuffle at the point of playing the ball could be exploited more. However, what bowlers in the current world crop are good enough to do this? Anderson? Broad? Steyn? Morkel? It would be nice to see Shane Watson get more than 30 runs in a Test. Borrowed time surely.
Did you see some of the excuses given for not playing in the Test by some of the West Indians..Bishoo (bad finger) and Samuels in particular. Marlon Samuels is surely on his last warning. He has a lot of the Gayles/ Bravos about him. The flu? He was sitting there in a shirt and shorts. Maybe a heartlidge or a paper cut. Anyone missing Chanderpaul?
Loved seeing some old fashioned West Indian fast bowling aggression...a few jaw ticklers...that Holder reminds me of Big Bird/ Ambrose! Starc is fast becoming our main man too.
7. Women's Football World Cup. Highly skilled and amazing brutality! There is some old fashioned entertainment in this sport, where players seem to be enjoying playing for the thrill of representing their country and winning!
2. The Warriors. Has there been a squad more powerful and dynamic than this lot - and a bunch of more disappointing underperformers? They are woeful at times.
3. I noticed Andrew McFadyn has donned the slimline jumper - and Paul Green has gotten rid of the blue checked shirt. Says something.
4. Waratahs. Despite my ongoing baggings, they have triumphed once more and are well positioned to make another final. Congrats to them all and like Graham Arnold, Michael Chieka is one of our best man managers in all of Australian sport (conversely, look at the Western Force!). I suspect the Brumbies - whose defence has been one of the strongest all season - may have something to say about that.
5. When will an Australian sport take the US lead and make the Grand Final a best of three? One home. One away. Final one dictated by the highest finishing team. What a money spinner (a la Origin) that would be. Think MLB, NBA...Some of these sports need to start thinking differently.
6. Cricket. Steve Smith looks in good form - again (has he ever been out of form?). I still think his lateral crease shuffle at the point of playing the ball could be exploited more. However, what bowlers in the current world crop are good enough to do this? Anderson? Broad? Steyn? Morkel? It would be nice to see Shane Watson get more than 30 runs in a Test. Borrowed time surely.
Did you see some of the excuses given for not playing in the Test by some of the West Indians..Bishoo (bad finger) and Samuels in particular. Marlon Samuels is surely on his last warning. He has a lot of the Gayles/ Bravos about him. The flu? He was sitting there in a shirt and shorts. Maybe a heartlidge or a paper cut. Anyone missing Chanderpaul?
Loved seeing some old fashioned West Indian fast bowling aggression...a few jaw ticklers...that Holder reminds me of Big Bird/ Ambrose! Starc is fast becoming our main man too.
7. Women's Football World Cup. Highly skilled and amazing brutality! There is some old fashioned entertainment in this sport, where players seem to be enjoying playing for the thrill of representing their country and winning!
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