Wrap - The Opposite Consonant Stadium

1. It's Official. Black footy boots are making a comeback. A cracking look. Looks like a school kid who forgot their sandshoes for training after school, playing in school shoes instead.


2. NRL. A few cracks in the Melbourne Storm armour are appearing. Bellamy is getting a taste of reality now... no Cronk, Slater and soon no Smith. These players are amazing and rare - and don't come around every year. He needs to be patient. A little like John Longmire. Great players fade eventually and you need to rebuild. It takes time. You have to admire his high expectations however. Uncompromising high standards will always get more out of the team than anyone else.


3. Parramatta. A strong win today when all seemed lost at 14-0 down. The crowd there was massive by NRL standards. Looks like a great venue...even if the ABC never call it by its commercial name. And to think they did all this without Tim Mannah.


4. Gutho - Parramatta. I am going to say it again... I think Parramatta are getting it completely right with Gutherson. He is not a match winner and post knee injury he looks slower. Solid, but not worth $800,000 a year. More like $600,000. I tire of seeing blokes like Gutho saying he was hurt by the original offer. If he is so hurt, sign and ease the pain. There will not be teams lining up to sign him at $800K and if there is, there will be another player coming through the ranks who can play the position for $200K. Look at Dufty from St George. A gun attacking talent (defence can improve), but on small dollars.


When you look at Michael Jennings who has the best manager in world history, it is a big lesson...and Anthony Watmough, Beau Scott. These blokes were paid far too much... despite what the Daily Telegraph and Matty Johns think. Brad Arthur should be getting a return gig soon. He will be the glue again. He should get the change from the Gutherson deal.


5. Latrell Mitchell played an awesome game on Saturday night v Tigers. His speed and strength is amazing. He is one of those athletes who do not look like they are actually moving, but motors! The next GI (of course). Come to think of it, most blokes seem to play well against the paper thin defence of the Tigers.


6. Coach sackings. Tipping that one of Garth Brennan, Michael Maguire, Ivan Cleary or Anthony Seibold may be the first sacked. Nathan Brown has eased in the betting with a draw that gave him the Eels and then the Warriors.


7. AFL. Liking the change of balance in the comp this year. A few other teams not always in the frame are rising up well. Geelong, Collingwood, GWS, Brisbane, Fremantle, St Kilda. It adds to the interest factor. Geelong look sharp.


8. Cricket. Love to see a hat trick in any form of cricket, but if you see the Rajasthtan Royals v Mumbai Indians, there was a terrible fumble under a complete sitter by Trent Boult (NZ) to secure the hat trick. This would have been Mishra's fourth IPL hat trick. Always hate seeing blokes drop sitters.


How about Dave Warner? 692 runs (avg 69.20; 8 fifties; one ton; most fours at 57; 21 sixes) and then he exits back to Australia to prep for the World Cup. He may just be the best in the world outside of Kholi, even after missing a year!


I would love to see the day that Indian players play in our BBL... even the second tier ones are highly talented. India should be the number one cricketing nation forever based on their talent pool and its size.


9. Rugby. The sooner the Israel Folau issue is resolved the better. The Waratahs can always sign his brother John Folau. Would you rather cocaine using/ pedalling blokes consorting with crims in the code or Israel? Seems like the double standards of both rugby and league will blow up for both codes soon as Jack de Belin seeks to clear his name. Hard to see him playing again, but it may divide the Pacific Islander players who dominate the code, ignite racial tensions and eventually set up stronger international teams. What a saga. Nice to see the junior Wallabies beat the junior All Blacks (U/20s) on the Gold Coast. Cling to that photo while it lasts.


10. EPL. Interesting to see the goal difference between Liverpool (94 points) and Manchester City (92 points) is only three goals. The prospect of Man City dropping points in the last two rounds (Leicester 51 points, Brighton - near drop zone) is highly unlikely however which will leave Liverpool (Wolves 55 points) stranded one point below. Likely to be 98 Man City v 97 Liverpool. It will be sensational if Man City drops points mid week.The interesting feature is how desperate some of the teams become to get points and avoid relegation. It can bear surprises. Leicester and Wolves are in good nick and have both had great years really.


11. A League. Starting to hot up now. Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory should be tight. Will Berisha get yet another semi final goal for Melbourne Victory? While Perth Glory will be too good for anyone they need to face. Their season mirrors the EPL in length, but needs promotion/ relegation.

Wrap - Two Left Feet

1. AFL. The AFL has some great traditions. Nothing greater than the black phone with cord on the bench. A cracking piece of retro work from the AFL. That and the trombone and tuba in the team songs... I noticed that at Bank West Stadium the 'Click Go The Shears' song for Parramatta is back. About time. A little history and tradition builds belief. The AFL have been doing it for years.


Come to think of it, surely revisiting footy cards (Scanlen Gum as sponsors of course) would be a huge sales idea for a big enough corporation these days? That or Hutton's Footy Franks. Only problem.. greedy player managers and players who want a cut.




2. NRL. The Titans are on the skids. Parramatta are always on the edge of disintegration... a bad loss to Newcastle. Big loss for the Roosters with Jake Friend out injured. Broncos bounced back and the Sharks need players back. I must say young Bronson Xerri has pace to burn, but has hands like a digital clock. Terrible at this early stage. Nerves? Too keen? He needs to stop running sideways too. A young kid with tremendous talent. Jermaine Isaako's hands for the Broncos are not much better. Basics that define careers. A hard career criticism to shake. Ask Dolf.


3. NRL. Is there a league player capable of becoming the first NRL player to be known by one name? eg. Ronaldo for Cronulla? This one had two left feet sadly.


3A. NRL. Bring back the lower grades on the same day as the NRL fixture. Prelim games (U/23 and Reserve Grade) and get the players off the main field warming up. A ridiculous development - and yet another player (Dugan) injured in the warm up. It brings back images of Tom Raudonikis explaining that he had never seen Lohnro or Black Caviar with the leg up on the rail stretching before running to victory. Take us back to Rex Mossop in the sheds with players on the benches getting their 'warm up' rub downs. Never seemed to be an issue. Is Hunter Douglas still in business?



4. EPL - Liverpool v Man City. The two horse race for the premiership looks like everyone will keep winning and Liverpool will be stranded on second place at a record high number of points. Man City are extraordinary. Their recent run of wins positions them as an exceptional performer in recent years. Fulham, Huddersfield are goone! Norwich City, Sheffield United and perhaps Leeds United are all set for a Premier League recall. This is the true excitement of the EPL!


5. MLB. The Red Sox as current World Series winners are in a world of pain. However don't dismiss the odd bet at present on Boston Bruins - Boston Celtics - Boston Red Sox. Great value possible.


6. Waratahs. They are the perennial underachievers. A narrow loss is far more common than a narrow win. Under pressure as usual. Not sure why they play at Bankwest Stadium... cash obviously, but 10,000 there? More come to Brookvale! Typical opportunistic rugby...looking for a quick buck when they have done nothing significant for anyone west of Eastwood for a long, long time.


7. Swans. GWS have great speed and legs. They minced the Swans. The lack of pace and skill is troubling. Longmire may need to be moved on soon. It is starting to sound like it. Freo and St Kilda on the charge. Geelong and GWS are the big dogs in 2019.


8. Tennis. Noticed that Nadal lost the semi of the Barcelona Open (he has only won it the 11 times!). The clay season is upon us. Thiem is the man now as they head into the French Open on May 20. Roger at 38 years of age may yet do a Tiger! Two in a year might be too much.


In 2011 and 2015, Djokovic held the Australian, US and Wimbledon titles in the one year, but was denied at the French Open. Three held simultaneously, but not the fourth. Federer did it in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and Nadal in 2010. However, Novak looks most likely to hold every Grand Slam title at once. He has won the last three and has 15 Grand Slam wins. Awesomely poised for a 16th!

8. IPL. Loving the regular games. The slower decks make it so even between bat and ball. Easily the best short form tournament in the world. Spare a thought for Ashton Turner...three golden ducks in a row! He hit the match winning three on Saturday night to break the duck (talk about faith by the selectors!). Steve Smith took a cracking catch to dismiss Dave Warner too.


Not a great stage to be doing this. It can affect your pay packet! Dave Warner on the other hand has hit five successive fifties, a record for the IPL, up there with the great Sehwag! Warner is incredible how he plays the slow low ball. A tight, compact defence and attacking disposition is adopted wisely. Very effective.

Wrap - Rare Sightings

1. Tiger Woods. Following planning for the rain and storms that never ever arrived at Augusta, the red shirted Woods seized his fifth green jacket in an awesome display. The media's obsession with his trumping of Jack Nickalaus's majors win record is back in fashion, but this was a supreme comeback on the most glorious of stages. How good is the Masters? My tip Koepka was a shot back and is one to watch in majors. He has the poise and composure to win a few more yet.


2. New Greg Inglis. Inglis retires and the memories keep being relived, but already this week we have two "nexts". Xerri scores a try and they have him in the Origin frame all of a sudden. A dangerous game looking for 'nexts' for one who had so much talent. Ask the "next" Peter Sterling... Galbraith, Bell, Kusto, Fitzhenry, Tollett, Lawler, Blackett, Frare, Freeman, Simon, Penna, Pezet, PJ, McFadden, Dykes, Drew, Green, Witt, Thorman, Smith, Finch, Keating...


3. Roosters v Storm. Latrell Mitchell's field goal was awesome. He is some sort of player (some say the next Greg Inglis!). And what of Melbourne? Still super competitive until the death. Fantastic team still, but gave a big lead up early. Cameron Smith is an awesome champion.


4. IPL. Steve Smith has been given the captaincy reigns from the unpredictable Ajinkya Rahane in a massive move by the Rajasthtan Royals in the IPL. He looks a touch overweight to me, but still carved out a matchwinning innings. Andre Russell (377 runs striking at 220) and Chris Gayle (421 runs) have been awesome in the IPL this year. Rahul, de Kock and Bairstow have been some of the other stars. Dave Warner (450 runs) still leads the way. Kohli's century yesterday was again amazing (100 off 58 balls). Rabada has 21 wickets and Tahir 15 with the ball.


5. Smile. Hard to believe I know, but I just may have seen Ricky Stuart smile yesterday. Rare sighting, probably a mirage. There will be no smiles for Cleary... Seibold... Kearney and Nathan Brown. Sadly, some of these blokes may not have a job soon. The Broncos and Panthers are under extreme heat.


6. Federation Cup Tennis. Ash Barty and Sam Stosur lead Australian' women's tennis to the Federation Cup final on the weekend. Barty is a star, dominating the Belarus team - Azarenko in particular. She is a star on the rise and so competitive for Australia. All strength to her with such a resurgence following a stint in the WBBL.


7. Winx. 33 in a row and never to be beaten. We have all waited a life time to see anything similar. Tremendous crowd and in the end the show rolls on. Osborne Bulls is a tough horse, but too often the bridesmaid for mine. Liked the run of Castelvecchio too. A crushing victory with excellent pace.


8. Waratahs. They did well to toss the Rebels after staring defeat in the face. Looked like the SCG turf held up this week too. Still a terrible ground to watch footy at. How did we cope in those 1980's semis and GFs?


9. AFL Upsets. Suddenly losses to the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, West Coast, GWS and Brisbane have the tipsters in a world of pain. The Hawthorn-Geelong game tomorrow looms as a massive showdown. Hard to tip early. Slightly bigger than the Bank West game between Tigers and Eels.


10. ACB Contracts. Thankfully no Mitchell Marsh or Peter Siddle in the contracted players for Cricket Australia this week. Hopefully they are looking ahead at this point... Harris, Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, Head...but no Kurtis Patterson? Odd.


11. MLB - Red Sox. Off to their worst start in franchise history. 8 wins/ 13 losses is not good and they are propping up their American League East rivals, trailing badly as the carry over champs.


12. EPL - Liverpool. They have only lost one game this season, yet could still trail Manchester City. They need to maintain the rage!

Wrap - June Premiers

1. Masters 2019. What a great championships it is in every element. Tiger looks a hot chance, but Molinari seems flawless. Look for Brooks Koepka. A three time major winner and PGA Player of the Year last year. He is cool and calm and has a US Open or two and US PGA medal in the golf bag. Enjoy the theatre and the emotion. Bad weather seems to have established a new precedent, preventing the Monday late to work brigade across the country.


2. NRL. A few teams are starting to fall in a heap. Newcastle and Penrith in particular. The elusive eight wins (to beat last season) is not in danger at present from Parramatta. They will struggle again for depth and copped a complete shellacking last night. The Berries need to relocate on that form. Terrible. Two of Melbourne-Roosters-Souths will be in the Grand Final already.


3. NRL Rule Problem 1. Starting to see an area needing a complete overhaul in league. The kick receiver under a bomb needs protection, especially outside of their own ten metre zone. This 'kick and crash' tactic is weak. The bloke under the ball is highly vulnerable. The rule could simply be that if contact is made in a contested grab for the ball in the air, it is play on. If it is a one man grab, chasers need to give five metres. Simple.


4. NRL Rule Problem 2. That NFL rule for interfering with a kicker of the ball should be applied too: a defensive player commits a "roughing the kicker" foul if he (a) contacts the plant leg of the kicker while his kicking leg is still in the air; or (b) slides into or contacts the kicker when both of the kicker’s feet are on the ground. 


5. NRL Rule Problem 3. Is it time to give metreage penalties to offences? Serious foul play offences cost (automatic) further metres - then a kick for touch. It would be a fierce deterrent.


6. AFL. GWS are the June Premiers every year. They need to get beyond the hype and stay fit. Great win v Geelong. Essendon are surprising (Brisbane how bad after so much promise?) and the Gold Coast Suns may offer something more this year. West Coast look a mile in front for mine. Sydney need a re-build. A long way away.


7. EPL. Liverpool v Chelsea tonight will be critical for the title race. A win positions Liverpool nicely...a loss is unthinkable. Spurs and ManU thrashing it out for the top four spot with Man City and Arsenal.  Some teams have completely given up...Huddersfield are the worst.


8. Israel Folau. He must want a new career. Surely he has enough money now. Time to hang up the boots and relax. Enough controversy.


9. Super Rugby. A stumbling start to the year by the Australian teams... up and down inconsistency. Brad Thorne has not quite hit the success he earned as a player. Should have sought the Crusaders coaching gig instead. They will be premiers already again. So far in front.


10. NSW State of Origin. Jimmy the Jet and Latrell Mitchell do dopey things on the grog in the one week. When will they learn?


11. How good is Lewis Hamilton? Yet another win in the Chinese GP. Riccardo's sunglasses got caught in the Renault engine and it limped home seventh.

Wrap - Goldilocks and the Three Golden Points

1. Cameron Smith is about to get every award in the game. Most points ever is a tough one to win. He is the most 'uninjured' player ever to lace a boot on as well.


Corey Norman has done it again winning two games for the Dragsters. More than he did in seasons at Parramatta. Both Souths and Newcastle should have won their games in regular time and both missed field goals you usually pot. When can we have golden try? This would be much better!


Is it time to close down the Gold Coast Titans again. They need to get serious. Their rookie coach has not fired. They need a hard head there.


2. Three Golden Point wins (Manly, Penrith, Saints) and a two point win by the Storm. Young Ryan Papanhuyzen, Bowdy's neighbour, had a complete shocker spilling the beans and almost sending the game into yet another golden point.


3. NRL. The sound warning system at the NRL. How amateurish? It sounds like an old Katell game.


4. NRL Rule Change. The protection of a stationary kicker needs to follow the NFL lead. Simple.


5. IPL. Drey-Russ is easily the most devastating player in the IPL. His 48 off 13 balls was very special. Do well there and write your own ticket to life. It could be the best auction you never attended. Cash is no problem.


6. AFL. Melbourne have had both wheels roll off the wagon. The Swans looked fractionally better but the West Coast are going to trouble teams. The pace at Brisbane Lions on a dry track will eventually electrify. They could be bionic with a little harder turf under foot. Amazing how Hawthorn continue to be so consistent. GWS, Brisbane and Geelong are all on fire.


7. Waratahs. A walking inconsistent disappointment. What a frustrating team to follow.


8. Sydney FC. Winning ugly on a treacherous deck at the SCG. They may have enough steel when it matters. Steve Corica was the original Sydney FC winner. can he repeat it as a player?


9. EPL. The race for the top four is hotting up with Man City, Liverpool safe.. and Arsenal, Chelsea, ManU and Tottenham in the mix. Did you know Liverpool have lost ONE game all year? Extraordinary. Fullan, Huddersfield and Cardiff are set to sink back into League One play as well.

Wrap - Dream On

1. Cricket. Shield Final. Strong win by Victoria yet again. Marcus Harris has booked his spot on the Ashes trip. (No Marnus, no Burns?). A tricky deck against some great bowling and he lands 141 out of a first innings of 289. Only Will Pucovski and Kurtis Patterson also got above 50 in the match! That may get both an air ticket to England too. A tough seaming deck (impossible really) with a Duke ball is an excellent Ashes test of skill. Top bowling from James Pattinson (7 wkts) and Trent Copeland (8 wkts). Copeland is my smokey now that Jhye Richardson is struggling with a shoulder. He could do an Alderman - and he fields in the gully or cordon - bonus. Pattinson has been injury plagued and is likely to do a hammy on the plane unfortunately. Lots of talent and pace however.


2. Cricket. ODIs. Australia have finally rested Cummins. He is Ashes gold and should not be in the UAE. Finch back in the runs and Handscomb has shown some good steel under fire. Amazing how you win when your bats get runs. Alex Carey is finished for mine. No runs. Maybe Josh Phillipe may get the golden handshake and call up.


Justin Langer may be losing the plot. He has said that Glenn Maxwell could be our Virat Kohli. Maxwell shows glimpses of greatness for sure, but I will take Virat any day. Entirely consistent and averages over 50 in every form of the game. The best we have ever seen I suspect.


3. Cricket. IPL. What a great tournament it is. Andre Russell is the man who turns games like no other. His batting has been sensational. Warner not far away either. Not convinced Smith has done enough for a recall. They will need to harden up. They will be sledged unmercifully in those small English grounds. Interesting how Ravi Ashwin recovers from his Mankad disgrace. Desperate and the Indian press sounded very silent here for some strange reason. No one brave enough to say anything perhaps? Very sad.


4. NRL. Cameron Smith is zooming in on the all time points record. Amazing work from a bloke who just keeps going and going. He will have broken every record in the game by the time he ends and could then move clubs if he is not wanted. What a Titans or others in England would give for his smarts on the paddock.


5. NRL Top Eight. Put a line through the Warriors and the Knights. Eels OK v Roosters but can't concentrate for 80 minutes. Raiders may surprise and the Dragsters will go close. They need to play Dufty and bite their tongues. Penrith might need to get their skates on soon too. Bulldogs surprise!


6. Waratahs. From the penthouse to the outhouse in one week. They beat the Crusaders and lose to the Sunwolves! Adopting a silly rotation policy of their stars. Ever since sporting "high performance" landed in sport, we all seem to have gone backwards. A deserved loss sadly.


7. AFL. Essendon on the skids and Sydney look like they will struggle. They have not off loaded enough of their mids and still lack pace for mine. Geelong and Port power on too. How bad were GWS? The Adelaide W-League team went well too and become premiers.


8. EPL. Huddersfield, Fulham and Cardiff all look gone. Interested to see Leeds United may be back in the top flight league next year! Huddersfield have been completely decimated this year. A shameful exit so early for their desperate fans.


9. A League. The world's longest comp keeps going. Sydney FC look a long way from Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory for mine. Time will tell.


10. Ashley Barty. What a success story she is having defied the critics and health concerns and powered into the top 10 in the Miami Open. A long way from playing WBBL in Brisbane. She has more business yet and should do really well in the US Open. A complete talent on the back of torturous hard work.
11. Daniel Riccardo. Can there be any more drama around him? Our press love to ham it up, but he needs to get rid of the sunnies and start "podiuming"!

Wrap - Eight Is Enough

1. Top Eight. The top eight in the NRL is almost set for mine after two rounds (early call!):

 

• Melbourne Storm
• Roosters
• South Sydney
• Broncos
• Cronulla
• Penrith
• North QLD
• Warriors/ Parramatta/ Tigers/ Newcastle/ Saints

 

No chance: Titans, Raiders, Manly, Bulldogs.

 

2. Parramatta. Great to be able to say they have one two in a row, which is rare. They only won seven last year in total. Blake Ferguson has a lot of ability. Keeping his ego in check will be the hardest bit. The Eels will stumble along, but a brighter start than usual with plenty of points scored. The biggest challenge will be to keep their forwards fit across the year. I don't see a lot of depth there.


Interested to see Joey Johns suggest that 12 teams is enough in the NRL. Home and away games only and a massive salary cap too.


3. Dylan Brown. Seeking a million dollar pay day after one round? Really? As Sterlo said, he should focus on more gym work and more tackles before he goes to his bank manager. Fair dinkum. He is not that good.

 

4. Winx. What a sensational horse! 32 straight will take some beating. The acceleration without the whip is pretty special. Bowman just lets her go. Winx has made Hugh a very wealthy man too.

 

5. AFL. Brisbane looked impressive with their speed and youth. Port as well. GWS absolutely blitzed the Dons. Sydney also struggled with the Dogs and may be headed for a top ten finish outside of the eight. The Saints almost had a catastrophe. the Suns can collect their wooden spoon straight away and go to Mad Monday tomorrow.

 

6. Tennis. The tennis players are warming up... but being in Miami is not where it needs to be. Clay court season is upon everyone and the French Open beckons. Why play hard courts? Kgyrios is exhibiting terrible manners again and he needs to be banned for a time to get the message. World tennis seems to be enabling him and giving his poor behaviour oxygen.

 

7. The Reds. A top win v the Brumbies. Tough work and has Thorn turned the corner?


8. Sheffield Shield. NSW did well to make the final in the end. Abbott's inswing (7 for...) was like the ball was wet with tape around it. The batting around the grounds has completely collapsed with the Duke ball sliding around everywhere. Trent Copeland has dominated (best Shield bowling average at 18.80) and a good final with plenty of wickets will get him to the Ashes (the new Alderman). Maybe Jhye Richardson still knocks him out of the ring. Marcus Harris remains the highest 2018-2019 Shield run scorer and will end like that too. The others need a triple century each. The Shield final may throw up an Ashes tourist (Holdsworth or Mark Taylor like), so there is hope yet for a few. Pucovski looks good, but is earning a reputation as a 'duck or a hundred' man.


9. Good to see the IPL back in action. What a tournament! It survives without any TV coverage in Australia.


8. The other good news of the weekend is that Allianz Stadium is about to get knocked over.