Wrap - Sin Bin Whim

1. NRL. Souths will be kicked hard by Canberra. What an advantage to have beaten Melbourne and get away from the Roosters/ Storm side of the draw. Great reward. Souths were pretty flat and Manly were marginally worse. Terrible sin binning of Trobjevic, but don't grab blokes in support I guess.


Melbourne were just too clinical for a Parramatta team that simply cannot defend in their own red zone. They put the ball in the in-goal time and time again and simply dominated possession. They were more desperate and know how to win. Parramatta make too many handling errors and basic poor tackling reads. Under pressure, the Parramatta decision-making was awful. The nerves and stupid kicks... the shoulder charges... the slow defensive line speed... Luck off Moses leg, the Fijian flyer, Vunivalu, was exceptional knocking the ball back in.


It was like the 2009 Grand Final. Shell shock and inadequate play under pressure by Parramatta. Their Grand Final was last week v the horses.


Sivo had a complete shocker. Did a shoulder charge, knocked into the winger not even looking at the ball, dropped the ball, took the ball when he should have let it go dead...scored a try in his own in goal. The naive newcomer Fijian player cannot wash any more after 22 tries. Parramatta's inability to take the line on in attack was pathetic really. Gutherson and Moses were the main offenders. Gutho's efforts from the back were woeful really. They got a little lucky but Parramatta deserved nothing else. The difference between blokes who make poker machines and blokes who use them.


2. The NRL Referees have lost the plot. Open palm slaps - fair dinkum. The Jake Trobjevic and Cameron Smith sin binnings were ridiculous. The NRL referees want to become the star of the show in finals time and have once again over reacted to the whole Storm v Canberra game. can't believe they dropped Ashley Clown... he'll be back.


The Souths fight under the posts...the Souths blokes are both fined and the Manly bloke who used the initial open palm gets off! Go figure.


Referees are best not seen - ever. That is the best ref. Bill Harrigan was good at this.


Three Parramatta players gone to HIA in three minutes. This is where replacements should be able to come into the game. Silliness.


It may be time for Todd Greenberg to step up - or out.


3. AFL. Richmond will be pretty impossible to beat at the MCG. The GWS stagefright (Parramatta) factor may become real (?). If it is dry, both teams have players who have so much speed. This needs to be observed by other clubs. Speed wins in the modern game. Note that Swans. GWS finally deliver on their promise and against the odds it must be said. Will be a cracker. A Grand Final in the middle of the day is such a better thing. We miss this in the NRL.


4. World Cup Rugby. Great stadium and awesome atmosphere. Ireland, NZ impressed and France/ Australia impressive in patches. However the game is far too slow for viewers these days. Some re-assessment of rules need to occur in rugby:


1. Time off when ball not in play. Eliminate the NFL approach which has crept in however. Laboured.
2. "Scrum clock" to enable scrums to be completed and done in a set amount of time - no more. Scrum resolved or penalty given.
3. Quick tap in rugby is excellent but it needs to happen more often.
4.  No stupid bombs/ kicks from the scrum by the fly half. Useless tactic.
5. Advantage is only for 10 seconds  - no longer.... then it is play on! It goes too long.
6. The 'play on' for the final play at the end of the game is excellent... but why not save a few more minutes across the game.
7. Replacements are made in the flow of the game - not to slow down the game when it is getting interesting or a a team is under pressure.
8. Get defenders back further at the breakdown.


5. Marsh Cup OD Cricket (Did Justin Langer name this?). Stoinis hits a six on the last ball of their innings to get a ton...and brings up Will Sutherland's ton as a bowler (1/102). This is a ridiculous tournament with super poor timing...Why are we playing it now? Young Nick Bertus from Castle Hill debuted for the Blues on the weekend making 69no. Great prospect.


**Must say that Matthew Wade produced in that final Ashes innings under pressure. I wonder whether his mouth pushes him out of contention. Surely Kurtis Patterson and Will Pucovski need to come in and Head needs to make runs.

Wrap - Fireworks Overload - Touch and Go

1. Ashes. There is a decided worry when you win the toss at the Oval (noted batting deck) and bowl. Why do you do it? Is it a rain forecast (clear), arrogance (possibly) or is it that your batting is so terrible you want to test the opposition's terrible batting (tick). Across the system, the top order batting of Warner, Harris, Bancroft, Khawaja, Wade (one ton aside), Paine has been awful. Horrible. Stuart Broad never tires of playing us. His wicket tally blooms against Australia. James Anderson would be very upset. Warner and Harris can't get out of there quick enough. Pathetic really.


I noticed Australia needs a bowling coach...Jimmy Anderson might be worth using? I noticed Brad Haddin is returning home too... I like the presence of Steve Waugh around the team - and if Warney could pull his head in for a short amount of time, he would be useful too. I think he gets too much money elsewhere. Imagine if Warney was a selector!


The best news of the whole campaign is that Greg Chappell is finished as a selector... Hopefully Hohns follows him out the door too. He should join Kevin Chappell playing golf making a 59!


Steve Smith to return as skipper ASAP. Wade never to play again. Carey in for Paine. Joe Burns in as opener with Warner and Pucovski and Patterson included and patiently nurtured as the future with Labaschagne and Smith. Positions are up for grabs. Travis Head has let his position slip badly. He was 'a lock' going over.


2. Fireworks. Have we become fireworks mad as a country? We seemingly need fireworks whenever we step out to watch sport at night - or so some people think. One in the eye for little Joey... there's a court case right there. The fireworks metaphor is so clichéd in contact sport at night, but this might represent a re-think. The gas flame burst is the other approach....warms you up on a cold night at least. More day time games for me. A better standard.


2. NRL Finals. You have to give it to Canberra. Two wins in Melbourne this year on the back of thumping defence. Love this Horsborough and Bateman is a superstar (best pom since Ellery Hanley). Jack Wighton has become a super player this year. So quick on his feet and tougher for the Origin run. Sezer is also playing really strongly. Compare that game to the Manly-Cronulla game. Chalk and cheese. Manly won well, but no intensity really. What a disappointment Cronulla have been. They are set to go backwards like all premiers, but need to offload the salary cap "sponges" of Moylan, Woods, Johnson and Prior... expensive players who should go to England. Where was Fifita when you needed him? John Morris may need the hall of mirrors in the off season. He is on thin ice.


3. Touch and Go. Storm blow up about a touch judge call late in the game. Why can't that be reviewed? Anyhow, bad luck. Storm will still be there. Parramatta were awesome 58-0 v the terrible horses, but somehow you struggle to believe Parramatta will trouble them. As for the touchie...it could be "go" for him. BankWest stadium is a great venue it must be said.


4. AFL Finals. A great game between the Brisbane Lions and GWS. A great advertisement for supreme pace and its dominance in sport. Both teams are incredibly young and quick. That is the future. Liked the Geelong effort through Dangerfield. Always great to see the back of West Coast... so Collingwood, Geelong, GWS and Richmond it is... Richmond are specials for mine. A massive unbeaten run is their only issue.


Can GWS overcome their qualifying final hex? They need to be smarter in the key contests under pressure. Really like Toby Greene (grubby at times, but exceptional) and the flying blonde wig at the back, Nick Haynes. Supreme talents.


5. Basketball World Cup. The worldwide strength of this game is getting better and better. We just never seem to get to that gold medal game... Bogut is close to the Kgyrios of the sport. No medal in the end was disappointing.


6. EPL. Man City a loss to Norwich Canaries. Thank goodness. The EPL needs more upsets to keep its spice. It can become too predictable.


7. US Open - Nadal. How good is Nadal? He may pip Roger.... but those three will always be remembered as the best ever. Dominant.


8. Rugby World Cup. Does anyone hold any hopes for our chances? Maybe the fact no one does, is our best chance?


9. Great run on the weekend by Bivouac in the 'Run To The Rose' - and by our mate Tony Macrae's horse, Spanish Dream in the ninth at Rosehill on Saturday. A Sydney winner - sensational effort.

Wrap - Steve Smith Duck

1. Serena Williams. Still the greatest but has lost four out of the last eight finals. She appeared a shoe- in at the US Open and lost. She has been in 33 Grand Slam finals for 23 wins/ 10 losses... still two away from beating Margaret Court. I cannot see Rafa having any troubles in his final. He will go to 19 Grand Slams once behind Federer if he wins. Awesome player.


Meanwhile Ash Barty is in the doubles final. She keeps on winning but was disappointing in the singles.


2. The Ashes. Steve Smith is incredible. Sure, it is against a lower ranked side in England, but he is amazing. Gets 82 in the second innings toying with them. If he ever gets out we will struggle.


I think the whole of Australia lives in fear of a Smith duck. That might be bigger headlines than sandpaper gate! A Steve Smith duck is when you get belted so hard all you can do is duck! How good is it seeing the opposing skipper get a golden?! Joe Root under pressure.


The openers have been abysmal. Warner is the first since the great Graeme Wood to get three ducks in a row as opener. Wood was the greatest 'duck or a hundred' man you had ever seen. Mark Taylor had a terrible Ashes series going back and got a career saving ton at the Oval...hopefully Warner gets the chance, but Broad has him beat! Harris has been abysmal. I would be tempted to bring Carey in from county cricket - or Kurtis Patterson/ Will Pucovski, especially if we win this test.


Smith should be reinstated as skipper and Paine retired this summer. Carey is needed for the future.


3. AFL. Super wins by Richmond, Collingwood, GWS and West Coast. The crowds at GWS are getting worse. They are not western Sydney at all and have no traction there. Homebush is not west - sorry. West of Bondi, but not heartland. Richmond will be too strong again. The MCG masters.


4. NRL. Staggering that the Broncos will get a semi spot after the year they have had and they could knock over Parramatta first week as well. Tigers v Sharks was a cracker, but a shame they could both not be there. Loved the Gal field goal. He struck it well. Still believe Roosters are foxing and can win it again. Storm are strong as usual and with the NRL giving them rings and concessions left right and centre under Greenberg, they will be there at the end. Sam Burgess is a liability these days. He needs to be punted soon. Too ill disciplined.


Talking of which, how bad is this Hudson Young? What gives with this galoot? Suspend him for a long time and get rid of the current match review mob. Too confusing and pot luck.


5. NFL. How about the great coach, Bill Belichick? He gets a disaffected Antonio Brown from the Oakland Raiders on the cheap and again it will be a master stroke. He will star for them and they will go close again under Tom Brady's lead. Nothing like the attraction of success.


6. EPL. What about Watford? Four games in and their coach is sacked! Love it.

Wrap - Rough and Tough Calls

1. Ashes Cricket. (I need to get you to re-read last week's first Wrap item...scary). It didn't take too long. Mitchell Marsh is back in the selection frame (and Graham, PJ, Rod and Mrs Marsh...). This WA obsession will ruin Langer eventually. I thought he was smarter. Wade is on the rack - so is the great under performer Usman. He never gets runs when you need him and really needs the Shane Watson treatment that Shane never got...drop him hard and make him learn through pain. Don't be surprised if Bancroft gets in there somewhere too.

 

Our capitulation in the Headingley Test was a disgrace. I love how the media cast it as a great cricket moment. It was for England, but our bowling, fielding and poise were not world best. As predicted last week, we seem to bring great cricket moments to others and rarely if ever own them ourselves (SCG Test with India and the great Ishant Sharma glove fiasco, when Clarke got wickets is one notable exception...and then the team was attacked in the media!). We have lost too many tight ones to England (Botham, Flintoff.... Windies at Adelaide all those years ago...South Africa at the SCG... on it goes).

 

I put a lot of the blame at the feet of Tim Paine. The media coverup of his hopeless batting ("he's a great leader"...like Mike Brearley) is pathetic. See it for what it is...we cannot pick a bloke who is good with the gloves alone. Otherwise Darren Berry would have played 100 Tests for Australia.

 

2. NRL. The eight will come down to a Tigers v Sharks game for a spot. I cannot believe Cronulla have struggled so much in 2019. Injuries, sure but so has everyone. The coach and off field nonsense has hampered them. They are in strife with their roster and salary cap moving ahead. Poor leadership. Penrith is worse. Titans pathetic...Knights an amateur show. Storm-Roosters-Raiders...the best teams. Manly a terrible loss.

 

3. AFL. The big showdowns are on this weekend. I have dollars on Richmond (over Brisbane), Western Bulldogs (over GWS), Geelong (over Collingwood) and West Coast (over Essendon). Geelong-Collingwood stands to be a cracker. Still out on the week off and whether that adds to or diminishes the tension.

 

Once again the Hawks show the way with Roughhead being offloaded at the right time. Keran jack goes too which is well timed...and McVeigh. Attracting players to Sydney will be a challenge. If Papley and Zak Jones leave they will be in pain. Offloading Buddy Franklin needs to happen soon too.

 

4. EPL. You can almost call the show off after four rounds. Liverpool are on 12 points ($wins from 4 games), Man City on 10 and ManU/ Tottenham/ Chelsea are all scratching for form. It is such a competitive comp at the big end. Leicester showing good early form. Their win a few seasons ago was incredible when you really stop and look at it.

 

5. NFL. Shocked to see Val Holmes cut. We have had so much success with blokes who play X-Box NFL and then head there for glory and fame. It is a tough gig. Plenty of punters making their mark however.

 

6. US Open Tennis. Nick the dick has gone again thank goodness. Barty carving it up again in her incredibly stylish manner. Cannot see anyone challenging outside of the big three for the men's championship, but really like Djokovic on this surface. Djokovic has won 4 of the last 5 Grand Slams since Wimbledon 2018. Awesome. Osaka will be hard to toss in the women's as well.

 

The amazing facts of the big three are:

 

• Federer (20 titles, 31 finals, 45 semi finals, 55 quarter finals)
• Nadal (18 titles, 26 finals, 36 semi finals, 39 quarter finals)
• Djokovic (16 titles, 25 finals, 32 semi finals, 45 quarter finals).

 

They are the three leaders in these categories of all time. Domination.

 

7. Mad Monday. Is there anything more ridiculous than dress ups for football players? Honestly. Fools. Why do you never see Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith dressed as superheroes, etc? They are too busy playing finals and for their country!

Wrap - Ashes Miracle

1. Ashes Miracle. No matter what way it turns today, there will be an Ashes miracle. A miracle that Australia with their poor batting and lack of application could retain them - or a miracle they could score so many fourth innings runs to win it. Ben Stokes is the man for it if they can do it. Hopefully Nathan Lyon will produce. He is the GOAT Australian off spinner, but he rarely rips through a team to drive us to victory. perhaps tonight is the night. We have had a fine history of not being able to win the tight one, so hopefully we can tonight...I think Botham/Border/ Thomson... Flintoff/ Brett Lee... can we win a tight one?


2. NRL. Manly seem to be getting better and better. Des Hasler has done a spectacular job this year. Their wins away at Melbourne and Canberra are tremendous. Canberra need to tighten up under pressure. Brainless Joey Leilua needs to be more composed under pressure. He put his team behind when they did not need it through his ill discipline and resulting 8 point try. Roosters and Storm both look commanding. There are not that many in it this year. Souths still look awful. Eels a bad loss this week.


3. Nathan Brown. Newcastle are an amateur show there in so many ways. Getting thumped this week is a bad sign. The clubs not in the semis are imploding... the Cowboys' coach and Morgan are bluing, the Titans are hopeless and Saints are no doubt looking for a coach like Flanagan with McGregor going south. McGregor's pre game chat was appalling. He has lost the dressing room and the carpark.


4. Richmond - now nine in a row. I suspect they will be unbeatable on the MCG if they stay there. So in control when on that field. Geelong are rallying...Collingwood a possible, but the Western Bulldogs could surprise.


5. Rugby. Sydney University win the Shute Shield and 67 players are selected for the Wallabies World Cup team. It is harder to miss out on that one and the newspapers just don't bother listing all the names any more.


6. EPL. A slow start and you are doomed. ManU look to be suffering this curse as Liverpool stride on.


7. PGA Golf. Rory, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka are in line for the FedEx $15 million prize. Big dollars.


8. US Open Tennis. All getting underway this week again. Put your money on Djokovic and Serena for mine.

Wrap - ICC Incompetence Yet Again - Near Death at Lords

1. Steve Smith. The efforts by Steve Smith confirm our worst fears. England can knock us over cheaply when the sun is not shining. If it was not for him, the Test could well be almost over, even allowing for two days missed through weather.

Like many, I was watching when he was dropped by the Archer delivery. I honestly thought he was dead - like Phil Hughes. The mandatory inclusion of side levers on helmets is a continuing disgrace following Phil Hughes' death so long ago. Uncomfortable? Awkward? Bad luck. Death is more uncomfortable. I have been banging on about this for years. That was a sickening blow live. Archer was generating some huge speed. Scary. Then Siddle comes out wearing the side levers. Go figure.

While we are at it, when is someone going to produce cricket gloves that withstand a cricket ball? Has the technology improved in the last 30 years?

The booing from the Lords crowd was disgraceful. Those Pommies wonder why Australians hate them so much in sport. Arrogant and pompous. We love thrashing them.

Jofra Archer was generating great pace after lunch on Day 4. Jimmy Anderson, as good as he is, was not really missed. Broad is amazing against Australia. He lifts and executes brilliantly. Smith was unflappable. Awesome leadership under immense pressure. The rest come and go far too quickly.

2. Wallabies. After a big week last week, the Wallabies were punished badly. Not having a Test win in NZ for 23 in a row is terrible. However 36-0 may have looked a bit harsh. Rarely do the ABs lose a game at home under lights. get them into the sunshine! We really never looked like winning. We have plenty of people believing, but it came crashing down after 20 minutes, if not before.

3. AFL. North Melbourne crushed Port Adelaide to do an 'All Blacks' on them. One week terrible, the next awesome. Both Adelaide sides have fallen in a heap. Collingwood storming home and the Lions are doing the business with Charlie Cameron on fire. Nine in a row for the Brisbane team whose pace and fight is killing the opposition. McCarthy's mark was awesome! Geelong have some worries heading into September. Richmond will be the team to beat. Geelong and the woeful GWS are too inconsistent.

The standard of footy is getting better and better as the weeks go by.

3. Cameron Bancroft. Great catch at short leg, but simply not sharp enough with his batting technique. He labours around trying to absorb the strike and see off the bowling, but fails when it matters. Broad has a field day against him. He potters, wafts at thin air like a golfer before teeing off on the first, and he has had more edges than a 50 cent coin. He puts incredible pressure on his batting partner. His steel has been tested and he has not risen to it. Warner has been a massive disappointment too after a splendid World Cup.Warner is in a world of pain...dropping catches reveals the inner mentality.

5. NRL. South Sydney are in a world of pain. They are looking worse and worse as the year unfolds. Sam Burgess was not himself (under threat of joining his brother in England I suspect), but Foran and Cogger were solid. Damien Cook is not running the ball enough. They are stopping his creativity and the same is true of Cody Walker. Bennett needs to lighten up or his season will crumble. Reynolds looks uncertain too.

Canberra made a stunning statement as Melbourne lost another one at home - but after having led 18-0. The scrutiny on the Storm tackling techniques on the ground are important for the game. Ben Cummins is woeful gifting Melbourne two sin bins.. even still Canberra bounced back to win. Papalli did the business. How many tries would he have scored as a junior footy. He is a big man.

Parramatta have stuck to the task well and face a stern test with the Bulldogs this week. The Bulldogs have had a great second half of the season.

The Sharks are struggling. Is Moylan worth the cash? Woods? Roosters on fire.

6. NRL. There are some heads that need to roll in that joint. The great cover up (not the deed) after giving Barbara Smith, Cameron Smith's wife a diamond ring; the inability to get the Match Review Committee's consistency right; the refusal to acknowledge James Graham's 400 top flight games and the concussion test fiasco. Peter Beattie makes it all a bit comical at times. What else?

7. Ash Barty. Still having to put up with being World Number 2. Hopefully she can lift in the chase to US Open glory. Not sure she is fast enough on that surface, but she will go close. Can we fine Kgyrios a million? Fool.

Wrap - Reverse Swing Retires

1. Wallabies. Beauden Barrett. He still can write his own cheque to move to NRL. What a star he is. Kerevi strong. Nic White very sharp. O'Connor looks bigger and humbler. I liked To'omua at the end, but the game was done by then. The All Blacks were ordinary it must be said. Not having won a series since 2002, the Bledisloe decider at Eden Park will be great watching. 47-26 is a good result for Cheika. Can we have a daytime test v New Zealand? That is our best chance? Bring back old afternoon time rugby. Hooper is an amazing player. NZ cop a red card for a shoulder charge and Ponga almost puts Gutherson in the grandstand and cops nothing...


Can we get a ref who has some fitness? That ref from France had a gut. The northern hemisphere stooges love to try and sink our showpiece games.


2. NRL. Upsets. Warriors over Manly and Bulldogs over Tigers. Paul Momorovski had a shocker at the end with a goalkick you would have been embarrassed with down the park. Parramatta are winning and you can't argue with that, but they will need to work hard to beat the loss of Ma'u and Moreoa next year as well. Signing David Fifita would be huge. Alvaro and Gower will not win you a comp. Amazing when a half back takes the line on, how the team wins. Look at Croft at the Storm, understated, but the best in the business. The half back who stands and passes all game is not threatening the opposition and not driving the team forward. Look at Keary, Cronk, Munster..to the line and a really late pass. The cut out pass to the winger is the key play these days! Rushing up and in defence by wingers is extinguished with that tactic.


3. AFL Upsets Weekend. How awful were Essendon? 21 goals in a row for the Dogs at one point. 137 v 30 odd (and Essendon kick the game's first goal - their next one was with 4 minutes to go). Just tipped out the Gold Coast Suns who should be shipped out and closed down.  Rodney Eade was laughed out of town way back, but he did best there. Geelong beat North 69-14 to confine them to their lowest score ever (one goal only). Hawthorn crushed GWS who are easily the most inconsistent team in the comp. Teams did not cope with the cold at all - or the snow. Geelong, Brisbane, Richmond and West Coast continue to dominate.


4. Ashes. Can Bancroft stay in the team? He should be banned for another year the way he batted in the first Test. He can't get a run and needs to lift big time. Bancroft is under a lot of pressure and should be punted if he can't produce. Harris is easily our best bat over the past twelve months and is very unlucky. Wouldn't be that Bancroft is a West Australian would it?


Great win by the Australians. Lyon three wickets shy of the great DK Lillee and only 31 years old. He could hit 500 wickets by the time he is done. Smith a superstar and captain in waiting. Smith has 25 Test tons (same as Kohli) and Ponting ended on 41. Smith has played 65 Tests, Ponting 168 Tests. Tim Paine is a great guy and gloveman, but we have never chosen fieldsmen as skippers. Score more runs!


5. Retired. The great Hashim Amla has retired. South Africa have a lot of rebuilding to do now. Faf du Plessis is 35 years old and AB de Villiers is gone. (I notice he still kills them in the County Cricket T20 blast.. and Darcy Short too).


6. Reverse Swing. Has anyone noticed that since the sandpaper scandal, there has hardly been a ball that has reversed in world cricket? I wonder what has happened... maybe those new Kookaburra and Duke balls... or would it be that illegal tactics have been stopped? I still think Starc and Hazelwood knew a lot more than they have ever revealed. Ironic that both were left out of the first Test? I wonder how the Pommy lolly supply is going?


7. The Quick NRL Tap. Is there anything other than poor fitness from referees that stops the quick tap? Or the right spot of paspalem to take it from? Open up the game please... This would smarten up the game, but instead they are not using the correct mark (please...). Refs need to speed up at the breakdowns and shut down arguments and captains questioning decisions. Yet to see a decision reversed this season! "Sure, you're right...let's reverse that penalty or overturn the bunker's hopeless work"...never happens - move on!


8. EPL. Back on as the world's longest and possibly most entertaining comp. Liverpool come colliding back into form and the top five clubs will thrash it our as usual - Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, ManU and Arsenal, perhaps Tottenham. The English crowds are awesome as usual. Very amusing seeing the second tier debutants go around. They need to learn quickly how the game is played at the highest level.


9. Who is the bigger galoot at present - Josh Maguire or Nick Kygrios? One grabs your eyes with his hands, the other makes you put your hands over your eyes and wonder what could have been.