The Wrap - Dribble and Engravers

1. NRL. Has anyone missed the interview dribble from NRL players in post game coverage? The producers at Channel 9 and Fox simply need to change and when the silly ban is lifted, transform the coverage (ideas: put up regular metres gained and tackles completed, etc... show updates!). League coverage has not changed in a million years. They need to watch the Kentucky Derby for real coverage. Take the fans into the stands and into the rooms and ignore players. Even Rex Mossop used to have the cameras at the rub down tables. 

The biggest innovations in recent years since the "Action Replay" have been the camera behind the goal posts, the 'fake field advertising markings' and the corner post cameras. They need to update and minimise player chat. The pictures and data will be much better received.

The video ref is the biggest game change - and often a blight on the game. It has slowed down the game so much, but greater accuracy comes at this price.

2. NRL Table. The Cowboys hit five wins in a row and Newcastle keep looking good for about 60 minutes each week. They are not far away from the top eight. Put the engraver to work on the wooden spoons for the Wests Tigers. Bulldogs marginally better. If Mahoney gets injured, they will leak 50 points every week. The Dragsters are a complete disappointment.

The surge of the Cowboys will squeeze the Roosters out of the eight potentially.

3. AFL. Remarkably, the Swans, Gold Coast Suns and Carlton win in a single weekend. Disappointment for the Western Bulldogs who were pipped...without the troubled superstar, Bailey Smith. The effort of St Kilda was awful. Carlton led by 31 at three quarter time and pushed on to sensationally crush the fifteen game winning streak of Port Adelaide. The table takes on a completely different complexion.

Melbourne beating Brisbane by a point was helpful to a number of teams too.

Carlton could yet make the semi finals which would be a complete surprise and Collingwood may just about have sealed the minor premiership as they keep winning, this time against the hopeless/ hapless Fremantle.

4. The Ashes - Fourth Test. Hopefully our team can actually play cricket and abandon the ridiculous bouncer policy which basically cost them the win in Headingley. Outrageous stupidity and a complete lack of patience in the second innings when they could have won it there and then. Remember this silly tactic. Sometimes Cummins and McDonald stun you with the dopey moments (think sacking Head in India, negative field placings...). It seems as though Bazball has settled down now? A bit like the Y2K bug hysteria.

Dave Warner will be selected. Green is averaging less than Warner. He has hit 84 runs @21 average, taking 3 wickets @57 average. Boland will be rested however...ordinary really (2 wickets @ 115!).

Surely Harris and Renshaw are complete risks. Neither excite any confidence, even if Warner is a complete sacrifice. Dave needs to move his feet! I wonder if the plethora of national coaches have told him this?

Funny line by Kerry O'Keefe re the Bairstow stumping... "I never got out stumped in over 200 first class innings in the hard nose 70's. The popping crease was my safehouse. It was where I felt like Julian Assange in the Equadorian safe house".

5. T20 - MLB. Great to see the Major League T20 Cricket series kick off in the USA this weekend. The usual globetrotting faces and usual results...nothing you can or will ever remember.

6. Coach Justin Langer. He is back, joining the Lucknow Super Giants. They are an impatient newer franchise having come in the last two seasons. Langer will be under a lot of pressure, no risk. They came third in both seasons they have existed and just sacked their coach, Andy Flower!

The Australian Women's cricket team have also let England back into the picture, staring at an Ashes decider soon.

7. Women's Football World Cup. This week sees the Matildas in action in the Women's FIFA World Cup. How good is our team? Better than the men's one is certainly possible!

8. Golf - Scottish Open. Rory McIlroy has a chance to win and make a big statement, leading after three rounds. Will he collapse again? A remarkably consistent golfer however, missing two cuts all year (The Masters and TPC event). In six out of eleven 2023 events he has competed in, he has finished with top 10 finishes! This will be his seventh! On good terms with the bank manager.

9. Wimbledon - Men. As predicted (!) from a lean field really, Alcarez plays Djokovic tonight in the men's final.

Novak Djokovic is amazing. Unpopular, but amazing. His Grand Slam roll will keep going v Alcarez as he hits 24 Grand Slam titles tonight (equalling Federer's 8 Wimbledon wins, 10 Australian Opens, 3 French Opens and 3 US Opens). He moves two clear of the injured Rafa. Extraordinary!

This is already TWICE as many titles as Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver (11 each)!

This will be THREE TIMES as many as Agassi, Lendl, Connors and Rosewall (all on 8 titles) - and  Newcombe, Willander and McEnroe (all on 7 titles). 

Also, he will have FOUR TIMES as many titles as Edberg and Becker (6 titles).

These are outrageously impressive stats based on how good those other players were in their prime.

10. Wimbledon - Women. In the women's final, the unseeded Marketa Vondrousova (third Czech to win a Grand Slam) won her FIRST Grand Slam against Ons Jabeur in comfortable fashion, 6-4, 6-4. She is the first unseeded and lowest ranked player ever to win a women's Wimbledon final. Jabeur is in a unique club, joining Clijsters and Evert, in losing her first three Grand Slam finals!

The only two unseeded males to win Wimbledon will be remembered by us all... Boris Becker (1985) and Goran Ivanisovic (2001).

11. Harry Kane. If Ange Postocoglou can retain Kane at Tottenham, he will be sending a huge statement to the competition and to fans. The greed of English footballers however, is something else, so the chances are he departs. A pivotal moment in the coach's early progress.

12. Wallabies. I wonder who Eddie Jones will blame this time? Another journalist? His reign has started in the darkest of ways. What a schemozzle. Australia is an international also-ran now. Cheika, the Pumas coach, will be laughing loudly today! Rugby has fallen in a heap. "Come here and say it!".

13. All Blacks. Under Scott Robertson in 2024, the All Blacks will not lose a game. He is a top coach and that team just re-invents itself every year to be bigger and better. They are awesome in 2023 and will win the Rugby Championship again. The Springboks were not in the hunt and they whacked us. We are playing for the spoon. Engraver please...

The Wrap - Spare Body Parts

1. State of Origin. The timing of Origin just gets worse - especially when a dead rubber awaits. Teams are really down on troops at the best of times, but taking Origin players out of teams makes the comp a bit of a farce. It doesn't seem to affect The Wests Tigers however who continue to lose.  

Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander are extremely defensive and this looks bad. It sounds like failure to most.

With the salary cap, it is nearly impossible to have enough dynamic players on your roster. Sharp backs are in short supply. Really liked this Tallis Duncan. Tough - and fast. I would be breaking out the cheque book there. He is 21 years old with a huge future. Souths could not compete with a decent offer.

Parramatta. An unacceptable performance after a string of wins. They blew a chance for a top four finish for mine. The Bunnies are really struggling too but have two byes in hand. 

How about the excitement in the Titans v Dolphins fixture? Just when we thought it would offer nothing...golden point. A dreadful casualty of this State of Origin mid season fiasco. Four game NRL weekends is not enough. Move State of Origin and run it into a Kangaroo Tour. Three byes is an inflated farce. Parramatta do not have a bye in Origin and Warriors (full strength) do!

The Tigers look like definite wooden spooners.

2. The Ashes. The performance of Dave Warner are under real scrutiny. The outcome of this test will dictate his future. If Australia win 3-0, it might be it for him. If Australia lose and are down 1-2.

I get a bad feeling about Headingley where the pitch plays better the longer the game progresses. We have been terrible there for a long time!

We have also butchered things once more in England. Staring at a big first innings led, short pitched silly bowling (a bit like the English bowling to Travis Head) gave up a million runs. Murphy was hammered and yet Cummins persists...like with Cameron Green last test. The tail is horrific for Australia. Murphy-Boland-Hazelwood...add in Warner and we are in all sorts. Labuschagne has been very disappointing too.

Last night, we collapse in a heap in record time. This does not win Test matches.

Stuart Broad is a first class fool, but he can get wickets. He is now on 598 wickets at 27.58 in 165 Tests. By way of comparison, McGrath got 563 wickets at 21.6 in 124 Tests. Nathan Lyon is anchored on 496 Test wickets at 31.01 in 122 Tests.

Also very troubling to see Steve Smith have an outburst v Bairstow on the field - and an outburst at the media re a haircut Carey was not meant to have paid for...ridiculous. This is how we lose...remember Ponting as well? Lake of composure. Caught up in reactions and anger...not calm Mark Taylor type clarity. The English media were outdone by the Australian media sledges re the Carey stumping and Pommy whinging. However, they are a stern media adversary and should not be trifled with - especially by a player in his 100th Test! They can be relentless.

Smith is one of the true greats. He has beaten almost every batting record outside of Bradman and even had five catches in the first English innings. Amazing. His batting has been inconsistent.

Neither team has a batting order to capitalise on rain. Usman and Cummins have been the stars for Australia thus far!

3. Cricket - 'Body Parts Team of the Century'. Following the recent Australian and England cricket team selections, a World XI team of body parts has been selected:

'Body Parts' Team of The Century

Salman Bhutt

Julian Weiner

Warwick Armstrong

Travis Head

John Badcock

Peter Handscomb

Peter Willey

Graeme Beard

David Brain

Josh Tongue

Doug Insole

Jasprit Bumrah

Ryan Sidebottom

Keith Rigg

Umpire: Darrel Hair

3. AFL. The game is narrowing off nicely now for the semi finals. The Swans squandered another game and Port Power, Coolingwood and Melbourne surged on...the GWS team limped home again and it is well placed now just outside the top eight on for and against.

Bailey Smith at the Bulldogs is woefully out of form. This becomes more and more disturbing for the Bulldogs who need him firing to make a dent in the 2023 competition. St Kilda seem to look great and fold easily. Not premiership winning material sadly. Freo have given up too so it seems.

13 wins in a row for Port Adelaide is dominant! Collingwood are up there too. West Coast are the clear wooden spooners. North are barely any better.

4. Netball. Adelaide Thunderbirds beat the Sydney Swifts in a tense final. I am yet to be convinced a pile on atop of those hard wood floors is sensible. Anyhow, excitement prevails!

5. Wimbledon. Quiet as a mouse. Alacrez and Djokovic loom as the victors. Medvedev. Tsitsipas and Zverev perhaps may trouble them. Kygrios seems done from the sport. 

6. Women's Football World Cup. Looking forward to attacking football without the histrionics.

7. Eddie Jones. A terrible Wallabies defeat v South Africa...again. He is whinging already at journalists. "Come here and say it!".

The Wrap - Toothless Shemozzle

1. NRL - Wests Tigers, St George and Bulldogs. For the Tigers, a 70 point thrashing is an appalling statement on club organisation, leadership, coaching and morale of an ordinary playing roster. No player at the Tigers appears to have improved under Marshall and Sheens, except the young fullback Bula, who is supremely talented. 

A 66-0 thumping from Newcastle is not much better. Gus Gould and Cameron Ciraldo surely thought they would do better than this. The Fox and Burton are questionable inclusions for Origin now...sorry. Ben Hunt is not doing much for the Dragons at present either. Two 50 point losses in a fortnight. They need to clear the decks and move on. 

140 unanswered points certainly helps your for and against as the Cowboys rattle back into contention for the top eight again and the Knights are saved from a loss of coach Adam O'Brien (who definitely needs media training). They have some rich talent in both squads.

At the Tigers, recruits go backwards and new players are ineffective at the Tigers presently (Bateman, Klemmer, Korisau, Papalii, Staines). The place needs a sustained review of its operations and playing personnel. The arrival of a new recruitment officer seems to be the last thing the place needs. The surname is powerful, but a huge job to turn this lot around. They mistreated Brooks looking for a million replacements (Munster, Moses, Pearce, Johnson...) and were surprised when he wanted to go to Manly! Stunning hypocrisy. A shemozzle of the highest order.

The Richmond Tigers were nearly as bad too v Brisbane who crushed them without a whimper. Home ground bullies abound in the AFL.

2. NRL - Entertainment. How good are some of these outside backs in the game at present? Selwyn Cobbo is unbelievable. Hammer is up there too. So is Latrell and Val Holmes. So strong and tough...speed and strength. Bradman Best goes well too...and what do you know the ill disciplined and mouthy Zac Lomax is looking for a new club. Parramatta will go knocking there, but not for $800K.

Alex Johnston scored two tries this weekend and is now onto 180 tries and equals Steve Menzies. Billy Slater stands on 190 and Ken Irvine on 212 tries. Barring injury he could pass Ken Irvine next year! Especially lethal when Latrell Mitchell returns.

3. Ashes Test Cricket. Steve Smith knocks his 32nd Test ton in 70 fewer tests than Steve Waugh who now both sit in second place to Ricky Ponting who has 41 Test tons. It took Steve Waugh 26 Tests and 4 years to hit his first Test ton (at Headingley on the Ashes tour). A critical first innings ton and yet another one abroad for Smith.

The loss of Lyon is a tough blow, but young Todd Murphy may have to step up sooner than he thought. He was pretty good in India but will face the sting of an English side intent on aggression. Hazelwood is not doing the business yet. Sure, injured and all that but don't play if that is a factor. His batting is atrocious and is a determining factor in any selection. Murphy needs to improve his batting too to play regularly. 

The 15 run last wicket stand between Lyon and Starc could yet prove to be very valuable.

The barrage of short pitched bowling is not how you win a Test - it saves face. The English team don't know what to do really... they love the media hype of 'Bazball" but cannot play freely or distinctively. Staring at 0-2, they have serious issues to confront. 

The umpiring in this test - especially Day 4 - was abysmal. England retreat to bouncers every delivery - bumper after bumper is bowled without a whimper from the useless umpires. Not great cricket to watch, that is for sure and TV ratings would have taken a considerable hit. Then they deny Starc a clear catch. What a nonsense! Honestly, cricket does a top job of shooting itself in the foot a lot. Have we had bad light yet? Maybe on the last day.

Kevin Pietersen continues to be extremely painful as a commentator. He is a little demented in suggesting Lyon may have been looking for a concussion in going out to bat late. Kevin has always sought controversy. Ponting however, is insightful but you can tell why he was such a winner...confident and teflon coated. Others would be intimidated by his strength and steel. He takes no prisoners.

4. AFL - Finals. Western Bulldogs are back in business and semi final bound now, especially with the Melbourne Demons inexplicably losing to the GWS Giants who have won 4 of their last 5 games. Too many stars for the Bulldogs not to be there, but there is a problem with Bailey Smith's form that needs to be fixed. Big wins by Collingwood and Adelaide. It was interesting to see West Coast run on with cricket pads this week, but it helped them more this week.

The twelfth consecutive win by Port Adelaide v Essendon was gripping. An after the siren win - like the one earlier in the season v the Swans at the SCG. This is eight valuable competition points they have and they keep the record rolling. A superb kick by Dan Houston under pressure. Marked with 17 seconds to go and he lands it from 50m+!

5. AFL - Swans. This season they have been pipped by Port Adelaide on the siren by two points, lost to GWS by one point and then squandered a win v Geelong and had to settle for a draw with 18 behinds. Really poor kicking. They have wasted so many opportunities this season and will pay a heavy price... no semi-final football.

6. Sydney Swifts Netball. A close win on the weekend against the West Coast Fever (named pre COVID?) and will play the Grand Final they thought they had missed v the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Not a top spectator sport, but big crowds filling the sport's coffers which they then sadly waste, despite the huge junior playing numbers.

7. West Indies Cricket. In the cellar at present, failing to beat Scotland and extremely unlikely to qualify for the ODI World Cup. Ouch. The old legends must be shaking their heads.

8. Wimbledon Starts This Week. Great tradition and grace, but Novak Djokovic wins this in a canter. I cannot see him dropping a set in winning this title, even if he is set to play Kygrios at some point. Swiatek will be hard to toss in the women's draw.

The Wrap - Another Crusade in Break Dancing

1. AFL - West Coast. What they are dishing up now is some of the most disgraceful, lazy AFL efforts the game may have ever seen. A 171 point drubbing (205 v 34) to the Swans (running near the bottom of the table) is terrible at any level - let alone at the top level. It certainly gives the Swans a leg up in terms of their % for determining teams in and out of the semi finals. Imagine if the Swans had held their nerve in a few games they lost by a couple of points - Port Adelaide, GWS. They would be comfortably inside the top eight.

Surely West Coast coach, Adam Simpson, needs to go. Marnus Labuschagne hit 215 himself in January 2020!

The efforts of Melbourne on Thursday night v Geelong was also not pretty. They need to toughen up before the semis or perish!

2. The Crusaders. Yer another Super 12/14/15/ Super Rugby Pacific Title...their twelfth since 1996. An amazing record. They also made four other finals and lost (2003, 2004, 2011, 2014). So they have made 16/26 finals (less COVID cancelled years) since the concept started - and won half of them!

3. Ben Hunt. He had a top Origin series last year, but to drop hand grenades and head into Origin camp this year, was spineless. He then leads the team to a 50 point smash up by the Warriors on Friday night. He was vocal re Anthony Griffin's departure, but perhaps it is for the best for the St George club to get rid of him and save salary cap dollars. The risk is Kyle Flanagan may be the half back in the next era under Dad, Shane. Kyle is a fair player, but not a premiership winning halfback. However, there are not many available halves out there.

Conversely, Daley Cherry-Evans continues to be so composed and impressive under pressure. He turns games and inspires victories through his talented kicking game. Fancy him running down Crichton in the Origin? Crichton needs to get his legs to sprint training.

Under his captaincy of 2019-2020-2021-2022-2023, there have been 14 State of Origin games of which he has won 8 games and 3/5 Origin series. Impressive.

4. Andrew Johns. Is anyone noticing something is not right with him at present? He looks that cranky, defensive and surly it is a wonder they are putting up with him. He was on the Sunday Footy Show and is adding a special brand of boredom. The fights with his brother and other female panellists do not help him - nor do the coaching losses. He needs to lighten up, smile and seek some help if he needs it. 

5. The Ashes. Pat Cummins continues to surprise. A fabulous innings to get the team into a winning position and take the game. John Ealesesque! Again Cameron Green struggled to put his stamp on the game. That was his moment to seize! The next edition of the Amazon "Test" mini series will be really interesting with the Test Championship victory and a tight Ashes victory. 

We have a rich history in our life times of losing close games in Test cricket, so that was refreshing! (Think: Botham-Border-Thomson loss; West Indies winning at Adelaide with the ball off the grill from Courtney Walsh under Border; de Villiers and Damien Martyn at the SCG; Brett Lee-Flintoff tight loss; Heroics by Stokes at Headingley and that impossible win).  The "BazBall" hype works to a point, but Root's innings was quite ridiculous in the second innings if we are fair dinkum. Going for your shots is different to wining Test cricket matches.

Interesting to see Ricky Ponting weighing in to bag the big mouthed Ollie Robinson. Fancy making such silly comments so early in a series. He will be dropped at some point. Ponting is one of the master sledgers. Why bring him and Hayden into it? These blokes always chewed up guys like Ollie Robinson.

6. Ellyse Perry. What a supreme talent she is. She averages over 75 in Tests and gets a 99 in the current Test v England and was without complaint. A great ambassador and no mud on her reputation after so many years...just one bad relationship in the media. Thankfully our relationships don't face the same scrutiny on the media. 

7. NRL. Parramatta set a club record with 42 points in a half v the Dolphins. I suspect if a few of the early 1980s (1981, 1982) games had four point tries (this came in 1983), it may have been comparable. As a result, Parramatta's for and against is one of the best in the competition, which will really help them when they get near the semi finals. They are owed two byes as well, so have done really well in the Origin period. The strength of both Penrith and Melbourne sets them apart as competition favourites.

With the three byes for every team, the Rabbits, Eels, Cowboys and Broncos will improve their positions massively when these land in their points column. 13 wins gets you in the semis..maybe even 12 wins this year with three byes to assist.

How about the Titans? Sacked coach and a super effort against the best in the comp (Broncos)!

The REAL Ladder (with three byes each):

• 28 - Broncos 
• 26 - Panthers, Storm 
• 24 - Warriors, Eels, Rabbits 
• 22 - Sharks, Raiders, Cowboys (including win v Rabbits) 
• 20 - Titans, Dolphins, Roosters

8. The Warriors. Great to see their entertainment value. Dallin Watene Zelezniak is having a great year, but he should be. He is on 900K a year as a so so winger. Incredible work from his manager! The work of coach Webster has been outstanding! The team have been dreadful for a long time, so this is a huge turn around.

9. Justin Holbrook. 31 wins/81 games in his four year reign from 2020-2023. A 38% winning percentage is one of the worst in the NRL - ever. Maybe he might be selected as the new State of Origin coach. Sadly, he needed to go. The team then win under the relieving coach to rub salt into the wounds!

10. US Open Golf. Nice to see a new name on the winners list ...there are plenty of amazing names weekly, but Wyndham Clark is a new one. How consistent is Cameron Smith (fourth) - and a surprise outcome for Min Woo Lee (tied fifth)? Has anyone heard how LIV Golf is progressing? An incredible mess.

11. Pre Wimbledon. Alex de Minaur is in the final at the Queens Tournament v Carlos Alcarez (World No. 1). De Minaur is a regular semi finalist at Queens. Carlos Alcarez is still close to the top as well. He has the ability, but I am not sure he has the winning, killer instinct. Wimbledon starts on Monday! Put down Novak for another Mens Grand Slam title.

12. FIFA Womens Football World Cup. Coming soon. Some amazing quality football ahead, less the histrionics and theatrical stain of the men's game.

The Wrap - 'Baz' Roar

1. The Ashes. Interesting how the hype of 'Baz ball' has taken hold with commentators and the media. It was 'Woz Ball' back in the day. Scoring 400 runs in a day is impressive - maybe a little less so when curators take advice from the national captain, but nonetheless... Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist and Ponting were doing it years ago - especially when they won 16 Tests straight. Not sure all English batsmen have the skill set to carry it off correctly long term... declaring Day 1 is brash and cool... but could backfire too. 'There's a time for reaping and a time for sowing...'.

Starc was omitted (loose v India), but there were 54 singles in the first session...better than 54 boundaries. This negativity may indeed be a new tactic to counter the other, but the new ball either flies backwards early or is hit down the ground by the very best.

The work of Khawaja with the bat (126no) was mighty. He passes Slater and Ian Chappell (14 Test tons) and joins KD Walters on 15 Test tons, two behind Adam Gilchrist on 17 Test tons (Taylor, Hussey on 19 Test tons). He is getting into elite status. 

If Moeen Ali is spinning the ball on that deck, a lead by Australia will bring Nathan Lyon right into this game (4 wickets in the first innings already). He has had a good fortnight over there in England. He is already sitting on 491 Test wickets (Courtney Walsh is the next in line and he has 519 Test wickets).  If he beats Walsh on this Ashes tour it would be very special. 

Lyon is one of the best to have ever played the game. We were all shocked when Michael Hussey gave him the team victory song responsibilities all those years ago, thinking he was lucky to be selected. M. Hussey is a future Australian coach... after the second greatest Test cricket bat Australia has ever produced in Adam Voges.

Broad has played 163 tests and sits on 584 Test wickets and James Anderson sits on 685 Test wickets after 180 Tests. You need to be patient if you are a pace bowler in England, looking for a chance to play. Root hits his 30th Test ton (Alistair Cook is England's best ever and sits on 33 Test tons).

Troubling to see Warner's terrible shot and Marnus too. Neither batsman showed composure or patience in key moments and both did not move their feet one centimetre. So bad.

2. Test Cricket Championship v India. Funny how the Test Championship v India unfolded on the last day. Kohli and Rahane rolled in the 40s and Jadeja and Thakur got ducks! A brilliant achievement for the team and coach - Ronnie McDonald, who is looking forward to the next team photo. Hard to believe they could do it in the end, but bravo to them all and a good decision to replace Langer so it seems.

Scott Boland was super accurate again and got two critical wickets in an over. He has been something else in fourth innings of Test matches and has the best average (14) for any bowler in the 21st Century after 30 wickets (33 in eight tests).

3. US Open Golf. Min Woo Lee is a talent. Drives the longest ever US Open golf hole at 555 yards (16th) for 407 yards. Awesome strength. Cameron Smith is so consistent sitting near the top 10. Rory seems to be the romantic story, but he seems to lack that edge in key moments sometimes. Rickie Fowler has not been atop too many leaderboards in recent times but has been pretty consistent in 2023. Is it a case of now or never for Rory McIlroy?

4. NSW State of Origin Team. No Latrell is a heavy loss again. He is such a good player. Souths can't get a win without him either. The team will need to play the full 80 minutes and not over hype themselves. The media is something else. The mystery virus story has not emerged yet for Queensland, so we will expect that. In many ways the NSW team looks stronger. Mitchell Moses has been in good form in 2023, but he will need to be electric in attack if NSW are to win. He defends well usually.

Ben Hunt will be sitting comfortably regardless, but St George-Illawarra have been a mess for a while. They are paying the price for poor coaching decisions over the past decade - Steve Price, Paul McGregor and Anthony Griffin. All sub 50% win rate.

5. NRL Finals Bound. Two or three (!) byes across the season (4 - 6 points) can be deceptive. Parramatta are suddenly in the top four when a second bye is factored in. They have had a strong week, winning Monday v Bulldogs and Saturday v Sea Eagles. They are back in the mix with four straight wins after a horrific start to the season. Their for and against is actually one of the best in the comp too (third). That helps a lot in a tight competition where this will help determine semi final rankings for those tied on the same number of points.

6. AFL Finals Bound. Amazing how well the Richmond Tigers are performing since the departure of coach Hardwick. A cracking victory v the under performing St Kilda team this weekend. They are two points adrift from the top eight now. GWS are also four points outside and seem to be able to win great contests...then lose...then win again. The consistency is the thing for all teams! 

The Swans have become an absolute misery and there will be a clean out of under performers and the aged and weary. The club needs to evolve - and quickly. Locating speed men is a priority. Height too! Their marking ability in contested situations is very poor...lots of small accurate kickers from the Swans Academy, but very few different body types. They have to start thinking beyond 'SCG Ball'!

Even Carlton won this weekend. The Gold Coast are perennial underperformers.

7. Tim Tsyzu. What a commanding performance. He stands to be the equal of or better than his old man Kostya. Hard as nails. He obliterated the big mouth of the Mexican Ocampo in 77 seconds. Awesome! Ocampo has had 30+ fights and only been stopped once before. The US fighter, Charlo awaits in a unified bout for all belts. 

8. NHL. Las Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers. Decisive. Las Vegas is becoming the real home to some serious US sports. This helps your tourist rotation. An emerging sporting capital with LA Raiders NFL...LA A's baseball and the Golden Knights NHL team! Of course, the NRL 2024 launch will add to this too! 

9. NBA Finals. The Denver Nuggets are the new NBA champions. First ever title and some achievement. 

10. Super Rugby Semi-finals. The strength of the Crusaders is on show again. They have won 13 of the 27 Super 12/ Super 14, etc competitions since 1996. They are about to beat the Chiefs next weekend too. The Brumbies battled hard, but were no match in the end. The Crusaders break dancing will be back on show next weekend. They are the Manchester City of the southern hemisphere. Awesome team, coaches and record.

11. Ange Postocoglou. Reported that he is being paid $9 million at Tottenham. That is cheap for an EPL coach at a glamour club. He will be worth triple that with a strong start to the new season!

12. Novak Djokovic. Best ever at 23 Grand Slams now. GOAT? There is not a lot of affection for Djokovic who could well be a Hollywood movie star villain as well. Unsurprising and maybe never to be beaten ever in history. Awesome, but a lot of collateral with attitudes and anti-vax nonsense too.

The Wrap - Lame Hypocrisy ALIVe

1. Test Championship Cricket - Australia v India. The Oval always dishes up an interesting pitch. Love the iconic ugly gas / water tank in the outfield. The 444 chase suddenly does not look as daunting when it is split across two days. The nerves will be jangling and Kohli, Rahane and Jadeja are BIG, BIG game players. Incredible records for all three. Jadeja is the best all rounder in world cricket by a long way. Hopefully we will not be talking world records and 'best ever' in tomorrow's paper. This Shardul Thakur never seems to miss when he plays Australia though. His batting is amazing. He is another all rounder to watch.

Which brings us to the talented Aussie all rounder, Cameron Green. Classic catches galore, but he also disappoints in big moments with the bat and needs to prove his worth under pressure against quality bowling attacks. A definite second innings catch... funny how everything is expected to fall India's way when you are as entitled as their players and fans are. Nice to see Shastri agreeing it was a catch. Very rare from their commentators.

A great game, helped by clear skies. This is the type of weather that will help Australia on the Ashes tour...if the rain and overcast skies come our way, we will struggle with the bat. Travis Head and Steve Smith - superb both. Khawaja and Warner need to move their feet energetically or perish. They both looked very tired and lazy. Warner's terrible effort in the slips was even more worrying.

2. LIV Golf - PGA Golf Truce. So when the filthy lucre comes around to the PGA, they take it, betray their loyal players and claim that this is because of a better way forward. The hypocrisy is incredible and then they talk tough too... suspensions and fines? Please... not a chance. A nice little investment portfolio awaits the loyal players so they say, but there is a lot of credibility at stake... resignations are surely not far away. A few players might prefer the cash. Greg Norman's reputation is battered... the great white guppy.

All the while Rory McElroy ploughs on at the Canadian Open...third overnight.

3. NRL Round 15. The upsets keep flowing. Souths lose...Cronulla lose... Dolphins smashed and Tigers limp again. They even have Luke Brooks rejecting a contract renewal! No surprise, the club have sought Munster, Pearce...Moses. Brooks needs to move on, but not lots of options out there for him.

Dylan Brown has completely let his team down and a reminder has been sent to the Integrity Commission that the meagre $5K fine (with a promise to defend his privacy in court) for sex in a public toilet all those years ago has potentially spawned worse behaviour. The Eels struggle every long weekend and the Bulldogs will be tough. A win for Parramatta and an extra bye will have them firmly in the top six! They have a very favourable for and against as well to position themselves well with a few extra wins. Brad Arthur beats the Brian Smith Parramatta coaching record as well. 52% win record is still too skinny.

The Broncos have four free points from byes still owing and are favourites for the minor premiership now. A top victory v Newcastle, who have improved a lot it must be said.

NSW Origin. Going to be an interesting team - and a losing team when announced this week. Hard to believe Nicho is the right man. The Storm did a number on him on Sunday which will not have helped. Matt Moylan's defence is not good either. Melbourne smashed the Sharks and underlined how hard they are to beat. 

4. AFL. The lack of urgency by the Swans at home v St Kilda was appalling when the game was on the line. They have become a bunch of complete under performers. Incredible lack of energy and drive...regardless of injuries. Mediocrity and going out backwards. Hawthorn on the other hand belted the more fancied Brisbane. Richmond also nailed Freo. Spirit. GWS hanging in there.

5. Man City. Their incredible treble is now confirmed - FA Cup, EPL Championship and the Champions League (1-0 v Inter Milan) winners. Best in quite a long time! (1998/99 ManU team was the last one). 

6. Ange Postocoglou - Tottenham Hotspurs Coach. What an outstanding achievement and just reward for his work. A big time promotion now as a coach in the top flight! he has the second best winning record as manager at Celtic ever!

7. NBA. The Denver Nuggets are on the cusp of their first NBA Championship. Up 3-1 v Miami Heat.

8. Stanley Cup. The Las Vegas Golden Knights lead the Florida Panthers 3-1 as well. The engraver is getting twitchy!

9. Novak Djokovic. He will become the highest ever Grand Slam winning player if he wins tonight v Casper Ruud. That will take him to 23 Grand Slam wins...one ahead of Nadal. It will possibly never ever be beaten. Carlos Alcarez was very disappointing in his semi final loss to Djokovic.

Iga Swiatek also won a tremendous final v Karolina Muchova.. who joins the long line of '-ovas' who have contested women's Grand Slam tennis finals.... Navratilova... Sharapova... Kuznetsova... Kitova... Sukova...Mandlikova...Cibulkova...Safarova...Pliskova...Vondrousova!

 It is Swiatek's fourth Grand Slam win (three French Opens, one US Open). She is 4/4 wins in finals!

10. Super Rugby. Hard to find this sport anywhere in the media, but the Waratahs were duly belted - and the Reds - and the Drua. The Waratahs are such an ongoing annual disappointment and no Michael Hooper next year either. However the good old Brumbies hold our fortunes as usual. The Chiefs will be tough, but if there is a team who can win, it is them!

The Wrap - Final Kings

1. State of Origin. Every year it seems that Queensland are able to exhibit so much more intensity, focus and strength in the battle than NSW. They were deserved winners and look like winners most years. NSW always look close to losing the plot. Freddie Fittler is done. Won, lose or draw it is time for the curtain to end it all. He has been out coached by a bloke who is a legend but who never coached before in Billy Slater! 

Let's consider some of the issues in State of Origin Game One:

• The Preparation. What a schemozzle. Endless reports of injuries and fitness clouds... a dud jersey... (That bloody great red Westpac symbol is a disgrace). All very boring.
• Latrell Mitchell. How do we get simple injuries on the training paddock? Inevitable or lack of proper preparation and professionalism? Club sides would lap this lot. This was a huge loss.
• The lack of leadership in clutch moments. The forwards have little there too. No voice. Murray and Cleary are now injured and are both unlikely to play in Game Two.
• Api Korisau and Liam Martin were strong. Yeo, Murray, Frizzell, To'o all solid. Yeo is not flash but needed in that middle. 
• It was interesting to note that from the World Cup winning team in 2022, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Jake Trbojevic and Jack Wighton were the only ones not playing this Origin. All NSW.
• James Tedesco has been a star for many years, but all stars fade a bit. He was great v the Bulldogs, but the Bulldogs are not Queensland. 
• For a few years now, at his worst, Teddie rarely if ever passes the ball in big games (should have passed to Addo-Carr for an early try). This makes him too easy to defend and he crabs across field too often against shrewd defences, inhibiting attacking formation (too similar to Luai's style). You can't have both of them in a team.
• Tedesco also has a terrible habit of not keeping on his feet. He slips and slides repeatedly and is of no use to his team on the ground. If you watch closely in night games especially, he does this in attack and defence. Longer studs?
• You have the best prop the game has seen in 20 years - Payne Haas - and you play him for 30 mins?
• Tevita Pangai-Junior. Freddie gets clever and tries to be unique, but he misses the obvious. An under performer with poor discipline in an underperforming team. Fittler then starts him in the team. 
• He then starts Hudson Young as well who is a known hot head. QLD could not believe their luck. They did not select Horsborough and if they did, he would not start. These blokes come off the bench as their red cordial settles.
• You need composure and purpose from the get go. Junior Paulo. Surely he starts a game.. Rock solid and experienced.
• Nicho Hynes. It was a romantic selection of a talented good guy, but really he replaces a pivot and that is it. They lacked zip around the ruck. Nicho is not that player to come on and change the game in that manner.
• Slow play the balls from lumbering forwards hurt NSW. No urgency.

Apart from that, NSW did well. Queensland too sharp and desperate.

How bad were the Storm? It has not been this bad for a long time. They need some serious decisions to be made, including around the unfortunate Ryan Papenhuyzen. Canberra just keep winning too.

2. NRL - Alex Johnston. He rattled past Brett Morris on the most NRL tries ever on Saturday night. He is now two behind Steve Menzies and 12 behind Billy Slater. 

You sometimes get the feeling sometimes that Alex Johnston could score enough tries in a game to beat Ken Irvine this year. What a talent in such quick time.

3. Ange Postocoglou. Celtic FC win the Scottish FA Cup Final and celebrate winning the three main trophies in 2023 ... Scottish League Cup, the Scottish Premier League Championship and the Scottish FA Cup (3-1). He has now got the second highest winning percentage as a manager in the illustrious history of Celtic FC. That is a pretty amazing achievement.

4. Man City. Meanwhile, this 2022-2023 Man City season is one to savour. Premier League Champions, English FA Cup Champions (2-1). They are in the final of the UEFA Champions League v Inter Milan too and could scoop the pool of everything! Harland has been kept quiet recently in front of goals, but it has opened up opportunities for his teammates!

The Pep Talk promo here shows why they win (five EPL Championships in six years!): Watch here.

5. Central Coast Mariners - A-League Champions. An extraordinary contrast is what Melbourne City did on the weekend. Runaway stars all year (minor premier by 11 points), they were crushed 6-1 in the Grand Final. The lack of spirit from City was very surprising. After all the protests, the Grand Final venue decision looked a good one... and it gives a great excuse to some teams too.

The CC Mariners (2 titles - 2013 and 2023) now go to fourth highest ever Champions of the A-League behind Sydney FC, (5), Melbourne Victory (4) and Brisbane Roar (3). They have more wooden spoons.

6. The NSW Waratahs. Into the Super Rugby quarter finals after losing to the Pasifika team who had not won a game all year. There is a lot to dislike about rugby and this caps it off. Resting players...Michael Hooper's last game and all... no effort or pride in their performance seemingly and lose the impossible. Sure, not important for the semis, etc, etc, but really? The Queensland Reds were no better, losing to the Drua who secured a top eight spot.

There will be plenty of excuses, but this is precisely the lack of dedication and concentration that sees Australian rugby lose, lose, lose...despite the media talk and wasted money on Suaalii or Haas - or Crichton or Murray... The public affection has evaporated. They will be hosting test matches at Brookvale Oval at this rate.

The only Australian franchise worth anything are the Brumbies. They just win regularly without hoopla. For the others, they will all be bundled up and spat out in the first week of the semis. The gap between the top Super Rugby franchises and the rest has never been bigger.

7. NBA Final. The Boston Celtics comeback from 0-3 to 3-3 was crushed by the Miami Heat and their Butler who was immense! The Denver Nuggets however are already 2-0 up against The Heat in the final! They sure know how to milk their fans of cash with these best of seven series.

8 NHL. The Florida Panthers are against the Las Vegas Golden Knights who now lead 1-0. What an awesome pair of team. A massive sport or physicality, skill and endurance. Incredible.

9. AFL. The impact on AFL players' bodies at this time of the season is telling. There are a few teams in remote control at present, but the Western Bulldogs curse v Geelong continues. They have not beaten them for a million years. Collingwood keep wining and Port Adelaide are enjoying the most remarkable of runs - nine straight now! Richmond had a nice win, but GWS still have the worst crowds in the AFL. They have no identity and should be relocated. North Melbourne almost did the unthinkable, but good on them.

10. Dave Warner. Dave Warner has given much joy, but no one likes seeing players tell the world when and at what venue they might retire. Dave may want to go out in the New Year's Test in Sydney 2024 (think McGrath, Warne, Langer, Chappell...), but he has a bit to do before then. It starts this week in the Test Championship game v India. 

A little worried seeing how dry it is there at present. India will revel in that. We need a juicy, seaming wicket to win. That man Ravi Jadeja, who single handedly won the IPL last week for the Chennai Super Kings, will be especially hard to contain.

11. French Open Tennis. There is a predictability about this tournament in the Mens most years. Djokovic will be hard to beat. Alcaraz maybe. The Womens play is far more interesting and enterprising.