1. Coronavirus. The whole sporting world will come to a grinding halt soon. Amazing how panic and self absorbed thinking dominates in tough times. The anxiety levels in society are incredible. Worry is a wasted emotion. Worry about what you can control. Empty stadiums look terrible, but it is the only solution for the codes desperate to get paid from their pay TV masters.
2. NRL. Luke Keary did not have his best game v Manly...over the tryline and the ball is inexplicably knocked out of his possession. Then his field goal hits the upright and bounces away...The Roosters have great forwards, but their backs and centres are ho hum at present. They miss Latrell even if they don't want to admit it. Manly look tough this year. A great win by them.
Warriors are terrible. being noble and staying in the country, but should they be banished from the NRL forever? Or is this their lifeline? When you look at it, why do we have NZ teams in the comp and not another Australian team? Strange. I hardly think they are bringing in great funds into the NRL coffers.
Canberra look pretty slick again. Curtis Scott looks to be a better player after having been tasered. Could have brought some sense to him.
3. NRL Cash Drought. How can the NRL be so short on cash? Where is it all? Tina Turner commercials? They have presided over the greatest mismanagement of any code on record. Greenberg will need to go. Greedy players are also coming to the surface now...the TV deal is so pivotal to the success of the code. Without it, they are a suburban comp. Players play - clubs pay them for playing. No play makes it hard... Club amateurism and mismanagement will be exposed.
Had to laugh with Gus Gould, pleading with players to stay well... Unfortunately viruses don't read his newspaper columns, blogs, or watch his shows.
4. Shaun Johnson. Can there be a worse buy than this bloke? He has so much ability but is a poor decision maker under pressure and has bad hands! The Cronulla forwards looked so much better without Woods - lots of go forward, but like so many teams, strike power out wide is lacking. Another Wade Graham injury seems so predictable these days. Great player but plays half a season tops these days.
Melbourne don't miss out on too many close games going their way. Smith et al regroup each year and surge on. If I was a CEO, I'd be signing Smith as my coach when he retires.
5. AFL. Closed door play in the AFL looks worse than the league, because they have such regular huge crowds. The Gold Coast Suns looked OK in pre-season, but were terrible yet again. The Swans had a top victory in Adelaide, but tried hard to throw it away. I liked the stamp of GWS (but their inconsistency will strike). Hawthorn just seem to keep on staying strong. All done for a while yet...probably a good thing.
6. Farnan - Golden Slipper. The effort in the Golden Slipper by Farnan was incredible. Another Hugh Bowman special. Started at the front and was never thwarted. This horse has done this for about a month now over 1200m or thereabouts. Gai Waterhouse has seven slippers now...top effort.
7. Coronavirus Winner - Sheffield Shield Winners. How lucky are NSW to have won the shield? Fading fast but when you win your first four with Starc, Cummins, Warner and Smith, you are in a good place. 47 titles now for NSW since the first 1892-93 season (Vics - 32; WA - 15; SA - 13; QLD - 8; TAS - 3).
8. Coronavirus Winner - Coaches. All those coaches going down the gurguler when comps were cancelled. They seemed really keen on public health all of a sudden.
9. A-League. The TV audience world wide is immense apparently as there is nothing else to watch. I am not hearing the sounds of opening chequebooks. They may be all asleep.
10. Tom Brady - Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Big news that the new England Patriots legend quarterback, Tom Brady has signed a two year deal to play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I was just in Tampa myself and went to Raymond James Stadium - seats 75,000 and is huge. Think Wally World with the giant car park around the field! To borrow an old line..."What is a buccaneer...it is what is on the side of your buccan-head". Boom tish!
Monday, March 23, 2020
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Wrap - Self Isolation On The Coronas
Lads, with the sporting world in freefall - 'postponement', 'cancellation', 'self isolation' - become important words. More important for some sports than others. Fancy The Masters, French Open/ Wimbledon, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA, EPL, European Football...all of them going into stoppage mode. Unprecedented, but important for world health. Although Anthony Mundine would dispute this (hopefully his brain is donated for scientific examination one day). Over reaction? By some I suspect, but we are not medics. Cancelling events seems to be panicking. Postponing and delaying them, more considered.
The current climate is a great opportunity for these athletes to earn money without playing, rest up and do some running repairs and surgeries... the fans now have to do a double take. The world without sport is a little dull it must be said.
Playing behind closed doors (NBA Grand Final, ODI, League? AFL?) can't be much fun however. It will test the character and patience of fans.
The fear of legal recourse against owners and corporations is lively!
The power of Pay TV and streaming services is very apparent too. Play on behind closed doors and give us content - or we won't give you cash!
1. Best News. The best news to come out of the lot is that there will be an end to the useless ODI cricket series between Australia and New Zealand! Also, if the Warriors could just return home to NZ and not bother us ever again, it would all work out nicely too. Oh, and a merciful end to the A-League season would be really well received too. Supercar season? Waratahs collapse? Add that to the same dung heap.
Interesting to see how sports played over multiple countries are impacted, but localised ones hold a little more control.
2. NRL. When will we simply get to a point where player discretions equal loss of competition points - and individual fines set by the Integrity Commission (they are a limp lettuce leaf). The impact on the team would be immense, but it would straighten out the idiots real fast. Fans would rise up through the traditional trolling online and clubs would get rid of fools and recruit on character - and skill. Self regulation. What young player would step out of line with a Shane Webcke or a Glenn Lazarus staring at them in a team talk?
Great to see the game back on our screens, but cannot see the season exciting too many with empty stadiums, if it lasts. Maybe one fan in every row?
The thought of taking games to the north of the country in the warmth, makes sense, but bringing every player to a 'Super Round' arrangement at a single venue represents a complete ignorance of the spread of coronavirus. Dumb.
Crystal Ball: as players test positive at certain clubs, other clubs will not want to play against them! This amounts to forfeits and then we will have complete chaos. Let's see where we are by next weekend.
3. NRL - Round 1. Eels looked only just, but what do you expect...lacking pace out wide. How Michael Jennings got another contract is beyond me. He was done six years ago at the Roosters. Roosters rusty...Sharks gallant (they will absolutely miss Morris - and needed to offload a forward instead. eg. Araon Woods). Titans woeful and Warriors horrible. Interested in the Henny Penny Knights under Coach O'Brien. Could surprise with a solid roster and great juniors.
4. ODI Cricket. Mercifully it is over. A series win? Will Cricket Australia come out and admit the season was a disgrace? Or will they make India share IPL players with them for two weeks each Australian summer for the BBL? We have gone soft. packer would never have allowed it.
5. EPL. Who wins? Surely Liverpool take the title if the competition is unable to recommence? However who is relegated? This will be problematic and may see a season next year with those heading upwards crowding out the top league...on that principle, does the bottom league become an untenable size?
6. US College Sport. What about US College sport... you have four years of eligibility to play. With their basketball and baseball/ softball being cancelled (not postponed), this means that a player in the final year is now done. So, regardless of their form, their potential or their emerging talent...they are finished.
Wait, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) then weigh in and say that only baseballers in Division 1 colleges will get an extra year - so everyone else will whistle in the wind. Surely not. For a new player coming in, they now have to compete with five years worth of players. Older players staying (if they have no job already lined up) will bring extra costs to parents and greater competition, meaning first year players will be put onto the bench. Crazy topsy turvey times.
The current climate is a great opportunity for these athletes to earn money without playing, rest up and do some running repairs and surgeries... the fans now have to do a double take. The world without sport is a little dull it must be said.
Playing behind closed doors (NBA Grand Final, ODI, League? AFL?) can't be much fun however. It will test the character and patience of fans.
The fear of legal recourse against owners and corporations is lively!
The power of Pay TV and streaming services is very apparent too. Play on behind closed doors and give us content - or we won't give you cash!
1. Best News. The best news to come out of the lot is that there will be an end to the useless ODI cricket series between Australia and New Zealand! Also, if the Warriors could just return home to NZ and not bother us ever again, it would all work out nicely too. Oh, and a merciful end to the A-League season would be really well received too. Supercar season? Waratahs collapse? Add that to the same dung heap.
Interesting to see how sports played over multiple countries are impacted, but localised ones hold a little more control.
2. NRL. When will we simply get to a point where player discretions equal loss of competition points - and individual fines set by the Integrity Commission (they are a limp lettuce leaf). The impact on the team would be immense, but it would straighten out the idiots real fast. Fans would rise up through the traditional trolling online and clubs would get rid of fools and recruit on character - and skill. Self regulation. What young player would step out of line with a Shane Webcke or a Glenn Lazarus staring at them in a team talk?
Great to see the game back on our screens, but cannot see the season exciting too many with empty stadiums, if it lasts. Maybe one fan in every row?
The thought of taking games to the north of the country in the warmth, makes sense, but bringing every player to a 'Super Round' arrangement at a single venue represents a complete ignorance of the spread of coronavirus. Dumb.
Crystal Ball: as players test positive at certain clubs, other clubs will not want to play against them! This amounts to forfeits and then we will have complete chaos. Let's see where we are by next weekend.
3. NRL - Round 1. Eels looked only just, but what do you expect...lacking pace out wide. How Michael Jennings got another contract is beyond me. He was done six years ago at the Roosters. Roosters rusty...Sharks gallant (they will absolutely miss Morris - and needed to offload a forward instead. eg. Araon Woods). Titans woeful and Warriors horrible. Interested in the Henny Penny Knights under Coach O'Brien. Could surprise with a solid roster and great juniors.
4. ODI Cricket. Mercifully it is over. A series win? Will Cricket Australia come out and admit the season was a disgrace? Or will they make India share IPL players with them for two weeks each Australian summer for the BBL? We have gone soft. packer would never have allowed it.
5. EPL. Who wins? Surely Liverpool take the title if the competition is unable to recommence? However who is relegated? This will be problematic and may see a season next year with those heading upwards crowding out the top league...on that principle, does the bottom league become an untenable size?
6. US College Sport. What about US College sport... you have four years of eligibility to play. With their basketball and baseball/ softball being cancelled (not postponed), this means that a player in the final year is now done. So, regardless of their form, their potential or their emerging talent...they are finished.
Wait, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) then weigh in and say that only baseballers in Division 1 colleges will get an extra year - so everyone else will whistle in the wind. Surely not. For a new player coming in, they now have to compete with five years worth of players. Older players staying (if they have no job already lined up) will bring extra costs to parents and greater competition, meaning first year players will be put onto the bench. Crazy topsy turvey times.
Monday, March 9, 2020
Wrap - Sporting Promotions
1. Australian Women's Cricket World Cup. Shemmozzle in the wet, for Australia to get there, but a huge final and a great spectacle. Katy Perry was pretty awesome when compared to a few others we have seen over the years. Why does the MCG always get this stuff so right? A huge, supportive crowd too.
The Australian women's cricket team really have struck a chord with the Australian public and don't for a moment forget the power of their advertisement - "C'mon Aussie c'mon...c'mon". It rings true with the viewers - still. No Perry in the team, but Mitchell Starc in the crowd (How does that work, but well worth it when your wife, Alyssa Healy, bats so superbly!). Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning are two of the best ever as well. India, as the biggest cricketing country in the world, will be smarting after such a thrashing.
In the end, girl power is rising in world sport as many tire of the brutality of UFC, the diving in soccer, violence and grubbiness (I note an England rugby player grabbing the crotch of a rival overnight...ugh?), drug taking... on it goes.
2. NRL. Finally the season gets under way next week. About time and with a NRL season launch video that needed to showcase more players and tries and ALL clubs - not entertainers, the game divided, protesters and the like. This alienates. There are so many great young players in the game and so many legends. Surely there is a better song than Tina Turner's old one (?). The younger brigade would have no idea. Some will be upset and marginalised that there were no crucifixes in the footage.
The game has changed a lot since the days of footy cards and Scanlen's gum. We are the fading past as supporters and most of us have probably not attended more than a game or two each year live. Anyhow, we are part of a different world of first home buyer's grants, baby bonuses, extra leave provisions from work, record low interest rates... the younger generation have never had it better!
For the future of the game, it must showcase its multicultural nature more as the once 'traditional' league lover is a fading supporter. The Aboriginal players and Pacific Islanders are the bright future of the game, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Their skill and robustness is amazing. State of Origin may need to flex to embrace the world spotlight too before too much longer. The women's game is growing too and is a key part of the strategy of every mainstream sport in Australia now (cricket, rugby, soccer). Footage of one and all athletes excelling in scintillating moments of endeavour would have been best. That gets the crowd going!
Foxsports and Jimmy Barnes got it half right, but there was more dust than footage for mine. How hard is it to get your back catalogue and find great tries. Most of the footage was not even from the SFS (Benjo flick...Thurston field goal, Sattler, etc).
I half expected Billy Idol, the boring judiciary mayhem, stupid refereeing errors to feature as well (Ashley Clown?). Get back to a player focus - of all colours, creeds, persuasions and whether they are Callithumpian as well - who cares! Show tries, big hits, winning plays and acrobatics! Maybe even an immortal or two doing something great!?
3. NRL Improvement. The waste of time in each game needs to be eliminated too. When a try is awarded, it should be time off until the kick off and twenty seconds is then added in every instance to the clock for the conversion kick. The same for scrums and restarts. Peter V'landys will be awesome for the game. His is a strong and ruthless leader, if required.
4. AFL. They love a long half time break - and a super long pre-season. They need to shake this up and start earlier. Stop with the useless trials . How can the NFL be so popular and so intense, rating highly and wowing the whole USA each week with only 16 games. They become complete showdowns of high intensity. The day is closing in when AFL and NRL follow a similar model. Intensity, high powered games that matter each week. Stand alone rep or rest weeks.
Watched the Adam Goodes film the other day. Highly recommended for one and all. Some may be surprised.
5. Cricket. The Australian ODI team v South Africa is still being hampered by Mitchell Marsh in the middle order. The "coach's son" in so many respects, but he simply is too slow and lacking self awareness. I don't know if he owns a shrewd enough cricketing brain. Maxwell is a shoe-in when he gets fit. Bowlers need to offer more with the bat too. Cummins has become very ordinary with the bat (fair enough when he is busy taking wickets), but this limits him in all three forms. He needs to be rested. IPL will set his life up with cash, but does he really need to play a nothing ODI tournament in South Africa?
6. Indian Cricket. Great to see the NZ team turn the cricket world on its head and beat India twice! Unheard of really, but a delight to see. Every great team needs to grapple with adversity. Kohli wavers a little sometimes in this space, but is still a splendid leader of toughness and skill - however unpopular outside of India.
7. Waratahs. They reserve a special line each week for incompetence. Is it so expected now that no one really even cares? They are in all sorts of trouble. Has anyone thought of recruiting the Crusaders coaches? Their culture in their franchise is awesome. This is built, ingrained and lived. It should be on every NRL coach's Christmas visit list....a few might learn how to break dance too. The Chiefs can play and dominate. They may threaten this year too. Crusaders will take some break dancing moves to beat them yet again however.
8. UFC. Another nasty bloke with heaps of tats has belted the life out of another nasty bloke and sought a re-match. Scoop. Footage of swollen foreheads and eyes ripped from sockets does nothing for me. This is not a sport for your daughter either I suspect, yet many partake. When will it be banned as I suspect most men and women don't like its brutality.
The Australian women's cricket team really have struck a chord with the Australian public and don't for a moment forget the power of their advertisement - "C'mon Aussie c'mon...c'mon". It rings true with the viewers - still. No Perry in the team, but Mitchell Starc in the crowd (How does that work, but well worth it when your wife, Alyssa Healy, bats so superbly!). Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning are two of the best ever as well. India, as the biggest cricketing country in the world, will be smarting after such a thrashing.
In the end, girl power is rising in world sport as many tire of the brutality of UFC, the diving in soccer, violence and grubbiness (I note an England rugby player grabbing the crotch of a rival overnight...ugh?), drug taking... on it goes.
2. NRL. Finally the season gets under way next week. About time and with a NRL season launch video that needed to showcase more players and tries and ALL clubs - not entertainers, the game divided, protesters and the like. This alienates. There are so many great young players in the game and so many legends. Surely there is a better song than Tina Turner's old one (?). The younger brigade would have no idea. Some will be upset and marginalised that there were no crucifixes in the footage.
The game has changed a lot since the days of footy cards and Scanlen's gum. We are the fading past as supporters and most of us have probably not attended more than a game or two each year live. Anyhow, we are part of a different world of first home buyer's grants, baby bonuses, extra leave provisions from work, record low interest rates... the younger generation have never had it better!
For the future of the game, it must showcase its multicultural nature more as the once 'traditional' league lover is a fading supporter. The Aboriginal players and Pacific Islanders are the bright future of the game, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Their skill and robustness is amazing. State of Origin may need to flex to embrace the world spotlight too before too much longer. The women's game is growing too and is a key part of the strategy of every mainstream sport in Australia now (cricket, rugby, soccer). Footage of one and all athletes excelling in scintillating moments of endeavour would have been best. That gets the crowd going!
Foxsports and Jimmy Barnes got it half right, but there was more dust than footage for mine. How hard is it to get your back catalogue and find great tries. Most of the footage was not even from the SFS (Benjo flick...Thurston field goal, Sattler, etc).
I half expected Billy Idol, the boring judiciary mayhem, stupid refereeing errors to feature as well (Ashley Clown?). Get back to a player focus - of all colours, creeds, persuasions and whether they are Callithumpian as well - who cares! Show tries, big hits, winning plays and acrobatics! Maybe even an immortal or two doing something great!?
3. NRL Improvement. The waste of time in each game needs to be eliminated too. When a try is awarded, it should be time off until the kick off and twenty seconds is then added in every instance to the clock for the conversion kick. The same for scrums and restarts. Peter V'landys will be awesome for the game. His is a strong and ruthless leader, if required.
4. AFL. They love a long half time break - and a super long pre-season. They need to shake this up and start earlier. Stop with the useless trials . How can the NFL be so popular and so intense, rating highly and wowing the whole USA each week with only 16 games. They become complete showdowns of high intensity. The day is closing in when AFL and NRL follow a similar model. Intensity, high powered games that matter each week. Stand alone rep or rest weeks.
Watched the Adam Goodes film the other day. Highly recommended for one and all. Some may be surprised.
5. Cricket. The Australian ODI team v South Africa is still being hampered by Mitchell Marsh in the middle order. The "coach's son" in so many respects, but he simply is too slow and lacking self awareness. I don't know if he owns a shrewd enough cricketing brain. Maxwell is a shoe-in when he gets fit. Bowlers need to offer more with the bat too. Cummins has become very ordinary with the bat (fair enough when he is busy taking wickets), but this limits him in all three forms. He needs to be rested. IPL will set his life up with cash, but does he really need to play a nothing ODI tournament in South Africa?
6. Indian Cricket. Great to see the NZ team turn the cricket world on its head and beat India twice! Unheard of really, but a delight to see. Every great team needs to grapple with adversity. Kohli wavers a little sometimes in this space, but is still a splendid leader of toughness and skill - however unpopular outside of India.
7. Waratahs. They reserve a special line each week for incompetence. Is it so expected now that no one really even cares? They are in all sorts of trouble. Has anyone thought of recruiting the Crusaders coaches? Their culture in their franchise is awesome. This is built, ingrained and lived. It should be on every NRL coach's Christmas visit list....a few might learn how to break dance too. The Chiefs can play and dominate. They may threaten this year too. Crusaders will take some break dancing moves to beat them yet again however.
8. UFC. Another nasty bloke with heaps of tats has belted the life out of another nasty bloke and sought a re-match. Scoop. Footage of swollen foreheads and eyes ripped from sockets does nothing for me. This is not a sport for your daughter either I suspect, yet many partake. When will it be banned as I suspect most men and women don't like its brutality.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Wrap - Where The Sun Don't Shine
1. The Sharks. Hopefully they can put away the loss of Gallen, Brayley snr and Prior, but with Fifita and Woods, I am not seeing the spark. Woods is massively over rated. Perhaps the death riding of a great recent club is topical (no home ground, CEO rotation, young coach...). Matt Moylan has been very disappointing with injury after injury. Throw in the over paid Dugan (not his fault and why would he want to go anywhere at $900K a year!?) and the imminent departure of Morris... mild turmoil pre season.
I am not as convinced as some re Bronson Xerri. He would have been awesome at Little Athletics, but his hands are problematic. His passing is problematic (he doesn't do that much) and he runs, but can he play? The reaction by a few to the signing of Jesse Ramien (who also rarely passes) has been petulant and childish. I am worried for their season already. But everyone enjoys seeing the Sharks triumph.
2. Chinese Swimming. We are always quick to throw stones at other nations, but have a pretty dismal record ourselves around drugs in Olympic sports if the truth by known. Sun Yang will hopefully be rubbed out, but Mack Horton needs to win now, or look a bit foolish himself. Like India in cricket, the Chinese are feared in Olympic sports organisation because they are a financial powerhouse! Sun Yang has been kicked where the sun don't shine.
3. New Zealand Cricket. Southee and Boult always seem to produce in New Zealand tests. They play best at home. A nasty chase looms for them but Bumrah is no bum. They can bowl these Indians and will never give up. Kohli is up to some whinging as usual, but they will aim up.
Fascinating how Australian Cricket can fold on itself sometimes too. A bad ODI loss to South Africa. Smith and Labaschagne need to score tons. Too often it is left for Warner or Finch. Can we omit Mitchell Marsh please? Every time he plays he gets a slow 15 runs and we lose. Not sure Hazelwood is up to ODI cricket any more.
4. Sheffield Shield. NSW are in the final, but it will be interesting to see if Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Smith, Lyon, Warner all play...If they do, call the engraver.
5. Rugby. The Waratahs have finally kicked in...like the look of this Angus Bell.
6. EPL. Well the great Liverpool run of success has been halted by Watford 0-3, but the race to avoid relegation is more exciting. Watford's effort underpins the desperation. Close at the bottom this year with the Canaries from Norwich even winning.
7. Tennis. Who would have thought...? Nadal wins the Mexican Open. Djokovic wins the Dubai Open. Same old, same old. The younger players are still not a patch on them after so many years!
8. AFL. Still months away from starting seemingly, but interested to see Dusty Martin still Best On Ground in the Victorian Origin game. Toby Greene, loathed as he is for his cockiness, is still one of the best in the AFL too.
9. NFL. Will he or won't he? Tom Brady's future at the New England Patriots is a huge story. He should insist they sign some decent receivers as part of any deal.
I am not as convinced as some re Bronson Xerri. He would have been awesome at Little Athletics, but his hands are problematic. His passing is problematic (he doesn't do that much) and he runs, but can he play? The reaction by a few to the signing of Jesse Ramien (who also rarely passes) has been petulant and childish. I am worried for their season already. But everyone enjoys seeing the Sharks triumph.
2. Chinese Swimming. We are always quick to throw stones at other nations, but have a pretty dismal record ourselves around drugs in Olympic sports if the truth by known. Sun Yang will hopefully be rubbed out, but Mack Horton needs to win now, or look a bit foolish himself. Like India in cricket, the Chinese are feared in Olympic sports organisation because they are a financial powerhouse! Sun Yang has been kicked where the sun don't shine.
3. New Zealand Cricket. Southee and Boult always seem to produce in New Zealand tests. They play best at home. A nasty chase looms for them but Bumrah is no bum. They can bowl these Indians and will never give up. Kohli is up to some whinging as usual, but they will aim up.
Fascinating how Australian Cricket can fold on itself sometimes too. A bad ODI loss to South Africa. Smith and Labaschagne need to score tons. Too often it is left for Warner or Finch. Can we omit Mitchell Marsh please? Every time he plays he gets a slow 15 runs and we lose. Not sure Hazelwood is up to ODI cricket any more.
4. Sheffield Shield. NSW are in the final, but it will be interesting to see if Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Smith, Lyon, Warner all play...If they do, call the engraver.
5. Rugby. The Waratahs have finally kicked in...like the look of this Angus Bell.
6. EPL. Well the great Liverpool run of success has been halted by Watford 0-3, but the race to avoid relegation is more exciting. Watford's effort underpins the desperation. Close at the bottom this year with the Canaries from Norwich even winning.
7. Tennis. Who would have thought...? Nadal wins the Mexican Open. Djokovic wins the Dubai Open. Same old, same old. The younger players are still not a patch on them after so many years!
8. AFL. Still months away from starting seemingly, but interested to see Dusty Martin still Best On Ground in the Victorian Origin game. Toby Greene, loathed as he is for his cockiness, is still one of the best in the AFL too.
9. NFL. Will he or won't he? Tom Brady's future at the New England Patriots is a huge story. He should insist they sign some decent receivers as part of any deal.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Wrap - Something To Crow About
1. Roosters. They are a great side. Like them or not, they know how to win. The World Club Challenge is tough to win. Tedesco...Manu, Keary (what a great move to leave Souths post premiership and win two more - on the road to greatness with three premierships under his belt!), Cordner, Friend, Crichton. Their centres are cursed for injury, but they are winners through and through. They also have the great Takiaoukou kicking for goals as a forward. Rare, but poetry!
The NRL and AFL seasons can't come soon enough. The tattoo artists have no ink left.
2. T20 Cricket. Refreshing to hear Ashton Agar pay tribute to Jadeja in the Indian team as an all round star. Too often Australian cricketers do not publicly pay much respect to some of the Indian superstars. This will get him places in world cricket - especially after a hat trick (Finch took a screamer!). How good is Steve Smith? He always recognises the need to rise under adversity.
Not sure why Australia fall for the old classic T20 stuff up all the time and play five batsmen as they did overnight. Who did they bring in to fail? Mitchell Marsh of course.
3. Last Round of Sheffield Shield. Plenty of interest in whether NSW can claw back a victory to take them into the the Shield final. Hopefully a few get some runs. It has been a dry summer for most. An odd summer too. Cricket has under estimated the Australian public and chased the dollars. There are games left in Australia yet and rugby league is fast approaching... interesting times.
4. Rugby Union. Finally a win against NZ by the perennial over achievers for us, the Brumbies. The Reds cashed in and mercifully the Waratahs had a week off. Can this happen most weeks?
5. Indigenous v Maori XIII Game. Lots of passion. Surely there is room soon enough for the re-branding of State of Origin and allowing it to be more diverse. World XIII v QLD? v NSW?
6. Nines - Salary Cap. Must agree with monies being added to a team's salary cap for winning the Nines. It may get a team an extra player or top up a dynamic youngster. This will be of appeal to the clubs and see the end of silly nonsense like Andrew Ryan or ex AFL players having a run.
7. Women's Cricket World Cup. Whenever Australia start losing these games, the whole thing becomes unpopular. India too strong in the first game. They will need to bounce back or perish!
8. EPL. The teams are scratching for off cuts now. Liverpool home and Jose at Spurs may be heading home too. He has not delivered with Harry Kane on the injured list.
9. Car Racing. Holden dead and buried. Of course they are with the money wasted on touring cars over so many years. Have Kia and The Wall produced a racing car yet? No...too busy making coin.
10. Ron 'Rambo' Gibbs. Tough as teak ex Manly and Roosters, but at what cost? A sad story of decline through brain injuries. This could be the big story of rugby league in the next ten years.
The NRL and AFL seasons can't come soon enough. The tattoo artists have no ink left.
2. T20 Cricket. Refreshing to hear Ashton Agar pay tribute to Jadeja in the Indian team as an all round star. Too often Australian cricketers do not publicly pay much respect to some of the Indian superstars. This will get him places in world cricket - especially after a hat trick (Finch took a screamer!). How good is Steve Smith? He always recognises the need to rise under adversity.
Not sure why Australia fall for the old classic T20 stuff up all the time and play five batsmen as they did overnight. Who did they bring in to fail? Mitchell Marsh of course.
3. Last Round of Sheffield Shield. Plenty of interest in whether NSW can claw back a victory to take them into the the Shield final. Hopefully a few get some runs. It has been a dry summer for most. An odd summer too. Cricket has under estimated the Australian public and chased the dollars. There are games left in Australia yet and rugby league is fast approaching... interesting times.
4. Rugby Union. Finally a win against NZ by the perennial over achievers for us, the Brumbies. The Reds cashed in and mercifully the Waratahs had a week off. Can this happen most weeks?
5. Indigenous v Maori XIII Game. Lots of passion. Surely there is room soon enough for the re-branding of State of Origin and allowing it to be more diverse. World XIII v QLD? v NSW?
6. Nines - Salary Cap. Must agree with monies being added to a team's salary cap for winning the Nines. It may get a team an extra player or top up a dynamic youngster. This will be of appeal to the clubs and see the end of silly nonsense like Andrew Ryan or ex AFL players having a run.
7. Women's Cricket World Cup. Whenever Australia start losing these games, the whole thing becomes unpopular. India too strong in the first game. They will need to bounce back or perish!
8. EPL. The teams are scratching for off cuts now. Liverpool home and Jose at Spurs may be heading home too. He has not delivered with Harry Kane on the injured list.
9. Car Racing. Holden dead and buried. Of course they are with the money wasted on touring cars over so many years. Have Kia and The Wall produced a racing car yet? No...too busy making coin.
10. Ron 'Rambo' Gibbs. Tough as teak ex Manly and Roosters, but at what cost? A sad story of decline through brain injuries. This could be the big story of rugby league in the next ten years.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Wrap - Pointless Revenge
1. The Perth NRL Nines. Two men and a dog turn up to a carnival where some treat it like life and death and others treat it like snakes and ladders. Why do we have the Nines? Nick Davis - how did he go? The eventual premiers - North QLD...let's see what this looks like in October. Always love a 'next best thing' story around the Nines (Bevan French was one such guy). No one remembers pre-season winners. Bring back the Craven-Mild Cup - or the Amco Cup mid week instead.
How about St George... they lose Sims, McInness and Dufty in one weekend? This is the injury scourge they usually get in June each year.
2. Shield - Tasmania. For a state who have talented cricketers, to be bowled out for 78 was a complete disgrace v Queensland. The pitch was challenging and the duke ball was hooping. Jordan Silk as skipper got a pair. Hard to believe. Neser looked unplayable, but talk about a team who were panicking!
3. Shield - NSW. The resting of Cummins, Hazelwood and Starc from the NSW team and T20 is hurting their Shield campaign. Lots of blokes who get 30 and 40 can work, but not often. Nic 'Ears' Maddinson seems to be the best we have in the country at present. Matt Renshaw is a good example of blokes who fall apart in the longer form of the game when runs dry up.
I noticed Kurtis Patterson is back for NSW. A long time away.
4. Australian Super Rugby. Sealing support in club rugby sounds smart, but the code is under attack. Meanwhile we go 0-6 in our combined efforts against tougher off shore opponents. The Waratahs are sitting 0-3 and more punishment lies ahead.
5. Hugh Bowman. What a cracking jockey. Rode three straight winners in the big races on Saturday - Matowi, Flit, Alizee. He knows how to win.
6. EPL - Liverpool. Liverpool are so far ahead they may break the EPL record for most points and earliest declared premiership. They are not losing from here, despite Leicester doing good business. Now Man City have been banished from UEFA's Champions League and their players will start to leave too. The juggernaut of Liverpool may well roll on under the Klopster!
7. Folau. Hopefully he shuts up and leaves social media alone and just plays league. Immense talent, but will struggle to ever be fully accepted.
8. MLB Astros. Interesting to see the player revenge angle here. Talk of pitchers deliberately pinging their opponents in the ribs as a reminder for their cheating. They will be the most hated franchise in history and a lot of the teams will not hold back. Ironically, they could get banned longer than those involved in this initial outrageous sign stealing scam!
How about St George... they lose Sims, McInness and Dufty in one weekend? This is the injury scourge they usually get in June each year.
2. Shield - Tasmania. For a state who have talented cricketers, to be bowled out for 78 was a complete disgrace v Queensland. The pitch was challenging and the duke ball was hooping. Jordan Silk as skipper got a pair. Hard to believe. Neser looked unplayable, but talk about a team who were panicking!
3. Shield - NSW. The resting of Cummins, Hazelwood and Starc from the NSW team and T20 is hurting their Shield campaign. Lots of blokes who get 30 and 40 can work, but not often. Nic 'Ears' Maddinson seems to be the best we have in the country at present. Matt Renshaw is a good example of blokes who fall apart in the longer form of the game when runs dry up.
I noticed Kurtis Patterson is back for NSW. A long time away.
4. Australian Super Rugby. Sealing support in club rugby sounds smart, but the code is under attack. Meanwhile we go 0-6 in our combined efforts against tougher off shore opponents. The Waratahs are sitting 0-3 and more punishment lies ahead.
5. Hugh Bowman. What a cracking jockey. Rode three straight winners in the big races on Saturday - Matowi, Flit, Alizee. He knows how to win.
6. EPL - Liverpool. Liverpool are so far ahead they may break the EPL record for most points and earliest declared premiership. They are not losing from here, despite Leicester doing good business. Now Man City have been banished from UEFA's Champions League and their players will start to leave too. The juggernaut of Liverpool may well roll on under the Klopster!
7. Folau. Hopefully he shuts up and leaves social media alone and just plays league. Immense talent, but will struggle to ever be fully accepted.
8. MLB Astros. Interesting to see the player revenge angle here. Talk of pitchers deliberately pinging their opponents in the ribs as a reminder for their cheating. They will be the most hated franchise in history and a lot of the teams will not hold back. Ironically, they could get banned longer than those involved in this initial outrageous sign stealing scam!
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Wrap - Don't The Fans Love It
1. BBL. Stunning that they played at all after so much rain. Steve Smith is a dangerous player in all forms. Josh Phillippe will give Wade and Carey a run for their money. Warnie is clearly the best commentator in the business. The Stars salary cap is something else - Stoinis, Handscomb, Maxwell, Zampa, Coulter-Nile... and the Sixers is rubbery too - Smith, Starc, Hazelwood, Henriques, Abbott, Lyon... How do they do it?
A cracking crowd catch in front of the Ladies Stand was a highlight. Great win by the Sixers. They were the best fielding team in the comp and deserved to win. Silk is very valuable in that team. If they had kept the Pommie, Tom Curran, they could have belted everyone even more. Keeper -batsmen are gold in this T20 world.
Moises Henriques is a wonderful skipper. His knowledge of the game is exceptional. Really impressive and a possible future there at the highest level in some form of the game.
2. AB Medal. Warner seems a special. Maybe Cummins or Starc? A completely flawed concept these days and the preserve only a few national players who play all forms can reach. Smith an outsider.
3. Bushfire Appeal Game. A shame Warnie wasn't playing. No one had a spare plane, but there is great danger in these for world stars (Payne Stewart, Kobe Bryant...John Denver, Richie Valens!). Love the banter he brings... and his talent is missed. Some blokes never lose it. The stars of the show? Walsh can still move it. Akram looked strong too. Hayden was looking like he's been in the cookbook too much. Ponting still has it! Lara could still play for the Windies too. He hits the ball so sweetly.
4. Australian U/19 Cricket Team. Sixth place. Can't believe how low this is really. We are not dominating as we once did. India should hold every trophy and every place on the rostrum in world cricket. Their population says this is so. Good to see Bangladesh in the final. India to win however.
5. Rugby Union. How long does Raelene Castle have left? The TV rights is potentially a complete disaster for the game all the way down to park rugby. It is not her fault alone, but they have been uninspiring with the game in their control. The product is on the nose and will return to ABC on Saturday afternoons I suspect.
6. Waratahs. The crowd on Saturday was outrageously low. Rugby is on its knees. Back to the future. 32-12 loss...spoon time!?
7. Sydney Kings. First team to lead the NBL from start to finish. Impressive season...semis will be tough however!
8. NRL Integrity Commission. Busy times in summer for the commission. Josh Reynolds' case sounds intriguing. Curtis Scott, Siva, May, de Belin...complexity and all a shocking look for the game. Yet David Fifita and big Nelson from the Storm - squeaky clean those blokes!? That is an entirely inconsistent joke.
9. Jason Day. Could finally break his two year duck in Pebble Beach...!
10. Horse racing. Hanseatic, Colette, Microphone, Alabama Express and Sylvia's mother were stunning at Caulfield on Saturday. Really like this Master Jamie and Ambidazzle too. Mark them down.
A cracking crowd catch in front of the Ladies Stand was a highlight. Great win by the Sixers. They were the best fielding team in the comp and deserved to win. Silk is very valuable in that team. If they had kept the Pommie, Tom Curran, they could have belted everyone even more. Keeper -batsmen are gold in this T20 world.
Moises Henriques is a wonderful skipper. His knowledge of the game is exceptional. Really impressive and a possible future there at the highest level in some form of the game.
2. AB Medal. Warner seems a special. Maybe Cummins or Starc? A completely flawed concept these days and the preserve only a few national players who play all forms can reach. Smith an outsider.
3. Bushfire Appeal Game. A shame Warnie wasn't playing. No one had a spare plane, but there is great danger in these for world stars (Payne Stewart, Kobe Bryant...John Denver, Richie Valens!). Love the banter he brings... and his talent is missed. Some blokes never lose it. The stars of the show? Walsh can still move it. Akram looked strong too. Hayden was looking like he's been in the cookbook too much. Ponting still has it! Lara could still play for the Windies too. He hits the ball so sweetly.
4. Australian U/19 Cricket Team. Sixth place. Can't believe how low this is really. We are not dominating as we once did. India should hold every trophy and every place on the rostrum in world cricket. Their population says this is so. Good to see Bangladesh in the final. India to win however.
5. Rugby Union. How long does Raelene Castle have left? The TV rights is potentially a complete disaster for the game all the way down to park rugby. It is not her fault alone, but they have been uninspiring with the game in their control. The product is on the nose and will return to ABC on Saturday afternoons I suspect.
6. Waratahs. The crowd on Saturday was outrageously low. Rugby is on its knees. Back to the future. 32-12 loss...spoon time!?
7. Sydney Kings. First team to lead the NBL from start to finish. Impressive season...semis will be tough however!
8. NRL Integrity Commission. Busy times in summer for the commission. Josh Reynolds' case sounds intriguing. Curtis Scott, Siva, May, de Belin...complexity and all a shocking look for the game. Yet David Fifita and big Nelson from the Storm - squeaky clean those blokes!? That is an entirely inconsistent joke.
9. Jason Day. Could finally break his two year duck in Pebble Beach...!
10. Horse racing. Hanseatic, Colette, Microphone, Alabama Express and Sylvia's mother were stunning at Caulfield on Saturday. Really like this Master Jamie and Ambidazzle too. Mark them down.
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