Who's Playing Who?

Welcome back to The Monday Wrap for another big week in sport. This week there is more injuries, some cricket news, the US Masters wraps up, Black Caviar impresses again, I take a look at the NRL’s Men of League Heritage Round and quite possibly the greatest goal of all time, and we have our first edition of Wayne’s World.

Camp Concord Hospital Part II

So I may have said this last week, but the Tigers really are now the competition’s walking wounded. An extra impressive win over Souths on Friday night, it emerged that they are in even more of a pickle with injuries to replacement centre Geoff Daniela (pectoral – season), Keith Galloway (groin – 1-2 weeks) and Wade McKinnon (hamstring – 1 week). Whilst the latter 2 aren’t as serious as some of the injuries the club has, it puts them in massive danger this week against the Titans with nobody due back and players dropping like flies. Despite this, if they play like they did against the Rabbitohs again (and remember Farah isn’t fully fit) then nobody in the competition will come close to them.

Captain’s knock

So I got on the back of Michael Clarke a little last week, but he really did step up straight away. His nous as skipper wasn’t really tested due to a sub-par batting display from the home side, but Clarke did what he had to with the bat, mixing power, finesse and timing to bring up a brilliant hundred off only 110 balls. Whilst his deputy was up to his old tricks again running out the form batsmen in the team, Clarke guided the side to a decent score, and showed that sometimes the burden of captaincy can bring the best out in players. The level of opposition aside, this proved a lot to me, and with the trust I have in his tactics, I think we can be successful in the near future. However, I must say I still don’t particularly like him!

CUT THE FEED!

So the IPL started on Friday night…….no, you didn’t know? I don’t blame you. Whilst reading a short IPL preview this Friday, I went to check out which games were on to find that following a dispute between Aussie broadcasters One HD and the host broadcasters in India we won’t be getting any coverage of it this year. This is a relatively minor issue, but I still find it ridiculous that a tournament that brings in so much money for cricket, and showcases so many Aussie cricketers can’t even get a start when The Circle gets a daily run! Now what am I gonna watch at 12:30 on a weeknight in the middle of autumn!!!!

Oh the nostalgia

This week is the Men of League Heritage Round in the NRL, and how good is it to see the throwbacks to the old days. The old jerseys, the old rivalries and the showcase of the weekend, the Dragons and Bulldogs clash at the SCG. Even if the rain dampened the mood a little on Sunday, the clashes we saw this weekend showed a lot of people what is great about the game. Hopefully there was also plenty raised for the Men of League Foundation, who do tremendous work helping out footballers who have fell on hard times.

Beautiful Day

Jason Day may just be the next big thing in Aussie golf, and went mighty close to finally breaking our duck at Augusta this week. His second round 64, just one short of the course record, shows how much potential this 21 year old has, and how much potential Australian golf has as well. Day and fellow Aussie Adam Scott finished equal second after playing together for the last day and did very well to be in the race. With Geoff Ogilvy contending for most of the tournament, hopefully another Aussie major winner is just around the corner. Anyway, congratulations to young Charl Schwartzel, who came from the chasing pack to win on the last day. Both Day and Scott did themselves very proud pushing the South African the whole way before falling just short. Scott did have a chance to level one the final whole, but missed a difficult birdie putt. In the end it was irrelevant, as Schwartzel birdied the final hole to win by two strokes. A big shame for young Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who led by four strokes leading into the final day before crumbling to shoot a seven over 79 to fall well out of the race. Some good signs for Tiger as well who finished in third, but no green jacket this year.

One for the ages

Some are saying it is the best this year, the best this decade, the best ever. There is no doubting that Dejan Stankovic’s wonder goal for Inter midweek will go down as a classic. Check it out for yourself –

For the record, they got beat 5-2 by Schalke.

An even dozen

Well Black Caviar has done it again, and now truly can be called the best sprinter in the world. She was pushed very hard by Hay List, but strode away in the final stages to win by a couple of lengths in her own true style.  Luke Nolen and Peter Moody should be very proud of their work, creating one of the greats of Australian racing. Word is now she could be off to Ascot to take on the Pommy horses……

Wayne’s World

This story just keeps on adding chapters, so until he makes his decision, I’m thinking this could be a weekly segment. Wayne Bennett surprised many with his decision to knock-back his home team Brisbane on Friday, with the Broncos appointing current coach Anthony Griffin for a further two seasons. How filthy would Ivan Henjak be now! This leaves just South Sydney and Newcastle as the potential clubs. The plot has now thickened, but don’t forget as we revealed on Who’s Playing Who? Summer Series Episode 2 that a deal with Souths had already been done. Remember, you heard it here first on Who’s Playing Who?