Thoughts on Naomi Osaka and women's tennis

Let me straight off say I’m a big fan of Naomi Osaka. Her early successes were a breath of fresh air into women’s tennis, Naomi ventured into some political activity, which is her right; but it seems her activism has led to her feeling unsure of herself in post match press conferences.

Who watches tennis for the press conferences?

I do like the on court post match interviews, but see no need for the post match media scrum. I think it should be scrapped. For both men’s and women’s tennis.

I’m not a big fan of it in NRL and AFL, although I think Ricky Stuart and Des Hasler have become masters of them. I especially recommend Ricky’s efforts to Naomi to see how it can be done.

Women’s tennis is awesome right now. Without Naomi and an injured Ash Barty, Barbora Krejcikova came from nowhere to win the French Open. It’s always good to have a new champion. It’s certainly less boring than the men’s tour with the Big Three dominating.

And so, on to Wimbledon. I hope Ash Barty is fit to play. I hope Naomi Osaka strikes a deal where she can answer questions on court only. I hope Petra Kvitova doesn’t fall over again. I hope Barbora Krejcivoa can prove this wasn’t a flash in the pan.

The thing about women’s tennis right now is it’s amazingly competitive. Simona Halep and Sofia Kenin are still in the mix. Aryna Sabalenka has had a successful European campaign is now ranked number five.

Predicting a Wimbledon winner is as hard as a Melbourne Cup. There’s just too many front runners.

And that is fantastic for women’s tennis.

VALE Bob Fulton

The best there is. The best there was. The best there ever will be.

That is Bob Fulton.

I recently posted a piece about how a boy from Granville became a Manly fan. The first footy card of Bob Fulton I got was the 1977 Easts one. I was a kid. I didn’t know then the impact Fulton had on Manly.

Until my Mum bought me a magazine about Grand Finals. This was the holy grail for a young footy fan. I learned about Reg Gasnier and John Sattler. Norm Provan and Tom Bourke. Jack Rayner and John Raper.

And Bob Fulton.

By the early 1980s I was entrenched as a Sea Eagles fan. Our local video store happened to have copies of the 1973 Grand Final. I think I rented it at least once a month.

When Fulton came back to Manly in 1983 as coach he brought some of his Easts players with him. Kerry Boustead, Noel Cleal, Ian Schubert and Dave Brown added to the 1982 Manly side that made the Grand Final, but they still couldn’t quite get the job done.

Bob Fulton then added to his coaching aura by resettling an impetuous lock forward from North Sydney named Cliff Lyons at the Sea Eagles. Fulton then picked a halfback out of Penrith’s reserve grade side, and made him not just a star player for Australia, but a coach to follow on from the Fulton legacy. His name was Des Hasler. In 1987, with the addition of the out-of-favour second rower Ron Gibbs; the hulking prop forward from Great Britan, Kevin Ward; the mercurial centre Michael O’Connor from St George; and tha mainstays - Paul Vautin, Noel Cleal, Mal Cochrane, Phil Daley, Dale Shearer….the Sea Eagles defeated Canberra in the Grand Final to claim the premiership.

Perhaps Bob Fulton’s greatest triumph was the 1995 World Cup. At the height of the Super League war, Fulton molded a new Australian side, bereft of their previous years’ best players, and turned them into literal world beaters.

Because that’s what Bob Fulton was all about. A world beater. A champion.

The best there ever was.

Rest in peace, my childhood hero.

How Backyard Footy Drove Me To Manly

I sometimes get asked how did a boy from Granville end up a Manly fan. The short answer is a butcher from Berala named John Dorahy told me he was leaving the Magpies to the Sea Eagles and I should follow. As a nine year old kid I thought this was sound advice, especially after Les Boyd and Ray Brown also made the move.

But I think to me, Manly was always attractive, even before Dorahy’s move. See, growing up in Granville in the 1970s, everybody playing backyard footy wanted to be Ray Price or Ray Higgs or Mick Cronin or John Peard or Ron Hilditch. Ron Hilditch was even my grandmother’s favourite player! And my Mum adored Mick Cronin.

So, as usually the youngest to play backyard footy, I could never be Parra. I had to be the enemy. Manly. It didn’t bother me too much as a kid in 1977. Manly were the defending premiers. I liked pretending to be Graham Eadie, or Alan Thompson, or Max Krilich. I was rubbish at tackling, so I was never going to be a Terry Randall or a John Harvey.

I loved how Manly had the English players back then. Gary Stephens, Phil Lowe and Steve Norton. (I also loved David Topliss at Balmain and Mike Stephenson at Penrith). My Mum started buying Big League, and I got to know Tom Mooney and Russel Gartner. Ian Martin and Simon Booth.

In hindsight, it was an easy switch to Manly when our family butcher told me he was joining the Sea Eagles in 1980. He stayed two years before going home to Illawarra. I am still right here.

Rugby Union Has Gone Mad

So it seems that the New Zealand All Blacks will be 12.5% owned by a private firm form the USA. A national team owned partly by another nation! And the Wallabies may be following this plan. This is absolute madness.

OK, so Rugby Australia recorded a massive loss during the pandemic. They weren’t on sure footing before COVID-19, but bygones. There was even talk about them returning to amateur status. I wonder how many players would have stuck around for that….

The answer for world rugby is staring them in the face, but yet they still refuse to see it. The answer is their own subscription network. It may be the only way rugby will survive.

The top sixteen ranked countries in rugby union - the teams you’d expect to fight it out for the next World Cup - are as follows. South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Wales, Australia, Scotland, Argentina, Japan, Fiji, Georgia, Tonga, Samoa, Italy and the USA.

According to Population by Country (2021) - Worldometer (worldometers.info) the combined population total of these countries is 793.3 million people. Let’s be conservative and say just 1% of that population is a big fan of rugby union. That is just shy of eight million people.

Now, let’s say all of World Rugby got together and agreed that for $10 a month, those eight million fans could watch all domestic competitions. Every nation’s competition would gain greater exposure to the world, and their best players, and up and coming players, would have the eyes of the world upon them. They could also watch all test matches outside of the major competitions. $10 a month? Sign me up.

Sure, keep the World Cup and the Bledisloe Cup and the Six Nations for mainstream media. That brings in revenue and brings in eyes that may not be too interested in say, Gordon V Eastwood in the NSW comp. But have replays of the big matches on the new streaming service. And have the historical matches on there too. I’m not sure who owns the rights to previous international rugby matches, but do a deal with whoever it is. Have World Cup and Six Nations histories on your channel. Have the Bledisloe Cup history on your channel. You can’t find much of it on YouTube now, so why not?

To recap, if World Rugby went this way they could conservatively trouser $80 million dollars per month. $960 million dollars per year. How many junior clubs could benefit from that? How much could be spent in other rugby union nations that are developing?

It just makes sense.

Thoughts on the Proposed NRL Conference System

I see today that the NRL looks like moving forward with a conference system from 2023, with the addition of two new teams; most likely in Brisbane and New Zealand. The conferences would be split between the Sydney teams and the rest, with the top four from each qualifying for the finals, and the top team from each contesting the Grand Final.

The idea has some merit. It gives the Sydney teams the opportunity to continue some of the rivalries that have been established over decades. Parramatta V Manly, Canterbury V Parramatta, Souths V Roosters, Souths V Wests Tigers, Souths V St George-Illawarra. Fans of those clubs would salivate at the thought of the home and away twice annual clashes.

It’s also good for the game in Queensland. The two Brisbane teams, Gold Coast and North Queensland would each play each other twice. That may increase the chances of having Queensland Cup games played as a curtain raiser to give more value for the price of a ticket. The same can be said in Sydney.

However, the proposed finals format has some problems. Under the current proposal we would never see Manly play Parramatta in a Grand Final again. We’d never see Canberra fight it out against Brisbane (the original idea behind the 1995 Super League, and a Grand Final that still has not eventuated). No more Melbourne V anyone not from Sydney.

It would guarantee a Sydney based team in the Grand Final every single year. Not fantastic if you’re a fan of any team outside of the spiritual home of Australian Rugby League. Yet one may argue that the Grand Final itself may and perhaps should be shopped around as the Super Bowl is in the USA. After all, this whole concept of conferences comes from the National Football League.

So, how to fix it before it gets broken? There are two options. The first is the easiest. Keep the competition united during the season as competition points accrue, and the top eight functions as normal. This option could potentially favour a weaker conference though, with an imbalance between the qualifiers. One can imagine Souths, Roosters and Penrith finishing well ahead of their conference rivals, and taking the top spots in the eight. But rugby league fortunes are cyclical, so swings and roundabouts….

If the NRL are set on having the top four from each conference qualify for the finals, there must be some provision for two teams from the same conference to contest the Grand Final, especially if they are easily identifiable as the best teams in the competition.

So, for the sake of the argument, let’s say the Sydney conference has Souths, Roosters, Parramatta and Penrith qualify. The regional conference (for lack of a better marketing guru’s term) sees Melbourne finish ahead of Canberra, Newcastle and the Warriors.

In week one, Souths beat Roosters and Penrith beat Parramatta. Melbourne defeats Canberra, and the Warriors beat Newcastle. Parramatta and Newcastle are eliminated..

Week two sees Souths and Melbourne have a rest, while the top losing teams play the winners of the knockout games, but in cross-conference games. This would see Roosters V Warriors and Penrith V Canberra. The winners would play the team on the opposite side of the draw in week three. For example, if Roosters beat the Warriors, they would play Melbourne. The winner of Penrith V Canberra (let’s say Penrith) would play Souths. This system allows for teams from the same conference to play in the Grand Final.

Week four would see the winner of Penrith V Souths up against the winner of Melbourne V Roosters in the Grand Final. It would ensure that some of the great rivalries of the game have a chance to continue to add to the history of the game.

Just Stop It

About six years before I became a Manchester City fan, there was Sydney Croatia. Yeah, there was a girl involved… But I always liked watching The Big Match on the ABC as a kid - just not as much as I liked my rugby league.

So, in 1987 I went to Edensor Park to watch my first National Soccer League match. “My” Sydney Croatia up against Preston Macedonia. As a sixteen year old, my knowledge of Yugoslav history and politics was limited. I was chased off the front lawn of the aforementioned girl once in 1986; but that may have just been a teenage boy thing.

Anyway, during the match, fans started to throw flares at each other. I turned to my Croatian friend and asked, “is this normal?” He assured me it was. I can’t even remember the result, but here’s what I do remember - Sydney Croatia had Graham Arnold playing for them at the time, and as he was driving out of the carpark he wound down his window to ask me how the Parramatta Eels did. That was soccer in 1987.

I ended up loving Sydney Croatia alongside my beloved Manly Sea Eagles and the Richmond Tigers. The New York Yankees and Giants would follow, as did Manchester City. Sydney Croatia always just fell short of winning the competition, but it was still better than watching the Northern Eagles in the late 1990s, or trying to find how Man City went against Grimsby in third division in the days before the internet.

Sydney Croatia became Sydney United after the NSL passed an edict to have clubs renounce their immigrant histories. When the A-League came in, Syd Utd were relegated to the NSW Premier League, where they have had some success.

So what? you may ask. You liked a team based on a crush on a gal. Nah, it was WAY more than that. I got to meet Serbians, Bosnians, Macedonians and as an outsider I was able to find some common ground through football.

When I worked at Mission Australia, one of my co-workers happily wore Serbian and Australian wristbands during the World Cup. Another co-worker, a Bosnian whose family moved to Australia after the implosion of Yugoslavia, pointed me in the direction of a Serbian mechanic when I needed to buy a car.

Turns out the mechanic is a great fan of Manly. Even after moving 300km away, I still take my car to him. We both love the awesome Manly and Australian captain Max Krilich, whose family has a Croatian background. My mechanic went to school with a Serbian bloke called John somewhere on the northern beaches. John married a gal named Melissa and had four sons.

When Manly started to slide down the ladder after Brett and Glenn Stewart left the club, my mechanic mate told me about John and Melissa’s boys, who at the time were coming up through the Manly juniors. The first two to make it into first grade were Jake and Tom.

So, to recap, over 35 years I have had the pleasure of meeting several people from the former Yugoslavia, and forming some life long friendships, as well as at least one less than successful romantic relationship.

Which makes the weekend’s fan brawl in the NSW Premier League match between Sydney United and Rockdale so disheartening. Rockdale were formed, like so many soccer clubs in Australia, by immigrants. In their case it was Macedonians. The news of the brawl reminded me of my first NSL game back in 1987. I can’t believe we haven’t moved forward in 34 years. The war is over people. You have your own independent nations. There’s no need to fight anymore. So just stop it.

Just stop it.

NRL 2021 Season Preview

It’s on again!!

Another NRL season kicks off next week, and surely it can’t be as problematic as 2020. Can Melbourne retain their title, or will Penrith gain redemption for last year’s Grand Final loss?

Read ahead for predictions for every club, in order from 2020’s last to first.

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Brisbane endured a horror season in 2020, and ended up with the wooden spoon for the first time in their history. They’ve lost the experience of Darius Boyd and Andrew McCullough, as well as promising second rower David Fifita and front row forward Joe Ofahengaue. New coach Kevin Walters will have to get the best out of Anthony Milford if Brisbane have any chance of making the finals. Young backs Xavier Coates, Herbie Farnworth and Kotoni Staggs will be better for a year in first grade, while Jake Turpin looks the logical replacement at hooker. Patrick Carrigan may finish the year as an Origin player if things go well.

Prediction: 12th

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Canterbury look like they’re building towards something after a 2020 to forget. New coach Trent Barrett will be looking to resurrect his career after a disastrous stint at Manly, and he’ll have plenty of new troops. Jack Hetherington adds plenty of fire up front, while Nick Cotric is a proven try scorer - something the Bulldogs lacked last year. Kyle Flanagan will be keen to show his critics wrong after being made the scapegoat at the Roosters after just one season. With Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr on their way to Belmore in 2022, the future is very bright.

Prediction: 10th

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

After only managing five wins in 2020, the Cowboys’ star players really need to step up for new coach Todd Payten. Jason Taumalolo can’t win every game on his own, and he needs the likes of Michael Morgan and Valentine Holmes to get back to their best. With Jordan McLean and Josh McGuire joining Taumalolo in the pack, the Cowboys should have been close to the top eight. They’ll need some support now that Gavin Cooper has retired. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow looks like a star of the future, but a lack of movement on the player market means the Cowboys may find it hard to compete against the teams that finished higher on the ladder in 2020.

Prediction: 14th

MANLY SEA-EAGLES

With stars such as Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans in their ranks, it seems ridiculous that an injury to one player can cruel Manly’s whole season. But when that player is Tom Trbojevic, it seems that’s where Manly are. The warning signs are there with Tommy Turbo already set to miss the opening rounds. Corey Waddell, Addin Fonua-Blake, Danny Levi and Joel Thompson have all moved on, yet Manly decided to sign a couple of promising wingers. Josh Alioli will be expected to replace AFB, while the big name recruit is the return of Kieran Foran. The injury clouds are a worry, but if they stay healthy, there is no reason why a team with this much talent shouldn’t be knocking on the door of the top eight.

Prediction: 7th

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Another team with a new coach, St George-Illawarra are up against it before a ball is kicked in 2021. Key forward Tyson Frizell has joined Newcastle, and inspirational captain Cameron McInnes suffered a season ended injury at training. McInnes had recently signed with arch-rivals Cronulla for 2022. Brisbane veteran Andrew McCullough joins the Dragons, as does his Brisbane team mate Jack Bird, who will be looking to stay injury free. New coach Anthony Griffin will be looking at the spine combinations to find answers, but it looks as though fullback Matt Dufty is already on the outer. Adam Clune went well last year, but it seems Griffin is keen to play new skipper Ben Hunt at halfback. If he can get all the moving parts working together, Griffin is a coaching genius. Unfortunately there are just too many variables.

Prediction: 15th

WESTS TIGERS

It seems as though coach Michael Maguire finally has the team he wants at the Wests Tigers. James Tamou will lend vital experience and leadership to the pack, while Joe Ofahengaue will be looking for a career reset after moving from the Broncos. James Roberts should regain his best form, and could even find himself back in the NSW team. Daine Laurie looks like a real player of the future at fullback. The Tigers have some good talents coming through, such as Jock Madden and Jake Simpkin; but ultimately they lack the x factor that the teams above them have. They are definitely building though.

Prediction: 9th

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Nathan Brown has landed at the Warriors on the coaching merry-go-round, and it may be his toughest assignment yet. After playing the entire 2020 season in Australia, it looks as though the Warriors won’t see home again until at least round 16. It has to take its toll eventually. Throw in the fact that their best player, captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is leaving at the end of the year; and their best buys, outside of Addin Fonua-Blake, are fringe first graders and journeymen, and this looks like it may be a very long year. The Warriors have reportedly requested to play their entire 2022 schedule in New Zealand. If there is justice, their request will be granted; and it may well be a preview of a second team in New Zealand in years to come.

Prediction: 16th

GOLD COAST TITANS

Gold Coast probably have more pressure on them than any other team in the competition. That may sound ridiculous after a ninth place finish in 2020, but their recruitment sees them pushing for a spot in the finals. If they can snare Cameron Smith from the clutches of retirement, their stocks will definitely rise. With Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita joining the forward pack, Jamal Fogarty and a resurgent Ash Taylor should have plenty of opportunities to set up attack. AJ Brimson will want another taste of Origin, while Anthony Don is still one of the most under rated outside backs in the league.

Prediction: 8th

CRONULLA SHARKS

After sneaking into the top eight in 2020, without beating any of the teams above them; it is difficult to see Cronulla pulling off the same trick. An ageing side, the Sharks may have already seen the best of Aaron Woods, Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan. Matt Moylan needs to stay injury free, especially with Shaun Johnson already out for the first part of the season. They have some promising young players coming through such as Toby Rudolf and Blayke Brailey, but not enough to trouble the top teams. The Sharks are really missing the impact of Bronson Xerri out wide. Hopefully that matter will be resolved one way or another soon.

Prediction: 13th

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

After enduring an off-season they’d rather forget, Newcastle will be looking to improve on their top eight performance of last year. With Kalyn Ponga missing for the early rounds, there will be pressure on Mitchell Pearce to lead the Knights around the park. The spine is not set in stone, although it seems as though Blake Green and Jayden Brailey will get first crack. Where Kurt Mann, one of their best performers in 2020 fits in is a happy problem for the coach. Tyson Frizell will add experience to a forward pack that farewells Tim Glasby, Andrew McCullough and Aiden Guerra. Bradman Best should play Origin in 2021, but there remains a question whether the rest of the backline can match it with the top teams.

Prediction: 11th

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

The Roosters won’t be too happy about going out of the finals in straight sets in 2020 while trying to win their third premiership in a row. Young halfback Kyle Flanagan appears to have copped the brunt of the losses, yet the Roosters will still be opting to rely on rookies such as Lachie Lam and Sam Walker. Their remains a question mark over the fitness of captain Boyd Cordner; but they will welcome back Victor Radley. The backline looks as strong as ever, but the Roosters will miss utility Mitch Aubusson more than they may think. Any team with James Tedesco, Victor Radley, Boyd Corder, Joseph Manu, Daniel Tupou, Luke Keary and the Morris twins is always in with a shot.

Prediction: 5th

PARRAMATTA EELS

Every year since 1986, Parramatta fans have been asking is this the year the Eels finally win another premiership? They looked good for most of 2020 but the wheels fell off as the finals neared. Mitchell Moses has to go to another level if the Eels are going to break through. Blake Ferguson needs to return to his best form, and Maika Sivo has to be his partner in crime coming out of the back field. It will be interesting to see if Bryce Cartwright can resurrect his career at Parramatta, after being touted as a future rep player a few years ago. This time last year, Reed Mahoney was probably ahead of Harry Grant as the next QLD hooker. Mahoney will have to put that disappointment aside and prove his potential as one of the best number nines in the game.

Prediction: 6th

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Souths may have finished sixth on the table in 2020, but their form in the finals will have the top teams looking over the shoulders. After thumping Newcastle and Parramatta, the Rabbitohs came within a couple of goal kicks of making the Grand Final. Latrell Mitchell will be back from injury, while Josh Mansour will be a great buy for his junior club, bringing try scoring ability and experience. Jai Arrow will bolster the pack, and Benji Marshall brings an x factor that may be enough to push South Sydney to the next level. A premiership would be a fitting send-off for master coach Wayne Bennett, who would become the first coach to win the Grand Final with three clubs.

Prediction: 1st

CANBERRA RAIDERS

After making the 2019 Grand Final, Canberra would be disappointed not to go on with the job last year. They have lost John Bateman and Nick Cotric, but pick up the experienced forward Ryan James, who will be able to guide the next generation, such as Hudson Young, Tom Starling and Corey Horsburgh. Josh Papali’i looked unstoppable at times in 2020 as he became the best prop forward in the game. Curtis Scott should benefit from less distractions this year, and George Williams will only get better after finishing his first NRL season. If everything goes right, the Raiders could be up to their necks in this competition.

Prediction: 3rd

PENRITH PANTHERS

Penrith’s season may depend on how they bounce back from the mugging they copped in the 2020 Grand Final. The scoreboard against Melbourne finished 20-26, but it was 0-22 at halftime. Nathan Cleary will also have to deal with the disappointment of losing the Origin series as halfback of a short priced favourite NSW outfit. Victims of their own success, the Panthers have lost a host of fringe first graders, as well as the experienced Josh Mansour, James Tamou and Dean Whare. Much will depend on the dreaded second season syndrome for players such as Stephen Crichton and Charlie Staines among others. The squad has too much overall firepower to slip too far.

Prediction: 4th

MELBOURNE STORM

Five years ago, if you had a crystal ball and could see that Melbourne would be fine without Slater, Cronk and Smith; you’d be a tipping genius. But this is where we are. The big three now are Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant; and they will lead the Storm into a golden era that seems to have been going forever. There is a question mark over whether conjecture over the future of Craig Bellamy will be a distraction, but the super coach is too professional to let it get to his players too much. Bellamy gets the best out of fringe players from other clubs, so expect a big year for Reimis Smith, and maybe George Jennings. The forward pack is still awesome, with the Bromwich brothers, Christian Welch, Dale Finucane and Nelson Asofa-Solomona laying the platform for Harry Grant and Brandon Smith to weave their magic. Josh Addo-Carr would like another premiership ring before he joins Canterbury in 2022.

Prediction: 2nd

So Edge has won the Royal Rumble - Now What?

I love a Cinderella Story as much as anyone. Leicester winning the Premier League. Jonathan Thurston kicking the field goal for North Queensland to win their first premiership. Great stories.

So how does Edge winning the Royal Rumble pan out at Wrestlemania?

First of all, Edge is an obvious face. He has to go after Roman Reigns rather than Drew McIntyre. And I guess he has to win. But if the Cinderella Story is to be complete, the RAW after Wrestlemania needs to see Edge retire for good.

Back in 2011, Edge was forced into retirement with a significant neck injury. Advances in medicine allowed him to make his comeback at the Royal Rumble in 2020; and he had good matches with Randy Orton before injuring his arm in May 2020. Edge made his return as the #1 entrant in the Royal Rumble today, and somehow went on to win the whole thing.

If Edge is to win a major belt at Wrestlemania, the best thing for him to do would be to vacate the championship on the following RAW. He was forced to do it back in 2011, but this time he could retire on his own terms. Edge is already in the Hall of Fame. A prolonged championship reign adds nothing to his legacy.

Vacating the championship could also set up a scramble in the Money In The Bank match; with the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Big E, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura and Kevin Owens battling it out to be the new champ.

The worst thing about Edge winning the Royal Rumble is we can assume he wins his match at Wrestlemania. That takes a little away from the mystique of the event. Still, fairy tales don’t always come true. Remember Paul Vautin’s speech after the 1987 NSWRL Grand Final? The last page can be ripped out.

Predicting the Men's Royal Rumble

First up, let me say I hope and pray Brock Lesnar returns in the Drew McIntyre V Goldberg match to set up a Lesnar V Goldberg match at Wrestlemania, where Lesnar finally gets the win.

I also want to see The Rock come out at the end of the Roman Reigns V Kevin Owens match to challenge the whole “Head of the Table” thing. It might be time for The Rock to give the rub to his cousin on the biggest stage of them all.

That leaves Drew McIntyre without an opponent at Wrestlemania. Here are some of the contenders.

Daniel Bryan

Daniel has been very vocal in recent weeks about a Royal Rumble victory being absent on his resume. A win would see face v face; and let’s face it, Daniel has already had the biggest Wrestlemania moment he is ever going to get. I don’t see him winning.

AJ Styles

AJ is so good right now. He is magic in the ring, and his association with Omos lends an aura of invincibility to the Phenomenal One. Styles V McIntyre would work, but they have such different, er, styles. I’d love to see AJ thrown over the top rope to be caught by Omos negating his elimination. I’d also love to see Omos in the match, eliminating Styles as “just business”.

Sheamus

Sheamus has been on a bit of a roll lately, and he has history with McIntyre. He has already won the Rumble before though, which may work against him. A Sheamus win would give fans two months of intrigue though. Sheamus being pals with McIntyre in tag matches before finally turning heel just before Wrestlemania could be cool. This one might be happening…

Randy Orton

I just don’t see Randy winning this year. I see Bray Wyatt returning in some new freaky persona to cost Orton any chance. This sets up the payoff feud at Wrestlemania, which has to be better than the match they had a few years back when maggots were superimposed on the mat.

Bray Wyatt

See above. Wyatt is moving into Undertaker territory now, where he doesn’t need to be anywhere near the championship to be relevant. Alternately, imagine if he came out in the Women’s Rumble match to assist Alexa Bliss. He may come back under the influence of Bliss, who has kept him “alive” since the inferno match against Orton.

Big E

I’d love to see this one, but I don’t think it can happen this year. Big E has only just won the Intercontinental Title, and I think he’ll be wearing that belt into Wrestlemania. What is interesting is to see if there is any interaction between Big E and Xavier Woods during the match.

Cesaro

Cesaro finally seems like he might be getting a decent push. Apparently his name featured heavily in backstage talks about who is being under utilised the most. A recent win over Daniel Bryan gives Cesaro extra credibility. I just don’t see him headlining Wrestlemania.

Braun Strowman

The Monster Among Men made his return at Smackdown this week, and quickly reminded everyone he is capable of next level destruction. Strowman V McIntyre could be a good power heavyweight battle, and give fans the idea that Drew could actually be the underdog.

Seth Rollins

The smoky. Seth has been away since Survivor Series after becoming a Dad for the first time, and the Royal Rumble is tailor made for his return. Seth had a few run-ins with McIntyre in 2020, and the rivalry could be renewed. The trouble is, I think a Seth return at the Rumble would be seen as a face turn. Though Seth is so good, he could turn heel again the following night on RAW.

Edge

I have no idea what they are doing with Edge. I assumed he would renew his rivalry with Randy Orton, but the Viper seems set on a clash with Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania. Maybe Jeff Hardy takes Edge out during the Rumble match to reignite a twenty plus year old rivalry. Edge V Jeff in a ladder match at Wrestlemania? As long as Edge is healthy enough, I’m on board.

It’s hard to see anyone else realistically winning the Rumble match. It’s always fun for the surprises. Maybe we see John Cena return (Cena V Goldberg could be another option at Wrestlemania if Lesnar doesn’t come back). Maybe Big Show or Kane or Mark Henry make a brief appearance. There’s bound to be a pop for an NXT darling. Maybe Samoa Joe returns to the ring. It would be kinda nice to see Erick Rowan back, even if it’s just for one night to honour Luke Harper.

The Royal Rumble is my favourite event on the wrestling calendar. I’m sure the 2021 edition will not disappoint.

How To Book The Part-Timers at Wrestlemania

Here we are again. Wrestlemania season, starting with the Royal Rumble on February 1 (Australia time).

Roman Reigns is facing Kevin Owens for the Universal Title, and Drew McIntyre clashes with the returning Goldberg for the WWE World Title. I’m hoping both current champions walk out of the Rumble with their belts. And here is why…

Reigns has done his “Head of the Table” schtick for months now, and it needs to come to a head. After he again cheats to beat Kevin Owens, The Rock needs to return to let Reigns know who is the REAL head of this family. It sets up a Wrestlemania match, which Reigns wins to truly cement his place.

Goldberg MUST lose to McIntyre or the WWE ‘Universe’ will collectively lose their mind. The best way to keep Goldberg’s character intact is to have Brock Lesnar come out during the match and attack Goldberg. It sets up a match at Wrestlemania, where Brock tries to reverse his 0-2 against Bill on the biggest stage. It also keeps Goldberg the hell away from the World Championship.

That leaves the actual Royal Rumble match as a genuine crap shoot. If the above happens, the winner faces McIntyre at Wrestlemania. I think Bray Wyatt returns to take out Randy Orton to continue their feud which will end at Wrestlemania. That leaves Keith Lee, AJ Styles, Big E, Daniel Bryan, or a returning Seth Rollins or Braun Strowman.

Or Sheamus.

If Sheamus can win the Rumble match and go on to face McIntyre at Wrestlemania, the history between them ensures the promos write themselves. The pair will have two months to work promos and matches - playing the best buddies angle for all it’s worth before Sheamus turns heel.

This leaves us with the following matches at Wrestlemania.

Drew McIntyre V Sheamus (WWE World Championship)

Roman Reigns V The Rock (WWE Universal Title)

Goldberg V Brock Lesnar

Bray Wyatt V Randy Orton

You can read more about the history of Wrestlemania, and the above wrestlers at

The Anthology of Professional Wrestlers — Parallel Partners Books

The Anthology of Professional Wrestlers - Addendum One — Parallel Partners Books

The EPL is Fun - But the Real Fun is in the Lower Leagues

I’m a happy football fan this morning after my beloved Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 4-0 to move into second place on the English Premier League table, with a game in hand. Manchester United may be on top, but the stats show it’s probably going to come down to City and Liverpool for the third year in a row.

The thing about supporting Manchester City is we don’t take anything for granted. It wasn’t too long ago that City were packing out grounds against Grimsby, Macclesfield, Gillingham and others. It was during this time that I gained a true respect for football clubs that bounce around the divisions in the league, and sometimes fall out of the league altogether.

I’m lucky that I get to talk about a few of these clubs on my sports segment on radio 2GN (www.2gn.com.au) each week. We have spoken about the happiest place in England, Harrogate, and their promotion to the league for the first time in their 106 year history.

Or Stockport County, who are fourth in the fifth tier National League as I write this. Stockport is where my great grandmother Edith Dawson was born. She moved to Manchester to marry Thomas Geddes before they moved to Australia. Stockport is also the unlikely passion of a Japanese supporter who spent his life savings travelling to England (pre-COVID) to watch his beloved Hatters.

This week we saw Chorley advance in the FA Cup. Chorley play in the sixth tier National League North League alongside clubs such as Spennymoor Town, Blyth Spartans, and Brackley Town. And of course there is Marine FC, which though belted 5-0 by Tottenham, won the hearts of the nation. The eighth tier club sold eight times the number of virtual tickets than they could ever have under normal circumstances.

Sure, you may love your Arsenal or Chelsea; or your Manchester United or Liverpool. But I strongly encourage all football fans to latch onto a team in a lower division to ride their fortunes throughout the season. I’ve got my eye on Brentford - fourth in the Championship at time of writing, looking for their first ever promotion to the Premier League.

But I also keep an eye on Stockport and Harrogate and Charlton Athletic and Gillingham and Grimsby Town and Stevenage and several others. It just makes the football season much more fun.

Enjoy!

Vale Luke Harper

It’s taken me a couple of weeks to get myself up to write this one. This one really hurts.

Most wrestling fans know by now that Jon Huber, who worked as Luke Harper in WWE, and Brodie Lee in the indies, and most recently in AEW, has passed away at the age of 41. Huber leaves behind his wife Amanda, and a young family. His love for his family is a greater legacy than anything he did in the ring.

There have been stories this week about how Huber would forsake the comforts of a hotel room to drive four or five hours just to spend some precious moments with his family; and then make the drive back the next morning in time for the next show. When possible, he would bring his family to events just so he could spend time with them in between rehearsals and events.

Huber made his name as Luke Harper; a member of the villainous Wyatt Family in WWE. A few days before Christmas I was re-watching the original Wyatt Family promos in NXT. The entire Wyatt storyline has been, I believe, the most compelling in all of wrestling since their debut in 2013. I remember doing some research on the group back in the day. I knew Wyatt was Husky Harris from the old version of NXT; but I found a brutal match between Brodie Lee and Jon Moxley. Lee and Moxley would feud as Harper and Dean Ambrose in one of the greatest rivalries of recent years - the Wyatt Family VS The Shield. They were set to clash again in AEW in 2021 over their version of the World Championship.

Harper became a Tag Team Champion alongside Erick Rowan in WWE, as well as having a brief run as Intercontinental Champion. He later won the TNT Championship in AEW, and only dropped the belt in November, when he told management he wasn’t feeling well.

No-one could have known that a seemingly benign feeling of being off-colour would result in the death of a wrestler at the top of his game. In the aftermath, wrestlers across promotions have told stories about Jon’s generosity, sense of humour, and above all his love for his family.

Like the rest of the world, I found out about Jon’s passing via the internet shortly after Christmas. I remembered watching those promos, which still seem so realistic. They were bloody scary! That’s what made them so successful. It’s a reminder that wrestlers portray characters, and they go home to their families just as we all do.

Luke Harper was one of my favourites.

This one hurts.

Rest in Peace Jon Huber. We’ll see you on the other side.

It's Time for WWE to Bring Back the European Championship

From 1997 to 2002, the WWE had a third tier championship, known as the European Championship. It served three purposes: 1) to elevate talent; 2) to reward company loyalty; and 3) to give the lower tier talent something to fight for, fleshing out storylines.

It’s time the WWE brought back the European Championship.

Elevating Talent

The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, was the first winner of the European Title in 1997. He didn’t really need it, being a former Tag Team and Intercontinental Champion. But by the end of the year, a young Triple H was the champion; his first step to dominance in the WWE. Later champions included Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho, who all used it as a stepping stone to greater success. It gave them some legitimacy in the eyes of fans. Some of the new guys in WWE could use a rub like this. I’m thinking of Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, Otis; even Baron Corbin and Elias.

The Reward

X-Pac, William Regal, and Al Snow all held the European Championship at different stages. Regal actually held it on four occasions. They were the stalwarts of the attitude era that could never quite make it up to the next level. I can see the resurrected European Title being held by guys like Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, and R-Truth as a thank you for service.

Lower Tier Talent

Any wrestling promotion needs its enhancement talent, or what we used to call jobbers. The guys that help the stars get over, but will never get to the top themselves. They are vitally important, as without them, new stars have no one to beat. Spike Dudley, Test, and Hurricane Helms all served their purpose in WWE as European Champions that new talent could beat to elevate themselves. It gave them something to fight for, and a worthy story line. I can see this for guys like Chad Gable, Ricochet, Buddy Murphy, Drew Gulak, Angel Garza, and Cedric Alexander. I would have LOVED to see Heath Slater in this role. Slater would have been the perfect European Champion - and it would have also been a reward for loyalty.

The WWE needs to think about what the wrestlers promoted to RAW and Smackdown will actually do. Too many have floundered in recent years, although I do give them much credit for the rise of Matt Riddle, Keith Lee and Otis this year in difficult circumstances. If only any one of them had the chance to hold a title some time in 2020……

Phillip Street Sydney, Bill Mordey, and the beginning of an obsession with footy stats

I can’t quite remember my first memory of rugby league. I’m guessing it’s sometime in the early years of colour television in Australia, which would be 1975. I have more vivid memories of rugby league through listening to Frank Hyde on 2UE, and reading through the Big League programmes. I do know by 1976 I was hooked. And that in 1976 my mother took me to Church Street, Parramatta to watch the parade of the Eels down the main street - before their Grand Final loss to Manly.

I bought my first pair of shoulder pads from John Peard’s sports shop in Parramatta. Not that I could tackle worth a damn anyway! All the kids in my town loved the Eels, and as one of the youngest, I always had to be some other team. Often times it was Wests or Manly. I liked how the Sea Eagles had the exotic English players like Steve Norton and Gary Stephens. My Dad worked for Auburn Council, and got me a meeting with Tom Raudonikis, John Donnelly, John Dorahy and others; back in the day when footy players had real jobs.

In 1978, I attended a football coaching clinic at the old Cumberland Oval in the school holidays. Much of it is a bit fuzzy now, but I do remember Steve Mortimer taking the time to teach me how to pass both sides; Graham Eadie how to catch a bomb; and Steve Rogers how to swerve. All of it served me well in a modest high school football career. All three remain among my favourite players; not just for their skill, but for the time they took to nurture a seven year old kid back in the day. I wonder why that’s not still a thing?

Anyway, in 1978 my Mum bought me a magazine from the paper boy (remember them?) about Grand Finals. It had all the history of every finals match from 1954 to 1977. I started to match the names in the magazine against my footy card collection. Sure, I knew Langlands, Beetson, Coote, O’Neill, Fulton etc. But suddenly names like Fred Jones, Kevin Junee, Paul Sait, Bill Mullins, Garry Leo and others started to make sense. It was time to find out more….

So in the school holidays in 1978, my Mum (yep, her again - the true champion of nurturing my love of history) arranged for me to visit what was then the NSWRL headquarters in Phillip Street, Sydney. They took us into a room that held every copy ever of Big League and its predecessor, Rugby League News. I was in Heaven. I took a big exercise book and started to jot down results and scorers of each and every game from before the time that I got hooked. The early 1970s; all of the 1960s. Some of the test matches and interstate matches in the pre-Origin period.

As we were leaving, Bill Mordey was introduced to us. Bill was working with the NSWRL at the time, and presented me with a Kangaroos pin; the very same that the 1978 touring squad was given. I was gobsmacked. What a gift for a seven year old kid!

As a teenager, I started to collect more info on the history of rugby league. Some from Phillip Street, and some from the NSW State Library. All of it eventually formed the basis of what is now the history of each club and each decade that I’m happy to have put together.

History is a wonderful thing. It shapes us, guides us; and often leads us to places more interesting than we ever would have thought possible. I hope the next seven year old kid looking for history has the same opportunities at NRL headquarters that I was given back in the day.

NRL Salary Cap Conundrum

Man, I am so tired of this. Another week, another salary cap issue.

Firstly, let’s go to the old 2010 Melbourne Storm issue. I’m really glad this has been re-opened. Melbourne never deserved to have their premierships taken away from them. As a Manly fan, I remember them beating us up in 2007. It was 13 on 13. They were the better team. All credit to them.

But that’s not what has me wound up. It’s the culture of entitlement that some players have now. It’s the whole thing about maybe I can earn $600,000 somewhere else instead of fulfilling my contract that earns me $400,000. I can’t think of anywhere else in society that would tolerate this nonsense,.

For the fella that works as a driver at the local depot, whose wife works at the local supermarket; how can they keep supporting their team? $150 for a jersey? $200+ for game day for a family with two kids once you take into consideration some pies or buckets of cardboard quality chips, and maybe a plastic cup full of warm beer? Is the NRL deliberately eschewing their grassroots fans?

And then we have players that are quite happy to break their contracts. Why does the NRL even have contracts? Maybe they should just implement all rugby league players as independent contractors, paid on no more than a yearly basis. Maybe clubs should forgo health insurance and superannuation benefits for players, since many of them are happy to walk out of their clubs at the first sniff of extra money.

It’s not that long ago that we heralded players such as Steve Menzies, Luke Ricketson, Nathan Hindmarsh, Shane Webcke, Andrew Johns, Simon Mannering, and Paul Gallen for being one club men. Their word was their bond; and their love of their club actually meant something.

I propose a reconstruction of the salary cap. Instead of a dollar value, place a points value on each player based on the number of NRL games he has played, as well as Origin and test matches. It would stop the ridiculous bidding war over players such as Joseph Suaalii. At the end of every season, clubs would know what players are worth. Don’t start signing until after the Grand Final. Allow discounts for club development and club longevity. It’s really easy. I could knock up a spreadsheet for the entire NRL roster in about two hours.

And one more thing. If a player signs a contract he must stick with it, unless there is a clear agreement between player and club that it is beneficial in both interests for the player to move on. Otherwise, let the player mow the lawns…..

Queenslander!

OK. I admit it. I am a traitor to my state. Don’t get me wrong - I love New South Wales. I was born in Parramatta and spent most of my life there before moving to Crookwell. I have worked in Goulburn, Nowra, Wollongong, Newcastle, Mudgee and Lithgow; and loved almost every minute of it.

But, when it comes to State of Origin, I cheer for Queensland. I always have.

Why?

Well, first of all, the concept originated when I was a kid, and I loved an underdog story. Queensland get to pick Sydney based players? I didn’t even know there was a difference outside of reading the Brisbane report at the back of Big League each week. The 1980 game was a bit of a novelty, and had NSW won, it might have ended there and then.

But surely there’s another reason? You damn right there is!

As a kid growing up as a Manly fan in Parramatta, the rivalry was strong enough to have not one but TWO Tooheys ads based upon it. Then, as I entered high school, the teams would come out. NSW would have Cronin and Price, Kenny and Sterling, Muggleton, Hunt, Jurd, Ella, Wynn. Queensland had Close and Boustead, Vautin, Dave Brown and Paul McCabe, Bruce Walker and John Ribot. The choice was clear. How could I possibly cheer on a team dominated by the Eels players that had broken my heart in the 1982 Grand Final? Especially when so many of my heroes were in just another maroon jumper?

And so it goes. Yes, I was pilloried by friends, colleagues, girlfriends; even my parents. But my loyalty to Manly runs very very deep.

I will cheer tonight for Jake Trbojevic. I think he is the Terry Randall of his generation - under rated by all except those that play alongside him. But I will also cheer for Daly Cherry-Evans. The much maligned captain of a Queensland team that is reinventing itself, and is somehow still in this fight.

I love the underdog. Think Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania 30. The Giants against the Patriots in Superbowl XLII. Leicester City in the Premier League in 2015-16. Queensland so so many times.

And maybe once more tonight. In a series where Queensland have unveiled a record fourteen debutants, this may be the ultimate victory for the underdog.

Rugby Australia - A Step In The Right Direction

Rugby Australia has been under enormous pressure for a few years now. Poor results on the field and the Israel Folau imbroglio saw rugby slip to the fourth most popular football code in Australia. The Super Rugby teams were not doing too well, and the popular Western Force was axed. And that was before COVID.

Rugby in Australia, and indeed across the world, needs to look at alternative broadcasting options if it is going to survive as anything outside of a niche sport. The decision by Rugby Australia to align themselves with Channel Nine’s streaming service affiliate Stan is a step in the right direction.

Under the deal, Wallabies matches will still be shown on Channel Nine, as will one Super Rugby match, and one Shute Shield match each week. The rest of Super Rugby and Shute Shield will be shown on the subscription only Stan network.

But what if rugby thought bigger?

And not just Australian rugby, but international rugby?

What if rugby had its own subscription network?

Sure, major test matches and the World Cups would still need to be seen on each country’s free to air television networks in order to bring new and younger eyes to the sport. Most of these matches still rate pretty well - certainly much better than Super Rugby, Pro 14, or local rugby competitions.

So, instead of trying to get major networks to stump up the cash for a heap of matches that draw niche ratings; why not go it alone? If international rugby said to the free to air networks, especially in Australia, you can have the Wallabies test matches, and a bit of Super Rugby and the Shute Shield, they’d jump at it. Oh yeah, Nine just did.

But what about the hardcore rugby fans. Traditionally, rugby fans are a little more well heeled than the fans of the other football codes. I wonder if they’d be willing to fork out say $9.95 each month to get their fill. For ten bucks a month, rugby fans across the world could get test matches, Super Rugby and Pro 14, and domestic games from Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, France, Japan, USA, Argentina. Not to mention the lucrative Rugby 7s market.

International rugby bodies could use some of this largesse to develop the game in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, Namibia, Romania, and Hong Kong among others.

Between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Great Britain, France, Japan, Argentina, and Italy, I reckon rugby could count on at least ten million subscribers. That is $100 million every month.

It’s not a new concept. World Wrestling Entertainment have a similar model and attract nearly two million subscribers each month. And WWE is nothing if not a niche sport.

With younger eyes more focused on computer screens and phone screens rather than TV, sport needs to look at ways to engage the people they wish to attract as new fans. It seems a perfect fit for the future of rugby union.

What Manly Fans Can Expect in 2021

It’s been a tough year for Sea Eagles’ fans.  After a promising start, injuries ruined Manly’s season; with changes to the squad just about every week.  The absences of Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker put a dent in the spine; but it seemed like a key player was out almost every week: Joel Thompson, Jorge Taufua, Mosese Suli.

So what can Manly fans expect in 2021?  Hopefully, a less severe injury rate, especially to key players.  Joel Thompson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Danny Levi, Corey Waddell, and possibly Reuben Garrick and Brendan Elliot are moving on.

Manase Fainu won’t be available until July at the earliest.  There is talk of Kieran Foran returning to the club to play as hooker to alleviate the concerns of rising star five-eighth Josh Schuster.  I’d be more concerned about keeping Cade Cust onside.  Schuster played one game before missing the rest of the season due to injury.  He may be a talent of the future, but Cust has stepped up over the last two seasons at halfback, hooker, and five-eighth.

Rumours abound about Manly trying to sign Wests Tigers’ back rower Luke Garner, and Penrith front rower Jack Hetherington.  Both are under contract, but the clubs may be willing to release them to help with salary cap pressures.  Both players would be a perfect fit for Manly.  Garner needs a coach to bring out his best, and Hetherington needs a coach that can temper his aggression.  Think Bob Fulton signing Ron Gibbs and Cliff Lyons back in the 1980s.  Both players had their issues, but both played in the 1987 Grand Final win.  Des Hasler may be the perfect coach for both players.

There is one x-factor that Manly should look into.  Bryce Cartwright.  Sure, Bryce has had his problems over the last few seasons, and he hardly set the world on fire at the Gold Coast.  However, Cartwright was a break-out star at Penrith a few years back, and was considered a real chance to play for New South Wales and Australia.  His defence may still be a bit iffy, but on his day, Cartwright can create an attacking chance out of nothing.  Cartwright is looking to move back to Sydney, and if any coach can get him in a positive mindset it’s Hasler.

So, it could be a question of how Manly fits everyone into their 17 next year.  Tevita Funa has been outstanding with Tom Trbojevic injured.  Brad Parker has been as solid as ever.  Morgan Harper must be pressing for a spot in first grade; and Taniela Paseka and Sean Keppie are ready to step up after the departure of Fonua-Blake.

Dylan Walker could be the odd man out.  In the long tradition of Manly buying ex-South Sydney players to win premierships (Ray Branighan, John O’Neill, Tom Mooney, Mark Carroll, Jim Serdaris, Terry Hill etc), Walker may just not be the right fit for 2021.

This could be the team that runs out for Round One in 2021

Tom Trbojevic

Jorge Taufua

Mosese Suli

Brad Parker

Tevita Funa

Cade Cust

Daly Cherry-Evans (captain)

Jake Trbojevic

Curtis Sironen

Luke Garner

Martin Taupau

Kieran Foran

Taniela Paseka

Interchange

Jack Hetherington

Bryce Cartwright

Sean Keppie

Jack Gosiewski

Throw in Manase Fainu and Morgan Harper, and this could be a team that genuinely challenges for the 2021 title.

Are you a hardcore Manly fan? Check out No One Likes Us And We Don’t Care

Also, why not have a look at The History of the Manly Sea Eagles?

Wait, Bray Wyatt is Three Characters Now??

Like every other sport in 2020, professional wrestling has had to adjust to the COVID-19 period. For WWE, that meant the rise of cinematic matches, such as The Undertaker V AJ Styles at Wrestlemania, and Bray Wyatt V Braun Strowman at Extreme Rules.

Braun Strowman has been WWE World Champion since beating Goldberg at Wrestlemania. Goldberg took the title from Bray Wyatt shortly before. Wyatt, in his guise as The Fiend, has been pushing Strowman ever since in a quest to get back his championship belt.

But it was two Bray Wyatt’s that led the charge back to becoming champion. The Romper Room styled Firefly Funhouse Bray Wyatt that wears sweaters and plays with puppets. The Bray Wyatt that has children sound overs cheering or sympathising with his every phrase. The Bray Wyatt that waves at the camera, and embraced Braun Strowman in the middle of their first re-match.

Then there is Bray Wyatt aka The Fiend. The scariest dude in all of WWE. The guy who never speaks. The guy who battles Braun Strowman in a swamp match. The one who apparently invoked Alexa Bliss as Sister Abigail. The evil genius.

But in the last couple of weeks, we have been reminded of the original Bray Wyatt. The cult leader. The Eater of Worlds. The Bray Wyatt that had the eerie promos from NXT leading up to his main roster debut alongside Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. The Bray Wyatt that had “the whole world in his hands”.

I’m not sure how the original Bray Wyatt fits in to the narrative between Funhouse Bray and The Fiend. But then again, I had no idea where Bray was going when I first saw the Funhouse after a prolonged absence.

This I do know.

Bray Wyatt is the most compelling character the WWE has had in many years. Since his first promos in 2013, Bray has been just watchable. Seven years later, Smackdown is mainly for seeing what Bray does next. With Braun turning on Alexa, is The Fiend a face at SummerSlam? Unthinkable, but compelling.

Look at Bray’s resume already. Wrestlemania matches against The Undertaker, John Cena twice (although one was something altogether other than a “match”), Randy Orton; and an altercation with The Rock. These are the biggest names in modern wrestling. Bray is obviously thought of highly.

Whatever happens at SummerSlam, I’m sure Bray Wyatt will continue to be must see TV. Still only in his early 30s, this third generation wrestler just gets it. He knows less is more. He knows character development. He has already headed one of the best stables in modern times.

Mick Foley was the last guy to have three characters at the same time in the WWE. Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love were three distinct personalities, although we all knew it was the same guy. The difference with Bray Wyatt is that all three of his personas bleed into each other, making each unpredictable.

And that’s what makes wrestling fun.

Learn more here https://www.parallelpartnersbooks.com.au/shop/wrestling

Six Rounds To Go - NRL Report Card

With just six rounds to go before the finals, it’s time to have a look at each club’s performance and prospects.

PENRITH

1st. 12 wins 1 draw 1 loss 25 points

What’s gone right?

The rise of the next generation. Brent Naden, Stephen Crichton, Jerome Luai, Viliame Kikau, Caleb Aekins and Brian To’o have all developed into top quality first graders early in their career. James Tamou has a new lease of life, and James Fisher-Harris and Isaah Yeo are in the best form of their career. The Panthers are also helped by Nathan Cleary being free to guide this team around the park. It is definitely Cleary’s team now.

What’s gone wrong?

If there is a downside, it is that some of the players coming through may need to find a new home to play regular first grade. Mitch Kenny and Matt Burton would both be a loss.

What’s next?

Penrith will almost certainly finish in the top four, which is already probably an over-achievement. It will be interesting to see how the young players to react to the pressure of finals football against seasoned teams such as Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters.

MELBOURNE

2nd. 12 wins 2 losses 24 points

What’s gone right?

Craig Bellamy continues to get the best out of whoever is in the thirteen each week. Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu are still the strike weapons they’ve always been, despite both probably leaving at the end of the year. Cameron Smith is as good as ever, and Ryan Papenhuyzen has been a revelation at fullback.

What’s gone wrong?

Injuries to Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith may have an impact when Melbourne play the other top teams. They will be sweating on them coming back before the finals.

What’s next?

It’s always a bit silly to bet against Melbourne. They were a heartbeat away from their fourth consecutive Grand Final in 2019, and the way things are going, they look like gaining redemption for missing out.

PARRAMATTA

3rd. 11 wins 3 losses 22 points

What’s gone right?

The change of clubs has done Reagan Campbell-Gillard the world of good. He is playing better than when he made the rep teams. Mitch Moses has found a new level, and Maika Sivo is as devastating as ever. Michael Jennings is on the cusp of being in the all time top ten for try scorers, and youngsters Dylan Brown and Reed Mahoney improve every week. Clint Gutherson has been inspirational.

What’s gone wrong?

The Eels have hit a bit of a flat patch in recent weeks. Up until the loss to St George-Illawarra they were winning ugly, and banking a valuable two points each week. Perhaps the loss to the Dragons will be the wake up call they need.

What’s next?

Parramatta fans continue to dream of premiership glory for the first time since 1986. However, the flat patch must give Brad Arthur some concerns. They should at least finish in the top four, and have plenty of time to get back to their best.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

4th. 9 wins 5 losses 18 points

What’s gone right?

Trent Robinson continues to have the Roosters at their professional clinical best. Looking to be the first team since 1983 to win three Grand Finals in a row, the Roosters have the experience and the depth to keep getting the job done most weeks. Brett Morris has turned back the clock, scoring nine tries in ten matches, while Matt Ikavalu has also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

What’s gone wrong?

Injuries to key players has halted momentum. Captain Boyd Cordner and Luke Keary have both had concussion issues, while the loss of Victor Radley is huge. The Roosters can’t afford to lose any more top line players on the eve of the finals.

What’s next?

Most of the injured should be back on deck before the finals. They also have Sonny Bill Williams set to return to the club, eager to add to his 2013 premiership ring. If they can hang on to their spot in the top four, the teams above them will be looking over their shoulders.

CANBERRA

5th. 9 wins 5 losses 18 points

What’s gone right?

George Williams has fit right in at the Raiders. Any worries about losing Aiden Sezer have since been forgotten. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has parlayed his 2019 form into another great year, and Josh Papalii is back at his rampaging best, and should be the first forward picked for Queensland.

What’s gone wrong?

The drama over the future of John Bateman proved a distraction earlier in the year. Losing Josh Hodgson is a setback which history has shown will be hard to overcome.

What’s next?

Canberra will be pushing for a top four finish in the coming weeks. From there, who would bet against them repeating the 2019 fairytale all the way to the Grand Final?

NEWCASTLE

6th. 8 wins 1 draw 5 losses 17 points

What’s gone right?

No matter what happens from here, rookie coach Adam O’Brien receives a pass mark. He has turned the Knights into a genuine finals contender, though they may still fall short of the top teams. Kurt Mann has finally realised the potential he showed at Melbourne so many years ago. Mitchell Pearce has been free to play his natural game, and Kalyn Ponga is all class. A whole bunch of youngsters headed by Bradman Best should ensure the Knights will only get better.

What’s gone wrong?

Injuries to whoever plays hooker. After losing Jayden Brailey before the COVID-19 shutdown, the Knights signed Andrew McCullough from Brisbane, who looked like being the buy of the year before being ruled out for the rest of the season. Connor Watson also fell to injury, forcing Kurt Mann to move from five-eighth. Fifth string hooker Chris Randall looks a good prospect.

What’s next?

Newcastle need to at least make the top eight for the year to qualify as a success after such a strong start. They seem to be fading at times, but showed they can win fancy (44-4 against the Tigers) and grittily (26-24 against Manly). With a year under the belt of players such as Tex Hoy, Phoenix Crossland, Enari Tuala and Brodie Jones, the Knights can expect to be a real contender in 2021.

CRONULLA

7th. 8 wins 6 losses 16 points

What’s gone right?

Shaun Johnson has found some good form, bagging a heap of try assists. Sione Katoa has gone from Newtown cult-hero to genuine first grade winger in twelve months. Toby Rudolf has been a surprise packet in the forwards, and Jesse Ramien looks comfortable back at the Sharks after a stint with Newcastle. Wade Graham continues to be one of the best players in the league.

What’s gone wrong?

The Sharks struggled for continuity in their backline, due to injuries to Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan. Andrew Fifita has also missed plenty of game time this year.

What’s next?

From here, finals’ destiny is in the Sharks’ own hands. They have a tough run home that includes matches against Penrith, Newcastle, Sydney Roosters, and Canberra; but should qualify for the finals.

SOUTHS

8th. 8 wins 6 losses 16 points

What’s gone right?

The strike power out wide continues to be the Rabbitohs’ greatest strength. Alex Johnson is their leading try scorer, despite being on his way out of Redfern. Dane Gagai keeps racking up the tries giving the Bunnies options on both sides of the field.

What’s gone wrong?

Souths have been inconsistent throughout 2020, and it may end up costing them dearly. Latrell Mitchell has been great at times, but the pressure off the field must be weighing on the young fullback. Damien Cook seems to have been worked out by oppositions, but he remains the best hooker in the competition not named Cameron Smith.

What’s next?

If Souths can beat Manly this weekend, that should wrap up a spot in the top eight. From there, Souths can be anything, such is their potency in attack. I’d love to see Liam Knight really step up over the next six to ten weeks and fulfil his obvious potential.

WESTS TIGERS

9th. 6 wins 8 losses 12 points

What’s gone right?

David Nofoaluma continues to improve with every season. He may be the most under rated winger in the competition, but it wouldn’t surprise if he gained a NSW jumper at the end of the year. Benji Marshall is enjoying his footy again, but the big story has been the form of rookie hooker Harry Grant. On loan from Melbourne, Grant is probably the buy of the year.

What’s gone wrong?

Some chopping and changing in the halves has stifled some of the Tigers’ momentum. Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks is probably the best combination, but Josh Reynolds, and Billy Walters (before his injury) have both had their moments. The team as a whole still seems to be getting used to Michael Maguire’s coaching. 18 months in, that shouldn’t be a factor.

What’s next?

If the Tigers beat Souths and Manly in their run home, they could sneak into the top eight. Unfortunately, they also face Sydney Roosters, Penrith, Melbourne, and Parramatta. I think the Tigers can start looking towards 2021.

MANLY

10th. 6 wins 8 losses 12 points

What’s gone right?

The late signing of Danny Levi has helped offset the loss of Manase Fainu at hooker. Cade Cust has made the most of his opportunities, as has Tevita Funa. Daly Cherry-Evans continues to be a class ahead of most opposition halfbacks. Des Hasler has re-installed the siege mentality that helped Manly a decade ago.

What’s gone wrong?

Injuries to Tom Trbojevic, Dylan Walker, Moses Suli, Addin Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau, Brendan Elliott, and Brad Parker haven’t helped. All teams have injuries, but Manly’s have been at crucial times, and they just don’t have the depth to cover.

What’s next?

If Manly beat Souths this week, they are back within a win of the top eight. They play three of the bottom five teams in their last three rounds, but also have a clash with arch rivals Melbourne. If they hang in long enough to get some troops back, they may sneak into the top eight; but that’s about as far as they can go this season. A top outside back and a back rower to take some pressure of Jake Trbojevic could make Manly a real contender for the 2021 title.

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA

11th. 5 wins 9 losses 10 points

What’s gone right?

For a brief period in 2020, St George-Illawarra had a spine of Matt Dufty, Corey Norman, Adam Clunes and Ben Hunt. Cameron McInnes was lock, Zac Lomax was at centre, and the team looked like they could beat any team in the league on their day. The form of Lomax, Dufty and Clune is the shining light in another disappointing season for the Dragons.

What’s gone wrong?

Circumstances prevented the Dragons from keeping that spine. James Graham returned to England earlier in the season, leaving a big hole in their forward pack. Tyson Frizell seems on his way out, and Jack de Belin’s future remains clouded.

What’s next?

With coach Paul McGregor gone, the Dragons will be looking for a few wins to finish off the season to impress the new coach, whoever that may be. They could do a lot worse than Craig Fitzgibbon, a former Steeler and Dragon that has learned his trade under the tutelage of Trent Robinson.

WARRIORS

12th. 5 wins 9 losses 10 points

What’s gone right?

The spirit in the Warriors’ camp must be at an all-time high when it should be at an all-time low. Forced to camp in Australia during COVID-19, they have seen some players justifiably return home to New Zealand to be with their young families. Yet the Warriors keep turning up week after week, putting in an effort that nobody can deny. They should try to keep Penrith loan player Jack Hetherington, if they can curb his on-field discretions.

What’s gone wrong?

Sacking coach Stephen Kearney shortly after the resumption of the competition was not a good look. In a normal season, it may be understandable; but it threatened to derail the Warriors’ entire campaign. Talk about players defecting to rugby union next season are not helping, no matter how unfounded.

What’s next?

Phil Gould is the absolute right fit for the Warriors in 2021. Gould has a great track record of grassroots input, as the Panthers are seeing now, with many of their youngsters coming from western NSW. When Gould gets hold of the entire country of New Zealand, the Warriors should be challenging for the title sometime in the next five years. Hopefully Nathan Brown gets a chance to lead the way as coach.

GOLD COAST

13th. 4 wins 10 losses 8 points

What’s gone right?

It’s taken most of the year, but new coach Justin Holbrook has Gold Coast fans excited again. Anthony Don remains a cult hero at the Titans, while Jamal Fogarty and Ashley Taylor have formed a stable halves combination. AJ Brimson is back from injury, and looks like he will soon return to his best form.

What’s gone wrong?

It just took too long to get the combinations right this year, but that was to be expected. By now we should be talking about Bryce Cartwright as at least on the verge of NSW and Australian selection, but sadly, he is on the lookout for a new club. Let’s hope he gets a fresh start somewhere in Sydney, and becomes the player we all know he can be.

What’s next?

With no chance of playing the finals this year, Gold Coast are looking positively at 2021. The signings of Herman Ese’Ese, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita will bring some starch to the pack that already has Kevin Proctor, and the improving Moeaki Fotuaika.

NORTH QUEENSLAND

14th. 3 wins 11 losses 6 points

What’s gone right?

Kyle Feldt is one of the most consistent players in the competition. He has scored eleven tries in thirteen games this season. Jason Taumalolo continues to be one of the best forwards in the competition, and young outside back Hamiso “The Hammer” Tabuai-Fidow is shaping up to be one of the most exciting players in the league for years to come.

What’s gone wrong?

The resignation of Cowboys’ only premiership winning coach Paul Green shows that North Queensland is in need for rejuvenation. Valentine Holmes has suffered with injury throughout the season, as has Michael Morgan. The Cowboys have already used 29 players in first grade this year.

What’s next?

Much will depend on who the new coach will be. The smart money is on Todd Payten, who was assistant under Paul Green, and is doing good things at the Warriors as caretaker coach this year. The Cowboys need a couple of key signings to complement their existing squad.

BRISBANE

15th. 3 wins 11 losses 6 points

What’s gone right?

Precious little. Kotoni Staggs has scored seven tries in seven games, and Herbie Farnsworth and Xavier Coates continue to improve in difficult times. Adversity will eventually prove invaluable for players such as Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas, who are the leaders of the future at the Broncos.

What’s gone wrong?

How much time do you have? Injuries haven’t helped. David Fifita is on his way out, and may be followed by Tevita Pangai. Darius Boyd, in his last season, after years of service, stood down from the leadership group. Coach Anthony Siebold, already under pressure, has been called away due to a family emergency. Anthony Milford has been unable to find his best form. He is hardly alone, but he is the guy on the big bucks. A fabulous player at his best, Milford looks like he needs someone to bring out his best.

What’s next?

Avoiding the wooden spoon. The Broncos would have had their hearts in their mouths as the Bulldogs pushed the Tigers on Sunday. Brisbane would hope to beat Gold Coast and North Queensland to take some pressure off, but also face Sydney Roosters, Penrith and Parramatta before the end of the year.

CANTERBURY

16th. 2 wins 12 losses 4 points

What’s gone right?

As beloved as the 1980 Entertainers team was and is, the Bulldogs’ best teams have been known for their grit. Think the 2004 post Salary Cap/Coffs Harbour scandal; the 1980s Dogs of War under Warren Ryan; the 1974 Grand Final team under Malcolm Clift; even the early years’ title victories with the front row of Burns Porter and Kirkaldy. The 2020 side has certainly shown some grit. They’ve had some shellackings, but never once thrown in the towel.

What’s gone wrong?

The Bulldogs just lack enough experience and/or class players in key positions. Sacking coach Dean Pay mid-season probably wasn’t the wisest decision just as Canterbury are coming out of their salary cap restrictions, but this is where they are.

What’s next?

Canterbury players know they are playing for their futures. If they can somehow avoid the wooden spoon, it may be enough to impress new coach Trent Barrett. Nick Meaney, Jake Averillo and Kerrod Holland should be part of the future. They will need the experience of Josh Jackson, Aiden Tolman, Will Hopoate, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Adam Elliott. If they retain their grit, the Bulldogs can turn around their recent history reasonably quickly.