Coming soon from GurglerVision – The Gurgler’s Premium Entertainment channel – is the Greg Norman LIV Golf story, which will be featured as a three part mini series next month.
The biggest story in golf over the past few months has been the Saudi backed LIV golf series trying to revolutionise the golfing landscape by throwing absurd an absurd amount of money at as many big name golfers as they can.
They may have got a few big names like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, who have been given insane sing on fees in addition to tournaments with winning prize pool that surpass the current swags of cash already offered. As if golfers needed to be overpaid anymore for what they do.
But the Greg Norman LIV are doing just that, and making headlines around the world. Which is a little different from the more recent headlines generated by Greg Norman.
We’d like to add at this point that if the Greg Norman LIV Golf Series was serious about entertaining golfing superstars, where the hell is Miguel Angel Jiminez. Without doubt Golf’s most interesting compeditor for the last 20 years. Probably since Greg Norman was a golfer himself.
The Gregfather – Greg Norman LIV Golf Mini Series has come about after Greg Norman was accused of being a mafia-style figure or a Godfather style head of the LIV Golf Series, lurking in background of TV interviews or influencing the daily operations.
This made-for-TV mini series will tell the LIV Golf Series story, from beginning to current, and answers the question why Greg Norman is involved at all.
So stay tuned for more information of sign up to the Gurglervision Premium channel for this year’s big mini series.
WARNING:
Series is rated MA and includes Nudity, Adult Themes, Language, Use of a Broomstick Putter, and images of the 1996 US Masters.
Welcome to our Queensland Cup Round 12 Preview and Stats, which as always features as many barely interesting stats as we could muster. We also throw in some expert tips. Plus ours.
There’s a game by game preview of each match this weekend, with some nice H2H visuals and insights to impress family and friends ahead of the upcoming round.
This round features the return of Queensland Cup to Hervey Bay, and is one of two games to be played this weekend between two five sides. At the other end of the ladder are Magpies and Jets who face each other this weekend with just the one win between them. It could be a pivotal game for the wooden spoon battle.
Time to get on board some great local rugby league and our HostPlus Cup-Queensland Cup Round 12 preview.
Queensland Cup Round 12 Predictions
The merge of Intrust Super and HostPlus may have seen the competition name change from Intrust Super Cup to HostPlus Cup, but we still have Intrust Super’s former CEO and long time Q Cup fan Brendan O’Farrell joining us for the 2022 season again. He is the multiple reigning champion for our website after all.
New for 2022 is Matt Pritchard – the main man of the local independent rugby League website Nothing But League. They have outstanding rugby league coverage and still have time for Queensland Cup here too.
Their tips and ours will be underneath each of the match previews.
QUEENSLAND CUP 2022 SEASON STATS
2022 QUEENSLAND CUP SEASON SUMMARY
Here’s a colourful and quick way to see how the 2022 season is going for the teams.
2022 QUEENSLAND CUP SEASON FORM GUIDE
Here’s how the team’s season is going by round.
MORE 2022 QUEENSLAND CUP SEASON STATS – TEAM RECORD V TOP AND BOTTOM SIDES
Top 8 / Bottom 6 are determined at time of match not current ladder.
2022 QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 12 BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Before we leave Round 11 we thought we’d point out some barely interesting things. There were two occurrences of the same score line being repeated – 26-22 and 32-22 featured twice last weekend. And 11/14 teams scored either 22, 26 or 32 points.
Redcliffe and Burleigh are the only teams left with a 100% record since the bye round/s.
The Central Capras haven’t beaten Redcliffe in 14 attempts going back to 2014. But before last weekend’s win over Townsville, they hadn’t beaten the Blackhawks either.
This weekend will see the Central Capras complete the set of six of away games v Brisbane clubs, not a bad effort by Round 12. Their win record away to Brisbane teams is currently 60%.
Tweed Heads Seagulls have quite a good record v clubs from Rockhampton north. Since 2018 their record is W15 D3 L5
This weekend sees the third game at Hervey Bay, and this season it is between Wynnum and Sunshine Coast. The Falcons have featured in both of the previous games for a W1 L1 record.
SunshineCoast have won all five matches against Brisbane opposition this season.
Townsville are on a run of four straight wins over the Tigers. They have also lost just 1/6 games v Tigers on a Saturday.
Winless Ipswich Jets are averaging 50 points a game against away from home.
Souths Logan are unbeaten at their secondary home ground Marsden High. Albeit a win, a draw, and a postponement.
Burleigh are unbeaten in four matches v Brisbane sides this season. They have also lost just one of their last 12 matches at home to Brisbane sides.
QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 12 MATCH BY MATCH PREVIEWS
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 2:30PM @ REDCLIFFE
Predictions: Brendan O’Farrell (BOF) Coming soon Matt Pritchard – Nothing But League (MP) Capras The Gurgler Website (US) Dolphins
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 3PM @ PIGGABEEN
Predictions: BOF Coming soon MP Tweed Heads US Tweed Heads
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 3PM @ HERVEY BAY
Predictions: BOF Coming soon MP Falcons US Falcons
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 4PM @ TOWNSVILLE
Predictions: BOF Coming soon MP Blackhawks US Tigers
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 6PM @ MARSDEN HIGH
Predictions: BOF Coming soon MP Magpies US Magpies
SUNDAY 19th JUNE 2PM @ BURLEIGH
Predictions: BOF Coming soon MP Devils US Bears
SUNDAY 19th JUNE 2:10PM @ CAIRNS
Predictions: BOF Coming soon MP Pride US Hunters
Queensland Cup 2022 Predictions Season Results
Here’s the tipping record of all of our tipsters for the 2022 season.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL
REIGNING GURGLER QLD CUP TIPPING CHAMP
FORMERLY OF INTRUST SUPER
2022 Stats 44/69 (64%)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 04: Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant from Married at First Sight attends the 61st TV WEEK Logie Awards voting launch event at The Star Gold Coast on March 04, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The programming genuises at Channel Nein have announced an exciting new spin-off to Married at First Sight for 2023.
Maths at First Sight will see six couples tasked with solving complicated maths problems. A panel of mathematical experts will judge the answers, based on if the answer’s correct, how the couple works together to solve it, and process they go through. The worst-performing couple will be eliminated every week, with the last couple standing winning a lavish wedding, an exclusive story in whatever gossip rags Uncle Rupert owns, and a two-week Las Vegas honeymoon.
Lovable Channel Nein larrikin Karl Stefanovic will host MathsAFS after mathematical whiz/celebrity/comedian Adam Spencer refused a handsome offer. To quote Spencer’s terse email reply to MathsAFS staff: “I have far, far, far better things to do than host some trashy reality show that only exists because of a stupid pun! Now leave me alone!”
http://gty.im/1201093710
MathsAFS will air in February 2023 and Nein insiders are hoping the six-episode run will be a nice lead-in to the next season on MAFS.
But some TV critics are less optimistic.
“Who the hell wants to watch people do maths on TV? Maths is boring enough as it is!” said one veteran critic, who wished to stay anonymous to protect their reputation. “It’ll be lucky to last two weeks before it’s dumped on GEM to be forgotten forever.”
Everyday News is a brand new general news/parody section of The Gurgler, and definitely not a lame rip-off of ‘The Betoota Advocate’. We swear.
Welcome to our weekly look at the upcoming weekend of NRL, it’s just a regular old week, with some regular old tips featured in our NRL Round 15 Predictions Stats Preview + Alternative Tips.
Each week we offer up a quick preview glance for each match, a bunch of barely interesting stats which seem to be growing every week, our own Form-O-Meter on which side is hot and not, and our own thoughts on who will win.
We also offer up some alternative tips. These alternative tips are often based on a rugby league stat, and sometimes something completely absurd, and are aimed at those NRL tipsters who just can’t be bothered.
This week it’s based on Winter. How nice.
So enjoy the 2022 NRL Round 15 Predictions Stats Preview + Alternative Tips where there’s something for everyone. Mostly.
2022 NRL Round 15 Predictions – Alternative Tips – Winning % during Winter since 1998
Short on inspiration already? Or looking for that edge to your tipping that no one else in your competition has? Well here are the Alternative NRL Tips for this round.
With the change in the season recently, and a lot of cold weather in Australia, what better time than now to use each team’s form across the coldest months.
So this week we have worked out the winning % for each team in June, July and August from 1998 and whichever team has the higher winning % gets this week’s tip. Simples.
ALTERNATIVE TIPS 2022 PROGRESS – 59% – 64/108
2022 NRL Round 15 Predictions – Gurgler Tips
Can we beat our own Alternative NRL tips? Usually not, so again we’ll have to keep trying.
RABBITOHS to beat Dragons
COWBOYS to beat Sea Eagles
STORM to beat Broncos
SHARKS to beat Titans
PANTHERS to beat Warriors
EELS to beat Roosters
RAIDERS to beat Knights
BULLDOGS to beat Tigers
OUR TIPS – 64% – 70/108
2022 NRL Round 15 Weekly H2H Stats
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Much like Noah and his ark, ours come in twos.
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one visual, or two. Click on the images for a closer look. It looks marginally more impressive closer up.
Here we take the best points of interest for each match coming up this weekend, and share them with you for no cost. Feel free to share with friends and family.
Dragons have lost their last three on a Thursday at WIN Stadium. They have also never beaten South Sydney on a Thursday in three attempts anywhere.
Dragons have won three n a row v Sydney teams. Prior to that it was 12 straight losses.
Manly have won all four contests v North Queensland on a Friday. Although Manly have lost six in a row on a Friday v all teams.
Brisbane have beaten Melbourne just twice in the past 22 matches going back to 2011. But at least both of those wins were at AAMI Park. And one was on a Friday.
Broncos and Melbourne have met 22 times on a Friday since the Storm entered the competition, and Broncos have won three times.
Melbourne have won 14/15 clashes v Queensland sides at home on a Friday. They have also won their last eight home matches on a Friday and last lost in April 2019.
Sharks are undefeated at Coffs Harbour v Gold Coast (1/1)
Gold Coast’s record at NSW grounds that aren’t in Sydney or Newcastle is 2/13.
Sharks have won six straight at home to Qld sides.
Penrith have lost only twice since the start of 2020 to teams from outside NSW. One was the 2020 Grand Final, both losses have been to Melbourne.
Parramatta have lost four in a row v Sydney sides on a Saturday.
Canberra have lost their last four games to Newcastle on a Sunday and have conceded exactly 34 points on three of the four occasions.
Newcastle have lost four in a row on a Sunday v all opposition, and scored just ten points in the last three.
Bulldogs have lost nine on a row at CommBank Stadium. They have lost all five Sunday games at the ground.
Wests Tigers have lost seven in a row on a Sunday – the average just 6.5 points per game during that run.
NRL TEAMS WINNING RECORD IN WINTER
Since it has got colder, what better time than to see all the team’s record side by side in the cold.
2022 NRL Round 15 NRL 2022 Season – Team Stats
We have taken the best of the NRL data and turned them into visuals you can use to enjoy your rugby league this weekend.
There’s run metres, kicking stats, errors, tackled and lack of tackles.
Plus we also have each team’s record against the top and bottom teams and home v away.
There’s so much you’ll need to stop halfway to catch your breath.
TEAM RECORD V TOP & BOTTOM EIGHT SIDES
Note – top / bottom eight is decided at time of match not current ladder.
TEAM RECORD – HOME & AWAY
Note – not the awful soap on Channel 7
KICKING STATS
Note: last graph is a 100% breakdown of kick types.
RUNNING STATS
TACKLES
BAD BOYS
2022 NRL Season Prediction Results
Our tips jumped ahead of the alternative tips last week, so now onto bigger and better things.
ALTERNATIVE TIPS – 59% – 57/96 6/8 First Round Form 4/8 More Dangerous Mascot 3/8 Best H2H 6/8 April Fools 7/8 Bad Boy Points (Penalties/Sin Bins etc) 5/8 Greens Votes 6/8 Marginal Seats 5/8 Covid Cases 6/8 May Record 3/8 Suncorp Stadium Record 4/8 ALP Voting 2/8 Green / Teal Colour Wheel 1/4 June Form since 1998 6/8 Post Origin I Form
DOHA, QATAR - JUNE 13: Australia celebrates their win over Peru in the changing room following the 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff match between Australia Socceroos and Peru at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Like the AFL-obsessed Victorians who jump on the Melbourne Storm bandwagon on NRL Grand Final night, a large chunk of Australia’s population will now pretend to care about ‘football’ later this year, at least until the Socceroos are knocked out.
With the A-League declining in popularity and now mainly stuck behind a subscription TV paywall, the majority of ordinary Aussies polled by Everyday News’s overworked interns didn’t even know the Socceroos’ qualifier against Peru was on until they woke up this morning (Tuesday, June 14) and saw the result on Facebook.
”Soccer is a ‘sport’ for drama queens and sissies who couldn’t hack playing real footy,but if the Socceroos made the world cup then I might pay attention. I probably won’t watch any of their games, but I’ll try and keep an eye on the scores and maybe watch the highlights if the Aussies win, but it’ll probably be 0-0 draws. I think there’s a lot of those in soccer,” said one anonymous punter.
Everyday News is a brand new general news/parody section of The Gurgler, and definitely not a lame rip-off of ‘The Betoota Advocate’. We swear.
Welcome back to The Gurgler’s F1 Season G-Power Rankings – our way of using various F1 based stats for 2022 to determine the most recent race and the season’s best drivers so far. Our 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Ratings is a unique collection of stats that try and find a different way to determine the best drivers.
Our 2022 F1 Season Power Rankings goes a little bit deeper than just points scored on the Sunday. We take on board Free Practice, Qualifying, performance in relation to team mate, fastest lap, and a few more stats that are attempting to highlight a driver outperforming the car. Even the occasional Sprint Race when they happen.
A full explanation on what is included and the points awarded is below the visuals.
Our 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Ratings is more than just a score for driver of the day, we have the race results, season progress, and so many F1 based points of interest in easy to consume visuals.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Race 8 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Ratings
Here is the breakdown of the best and blurst driver from the most recent race at Baku.
Our ratings points gives the driver of the race to Max Verstappen, which is fair enough because he won, but the winning score of just 70 shows it wasn’t a dominant weekend.
Pierre Gasly had a good return to form in third as he looks for a drive for next season, and George Russell continues to dominate his team mate. And a better race for long suffering Daniel Ricciardo fans.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings Progress – Martini Medal Driver of the Year
Here are the current overall standings for our Driver of the Year winner – the Martini Medal. Named in honour of one of F1’s most unsung heroes – Pierluigi Martini of Minardi fame.
We have the overall scores as they stand, plus a visual which shows the flow of each driver’s position throughout the season.
And there’s been a change at the top with Max Verstappen jumping over Charles LEclerc after yet another DNF disappointment.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Other Interesting Stats
DRIVER 2022 H2H RECORD
A couple of drivers staring down the barrel of a 2022 season spanking.
Carlos Sainz is equal last with Alfa rookie Guanyu Zhou, at least both Ferrari drivers retired, so Sainz doesn’t lose another H2H point.
Alex Albon takes the outright lead for H2H, and despite having the easiest job on the grid for H2H, he has had a brilliant season in the Williams.
QUALIFYING
Here our qualifying analysis covers the average grid position as well as the gap to pole.
For the gap to pole the % from pole is relative to the fastest lap in whichever qualifying session was the final one for each driver.
Charles Leclerc has the best grid position average, and now the best % from Pole Position result as he continues to dominate qualifying.
Our second qualifying visual shows quite a gap opening up to the midfield and even among the top four.
Finally we have qualifying results split into the type of track – Modern, Street and Classic.
It all shows that Leclerc is the king of qualifying this season, but that isn’t translating into wins. Right now, Red Bull gives you wins.
FIRST LAP POSITION GAINS
Here is the summary and details for first lap movement for the 2022 season so far.
Some drivers are punished for first lap shenanigans, but maybe they should behave themselves.
Unsurprisingly, the Williams drivers head the better performed first lap gains, it helps to be at the back of the grid with minimal room to move backwards. But even LAtifi has lost places in the last two races.
Max Verstappen is one of four full time drivers yet to lose a place on the first lap.
Both Ferrari drivers and Valtteri Bottas are the only drivers to not gain a spot on the first lap at any grand prix this season.
FASTEST LAP
Fastest Laps are a glory run for that extra point, but it can also point towards race pace, or how much is left in the tank at the end of a race.
So here are some fastest laps stats for fun.
FREE PRACTICE
Not enough for you?
Here have some Free Practice stats, to see is building their weekend best so far.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Points Explanation
Here’s how the points work this season. Essentially the perfect race (Win from Pole, Fastest Lap, thrash team mate, best in race etc) should amount to the perfect 100 points.
FIRST LAP GAINS +0.5pts per position gained -0.5pts per position lost.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – 25pts to 1pt as per World Championship – Sprint Race Points added.
BEAT TEAM MATE (RACE) – 10pts (if both finish or other driver got self inflicted DNF)
FASTEST LAP – 5pts – 1pt for top five drivers.
GRID POSITION TO RACE POSITION – formula +/- relative finish to grid
BEST OF THE REST (RACE) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
QUALIFYING – 20pts to 1pt – Grid Position 1 to 20.
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) – 5pts
BEST OF THE REST (QUALIFYING) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
GREAT/GRAPE – 5pts Great 2pts Honourable Mention -2Pts Dishonourable Mention -5Pts Grape
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Time Gap – Formula for % beaten team mate by
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Position – 0.5 Pts for every position team mate is beaten by. 0 points for second car.
FREE PRACTICE HERO – 10Pts to 1Pt – Average Position across all three practice sessions.
WIN FROM POLE – Bonus 5 Points
WIN FROM POLE WITH FASTEST LAP – Bonus 10 Points
SPRINT RACE – Points awarded as per F1 points from 8 to 1.
SPRINT RACE RACE GAIN – Net position from Qualifying divided by two.
It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times, and now the Wooden Spooners have returned to cast their eye over the latest weekend of rugby league that was with the NRL NRL Round 14 Results & Headlines.
Going beyond the scores, the NRL Round 14 Results & Headlines gives the extra insight in the NRL that only the Wooden Spooners can.
All reports are unconfirmed and please contact our Legal team or Buzz Rothfield aka Hans Moleman for complaints.
JAMES HOOPER SEEN CHAUFFEURING SHANE FLANAGAN DOING LAPS AROUND THE DRAGONS LEAGUE CLUB CAR PARK ON SATURDAY MORNING WITH US ELECTION STYLE MEGAPHONE
Following the Dragons ordinary performance against the Cowboys n Friday night in Townsville, the Wooden Spooners have been told of reports that Shane Flanagan could be seen inside a VW Golf decked out in US Presidential style decals driven by James Hooper who was also doubling as an announcer on the megaphone installed in the car. Like most of 2022 James Hooper was talking up his mate getting a new coaching gig.
JAMES HOOPER SEEN COMING OUT OF SURF AT MAIN BEACH WITH TOM TATE AND SHANE FLANAGAN ON SUNDAY MORNING AFTER TITANS LOSS
Following an unsuccessful carpark grand prix on Saturday morning, the Wooden Spooners spies saw the Hooper-Flanagan show up on the Gold Coast on Sunday morning.
After a very brisk early morning dip the pair could be seen receiving officially licensed Gold Coast City Tourism towels from the Mayor himself waiting on the beach.
Neither party wanting to miss an opportunity to advance their careers, they could be seen in deep conversation for 30 minutes after the swim.
JAMES HOOPER AND SHANE FLANAGAN SEEN CHECKING OUT THE WAVES IN NEWCASTLE ON MONDAY MORNING AFTER THE KNIGHTS LOSS
After yet another big home loss for the Knights, James Hooper and Shane Flanagan could be seen coasting down Memorial Drive in Newcastle on Monday morning. Reports are they were checking out the waves and killing time before an attempt to catch up with the Newcastle board about nothing in particular.
FELISE KAUFUSI’S ELBOW TO SAM WALKER MISUNDERSTOOD, WAS ACTUALLY PRACTICING TRADITONAL REDCLIFFE GREETING FOR 2023
Melbourne scored a solid win over the Roosters on Saturday night, but the big talking point was Felise Kaufusi appearing to elbow Sam Walker in the head as he was being tackled by the Roosters star.
Anti Melbourne Storm social media warriors went straight on the attack accusing them of yet another wrestling tactic in the ruck. But Felise Kaufusi says it was all a misunderstanding.
“After signing for the Dolphins for 2023 I’ve been learning about the culture of the local region and one guy from the nearby Kallangur Hotel said it was custom to greet another with an elbow to the head.”
“But after seeing the reaction to that custom, I’ll think twice about any more on-field suggestions from my mate.
BRONCOS PUNISHED OFF THE FIELD FOR TRYING UNLIKE LAST TWO SEASONS WHERE THEY WERE PUNISHED ON THE FIELD FOR NOT TRYING
An interesting turnaround this weekend as the Broncos put in their biggest effort in many years, overcoming an in-form Canberra and dwindling player stocks on the night to grind out a win.
The Broncos were ultimately punished for their great effort with at least four players to be unavailable through injury from the game.
This is in stark contrast to the Broncos putting in a quarter-arse effort on the field and being punished by 40 odd points.
EZRA ‘GEORGE’ MAM NO LONGER RIDING SHOTGUN
The Wooden Spooners couldn’t help themselves to throw in a pun about “George” Ezra Mam’s rise from the reserves to starting star. Having seen George in action for the Souths Logan Magpies last season we were confident he’d excel in the NRL, and he has.
UNNAMED WESTS TIGERS BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS WHETHER THEY CAN STILL BLAME MADGE FOR BRENT NADEN
Brent Naden completed a pretty ordinary 2022 by getting sent off on Sunday after an atrocious tackle in the Tigers match v Manly.
Given the clean out of Michael Maguire by the Tigers board last week, one unnamed Tigers board members asked the Wooden Spooners reporter on hand if anyone would blame the current Tigers board for Naden’s indiscretion.
“Well, he’s a Maguire signing isn’t he? So that can’t be our fault. Perhaps like when Barrett got fired, he’ll follow Maguire to wherever he pops up”.
BRETT KIMMORLEY GHOSTING SHANE FLANAGAN (AND JAMES HOOPER’S) TEXT OFFER FOR HELP
Despite Cameron Ciraldo looking most likely to take over at the Wests Tigers, it didn’t stop James Hooper and Shane Flanagan texting Brett Kimmorley offering advice, finishing their election style blitz of the potential new coaching gigs.
BOTTOM EIGHT SIDES CONSIDER ASKING NRL TO MOVE ALL PARRAMATTA GAMES TO MONDAYS FOLLOWING A SECOND LOSS FROM TWO GAMES
Parramatta have now played two games on a Monday public holiday against bottom four sides and have now lost both.
Having seen the chink in the Eels armour, bottom eight clubs are assessing their schedules to see if they can shift any of their games to a Monday for the rest of the season.
SOCIALS OF THE WEEK
Our NRL Social of the Week is from a Simpsons Related NRL Memes Facebook Pagelike it always is these days which is a must for those who love NRL, Simpsons and a laugh.
THE SHANE FLANAGAN NEW COACHING GIG-O-METER
With Shane Flanagan returning to the commentary box for Fox League in 2022, we can continue to expect subtle digs at teams who are struggling and that he can see a possible way in for. Or anyone who may be competition or ahead of his son Kyle Flanagan.
So each week as part of the Wooden Spooner’s NRL Headlines, we’ll bring you the New Coaching Gig-O-Meter. This features which teams are hot for a new coach, or a team that was and is going cool.
With so many coaches gone or teams in poor form, the Coaching Gig-O-Meter is going off the charts.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 12, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
From the classic street circuit to one of the good modern street circuits – it may not be Monaco, but something always happens in Azerbaijan, and the marketing focus on street fighting is spot on based on previous events and the take on the Street Fighter video game in the intro is a welcome blast from the past. Talking of street fighting, our 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Results, Lap by Lap, Review & Summary is here to smash through the barriers of Grand Prix reviews.
Our review covers what happened in the race so you don’t have to in the laps that matter. Plus we throw in our Race Ratings, the Best (Great) and Worst (Grape) drivers of the race weekend.
The perfect bite sized review for those who couldn’t be bothered, or don’t have enough time.
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Results, Lap by Lap, Review & Summary gives you just enough to catch up with. With just a small serving of cynicism.
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Results
THE LAPS THAT MATTERED
Didn’t see the race live? Don’t have time to watch the whole race? Well here are the top laps where stuff happened. We write these live as we go, sort of like a minute by minute for the football, but marginally more interesting.
Setting the Scene – It’s pretty hot on track, and the race grid has a familiar feel with Ferraris and Red Bulls covering the top four. But this is Azerbaijan, and surely there will be someone who can’t help themselves on the opening lap. Safety Cars are a very high possibility, which adds an element of luck. Surely Charles Leclerc is due for some.
One wonders if this is the year where cars collide and block the track around the notoriously tight part of the track around the castle.
TOP 10 GRID – LEC PER VER SAI RUS GAS HAM TSU VET ALO
Lap 1 – Pole sitter Leclerc gets away well initially but Sergio Perez had the better side of the grid and nails Leclerc into the first corner and takes the lead. Further back the drivers rightly behave themselves for the first few corners and they stay pretty much in grid order from the front to the midfield except Vettel takes Tsunoda for 8th. Further behind not sure, but who really cares at this point. For the record Stroll and someone else gained positions, but again who cares at this point. Perez has opened up a big lead going into the second lap, he is truly transforming from second driver lackey to genuine front runner.
ORDER – PER LEC VER SAI RUS GAS HAM VET TSU ALO
Lap 3 – Nicholas Latifi is penalised for a grid penalty, for his team being on the grid after they should be. This will probably be the last time he mentioned until he crashes later on.
Lap 4 – Sergio Perez is now over two seconds in front, and Max Verstappen is closing on Charles Leclerc, so the question on who is fastest on race day is quickly being determined. Daniel Ricciardo has a look at overtaking his teammate, both of their cars the slowest in a straight line. Ricciardo remains 12th but is close to his team mate for a change. A few laps later we find out that McLaren have enforced team orders. Probably fair enough on season status we guess, but Ricciardo does look a little quicker.
Lap 9 – Well Carlos Sainz’s season just got worse, there he is parked on turn four. Replays shows/sounds like something on his car has shit itself. Bad luck for Carlos, but might his misfortune turn into luck for his team mate.
Lap 10 – VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR – Charles Leclerc takes the plunge, as do Hamilton, Vettel, Tsunoda. This leaves the two Red Bulls and George Russell out, and helps Alonso and the McLarens. Charles Leclerc comes out third. Is it too early? Is it genius or a massive stroke of luck? Who knows, but now we have a race. With strategy added. Thank goodness too, as it was looking like an aero-killed stinker.
For the record Vettel got ahead of Hamilton during the pit stops, which will make one of them happy.
ORDER – PER VER LEC RUS ALO NOR RIC GAS OCO VET
Lap 13 – Some on track action – Vettel tries to overtake Ocon into turn three for 9th but locks a brake and goes straight on. He loses a few places despite a sweet spin to right himself, he almost loses the rest of his day rejoining the track as Yuki Tsunoda rounds the same corner. This leaves Hamilton to attempt to overtake Ocon. Cue the radio whinge soon.
Lap 15 – Max Verstappen closes on Sergio Perez and overtakes him into turn one for the lead. Perez didn’t defend too hard, so one wonders if there has been a hierarchy applied.
Lap 17 – If you can’t beat ’em, overtake ’em in the pits says Sergio Perez, and he pits for hard tyres from second place and comes out in third just ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes. Russell is having another very good weekend. Comfortably out-pacing Hamilton and heading for the the best of the rest result. Any more mechanical or driver incompetence ahead and he has a podium.
Lap 18 – Lewis Hamilton finally gets past Ocon for 9th. The Alpines have been a bit of a pain in the arse, with Ocon holding up Hamilton among others, and his team mate Fernando Alonso holding up the McLarens and Pierre Gasly. Alonso pits on lap 19 to give everyone some fresh air.
Lap 19 – Max Verstappen pits from the lead, will he stay ahead of Leclerc? Perez? The answer is no to Leclerc (+13 seconds) and yes to Perez (-3 seconds).
Lap 20 – Charles Leclerc is OUT!!! TV switches to a smoking Ferrari coming down the main straight. It blew coming out of turn 16, so he cooked that for a little while. Bad luck for Charles Leclerc again from the lead. Not the first time this season. Bad race for Ferrari with two mechanical failures and Red Bulls now 1-2.
Lap 21 – Lando Norris pits, which gives Daniel Ricciardo a chance to stretch his legs. He has to keep Pierre Gasly off his arse to start with though. Which he does for a lap. Gasly steals what is now fourth a lap later. Shame, and one wonder how those McLaren team orders stuffed the Australian. Still, being taken for fifth is better than battling for 14th.
ORDER – VER PER RUS GAS RIC HAM TSU OCO VET ZHO
Lap 24 – Guanyu Zhou retires his Alfa Romeo from a fine 10th place with what looks like an engine problem. That’s 3/6 Ferrari powered cars now, making up the three race retirements.
Lap 26 – Sebastian Vettel overtakes Ocon at the second attempt, after previously running down an escape road at the first attempt and losing a few places. Hamilton overtakes Ricciardo for 5th. And a flying Fernando Alonso overtakes Kevin Magnussen for 10th. Overtaking galore.
Lap 27 – Alonso approaches his team mate next. He’d better watch out, Ocon has form running into team mates, and at this circuit. He does climb to 9th at the end of the lap. Without incident.
Lap 31 – Not much action at the very front, but interesting to do a gap check for the top five. Well interesting may be overkill, but it’s at least something to discuss with the top five, and it feels like it is just an economy run from here.
ORDER (Gap) – VER (9 sec) PER (17 sec) RUS (21 sec) GAS (3 sec) HAM
Lap 33 – Anyone take a bet for all six Ferrari powered cars to retire? If you have you’re 67% of the way there at lap 33, with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas with Ferrari power pulling over with a blown engine. Talking of 67%, that’s about where this race is at right now.
Lap 34 – Virtual Safety Car deployed because of Magnussen’s car issue, so the top three pit for new tyres and stay where they were. Hamilton and Ricciardo pit too for their second and first stop respectively. Hamilton drops yo 6th, Ricciardo to 9th. We’ll see about McLaren team orders now we guess. The Australian does have five seconds gap to 10th placed Norris.
Lap 36 – Lewis Hamilton overtakes Yuki Tsunoda for 5th. He has 10 seconds to go to Gasly ahead with 15 laps to go. Further back Daniel Ricciardo is going quite fast too, a second a lap on Alonso in 8th and he’s only a couple behind the Alpine.
Lap 39 – Yuki Tsunoda pits after being showed a mechanical flag for a broken rear wing. It seems the Alpha Tauri’s rear wing is half broken, with half a flap opening up like DRS. The pit crew gaffer tape the rear wing, which has to be a modern F1 first.
Lap 41 – Max Verstappen, who leads by 16 seconds, is told to slow down a little by his team. He politely tells them to stick that up their arse. He’s probably worried about tyre failures that cost him a win last season.
Lap 42 – Lando Norris is catching Daniel Ricciardo for 8th, and is on the radio reminding his team of such. Ricciardo hasn’t made much inroads to Alonso and is half a second a lap slower than his team mate. A lot of team radio back and forths at McLarens as Norris and Ricciardo pleading their cases to staying in front of the other.
Lap 43 – Lewis Hamilton is right on Gasly’s tail for 4th, which will be close to a season highlight so far for the Englishman. Hamilton gets back at turn three on lap 44.
Lap 46 – Bit of intra team radio fun at McLaren with Norris wanting to get past his team mate so he could have a go at Fernando Alonso.
Lap 50 – Max Verstappen radios in with a small car problem, something small broken? Only a lap to go, so he’ll probably be right.
Last Lap – Max Verstappen cruises across the line on day made pretty easy for him. His team mate Perez comes home second, and a good weekend for Mercedes through reliability than pace in third and fourth. Some good news stories further back, who will feature in our Great/Grape. A disaster for Ferrari with no points for them and maximum for Red Bull.
FINAL ORDER – VER PER RUS HAM GAS VET ALO RIC NOR OCO
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Results
RACE RATING
Was it a good race, loads of action, tense, or just a big, fat, snooze-fest.
We rate the big race itself so we know which races to go back and watch in the off season or one to simply remember the winner for the post season quiz nights.
SEASON IMPORTANCE – 10 / 10
Ferrari failures are a big talking point for the Championship. It’s all good and well to take pole positions, but a big fat DNF is no good, especially when they are usually punished by a Max-imum result for his arch rival. It’s two in three failures in the lead for Leclerc, and Sainz isn’t getting any more luck either. And does that lead to more penalties for more engines? And the Red Bull looked the quicker car in race trim. And Verstappen is plenty of points in front at the top of the championship. And Perez now sits second in the Championship ahead of Leclerc too. So yeah, plenty of Championship defining moments.
ON TRACK ACTION – 7 / 10
Plenty of midfield change of position kept the camera and late night viewers interested. Even at the front there was an overtake for first, albeit an intra Red Bull change of position, and the pit strategy mixed up the field nicely after the first 10 or so laps looked like it was going to be dull as.
ENDING 5 / 10
Not much happening at the front at all, with the final laps action limited to Lewis Hamilton overtaking Alpha Tauri car, and McLaren pit radio medleys.
OVERALL RATING 22 / 30
Not a bad race, and the Ferrari unreliability spiced things up, but it was pretty easy for Red Bull in front after Leclerc retired. There was enough midfield action to keep people interested and the McLarens battle at the end saved going to sleep early. The big thing is how important this race will end up in the Championship battle.
2022 SEASON RATINGS SO FAR
Want to know what we thought of previous races? Or which ones to to back and watch?
2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Results
GREAT & GRAPE OF THE RACE
Here we go through the field and highlight the very best (Great) of the race, and the plodders, the over-ambitious, the out of luck, and simply hopeless (Grape).
These points get added to our Driver of the Season scores. Five points for a great nomination, and -5 for the worst or grapest driver in the pack. Then it is +2 /-2 for honourable or dishonourable mentions.
It used to be called the good, bad and ugly, but everyone is using that now. And who doesn’t like grapes.
THE GREAT-EST – MAX VERSTAPPEN
A real cruise and collect for Max Verstappen today. His nearest Championship rival blows an engine, he gets past his team mate for first place early enough, and is miles ahead at the finish. Leads the Championship by 21 points to his team mate who is now in second, and 34 points to Charles Leclerc.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
GEORGE RUSSELL – Another podium, and weekend where he outqualified his seven time World Champion team mate and finished ahead of him in the race quite easily.
PIERRE GASLY – Solid drive to fifth place, and that was about as good as it was going to get today. He’s had a bad run lately, so they are welcomed points.
DANIEL RICCIARDO – Qualified just behind his team mate, and finished ahead of him in the race. Ricciardo went on hard tyres from the start, which opened up strategy for the Australian. He got the pit stop call right with luck from a Virtual Safety Car, but he struggled to make inroads into Fernando Alonso and only just stayed ahead of his team mate to claim 9th. That’s right, 9th and ahead of his team mate. Take that on current form.
LEWIS HAMILTON – A better result in 4th, which speaks for his season also, if 4th and behind his team mate again is a highlight.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL – A very good result in 6th, after losing a few places earlier in the race when he locked his brakes trying to overtake Ocon, which then took a handful of laps to do again.
THE GRAPE-EST – CHARLES LECLERC
A second car failure while leading in the last three races. That’s after being trumped by strategy and luck in Monaco. He is now behind Sergio Perez in the Championship and 34 points behind Max. And there could now be penalties too, ruining future F1 events.
DIS-HONOURABLE MENTIONS
CARLOS SAINZ – Another race with nothing to show. Outqualified by his pole position-winning team mate, then becomes a first and early retirement. At least it was car related and not his fault but it still sucks.
NICHOLAS LATIFI – Received a 10 second Stop-Go penalty for a starting grid infringement and then followed that up with another penalty for ignoring blue flags. He finished last of the runners too.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings
Stay tuned for our Power Rankings from the race soon as it is currently being calculated.
BONN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 03: Mann mit Kopfhörer, Callcenter, Man with headphones on November 03, 2020 in Bonn, Germany. (Photo by Ute Grabowsky/Photothek via Getty Images)
A Brisbane man’s honeymoon period at his new job is over after less than a month.
After a brief period of unemployment, Adam (22) was grateful to get a new customer service job at Telltus Communication Company (TCC), but quickly realised it was a mistake.
”We did a week of training, which was fine, but the pain started as soon as we got on the phones. I’ve never been screamed at that much since my junior footy days!” said Adam.
“The worst part is the roster. EVERY SINGLE MINUTE is accounted for, 15-minute breaks and lunch breaks are randomly assigned, and overtime Saturday work is ‘strongly encouraged’. Heaven forbid if you take too many toilet breaks, then the team leaders scream at you too and threaten to ‘write you up’, whatever that means. May as well chain us to our desks and be done with it.
“And the next worst part is the b***** team games they force on us. They’re meant to foster ‘team spirit’, but they just make everyone more competitive and more miserable than they already are.”
It seems Adam isn’t alone in his hatred of his new job, with 15 of his 30-person training group already quitting.
“One guy walked out on the second day of training. No warning, no goodbye, he just left. I should have seen the signs back then. I miss my leisurely unemployed days when I could sleep in, do what I want, watch TV until midnight, and not be under the thumb of some d***head team leader on a massive power trip. It sucked being broke, but I got used to two-minute noodles and buying the cheap beer.”
Though there is an upside, with Adam seriously considering going to uni to follow his love for copywriting.
”I’ve been looking at marketing degrees and it looks like a decent career path. I didn’t go to uni after school. I got into my dad’s business as I was sick of studying. I started doing copywriting as a hobby and I love it, even did some free online courses. I’ve also seen how drained of life some of the old buggers are at TCC. They’ve been stuck in the customer service loop forever and it’s too late to get out. I definitely don’t want to end up like them.”
Everyday News is a brand new general news/parody section of The Gurgler, and definitely not a lame rip-off of ‘The Betoota Advocate’. We swear.
Welcome to our Queensland Cup Round 11 Preview and Stats, which is as always featuring as many barely interesting stats as we could muster. We also throw in some expert tips. Plus ours.
This round features some key match ups – a first v second on the Sunshine Coast between the Falcons and the Bears, and a local rivalry ends the weekend as the Tigers meet Wynnum. And perhaps this weekend is when the high flying Capras beat Townsville for the first time ever.
There’s a game by game preview of each match this weekend, with some nice H2H visuals and insights to impress family and friends ahead of the upcoming round.
Time to get on board some great local rugby league and our HostPlus Cup-Queensland Cup Round 11 preview.
Queensland Cup Round 11 Predictions
The merge of Intrust Super and HostPlus may have seen the competition name change from Intrust Super Cup to HostPlus Cup, but we still have Intrust Super’s former CEO and long time Q Cup fan Brendan O’Farrell joining us for the 2022 season again. He is the multiple reigning champion for our website after all.
New for 2022 is Matt Pritchard – the main man of the local independent rugby League website Nothing But League. They have outstanding rugby league coverage and still have time for Queensland Cup here too.
Their tips and ours will be underneath each of the match previews.
QUEENSLAND CUP 2022 SEASON STATS
2022 QUEENSLAND CUP SEASON SUMMARY
Here’s a colourful and quick way to see how the 2022 season is going for the teams.
2022 QUEENSLAND CUP SEASON FORM GUIDE
Here’s how the team’s season is going by round.
MORE 2022 QUEENSLAND CUP SEASON STATS – TEAM RECORD V TOP AND BOTTOM SIDES
Top 8 / Bottom 6 are determined at time of match not current ladder.
2022 QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 11 BARELY INTERESTING STATS
The PNG Hunters may not have won at home this season but they do have a massive H2H advantage and the Magpies have never beaten them on a Saturday.
PNG Hunters have lost seven in a row v Brisbane sides. Their last win was v Ipswich in Round 2 last season.
Ipswich Jets have conceded 150 points in their last three matches, which is more than the top two teams and eighth place Tweed Heads. Tweed Heads have also conceded the fewest points away this season.
It’s been seven games and almost a year since Tweed Heads last beat a Brisbane side.
Sunshine Coast are 4/4 at home while their opponents this weekend Burleigh are also 4/4 away.
Norths Devils have lost only one away game of 14 since 2020.
Northern Pride have won their last four home games v Brisbane teams.
Central Capras have never beaten Townsville.
Tigers haven’t beaten Wynnum since 2018.
QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 11 MATCH BY MATCH PREVIEWS
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 3PM @ RUNAWAY BAY
Predictions: Brendan O’Farrell (BOF) Magpies Matt Pritchard – Nothing But League (MP) Hunters The Gurgler Website (US) Hunters
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 3PM @ IPSWICH
Predictions: BOF Tweed Heads MP Tweed Heads US Jets
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 4PM @ SUNSHINE COAST
Predictions: BOF Bears MP Bears US Falcons
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 5:30PM @ CAIRNS
Predictions: BOF Devils MP Devils US Devils
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 6PM @ ROCKHAMPTON
Predictions: BOF Capras MP Capras US Capras
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 6PM @ MACKAY
Predictions: BOF Dolphins MP Cutters US Dolphins
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 2:10PM @ KOUGARI OVAL
Predictions: BOF Wynnum MP Wynnum US Wynnum
Queensland Cup 2022 Predictions Season Results
Here’s the tipping record of all of our tipsters for the 2022 season.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL
REIGNING GURGLER QLD CUP TIPPING CHAMP
FORMERLY OF INTRUST SUPER
2022 Stats 38/62 (61%)
