Nick Cummins shocked the nations by not picking anyone in the Honey Badger Bachelor Finale. And it has become the talking point of various Water Coolers, Cafes and most importantly Social Media.
But really what did anyone expect.
He was a footballer, and a winger no less, the contestants were a bunch of women who were prepared to go on TV for love. With all the game changing, producer interfering, bullshit that makes reality TV so awful, and unlike reality.
If it weren’t for TV, it is highly likely that none of them would give the Honey Badger a second look in the many nightclubs. Well, except for the one who seemed a little obsessed by them.
His wonderful curly mullet and mo was a surprise selection for The Bachelor, who usually stump up some boring cardboard cut out trying resemble Barbie’s Ken as closely as possible. Makes for good action figures after The Bachelor finishes we guess.
It was hard to imagine too many, if any or not many of the girls would fall dangerously in love.
Without the power of TV, most of these women wouldn’t give the Honey Badger a second glance. Or a first. Most of the behaviour on the show showed that.
We must admit at this point that we have pieced together all that happened with the Honey Badger Bachelor Finale and rest of the “Social Experiment” from Gogglebox, the very excellent Have You Been Paying Attention, and various trash-news websites.
That little bit knowledge has made us feel very lucky that we didn’t suffer the lot.
But we were aware of the main things, especially the finale.
Was the dual dumping at the final part a shock? Yes. Should it be a surprise? No.
At least the Honey Badger was being honest.
If he was a complete jerk he could have dragged a relationship out for a few months, get in the magazines and news for a bit and raise the profile.
Perhaps he regretted getting involved and wanted reduced social media notoriety and could go back to they guy that everyone liked. Going to PNG to do the Kokoda Track is a fair indication of how much publicity he wants.
At least he was honest, and not eyeing a new TV spinoff like other celebrity love seekers.
ACA JOIN IN THE HONEY BADGER BACHELOR FINALE CIRCUS
The original weekly gripe was about why people were complaining about the Bachelor ending, until ACA got involved.
You know you have reached the lowest of the low when an ACA is hiding in the bushes waiting to jump out and ambush you with their microphone. Normally this is saved for Car Salesman, Neighbours at War, Welfare Cheats, and ex cast members of Hey Dad, but the Honey Badger was sought out after the big Honey Badger Bachelor Finale.
He didn’t have much to say, nor should. He left everything in the finale.
But the jerks at ACA got on their high horse to ensure the controversy raged.
ACA is a cut above in the worst show on television, and is a lone soldier in the genre these days, as Channel Seven finally worked out that people aren’t quite the idiots they initially thought they were.
Perhaps Channel Nein was jealous of the exposure of The Bachelor, with their Married at First Sight’s next “social experiment” some time away.
After another high quality midweek International interruption, the Premier League is back to liven up the weekends and once again we have our Premier League Predictions Week 9 ready.
Each game week we bring our unique look at the EPL with our mini preview, and our Premier League Predictions Week 9.
But anyone can offer up predictions. So each week we will put our Premier League predictions up against a guest tipster, but not necessarily a person, but based on a statistic or ridiculous idea which has varying links to football. It’s very much like BBC’s Lawro vs Somebody preview, but better. Arguably.
Like this week, for our Premier League Predictions Week 9 we put our selections up against tips based on each team’s record of longevity of their managers. October being the biggest in season month for sackings.
Premier League Predictions Week 9 – Gurgler v Sacked Managers
Opponent Tips Background: You may not know that October is the biggest month for sacking managers in the EPL mid season, perhaps clubs want to sort that out before it gets too cold, so we’re going to use manager related statistics to determine our opposition.
With stability usually leading to success, we’ve decided that the team with the highest average tenure of their manager in the EPL era will get the tip. Simples.
It is not each club’s record in the EPL division only, just each current Premier League club’s record in all divisions.
We’ve compiled some barely interesting stats on managers which is available and the end of the preview, and stats for not just EPL era.
But first, our Premier League Predictions. Which we’ve given ourselves the dreaded full confidence of The Gurgler board.
Premier League Predictions Week 9
Premier League Predictions Week 9 – The Gurgler House Tips
CHELSEA to beat Manchester Utd (1-0)
BOURNEMOUTH to beat Southampton (2-0)
FULHAM to beat Cardiff (2-1)
MANCHESTER CITY to beat Burnley (2-0)
NEWCASTLE to beat Brighton (2-0)
DRAW – West Ham v Spurs (1-1)
WOLVES to beat Watford (1-0)
LIVERPOOL to beat Huddersfield (3-0)
EVERTON to beat Crystal Palace (3-0)
ARSENAL to beat Leicester (2-1)
Premier League Predictions Week 9 – v EPL Club’s Manager Tenure in EPL era
Average Tenure (Years) in brackets.
MANCHESTER UTD (6.7) to beat Chelsea (1.4)
BOURNEMOUTH (3.0) to beat Southampton (1.2)
DRAW – Cardiff (1.6) v Fulham (1.6)
BURNLEY (2.3) to beat Manchester City (1.8)
DRAW – Newcastle (1.3) v Brighton (1.3)
WEST HAM (2.1) to beat Spurs (1.8)
WOLVES (2.2) to beat Watford (1.3)
LIVERPOOL (3.9) to beat Huddersfield (1.7)
EVERTON (2.0) to beat Crystal Palace (1.2)
ARSENAL (4.6) to bet Leicester (1.3)
Premier League Predictions Week 9 Quick Mini Preview
GAME BY GAME PREVIEW IN 25 WORDS OR LESS
CHELSEA v MANCHESTER UTD
We proved last time that joint EPL leaders Chelsea have the best record of any side against Jose Mourinho. And his old club to rub it in. Hazard is the man of the moment too. Man Utd are below Wolves and Bournemouth on the ladder and were heading for worse before the turnaround against Newcastle last time out. One could argue their second half was the best of the season and perhaps Jose should tell his side they are 2-0 down before the game starts.
BOURNEMOUTH v SOUTHAMPTON
South Coast derby, and there is a stark contrast in their current table position and our manager tenure stat for our Week 9 predictions. Any coincidence? Bournemouth’s lofty position is a feel good story, and with the FPL gold in their side, it is hard to see too much of a correction before the season is out. We predicted relegation for Southampton and stick by it.
CARDIFF v FULHAM
Cardiff have conceded 10 goals at home this season in four games. Fulham have conceded 11 goals away in four games. So an entertaining 3-3 draw anyone? Cardiff look every bit a 2019-2020 Championship side, and sadly apart from one good game and a few brief patches of goodness, so do Fulham.
MANCHESTER CITY v BURNLEY
Manchester City will no doubt continue their 100% home record this weekend, but Burnley have been on the improve and are up to 12th already – top of the bottom third of the EPL ladder. Might not be the flogging people think it could be.
NEWCASTLE v BRIGHTON
Newcastle have already played five of the top six sides this season, so will welcome the slightly less challenging match against Brighton (1 point away this season). Interestingly in those five Top Six games for Newcastle the score was 2-1 four times, and 3-2 the other. Always great to see Glenn Murray among the goals scorers, proving his continued value for money.
WEST HAM v SPURS
Spurs travel the short distance to London stadium with the season’s best away record – four wins from five – although their home isn’t really their home either. West Ham got a very useful draw against Chelsea at home not long ago, so it will be interesting to see if they can match it against another Top Six side.
WOLVES v WATFORD
Wolves are on a run on six unbeaten, and look the top eight Premier League side most predicted at the start of the season. The prediction that Wolves would have finished top half last season too looks pretty accurate. Good times for Wolves fans. Wolves start has been more steady than spectacular, unlike Watford whose start was certainly the latter. However three losses in four now, including a 4-0 loss to Bournemouth, and is it time for the slide backwards already.
HUDDERSFIELD v LIVERPOOL
Huddersfield are scoring a goal every second game, Liverpool are conceding even less. The big question is whether Salah will play, although the dynamic three from last season have been slightly less so this season. Could be 6-0 or a sneaky 1-0 to Liverpool.
EVERTON v CRYSTAL PALACE
Have Everton turned the corner after their good win last start? Let’s hope so for a decent upper midfield battle. Crystal Palace can’t win if Zaha doesn’t score, and he isn’t scoring enough. And they have had a reasonably easy run to start the season. That’s about to change with top six fixtures in the next four games after this weekend.
ARSENAL v LEICESTER
The love has returned to Arsenal, and so have the wins. Under the radar they have sneaked up to fourth and are just two points behind the joint leaders. They should beat Leicester, who have looked good this season, but are set for the sweet, sweet middle of the EPL table.
THE AUSTRALIAN TV FTA GAME
No Optus? Don’t blame you, it’s no longer free. But if you’re a tightarse like us, here is the TV game for the week. $15 a month is not bad on Optus if you throw in the Champions and Europa League.
SATURDAY 9PM – CHELSEA v MANCHESTER UNITED
Getting to be last chance saloon for the decent, early games.
THE 0-0 SPECIAL
No selection this week.
Season Progress – two correct from the first 3 weeks, and none since.
EPL BETTING – SUPER PREMIER LEAGUE Week 9 MULTI
Time to make some money – here’s our best five tips rolled into one money making machine.
BOURNEMOUTH to beat Southampton
MANCHESTER CITY to beat Burnley
LIVERPOOL to beat Huddersfield
EVERTON to beat Crystal Palace
ARSENAL to beat Leicester
$1 Multi pays $7
FANTASY FOOTBALL THOUGHTS
We weren’t very good last season, but that won’t stop us providing a few Fantasy Football EPL tips.
Can you afford to double up on Wolves defenders. So many great cheap options.
Will Salah play? The 50% who don’t have him may be laughing.
Time to go for Zaha, with harder fixtures coming up.
So many great Bournemouth buys. Wilson, Fraser, even Brooks.
Australia and their various news channels are going wild over the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Australian Visit, and why wouldn’t they.
But as exciting as the Prince Harry Australian Visit is, couldn’t it be just a little more exciting. Or different.
Allow us then to suggest some alternative locations, a Royal Road Trip from Sydney to Fraser Island.
Prince Harry Australian Visit Royal Road Trip Itinerary
Rooty Hill RSL
Where else would you start a road trip by staying and playing Sydney’s finest club.
A big breakfast, followed by a quick few games of Keno is the perfect way to start a Royal Road Trip. Better still, they could put on a few thousand games, so their Keno follows them up the coast.
World’s Largest Sundial at Singleton
There’s so many Big things that a person could see on the drive from Sydney to Brisbane of varying quality, but a forgotten one that deserves some love on the Prince Harry Australian Visit Royal Road Trip is the World’s Largest Sundial at Singleton in the Hunter area of NSW.
Didn’t know about the sundial at Singleton? You will after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been there.
Mullumbimby
If Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want to see something different on this Royal Road Trip, then Mullumbimby is certainly the place to visit.
Whether they get into the local smoking ceremony will be a mystery.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
The Gold Coast is surely a place to stop on a Sydney-Brisbane Road Trip, and where else would you go to than Cavill Avenue and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.
Of course they should leave the car at their Jupiters Casino accommodation and jump on the G Link to get there.
Harry’s Fine Foods
The royal couple would surely love to taste local cuisine. And a Prince Harry Australian Visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Harry’s Fine Foods.
At least then Harry’s Fine Foods could claim the Harry part of their business name. They certainly can’t claim the second word.
Although sadly it no longer exists, they can visit the site, and since they will already be on their way to Redcliffe along Anzac Avenue it is not even out of the way.
Bee Gees Walk at Redcliffe
Redcliffe’s finest musical product now have their own special space, and you could see both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visiting the site and then slapping on some Bee Gees for the next leg of the Royal Road Trip up the Bruce Highway.
Big Fish Tavern
A long Road Trip is tiring, and surely they will be needing a drink by now. Where better than the Big Fish Tavern – Caboolture’s finest.
As long as they aren’t driving themselves, they can take on the Big Fish 6 and 1 Challenge.
This requires one to drink 6 cans of OP Rum & Cola and one Tallie before going past the Wildhorse Mountain turnoff.
Tiaro
Hervey Bay and Fraser Island aren’t far away, but the royal couple may need time to stretch their legs. Where better than Tiaro.
There’s good coffee, a great Butcher and much more to see in a quick walk around.
Since the Bruce Highway slows to 20 kph anyway, you may as well make Tiaro the final stop of the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Australian Visit Royal Road Trip .
In honour of this weekend’s Ironman World Championships in Hawaii and the amateur heroes of the 100km Brisbane to Gold Coast Bike Ride for Charity in the wet, we decide this week’s theme should celebrate Insane Endurance Sporting Events week.
Endurance Sporting Events are only for the very fit or insane, most of us respecting them for the fact that we couldn’t be arsed doing it ourselves.
We salute those who took on endeavours this week, and as per usual we list our favourite Endurance Sporting Events of all time.
Ironman World Championships
The Ironman World Championships are probably the most insane of the Endurance Sporting Events.
3.862km Swim, 180.2km Bike ride, and marathon length 42.2km run.
Truly insane. And this year’s winner – Patrick Lange – did the whole ting in under 8 hours for the first time ever.
Respected but insane.
English Channel Swim / Swim from Cuba to Florida
Nothing says Insane Endurance Sporting Events than swimming a ridiculous distance between two pieces of land for no good reason. Other than to do it and/or break a record.
And nothing says Endurance Sporting Events than requiring yourself to be covered in grease to achieve the feat.
The English Channel is by far the most well known, and Susie Maroney the most famous person that we can remember. There also a pub in Dover somewhere that has people’s Channel crossing times on the walls.
Swimming from Cuba to Florida is almost as impressive, and you used to get to meet Castro.
We are still waiting for someone to break the reported Pumicestone Passage crossing record of ex Olympic swimmer Karen van Wirdum, perhaps someone in the spirit of Celebrate Insane Endurance Sporting Events Week could attempt it again.
3000ft El Capitan Rock Climb Without Ropes
This certainly ticks the box as one of the great Endurance Sporting Events. But it really isn’t an event more of a solo achievement.
It would be more impressive if it wasn’t flogged as a motivational tool in workplaces by those who have very little to offer otherwise.
Cliff Young & Ultra Marathons
Who doesn’t love an older gentleman taking on Ultra marathons?
Cliff Young became a household name in the 1980’s, and we remember him and his Westfield’s Ultra Marathon races.
We even found a Youtube clip to enjoy.
FINALLY….
Previously we would have said sitting and listening to the Channel Nein Cricket team and their summer of cricket was one of the great Endurance Sporting Events. Great now that the Channel Nein team have lost the broadcast rights on Cricket. Sadly they have spread the dickheads across Fox Cricket and Channel Seven now,
Usain Bolt A League hopes took a significant positive step forward with two goals in a friendly on Friday night. But will it be enough to secure him a contract?
The two goals certainly are a great headline, but the all round play was still lacking, but had promise.
We are all behind the Usain Bolt A League tilt, and are full of hope and confidence that we will make it.
Perhaps he won’t start the season against the Brisbane Roar in Round One, but we hope there’s plenty of Usain Bolt A League talk by the end of the season.
As ever though, we take a moment is sport and give it our usual spin and thoughts, so we present our hopes for the next batch of A League Marquee Crossovers.
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA
Before we get too silly, we would love to see the man known as The Beast out in Australia for one season before he retires.
He recently scored his 200th goal in UK Football, a journey that has seen travel across the country and play for many third and fourth division teams.
People could say his age, body building size and limited career in third and fourth tier in England would mean he’d be a terrible A League recruit. But they don’t know anything, and just a little trip to Youtube would see what he has to offer. Especially against the bigger EPL sides in the FA Cup.
Adebayo Akinfenwa would be a crowd favorite and a welcome addition to any A League club, and the game itself.
Now, onto the increasingly more absurd ones from other sports…
THE HONEY BADGER
More famous now for not scoring on The Bachelor than scoring on the rugby field, his life now revolves around being harassed by ACA “journalists” hiding in bushes waiting for a media ambush. A spot usually reserved for the dodgiest of builders, angriest of neighbours, and shonkiest of car salesman.
So he needs to get back into sport and quick to escape the clutches of the awful people at Channel Nein.
Why not head to the A League then we say.
Not only would he have the silky skills to feature somewhere in the midfield, he would add some media interest in a sports that has very few genuine characters now that Clive Palmer and Miron Bleiberg are no longer involved.
MO FARAH
If you’re to get another star athlete to come and be a A League Marquee Crossover, then why not a man who is more suited to the long distances that a football would require.
Mo Farah is a long distance runner par excellence, and that has been one thing lacking with the Usain Bolt A League attempt.
Sure Mo isn’t quite as tall as the Jamaican, but he wouldn’t be to far behind with speed, and he sure would have the advantage in long-term stamina.
You can picture him towards the front, zipping in and out of defence, and he would sure know how to track back.
GORDON RAMSEY
The famous Chef was a trialist with Rangers before he became the famous swearing Chef, so the world of Football is not strange to him.
Although age may well be against him, he still looks fit as and could still play a part on and off the field.
You could imagine him as a tough, no-nonsense defender who would see plenty of red cards as much as you could see him popping into the kitchen to cook up some healthy food for the players.
KEVIN MAGNUSSEN
Every sport needs a villain or at minimum a Jerk, and since Kevin Muscat no longer plays, what about F1’s biggest Jerk in Kevin Magnussen.
He has an exotic Scandinavian sounding name that would attract interest as an A League Marquee Crossover, and would surely be fit enough to play A League football if he is fit enough to race an F1 car.
Whether or not he has any interest in Football doesn’t matter to us, we’d see him as a great defensive midfielder who’d chip in with the occasional surprise goal.
WILLIE MINOGA
Although we can’t recall ever seeing Willie Minoga kick a soccer ball, the deity of PNG rugby league would surely be able to do anything.
Football aka Soccer does have a reputation for being a little soft, so the inclusion of the PNG Freight Train would send shock waves to the A League, and an explosion of interest in the A League for the 7 million odd people of PNG.
Definitely as striker in the style of Adebayo Akinfenwa, who could scare opposition defences into mistakes.
KARMICHAEL HUNT
Since he only has A League Football left to complete the grand slam of professional football codes in Australia, we say that someone should give him a go.
If he can stay off the gear for long enough, and do the hard work required, we could easily see him as a dangerous winger, with a lethal pin point cross into the box and be an assist machine.
JARRYD HAYNE
Surely he has a dream to be an A League Marquee Crossover.
Especially after waiting for three quarters of a season to have a decent contribution to the Parramatta Eels season, which ended in wooden spoon.
He has still yet to sign with the EEls for 2019. Perhaps he IS waiting for an A League club to come calling.
With the NRL off-season underway, we turn our thoughts to the things that annoyed us in 2018, and propose a Magnificent Seven of potential NRL Changes we’d like to make for next year.
Not all of them are on field, with a few suggestions for the NRL draw and Judiciary to even it out.
Most have probably been raised at one time of another, but never under the banner of Magnificent Seven of NRL Changes.
NRL CHANGES 1 – 7 TACKLE SET POST PENALTY
Penalties were a blight on the game during the 2018, and eventually it led to many a player being sent to the sin bin. But usually not before the whole game’s rhythm had been ruined.
What is not needed is a crackdown at any stage of the season. Set the rules, and stick to them.
But teams will try and coach around this sadly. Perhaps you could have a Fair Play bonus where teams would be rewarded financially for conceding the fewest penalties.
Even easier, and more direct impact could mean you make the set after the penalty has been given a 7 tackle set, similar to kicking the ball dead. This probably won’t stop all the penalties in the heat of the moment, but hopefully it would be a consideration and/or deterrent to multiple penalties in the 20 metre zone. Teams knowing that they’ll have to defend for one more tackle every time.
Although at this point, we like to contradict ourselves just a little and say we’d like to see late hits of players who have passed the ball. Usually performed by the big guys on star playmakers. Playing hard and tough is great and welcomed, but cheap shots aren’t.
NRL CHANGES 2 – TWO PASSES FROM A SCRUM
The scrum is a great opportunity to run a set play, and teams like South Sydney really exposed this in 2018, but far too frequently it turns out to be a damp squib, with a monotonous hit up from one of the big forwards standing at first receiver. Boring. Much like the fact that nearly every team does the exact same kick off and that no one learned from the Ipswich Jets, who get the ball back from their short kick offs about 50%.
Since the NRL sides are going to be coached exactly to the rulebook, why not force them to make two passes before being tackled. This will give teams the chance to spread it more than they normally would, and would hopefully lead to more post-scrum action.
There would be fn too, seeing the panic as a team tries hard to push a second pass if the defensive side are on the ball and have chased hard. This could means that defensive teams in scrum could put a speedy type at lock whose sole job is to harass the other team into not making two passes.
Imagine the refreshing change, albeit small change, when the scrum becomes an interesting focus point, not just a stoppage in play and a few players plodding around for a bit before normal hit up routine restarts.
The punishment for not making tow passes is a scrum to the opposing side. Letting the fun begin all over again.
NRL CHANGES 3 – COUNTRY WEEK OR COUNTRY NIGHT
Seeing that the NRL are having trouble bringing in a crowd on certain nights, or at certain grounds for certain teams, shouldn’t one of the NRL Changes be taking more games to the country.
2018 saw more games than ever before taken to the regional areas, and given the turnout and atmosphere you could argue they were all a success.
Some teams like Penrith and South Sydney have been taking a game to the regions for a while, some like the Gold Coast did it in 2018 due their home ground being taken over by the Commonwealth Games.
But the NRL is always claiming it is very interested in grass roots, so why not force all teams to play a game in the bush. Or have an entire Country Week round like the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland.
The Country Week has been a very popular round for the Intrust Super Cup, and is well supported by the locals, and teams alike. The clubs actually go to the region well in advance of the actual match and are involved in the communities. Which should be at the heart of the Country Week round, not just the game. 8 teams would take a home game to the country one season, and the remaining teams to do it the next season.
Alternatively, you could make all teams take one a season to the bush. Preferably the same game for fairness. The NRL already has a timeslot in the Friday 6pm kick off, that it doesn’t give a sh!t about whether fans go or not as it is well known to be pure pay TV benefit. There’s also the Thursday night 7:50pm kick off which looks suitable.
The Friday 6pm average crowd is just 13,600, and the Thursday night crowd average is just 11,300 if you exclude Broncos games.
So the NRL aren’t going to lose too many people by taking the games to the bush. It would be much easier for people in the regions to get to a Friday night 6pm kick off than most of the capitals.
This year’s finals series proved they will never match the AFL for bums on seats, so why not be the best grassroots major code in the country.
Yes, this includes the Broncos who could give up a night at Suncorp to share the love around Queensland just once.
NRL CHANGES 4 – PLAYERS PENALISED FOR KICKING/THROWING THE BALL AWAY
Whether players like it or not, they are role models. Especially on the field.
How many players have copied Jonathan Thurston’s gesture of picking up his own kicking tee and handing it back to the runner or child.
And how many kick the ball away or throw it away from an opponent rather than handing it over.
Tough but fair should always apply, and why isn’t there room for sportsmanship.
Soccer players are yellow carded for kicking the ball away, so why not at least penalise the same offence as part of our suggested NRL changes.
It would certainly crack down on the tedious wait for fans as they kick the ball 30 metres away and stroll back and fans wait 30 seconds for nothing.
NRL CHANGES 5 – 10 MINS IN BIN REPLACED BY 5 MINS – BUT INCLUDE ALL REPORTABLE OFFENCES
We saw so many sin bins in 2018, and some of them were for very pissweak reasons.
However, a player could smash someone on the head, be reported, yet stay on the field. Even when their victim takes no further part.
A better idea would be the reported player stays off the field for as long as the victim does, but that would never happen.
Since the NRL are reluctant to have both five and ten minute sin bins, why not reduce them to five minutes and it then applies to all professional fouls (most of which are pretty pissweak in the grand scale of offences) and applies to any player put on report.
This means the harsh ten minutes in the bin would be reduced to fairer five minutes, and the more thuggish reported offence rightly increased from zero to five minutes.
NRL CHANGES 6 – 30 SECONDS FOR KICK CONVERSIONS
We admit we watch very few NRL Games live. For two reasons – one due to nightly routine with children, and secondly because watching it on replay saves the amount of time wasted waiting for try decisions and attempts at conversion.
While we’d love there to be a time or replay limit on the Video Referee, that will never happen.
So why set a clock for how long you ave to take a conversion.
Our suggestion is from the time all the attacking players have left the in goal area after try celebrations, or the video referee has confirmed the decision, the player has 30 seconds to kick the ball.
This means the ball has to have been kicked before the shot clock ends. All good if it is mid-flight, which no doubt a lot ill be as the limits are pushed.
The punishment for not complying is simply not getting the chance to add two points.
NRL CHANGES 7 – SIMPLER JUDICIARY
Firstly, no carryover points, no early plea bonus.
Set a penalty and grade to a reportable offence. Unless it is a super crime which needs to be reviewed.
For example a high shot that was careless is one week, not 100 points. A punch is two weeks, not 200 points.
No early plea, you take the week or you try and fight to get it off.
This means a one week offence is just that, not a one week offence but one still plays because of an early plea. If it is reportable, and worth a week, then it is exactly as it says.
Yes that would hurt the player who has been charged once in 10 year career, but it is still reportable
AND…..A FEEDER CLUB FOR THE PNG HUNTERS
Surely some club has the foresight to take advantage of the riches that is the PNG rugby league talent.
Some lucky players get chosen by NRL clubs, but most if not all of them spend most of their time in the feeder club for the NRL side.
But why take one when you can have them all?
PNG Hunters sadly see a lot of their best talent go elsewhere for the NRL opportunity, sadly way too many to the UK. Like the Boas brothers for 2019.
Case in point was the excellent fullback Stargroth Amean, who gave up playing mid season to concentrate on studies, such is the lack of opportunities.
The recent Sydney Opera House Everest Protest highlighted people power and their passion for the Sydney Opera House.
It also highlighted just how useful the Sydney Opera House could be.
So along the lines of the Everest promotion and in the tradition of us using a news story to come up with something ridiculous here is our alternative projections for the Sydney Opera House.
Lotto Superdraws
Since the Sydney Opera House has already been used for gambling, why not use it to draw out the big Jackpot Superdraws.
What a sensational way to broadcast each dropping ball, with a new multi millionaire awaiting.
Of course you had to set a minimum of at least $50M or more, otherwise it would just be stupid.
We would also then see the dedication to anti-gambling protest.
Home and Away finales
There’s nothing more Sydney than Home and Away. Well, for the white 15-35 age bracket who live near a beach anyway.
So maybe as one of Sydney’s biggest cultural exports, they could show the season finale with yet another caravan blowing up on the Sydney Opera House.
Have Alf MC the vent for something even more special.
Antony Green Election Night
There’s a federal election looming within 12 months or so, and what better way to bring in the results than to have Antony Green set up inside the Opera House, while his predictions of swing and mandates are projected onto the Sydney Opera House.
No more stuffy TV studio with increasingly agitated politicians, just A. Green working his magic for all to see.
No one does Election night like Antony Green, and so throw in the results on the Sydney Opera House and you have your Saturday night entertainment sorted.
Match Making
Why not move online dating to the very next level and project people looking for love onto the Sydney Opera House.
You could do it two ways.
First people can put themselves forward with their best photo and contact details, so when their face/body is shown on the Sydney Opera House those nearby can grab the contact details and get in touch.
Alternatively, Sydneysiders could turn into matchmaking gurus as prospective people are coupled together on the Sydney Opera House and a specific hashtag will accompany the potential couple.
People who can see it then can text or tweet their Yes or No to the number provided and the couple can see the public approval rating.
Cheaters Unveiled
Instead of match making, how about a naming and shaming service for cheaters?
Scorned loved ones can project an image of their ex beau along with a reason for them to be added to the Sydney Opera House.
What a wonderful and public way to get payback.
Wallabies Win Celebrations
The Sydney Opera House could project special colours for every Wallabies win.
Happily for locals who disagree this wouldn’t have to happen very often.
A big weekend for Leagues One and Two as they take centre stage with the EPL and Championship on an international break, and here are our thoughts with the Who Care EFL Football League Predictions League One and Two Weekend.
Each matchday we will try to bundle up the EFL Football League into a tight package for those who sort of care, but not too much. It’s our mission statement to convert as many people to the EFL Football League as possible. At this stage we must admit to being a loyal Ipswich Town fan.
As much as we love the Premier League with our weekly predictions, our first true love is the 72 teams below the big money, hence the return of our Who Cares EFL Football League Predictions League One and Two Weekend.
Why do we say a Who Cares preview? Mainly because it is a league often ignored by the sport masses, and our previous weekly previews were literally read by no one, they may not care until promotion season, but we certainly do all season. And we’ve got to be different to the big websites previews.
Of course you could get a better preview elsewhere with more in-depth stats like from Who Scored, but we’re trying to give just enough information to stay in touch with a minimum of effort.
Quick Who Cares EFL Football League Predictions League One and Two Weekend. For most of the information you will need to care just a little.
Who Cares EFL Football League Predictions League One and Two Weekend
To kick off our EFL Football League preview we’ll go through the good, bad and ugly of each division, with the barest minimum of stats to help you find a winner or impress a friend.
CHAMPIONSHIP
The Championship is on a break, and Sheffield United have snuck to the top of the pile. West Brom are winning the relegated team battle by securing second place. They overtook Leeds who are now third and Middlesbrough a point further back after being beaten by Nottingham Forest whose boss Karanka took revenge on the club he was sacked from.
Talking of Forest, there are just three points between them in fifth down to 14th on the table. The Championship is as close and unpredictable as ever.
Three of the bottom five won, including a first win of the season to Ipswich. Preston got their first since the first weekend.
Portsmouth lost their unbeaten record but not their top spot for League One last weekend and still remain three points above Peterborough. Accrington Stanley’s long unbeaten run since Matchday 1 also came to an end, but they did lose their spot in the top 6.
Gurgler hero Adebayo Akinfenwa also scored his 200th Football League goal. We salute the Beast.
[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’table’ style=’blue_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ highlight=’4593||AFC Wimbledon’ title=’CURRENT LEAGUE ONE TABLE’ /]
GOOD
Plymouth got their first for the season. Southend are climbing nicely up the table too.
Best Last 6 Form – Doncaster 12pts Sunderland and Barnsley both won leaving the relegated sides third and fourth.
Biggest Current Unbeaten Streak – Blackpool – 9 Games
Biggest Current Winning Streak – Luton 2 wins
Best Home Form (Current) – Luton 14pts
Best Away Form (Current) – Peterborough / Portsmouth 16pts
BAD
Sadly our club AFC Wimbledon lost their 4th game of five and the drop zone awaits.
Worst Last 6 Form – Oxford 2pts
Biggest Current Winless Streak – Oxford 7 Games
Biggest Current Loss Streak – Burton, Wimb, Charlton, Doncaster) 2 Games
Worst Home Form (Last 6) – Oxford 3pts
Worst Away Form (Last 6) – Burton 1pt
UGLY
Burton have lost two games in a row and are now 18th. They need to find winning ways if the club wants to avoid suffering back to back relegations.
Most draws last 6 -Blackpool – 4 draws
Most draws for season – Blackpool – 7 draws
Fewest Goals scored (Last 6) – 4 Teams (Wimb, Plymouth, Oxford, Blackpool) – 3 Goals
Most Goals Conceded (Last 6) – Rochdale -12 goals
LEAGUE TWO
Our pick for League Two winners Lincoln are doing the job for us at the top of the fourth tier, and they along with Exeter and Newport already have a gap to the play off places of a game at the moment.
Just three points covers 4th to 11th in another tight top of the table battle.
At the bottom Macclesfield are still without a win, and need a new manager.
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’table’ style=’blue_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’CURRENT LEAGUE TWO TABLE’ /]
GOOD
Harry Kewell is starting to work his magic at Notts County with three wins in a row and up to 17th. Forest Green Rovers are still the only unbeaten side of League Two with lots of draws.
Best Last 6 Form – Exeter 14pts
Biggest Current Unbeaten Streak – Forest Green 12 Games
Biggest Current Winning Streak – Notts County 3 wins
Best Home Form (Last 6) – Lincoln 15 pts
Best Away Form (Last 6) – Lincoln 13 pts
BAD
Doesn’t get any worse than being winless and last team of the Football League for poor old Macclesfield. Cambridge’s winless streak isn’t far behind, they’ve lost five of six.
Worst Last 6 Form – Cambridge 1pt
Biggest Current Winless Streak – Macclesfield 12 Games
Biggest Current Loss Streak – Cambridge 3 Games
Worst Home Form (Last 6) – Cheltenham 2pts
Worst Away Form (Last 6) – Crewe/Macclesfield 2pt
UGLY
Nothampton and Cheltenham have already sacked their managers, but it has not brought more wins.
Most draws last 6 -Forest Green Rovers 4 draws
Most draws for season – Forest Green Rovers 8 draws
Fewest Goals scored (Last 6) – Northampton 2 Goals
Most Goals Conceded (Last 6) – Cambridge 15 Goals
Who Cares EFL Football League Predictions League One and Two Weekend
Here we put our money where our mouth is and include the top six EFL Football League League One and Two include into Multis/Accumulators.
PORTSMOUTH to beat AFC Wimbledon
SOUTHEND to beat Gillingham
DONCASTER to beat Rochdale
EXETER to beat Swindon
$1 “pays” $23
Who Cares EFL Football League League One and Two Weekend TV Games & Key Fixtures
Here’s the list of TV Games for those who love their EFL Football League in Australia. This week sees a good top 6 battle and a great local rivalry from the north.
TV GAMES IN AUSTRALIA ON BEIN SPORTS
SAT 21:55 AEDT – BEIN SPORTS 2 – BARNSLEY v LUTON
SUN 055 AEDT – BEIN SPORTS 2 – AFC WIMBLEDON v PORTSMOUTH
MON 0:55 AEDT – BEIN SPOTS 2 – COLCHESTER UTD v CRAWLEY TOWN
Who Cares EFL Football League Manager-Go-Round
It wouldn’t be the EFL Football League without a pile of sacked managers, and we’ll try and keep up below.
LATEST SACKINGS
No new sacking but Brentford’s Dean Smith has accepted the vacan Aston Villa job, and will have John Terry as his number two.
That leaves a great job at Brentford open to whoever thinks they can continue the good work. They looked excellent against Leeds.
Mark Yates at Macclesfield is gone too who are now the only winless tam left in the Football League.
IN REAL DANGER
Joe Dunne at second last League Two side Cambridge must be worried. Nigel Adkins at Hull too.
Thomas Frank (current number two) 1/4
Danny Cowley 12/1
Michael Appleton 14/1
Mark Warburton 16/1
Nathan Jones 16/1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 16/1
Sam Allardyce 16/1
Steve Bruce 16/1
Our Ultimate Sloth Weekend Sports TV Guide Australia is here to guide you through the best of weekend sports TV in Australia.
Problem is, it looks pretty thin this week. Footy seasons are over, there’s no league football in Europe, and after a triple treat of motor racing last weekend, all there is this week is the electronic kind.
Usually there is so much sport, and so many other jobs and people needing your attention on the weekend that our sloth Sloth Weekend Sports TV Guide picks the highlights. This week it is about scratching around for an accompaniment to the weekend.
We still offer up the Ultimate Sloth Weekend TV Sports Guide for Australia, a suggestion of the best of the Australian TV Sport this weekend.
You will of course need a subscription sports package, but any mad Australian sports fan couldn’t survive on a diet of Gus Gould, Stats McAvaney and the poor excuse Channel Ten have for their F1 coverage these days.
Ultimate Sloth Weekend Sports TV Guide Australia Highlights
Here’s a quick overview of what’s ahead, with the full Ultimate Sloth Weekend TV Sports Guide for Australia with times and channels following
RUGBY LEAGUE INTERNATIONALS
Australia take on New Zealand across three divisions this weekend – Men, Women and Juniors. Three straight games is enough to make it a lazy Saturday. Throw in Fox League are replaying all internationals from the year on Saturday morning beforehand including PNG smashing Fiji then it’s not a bad day on the lounge.
There’s also the UK Super LEague Grand Final which will hopefully provide a little more entertainment than the NRL version.
FOOTBALL
The circus that is Usain Bolt’s attempt to get into the A League with Central Coast Mariners continues on Friday night. We for one would love to see him make it, and he looked OK in his first trial when finally given the ball.
There’s also Football on BeIn Sports as the lower divisions (3 and 4) get their weekend to shine in the absence of everything else.
You could also sample one of the many Internationals via the Optus Sport App.
MOTOR RACING….OF SORTS
F1 ESports kicks off a new season this weekend, and for those who long for decent racing and accidents, the electronic gaming version of F1 might be for you. Replayed plenty over the weekend.
CRICKET
The second Test kicks off later in the weekend. Unless there’s a collapse at Fox Sports. The cycle of Marsh hate will surely kick in again soon.
TRIATHLON
Not necessarily of kind of thing, but this is the big event of the year where you mix a swim across the Pumicestone Passage with a Tour de France and then a marathon. These people are mad but must respected. It will go for a while but Slow TV is a new hit.
Ultimate Sloth Weekend Sports TV Guide Australia – October 11 to October 7
Here is the best of what’s on offer according to us. OF course there’s more, but you only have two eyes and 24 hours in a day. Unless you have more of either, in which case we salute you.
Ultimate Sloth Weekend Sports TV Guide Australia
DRINK OF THE WEEK
It’s hard to imagine a weekend of sport on the lounge without a refreshing beverage, and each week we’ll recommend one for you as an accompaniment to all that sport.
THIS MONTH – SP LAGER
Nothing says refreshment like PNG’s finest beer. Why not have one.
Ultimate Sloth Weekend Sports TV Guide Australia
OBSCURE SPORTING SHIRT OF THE WEEK
To get into the mood for a good weekend of slothing and sport, it’s always good to wear a sporting shirt of some sort to attempt to justify to yourself and others about all the slothing ahead. And of course, the more obscure the shirt, the more respect you’ll get.
THIS WEEK – 2002-03 Portsmouth Away Shirt
Since it is League One’s time to shine and Portsmouth are playing on TV, you could support them with a shirt.
Shouldn’t cyclone naming power be given to the people?
That’s why in another one of our Big Ideas, we will explore how the public can get involved in Cyclone Naming.
It’s all too easy too.
Instead of consulting the big Cyclone naming chart, as soon as a system looks like it might become a cyclone, the BOM will invite the Australian public to vote for the next cyclone’s name. Via social media and their website.
People could then choose their preference for cyclone naming after their children, a mother in law they don’t like, their favourite sporting stars, or even a favourite now defunct eastern Brisbane railway station.
Of course this will invite Cyclone McCyclone-Face and other ridiculous names, so a quick scan of the names before broadcasting the winner will be required. As funny as it would be to see Cyclone C–t across all the news bulletins and newspapers, it is probably not for everybody.
The BOM could go one step further and make those interested nominate via a text message for the new public cyclone naming. That would mean they could make a little money out of the promotion to save away in case a future federal government decides to go all ABC on the weather boffins.
Or companies could nominate themselves, but perhaps limit it to businesses with turnover of 10M or less. Unless you want a Cyclone Hot-N-Spicy-350-Nuggets-for-$10.
The cyclone naming is open until the next time 5pm comes around, when the top 5 nominations are put to a final vote via the BOM website and social media. It will only be only for an hour. Let’s hope the BOM website can handle the traffic unlike Brisbane’s Mt Stapylton Radar.
The winning cyclone name will be announced live on all 6pm news broadcasts around the country. That’s 6pm Daylight Savings time, not ESCT (Eastern Standard Curtain Time).
With just a little imagination, a little work, why can’t the public get to name the cyclones for the upcoming overhyped Cyclone Season.
OUR CYCLONE NAMING CHOICES
It wouldn’t be something ridiculous without naming a few suggestions of our own…
