Too late to save Demetriou, but Souths’ turnaround is still a vindication (2024)

Well, this is #awkward.

I am talking about Souths being just outside the top eight, only a few weeks after they sacked coach Jason Demetriou for stinking up the joint. Demetriou pleaded for more time, maintaining that it was about to turn around. Turns out, he was right!

And yes, maybe that wouldn’t have happened had he stayed on board, but nothing changes the fact that Souths have won five straight and really look likely to play finals football.

To my eyes, it vindicates Demetriou and, at the very least, Wayne Bennett will not be inheriting a basket case when he takes over next season, but an already powerful side.

Global family

Meantime?

Meantime, spare a thought for former Wallabies captain Michael Lynagh and his Italian wife Isabella.

This weekend they have one son, Tom, coming off the bench for the Wallabies in the Test against Wales, while their other son, Louis, is playing for Italy against Samoa in Apia.

When I asked “Noddy” how he was coping, he replied: “It’s hard to keep track of them. I feel like a Michael Palin travel show following our boys. Keeping track of them is not easy, but one of the great pleasures of my life.”

RAH!

Hard ruck story

TFF’s obituary of the great rugby identity Peter Crittle on Thursday triggered an avalanche of responses. Long-time rugby journalist Greg Campbell remembers attending a training session of the Crittle-coached Sydney team in 1980, just before the side played the All Blacks in their opening tour match at the old Sydney Sports Ground.

“Charlie wore an All Black jersey,” Campbell recalls, “and ordered the ‘mongrel dog’ forwards to ruck him out when falling to the ground with the ball. The forwards were initially delicate about how they approached rucking their coach until he barked at them to ruck harder and more vigorously.

“Needless to say, given the glaring neon-bright green light to let loose, the forwards then took great delight in climbing into a hapless and prostrate Crittle with the scarred coach and the ball bouncing neatly out the back of the ruck. The training drill had its impact. Sydney drew 13-all with the ABs, scoring two tries to one, before the Wallabies went on to successfully defend the Bledisloe Cup (having claimed it in a one-off Test a year earlier) winning the series 2-1.”

Vale, Peter.

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What they said

Ricky Stuart cranky after another loss: “To answer your question, we were on the wrong side of the guessing game again. They’re just guessing mate. Those six agains, they’re just guessing – ‘I’ll give one away here, I’ll give one away there’.” Ricky is like John McEnroe. Very likeable, but zero credibility in his whinges, because he only ever says it was his own team that was wronged.

Captain of the 1979 Matildas team Julie Dolan, in an interview with The Guardian, after Football Australia instead recognised a 1975 team as the first Australian women’s side: “To hear that FA are now recognising this club team as the ‘first Matildas’ makes a mockery of the selection process for a national team and is nothing short of farcical.” Dolan was actually part of the first team, as a 14-year old, but notes that the first side in Australian colours was substantially the St George club team, that there were “no trials” and “women from interstate clubs … were not invited to try out for this tournament”.

One AFL club president from outside Victoria: “You’re treated like it’s the America’s Cup, and you’re the challenger.”

Cricinfo commenter Aravind on the T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa:“Well, if anyone can mess this up from here, it definitely is South Africa.”

Defeated South Africa captain Aiden Markram:“I think it’ll take some time for us to have a really good reflection on a really good campaign that we’ve had.”

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary not blaming Origin for a loss, even though he should: “Look, I’m not going to sit here and say it’s all about the Origin players, it is about who played.”

Richard Furphy, father of Johnny, on having to wait to be drafted to the NBA in the second round: “It’s like a wedding and a bride didn’t turn up.”

Bronny James’ agent was threatening to send him to a penal colony if anyone but the Lakers took him:“He’s saying, ‘Don’t take him. If you take him, he’s going to Australia. So he has a plan and he has a place.”

English soccer player Jude Bellingham after “the Great Escape” against Slovakia at Euro 2024, scoring with just over a minute remaining to send the knockout tie to extra time, with England winning 2-1: “You’re 30 seconds away from going home, feeling like you’ve let your nation down, and one kick of the ball and everything’s great. It’s a feeling I don’t want to be in, but when it comes, it’s a great feeling.”

Australian Oscar Piastri after finishing second at the Austrian Grand Prix: “There’s a lot of what ifs and maybes. Obviously, starting from yesterday, I know it’s only my fourth podium in F1, so close to a win, it hurts. I think second half of the race, we were coming on pretty strong. I am happy with another podium. When it’s that close, you can’t help but hurt a bit.”

Simone Biles heading back to the Olympics: “I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo. I just had to get back in the gym, work hard and trust the process. I knew I would be back.”

Cristiano Ronaldo after missing an extra-time penalty against Slovenia at Euro 2024, then scoring one in a shootout to help Portugal through to the next round: “Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most. Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.”

English tennis player Emma Raducanu drawing inspiration from her nation’s soccer team: “I was nervous, I think everyone could see that in my tennis, but at the end of the day you have to do whatever it takes to get over the line. Honestly, watching the football last night, it was winning ugly – it all counts.”

Team of the week

Cam Davis. The Australian golfer claimed his second PGA title, winning the same tournament he won three years ago.

Biniam Girmay. The Eritrean cyclist became the first black Sub-Saharan African to win a grand tour stage.

Noemie Fox. The sister of fellow paddler Jessica just qualified for the Olympics. It means all four members of the family – mother, father and two daughters – are Olympians. Which other family can lay such a claim?

Mark Cavendish. Broke the Tour de France stage wins record with his 35th victory in cycling’s greatest race to surpass the legendary Eddy Merckx.

Melbourne Storm. Surged to the top of the ladder during the Origin period.

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Michael Hooper. Hanging them up after he didn’t make the Olympic sevens squad. An ornament to the game. (And our Cauliflower Club lunch on August 30 at the Fullerton Hotel to honour him, “A Salute to Michael Hooper”, is selling well!)

Bronny James. Drafted by the LA Lakers, and can now play with his father.

Johnny Furphy. NBA-drafted Aussie has a great name.

AFL. The ladder is extremely tight with four points separating fifth to 13th at the start of the round.

Wallabies. Take on Wales on Saturday here in Sydney.

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