PETER’S PUNCHLINE

The National Sports

I reckon Alex Johnston could have scored five tries if Tevita Funa hadn’t knocked him silly with a reckless forearm to the jaw. Johnston has one thing a coach can’t teach: elite speed. It’s something you’re born with. I’ve noticed that the really fast guys, the genuine speed demons, like Johnston, Addo-Carr and Tabuai-Fidow have a certain body shape.

  • Speaking of try scorers, those Morris boys are climbing up the NRL all-time try-scorers list. With both twins getting doubles over the weekend, they surpassed legends in the process. Brett Morris moved past Manly great Brett Stewart (163) to be equal fifth all time with Terry Lamb on 164 tries while Josh Morris moved past the Black Pearl Steve Renouf (142) to be on 143 tries.
  • Maverick’s Luka Doncic maybe on a trajectory to becoming the most dominant white guy in the NBA since Larry Bird but he’s going to have to step up another level if he’s going to get past the Clippers.
  • Wow, the Reds really gave it to the Force, didn’t they.
  • Alexander Povetkin surprised boxing pundits by knocking out Dillian Whyte on Saturday. The old Russian got floored twice in the fourth round before delivering an uppercut that switched off Whyte’s lights in the fifth.
  • Wednesday’s Horn-Tszyu bout could go one of three ways: it turns into a brawl and Horn wears down Tszyu and knocks him out; Tszyu boxes conservatively and wins a comfortable decision; or, Tszyu busts up Horn over the majority of the rounds and the Queenslander gets pulled by his corner around the 10th round.
  • What a weekend of football, a total of 33 goals were scored in round 13 of the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League. We have five rounds before the finals and the title contenders have truly stepped up their game.
  • A friend in Port Moresby decided to kick back and have a few beers with his father-in-law and watch the NRL on Friday. Everything was going well until his father-in-law decided to start calling him “bro”. He’s now asking his wife to refer to him as “uncle”.
  • So interestingly this weekend, we have another player/coach in the Digicel Cup. This time it’s coming from the Goroka Lahanis with skipper Gonzela Urakusie coaching his side against the Isou. Urakusie says he’ll still be playing but will step in to coach when he’s needed.
  • I think Brisbane Bronco Kotoni Staggs just played himself into a New South Wales jersey and South Sydney Rabbitoh Jadyn Su’A is a smokey for a Queensland bench spot.
  • Saw a picture of the Lae Tigers at the beach. They must have a new prop, a tall big guy, then a realised it was Edene Gebbie. – PGTP ([email protected])