PETE’S PUNCHLINE

The National Sports

  • I think the NZ Warriors just might make the eight. After demolishing a terrible Knights 36-6 on Saturday, they have the Eels, Sharks, Raiders and Sea Eagles left to go and they have the momentum, and form, to beat at least three of those teams. Cheeeehoooooo!
  • Now that Latrell Mitchell is out for the rest of the season, Alex Johnston should be able to play his preferred position and make a statement for the Bunnies to consider keeping him. If they can’t fit him into the salary cap then why don’t they just let a couple of guys go like Jimmy the Jet and Braidon Burns to make cap space.
  • The Titans are the best Queensland-based NRL team. I can’t believe I just said that. Oh and by the way, the Broncos are getting the wooden spoon in 2020. Count on it.
  • Last week some NBA teams decided to stage a protest and boycott games indefinitely after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenohsa, Wisc. After two days, they decided to return to games. I’m wondering what difference they made? The NBA has to be the wannabe wokest sports league in America. That’s why I follow boxing, none of this nonsense getting on soap boxes. Just get on with the show and give the fans what they want.
  • So the Lakers see off the Blazers and make the conference semis. Question is, can they get past the Rockets. LeBron better have a couple of 40-point games in that series if they’re going to see the Clippers in the conference finals.
  • The Tumbe board demoted their coach and sacked their trainer after a poor start to the 2020 season. Makes you wonder why they didn’t keep Francis Ray, who did a great job last year to get the Tumbe to the preliminary final and the year before to the playoffs. What do they discuss at these board meetings anyway?
  • Arsenal stunned Liverpool to win the Community Shield over the weekend. Not sure if it’s the sign of things to come from the Gunners.
  • All you English Premier League followers out there get ready because the competition returns next weekend. The upcoming season promises to be tougher than the last with Chelsea strengthening their squad and City reportedly interested in signing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi who has asked for a release from the La Liga giants.
  • Manchester United need to boost their attack by signing a star forward or two. Their defence is pretty solid although it can be shaky at times.
  • I know Junior Kauko Raka is a talented boxer and if managed right can go places but I hope the admission fee for his Sept 4 exhibition bout against Thomas Kagili isn’t more than K20. People, its a glorified sparring session, nothing more. – PGTP ([email protected])