PETE’S PUNCHLINE

The National Sports

  • The Lahanis and Eagles are having forgettable seasons by their standards. That loss to the Cutters in Lae was a low point for the proud Eastern Highlands franchise. Coming off a thrashing to the Tigers in Goroka the week before in a match at the NSI was bad enough but getting done by a team that’s only been in the comp for a season and a bit is worrying. Maybe they need to ask Glen Nami for some advice.
  • As for the Eagles, their first win of the season was a relief for their fans.
  • Bronson Xerri is just the tip of the ice berg. I think there’s more than a few guys in the NRL on the juice. Put it this way, you perform well your market value rises and that means more money in the bank. Players have a limited shelf life (10 years as a first grader is great) as professional athletes so it makes sense to do whatever you can to boost your ability if it means being in first grade and earning good money
  • First we had Murphy Eddie playing in the Digicel Cup now we’ve got Roger Kenny. Really, guys.
  • SBW will take a few more games to get into the groove of the NRL. That offload off the ground wasn’t too shabby though. He’ll definitely add something to the Roosters once in full flight.
  • People, people, walking off because a referee recinds a decision is poor form. I don’t care if the referee was wrong, or worse influenced by the other team and may be the crowd. Just get on with the contest and make an appeal afterwards. It’s not a conspiracy to ensure you lose, things just happen. If the throw-in was suspect then it should be reviewed but since there is no reviewing mechanism refs can use during games, it’s better to just go with the initial call albeit with input from the linesmen.
  • That North-South clash in NZ must’ve been a humdinger with a 38-35 scoreline to the Southerners. Maybe they should have a three-match series like Origin. Worth some serious thought in the post-Covid era I reckon.
  • I knew the Raptors would bounce back against the Celtics. It started with that corner three from OG Anonouby off a 50ft pass inbound from Kyle Lowry in Game 3 on Friday. Folks, the clock showed 0.2 seconds when the ball left Anonouby’s hand and the scores were 103-101 Celtics’ way. How’s that for a buzzer beater.
  • Bucks better find something today or them Miami boys are through to the Eastern finals.
  • Just when we thought Lionel Messi was leaving the Barcelona this summer, the Argentine forward makes a backflip. He says the K2.8bil buy-out clause is impossible for any club to meet.
  • RIP my brother PALED. – PGTP ([email protected])