PETE’S PUNCHLINE

The National Sports

  • An interesting question and topic of conversation is, now that the Hunters are going to be based in Queensland for next season, what becomes of the National Football Stadium? It looks like the NFS will not be used by anyone next year given that the Digicel Cup and Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League — the country’s top two sporting competitions — couldn’t or wouldn’t hire the venue out this year. That is unfortunate. Perhaps the Government can step in and find some money (from God knows where) and subsidise the use of the venue for major competitions like the aforementioned ones.
  • And no, I’m not going off the deep end like someone with his talk of skyrails, I’m just saying a government subsidy for the use of a marquee venue would be nice especially since the understanding was it was built for rugby league — our supposed national sport.
  • Oh no, the woeful Wallabies have returned. They got thrashed 43-5 by the All Blacks on Saturday. I think I have the solution to improve Australian rugby union. Ban rugby league and Aussie rules.
  • Deontay Wilder has accused Tyson Fury of putting “something hard” in his gloves for their second fight. Yes, Tyson did put something hard in his gloves for that fight: it’s called a hand which turned into fist that knocked you out. Next thing Wilder will be saying is that Tyson cast a gypsie spell on him. Denial and delusion at their best.
  • Oleksandr Usyk is going to mark up a lot of big guys before he’s finished in the heavyweights.
  • So Gervonta Davis put a fearless Leo Santa Cruz to sleep with huge uppercut in the 6th round. Great win, but it was expected. Now ‘Tank’ has to test himself against someone legit at 130lbs like WBC strapholder Miguel Berchelt or IBF ruler Joseph Diaz Jr. But wouldn’t it be fun to see Davis knock Tevin Farmer’s cross eyes straight? A fight against 135lb king Teofimo Lopez would be explosive, nuclear even. How about some Loma? Lots of options for Tank. Let’s hope he steps up.
  • Seems my Melbourne Cup tip Constatinople is a bust because its not in the race. Anyway, I’ll go for another Irish horse in Anthony Van Dyck. A friend of mine is all in for Sir Dragonet. This friend, by the way, is a big fan of the St George Illawarra Dragons. Can you see a connection here?
  • My Melbourne Cup trifecta is Anthony Van Dyck, Finche and Twilight Payment. Fingers crossed. Worth a gamble.
  • Let’s hope Papua New Guinea international Xavier Coates shrugs off his shoulder complaint to take his place on the Queensland wing for Wednesday night’s State of Origin series opener. – PGTP ([email protected])