The Monday Rant

Welcome to a new concept for Gaw's Rant - The Monday Rant! As well as my regular updates throughout the week on specific issues, I now intend to wrap up the weekend in sport every Monday. And what a weekend it has been!

Rugby League

Firstly to Rugby League, where on form a Canterbury-St George Grand Final is firming up as a real possibility. It would be the first time these two teams have met in a decider since 1985, and the first all-Sydney Grand Final since the mighty Bulldogs overcame the Roosters in 2004.

St George have stamped their authority on season 2009 with a comprehensive victory over premiers Manly, their standout player again being Jamie Soward. Across the Tasman meanwhile, the Bulldogs overcame the Warriors in Auckland with a significantly understrengh side to claim victory and prove they have the depth to go on with it in 2009.

In the meantime, Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten is on standby to fill in for Kurt Gidley in Wednesday's State of Origin should Gidley be unable to overcome a rib cartilage injury. And let's hope for the sake of NSW that Gidley doesn't play. I've said it before and will again that Gidley is useless. Conversely, Patten is the best fullback never to be picked for Origin. He deserves his chance, and there's no other man I'd rather have under the high ball than the General.

Cricket

Talk about an anti-climax. After dominating the first test for the first four and a half days, Australia was unable to put the final nail in England's coffin overnight. All our batting heroics have now meant nothing. The Aussie bowlers had over a day to put the Poms out of their misery, and were unable to do it.

The ability of our batsmen to score runs has never been a question, but I have serious doubts about the potency of our attack in the post-McGrath and Warne era. The Hilfenhauses, Siddles and Hauritzes of this world are capable, maybe even very good at times - however while watching the middle session last night I couldn't help but think that Pigeon and Warney would have torn through the England middle and tail with little fuss.

Motor Racing

After eight frustrating years, congratulations must go to Australia's Mark Webber for his long-awaited victory at the German Grand Prix overnight. Not since 1981 has an Aussie claimed top spot at an F1 podium, and Webber's run of bad luck and failure had most thinking we would be waiting a while still. It just goes to show that perserverance is everything. And while I'm not a motor sport enthusiast - all the same it's great to see an Australian at the top. Let's hope this victory is the first of many!