Valencia

Silverstone

I remember this at the time and I felt sorry for him. I watch it now and find it funny as, but still feel sorry for him.

I don’t know the specifics of why, but I can’t say that I am surprised.

I guess we were spoilt having the super coach that is Wayne Bennett for many years but last years Broncos were disappointing on many levels. One area that really concerned me was the several times during games last season the players just seemed to give up. They weren’t playing for themselves, they weren’t playing for each other and they dammed sure weren’t playing for the coach.

I am not saying I can step in and turn that around, it is just an observation. I am sure it is a very difficult thing to achieve, I am talking about the sense that a team will do anything to win. They will do it for themselves, each other and the coach. They will play till they burst and I believe it stems from that sense of respect that a good coach builds within each individual player. You can build team spirit sure but to win over each player is a little more tricky.

Nathan Brown couldn’t achieve it with St George. Ricky Stuart couldn’t get it at Crounulla and somehow lost it at the Roosters. Brad Fitler couldn’t get it at the Roosters either. Brian Smith seems to have achieved it at the Roosters but could not win a bone at the Knights. Time and time again history repeats.

Maybe it is just a matter of personalities I don’t know. I can imagine it would be very difficult to motivate 25-or-so under thirty year olds who earn four times as much as you. Maybe Ivan would be better in a managerial strategy type role that exists more in the English Premier League and the NFL. Perhaps our game will head that way.

On a side note I will be fascinated to see what NSW team shows up this season and see whether Ricky Stuart can win their respect?

Greg Matthews has always been his own man. Here he shares his thoughts on punting and horses – and the cricket.

What is your best winning bet?

Several years ago I part owned a horse called Hennesy Waltz, which was trained by Guy Walter and proved to be quite handy. Some mates of mine had bought the horse and after I looked after them with a tip, my mate Peter Maddocks said they thought it was going well so I bought into her the next day. It turned out to be a great ride as she won over $200,000 in prize money and provided me with some of my favourite memories on the racetrack. She won a listed race at Randwick when we had something on her and the celebrations were unbelievable. I had my three kids there and Peter Maddocks; son, Jack, launched into his old man as she hit the front and I ended up with a listed winner and a good result in the first horse I had ever raced.

Any near misses?

I had a good go at a horse at Sandown in Melbourne called Ky’s The Limit just a few weeks ago. A mate of mine had tipped it to me and they bet the 20s the day before. I rarely jump up and down when I am watching a race but I thought it was home until Happy Hippy grabbed her on the line. It would have been a big result.

What is your golden rule for punting?

Never bet what you can’t afford to lose. Don’t chase. Do as I say, not as I do.

Any theories about punting?

Not when it comes to horses. I am happy to discuss anything about any cricketer in the world with anyone in the world. I get some tips from mates of mine who are smart punters on the races and I tend to put all their mail together and work from that.

Favourite Jockey?

It is very hard but I do have great respect for Nash Rawiller and Hugh Bowman. Nash Rawiller never gets the credit he deserves for being a tremendous athlete. He has an amazing work ethic, is unbelievably fit and a tremendous jockey. Hugh Bowman I respect for going out and having faith in his ability and doing it his way. He rides for all the guns now and is a super jockey.

Favourite trainer?

Guy Walter trained Hennesy Waltz and is a great man. If he were 50 years younger, I would want him to marry my daughter, he is such a wonderful man. These young trainers are really rocking the universe to. Chris Waller has come over from New Zealand and made a huge impact, I also have a horse with Mark Wallace in Sydney who I think is a real up-and-comer.

Do you own any other horses?

I have one called Miss Dodds, which won a maiden at Hawkesbury a few months ago and caused a bit of a stir. There was a big story in a Sydney paper about a Bonnie and Clyde sting on it as he was backed from $18 to $5.50. I also have an unnamed Dehere two-year-old with Mark Wallace.

Cheers to Bill Richmond and the Sporting Mail.

It is pretty good quality for a fans trailer. It pumped me up for an awesome fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Herlmut!

This little beauty will stop an empty water bottle from causing significant skull damage.

Next we have what appears to be a carboard box. Effective against light rain for a breif period and lost flies. I think even the chap in the back ground is doubtful of its potential effectiveness.

Lucky he tied this bad boy down. It would be rendered useless should it fall off.

After close inspection it was found that this is a broken bucket. It is usefull for protection from large heavy rocks.

This is some sort of pot I think. The bloke looks like a complete niff but should an object fall from directly above him he should be relatively well protected. Note the same questioning individual in the foreground that appeared earier in the cardbored box photo. He is obviously on a quest looking for the optimum helmut design..

Spin him fast enough and he will take off. I think he hovered over the temple mount a few weeks ago.

This is the leader of the underwater people in Star Wars Revenge of the Sith. Seriously it is him. A couple of buns to protect the temples is the pinnacle of helmut design.