Footy recap

NRL

• I'll begin with the State of Origin - The Blues were impressive - and Queensland kept coming. NSW now have two chances to win the series. Will be interesting to see the changes to both teams, given the injuries. 
• Hard to read much into this round - given the players rested. The most impressive performance over the weekend was Brisbane's big win over Manly.

AFL

•  This piece looks at the average margins since the addition of GWS & the Suns. Interesting to see the must common margin being 5 points. 
• Was not surprised Sydney won on Thursday... but stunned by the margin (Geelong's biggest loss for 24 years). Looking forward to seeing Port Adelaide-Sydney game in a few weeks.
• Not a fan of Thursday (or Monday) Football...  like the games spread over the weekend, though given the ratings (and crowd figure, it might stick around)
• Impressed with Melbourne & GWS they pushed Port Adelaide and Hawthorn all the way.
• Wasn't expecting to see Brisbane beat Carlton. Carlton & Richmond are probably the two biggest disappointments of the season. 
• Making history as a woman in football, Peta Searle has been recruited by St Kilda as a development coach. (Read Samantha Lane's article in The Age)

Super XV

• The loss to the Blues today, has almost knocked the Hurricanes out of the play-offs, especially considering they play the Crusaders & Chiefs in the next two weeks.

French Open

• Haven't been following enough for a read on who will play in the finals yet. One the Women's side - Serena Williams along with the winners of the Australia Open singles titles - Li Na & Stan Wawrinka are eliminated.
• Cue articles about Federer being finished - his earliest departure from the French Open since 1994.  
• Stosur did well, lost in the fourth round (to Sharapova, in three sets)

World Cup 

• Almost here - two weeks to go before Brazil play Croatia in the first game. The big news is the murmurings about the 2022 Tournament being removed from Qatar. Can't see it happening... but would Australia bid again if it did. 

UPDATE - I omitted the results from the Men's & Women's World Cup in Hockey which started Friday. The Kookaburra's had a 4-0 win against Malaysia & the Hockeyroos won 3-2 against Korea. NZ's Men's team beat Korea 2-1 and the Women's team - Belgium 4-3.