Funny start to final round of Pura Cup
The final round of the Pura Cup starts today and five teams are in with a chance of meeting Queensland, the sixth side, in the final
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
The final round of the Pura Cup starts today and five teams are in with a chance of meeting Queensland, the sixth side, in the final. Comedian Dave Hughes delivered a set to the Victoria squad before their match against Western Australia. The Age reports Hughes, the television funnyman and Bushrangers’ No. 1 ticket-holder, told the side about winning and losing
“Losing is a lot funnier than winning,” he said. “There were a few jokes but I don't think that went down too well with the coach."
The Warriors are worried about Brad Hodge and Marcus North says in the West Australian he won’t be targeted verbally.
Trevor Marshallsea writes in the Sydney Morning Herald about New South Wales’ chances of reaching the final.
Last year, the Blues needed to beat Victoria and hope the only other team with a chance of making the final, second-placed Western Australia, went pointless to leapfrog the Warriors into the decider. This fell into place and the Blues won a thrilling final. So much more needs to happen this time. NSW are vying with not just one rival but four other teams. And, while they finished last summer on a wave of momentum, this year the Blues are limping into the last round in a sorry state.
South Australia will look to the Harrises, one who is a doctor and the other who is a lunatic, according to Darren Lehmann in The Advertiser.
In Queensland’s The Courier-Mail Robert Craddock writes about Nathan Hauritz’s first-class comeback.
Peter English is former Australasia editor of ESPNcricinfo