THE WRAP
Congratulations New Zealand, you've finally won as many World Cups as Sydney's north shore … Pinker Pinker blooms as Helmet runs a stinker … Carney signs for Cronulla, Northies braces itself … Sydney FC shine through at long last … Quade: blame us mate, it's only fair … only punters who can pronounce Manawanui can back it … the haka is a challenge. Why can't you respond?PREMONITION
October 29, 2017: NRL chief executive David Gallop believes troubled halfback Todd Carney ''deserves another second chance'' after being sacked by Melbourne this week for walking across a busy city street while the red man was blinking. Carney, who has previously played for Canberra, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla, South Sydney, St George Illawarra, Penrith and North Queensland before being sacked from each and every club, was quickly told to pack his bags by Storm management. However, the NRL fraternity still believes Carney is capable of straightening himself out, with Brisbane Bombers coach Darren Lockyer confirming his interest in the former Kangaroo. ''He just needs to be in the right environment,'' he says.PUBLIC RELATIONS 101
While we're on bad boys: do Greater Western Sydney want to make a splash when they enter the AFL next season? They failed to sign Barry Hall - this column understands Hall has agreed to terms with Melbourne side Deer Park - so they need to land a big fish to get the headlines. If there's any doubt whether free agent Brendan Fevola can still play, look no further than his cameo for the Waratahs in the Northern Territory Football League last weekend. Fev was flown in and booted eight, gave another away and dominated in the 89-point win over reigning champions Wanderers. He's the perfect fit for Kevin Sheedy's forward line and for the Giants to pull the headlines.PROFESSIONAL'S TIP FOR THE WEEKEND
Here's Yaya Toure's explanation of why he left Barcelona for Manchester City, citing a falling-out with universally loved manager Pep Guardiola. ''If he had spoken to me I would have stayed at the club. I did not want to leave,'' he said. Uh-huh. We're certain having his wage more than doubled - he now earns more than £200,000 ($300,000) a week - had nothing to do with his departure.GLORY GOGGLES
Amazing what a sporting triumph can do for national pride? New Zealanders might continue to flock across the ditch in droves - rendering moves to give Bondi a traditional Maori name increasingly appropriate - but, says Stuff .co.nz, the majority couldn't be happier with their lot now. Almost 70 per cent said the quality of life in the Shaky Isles was ''excellent'' or ''good enough''. Just 5.3 per cent declared it ''terrible''. The poll was on a story saying the New Zealand Institute deemed the quality of life ''mediocre''.REVELATIONS
It's not uncommon for a national coach to lash out at the powers that be over the players who are blocked from national duty but the acting chief executive of the Swaziland Premier League, Zwelonke ''Sport'' Dlamini, is furious at how national coach Obed ''Foreman Power'' Mlotsa has disrupted the season with some of his crazy call-ups. ''It is disturbing when the national squad's coaches just choose players for a single performance in their teams and disturb the flow of the league,'' Dlamini told The Swazi Observer. ''We cannot continue calling off matches because of such disturbances by the squad's technical bench. It does not make sense when players are still being called up to the national team three days before an official game.'' World ranked 162nd and having never qualified for a major tournament, the Sihlangu Semnikati need any help they can get.BOOKIE'S BEST
Everton to defeat Man Utd: $4.75
''If you want to take a more conservative approach, perhaps take Everton with a one-goal head-start at $2 but I'd prefer to take the Toffees at the sweet price of $4.75 to defeat a Red Devils outfit who were pantsed 6-1 last week by Manchester City.''
Haydn Lane, Sportsbet.com.auGET ME MY CAB MONEY
Frisky Melody (box eight) is a good beginner and will be greatly improved by her only city run last start when runner-up. The brindle bitch will take catching in the final event at Wentworth Park greyhounds tonightIF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING SPORT, YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO
Ocean Rain. Echo and the Bunnymen. Big, lush pop songs from the Liverpudlians, screaming from beneath the waves.
Ears McEvoy