Tv Sport

The Sunday Age

Sunday October 5, 2008

Michael Coulter

RUGBY LEAGUE

Sunday 5pm, Channel Nine

Rugby league's one day in October, as the men who come closest of all sports people to being geometrically perfect cubes duke it out for the 80 (hopefully blood-spattered) minutes of the NRL grand final. In the southern corner is Melbourne Storm, controversial interloper armed with an array of funkily named tackles (chicken-wing, anyone?) and more attacking options than an octopus in an arsenal, though missing inspirational skipper Cameron Smith. In the northern corner is the much-loathed Manly. The Sea Eagles silvertails are slight favourites with the bookies, despite the Storm winning four of the teams' past five encounters, including both their meetings this year and, perhaps most significantly, last year's grand final.

RACING

Saturday 1pm, Channel Nine

Melbourne's spring carnival continues with the Caulfield Guineas.

MOTOR SPORT

Sunday 11am, Channel Ten, Fox Sports

It's that time of year again, when the basking of seals and the waddling of penguins is rudely interrupted by the eerie howl of 800cc engines and the plaintive cries of intoxicated spectators. Yes, it's the Phillip Island MotoGP, although this year's race will have a different flavour to 2007's. Then, fans flocked to the track to pay tribute to Australian world champion Casey Stoner. This time around Italian maestro Valentino Rossi has already pocketed the title, his sixth, and Stoner will be racing for pride alone.

Friday 1pm, Saturday noon,

Channel Seven

Speaking of local heroes and intoxicated cries, it's the first two days of the Bathurst 1000. Ford stars Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup will be racing for their third consecutive title, a feat last achieved by Mount Panorama legends Peter Brock and Larry Perkins.

NETBALL

Wednesday 11.15pm, Channel Ten

The second Test between Australia and England.

SOCCER

Monday 3pm, Fox Sports

Newcastle, currently floundering about with the traditional A-League premiership hangover, takes on Wellington, which is just floundering about.

Sunday 11.25pm, Fox Sports

Premier League frolics comprising West Ham v Bolton, then Chelsea v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Liverpool, Portsmouth v Stoke, Tottenham v Hull and, at 1.55am, Everton v Newcastle. For those who say this is a predictable competition (and who hasn't been guilty of that), consider the following scoreline: Hull 2, Arsenal 1. At Arsenal.

CRICKET

Wednesday 2pm, Fox Sports

The one we've all been waiting for: the resumption of domestic one-day cricket. WA plays NSW.

Thursday-Saturday 2.30pm, Fox Sports

The one we've really all been waiting for: Australia v India in the modern era's most intriguing Test match rivalry. After the Indians' controversial tour last summer, they will be particularly keen to exact revenge on home turf against an Australian team still wrestling with generational change. Mitigating against that is that India lost its most recent Test series 2-1 to Sri Lanka, with a number of its decorated veterans showing signs that age is finally them.

BASEBALL

Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday 7am; Monday 5am; Friday 11am, Fox Sports

Divisional play-offs and the start of the Championship series. -- Michael Coulter