What did we learn from another demanding weekend of sport?

The Warriors are still the Warriors. As frustrating, exasperating and disappointing as ever pulling out a performance against Manly that even coach Brown called “horrible” and “terrible”. Way too early in that man’s tenure to be overly critical just yet but enough after the last two losses to certainly be at least a little concerned. Five games in and already that awful foreboding feeling of we’ve seen all this, all too often.

Golden point is a marketing gimmick that adds absolutely nothing to Super Rugby Aotearoa except to contrive a result after the actual result has already been decided. What exactly is wrong with a draw again? And is a few extra minutes of frenetic headless-chook error-ridden panic-passing really the right way to conclude 80 minutes of honest endeavour?

The Masters in April is a completely different tournament to the Masters played in November. Just ask the defending champ Dustin Johnson who couldn’t even make the cut. So much for lush greens, no run-off and dartboard fairways, Augusta was back to its fast and nasty best this weekend. The greatest golf tournament in the world never fails to provide compelling theatre, memorable individual storylines and a final round that is simply must-see sport.

Finally, the Chiefs are, for now, the success story of Super Rugby Aotearoa. So much for those flash Harry Blues who everyone assumed were the only possible heir apparent to the Crusaders crown.

Four weeks ago the Chiefs were the running gag of this comp sitting 0-2 riding an eleven match continuous loss record stretching back to a time when most people thought a pandemic was something you took for a headache. But that’s no longer the case because right now this week the Chiefs boast the comp’s best winning streak.