The NSW government is facing pressure from western Sydney’s inundated communities to prioritise a new freeway to act as a major flood evacuation route after infrastructure officials admitted in 2019 there weren’t enough roads to escape.

NSW’s capitulation in the Shield has shone the spotlight on the state side - and there are warning signs for the Test team.

There have been lapses, but the state economy is in good shape and the government has presided over a mostly worthy infrastructure program.

We had a chance to become a happier society, thanks to the pandemic. But we blew it.

As Ol’ Blue Eyes said, the best revenge is massive success. The Panthers can start doing that in the grand final rematch.