WEBVTT - Finals Week Two Takeaways 0:00:01.300 --> 0:00:05.590 Great weekend of football, Coops. Week two, well done to 0:00:05.610 --> 0:00:07.930 the Knights and well done to the Roosters. 0:00:07.950 --> 0:00:10.910 Both of them were outstanding. First list start of the Knights. 0:00:12.130 --> 0:00:15.490 I think the game itself with the atmosphere, the New 0:00:15.530 --> 0:00:20.759 Zealand people, 50,000 Warriors fans, not many Newcastle fans. It 0:00:20.820 --> 0:00:23.700 was a sight to see it in the build-up. And 0:00:23.760 --> 0:00:27.300 you can't do anything but tip your cap to Newcastle. 0:00:27.880 --> 0:00:28.060 Like. 0:00:28.520 --> 0:00:31.800 what Justin Holbrook has instilled in that team, they almost, 0:00:32.600 --> 0:00:36.979 they represent their community. They are blue collar, hardworking, never 0:00:37.040 --> 0:00:39.699 give up. But then that's defensively. But when they get 0:00:39.729 --> 0:00:43.349 the ball in hand, there's almost this super confidence that, 0:00:43.510 --> 0:00:45.330 you know, at any time we can score a try. 0:00:45.370 --> 0:00:47.850 Like that second half, they kept going for the pass. 0:00:47.909 --> 0:00:50.590 It didn't land. It didn't land. But then ultimately they 0:00:50.630 --> 0:00:51.949 come up with a play that they need to at 0:00:51.990 --> 0:00:55.390 different stages. And, you know, Caelan off the field, we'll 0:00:55.410 --> 0:00:58.150 look through some of the big plays. But that second half, 0:00:58.760 --> 0:01:02.000 Finals comes down to moments, right? Gay guy flicked past 0:01:02.020 --> 0:01:04.899 the Dom Young. There's the 12 points they need. And 0:01:04.940 --> 0:01:08.800 then some of their, let's call them lesser names, defensive 0:01:09.000 --> 0:01:13.580 efforts were absolutely brilliant. Like if it was anyone else 0:01:13.700 --> 0:01:16.760 with a bigger name, it is back page news how great, 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:17.619 courageous they were. 0:01:17.920 --> 0:01:19.480 We're going to have a look in a second with 0:01:19.550 --> 0:01:24.010 young Cody Hopwood, 20 years old, unbelievable. And, you know, 0:01:24.530 --> 0:01:26.940 just on Justin Holbrook, well done to him. You said 0:01:27.420 --> 0:01:30.100 he's returned the team and the club to the community 0:01:30.120 --> 0:01:33.300 in a lot of ways. And he came there in 1998. 0:01:33.300 --> 0:01:34.810 And as soon as he arrived there, he was a 0:01:34.840 --> 0:01:37.509 really popular guy, fitted straight in. He came from the Bulldogs. 0:01:38.350 --> 0:01:41.750 Terrific fella and done the same. He understands the importance 0:01:42.170 --> 0:01:44.450 of how the community sits with the football team. 0:01:44.470 --> 0:01:47.250 That's the identity. Took him down the coal mines. Said, righto, 0:01:47.290 --> 0:01:49.070 this is what your supporters do for a living. Do 0:01:49.110 --> 0:01:50.190 you realise how lucky you are? 0:01:50.470 --> 0:01:54.100 And Kalen Palmer said in post-match, said he was almost 0:01:54.220 --> 0:01:58.100 on the edge of tears. Like, Caelan Ponga would not 0:01:58.120 --> 0:01:59.360 have said that 18 months ago. 0:01:59.470 --> 0:02:02.520 Caelan Ponga, we're going to remind ourselves how far Caelan. 0:02:02.820 --> 0:02:03.360 Pongan has come. 0:02:03.380 --> 0:02:05.559 Remember he was criticised for the strawberry milkshake he met 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:06.260 with Nathan Brown? 0:02:06.320 --> 0:02:07.600 Yep. That's how far he's come. 0:02:07.660 --> 0:02:10.060 Now he's at a point where he's representing the community 0:02:10.480 --> 0:02:13.470 and he's on the doorstep of a grand final and 0:02:13.510 --> 0:02:16.670 he's emotional about how much the Newcastle jersey means to him. 0:02:16.810 --> 0:02:16.990 Yep. 0:02:17.090 --> 0:02:20.830 Now that's Kalen maturing. That's Kalen understanding his position in 0:02:20.870 --> 0:02:23.310 the game and in the community. But that's also Justin 0:02:23.350 --> 0:02:27.220 Holbrook handing over a fair amount of responsibility into his 0:02:27.260 --> 0:02:29.910 captain to say this is the type of guy that– 0:02:30.210 --> 0:02:31.530 this community and team needs. 0:02:31.570 --> 0:02:33.230 Before we get into the nuts and bolts of the game, 0:02:33.250 --> 0:02:35.030 I just want to say this about Justin Holbrook. 0:02:35.110 --> 0:02:36.350 Not only has he, you know. 0:02:36.370 --> 0:02:40.730 Done off the field, you know, got the, re-established the 0:02:40.750 --> 0:02:43.610 DNA of the club, is that on the field, what 0:02:43.650 --> 0:02:46.780 he's done, Cooper, that really impressed me, he is playing 0:02:46.810 --> 0:02:49.080 with a unique style of football. They don't play like 0:02:49.139 --> 0:02:51.400 anyone else. Newcastle play their own unique style. 0:02:51.940 --> 0:02:53.500 And it's so important because they're not. 0:02:53.440 --> 0:02:55.679 Trying to play diet. They're not playing diet Melbourne. They're 0:02:55.700 --> 0:02:58.260 not playing diet Panthers or diet Warriors. If they'd have 0:02:58.280 --> 0:03:00.810 went to New Zealand and tried to play a grinding 0:03:00.850 --> 0:03:04.690 style of football, they don't win. And the reason they 0:03:04.730 --> 0:03:07.150 win that game is that, well, put it this way, 0:03:08.510 --> 0:03:10.590 struggling teams who want to make a real big impact 0:03:10.630 --> 0:03:14.310 in a competition develop your own unique style of football. 0:03:14.780 --> 0:03:17.470 And so if you get into a game and you 0:03:17.500 --> 0:03:18.560 can dictate. 0:03:18.220 --> 0:03:20.200 The terms of the fight, you will win. This is 0:03:20.220 --> 0:03:21.040 what you saw with the Warriors. 0:03:21.320 --> 0:03:23.840 And this is the reason, Coop, and forget about the 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:27.440 bookmakers and the prizes this week against the Panthers. Mate, 0:03:28.020 --> 0:03:29.820 the Knights are an even money chance to win this game. 0:03:30.330 --> 0:03:32.609 They don't play like the Panthers. They play completely different. 0:03:32.720 --> 0:03:35.100 If they can dictate the terms of this fight, they 0:03:35.140 --> 0:03:36.340 will go through to the grand final. 0:03:36.500 --> 0:03:38.720 And show some of the vision of why they were 0:03:38.740 --> 0:03:40.760 able to keep the scoreboard closed, come up with a 0:03:40.780 --> 0:03:43.980 couple of big plays. I thought Crosland in the second 0:03:44.000 --> 0:03:48.120 half had at least three or four big plays, diving 0:03:48.160 --> 0:03:50.220 on the ball, turning up when he didn't. But Hopwood, 0:03:50.750 --> 0:03:53.010 he was brilliant in a line break. 0:03:53.610 --> 0:03:56.170 Let's have a look at him. And remind us, 10th, 0:03:56.210 --> 0:03:57.350 first grade game. 0:03:57.350 --> 0:03:58.050 20 years of age. 0:03:58.370 --> 0:04:00.210 Now this is the 27th minute. 0:04:00.250 --> 0:04:01.810 He has a piano on his back at the moment, 0:04:01.910 --> 0:04:04.090 so he hasn't had a rest. This is him just 0:04:04.130 --> 0:04:08.470 doing what he has to do. Sometimes there's a defensive system. 0:04:08.530 --> 0:04:10.410 Sometimes you've just got to do whatever it takes. 0:04:11.610 --> 0:04:12.470 Look at this on the end. 0:04:13.310 --> 0:04:16.950 And to let people know, the 27th minute, that's pretty remarkable. 0:04:17.150 --> 0:04:19.980 Any sort of middle forward that is out there in 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:25.210 the 27th minute He's basically... Three in a row. 0:04:25.270 --> 0:04:27.750 Justin Holbrook basically says after that, righto, mate, you've done your. 0:04:27.950 --> 0:04:31.880 Now, that'll be a missed tackle, right? But I could 0:04:31.940 --> 0:04:34.500 pick up 100 other clips where a front row doesn't 0:04:34.600 --> 0:04:37.760 fill a space and that player runs straight through. Tool 0:04:37.820 --> 0:04:41.760 Picky scores a try if Hopwood doesn't work hard enough. Now, 0:04:41.779 --> 0:04:44.120 he made him step inside and slip over. He'll get 0:04:44.160 --> 0:04:45.920 a missed tackle for it. But the fact that he 0:04:45.940 --> 0:04:49.400 just turned up, made Tool Picky move, it just bought 0:04:49.440 --> 0:04:50.760 the Newcastle Knights some time. 0:04:50.880 --> 0:04:51.279 Next play. 0:04:51.580 --> 0:04:54.760 Mitch Barnett kicks the ball, goes dead, seven tackles, set 0:04:54.790 --> 0:04:56.490 Newcastle going in the other end. 0:04:56.529 --> 0:04:59.469 Mitch Barnett did some things yesterday that was a bit 0:05:00.130 --> 0:05:02.530 out of the system, off script. That kick was one. 0:05:02.850 --> 0:05:05.089 He ran down the short side a couple of occasions. 0:05:05.510 --> 0:05:08.400 It just showed that the Warriors were in a little 0:05:08.420 --> 0:05:09.440 bit panic mode. 0:05:09.540 --> 0:05:10.140 Mitch Barnett. 0:05:10.610 --> 0:05:12.630 Should not get the ball in that instance. It should 0:05:12.650 --> 0:05:16.190 have been one of the playmakers demanding the ball. And 0:05:16.230 --> 0:05:18.550 I think, Cooper, what we've seen with the Warriors, with 0:05:18.810 --> 0:05:21.190 the dip in the Warriors at the back end of 0:05:21.210 --> 0:05:23.900 the season, like the last two games I've seen, like 0:05:23.920 --> 0:05:28.580 Wade Egan has had a Dallium-worthy style of season. Like, 0:05:28.620 --> 0:05:33.600 you know, he has been outstanding, but his impact diminished 0:05:34.720 --> 0:05:37.969 quite substantially in the last couple of games, and you 0:05:38.050 --> 0:05:39.830 see how that impacted the halves significantly. 0:05:40.029 --> 0:05:41.729 Well, let's go on. Why do you think the Warriors 0:05:41.750 --> 0:05:44.730 were so consistent for the majority? They had one hand 0:05:44.810 --> 0:05:45.969 on the minor premiership. 0:05:46.070 --> 0:05:46.270 Yeah. 0:05:46.430 --> 0:05:48.920 But just that, let's call it the last month of football, 0:05:49.240 --> 0:05:52.380 they were nowhere near their best. They didn't go to 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:53.020 another level. 0:05:53.980 --> 0:05:57.940 I don't know whether it's a bit of expectation the 0:05:58.000 --> 0:05:58.740 pressure started. 0:05:58.940 --> 0:06:01.120 I actually start to think, Coop, I think they started 0:06:01.140 --> 0:06:01.800 to get tired. 0:06:02.300 --> 0:06:04.940 Like if we're talking about Newcastle, the two freshest teams 0:06:04.980 --> 0:06:08.200 left in this competition by far are Newcastle and the Dolphins. 0:06:08.640 --> 0:06:11.060 Why are they fresh? They're a fresh. 0:06:10.900 --> 0:06:14.580 Team because they build their style of football on ball 0:06:14.620 --> 0:06:18.320 movement and skill as opposed to sheer force and muscle. 0:06:18.480 --> 0:06:21.140 And the Warriors have played finals football all the way 0:06:21.180 --> 0:06:22.900 through the season. That's one of the things I really 0:06:22.960 --> 0:06:25.460 respected and why I liked them at the back end 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:27.159 of the season, thought they could win the competition. 0:06:28.020 --> 0:06:29.110 But it took a toll. 0:06:30.190 --> 0:06:34.350 Yeah, I tend to agree. They play an in-your-face, relentless style. 0:06:34.890 --> 0:06:38.369 And during the season... when you operate a red line, 0:06:38.630 --> 0:06:41.230 other teams fall over and you get the win, right? 0:06:41.650 --> 0:06:44.670 But when you play within a system that your consistency is, 0:06:44.790 --> 0:06:46.849 let's call it eight and a half and six, you're 0:06:46.870 --> 0:06:48.830 going to be pretty consistent. But when you need to 0:06:48.870 --> 0:06:51.440 go to a 10, you actually don't have the fuel, 0:06:51.950 --> 0:06:54.400 all the system or the game to go with it. 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:59.460 And I thought this is the half glass full approach. 0:06:59.839 --> 0:07:03.300 I think those young physical outside backs, those young forwards, 0:07:03.650 --> 0:07:06.409 have now got more reps of intensity under their belt 0:07:06.470 --> 0:07:08.490 and they will be able to go another level next year. 0:07:08.730 --> 0:07:11.980 They just didn't able, their system, like their halves weren't 0:07:12.060 --> 0:07:15.640 creative enough within the system on a big day. They 0:07:15.680 --> 0:07:19.140 just needed to tweak it slightly, particularly against the Dolphins 0:07:19.180 --> 0:07:21.520 when they were up, just play a little bit more 0:07:21.660 --> 0:07:24.930 off the cuff, just play a little bit more variation 0:07:25.000 --> 0:07:27.510 to what your system is and go for it. 0:07:27.530 --> 0:07:27.770 Be brave. 0:07:27.830 --> 0:07:29.130 And we owe it to them to mention the fact 0:07:29.150 --> 0:07:32.970 that yesterday in Newcastle there were four... three or four 0:07:33.450 --> 0:07:37.450 decisions that were 50-50, and they all went Newcastle's way. 0:07:37.750 --> 0:07:38.990 I must say at the end there when I was 0:07:39.030 --> 0:07:43.190 watching with Tyson Frizzell, the escort, I went, okay, we're 0:07:43.210 --> 0:07:44.060 going to Golden Point. 0:07:44.540 --> 0:07:45.380 I thought that was, yeah. 0:07:45.880 --> 0:07:48.820 So I agree too. I think it was a penalty. 0:07:49.260 --> 0:07:52.060 Rugby League is the best, the NRL is the best 0:07:52.160 --> 0:07:55.150 rugby league game on the planet, right? These guys are pros. 0:07:55.830 --> 0:07:58.370 Tyson Frizzell has been taught to look at like that 0:07:58.410 --> 0:08:01.710 with his arms up. The ball was a metre there. Now, 0:08:02.050 --> 0:08:05.810 Tyson Frizzell plays in the middle of the field. He's 0:08:05.850 --> 0:08:07.470 not going to miss the flight of a ball by 0:08:07.490 --> 0:08:10.110 a metre with his hands up. He has been taught 0:08:10.150 --> 0:08:12.910 to do it. Fletcher Sharp was jumping here. It was 0:08:12.950 --> 0:08:14.630 an SS scored every day of the week. 0:08:14.670 --> 0:08:15.150 Yeah, it was. 0:08:15.690 --> 0:08:18.310 You said Fletcher Sharp. Jeez, I tell you what, he 0:08:18.350 --> 0:08:20.510 drove them crazy. Just on Caelan again, one of the 0:08:20.530 --> 0:08:23.630 things Newcastle did very well They understand that, you know, 0:08:23.650 --> 0:08:25.610 when we talk about his sweet spot all the time 0:08:25.630 --> 0:08:28.010 where it puts pressure on the edge defenders, particularly the centre, 0:08:28.450 --> 0:08:30.710 and happened again yesterday, like the centres were going in, 0:08:30.750 --> 0:08:33.540 they were going out, is the fact that, you know, 0:08:33.559 --> 0:08:35.160 they had the gut feel that they were going to 0:08:35.200 --> 0:08:37.340 try to defend him outside in and rush him. So 0:08:37.400 --> 0:08:38.840 oftentimes they gave him the ball early. 0:08:39.520 --> 0:08:41.680 Yeah. Like they knew they didn't need to go all 0:08:41.700 --> 0:08:44.140 the way to the line. You know, the Warriors were 0:08:44.179 --> 0:08:45.880 going to bring the target defender to him. 0:08:46.200 --> 0:08:51.670 And I think if Newcastle beat Penrith... Kaelin needs to 0:08:51.690 --> 0:08:54.930 be in his sweet spot and I think the Arsenal 0:08:55.010 --> 0:08:57.740 or the reason why the Knights are a chance is 0:08:57.750 --> 0:09:01.199 because of Best and Gagai. I think if they win, 0:09:01.300 --> 0:09:04.119 it's because Best and Gagai put Maggio and Young on 0:09:04.160 --> 0:09:07.200 the outside. If there is one vulnerability against the best 0:09:07.220 --> 0:09:10.280 defensive team we've ever seen, the Panthers, look when they've 0:09:10.300 --> 0:09:12.790 lost against the Broncos. It was Ezra Mann and the 0:09:12.830 --> 0:09:16.490 footwork on the edges. Resmulsion in the prelim final, footwork 0:09:16.550 --> 0:09:20.630 and everything. I feel like Caelan Ponga and the two 0:09:20.690 --> 0:09:25.650 centres can attack the Panthers' edges quicker, faster, more skilful, 0:09:26.170 --> 0:09:27.470 and that's where they get the victory. 0:09:28.230 --> 0:09:31.870 You've said Phoenix Crossland before. Just a little bit of 0:09:31.890 --> 0:09:34.960 history on Phoenix. There's a lot of similarities between him 0:09:35.000 --> 0:09:37.429 and Danny Medeiros in the fact that both of them 0:09:38.030 --> 0:09:41.520 went to the Knights as halves. He came from Taree, Danny, 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:43.480 come out of the Australian schoolboys. 0:09:44.080 --> 0:09:45.540 and he was a half or five eighth. 0:09:46.260 --> 0:09:48.939 But the responsibility of pushing the side around the park, 0:09:48.980 --> 0:09:50.679 and he's a pretty sensitive dude, you know, when you 0:09:50.700 --> 0:09:53.330 meet Benzie, for all his, you know, fire and that 0:09:53.350 --> 0:09:56.750 when he played, he's a very sort of, oh, Koops, yeah, sorry. 0:09:57.230 --> 0:09:59.880 So he found, you know, demanding things from the side 0:09:59.890 --> 0:10:04.080 and the pushing around the park, he sort of, he 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:08.820 found it difficult and they moved him around certain positions 0:10:08.880 --> 0:10:11.340 and it just, it looked as though he wasn't going 0:10:11.360 --> 0:10:14.320 to make it. We had an injury crisis with hookers 0:10:14.679 --> 0:10:16.620 and Malcolm really said, mate, we'll throw the umbilical and 0:10:16.660 --> 0:10:18.240 give him a go at hooker and the rest is history. Yeah. 0:10:18.710 --> 0:10:20.710 He didn't have to think too much. He just got 0:10:20.750 --> 0:10:22.790 out there and went. You know, and his game developed. 0:10:22.809 --> 0:10:26.470 He'd become more of a cerebral player. But initially, that 0:10:26.510 --> 0:10:27.209 was his, like. 0:10:27.790 --> 0:10:29.600 So this is what I've got to do. I've got 0:10:29.620 --> 0:10:31.599 to play tough. I've got to be fit. Mate, I 0:10:31.620 --> 0:10:32.020 can do that. 0:10:32.179 --> 0:10:34.699 And Phoenix is similar. Phoenix was a bloke who was 0:10:34.720 --> 0:10:37.340 playing in the halves, coming through the grades. You know, 0:10:37.380 --> 0:10:39.200 earmarked for a lot of potential. But you could see 0:10:39.260 --> 0:10:42.209 as a playmaker, he just... he wasn't quite going to 0:10:42.250 --> 0:10:42.570 make it. 0:10:42.590 --> 0:10:44.880 Yeah, I don't care if you're a middle forward, an 0:10:44.910 --> 0:10:48.000 outside back or Phoenix Crosley. If you've got the desire 0:10:48.100 --> 0:10:51.280 to go after a ball quicker than the next person, 0:10:51.340 --> 0:10:53.400 that's the mentality you can build a long career over. 0:10:53.900 --> 0:10:56.040 There was a couple of loose balls on the ground 0:10:56.059 --> 0:10:57.559 in the second half, but the one I want to 0:10:57.600 --> 0:11:00.180 highlight is the kick very late. I think it was 0:11:00.220 --> 0:11:02.280 only a couple of minutes to go. He was defending 0:11:02.300 --> 0:11:04.920 on the left-hand side in the halves because Caelan Pong 0:11:04.960 --> 0:11:07.089 was off the field. This kick was on the right-hand 0:11:07.120 --> 0:11:10.100 scrum one. He chased and filled the space, went up 0:11:10.140 --> 0:11:12.800 and caught the ball safely. Like, he didn't have to 0:11:12.840 --> 0:11:16.000 be there. But he made a choice, like Hopwood, to 0:11:16.040 --> 0:11:17.900 be there and end up being a big player. 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:23.150 Panthers of 03, Tigers of 05, sides that came toward 0:11:23.170 --> 0:11:26.030 the bottom of the table that went into the next season. 0:11:26.050 --> 0:11:28.650 Are you believing? Are you believing in the Newcastle Knights? 0:11:28.750 --> 0:11:31.310 I think at the moment, you know, it's not all 0:11:31.370 --> 0:11:34.600 about gambling, but you use odds as a barometer. What people– 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:37.000 is that 12-1 is outrageous. 0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:37.540 Yeah, right. 0:11:37.980 --> 0:11:40.220 Outrageous. And what they've got. 0:11:40.160 --> 0:11:42.660 In common with those sides, Penrith were a side that 0:11:42.920 --> 0:11:45.160 I think that year they won the competition. They were 0:11:45.179 --> 0:11:48.780 almost favoured for the wooden spurn. Tigers toward the bottom 0:11:48.800 --> 0:11:51.140 of the table. But what they went in, they went 0:11:51.230 --> 0:11:54.689 in with a unique style of football that was about daring. 0:11:55.110 --> 0:11:57.470 You know, willing to push the ball around, backing yourself 0:11:57.510 --> 0:11:58.330 to defend your errors. 0:11:58.350 --> 0:12:02.610 A lot of similarities. I tell you what, Coops, Roosters, 0:12:03.470 --> 0:12:06.719 I question whether they get themselves up again. You sit 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:07.180 out the back. 0:12:07.210 --> 0:12:08.770 You know, we were talking before. You said you were 0:12:08.790 --> 0:12:11.930 watching them up close. You said they are buzzing. 0:12:12.210 --> 0:12:15.220 They lost– they beat Penrith, let's say, five weeks ago, 0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:17.240 and they lost a couple in a row. Yeah. Then 0:12:17.280 --> 0:12:22.640 they played Penrith and being at ground level against Penrith– Like, 0:12:22.820 --> 0:12:25.260 I feel like they were probably the better team. Like, 0:12:25.640 --> 0:12:28.940 they won the mini battle every collision. They were more physical, 0:12:29.260 --> 0:12:33.110 but just the battle-hardenedness of Panthers just kept them in. 0:12:33.150 --> 0:12:34.890 And then a couple of moments through, Cherry Evans and 0:12:34.929 --> 0:12:39.530 whatever went on, right? But then again against the Sharks, like, they... 0:12:40.500 --> 0:12:42.100 It was a death by a thousand cuts with them 0:12:42.130 --> 0:12:46.160 running the football. The Fahoo White, Victor Radley, physically intimidating. 0:12:46.220 --> 0:12:50.360 Fekete was great. Then you've got Rob Toya, Mark Nwonga, 0:12:50.380 --> 0:12:53.020 Daniel Tupou on the edge with the catchers. There's just 0:12:53.100 --> 0:12:57.440 something about the Roosters that they are physically primed. And 0:12:57.460 --> 0:13:00.559 the one thing that Trent Robinson has done when he 0:13:00.760 --> 0:13:05.280 wins at comp is their goal line defence. Sitting their sideline, 0:13:05.320 --> 0:13:09.300 their goal line defence is in sync. They are humming. 0:13:09.340 --> 0:13:12.679 The Sharks threw a fair amount at the Roosters, but 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:15.120 they are just moving for one another. Every time there's 0:13:15.160 --> 0:13:18.040 an opportunity, there's a Roosters jersey that turns up. And 0:13:18.059 --> 0:13:20.980 it almost felt like watching this game live that the 0:13:21.020 --> 0:13:23.260 Sharks weren't going to score in that second half. They 0:13:23.300 --> 0:13:26.350 had a lot of goal line attack, but they weren't 0:13:26.410 --> 0:13:28.850 scoring because the Roosters defence was doing things like that. 0:13:29.210 --> 0:13:32.209 Like that is, like Rob Toyer to move and double 0:13:32.230 --> 0:13:36.030 defend multiple times, like that's premiership calibre defence. 0:13:36.350 --> 0:13:37.750 Isn't he a great player, Robert Toyer? 0:13:38.050 --> 0:13:42.309 That matchup with him in Farnworth is absolutely worth the price. 0:13:42.510 --> 0:13:45.410 Toy is just a class act. 0:13:45.450 --> 0:13:49.170 Everything he does. And he's got that. Some players just 0:13:49.200 --> 0:13:49.770 see the way they're built. 0:13:49.790 --> 0:13:52.480 They ran out of room then, the Sharks. Ran out 0:13:52.520 --> 0:13:54.520 of room. There was more defenders than attackers. You're doing 0:13:54.540 --> 0:13:55.260 well when that happens. 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:57.400 He's got great balance, Toy, when he gets the ball. 0:13:57.420 --> 0:13:59.340 I'll tell you the other one that was really good. 0:13:59.380 --> 0:14:02.880 The combination of Reece Robson and Connor Watson in dummy half. 0:14:02.940 --> 0:14:06.200 Robson started the game really strong. Really stiffened up their defence. 0:14:06.580 --> 0:14:08.420 And then Connor came on. And I think it was 0:14:08.480 --> 0:14:09.480 his best game of the season. 0:14:09.620 --> 0:14:11.800 I think Victor Radley's ball play in that second half. 0:14:11.820 --> 0:14:12.360 Outstanding. 0:14:12.400 --> 0:14:15.980 He was arrow straight, really fast. But then he's almost 0:14:16.040 --> 0:14:19.020 doing like this tempo that a half does to drag 0:14:19.040 --> 0:14:22.620 defenders in. He's just got this beautiful, subtle pass. He 0:14:22.660 --> 0:14:27.550 created some space for Cherry Evans to set up a try. Like, yeah, 0:14:27.650 --> 0:14:28.990 he was outstanding that weekend. 0:14:29.010 --> 0:14:30.970 Tedesco too. We haven't even mentioned Tedesco. 0:14:30.990 --> 0:14:33.930 Tedesco with his footwork through the middle, but also his playmaking. 0:14:34.330 --> 0:14:36.370 He went up a short side once in the first 0:14:36.410 --> 0:14:38.700 half and, Mate, beautiful little play. 0:14:39.020 --> 0:14:41.000 I think we've also got to give a rap to 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:44.060 Cherry Evans. Like, what he delivered. Oh, big time. No 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:47.100 Sam Walker. Do you reckon Sam Walker comes back in? 0:14:48.900 --> 0:14:49.330 Fit. 0:14:49.370 --> 0:14:50.380 Let's assume he's fit. 0:14:50.990 --> 0:14:55.730 Look, Suncorp Stadium, I'd look at it without a shadow 0:14:55.750 --> 0:14:58.410 of a doubt. I hesitate because I just think about 0:14:58.450 --> 0:15:00.070 Hugo and how good he is being cooped. 0:15:00.750 --> 0:15:00.970 Yeah. 0:15:01.600 --> 0:15:04.360 But, yeah, look, I think he does. It's what they 0:15:04.380 --> 0:15:06.600 do with Hugo then. Hugo on the bench, does he 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:09.660 go back to left centre? Billy was good the other night, 0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:10.350 that Billy Smith. 0:15:10.380 --> 0:15:15.250 There is a consistency or a strength in relying on 0:15:15.330 --> 0:15:17.630 someone to do their role, right? Like I think one 0:15:17.670 --> 0:15:20.270 thing that Savala has brought to the team is that 0:15:20.530 --> 0:15:22.270 it allows the back row to go, oh, he's going 0:15:22.290 --> 0:15:24.450 to be there, or allows Tedesco to say, oh, oh, 0:15:24.510 --> 0:15:26.620 I know where I'm going to receive the pass. But 0:15:27.220 --> 0:15:30.200 Sam Walker has this point of difference that not too 0:15:30.240 --> 0:15:32.860 many other halves have in our game. So if he's fit, 0:15:33.160 --> 0:15:35.980 he comes back in. But the key thing that the 0:15:36.000 --> 0:15:38.620 Roosters need to do with Sam in is his point 0:15:38.660 --> 0:15:40.300 of difference is you actually don't know what Sam's going 0:15:40.320 --> 0:15:42.160 to do. Yeah. Before he does it, then you've got 0:15:42.180 --> 0:15:44.380 to react. So as long as the Roosters can be 0:15:44.420 --> 0:15:46.910 on the same page and understand what Sam's going to do, 0:15:47.590 --> 0:15:48.830 I definitely think he comes in. 0:15:49.070 --> 0:15:50.930 Adam Reynolds said last night, which I thought was a 0:15:51.310 --> 0:15:53.230 really good point. We were chatting about that. 0:15:53.330 --> 0:15:54.070 Okay, what happens. 0:15:54.530 --> 0:15:57.330 You know, Sam and Hugo, he said, he said, Sam 0:15:57.550 --> 0:15:59.430 is a must. He said, he is going to be crucial. 0:15:59.450 --> 0:16:01.530 He said, because when you get into those really big games, 0:16:02.240 --> 0:16:05.340 he said, just playing with your natural structure isn't enough. 0:16:05.740 --> 0:16:07.880 You need someone that's going to do something out of nothing. 0:16:07.920 --> 0:16:09.280 And certainly Sam can do that. 0:16:09.440 --> 0:16:11.500 Well, that's the point. So I thought, you know, the 0:16:11.540 --> 0:16:14.520 Roosters in that second half against Penrith in week one 0:16:14.900 --> 0:16:16.800 probably had to be a bit more brave when Nathan 0:16:16.820 --> 0:16:18.600 was off the field. Yeah. Does Sam be more brave? 0:16:18.900 --> 0:16:19.850 Absolutely enough. 0:16:19.880 --> 0:16:20.180 Yeah, yeah. 0:16:20.410 --> 0:16:23.050 If Sam's playing for the Warriors in the last two finals. Yeah. 0:16:23.470 --> 0:16:27.050 Close contest, systems not getting the points. Does he step 0:16:27.070 --> 0:16:29.850 outside the system and come up with a play? Absolutely, 0:16:29.890 --> 0:16:33.070 but there's also the risk versus reward part. Like that 0:16:33.090 --> 0:16:35.790 par stepping outside the system could lead to something. 0:16:43.720 --> 0:16:46.060 Mate, they're two intriguing games. Let's start with the Dolphins. 0:16:47.110 --> 0:16:50.670 And the Roosters. Interesting. It's like contrasting. 0:16:51.070 --> 0:16:54.570 Although Roosters scored 46 points, you said their DNA is 0:16:54.610 --> 0:16:59.030 very much about their defence, online defence. Dolphins' DNA is 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:01.700 very much about attacking. It reminds me, we're not sitting 0:17:01.720 --> 0:17:04.300 there thinking about this side. The Roosters have got the experience. 0:17:04.920 --> 0:17:07.540 The Dolphins, the young, fearless side coming through. It's almost 0:17:07.560 --> 0:17:10.020 like the 89 grand final. You had Balmain, who are 0:17:10.040 --> 0:17:13.090 the experienced guys, all the internationals been. 0:17:12.980 --> 0:17:15.449 There, done that. And you had the young Raiders, who 0:17:15.510 --> 0:17:18.770 are on the up and up. And knocked them over. 0:17:19.950 --> 0:17:20.760 What do you think, Coops? 0:17:20.940 --> 0:17:26.800 Well, I think the Roosters are primed. I think they 0:17:26.840 --> 0:17:28.939 know what they're going to deliver. Experience, they're not going 0:17:28.960 --> 0:17:31.359 to miss a mark. I love what the Dolphins have done. 0:17:31.380 --> 0:17:34.290 The only thing I have about the Dolphins is that 0:17:34.350 --> 0:17:38.310 experience because I don't believe in– the stat that you 0:17:38.350 --> 0:17:40.920 have to lose one to win one. But sometimes it 0:17:40.950 --> 0:17:43.680 does play a part, Matty. If you miss the start 0:17:43.700 --> 0:17:46.680 of a big prelim final that you haven't been exposed 0:17:46.740 --> 0:17:50.260 to ever before, you have to only be 5% off 0:17:50.460 --> 0:17:53.820 and the opposition swarms you. It happened to me in 0:17:53.859 --> 0:17:56.360 my first grand final against the Brisbane Broncos. We were 0:17:56.400 --> 0:17:59.659 slightly off. They jumped us and we could not get back. 0:17:59.859 --> 0:18:01.540 So that's the only thing that worries me about the Dolphins. 0:18:01.720 --> 0:18:06.940 Outside of that, their left-hand side attack caused carnage against 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:09.800 the Roosters a few weeks back. Like, they were electric. 0:18:10.240 --> 0:18:14.840 You know, Farnworth beat Rob Toyer. Cobbo beat Mark Nwongane-Tawase. 0:18:14.920 --> 0:18:15.080 Yep. 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:18.140 And they really did attack Cherry Evans on that right edge. 0:18:18.180 --> 0:18:22.710 So I think the recipe is there for the Dolphins. 0:18:23.130 --> 0:18:27.149 High octane, back your skills, go to left-hand side. If 0:18:27.190 --> 0:18:30.090