Speaker 1: Well, welcome back everyone to another edition of the Code
Speaker 1: NRL Monday Podcast. You're in luck. It's going to be
Speaker 1: me Alex also known as NRL Soapbock, going up against
Speaker 1: the Great Bulldog Dean Richie. How are you, mate, Champion.
Speaker 1: I'm well, I'm doing well. Yeah. They've cleared the room.
Speaker 1: No one else is in here, so we can go
Speaker 1: right at it. There's been some huge talking points from
Speaker 1: the weekend. We're going to break down some of the
Speaker 1: key results from the past round of NRL games, but
Speaker 1: we've got to talk about Origin Bulldog. What did you
Speaker 1: make of Lori Daily's selections.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I liked it. I like the side. It's a
Speaker 2: good looking team. I mean it's out there already, but
Speaker 2: I mean we've got Critter back. We'll just run through
Speaker 2: a couple. Yeah, Crichton's back, Bradman Best is in the side.
Speaker 2: I was a little surprised Mitch Moses is there. I
Speaker 2: thought you might have gone with Ethan Strange. I like
Speaker 2: the selection of Leam Martin. I think you'll go after Munster.
Speaker 2: I love Hamoli being back. A bit surprised. I thought
Speaker 2: maybe Robson might have gone out and a Happy might
Speaker 2: have stayed in fifty to fifty call, and of course
Speaker 2: Dylan Lucas is the other one to get the chop.
Speaker 2: Tyler Kohla goes back to the bench. Catoni Stags has
Speaker 2: been dropped. Good looking team. I think they're trying to
Speaker 2: score more points, but I do like.
Speaker 3: The credit selections.
Speaker 2: I think you'll tightened up that right side where Queensland
Speaker 2: went through. Obviously their left side down there in Melbourne
Speaker 2: with considerable.
Speaker 1: Ease, so there's some reasonable decisions there. What do you
Speaker 1: think about the controversial one of dropping Brian's tough call.
Speaker 2: I think business form has been modest this year given
Speaker 2: the level of expectation that we.
Speaker 3: Have of Brian.
Speaker 2: He's played seventeen Origin games over the past five years,
Speaker 2: so he's well established State of Origin player. But I
Speaker 2: think in the air he's been caught out a few
Speaker 2: times this year. It's funny it hasn't happened in the past,
Speaker 2: but it seems of read up this year. So I
Speaker 2: think Laurie's looking for a bit of size and the
Speaker 2: wing hence Jack Bosstock one hundred and ninety four sims
Speaker 2: and that might well nullify the attacking bombs which went
Speaker 2: to that edge last time an feel himself to be unlucky.
Speaker 2: But yeah, a lot of people are already bagging the side.
Speaker 2: It's typical New South Wales. Let's tear each other down
Speaker 2: straight away. That's just what we do down here. But
Speaker 2: you know, people demanded changes after Melbourne. They want to
Speaker 2: change after Melbourne. Laurie makes five changes and what do
Speaker 2: they do. They start winging and moaning again. You just
Speaker 2: cannot win, all right, Bulldock. So I'm on your side
Speaker 2: on the top o selection, right.
Speaker 1: I think he's obviously probably one of the best wingers
Speaker 1: we've ever seen for New South Wales. He's been a
Speaker 1: great servant for the game, but in this series he's
Speaker 1: been the fifth best winger. Like he hasn't overperformed. In
Speaker 1: Game one he absolutely had a shocker. But when you
Speaker 1: were great, you get the opportunity to come back and
Speaker 1: look up and redeem what you've done. He was good,
Speaker 1: he led meters and all that kind of stuff from yardage,
Speaker 1: but he wasn't brilliant and he hasn't been brilliant in
Speaker 1: the season. So I can defend Laurie's decision there on. Hey,
Speaker 1: you're going for a different strategy obviously, Billy's trying to
Speaker 1: exploit Toto's height in the air, So putting bosstoc In
Speaker 1: makes sense where fans are still like and this is
Speaker 1: where I feel like. I know you think that News
Speaker 1: of Ours fans just rip in. We only rip in
Speaker 1: when we're passionate before we go on.
Speaker 3: Everyone's got a different side.
Speaker 2: Everyone thinks that their team should be the one picked
Speaker 2: next year. Guess what, he's got a different side as well.
Speaker 2: But then it's not even a civilized debate.
Speaker 1: It just turns to abuse.
Speaker 3: And that's what annoying.
Speaker 1: This is what pisses me off. Bull I'm trying to
Speaker 1: find abuse. I'm trying to find abuse of Lorie Daily.
Speaker 1: Tell me who's abused him.
Speaker 2: I've just got on the Facebook the first coming I
Speaker 2: sees that team. I mean, that's constructive, isn't it? And
Speaker 2: what a crap side this is? I mean, what do
Speaker 2: people want?
Speaker 3: Please tell me? But I don't tell me what do
Speaker 3: they want?
Speaker 1: Okay, I'll tell you without a doubt, this is what
Speaker 1: New South Wales fans want. They want Cam Murray to
Speaker 1: start at Lock. That I reckon happened. Yeah, that's what
Speaker 1: I've heard. I've heard. I think of Maddie John's I
Speaker 1: was listening all the way in said he reckons. It's
Speaker 1: a certainty that Daily's playing playing Ducks and Drakes and
Speaker 1: that Murray's going to start. So if that happens, I'm
Speaker 1: pretty happy with the team. Like I feel god bit.
Speaker 2: A new South Wales fan that's actually going to support
Speaker 2: the Blue.
Speaker 1: I still want some justice for homoli Ola Kawatu, but
Speaker 1: if we have Cam Murray at Lock, I do think
Speaker 1: this sets up the new South Wales team to actually
Speaker 1: look good. But I still think but I want to
Speaker 1: press you on this. Facebook commanders don't count because we
Speaker 1: know that they're the sk society.
Speaker 2: I get that, but they are still the fans. Yeah yeah,
Speaker 2: we ignore and turn our back on the fans. Yeah,
Speaker 2: they're the lifeblood of the game. So I mean, I
Speaker 2: just wish it could be a little bit more constructive.
Speaker 3: But look, I.
Speaker 2: Said, there's a couple of weeks now it's getting very boring.
Speaker 2: But I must say, overall, Sophie, it's a good looking side.
Speaker 3: I like Bradman best.
Speaker 2: Okay, he's strong, he's fast, he's been there before, he
Speaker 2: is Aaron. Four twenty four we won the series up
Speaker 2: there at ton Corpyn.
Speaker 3: The decider.
Speaker 2: He's called a crucial try that night from memory. So look,
Speaker 2: it's a totally different set of commodation. But I like
Speaker 2: both of them.
Speaker 1: I don't mind Bradman best. Do you think Tom Traboy,
Speaker 1: which is unlucky to not get that spot based on
Speaker 1: the ration now, being that Bradman's a proven winner two, I.
Speaker 2: Wouldn't have picked Tom myself. I'm a massive fan of Tom.
Speaker 1: We all are.
Speaker 2: No one mislikes Tom Tramoy on or off the field.
Speaker 2: I just think he still needs a couple more weeks.
Speaker 2: I wouldn't say it looks a bit timid, but I
Speaker 2: just think he needs to find a bit more confidence Tom.
Speaker 2: And even Tom said himself last week, I'm probably not
Speaker 2: ready for this just yet. So look, whether he was
Speaker 2: considered I don't know, more than likely was. I guess
Speaker 2: the other one who might need himself a bit unlucky
Speaker 2: was Victor the inflictor. Yeah, made an impact in game
Speaker 2: one game two. Perhaps he's disciplined. Let him down a
Speaker 2: little bit. He's now become twentieth man, so he won't play.
Speaker 1: So my I read on this pack that Laurie it
Speaker 1: does feel like Laurie in the past was oscillating between
Speaker 1: am I going to choose agile forwards or am I
Speaker 1: going to choose a big pack. It feels like this
Speaker 1: time he's decided I just want the big boys. Is
Speaker 1: that the right call?
Speaker 3: Yes, We've got to go to war.
Speaker 2: Yeah stuff, everybody, Yeah, yeah, stuff, everybody.
Speaker 3: Let's go to war, no holds barred.
Speaker 2: Let's rip in when I say New South Wales we're
Speaker 2: fierce underdogs.
Speaker 3: No one gives us a chance.
Speaker 1: This has got.
Speaker 3: Classic Airbush written all over it.
Speaker 2: And I am out of the utmost confidence that we
Speaker 2: will go up there and that game, you know what,
Speaker 2: because no one expects us to and the players have
Speaker 2: had a gupful of the criticism, Laurie's had a gupful
Speaker 2: of the criticism. I think it's going to be screw
Speaker 2: the everybody. We're going to go up there and we
Speaker 2: are going to go hell for leather from the start.
Speaker 2: Will play eyes up footy and if it's on, it's on,
Speaker 2: bring it on. The Blues are ready.
Speaker 1: Well, I can see that happening if Cam Murray starts
Speaker 1: at Lock. Otherwise I think Billy's got the game plan
Speaker 1: sorted if he owes at Lock. So I am hoping
Speaker 1: that Laurie hasn't been deceptive yet, maybe he's maybe he's
Speaker 1: playing us all and I really want that because Murray
Speaker 1: at Locke would make them really strong over to Queensland.
Speaker 1: They don't have to make many changes when you're winning,
Speaker 1: you're sweet. What do you make of that? The couple
Speaker 1: of changes they made. I think Carrigan's back in.
Speaker 2: Pat Carrigan's back in Jeremiah and I was there, and
Speaker 2: I think Corey Hallsborough is the new twentieth man. Lindsay
Speaker 2: Collins unavailable through concussion. Look, Pat Carrigan wasn't supposed to
Speaker 2: come back. You will still supposed to be injured and unavailable,
Speaker 2: but he's come back a bit early, don't look. Clearly
Speaker 2: he brings a bit of mongols to that coeens Land side.
Speaker 2: So look, they're not major adjustments that didn't need to
Speaker 2: They won by forty odd points in Melbourne or yeh,
Speaker 2: they scored forty so yeah, but.
Speaker 3: It's a good looking Queensland side.
Speaker 2: Reece Woltz back in there as the eight eighth man,
Speaker 2: so you know whether he gets the run or not.
Speaker 3: But I mean, you look at the side.
Speaker 2: It's in front of me here, so biponger, cobo hammer
Speaker 2: for feeder, monster walker.
Speaker 3: They've got points, yep, they've got points.
Speaker 2: They play eyes up footy and they're a pleasure to
Speaker 2: watch when they're in full flight if you're a Queensland and.
Speaker 1: If you're a Queenslander, that's right. Where do you think
Speaker 1: New South Wales break this team down? It's a good question.
Speaker 2: We going to certainly tidy up that right hand side,
Speaker 2: which we've done last time. I think our ford is
Speaker 2: going to be more aggressive. I think we've got to
Speaker 2: be more physical. I think New South Wales have got
Speaker 2: to take a little bit away from what Queensland did
Speaker 2: where Harry goes down the short side, Munster throws overhead passes.
Speaker 2: Just things are a little bit out of the box,
Speaker 2: out of the square.
Speaker 3: Just playing.
Speaker 2: Constructed footy where you complete your sets, get to your kick.
Speaker 3: I know that that's going to win. We need to
Speaker 3: come in that process.
Speaker 2: I think we need to score twenty to twenty five points. Yeah,
Speaker 2: we're going to have any che of winning this guard
Speaker 2: New South Wales. I've got to be more chaotic in
Speaker 2: their attack. They've got to be a bit more spontaneous.
Speaker 2: But I think there's two things they must do, and
Speaker 2: I'm nervous this should work. If you're picking big boys,
Speaker 2: big boys in the pack, this is what should happen.
Speaker 1: They should be slowing down the ruck. I think Queens
Speaker 1: and have been taking advantage of the liberal application of
Speaker 1: that the ruck biastic client. They've been taking advantage of it,
Speaker 1: and we've been playing too studiously and diligently. We've just
Speaker 1: got to slow that ruck down a little bit because
Speaker 1: we're not getting the opportunity for those eyes up plays.
Speaker 1: Here's my question, how many minutes should Reese Robson play
Speaker 1: compared to Blake Brawley.
Speaker 3: Good question.
Speaker 2: I'd say probably play the first thirty yeah, roughly, Yeah,
Speaker 2: and i'd have that same time frame for Liam Martin
Speaker 2: on the inside knowledge there. Look, Robson might come back
Speaker 2: later on, but certainly Bradley gives us some creativity.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: I think Reese has probably been just pulled back a
Speaker 2: little bit in that area, as I said at the
Speaker 2: start of the show. So that's why I would have
Speaker 2: Happy there. Yeah, because happy he does. Yeah, yeah, he's
Speaker 2: greatly says. But I think Brayley can do that.
Speaker 1: I think if New South Wales get Brayley on, I
Speaker 1: think a huge criticism from last game was not having
Speaker 1: upy on at all. If we can get Brayley on,
Speaker 1: then there's a really great opportunity to actually do something
Speaker 1: dynamic in attack and take advantage of a slower rouxpeed
Speaker 1: and do something. So Reese Robson, I'm with you. I
Speaker 1: would think twenty to thirty and then let's see what
Speaker 1: Brayley can do.
Speaker 2: Nathan's interesting too when you think about it, Like he
Speaker 2: was good in the second half of Sydney.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it wasn't great in Melbourne and in fact, pretty
Speaker 3: order was it. Let's be honest. Yeah, he missed eleven tackles.
Speaker 2: Even his self approval at full time was that he
Speaker 2: was embarrassed. I don't think Nathan Cleary could possibly play
Speaker 2: any worse. Yeah, So you get the feeling that Nathan
Speaker 2: is ready to go to another level.
Speaker 1: It's going to be a great contest mate.
Speaker 2: And Mitchell moses another one. You know, he's been not
Speaker 2: criticized but questioned around He spot Laurie's showing faith there.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I think Mitchell probably owes Laurie a little bit as well.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I am skeptical. I think Strange is built for it.
Speaker 1: I don't see how strange gets on the field, if
Speaker 1: with the bench that Laurie has, so I hope that
Speaker 1: Mitch's bit ready. He did not put in a good
Speaker 1: audition on the weekend Bulldog. I think a lot of
Speaker 1: fans are thinking, I was pool, what's going on while
Speaker 1: we chosen Mitch when he really did have a rough game.
Speaker 1: Why do you think that Laurie is stuck with Mitch
Speaker 1: more Well, I think you're.
Speaker 2: Going to break it down so by and look, sometimes
Speaker 2: one game before in Origin shouldn't be the defining factor
Speaker 2: in whether you're picked. If you're an elite player who's
Speaker 2: been at the top of your game for what Mitchell
Speaker 2: moses seven, eight, nine years now, I don't think one
Speaker 2: game should be the contributing factor, as do whether you
Speaker 2: play or not.
Speaker 1: Yeah, he does, but it was a poor game. Yeah,
Speaker 1: but he hasn't played the issue. He just hasn't played.
Speaker 1: So it's not just that correct, he hadn't had a
Speaker 1: couple It's like he hasn't played any games and the
Speaker 1: game that he's had back at Clubland was.
Speaker 3: Pretty defensively, he was poor.
Speaker 1: Well, mate, it could be it could be a great contest.
Speaker 1: I really hope. I generally feel like news should be.
Speaker 1: You're going to disagree with this, but we should be
Speaker 1: buoying if Murray plays lock. If not, I think we're
Speaker 1: very vulnerable. Let's we our attention to the weekend's results.
Speaker 1: The Parameter Eels will once again stumble and falter in
Speaker 1: a pretty abysmal performance. I think it was in their
Speaker 1: second I think it was their second half completion rate
Speaker 1: thirty eight percent? Bulldog. What's happening with Paramount?
Speaker 3: Well, so here we go again, isn't it.
Speaker 2: I hate to bring up Paramuna because every time I
Speaker 2: bagged them, I get absolutely lynched and condemned all in
Speaker 2: the one motion. But look they were poor again. Look
Speaker 2: they've had a lot of injuries. But I can't just
Speaker 2: continue to use that as an excuse. This is now
Speaker 2: forty years. We are being told every year that something
Speaker 2: different is going to happen. Nothing's happening. They've won five
Speaker 2: from fifteen. Yeah, they're not playing finals footy again. No,
Speaker 2: they're gone, They're gone, they're running. I mean it's second
Speaker 2: last Jason Rawles era.
Speaker 3: Again. I've questioned it before I got held down. We're
Speaker 3: back to where we were again last year.
Speaker 2: They're not playing finals footy I'm repeating myself, you know
Speaker 2: why because of.
Speaker 3: The fact, and it's something that paramount of fans cannot.
Speaker 1: Expl PARA furious, aren't they? Yeah, and they should be
Speaker 1: absolutely furious, like why is this team continually underperforming? When
Speaker 1: I've analyzed it, I think the key area is, yes,
Speaker 1: you can say injuries, but it also reflects what they
Speaker 1: on with their recruitment. They keep missing out on great players.
Speaker 1: Bronson Cherry was in the in the market for them
Speaker 1: not going to them. They can't sign great talent. Their
Speaker 1: only marquee talent right now is Mitch Moses. To be
Speaker 1: any sort of competitive team, you need at least three
Speaker 1: marquee players. So as much as the we should be
Speaker 1: asking question marks about the Paramatter performance the Jason Rowles
Speaker 1: is coaching, there needs to be much more scrutiny on
Speaker 1: Paramatter's recruitment.
Speaker 2: Oh, you're right, one hundred percent. It's it's a how
Speaker 2: would I describe their roster without being held down? It's
Speaker 2: above average, but it's not elite.
Speaker 1: Isn't It's now where your elite?
Speaker 2: You look at that side and you think they're not
Speaker 2: playing Vinyls footy, and you're right with the Marque players
Speaker 2: they need another one or two. But it's a bit
Speaker 2: of a vicious cycle. We go to Paramata when you're
Speaker 2: gonna go to a side that struggling every year.
Speaker 3: But look it's a tough one.
Speaker 2: But look they've got a multitude of problems out there
Speaker 2: at Paramatta and at the moment, we're just going to
Speaker 2: be on this rotating cycle where we just soon to
Speaker 2: be let down every single year and Parafans can get
Speaker 2: the ships if they want. I don't really care, because
Speaker 2: they'd be the one to jump out now, not me.
Speaker 1: I think they do have the shits. I mean, they're
Speaker 1: still gonna have the shits at you, bulldog, but they
Speaker 1: the team is underperforming. The only promising side is there
Speaker 1: is some exciting youth coming through, but they still haven't
Speaker 1: shown themselves to be excellent first graders yet. And I
Speaker 1: know it takes time, but Paramounta just look like a
Speaker 1: team that, like you, should be doing better. And there
Speaker 1: were times where they actually play fantastically. They follow the
Speaker 1: coach's game plan, they're disciplined in the defense, they're exciting
Speaker 1: in attack, but they are not consistent enough. So I
Speaker 1: generally think they've just got to get some star power.
Speaker 1: I don't know how they do it.
Speaker 3: We'll move on all positive. I thought they were really good.
Speaker 3: We won't go too much of that match because a
Speaker 3: few days ago now, but I thought that well.
Speaker 2: I think that Sour Sydney are one of only four
Speaker 2: or five that can really win this Premiership. You throw
Speaker 2: Latrol back into that side, yeah, maybe you throw Jack
Speaker 2: Whitten back into that side.
Speaker 3: You've got a bloody good football side.
Speaker 1: Yeah. And I think Jack Watten's are missing piece in
Speaker 1: that puzzle for them. He really brings a steadiness in
Speaker 1: their defense, so they do have a chance. I've actually
Speaker 1: tipped them though, to be the team that falls out.
Speaker 1: I don't know South. Things injuries just come for them
Speaker 1: like no other team. But they were looking fantastic on
Speaker 1: the weekend, and Cody Walker absolutely stood up Mitch Moses.
Speaker 1: So South fans can feel much more encouraged this time
Speaker 1: last year to compared to this time last year, whereas
Speaker 1: Paramatta fans find themselves in the same agonizing position. Let's
Speaker 1: move on to the Titans Bulldogs game. The Bulldogs are
Speaker 1: finally scoring some tries. A lot of people are saying
Speaker 1: it's because of that movement in the spine with Stephen
Speaker 1: Crichton going into five eight, which most people think is
Speaker 1: actually just playing like a halfback. They're looking excited, they're
Speaker 1: scoring tries, they're breaking down. There's still the short ball
Speaker 1: to a second roller to break the line, but at
Speaker 1: least they're looking to score points. What did you make
Speaker 1: of the Bulldogs?
Speaker 3: Mate? They were good again Again, I'm not convinced.
Speaker 2: When I look at Camry, I don't see a side
Speaker 2: that's going to threaten the premiership. Yeah, I don't see
Speaker 2: a side that's going to make the top four. I
Speaker 2: think there's still four points outside of the top layes.
Speaker 2: That's sound about right. Yeah, they're still a long way
Speaker 2: to go to it. I said it the other day, Sophi,
Speaker 2: and I'll say it again. Apart from that Round six
Speaker 2: game against Penrith, I'm still for a statement victory where
Speaker 2: I go, holy moly, Yeah, this team is actually a
Speaker 2: fairly side. Yeah, I'm not seeing it. No, he mainly
Speaker 2: I wouldn't say they were lucky.
Speaker 1: They were lucky.
Speaker 2: All went their way and yeah they're winning games and
Speaker 2: that's all you can ask. Yeah, that's still not seeing
Speaker 2: a side that I think can compete with the elite.
Speaker 1: All right, well let me throw this theory at you.
Speaker 1: So I don't think the Bulldog's attack has ever been
Speaker 1: that good. To be honest, I think they've actually provided
Speaker 1: themselves on being a defense first team. So here's what
Speaker 1: I was doing a bit of study of, like, how
Speaker 1: have the Bulldogs started to get some form because they're
Speaker 1: now four from five? How have they done that? Well?
Speaker 1: What I reckon there's a key change in how the
Speaker 1: officiating's been executed and the Bulldog's success. So get this
Speaker 1: stat for your Bulldog. Set restarts for the Bulldogs that
Speaker 1: they've conceded is down fifty percent in their last five
Speaker 1: games compared to the first ten of the season, and
Speaker 1: down thirty percent for penalties conceded. So the point I'm
Speaker 1: trying to make here is that the Bulldogs, when the
Speaker 1: game was chaotic and there were so many set restarts
Speaker 1: they pride themselves in defense, they couldn't actually execute that.
Speaker 1: So now that the game's a little slower, they can
Speaker 1: control them momentum a little more. I think that's why
Speaker 1: they're winning. And it's to your point. I'm actually backing
Speaker 1: up your point here. Their attack still isn't going to
Speaker 1: win them games. It's only going to be their defense.
Speaker 1: So my question to you is, though, if the game
Speaker 1: is and we're seeing this across the board fewer set restarts,
Speaker 1: if there's going to be fewer set restarts, doesn't that
Speaker 1: mean that the Bulldogs are a really good chance of
Speaker 1: making the eight because they can defend.
Speaker 3: Oh, they're a good side. Cameron Cirello is a defensive coach.
Speaker 2: You're right with what you say, but that's Ciro's hallmarks
Speaker 2: that he is a defensive coach.
Speaker 3: But that's not going to get to there.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think, yeah, you need points to points.
Speaker 2: I don't know that sounds very simplicity thing to say,
Speaker 2: but the way they're attacking, yes, it's all right. Critic
Speaker 2: has made a bit of a difference. I think a
Speaker 2: lucky Galvin has been good. He's taking them all line.
Speaker 2: I thought he's trying desperately hard. But there's just something
Speaker 2: about the Dogs I just can't warm to.
Speaker 3: And I don't mean that.
Speaker 1: In a because I hate them bulldog, just say it.
Speaker 3: What's my nickname?
Speaker 1: Yeah? For that reason?
Speaker 2: Okay, But look, as I said, I need to up
Speaker 2: the big wins over a bit of scalps and some
Speaker 2: really comprehensive fast footing up tempo upbeat, eyes up and
Speaker 2: I'll go you know what, this side is now serious.
Speaker 1: Footage fair enough for Bulldogs fans will be upset about that.
Speaker 1: I think it's worth worthy of respect to get four
Speaker 1: from five. Do think the defense is going to help
Speaker 1: them out and that they they're probably not the team
Speaker 1: to make the eight, but at least they're playing better
Speaker 1: footed than they've been playing. So there's a hope for
Speaker 1: you Bulldogs fans. Onto the Broncos and the Roosters. And
Speaker 1: have you ever seen a Premier defense go like this?
Speaker 1: They are playing terribly. They're now onto seven losses in
Speaker 1: a row. This is this going to be? Is this
Speaker 1: the worst title defense you've ever seen? Bulldogs?
Speaker 2: I've called it insipid, insipid, and I will stick with insipid.
Speaker 3: It's a good word.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I like a mate, and.
Speaker 2: It's been Yeah, it's been soulless. Effort areas have been poor.
Speaker 2: Does bring me to ask the question they won the
Speaker 2: comp last year, rightly, so they were the best side
Speaker 2: in the finals, but they weren't the best side through
Speaker 2: that whole year. Yeah, So yeah, as premiers, they've got
Speaker 2: the right to be premiers.
Speaker 3: They want the final, But were they Worthy Premiers.
Speaker 1: Well, mate, no okay, no no, no, no, no no no.
Speaker 1: I'm a mac and I'm a Michael McGuire apologist. I
Speaker 1: thought it was bullshit how much heat he copped three
Speaker 1: rounds into the season when they lost their first three games.
Speaker 1: Winners win, If you win, you get respect, and I
Speaker 1: don't feel like he got anywhere near the same amount
Speaker 1: of respect that anyone else did. I honestly feel like
Speaker 1: that season ended, the new season started and Ricky Stewart
Speaker 1: had more respect than Michael McGuire. And Ricky Stewart's team
Speaker 1: has absolutely plummeted it down the table as well. When
Speaker 1: you win, I think I genuinely believe that means you
Speaker 1: secure your position for two more years now. Absolutely, this
Speaker 1: year it's been terrible. They've played badly, but there has
Speaker 1: been significant disruptions. We've had the painhas story, We've had
Speaker 1: Ben TiO leaving, We've had a bunch of injuries. There's
Speaker 1: certainly been reasons why the team hasn't performed that well.
Speaker 1: But on the same level, insipid is the right word.
Speaker 1: You cannot lose The Brisbane Broncos should never lose seven
Speaker 1: games in a row. So what is going on is
Speaker 1: the rumor or the theory or the hypothesis is the
Speaker 1: players are off Madge. But I just feel like that's
Speaker 1: too convenient. It just feeds into the convenient narrative that's
Speaker 1: been around him.
Speaker 2: Look, it seems to have been doue from the start
Speaker 2: with what you said with Pain, Betty.
Speaker 3: They lost the World Club Challenge, but.
Speaker 2: It seemed to be that the rumor mill, whether it
Speaker 2: be right or wrong, was in full swing against Madge.
Speaker 3: From the very start. And I'm thinking, hang on, what
Speaker 3: am I missing here?
Speaker 2: That's just won a premiership. Even to this point now
Speaker 2: people are saying will he be there next year? Well,
Speaker 2: of course he'll be there next year, killing me that
Speaker 2: he won a cop last year. Since when does an
Speaker 2: incumbent premiership winning coach have his credentials? What eight months
Speaker 2: in the following year. He'll be there next year. I've
Speaker 2: got absolutely no doubt. But look, things are going wrong
Speaker 2: up there. Look Pain, I don't think what's to be there.
Speaker 2: Let's be honest. Renold's retiring, They've resigned Ben Hunt at
Speaker 2: an age. Yeah, they've signed Dame gay Guy at an age. Look,
Speaker 2: I'm not inside those four walls. I don't know whether
Speaker 2: morale is down or not. I think though it's an
Speaker 2: easy outclause for the media myself included to go back
Speaker 2: to the cliche of Madges lost the dressing room. It's
Speaker 2: because it's what's happened at Souse and the Tigers, and
Speaker 2: we're going at all those places. It's just an easy
Speaker 2: excuse to go, what's wrong with the broncos he's.
Speaker 1: Lost happen but we don't know.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just a cliche and I'm not saying it's wrong, no, sure,
Speaker 2: But what I am saying is we don't know whether
Speaker 2: that's the case, and if you believe Madge, it's bollocks.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and winners get respect. So the other part of
Speaker 1: the narrative that's not being talked about is Madge keeps
Speaker 1: winning premiership. So he's obviously a very good coach. And
Speaker 1: I actually feel for pay haas I think he's the
Speaker 1: only player truly trying, Like, of course every pro gets
Speaker 1: on there and they're trying to win for their team,
Speaker 1: but he's the only player who's actually looking dominant, looking
Speaker 1: like I'm going to carry this team. But you can't
Speaker 1: just have one player. They just look cooked. It's disappointing.
Speaker 1: And and at this point though, even though it's offended
Speaker 1: Madge a lot, there should be scrutiny. You shouldn't lose
Speaker 1: seven games and fans will say, oh they've had injuries,
Speaker 1: not seven games in a row. A lot of losses
Speaker 1: had injuries.
Speaker 2: I'll tell you another bloke strugglers is Walshy. He's been poor.
Speaker 2: Some of these effort areas again of the weekend were
Speaker 2: just average.
Speaker 1: Now I don't know what's happening there.
Speaker 2: Eight He was the the Pinup Boys League last year,
Speaker 2: went on the Kangaroo to a pinup boy there.
Speaker 3: It's just been a full It's a four from Grace.
Speaker 3: Let's be honest to you. I know he's still in
Speaker 3: the Queensland side.
Speaker 1: So he's not the champion player. He's still a brilliant player.
Speaker 2: I just think there's something wrong with Roes Walsh at
Speaker 2: the Broncos. It's just not putting into the levels that
Speaker 2: he did last year.
Speaker 1: Yeah so, I and he was very much one of
Speaker 1: the key reasons that they did that massive run to
Speaker 1: make the finals. So they've got to fix something the
Speaker 1: Broncos because it's just not working and there absolutely should
Speaker 1: be getting criticized for it. So there's one key topic.
Speaker 1: I want to talk to Bulldog on this episode on
Speaker 1: behalf of the fans and just getting a bit of
Speaker 1: an insight into rugby league and the machinations behind the scenes.
Speaker 1: But before we do that, just a quick recap of
Speaker 1: some amazing results. The Cowboys have upset the Panthers. They
Speaker 1: did it for JT. It was amazing. Well done to
Speaker 1: the Cowboys. They're a team that could very much make
Speaker 1: it into the eight. That should be some question marks
Speaker 1: asked for the Panthers losing the Titans and the Cowboys.
Speaker 1: We can I can celebrate as a Manly fan that
Speaker 1: we absolutely monstered the Melbourne Storm. No bias here, that's
Speaker 1: just what happened. They were absolutely monstered. And you haven't
Speaker 1: exactly I don't mind, man. Guess what, Manly hates you too.
Speaker 1: And then we won't even talk about the Raiders Dragons
Speaker 1: Knights Tigers because they were two pretty poor games filled
Speaker 1: for Dragons fans. Mate, God, I've got to win.
Speaker 3: That's a bit out lucky actually won that game. But
Speaker 3: that's what happens when you're running last yep, I think
Speaker 3: goes your way.
Speaker 1: I know, Bulldog, I want to I want to talk
Speaker 1: to you, So I've been told to sit straight. Okay,
Speaker 1: So Bulldog, I want to talk to you about a
Speaker 1: story that broke this week that you were connected to
Speaker 1: a few months ago. So we've it's now been reported
Speaker 1: that Bronson Cherry has signed a three year deal with
Speaker 1: the Melbourne Storm commiserations to paramatter. I know that they
Speaker 1: have put their hand up and really wanted to sign him.
Speaker 1: The reason what I wanted to talk to you about
Speaker 1: this is that, and I think fans will be really
Speaker 1: interested in how this all works. So about three months ago,
Speaker 1: you broke a story that Bronson Cherry was on his
Speaker 1: way out or exploring his options, he'd been dropped and
Speaker 1: was looking at new clubs. And then that was immediately
Speaker 1: denied by Phil Gould, who is the general manager for
Speaker 1: football at the Bulldogs. And I put up a post
Speaker 1: of like someone here is telling Fibbs. I don't know who,
Speaker 1: but it can only be one story or the other.
Speaker 1: Either Cherry's leaving and Gus is telling Fibbs, or he's
Speaker 1: not and Bulldogs telling fibbs, or he's had a bad male.
Speaker 1: When that story broke, it was very much denied. Now
Speaker 1: three months later something was clearly right because Ronson Cherry's
Speaker 1: not only been signed for three years with a Storm,
Speaker 1: but he's about he may even move on before June thirty.
Speaker 1: When a storyline that breaks, you report it, it gets denied.
Speaker 1: I think fans will be really interested to know what happens,
Speaker 1: like what happens with how clubs or players kind of
Speaker 1: obfuscate the truth in these kind of stories.
Speaker 2: Good question. How do I answer that one? Okay, let
Speaker 2: me start from the beginning. To be fair, Cameron Cirello
Speaker 2: didn't deny the story.
Speaker 1: Okay, Cam Cerrello, it's not true.
Speaker 2: Cam did go public and I spoke to Camp privately,
Speaker 2: and he knew the story was right. So in Cameron's
Speaker 2: Ralo's defense, he did come out and say, look, Bronson
Speaker 2: hasn't been good, he's got challenges ahead. He might not
Speaker 2: have said he wanted to leave, but he dodged around
Speaker 2: it and to make the story almost well confirm. Look,
Speaker 2: I knew the story was right. It came from sources
Speaker 2: that were spot on, and I wouldn't have gone to
Speaker 2: print with it if I knew it was wrong. It's
Speaker 2: too much to damage your reputation of a reputation that is.
Speaker 2: But look it happens all the time clubs Tonight. You
Speaker 2: have to stand by your story. What can happen, though, SAPE,
Speaker 2: is that you can write a story and then it
Speaker 2: can change four hours later, and then they go the
Speaker 2: story is never right. You know that story was right,
Speaker 2: but it might change. I knew Bronson was unsettled. I
Speaker 2: knew he wanted to go. He was talking to people
Speaker 2: who were talking straight to me. So it was a
Speaker 2: simple equation of just writing it. His camp wanted me
Speaker 2: to write the story, so it was coming inadvertently through
Speaker 2: a third party by Bronson wanted it written. Yeah, so
Speaker 2: I knew that it was sweet to run with it,
Speaker 2: and as soon as Gus and ied it, I thought
Speaker 2: fair enough not worries. So Gus got involved talk Bronson
Speaker 2: out of leaving, and he stayed. But you knew straightaway
Speaker 2: that there was major problems there, and even a month
Speaker 2: after that he still wanted to leave. Yeah, but it
Speaker 2: got talked down a bit, and then Bronson did get
Speaker 2: picked again and seemed to be happy.
Speaker 3: Now it's sort of all gone.
Speaker 1: So why doesn't like Why doesn't Agenda like you when
Speaker 1: you get that denial, But you know you've got good mail.
Speaker 1: I don't remember you going back again at Gus. What's
Speaker 1: the what happens now?
Speaker 2: I can't remember. I didn't, but I normally would. I'd
Speaker 2: always stand by my story. If that's family a story,
Speaker 2: you're not a good journal Yeah. So, okay, I think
Speaker 2: I was on radio saying okay, it was right. I
Speaker 2: think I was on TV. I can't remember exactly I say,
Speaker 2: but I'm sure I wouldn't have.
Speaker 3: I would have.
Speaker 2: Rather sure, There's no way I just cowed how if
Speaker 2: I knew the story was right. So look, in the end,
Speaker 2: it was always right. It was always going to be right.
Speaker 2: Perhaps it came a little bit later than what we thought,
Speaker 2: but Bronson's on the move and certainly with him next year.
Speaker 2: And Jermaina Sarka Melbourne suddenly got a lot of strikeout.
Speaker 1: I know, I can't believe the Dolphins have let Thesako go.
Speaker 1: I'm curious though, so it's a great signing for the storm,
Speaker 1: but they were also it's been reported that their shoulders
Speaker 1: they've tapped on the shoulder Jack Howorth that he can
Speaker 1: look for other options. Is this a worthy exchange? Like,
Speaker 1: isn't how with a great center? Why bring him?
Speaker 2: A bit surprised because how if only last he was
Speaker 2: being talked about as a possible stack for orogin player.
Speaker 2: So look, I'm a little bit surprised, but look, maybe
Speaker 2: that's the brilliance of Craig Bellamy. He keeps rotating that
Speaker 2: roster year on year and no one gets stale. I'm
Speaker 2: a bit surprised, but cherry for howarth I can live
Speaker 2: with that?
Speaker 1: Were you go? Well, well, don Bulldog, I thought you
Speaker 1: might have been telling FIBs about the cherry story, but
Speaker 1: you were right mate, Thanks so much for tuning in.
Speaker 1: Folks won't say go manly because this isn't my podcast.
Speaker 1: We'll just say that there's been a great great to
Speaker 1: have you with us year, and we'll see you next week.