WEBVTT - The Dogs of Four! 0:00:08.680 --> 0:00:12.240 Welcome to the Daily Telegraph NRL podcast. Oudam Mob's here 0:00:12.520 --> 0:00:15.400 and Pam Whaley. I'll go to you first, because not 0:00:15.440 --> 0:00:18.239 only was it round twenty one in the NRL, which 0:00:18.239 --> 0:00:20.560 you've just reminded me of nerl W Week one. 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:24.760 Yeah, I know, we had a couple of upsets as well. Paramatta, 0:00:24.920 --> 0:00:27.480 you'll be very happy to see had a really good win. 0:00:27.560 --> 0:00:29.040 We're back, baby, We're back. 0:00:29.920 --> 0:00:31.040 Yeah, so it was. 0:00:31.200 --> 0:00:33.200 It was great to see it back in back in action. 0:00:33.440 --> 0:00:36.040 And if we're ever invaded, I want the Newcastle Knights 0:00:36.040 --> 0:00:39.159 defending our homeland because their defense against the Roosters the 0:00:39.200 --> 0:00:40.760 other night unbelievable. 0:00:40.880 --> 0:00:42.839 I know. Yeah, that was a really good game. Actually 0:00:42.920 --> 0:00:46.560 it was a great way to open it up. But yeah, 0:00:46.880 --> 0:00:48.240 excited to get into it all again. 0:00:48.360 --> 0:00:52.000 Yeah, I can't wait. And Fatima Kado welcome. Hi, you're Raiders, 0:00:52.240 --> 0:00:53.040 My Raiders back. 0:00:53.120 --> 0:00:57.560 They're back, baby, parent they were never really gone. 0:00:59.120 --> 0:01:04.360 Why right, just let it be known if you started, okay, 0:01:04.760 --> 0:01:07.160 what happens from I can't be held accountable. 0:01:07.800 --> 0:01:10.600 Were the ills in your top eight ladder predictor er 0:01:10.680 --> 0:01:12.960 or w okay, we'll give you that at least in 0:01:13.000 --> 0:01:15.759 the neral W that the title dream is still alive. 0:01:16.400 --> 0:01:18.480 Yea, very much. So you think you can insult me 0:01:18.520 --> 0:01:21.560 after Paramatta fell off the radar about eight weeks so 0:01:21.680 --> 0:01:24.600 it doesn't happen. But we've had a lot to get 0:01:24.600 --> 0:01:28.360 through because there are a lot I don't know about you. 0:01:28.400 --> 0:01:31.920 Whenever someone says mathematically we can make it, you know 0:01:31.959 --> 0:01:34.000 that I think they're stuffed. And from now on I'm 0:01:34.080 --> 0:01:36.399 declaring it. The Broncos cannot make the eight, will not 0:01:36.440 --> 0:01:37.360 make the eight from here. 0:01:38.080 --> 0:01:41.200 Well, if you think about you know, people saying mathematically 0:01:41.319 --> 0:01:45.160 their magic number thirty two, they've got to buy in hand. 0:01:45.200 --> 0:01:47.600 But they also need to win all five games and 0:01:47.640 --> 0:01:50.560 I don't know whether after seeing them against Canterbury, even 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:52.760 with a full strength team, I don't know whether that's 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:54.040 you know, whether. 0:01:53.800 --> 0:01:54.680 They're capable of that. 0:01:54.800 --> 0:01:57.560 Unfortunately for the Broncos, who if they don't make it 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:01.080 will by far be the biggest disappointment of this year. 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:03.040 Yeah, they're not going to make the eight. And the 0:02:03.080 --> 0:02:07.440 Bulldogs blew them off the park. They were unbelievable and 0:02:08.160 --> 0:02:12.359 Brisbane everything to play for and the same criticism that's 0:02:12.360 --> 0:02:14.480 been placed on these guys for the last six or 0:02:14.520 --> 0:02:17.760 eight weeks was they're sitting around waiting for something to happen. 0:02:17.919 --> 0:02:20.959 And Okay, now we've got Adam Reynolds back, we've got 0:02:21.000 --> 0:02:24.079 middles like Pat Carrigan and Payne Hears, and we've got 0:02:24.080 --> 0:02:27.280 this undersized Cannoby pack we're up against. We're just going 0:02:27.360 --> 0:02:29.560 to roll through them. They look like they sat back 0:02:29.560 --> 0:02:33.880 again waiting for something to happen, and they cannot cop 0:02:34.000 --> 0:02:38.320 enough criticism, I think for the lack of resilience, the 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:42.200 lack of determination to Yeah, as we're seeing. If you're 0:02:42.200 --> 0:02:44.079 not watching us on YouTube, go and have a look 0:02:44.080 --> 0:02:46.280 at some of these highlights where the Broncos are letting 0:02:46.320 --> 0:02:48.480 the ball bounce, they're not first to it. There's no 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:52.399 urgency in their play. The Bulldogs wanted everything on top 0:02:52.440 --> 0:02:54.880 of them and the Broncos got what they deserved. 0:02:55.000 --> 0:02:58.280 Yeah, well, especially after last week. Obviously they've beat Newcastle 0:02:58.360 --> 0:02:59.840 last week and that was kind of the start of 0:03:00.000 --> 0:03:02.360 I think Kevin Walter said in the press conference after that, 0:03:02.400 --> 0:03:04.840 you know, we've only just we haven't kicked that, we 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:07.720 haven't gone through the fence yet. We're just starting to 0:03:07.840 --> 0:03:11.320 kick it down. But and then to be at home, 0:03:11.720 --> 0:03:17.160 a packed crowd, everything to play for their pride, their season, everything, 0:03:17.200 --> 0:03:19.720 and then they were just flat. And that's just not 0:03:20.320 --> 0:03:23.480 really a good enough explanation, is it, Like, why were 0:03:23.520 --> 0:03:24.000 they flat? 0:03:25.280 --> 0:03:25.480 Yeah? 0:03:25.480 --> 0:03:26.480 Well, maybe make any sense? 0:03:26.560 --> 0:03:31.120 Yeah, yeah, I don't know. I wonder if they've brought 0:03:31.160 --> 0:03:33.880 in too much into this idea that they do have, 0:03:33.960 --> 0:03:36.040 you know, individual brilliance and strike all over the park 0:03:36.080 --> 0:03:38.040 into what mobs you were saying, just waiting for an 0:03:38.080 --> 0:03:40.400 individual to do something, to come up with, you know, 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:42.720 Reese Walsh, to come up with a play that flips 0:03:42.960 --> 0:03:44.960 the script a little bit, but it never happened, and 0:03:44.960 --> 0:03:46.960 they were flat and they were beaten through the middle. 0:03:47.200 --> 0:03:48.640 And when I found really interesting is a lot of 0:03:48.680 --> 0:03:52.560 people spoke about this after watching Canterbury. Canobary had a 0:03:52.560 --> 0:03:55.080 game plan to shift the ball and really target their edges, 0:03:55.200 --> 0:03:57.120 and it was obvious that that's what they were doing 0:03:57.120 --> 0:03:59.600 from the get go, But somehow the Broncos didn't adjust 0:03:59.600 --> 0:04:01.560 on the run to that, and I think that says 0:04:01.560 --> 0:04:04.520 a lot about and Kevin Waltz has mentioned that a 0:04:04.520 --> 0:04:08.000 little bit in the lack of the inability to execute 0:04:08.040 --> 0:04:09.680 his game plans. So if they haven't been able to 0:04:09.880 --> 0:04:11.200 do it during the week, they were never going to 0:04:11.200 --> 0:04:13.720 be able to adjust on the run against Canterbury. I 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:16.920 mean Catony Saggs had a dig. He's probably at everybody there. 0:04:16.960 --> 0:04:21.160 You could say, you know, he probably deserves a bit 0:04:21.160 --> 0:04:23.840 of credit from that game. But yeah, they're just and 0:04:23.880 --> 0:04:27.599 I think the biggest they were so good attacking wise 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:29.520 last year that the fact that they weren't the best 0:04:29.520 --> 0:04:33.960 side defensively really went under the raidar And I think Canterbury, 0:04:34.000 --> 0:04:36.480 who haven't been the best attacking team so far this year, 0:04:36.520 --> 0:04:37.479 really exposed them. 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:37.800 You know. 0:04:37.920 --> 0:04:41.760 So there's a lot of work I reckon to go 0:04:41.920 --> 0:04:44.760 at the Broncos and I sort of like touched on 0:04:44.800 --> 0:04:47.480 it in the tackle yesterday. If you look at how 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:50.560 Penrith responded to losing the twenty twenty Grand Final, it 0:04:50.640 --> 0:04:52.640 wasn't enough for them to just rely on the talent 0:04:52.640 --> 0:04:54.159 they had in their team, and at the time it 0:04:54.279 --> 0:04:55.200 was stacked with you. 0:04:55.160 --> 0:04:56.760 Know, gun talent coming through. 0:04:57.040 --> 0:04:59.440 They doubled down, they worked harder, they were the fittest 0:04:59.440 --> 0:05:01.440 team in the comp. They worked on their defense and 0:05:01.440 --> 0:05:04.200 they went onto three Premierships and it just looks like 0:05:04.240 --> 0:05:06.440 the Broncos haven't been willing to put in that hard 0:05:06.440 --> 0:05:07.080 work this year. 0:05:07.279 --> 0:05:11.359 Yeah, Well for mine, this cannerby performance is textbook Camon 0:05:11.400 --> 0:05:16.240 Serudo identifying and exploiting weaknesses in defenses. He did it 0:05:16.279 --> 0:05:19.159 a lot at Penrith and the players brought into what 0:05:19.200 --> 0:05:22.120 he was doing there. You see here he said that 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:25.640 those edges that they targeted the entire time, those those 0:05:25.680 --> 0:05:29.880 block runners, and you know they're cutting in. Jacob Karraz. 0:05:29.960 --> 0:05:34.760 What a season he's having and what are really I 0:05:34.800 --> 0:05:38.000 think he's almost one of the he's got to be 0:05:38.120 --> 0:05:40.600 sort of first pick kind of guy. He's so important 0:05:40.600 --> 0:05:43.239 to what they do there and the way he's sprung 0:05:43.279 --> 0:05:45.600 out of the ground because you saw when you know, 0:05:45.680 --> 0:05:49.680 the Bulldogs bought in Bronze and Cherry and they've you know, 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:52.520 Blake Taff came around kind of tracy and we didn't 0:05:52.520 --> 0:05:54.479 know where everybody was going to sit. You've got young 0:05:54.480 --> 0:05:58.040 Blake Wilson's who's a good young player. And Karraz has 0:05:58.160 --> 0:06:00.000 been named on the wing plenty of times and it's 0:06:00.000 --> 0:06:02.640 which to the centers. But I think he's he's really 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:04.480 come out of his skin this season. 0:06:04.600 --> 0:06:08.480 Yeah, absolutely pressed pressed big time good coaching, isn't it. 0:06:08.480 --> 0:06:11.799 It's just really if they don't have they're not exactly 0:06:11.880 --> 0:06:14.920 a superstar team. Like if you compare them to the Broncos. 0:06:14.920 --> 0:06:16.880 They're not, you know, stacked full of sup stars, but 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:20.920 they've got so many gutsy players and I think I 0:06:20.920 --> 0:06:22.679 remember at the start of the year, we were talking 0:06:22.680 --> 0:06:25.320 about the size of the Bulldogs pack and who's the 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:27.880 who's the big leader there in that pack and they're 0:06:27.880 --> 0:06:31.800 probably sure, you know, a big, big prop or and 0:06:31.839 --> 0:06:33.800 speaking to the Bulldogs about that, they were like, well, 0:06:33.880 --> 0:06:36.479 we just have a bunch of players who are real gutsy, 0:06:36.920 --> 0:06:38.760 got a lot of mongrel in us, and we're just 0:06:38.839 --> 0:06:42.400 going to attack as a as a unit. We're smaller, 0:06:42.640 --> 0:06:45.560 we yeah, we're mobile, and that's just going to be 0:06:45.600 --> 0:06:49.640 our identity and that's what they've kind of made. 0:06:49.240 --> 0:06:52.200 Sarah Sarah was on the radio this morning actually, and 0:06:52.240 --> 0:06:55.680 he spoke a little bit about the attacking plan he 0:06:55.760 --> 0:06:57.719 had and he actually gave all the credit to Jason Taylor, 0:06:57.720 --> 0:06:59.760 who's been in addition to his coaching stuff this year, 0:06:59.760 --> 0:07:01.760 and he sort of said he was the one or 0:07:01.800 --> 0:07:04.800 he's the one who's sort of been responsible in putting 0:07:04.800 --> 0:07:08.120 together our attacking plans and sending that message to the 0:07:08.120 --> 0:07:09.800 players every week. So he gave him a lot of 0:07:09.840 --> 0:07:11.840 credit for that. But I think the biggest talking point 0:07:11.840 --> 0:07:13.760 out of that, which we've missed on, is they did 0:07:13.760 --> 0:07:16.960 that without Stephen Crichton. Yeah, and I think that's a 0:07:17.200 --> 0:07:20.000 really important thing to touch on because there's no doubt 0:07:20.040 --> 0:07:24.000 he's been so influential for them this year. He's out, 0:07:24.320 --> 0:07:27.800 Geral Skelton comes in, you know, it's that next man 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:30.160 up mentality that maybe in the past, because they lacked 0:07:30.120 --> 0:07:32.120 depth in their roster, they haven't been able to achieve. 0:07:32.400 --> 0:07:34.800 And now Stephen Crichton sits out and you can bring 0:07:34.840 --> 0:07:36.640 in someone like Jerras Skelton, who I don't remember what 0:07:36.680 --> 0:07:39.640 he finished with, but I think two hundred plus run meters, 0:07:39.680 --> 0:07:42.160 you know, and again just another guy who shows he 0:07:42.200 --> 0:07:44.720 can be in NURL, but they've got so much depth 0:07:44.720 --> 0:07:46.400 that he's stuck in reserve grade. 0:07:46.560 --> 0:07:51.040 Yeah. Yeah. And Travis Main had a story up last 0:07:51.040 --> 0:07:52.960 week that the Broncos have had to put on extra 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:55.640 security and put fences up to stop the fans getting 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:57.920 getting to them. You might want to put it up 0:07:57.920 --> 0:08:00.440 even higher fences because they deserve to come out after 0:08:00.440 --> 0:08:02.240 that weekend's performance that was terrible. 0:08:02.320 --> 0:08:06.600 Wasn't there a season where fans started chucking wooden spirons? Yeah, 0:08:06.600 --> 0:08:07.160 they might need. 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:09.720 Some one the Sea Bowl there, Yeah, they have that 0:08:09.800 --> 0:08:16.760 as well. So look top eights, I think if you agree, 0:08:16.800 --> 0:08:19.040 I think seven of the eight teams that are currently 0:08:19.040 --> 0:08:21.320 in the I think the top seven teams will be 0:08:21.400 --> 0:08:25.520 in the top eight this year. I've got obviously the Storm, Panthers, Roosters, 0:08:25.680 --> 0:08:32.320 Sharks are there, Canterbury, North, Queensland, Manly and then for 0:08:32.440 --> 0:08:37.239 mine on twenty four points you have the Dolphins, Raiders, Dragons, 0:08:38.400 --> 0:08:40.520 and then two points behind that you have the Knights 0:08:40.960 --> 0:08:43.360 and then the Warriors. But I can't see the Warriors 0:08:43.360 --> 0:08:45.439 making from there. I've got it in a race. I've 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:49.920 got four spaces for that one final final spot. What 0:08:49.960 --> 0:08:50.520 do you think? 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:54.439 Yeah, I think that's that's about right. I don't think 0:08:54.440 --> 0:08:58.520 there'll be too much movement from. 0:08:57.520 --> 0:08:59.319 Six and upwards. 0:09:00.280 --> 0:09:04.480 I think the Dolphins are probably having another late season Bay. 0:09:04.679 --> 0:09:07.319 They really really really should have won against the Titans. 0:09:07.320 --> 0:09:09.400 They should have won a week ago. They should have won. 0:09:09.800 --> 0:09:12.360 They'd be four points clear, they'd be twenty eight points. 0:09:13.000 --> 0:09:16.120 Wayne bennett genius finals campaign before he goes to South 0:09:16.400 --> 0:09:19.200 Paramount might have dodged a bullet here with Bennett. They 0:09:19.200 --> 0:09:20.240 can't finish a season. 0:09:20.400 --> 0:09:21.360 They can't finish a season. 0:09:21.559 --> 0:09:22.920 Get this what's going on? 0:09:24.720 --> 0:09:26.120 So yeah, I tend to agree with that. 0:09:26.280 --> 0:09:31.040 But unsurprisingly when I did my that a predictor, the 0:09:31.120 --> 0:09:33.240 eighth spot went to Canberra for me. 0:09:33.880 --> 0:09:35.680 Yeah, Pam, and I've got equal yeah, the. 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:40.000 Same team here, the Nights in eighth. Yeah, I've got 0:09:40.000 --> 0:09:43.440 the Dragons finishing on thirty two points in ninth and 0:09:43.480 --> 0:09:48.120 then the Warriors tenth, Broncos eleventh and the other Dolphins 0:09:48.160 --> 0:09:50.480 dropping out. They've got they do have a rough end 0:09:50.520 --> 0:09:51.480 to the year. 0:09:52.880 --> 0:09:54.880 I like the Dolphins me too. 0:09:54.800 --> 0:09:57.120 Me too, But yeah, just over the weekend they should 0:09:57.120 --> 0:09:59.320 have closed this game out against the Titans. The Titans 0:09:59.360 --> 0:10:03.360 really yeah, just kept fighting for it, didn't they? They 0:10:03.440 --> 0:10:03.800 just wanted it. 0:10:03.800 --> 0:10:05.280 A little bit of the team that usually gives up 0:10:05.360 --> 0:10:08.960 leads the Gold Coast and they keep fighting and des 0:10:09.000 --> 0:10:12.120 Hasler all the critics this season. This is a big win. 0:10:12.720 --> 0:10:14.880 But where was this side? That was? This saw was 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:17.559 eight nil up over many last week, then capitulated the 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:20.440 fourteen kneel down here and fought their way back. How 0:10:20.440 --> 0:10:22.760 are you supposed to win a tipping company? Seriously? 0:10:23.120 --> 0:10:25.000 I know, well I don't think any of us are? 0:10:25.120 --> 0:10:26.360 Are we not? 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:27.160 This year? 0:10:27.640 --> 0:10:28.280 Not this year. 0:10:28.520 --> 0:10:32.600 No, they had everything to play for here the Dolphins, 0:10:32.679 --> 0:10:34.400 this is their finals hopes on the long lay said, 0:10:34.400 --> 0:10:36.840 they've got a tough run home going from here. And 0:10:37.200 --> 0:10:39.280 in that slew of teams a couple of weeks ago, 0:10:39.360 --> 0:10:41.600 they was sort of fifth and sixth, and all they 0:10:41.600 --> 0:10:43.040 need to do was just get a couple of wins 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:46.200 up to get to your thirty two points. I haven't 0:10:46.200 --> 0:10:48.920 got them there. They were one of my big disappointments 0:10:48.920 --> 0:10:52.760 from the weekend. Then I thought Kronella were disappointing. I 0:10:52.840 --> 0:10:55.920 think their edge defense was pretty ordinary and they got 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:59.240 shown up again. You know, even the return of Niko 0:10:59.320 --> 0:11:00.719 Hines isn't going to fix that. 0:11:01.440 --> 0:11:03.439 How do you have them finishing I. 0:11:03.440 --> 0:11:04.800 Still had them finishing fourth. 0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:07.720 I don't see their fifth for mine. 0:11:07.880 --> 0:11:10.079 I don't know how I was trying to manipulate a 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:12.079 way I was doing that. Ladder predicted to try and 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:15.400 get either the Bulldogs or Cowboys up into that top four, 0:11:15.400 --> 0:11:18.479 because I love that stat of the team that finishes 0:11:18.520 --> 0:11:21.480 outside the year before finishes in the top four that 0:11:21.520 --> 0:11:24.559 next season. But owing to their cruisy drawing the way 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:27.319 home and the points have already got banked. But then again, 0:11:28.000 --> 0:11:30.240 if they don't start lifting their game. The Sharks, they 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:34.880 may struggle, Yeah, well struggle definitely struggle in the finals. 0:11:34.360 --> 0:11:34.920 Yeah they will. 0:11:34.960 --> 0:11:39.920 I mean they've won one game since round fourteen. 0:11:40.520 --> 0:11:41.600 I think it is so. 0:11:43.679 --> 0:11:48.479 No sorry, two games since round fourteen, so they're definitely 0:11:48.559 --> 0:11:51.160 not in form at the moment. Obviously, the work that 0:11:51.160 --> 0:11:53.120 they did at the start of the year has helped 0:11:53.120 --> 0:11:56.440 them stay, you know, in the top four, but you know, 0:11:56.480 --> 0:11:58.720 they do have a softish run home, other than their 0:11:58.800 --> 0:12:01.520 last round game against the Eagles, who are also finding 0:12:01.520 --> 0:12:03.439 a bit of form. So I worry if the ty 0:12:03.800 --> 0:12:06.240 sorry that the Sharks, it's just a bit of a 0:12:06.240 --> 0:12:09.120 groundhog day for them coming into the finals, a bit 0:12:09.160 --> 0:12:12.480 too soft and not really being able to test themselves 0:12:12.520 --> 0:12:15.600 against the two best teams in the competition and Penrith 0:12:15.679 --> 0:12:18.240 and the Storm, which I think, even though we're talking 0:12:18.280 --> 0:12:20.760 about how tight the latter is, I really don't think 0:12:21.120 --> 0:12:23.880 outside of those two there are any genuine title contenders 0:12:23.920 --> 0:12:24.440 at the moment. 0:12:26.559 --> 0:12:30.720 Well, yeah, I think Nathan Clear is returned. I don't 0:12:30.720 --> 0:12:32.800 think Penrith rest players towards the end of the season. 0:12:32.840 --> 0:12:36.360 I think they've rested them post origin. I think Nathan 0:12:36.400 --> 0:12:39.200 coming back from mine I think they go through the 0:12:39.200 --> 0:12:41.040 way they are and they just keep winning games. And 0:12:41.080 --> 0:12:45.760 Cleary was outstanding the Melbourne Storm. I don't know. I 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:48.120 was watching this through biased eyes against the Eels the 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:52.000 other night when they Paramattic gifted them a couple of tries. 0:12:52.240 --> 0:12:54.760 They didn't have the possession or the field position, they 0:12:54.800 --> 0:12:57.960 weren't tackled inside the Eels twenty and let's yet somehow 0:12:58.040 --> 0:13:02.480 they led in that first half. Monster being back, he'll 0:13:02.480 --> 0:13:05.800 get better. I just for the better performance for me 0:13:05.840 --> 0:13:08.120 at the weekend was Panthers. And if I was a 0:13:08.120 --> 0:13:10.880 betting man, I couldn't have enough on Penrith winning that 0:13:10.880 --> 0:13:14.200 fourth title because obviously I think you're going to top 0:13:14.240 --> 0:13:16.839 two finish for the Storm home final, won't have to 0:13:16.840 --> 0:13:19.480 travel to Sydney if you keep winning until Grand Final. 0:13:19.559 --> 0:13:23.000 So owing to that saloon passage that they'ven't themselves, they 0:13:23.040 --> 0:13:26.800 can be there. But yeah, still haven't been proven that 0:13:26.880 --> 0:13:30.760 anyone can live up to Penrith's expectations at the moment. 0:13:31.040 --> 0:13:31.720 No, well they did. 0:13:32.360 --> 0:13:35.760 James Sushi Harris did pick up a groyd maybe an 0:13:35.760 --> 0:13:38.719 abductor injury in that game, so it'd be interesting to 0:13:38.720 --> 0:13:40.840 see how serious that is obviously they did it again 0:13:40.960 --> 0:13:45.520 without Dylan Edwards is still out with a PCL injury. 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:47.600 But yeah, they just look right now, they just look 0:13:47.800 --> 0:13:49.600 streaks ahead of anybody else. 0:13:50.280 --> 0:13:52.400 I'm never going to count out in Melbourne though. I 0:13:52.480 --> 0:13:54.920 just think that that's a folly to do that. 0:13:55.360 --> 0:13:57.440 I'm just angry after they beat Paramatta the other night, 0:13:57.480 --> 0:13:57.839 they're going. 0:13:57.800 --> 0:14:00.200 To bounce ye angry at all. 0:14:03.120 --> 0:14:05.280 Yeah it's all their fault. But but yeah, I mean 0:14:05.280 --> 0:14:06.920 you saw the week before what they did the Roosters 0:14:06.920 --> 0:14:08.840 as well, you know, and these are these are supposed 0:14:08.840 --> 0:14:10.920 to be the contenders, so you know, the Storm just 0:14:10.960 --> 0:14:13.640 keep doing what they do. They keep winning. But I 0:14:13.760 --> 0:14:16.800 just I just want them to prove that they can 0:14:16.840 --> 0:14:19.040 do that against that they've got that. I want to 0:14:19.040 --> 0:14:20.840 say they've got that next level to go to, which 0:14:21.120 --> 0:14:23.760 Penrith seemed to me lo there they really do have 0:14:23.800 --> 0:14:24.440 their So. 0:14:24.720 --> 0:14:27.720 They just look like they have so much fun, don't they. Yeah, yeah, 0:14:28.080 --> 0:14:30.080 what is just it really is just fun for them. 0:14:35.160 --> 0:14:37.080 I want you to tell me which games your Raiders 0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:39.880 are winning. Getting the top eight, let's get through them 0:14:39.880 --> 0:14:43.400 Billmore Sports Ground Bulldogs next week, you've got them winning that. 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:50.680 Okay, we don't. 0:14:50.560 --> 0:14:52.680 Have to laugh, like that home game against mainly the 0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:53.680 week after I. 0:14:53.560 --> 0:14:56.320 Think I got there. I think them losing that one. 0:14:56.240 --> 0:14:59.760 Mainly don't travel well. But okay, right Country Bank Stadium 0:14:59.760 --> 0:15:00.960 care always run twenty four? 0:15:01.280 --> 0:15:02.280 Sorry, can we go back? 0:15:02.280 --> 0:15:04.960 I had them winning against Manley and then newsing to 0:15:05.000 --> 0:15:08.000 the Cows at home right in North que. 0:15:08.360 --> 0:15:11.000 So you've obviously got them beating the Panthers the following 0:15:11.000 --> 0:15:13.200 week at Joe. I don't have you got them beating 0:15:13.200 --> 0:15:16.160 the Roosters the following week. You've got them beating the Roosters. 0:15:16.640 --> 0:15:18.480 We've got to win some games actually. 0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:24.920 And last round Dragons Raiders, that's huge, that could that 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:26.640 could be a top eight side, that could. 0:15:26.600 --> 0:15:28.240 Be the top eight decider. But I've got them winning 0:15:28.240 --> 0:15:29.440 that well. 0:15:29.760 --> 0:15:33.720 I had It's and Georgia Lawara in around the eight. 0:15:35.000 --> 0:15:38.000 If their performance at the weekend was better. What do 0:15:38.040 --> 0:15:41.160 you make of the Dragons? I mean, if they finished ninth, 0:15:41.200 --> 0:15:43.800 which is kind of what I've gone mad, I think 0:15:43.880 --> 0:15:45.640 that's that's a past mark. 0:15:45.800 --> 0:15:47.560 But at ninth as well. 0:15:47.600 --> 0:15:51.440 Actually this closest Dragons fans having had a really bad 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:53.680 run for the last few years. What do you where 0:15:53.720 --> 0:15:54.640 do you put your finger on it? 0:15:55.080 --> 0:15:57.760 I think that is. I think Dragons fans would be 0:15:57.840 --> 0:15:59.960 fairly happy with the improvement that they've seen this year. 0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:03.320 Would you would you agree? You do know what Dragons 0:16:03.360 --> 0:16:10.160 fans are like, right, No, I think that I think 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:13.320 there is there's signs of that those days are kind 0:16:13.320 --> 0:16:15.400 of over and that there is a new kind of 0:16:15.880 --> 0:16:20.359 eerror under Shane Flanagan. Obviously the weekend was not great, 0:16:22.080 --> 0:16:24.560 but I mean it's Penrith too. I think they will 0:16:24.600 --> 0:16:26.400 have a dig in these last in these last couple 0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:28.720 of rounds. I've got them winning a couple of games. 0:16:28.960 --> 0:16:33.120 So yeah, Obviously Shane Flanagan made that big call to 0:16:33.400 --> 0:16:36.960 act Tyrle or Sloan he I'm not happy with his 0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:39.360 defense and again there's probably a few that could have 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:44.320 joined him on from this weekend. And you know they 0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:48.080 have mixed their former bit this year, the Dragons with them. Yeah, 0:16:48.440 --> 0:16:50.880 they can lose a big buy a big score, then 0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:53.480 they can grind out a solid win the week after. 0:16:53.640 --> 0:16:56.320 So you know, Flanno has got that ability to get 0:16:56.360 --> 0:16:58.440 their minds back on the job. But I don't know 0:16:58.440 --> 0:17:00.560 where they go from here. Because I thought Ben Hunt 0:17:00.800 --> 0:17:03.160 had a had a poor game. 0:17:03.280 --> 0:17:04.879 Yeah, you know, he did have a poor game, and 0:17:05.040 --> 0:17:07.159 that was probably I mean, I was gonna say that 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:09.200 was the difference, it isn't. I don't think even if 0:17:09.280 --> 0:17:11.119 Ben Hunt had a blinder, and I'm not sure if 0:17:11.160 --> 0:17:13.320 that would have been enough to help them get past Penrith. 0:17:13.400 --> 0:17:15.600 But I think when he's a little bit off, I mean, 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:17.840 Zachlmacs was a little bit quiet after I think he 0:17:17.880 --> 0:17:19.200 moved to fullback. 0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:21.440 Early in the game. 0:17:21.640 --> 0:17:23.399 So yeah, they're a bit of that that Jekyll and 0:17:23.440 --> 0:17:25.480 High team where sometimes they look really good and you 0:17:25.480 --> 0:17:27.400 look at them and you go, wow, like Shane Flangan's 0:17:27.400 --> 0:17:29.199 working miracles there, because you have to remember, I mean, 0:17:29.240 --> 0:17:30.920 I think it was it was a Mick Caranas he 0:17:30.960 --> 0:17:33.280 said they went into the season with the worst roster 0:17:34.000 --> 0:17:36.760 in the competition. I'm not gonna say that the worst 0:17:36.800 --> 0:17:38.200 rusted in the competition. 0:17:37.840 --> 0:17:41.600 But on paper he said. Agree with him. I just 0:17:41.640 --> 0:17:42.560 this is just what he said. 0:17:43.560 --> 0:17:45.040 So when you look at their team, I mean, you 0:17:45.040 --> 0:17:48.639 probably think they do need a couple of additions for 0:17:48.680 --> 0:17:50.400 next year to help them go to that next level. 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:53.120 But to go from you know, deep in the bottom 0:17:53.119 --> 0:17:56.120 half of the ladder to in and around that finals conversation, 0:17:56.200 --> 0:17:57.840 I think that's a huge improvement for them. 0:17:58.119 --> 0:18:01.760 Speaking of Mick carrianas adding players for next year, that's 0:18:01.760 --> 0:18:06.440 a nice segue mix story from the Weekend that vow 0:18:06.560 --> 0:18:10.320 Holmes has been granted permission to explore other opportunities He's 0:18:10.359 --> 0:18:13.200 got twelve months ago when his Cowboys deal with worth 0:18:13.200 --> 0:18:17.240 about nine hundred massive coin the dragons in the frame 0:18:17.280 --> 0:18:21.520 for him, thoughts, is this a like a. 0:18:21.560 --> 0:18:28.040 Zach Climax replacement thinking type? I don't know, would so 0:18:28.200 --> 0:18:28.640 how much? 0:18:28.760 --> 0:18:30.919 I mean, I guess it depends on how much you 0:18:30.920 --> 0:18:35.000 know the Cowboys are footing the bill and how long 0:18:35.080 --> 0:18:36.360 the deal is. 0:18:38.320 --> 0:18:41.240 Yeah, I don't know. I think they do have a. 0:18:41.200 --> 0:18:44.560 Couple of good outside backs, you know, waiting in the 0:18:44.600 --> 0:18:46.760 lower grades, and then the junior reps coming through. I 0:18:46.800 --> 0:18:48.919 wonder if you add someone like vow Homes, I know 0:18:49.000 --> 0:18:53.359 he's you know, probably towards the latter years of his career. 0:18:53.359 --> 0:18:53.920 I don't know whether. 0:18:53.920 --> 0:18:58.080