1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: So we've got a squad name for the League Pacific Championship. 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: But as the key Wes take on Australia and Tonga 3 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: later on this month, there are questions being raised about 4 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: the length of the season and the shape the players 5 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: are in the Key we selected to Itta Nika is 6 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: with us on all of this timeet of good morning. 7 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: Good morning, Mike. Great to be on the number one 8 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 2: breakfast show in News. 9 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Are very kind of you to say so. The international 10 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: window and its relevance to the game itself, is it 11 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: a problem. 12 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: It is a bit of a problem in terms of 13 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: too many games in the NRL. At the weekend, I 14 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: was over at the Grand Final and talking to a 15 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 2: couple of people around what that season looks like and 16 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: how we could maybe change it. But because of the 17 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: twenty seven rounds, Mike and the players play at such 18 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 2: an intense place, it does become a bit of a 19 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 2: problem at the back end of the season. 20 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: So what do you have to deal with. It's not 21 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: a lack of willingness from the players, it's just the 22 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: state they're in pretty. 23 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 2: Much, Mike, in terms of the current status of the 24 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: game and with the NRAL in terms of the number 25 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: matches they play. It'll be interesting to see what happens 26 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 2: over the next couple of years of how that's going 27 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: to map out, because there's some talk of reducing the 28 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 2: number of games during the season, especially in the NRAL. 29 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: And if you see the players, we've got probably about 30 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: five or six players that played last year that are 31 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: unavailable for our team through injury at the moment, so 32 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 2: it is a bit of a problem Mic, But in 33 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 2: saying that, it's an opportunity for a lot of the 34 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: younger guys coming in and twenty seventh of October in 35 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 2: your hometown of christ Church, we have the Kiwi Ferns 36 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 2: and the Kiwis playing rugby league back in chross Church, 37 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: which is fantastic. 38 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: It's going to be super exciting. So it does, in 39 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 1: fact become to a degree of blooding experience. In other words, 40 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: you get a few people that might get an opportunity 41 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: that under other circumstances might not have. 42 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: Well we've seen this year, Mike, there's a couple of 43 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 2: young players that we had in the squad last year 44 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: that didn't get the opportunity to play. Guys like Keanu Kinney. 45 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: They've played at the Gold Coast Titans. Now you would 46 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: have seen them carve up the Warriors there Mica one 47 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: season the fullback from there who was outstanding. Also Will 48 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 2: Warbroock played for the Melbourn Stam and the Grand Fine 49 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: on the wing in the finality he gets an opportunity 50 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: in the squad. So it is definitely a blood the experience, 51 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: but a great opportunity for the new coach station. 52 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: Jones, you've got any indication as to how good Australia 53 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: and how good tong are. 54 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: We? You know we beat Australia thirty to nil last year. 55 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 2: Now that doesn't happen very often, but I know that 56 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 2: melman ninga is still hurting from that loss last year. 57 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 2: So they're going to come be very aware of the 58 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: wounded Kangaroo tongue. Mate. They've got outstanding team. A lot 59 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 2: of those top players that are playing in the Tonguan 60 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 2: side are going to be very competitive. They should be 61 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: a Tier one nation. And the Australian side, you know, 62 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: melman Linger's packed guys that paid really well in Origin 63 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 2: and guys that have paid really well in the Grand Final, 64 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 2: namingly most of the Penrith players in terms of it. 65 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: So those teams are going to be up to the 66 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 2: game in representing Australia. And the great thing about Peter 67 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: Velandi's is he's really brought back this the international game 68 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: which needs to be at the forefront. So you know, 69 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: all all as well for it. But it's going to 70 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 2: be an outstanding series. 71 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: Fantastic go well, well, good to catch up. Appreciate it 72 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: very much. My telltal a Nick album Who's the Key? 73 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: We selected these days for more from the Mic Asking 74 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: Breakfast listen live to news talks. It'd be from six 75 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.