1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:13,027 --> 00:00:17,107 Speaker 2: The Warriors have beaten the Dragons fifteen fourteen to secure 4 00:00:17,147 --> 00:00:21,107 Speaker 2: their fourth straight NROL win. Metcalf he is digging one 5 00:00:21,147 --> 00:00:25,147 Speaker 2: pointer and he's got it. It stays inside the right, 6 00:00:25,307 --> 00:00:26,827 Speaker 2: up right, they'd go early. 7 00:00:27,547 --> 00:00:29,067 Speaker 1: Metcalf takes the one. 8 00:00:29,267 --> 00:00:32,547 Speaker 2: So the Warriors led fourteen nil and then fourteen four 9 00:00:32,707 --> 00:00:36,547 Speaker 2: at halftime before the Dragons leveled things up at fourteen all. 10 00:00:36,827 --> 00:00:40,907 Speaker 2: But that sixty ninth minute Luke Metcalf field goal proved 11 00:00:40,907 --> 00:00:45,307 Speaker 2: decisive and gave the Warriors the fifteen fourteen victory. Assistant 12 00:00:45,347 --> 00:00:47,787 Speaker 2: coach Stacy Jones is with us from the airport as 13 00:00:47,827 --> 00:00:50,427 Speaker 2: the team prepares to fly home. You fly home station 14 00:00:50,707 --> 00:00:54,347 Speaker 2: second place. Four straight wins, a tight one last night, though, 15 00:00:54,347 --> 00:00:55,347 Speaker 2: How do you reflect on it? 16 00:00:56,667 --> 00:00:59,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, obviously, you know, really happy with the first 17 00:00:59,707 --> 00:01:03,467 Speaker 3: half performance where you know, we're a pretty clinical start 18 00:01:03,467 --> 00:01:07,467 Speaker 3: of the game, and then that end of the first half, 19 00:01:08,147 --> 00:01:09,747 Speaker 3: you know we we probably lost a little bit of 20 00:01:09,747 --> 00:01:12,107 Speaker 3: a bit of momentum with probably not controlling the ruck 21 00:01:12,187 --> 00:01:15,147 Speaker 3: as much, and then you know we just the second half, 22 00:01:15,227 --> 00:01:17,827 Speaker 3: we come out and you know, some good patches there. 23 00:01:17,867 --> 00:01:20,787 Speaker 3: But obviously, you know, the Dragons are a very good 24 00:01:20,987 --> 00:01:25,867 Speaker 3: attacking team, so we probably gave them too much, no 25 00:01:25,947 --> 00:01:29,227 Speaker 3: freedom to play, and you know, we discipline probably let 26 00:01:29,267 --> 00:01:31,787 Speaker 3: us down at times and we come up to a 27 00:01:31,787 --> 00:01:33,347 Speaker 3: couple of erarors when we sort of got a bit 28 00:01:33,387 --> 00:01:37,347 Speaker 3: of momentum back. But yeah, it was a really really 29 00:01:37,387 --> 00:01:40,387 Speaker 3: tough as cool performance and you know, we losing Jackson 30 00:01:40,787 --> 00:01:42,427 Speaker 3: forward in the middle, we put a bit of pressure 31 00:01:42,427 --> 00:01:44,947 Speaker 3: on Mitch Barnett and thereon Clarkter played some decent. 32 00:01:44,627 --> 00:01:48,067 Speaker 2: Minutes as far as the clinical nature of the first 33 00:01:48,067 --> 00:01:50,467 Speaker 2: half hours concerned stays. You know, you sit there and 34 00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:52,387 Speaker 2: watch that. I mean, how pleased were you with the 35 00:01:52,787 --> 00:01:54,027 Speaker 2: with the first thirty minutes or so? 36 00:01:55,227 --> 00:01:59,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, you know it was a really good how 37 00:01:59,227 --> 00:02:00,867 Speaker 3: we want to play the game, you know, as far 38 00:02:00,947 --> 00:02:03,227 Speaker 3: as you know, what we expect from our players and 39 00:02:03,547 --> 00:02:04,987 Speaker 3: you know, getting to the end of our sets and 40 00:02:04,987 --> 00:02:07,987 Speaker 3: putting them in tough positions to bring the ball back. 41 00:02:08,867 --> 00:02:10,907 Speaker 3: You know, we won that battle the momentum and there 42 00:02:10,947 --> 00:02:13,507 Speaker 3: was a there's a period there were balls and play 43 00:02:13,587 --> 00:02:17,507 Speaker 3: for I think over seven minutes and you know, they 44 00:02:18,067 --> 00:02:20,587 Speaker 3: they cracked first. So that was very pleasing for us 45 00:02:20,587 --> 00:02:22,827 Speaker 3: that we were able to play a long period of 46 00:02:22,827 --> 00:02:25,787 Speaker 3: time and putting the pressure back on them. 47 00:02:26,307 --> 00:02:28,227 Speaker 2: So they bring it back to fourteen. All, there's still 48 00:02:28,387 --> 00:02:30,227 Speaker 2: quite a bit of time to go twenty five minutes. Well, 49 00:02:30,267 --> 00:02:33,467 Speaker 2: so when do you start thinking about a drop goal 50 00:02:33,627 --> 00:02:35,187 Speaker 2: in a tight game like that? 51 00:02:37,467 --> 00:02:39,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, good question. You know he's going to get a 52 00:02:39,587 --> 00:02:43,467 Speaker 3: feel for it, and you know we're reflected on it. 53 00:02:43,547 --> 00:02:46,867 Speaker 3: And then I think it was Kurt Caple that when 54 00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:50,587 Speaker 3: it spoke to Luke about thinking about it soon. I 55 00:02:50,587 --> 00:02:52,747 Speaker 3: think it was Mark twelve thirty minutes to go when 56 00:02:53,507 --> 00:02:55,307 Speaker 3: when Luke did it, And I think Luke probably thought 57 00:02:55,307 --> 00:02:56,867 Speaker 3: it might have been a bit early, but you know, 58 00:02:56,907 --> 00:03:01,747 Speaker 3: he listened to the old head of of Kurt and 59 00:03:02,227 --> 00:03:04,267 Speaker 3: you know, it wasn't a lot of pressure on him, 60 00:03:04,267 --> 00:03:06,707 Speaker 3: and he nailed it. And then from there on was 61 00:03:06,907 --> 00:03:09,067 Speaker 3: you know, we we sort of had had our nose 62 00:03:09,107 --> 00:03:11,867 Speaker 3: in front as far as how the game was going, 63 00:03:11,907 --> 00:03:13,987 Speaker 3: and you know, we close it up pretty good. 64 00:03:14,507 --> 00:03:17,827 Speaker 2: You're a very good judge of blokes away the seven Jersey. 65 00:03:18,107 --> 00:03:20,147 Speaker 2: How have you assessed the growth and development of of 66 00:03:20,267 --> 00:03:21,587 Speaker 2: Luke Metcalf this year? 67 00:03:22,347 --> 00:03:25,027 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, he's getting a lot of confidence what he's 68 00:03:25,027 --> 00:03:28,987 Speaker 3: doing with the team. In his combination with Chanel, it 69 00:03:29,067 --> 00:03:31,987 Speaker 3: has been really good. And you know, Wayed egan there, 70 00:03:32,027 --> 00:03:35,067 Speaker 3: so they've got a really good, good connection with how 71 00:03:35,107 --> 00:03:39,227 Speaker 3: they're doing things. And look, you know there's there's premier 72 00:03:39,267 --> 00:03:41,947 Speaker 3: can prove it and Luke and his game and obviously, 73 00:03:42,027 --> 00:03:44,027 Speaker 3: you know, but like we said, the start day was 74 00:03:44,667 --> 00:03:47,187 Speaker 3: it was very good for him, but there are times 75 00:03:47,227 --> 00:03:50,427 Speaker 3: where you know he knows that he can get better, 76 00:03:50,507 --> 00:03:52,507 Speaker 3: and you know, we probably could have put a bit 77 00:03:52,547 --> 00:03:56,347 Speaker 3: more pressure on them. But yeah, Luke's just I think 78 00:03:56,427 --> 00:03:59,227 Speaker 3: these games has gone to another level and taking on 79 00:03:59,307 --> 00:04:02,587 Speaker 3: the responsibility of being our main ball player has been 80 00:04:02,627 --> 00:04:03,267 Speaker 3: really good for him. 81 00:04:03,747 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 2: Staces, you've won four games this season now by four 82 00:04:06,467 --> 00:04:08,147 Speaker 2: points all less. I know it's probably not great for 83 00:04:08,187 --> 00:04:10,547 Speaker 2: the heart rate up in the coach's box, but last 84 00:04:10,627 --> 00:04:12,987 Speaker 2: year you lost half a dozen games by that sort 85 00:04:12,987 --> 00:04:16,747 Speaker 2: of margin. How have you developed the ability to close 86 00:04:16,787 --> 00:04:18,067 Speaker 2: out type games? 87 00:04:19,027 --> 00:04:21,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess that's that's been a real pleasing part 88 00:04:21,387 --> 00:04:25,467 Speaker 3: of our performances where we have been able to win 89 00:04:25,547 --> 00:04:29,067 Speaker 3: these type ones. Obviously you needed luck to win some 90 00:04:29,107 --> 00:04:33,147 Speaker 3: games a bit more comfortable than what we had, but yeah, 91 00:04:33,267 --> 00:04:34,707 Speaker 3: I guess it's a beauty of it that we know 92 00:04:34,747 --> 00:04:37,227 Speaker 3: that there's a lot of improvement in this in this group, 93 00:04:37,307 --> 00:04:39,427 Speaker 3: and you know, winning these tough ones is only going 94 00:04:39,507 --> 00:04:43,467 Speaker 3: to make us a better team. So yeah, like I said, 95 00:04:43,507 --> 00:04:46,147 Speaker 3: it'd be nice to be a little bit more comfortable 96 00:04:46,627 --> 00:04:48,307 Speaker 3: and where we are at the moment of things. 97 00:04:48,787 --> 00:04:51,907 Speaker 2: And obviously before last night the d Dragons had lost 98 00:04:51,907 --> 00:04:54,187 Speaker 2: their last two, you'd won the previous three, so I 99 00:04:54,187 --> 00:04:56,787 Speaker 2: guess momentum is on your side. Do you think that 100 00:04:56,907 --> 00:05:00,267 Speaker 2: plays a part as well, when when games are really tough, 101 00:05:00,307 --> 00:05:02,627 Speaker 2: that you believe that you will get across the line. 102 00:05:03,507 --> 00:05:06,547 Speaker 3: I think you know this was anything Jason lo lot 103 00:05:06,587 --> 00:05:10,027 Speaker 3: wanting bridge confidence and none. Obviously when you're losing it 104 00:05:10,147 --> 00:05:12,707 Speaker 3: the sort of you know, you can knock your confidence. 105 00:05:12,787 --> 00:05:18,587 Speaker 3: So yeah, look, going going to you know, to Illawara 106 00:05:18,667 --> 00:05:20,547 Speaker 3: to play a game, and you know there are tough 107 00:05:20,587 --> 00:05:22,747 Speaker 3: teams to play down there. So that was a pleasing 108 00:05:22,787 --> 00:05:26,587 Speaker 3: thing about it, regardless of what happened to them previously 109 00:05:26,627 --> 00:05:29,387 Speaker 3: where they'd had a couple of losses, but they they 110 00:05:29,427 --> 00:05:31,547 Speaker 3: want a really good games this year. They beat Melbourne, 111 00:05:32,547 --> 00:05:35,347 Speaker 3: beat Manly away. You know they're a tough, tough unit 112 00:05:35,667 --> 00:05:39,427 Speaker 3: to beat you down and down in wildong. So yeah, 113 00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:42,587 Speaker 3: look for us, it's getting confidence with with what we're 114 00:05:42,627 --> 00:05:45,827 Speaker 3: doing and we know that you know, we can get better. 115 00:05:46,387 --> 00:05:48,867 Speaker 3: We need better by the way we need to get better. 116 00:05:49,027 --> 00:05:51,787 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, and and and as you as you said 117 00:05:51,787 --> 00:05:53,267 Speaker 2: on the planet and hopefully you get the chance to 118 00:05:53,307 --> 00:05:56,107 Speaker 2: watch movie or something. But as you analyze what happened 119 00:05:56,187 --> 00:05:58,387 Speaker 2: last night, where do you see the growth theory is 120 00:05:58,427 --> 00:05:59,107 Speaker 2: on the side. 121 00:05:59,827 --> 00:06:02,787 Speaker 3: I think you know, we spoke about the start, you know, 122 00:06:02,867 --> 00:06:04,747 Speaker 3: and it's not always going to go your way. But 123 00:06:05,627 --> 00:06:07,827 Speaker 3: similar to last you know, where we had a period 124 00:06:07,827 --> 00:06:10,907 Speaker 3: there of about ten to fifteen minutes where you know, 125 00:06:10,947 --> 00:06:13,787 Speaker 3: we let the cowboys that have dombinde us and you know, 126 00:06:13,907 --> 00:06:17,747 Speaker 3: I think, you know, it's just trying to help stop momentum, 127 00:06:17,787 --> 00:06:20,547 Speaker 3: and that's the game at the moment. Like nomentum is 128 00:06:20,547 --> 00:06:24,387 Speaker 3: a big thing. I've never seen how big teams can 129 00:06:24,467 --> 00:06:27,547 Speaker 3: swing things in the competition this year, you know, any 130 00:06:27,547 --> 00:06:31,347 Speaker 3: other time of how this competition has been going, where 131 00:06:31,547 --> 00:06:33,347 Speaker 3: you know, you can feel like you're comfortable, but as 132 00:06:33,387 --> 00:06:35,427 Speaker 3: soon as you slip up, teams are just too good 133 00:06:35,467 --> 00:06:38,307 Speaker 3: now to turn things. And you know, like I don't 134 00:06:38,347 --> 00:06:40,187 Speaker 3: know how many games you have anything this weekend where 135 00:06:40,707 --> 00:06:45,267 Speaker 3: teams have been in a position to win games comfortable, 136 00:06:45,267 --> 00:06:47,347 Speaker 3: but then all of a sudden, these other teams they 137 00:06:47,387 --> 00:06:49,067 Speaker 3: know how you know, they can get a bit of 138 00:06:49,107 --> 00:06:51,227 Speaker 3: confidence with what they do. And it's the tough thing 139 00:06:51,227 --> 00:06:51,667 Speaker 3: about it. 140 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:54,347 Speaker 2: Last time you won four straight was the back end 141 00:06:54,387 --> 00:06:57,227 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty three, when you won seven on the trump. 142 00:06:57,307 --> 00:06:59,307 Speaker 2: We know what a great season twenty twenty three was. 143 00:06:59,307 --> 00:07:02,427 Speaker 2: Does this feel a bit like twenty twenty three to you? 144 00:07:04,587 --> 00:07:07,907 Speaker 3: Oh? Look, certainly, the the support that the team, the 145 00:07:07,907 --> 00:07:10,347 Speaker 3: club's getting at the moment, it feels a bit like that. 146 00:07:10,427 --> 00:07:12,867 Speaker 3: But you know, obviously we know this is a new 147 00:07:12,867 --> 00:07:17,427 Speaker 3: group of players. You know, I think they're you know, 148 00:07:17,667 --> 00:07:20,747 Speaker 3: they're getting some really good confidence what they're doing. But yeah, 149 00:07:21,067 --> 00:07:24,627 Speaker 3: there's a long long way to go, Jason, and you know, 150 00:07:24,667 --> 00:07:26,987 Speaker 3: you can lose a couple then you know you can 151 00:07:27,027 --> 00:07:30,827 Speaker 3: find yourself, you know, outside the top eight. But you know, 152 00:07:30,907 --> 00:07:33,867 Speaker 3: for us, it's just keeping knowing, you know, taking each 153 00:07:33,907 --> 00:07:35,747 Speaker 3: game as it comes. You know, Origin is coming up, 154 00:07:35,747 --> 00:07:39,507 Speaker 3: and I think we'll probably lose definitely much and made 155 00:07:39,587 --> 00:07:41,227 Speaker 3: h KP to there, So there'll be a couple of 156 00:07:41,227 --> 00:07:44,307 Speaker 3: losses for us, and that will be a testing period 157 00:07:44,587 --> 00:07:46,987 Speaker 3: to see where're at and when it comes comes around. 158 00:07:47,507 --> 00:07:49,987 Speaker 2: Have a relaxing flight home, Stace. Thanks as always for 159 00:07:50,027 --> 00:07:50,587 Speaker 2: the chat mate. 160 00:07:50,867 --> 00:07:52,707 Speaker 3: I appreciate Jason Norris, but thank. 161 00:07:52,547 --> 00:07:55,507 Speaker 2: You, no, thank you, Stacy. Stacy joints Assistant coach of 162 00:07:55,547 --> 00:07:56,147 Speaker 2: the Warriors. 163 00:07:56,187 --> 00:07:59,787 Speaker 1: There for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 164 00:07:59,907 --> 00:08:03,507 Speaker 1: live to news talksz'd be weekends from midday, or follow 165 00:08:03,547 --> 00:08:05,147 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.