1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 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 Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:15,667 Speaker 2: Warrior's opponent in the first round of the NRL playoffs 4 00:00:15,667 --> 00:00:19,307 Speaker 2: has been confirmed. They will play the Penrith Panthers in 5 00:00:19,387 --> 00:00:23,227 Speaker 2: an elimination final at go Media Stadium next weekend, just 6 00:00:23,267 --> 00:00:26,427 Speaker 2: repeating the day and time yet to be confirmed. There 7 00:00:26,467 --> 00:00:30,467 Speaker 2: are reports of a Sunday afternoon game to avoid clashing 8 00:00:30,467 --> 00:00:33,147 Speaker 2: with the All Blacks on Saturday night. Quite how often 9 00:00:33,227 --> 00:00:37,347 Speaker 2: and how strictly the NRL look at these sorts of things, 10 00:00:37,427 --> 00:00:39,387 Speaker 2: I guess is entirely over to them, but it'd be 11 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:41,467 Speaker 2: nice to think that they could get a game on 12 00:00:41,507 --> 00:00:44,907 Speaker 2: the Sunday afternoon perhaps which has been reported in a 13 00:00:44,947 --> 00:00:48,987 Speaker 2: couple of outlets online, and avoid the All Blacks on 14 00:00:48,987 --> 00:00:51,027 Speaker 2: a Saturday night. Regardless, there's going to be a big, 15 00:00:51,387 --> 00:00:54,147 Speaker 2: big test for the Warriors as the four time defending 16 00:00:54,227 --> 00:00:58,107 Speaker 2: champion Penrith Panthers come to town. Former Warrior ow Skysport 17 00:00:58,187 --> 00:01:00,947 Speaker 2: Rugby League analyst Willy Poaching is with us. Willy, this 18 00:01:01,147 --> 00:01:03,907 Speaker 2: is a tough draw for the Warriors, there's no getting 19 00:01:03,907 --> 00:01:05,587 Speaker 2: away from it. But at the stage of the season, 20 00:01:05,627 --> 00:01:07,827 Speaker 2: I guess there are no easy games as we go 21 00:01:07,947 --> 00:01:11,587 Speaker 2: into the top eight in general terms, how do you 22 00:01:11,627 --> 00:01:15,787 Speaker 2: evaluate the Warriors' ability to beat the Panthers next weekend? 23 00:01:17,227 --> 00:01:19,987 Speaker 3: Well, they have an ability, they and that's the thing 24 00:01:20,067 --> 00:01:22,307 Speaker 3: to start with. They have a chance to beat them. 25 00:01:22,307 --> 00:01:25,987 Speaker 3: And yeah, it's a tough proposition to go against the 26 00:01:26,027 --> 00:01:28,587 Speaker 3: reigning champions who are chasing five titles in a row. 27 00:01:28,667 --> 00:01:33,307 Speaker 3: But it's an exciting challenge at the same time. And 28 00:01:33,347 --> 00:01:35,227 Speaker 3: by the same time, it's a tough challenge for the 29 00:01:35,267 --> 00:01:38,547 Speaker 3: Panthers to come over here to or to take on 30 00:01:38,627 --> 00:01:41,747 Speaker 3: the Warriors in their background, who are desperate, who are hungry, 31 00:01:42,107 --> 00:01:44,787 Speaker 3: their backs against the wall. I just see the Warriors 32 00:01:45,387 --> 00:01:47,947 Speaker 3: come out with both gloves up, fighting all the way through? 33 00:01:48,467 --> 00:01:51,827 Speaker 2: Are the Panthers a slightly less intimidating opponent than they 34 00:01:51,827 --> 00:01:53,467 Speaker 2: have been in the last few years. 35 00:01:56,107 --> 00:01:57,867 Speaker 3: When you look at the troubles that they had at 36 00:01:57,907 --> 00:02:01,827 Speaker 3: the start of the season, and you know what that 37 00:02:01,987 --> 00:02:04,107 Speaker 3: comes through what they have of experience, And you can't 38 00:02:04,147 --> 00:02:07,347 Speaker 3: discount for any of that, specially at this time of year, 39 00:02:08,307 --> 00:02:11,427 Speaker 3: their experience that doing the right things and getting ready 40 00:02:11,747 --> 00:02:13,867 Speaker 3: at the right time. The coach gave them all the 41 00:02:13,947 --> 00:02:17,227 Speaker 3: rest a couple of weeks ago so they're freshened up 42 00:02:17,267 --> 00:02:20,067 Speaker 3: a little bit and they're focus, but I think they're probed. 43 00:02:20,347 --> 00:02:22,827 Speaker 3: I think it's a great opportunity for more Warriors to 44 00:02:22,867 --> 00:02:24,427 Speaker 3: turn things around next week. 45 00:02:24,667 --> 00:02:26,507 Speaker 2: The Warriors coming to the finals off the back of 46 00:02:26,667 --> 00:02:28,547 Speaker 2: back to back defeats to the Eels and the Sea 47 00:02:28,547 --> 00:02:31,667 Speaker 2: Eagles to finish their regular season, well, how easily can 48 00:02:31,787 --> 00:02:34,147 Speaker 2: can that be put to one side and a clean 49 00:02:34,267 --> 00:02:36,707 Speaker 2: slate applied for the finals. 50 00:02:39,187 --> 00:02:42,267 Speaker 3: I was thinking about this after the loss on the 51 00:02:42,307 --> 00:02:46,347 Speaker 3: weekend and now some of the stuff that was mentioned 52 00:02:46,947 --> 00:02:50,307 Speaker 3: by us on Sky but also by Kirk Cape, well 53 00:02:50,347 --> 00:02:53,627 Speaker 3: after the game. It's a new competition. Now the slate 54 00:02:53,787 --> 00:02:57,667 Speaker 3: is clean, and both teams come to it's do or die, 55 00:02:58,067 --> 00:03:00,307 Speaker 3: and the focus is just that when you're a player, 56 00:03:00,347 --> 00:03:03,347 Speaker 3: you turn up on Monday and knowing that okay, it's 57 00:03:03,427 --> 00:03:06,587 Speaker 3: all or nothing now. So they'll be a big focus 58 00:03:06,667 --> 00:03:10,587 Speaker 3: in training going into this week. Pro fession knows what's 59 00:03:10,707 --> 00:03:13,347 Speaker 3: needed at this time of year as much as the 60 00:03:13,387 --> 00:03:16,067 Speaker 3: opposition does. I think the guys will be ready and 61 00:03:16,107 --> 00:03:19,827 Speaker 3: pumped the things to fix up. Technically, it's the errors. 62 00:03:19,987 --> 00:03:22,267 Speaker 3: It's just the simple errors for them. It's the same 63 00:03:22,267 --> 00:03:26,267 Speaker 3: against paramatter and the same last week. So if they 64 00:03:26,307 --> 00:03:28,947 Speaker 3: can dignify that hold the ball, especially for a team 65 00:03:28,987 --> 00:03:33,947 Speaker 3: that's prided itself so much on completing high they're just 66 00:03:34,147 --> 00:03:37,467 Speaker 3: losing moments and opportunities to put the under put the 67 00:03:37,507 --> 00:03:41,067 Speaker 3: opposition under pressure. They can do that this week. Secure 68 00:03:41,107 --> 00:03:43,387 Speaker 3: the ball, control the ball, control. 69 00:03:43,107 --> 00:03:47,027 Speaker 2: The game, elimination of eras. Is that coachable? Welly, can 70 00:03:47,067 --> 00:03:49,907 Speaker 2: you coach elimination of those of those errors? 71 00:03:51,107 --> 00:03:52,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, you can, you can. And that's going to be 72 00:03:52,947 --> 00:03:55,827 Speaker 3: a focus by the coach and whether that's just mere 73 00:03:55,867 --> 00:03:59,147 Speaker 3: words but practice, and it's also an element of concentration 74 00:03:59,267 --> 00:04:04,707 Speaker 3: and personal pride. And some of it is fundamentals knocking 75 00:04:04,787 --> 00:04:07,867 Speaker 3: on at dummy half and simple catching of the ball 76 00:04:07,947 --> 00:04:10,907 Speaker 3: as James for Harris had and I'm not trying to 77 00:04:10,907 --> 00:04:15,307 Speaker 3: point him out, but just those little moments, you know, 78 00:04:15,507 --> 00:04:17,867 Speaker 3: just be focused. As I said, they'll turn up on 79 00:04:17,907 --> 00:04:20,827 Speaker 3: Monday ready switched on to go. That I'll go into 80 00:04:20,827 --> 00:04:23,507 Speaker 3: the game, whether that's Saturday or Sunday night, Sunday night, 81 00:04:23,507 --> 00:04:26,427 Speaker 3: I'll be perfect. Gives them another day to build up 82 00:04:26,427 --> 00:04:28,867 Speaker 3: and get themselves primed and ready to go. 83 00:04:29,267 --> 00:04:30,987 Speaker 2: He mentioned James Fasher Harris. There are a couple of 84 00:04:30,987 --> 00:04:34,427 Speaker 2: times nine seasons and all that success at the Panthers 85 00:04:34,427 --> 00:04:36,387 Speaker 2: and here he is in his first season the Warriors 86 00:04:36,587 --> 00:04:38,947 Speaker 2: and he's facing the Panthers in his first knockout game 87 00:04:38,947 --> 00:04:40,747 Speaker 2: for his new club. How do you reckon he'd be 88 00:04:40,787 --> 00:04:42,547 Speaker 2: feeling pumped? 89 00:04:43,227 --> 00:04:46,987 Speaker 3: Pump. He's a competitor, he's you know, he's the leader 90 00:04:46,987 --> 00:04:49,947 Speaker 3: of this group and he's thriving on it. Help me pumped? 91 00:04:49,987 --> 00:04:52,107 Speaker 3: Ready to go. As soon as he won that Grand 92 00:04:52,187 --> 00:04:56,987 Speaker 3: Final last week last year, his association with the Panthers 93 00:04:57,107 --> 00:04:59,227 Speaker 3: was done. He was all focused on the Warriors getting 94 00:04:59,227 --> 00:05:02,427 Speaker 3: ready to go. Yeah, he's he's going to be a 95 00:05:02,467 --> 00:05:05,467 Speaker 3: truly inspirational character in that dressing in sweet like he 96 00:05:05,507 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 3: has done all seasons. 97 00:05:06,547 --> 00:05:10,067 Speaker 2: We saw Rockeyberry Golfinger the other night. Don't know any 98 00:05:10,267 --> 00:05:12,347 Speaker 2: any more about whether he'll be okay for this weekend. 99 00:05:12,427 --> 00:05:15,107 Speaker 2: He's had a rotten run with injuries. If the years out, 100 00:05:15,787 --> 00:05:17,587 Speaker 2: how big a blow is that for the Warriors. 101 00:05:18,427 --> 00:05:22,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, it didn't look good, as you said, No official 102 00:05:22,387 --> 00:05:25,427 Speaker 3: word about what injury it is and how significant it is, 103 00:05:25,587 --> 00:05:27,827 Speaker 3: so now thing as a cross. But he is just Yeah, 104 00:05:27,867 --> 00:05:30,787 Speaker 3: he's had a tough time of it in twenty twenty five. 105 00:05:32,147 --> 00:05:35,267 Speaker 3: It started in twenty twenty four and the season got 106 00:05:35,307 --> 00:05:38,987 Speaker 3: plaid the start of it anyway, And yeah, he was 107 00:05:39,027 --> 00:05:41,547 Speaker 3: able to string three games together and then bang it 108 00:05:41,627 --> 00:05:45,227 Speaker 3: goes again. So yeah, he'll be hoping that this year 109 00:05:45,307 --> 00:05:48,467 Speaker 3: for him is just an anomaly. He gets a good 110 00:05:48,547 --> 00:05:50,987 Speaker 3: pre season under his gets strong and healthy and come back. 111 00:05:51,067 --> 00:05:53,227 Speaker 3: But he is a loss. He's a loss to that 112 00:05:53,347 --> 00:05:58,187 Speaker 3: side and whoever they chock in that position. And you know, 113 00:05:58,587 --> 00:06:00,627 Speaker 3: the good thing is a couple of players have had 114 00:06:00,627 --> 00:06:02,987 Speaker 3: a chance to be and that spot on the field 115 00:06:03,027 --> 00:06:05,987 Speaker 3: for the Warriors this season, so there won't be unfamiliar 116 00:06:06,027 --> 00:06:07,787 Speaker 3: to whoever he puts them there. 117 00:06:07,987 --> 00:06:09,947 Speaker 2: And on the plus side, I think Jackson Ford's available 118 00:06:09,947 --> 00:06:12,547 Speaker 2: again after his suspension. So that's a boost, isn't it 119 00:06:12,587 --> 00:06:13,747 Speaker 2: having Jackson Ford back there? 120 00:06:14,427 --> 00:06:17,627 Speaker 3: Oh? Massively? Yeah, it sounds like him and Jacob lab 121 00:06:17,707 --> 00:06:21,107 Speaker 3: and will we sit again, So a couple of extra 122 00:06:21,187 --> 00:06:23,347 Speaker 3: bodies for the coach to pick from. But Jackson Ford 123 00:06:23,467 --> 00:06:25,947 Speaker 3: or he's been great and then played some long minutes 124 00:06:25,987 --> 00:06:28,947 Speaker 3: and quality minutes for the Warriors. When he's been out 125 00:06:28,987 --> 00:06:32,827 Speaker 3: there again, he's had a moment to freshen up, get 126 00:06:32,947 --> 00:06:36,347 Speaker 3: himself ready and riding and fast and it's steady to 127 00:06:36,427 --> 00:06:39,507 Speaker 3: go for this week. He'll he'll have some punch through 128 00:06:39,587 --> 00:06:40,947 Speaker 3: that middle. James Fisher House. 129 00:06:41,227 --> 00:06:43,907 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, we wait to see when and what time 130 00:06:43,987 --> 00:06:45,707 Speaker 2: this game will be. We know they're facing the Panthers. 131 00:06:45,747 --> 00:06:48,027 Speaker 2: Will find out when very soon. Will he always good 132 00:06:48,027 --> 00:06:49,107 Speaker 2: to get your analysis, mate. 133 00:06:48,947 --> 00:06:51,427 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us, Thanks mate, thanks for having us. 134 00:06:51,507 --> 00:06:53,827 Speaker 2: No, thanks for joining us, Willy will he poaching there 135 00:06:55,027 --> 00:06:57,707 Speaker 2: part of the Sky Sport Rugby League team. 136 00:06:58,547 --> 00:07:01,707 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 137 00:07:01,827 --> 00:07:05,107 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow 138 00:07:05,187 --> 00:07:06,747 Speaker 1: the podcast on radio