1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,547 Speaker 1: from newstalksb. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,107 Speaker 2: Relations on game number one hundred. It's a bit of 4 00:00:15,107 --> 00:00:17,867 Speaker 2: a full circle, isn't it. Your very first one was 5 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:22,027 Speaker 2: for the Warriors against the Storm back in twenty seventeen. 6 00:00:22,147 --> 00:00:25,867 Speaker 2: That was before you set off on your NRL adventures. 7 00:00:25,907 --> 00:00:28,267 Speaker 2: So what do you remember of your first game in 8 00:00:28,307 --> 00:00:30,467 Speaker 2: the NRAL. I think you've only got about six minutes. 9 00:00:31,987 --> 00:00:36,227 Speaker 3: Not very much, mate, not very much. I just remember 10 00:00:36,307 --> 00:00:38,507 Speaker 3: sitting in there was pissing down that day. I was 11 00:00:38,507 --> 00:00:42,147 Speaker 3: sitting out in the rain, full of just waiting, waiting, waiting. 12 00:00:43,067 --> 00:00:44,827 Speaker 3: But lucky enough for mate. I think a lot of 13 00:00:44,867 --> 00:00:46,827 Speaker 3: kids dream of it. So whether it was six minutes 14 00:00:46,947 --> 00:00:51,027 Speaker 3: or one minute or seventy nine minutes, you know, people 15 00:00:51,107 --> 00:00:53,627 Speaker 3: dream of that. That's that, those things, And I was 16 00:00:53,667 --> 00:00:55,947 Speaker 3: lucky enough to get a debut hea at home. 17 00:00:56,787 --> 00:00:58,707 Speaker 2: And here you are now on the cusp of one 18 00:00:58,747 --> 00:01:01,187 Speaker 2: hundred games. Of course, you went off shore, spend time 19 00:01:01,227 --> 00:01:03,707 Speaker 2: at Canberra, back to New Zealand and domestic rugby league, 20 00:01:03,707 --> 00:01:06,947 Speaker 2: then to the Titans in twenty twenty nine, four games 21 00:01:06,947 --> 00:01:09,107 Speaker 2: across five seasons there. How do you reflect back on 22 00:01:09,147 --> 00:01:14,667 Speaker 2: your your time on the Gold Coast. 23 00:01:14,667 --> 00:01:17,707 Speaker 3: Firstly, they gave me opportunity. They kind of took a 24 00:01:17,707 --> 00:01:23,667 Speaker 3: gable with me, had a lot of baggage, and yeah, 25 00:01:23,747 --> 00:01:27,587 Speaker 3: kind of inned the contract there. So pretty grateful for 26 00:01:27,667 --> 00:01:29,907 Speaker 3: them for showing a bit of faith in me and 27 00:01:29,947 --> 00:01:36,427 Speaker 3: giving this lost at the time kid ninety four rugby 28 00:01:36,507 --> 00:01:38,907 Speaker 3: League games. So I'm pretty lucky. 29 00:01:39,307 --> 00:01:41,627 Speaker 2: I guess it kind of leads to a question about 30 00:01:41,707 --> 00:01:44,467 Speaker 2: you now compared to you back when you left the Worries. 31 00:01:44,507 --> 00:01:47,107 Speaker 2: I mean, how different a person and a player are 32 00:01:47,147 --> 00:01:49,467 Speaker 2: you compared to when you left the Warriores eight years ago. 33 00:01:50,867 --> 00:01:54,427 Speaker 3: I think as a person made this kind of the 34 00:01:54,467 --> 00:01:58,747 Speaker 3: biggest change I've seen in myself. Just having kids kind 35 00:01:58,747 --> 00:02:04,107 Speaker 3: of changes your whole perspective and outlook and life. I 36 00:02:04,187 --> 00:02:05,747 Speaker 3: was a kid back then when I devid. I think 37 00:02:05,747 --> 00:02:09,827 Speaker 3: I was nineteen and kind of didn't realize what I 38 00:02:09,827 --> 00:02:12,787 Speaker 3: had at the time. I was young, like I've said 39 00:02:12,787 --> 00:02:16,507 Speaker 3: a lot of times, arrogant mate, and just thought I 40 00:02:16,547 --> 00:02:20,507 Speaker 3: had it all when really had nothing. And then just 41 00:02:20,987 --> 00:02:23,747 Speaker 3: I've learned like a lot of gratitude, being grateful for 42 00:02:23,787 --> 00:02:26,587 Speaker 3: where I am and it can all get taken away 43 00:02:26,627 --> 00:02:29,547 Speaker 3: like that, And because I've been through the hard route. 44 00:02:29,987 --> 00:02:33,347 Speaker 3: I've kind of taught myself to be grateful for where 45 00:02:33,347 --> 00:02:36,467 Speaker 3: I am. And you know, now, I've got three kids 46 00:02:36,467 --> 00:02:39,467 Speaker 3: looking up to me, and you know, you've got to 47 00:02:39,507 --> 00:02:41,907 Speaker 3: be the best role model for them, and I don't 48 00:02:41,907 --> 00:02:45,347 Speaker 3: want them making the same mistakes either. And yes, kind 49 00:02:45,347 --> 00:02:47,387 Speaker 3: of a bit of a full circle, like you said. 50 00:02:47,227 --> 00:02:50,027 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it's a great outlook eron and you've come 51 00:02:50,107 --> 00:02:53,227 Speaker 2: back to the Warriors, slipped into the thirteen jersey that 52 00:02:53,427 --> 00:02:55,747 Speaker 2: Taho Harris wore many times before he was in Jim 53 00:02:55,787 --> 00:02:59,467 Speaker 2: midway through last season, have you felt any responsibility to 54 00:03:00,267 --> 00:03:03,227 Speaker 2: carry on a legacy of one of the Warriors greatest ever? 55 00:03:05,027 --> 00:03:06,627 Speaker 3: I beck you up on that. He probably he was 56 00:03:06,627 --> 00:03:10,347 Speaker 3: one of the greatest Warriors players. But I'm just trying 57 00:03:10,387 --> 00:03:15,947 Speaker 3: to sounds cliche, but be better every game. I tend 58 00:03:15,987 --> 00:03:20,547 Speaker 3: to not really put their pressure on myself or obviously 59 00:03:20,587 --> 00:03:22,027 Speaker 3: I know I got a big role to play because 60 00:03:22,027 --> 00:03:26,187 Speaker 3: I'm at thirteen, middle link to the Hars. But all 61 00:03:26,227 --> 00:03:28,187 Speaker 3: I can do is control what I can control, and 62 00:03:28,227 --> 00:03:31,627 Speaker 3: that's preparing well for game day and putting my best 63 00:03:31,627 --> 00:03:34,027 Speaker 3: foot foot on the game when it comes to game day. 64 00:03:34,067 --> 00:03:37,307 Speaker 3: So I focus on what I can control. Mate, then yeah, 65 00:03:37,587 --> 00:03:40,027 Speaker 3: other stuff take care takes care of itself. 66 00:03:40,107 --> 00:03:42,747 Speaker 2: Well, it certainly is at the moment. One number that 67 00:03:42,827 --> 00:03:46,107 Speaker 2: stands out on your game is your tackle efficiency. I 68 00:03:46,147 --> 00:03:49,027 Speaker 2: mean you hardly ever missed one. How much do you 69 00:03:49,107 --> 00:03:50,307 Speaker 2: pride yourself on that? 70 00:03:51,907 --> 00:03:52,107 Speaker 1: Oh? 71 00:03:52,187 --> 00:03:53,747 Speaker 3: Man? I think you might have to watch the Rooster's 72 00:03:53,747 --> 00:03:55,627 Speaker 3: game because I must have tackled that leads to the trial. 73 00:03:55,747 --> 00:03:57,747 Speaker 4: So well, well, there's one. You can have one. 74 00:03:58,387 --> 00:04:01,107 Speaker 3: I miss the crucial one. I don't miss many tackles, 75 00:04:01,107 --> 00:04:02,747 Speaker 3: but I missed one crucial one. 76 00:04:04,347 --> 00:04:05,707 Speaker 4: Is there something that you pride yourself? 77 00:04:06,667 --> 00:04:08,987 Speaker 3: Ah? Yeah, I do, Bro, And I think with games 78 00:04:08,987 --> 00:04:12,267 Speaker 3: Fisher Harris coming to the club and Mitch Barnett there, 79 00:04:12,787 --> 00:04:16,347 Speaker 3: that's like they pride themselves on our defense, and that's 80 00:04:16,507 --> 00:04:19,467 Speaker 3: that's something that i'm and they pushed me to be 81 00:04:19,547 --> 00:04:22,627 Speaker 3: better defensively all the time. And I think having Fish 82 00:04:22,667 --> 00:04:28,067 Speaker 3: there kind of changes my perspective on rugby league. He's 83 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:31,427 Speaker 3: kind of taught me the tough, the tough way rugby league, 84 00:04:31,427 --> 00:04:35,027 Speaker 3: and that's and that's all defense orientated. And that's like 85 00:04:35,107 --> 00:04:38,147 Speaker 3: defense is hard, Bro. But and this is what he 86 00:04:38,187 --> 00:04:39,827 Speaker 3: said to me, He said, defense is tough, but it 87 00:04:39,907 --> 00:04:41,827 Speaker 3: wins your games At wins your Grand Finals, it wins 88 00:04:41,867 --> 00:04:45,627 Speaker 3: you listen to that. So I think having fish there 89 00:04:45,667 --> 00:04:48,347 Speaker 3: is kind of helped me in that way. Yeah. 90 00:04:48,347 --> 00:04:51,787 Speaker 2: Well, it's certainly been a main feature or a feature 91 00:04:51,827 --> 00:04:54,347 Speaker 2: of your last three performances as a as a team 92 00:04:54,347 --> 00:04:57,027 Speaker 2: that wins over the Sea Eagles, the Roosters, and the 93 00:04:57,067 --> 00:04:59,307 Speaker 2: Tigers off the back of what was a disappointing start 94 00:04:59,307 --> 00:05:01,907 Speaker 2: in Vegas. What else in the last three games, Erin 95 00:05:01,947 --> 00:05:05,187 Speaker 2: has been kind of really key to those three victories. 96 00:05:06,427 --> 00:05:09,587 Speaker 3: I think, like you talk about team culture and team 97 00:05:09,987 --> 00:05:12,387 Speaker 3: like you put yourself, brothers and the team, and I 98 00:05:12,387 --> 00:05:15,947 Speaker 3: think we're seeing that bond. Like you look at back 99 00:05:15,987 --> 00:05:19,027 Speaker 3: in the games, we're still fighting, like we're down. I 100 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:23,387 Speaker 3: think the Roosters we were down and mainly sorry not 101 00:05:23,467 --> 00:05:28,227 Speaker 3: mainly Tigers, we were down and to claw back that 102 00:05:28,427 --> 00:05:31,867 Speaker 3: just comes back to pure I think resilience and wanting 103 00:05:31,867 --> 00:05:36,507 Speaker 3: to do it for each other. Yeah. Like, and and 104 00:05:36,587 --> 00:05:39,027 Speaker 3: to be honest, we still haven't even hit our streps. 105 00:05:39,067 --> 00:05:41,387 Speaker 3: I think we've still got so much to improve on 106 00:05:43,187 --> 00:05:46,027 Speaker 3: and hopefully we can slowly work on those things and 107 00:05:46,067 --> 00:05:48,787 Speaker 3: it will hopefully work. Wonders and team performance. 108 00:05:49,267 --> 00:05:52,627 Speaker 2: So after the three wins, then the bye of course. 109 00:05:52,667 --> 00:05:54,907 Speaker 2: Did they come at a slightly inconvenient time given the 110 00:05:54,947 --> 00:05:58,547 Speaker 2: momentum you're built, or was it a chance to refresh 111 00:05:58,587 --> 00:05:59,027 Speaker 2: a little bit? 112 00:05:59,627 --> 00:06:01,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's it's how you look at the 113 00:06:01,787 --> 00:06:04,587 Speaker 3: buye or the way you look at it. I think 114 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:08,027 Speaker 3: it was probably you can't control what's putting in front 115 00:06:08,067 --> 00:06:09,947 Speaker 3: of you, so I think we took it as more 116 00:06:09,947 --> 00:06:13,467 Speaker 3: of a risk recovery, reset and then get ready to 117 00:06:13,507 --> 00:06:18,227 Speaker 3: go again because it's got a tough couple of weeks 118 00:06:19,107 --> 00:06:21,627 Speaker 3: until the next one, so we've got to rest the 119 00:06:21,667 --> 00:06:24,707 Speaker 3: bodies and get to go again. Melbourne. 120 00:06:24,747 --> 00:06:27,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, fair enough. And just on the storm. How formidable 121 00:06:27,827 --> 00:06:29,067 Speaker 4: and opponents are they? 122 00:06:30,067 --> 00:06:33,587 Speaker 3: Oh? Mate, They've been the benchmark for obviously, them and 123 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:36,147 Speaker 3: Penrith have been the benchmark of the competition for since 124 00:06:36,147 --> 00:06:41,067 Speaker 3: I can remember, probably years, and they just they've got 125 00:06:41,427 --> 00:06:44,187 Speaker 3: key players all over the park and you can't just 126 00:06:44,227 --> 00:06:46,347 Speaker 3: you can't switch off. So defensively, we've got to be 127 00:06:46,427 --> 00:06:49,547 Speaker 3: ready and they'll throw the ball around from their own 128 00:06:49,627 --> 00:06:52,987 Speaker 3: half as good as anyone. Say, we just got to 129 00:06:52,987 --> 00:06:54,707 Speaker 3: be ready, ready to reset. 130 00:06:55,147 --> 00:06:56,707 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if you're a numbers man or not, 131 00:06:56,787 --> 00:06:59,107 Speaker 2: but it's been I've read this today it's been sixteen 132 00:06:59,227 --> 00:07:01,987 Speaker 2: games since the Warriors last week the storm, But do 133 00:07:02,027 --> 00:07:04,867 Speaker 2: you feel like that'll fix you less because you haven't 134 00:07:04,867 --> 00:07:06,187 Speaker 2: actually been here for most of that. 135 00:07:07,387 --> 00:07:10,547 Speaker 3: No, man, I think I got that same question today 136 00:07:10,587 --> 00:07:13,107 Speaker 3: earlier in the day, and it was My response was, like, 137 00:07:13,467 --> 00:07:15,507 Speaker 3: it's the new year. I think every year is a 138 00:07:15,507 --> 00:07:21,507 Speaker 3: new year, and this is a new team. And I 139 00:07:21,627 --> 00:07:23,747 Speaker 3: never read into that stuff, and I don't think anyone does. 140 00:07:23,827 --> 00:07:25,947 Speaker 3: But I think the team we got now is good 141 00:07:26,027 --> 00:07:29,227 Speaker 3: enough to do the job, and I'm actually looking forward 142 00:07:29,227 --> 00:07:33,627 Speaker 3: to them, and I'm I'm pretty happy that one hundreds 143 00:07:33,627 --> 00:07:35,707 Speaker 3: game falls on this game, So yeah, I'm looking forward 144 00:07:35,707 --> 00:07:36,587 Speaker 3: to it outstanding. 145 00:07:36,627 --> 00:07:38,027 Speaker 2: And I know you're only looking at this one, But 146 00:07:38,067 --> 00:07:40,427 Speaker 2: have you got a bit of a sneaky ring around 147 00:07:40,667 --> 00:07:42,787 Speaker 2: round twenty one late July when you'll come. 148 00:07:42,747 --> 00:07:45,507 Speaker 4: Up against the time? I can even I heard the laugh. 149 00:07:45,547 --> 00:07:46,707 Speaker 4: You knew what I was talking about. 150 00:07:48,747 --> 00:07:51,827 Speaker 3: I just hate that it's so far away, mate, I'm 151 00:07:51,907 --> 00:07:53,667 Speaker 3: just I was it was. I wish it was like 152 00:07:53,747 --> 00:07:56,947 Speaker 3: next week or something, because but I still got good 153 00:07:56,947 --> 00:08:00,067 Speaker 3: relationships with a few of the boys, so there would 154 00:08:00,107 --> 00:08:02,227 Speaker 3: be a bit of laughs Saturday. 155 00:08:02,387 --> 00:08:05,707 Speaker 2: Definitely, it's been so good watching you guys, since you 156 00:08:05,747 --> 00:08:07,387 Speaker 2: got back from I Guess three in a row looks 157 00:08:07,427 --> 00:08:08,827 Speaker 2: hope you can make it four against the storm. 158 00:08:08,987 --> 00:08:10,947 Speaker 4: Congrats on reaching number one hundred air and hope it's 159 00:08:10,947 --> 00:08:11,667 Speaker 4: a cracker. 160 00:08:11,347 --> 00:08:13,427 Speaker 3: For you DearS mate. Thank you very much. 161 00:08:14,187 --> 00:08:17,347 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live 162 00:08:17,467 --> 00:08:20,747 Speaker 1: to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow 163 00:08:20,787 --> 00:08:22,427 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.