1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,507 Speaker 1: from Newstalks. 3 00:00:11,587 --> 00:00:15,627 Speaker 2: EDB Warriors have enjoyed one of their best ever starts 4 00:00:15,667 --> 00:00:21,787 Speaker 2: to an NRL season. Tower a better fact Cakewell here's. 5 00:00:21,667 --> 00:00:23,307 Speaker 3: Top tea, top tea. 6 00:00:25,307 --> 00:00:27,907 Speaker 1: You think there's gonna be any doubt about that one? 7 00:00:28,707 --> 00:00:30,747 Speaker 3: I was in an away and that they don't. 8 00:00:30,627 --> 00:00:33,787 Speaker 2: Argue with bed come on his chest, left there and 9 00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:34,347 Speaker 2: did it for. 10 00:00:34,347 --> 00:00:35,067 Speaker 3: Everyone to see. 11 00:00:35,187 --> 00:00:38,267 Speaker 2: And when last weekend has them five and two heading 12 00:00:38,267 --> 00:00:42,267 Speaker 2: into magic Round this weekend, are they taking notice? Across 13 00:00:42,307 --> 00:00:45,667 Speaker 2: the Tasman, let's find out. We bring in rugby league 14 00:00:45,867 --> 00:00:50,107 Speaker 2: royalty twelve meters out in front, first in the church 15 00:00:50,147 --> 00:00:51,787 Speaker 2: from which coat he hits it. 16 00:00:52,947 --> 00:00:53,867 Speaker 1: He's got the. 17 00:00:53,667 --> 00:00:56,387 Speaker 3: Fun, he's got the premission. 18 00:00:57,787 --> 00:01:00,867 Speaker 2: He has come from, as I said, a captain of 19 00:01:00,987 --> 00:01:02,027 Speaker 2: a legend. 20 00:01:02,267 --> 00:01:04,347 Speaker 3: And probably rugby league. 21 00:01:04,187 --> 00:01:07,587 Speaker 2: Immortality, one of the great is to ever play the 22 00:01:07,627 --> 00:01:10,627 Speaker 2: game for the Bulldogs, for North Queensland, for Queensland state 23 00:01:10,667 --> 00:01:14,067 Speaker 2: of origin, and for the Kangaroos. Jonathan Thurston of course, 24 00:01:14,067 --> 00:01:16,467 Speaker 2: who joins us now? Jonathan, thanks for taking the time. 25 00:01:16,507 --> 00:01:20,347 Speaker 2: Are you taking notice of the Warriors over on your 26 00:01:20,387 --> 00:01:23,187 Speaker 2: side of the Tasman? Are the general rugby league public 27 00:01:23,627 --> 00:01:25,467 Speaker 2: taking notice of the Warriors. 28 00:01:26,267 --> 00:01:28,787 Speaker 3: I certainly am. They've had a great start to the 29 00:01:28,867 --> 00:01:33,187 Speaker 3: year the Warriors, obviously Vegas. The first game in Vegas 30 00:01:33,267 --> 00:01:36,067 Speaker 3: wasn't great, but they've bounced back from Martin. They're playing 31 00:01:36,067 --> 00:01:39,027 Speaker 3: some really good football. So they've had a fair few 32 00:01:39,107 --> 00:01:42,467 Speaker 3: injuries too to overcome, but they got a squad there 33 00:01:42,507 --> 00:01:45,627 Speaker 3: that keeps doing the job and keeps getting the win. 34 00:01:45,787 --> 00:01:48,907 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think the teams would be very wary 35 00:01:49,027 --> 00:01:50,827 Speaker 3: of the Warriors. 36 00:01:51,107 --> 00:01:53,187 Speaker 2: I can to ask you about the halves combo. With 37 00:01:53,387 --> 00:01:56,107 Speaker 2: Sean Johnson gone now, of course, Luke metcalf has taken 38 00:01:56,107 --> 00:01:59,347 Speaker 2: the seven jumper, Chanelle Harris Tavita has been his halves 39 00:01:59,427 --> 00:02:01,547 Speaker 2: partner so far, what have you made of that combination. 40 00:02:02,907 --> 00:02:06,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're obviously still getting used to each other. We've 41 00:02:06,467 --> 00:02:09,467 Speaker 3: got a lot of reps in the preseason, but now 42 00:02:09,467 --> 00:02:12,747 Speaker 3: that they're playing together, they're playing some good footing. I 43 00:02:12,907 --> 00:02:17,867 Speaker 3: pressed with Metcalfy's at half back. He's been playing really 44 00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:21,387 Speaker 3: well and I think both of them compliment each other 45 00:02:21,547 --> 00:02:24,867 Speaker 3: really well. So they've got a forward pack that you know, 46 00:02:24,867 --> 00:02:26,747 Speaker 3: it can lay a platform and then they can play 47 00:02:26,747 --> 00:02:29,107 Speaker 3: off the back of that. So when their forwards are 48 00:02:29,147 --> 00:02:31,467 Speaker 3: going well, they're playing on the front foot, and that's 49 00:02:31,467 --> 00:02:34,707 Speaker 3: what you want us a half and the evolution and 50 00:02:35,307 --> 00:02:38,107 Speaker 3: I suppose the game management and stuff that's what they'll 51 00:02:38,187 --> 00:02:40,867 Speaker 3: learn over the next couple of years. But yeah, at 52 00:02:40,867 --> 00:02:42,547 Speaker 3: the moment they're going really well. 53 00:02:43,027 --> 00:02:45,907 Speaker 2: How long does it typically take to really feel comfortable 54 00:02:46,267 --> 00:02:47,387 Speaker 2: in a halves combination? 55 00:02:50,347 --> 00:02:52,787 Speaker 3: Well, if you ask the boys, they'd say pretty much 56 00:02:52,787 --> 00:02:57,267 Speaker 3: straight away. But you know, they'll be seeing each other's games. 57 00:02:57,307 --> 00:03:00,667 Speaker 3: They'll be watching video of each other's games where they 58 00:03:00,667 --> 00:03:04,027 Speaker 3: can improve. They're pretty much the brains of the team. 59 00:03:04,147 --> 00:03:06,827 Speaker 3: So they get the boys around the park, can they 60 00:03:06,827 --> 00:03:09,187 Speaker 3: try and find out the weaknesses from the other team. 61 00:03:09,307 --> 00:03:13,467 Speaker 3: So yeah, they'll form a really good combination. And they 62 00:03:13,667 --> 00:03:16,267 Speaker 3: need to do all that video work so they can 63 00:03:16,307 --> 00:03:17,867 Speaker 3: execute when they're out on the field. 64 00:03:18,507 --> 00:03:21,547 Speaker 2: We know that on their day, the Warriors can pretty 65 00:03:21,627 --> 00:03:24,587 Speaker 2: much beat anybody. But it's consistency, which has been the 66 00:03:24,627 --> 00:03:26,787 Speaker 2: thing that they've been searching for for quite some time. 67 00:03:27,307 --> 00:03:31,667 Speaker 2: How does a team best achieve consistency across a season 68 00:03:31,707 --> 00:03:33,547 Speaker 2: and then continue that on into the finals. 69 00:03:35,267 --> 00:03:39,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, it doesn't just start on the field. Started training, 70 00:03:40,027 --> 00:03:44,707 Speaker 3: It starts with your preparation, starts you know, when you're 71 00:03:44,707 --> 00:03:48,267 Speaker 3: at home, resting, all that type of stuff. So when 72 00:03:48,307 --> 00:03:51,547 Speaker 3: you're a professional athlete, it's twenty four to seven. That's 73 00:03:51,547 --> 00:03:54,067 Speaker 3: what you need to be. And when you're consistent in 74 00:03:54,107 --> 00:03:57,307 Speaker 3: your life on and off the field, that's when you're 75 00:03:57,307 --> 00:04:00,747 Speaker 3: playing your best football. So when you find that consistency 76 00:04:00,787 --> 00:04:04,267 Speaker 3: off the field, it normally transfers to on the field 77 00:04:04,347 --> 00:04:08,947 Speaker 3: as well. So how the teams get consistent throughout the year, 78 00:04:08,987 --> 00:04:13,547 Speaker 3: but they normally have targets that they want to reach also, 79 00:04:14,867 --> 00:04:17,947 Speaker 3: you know on a week to week basis, So you know, 80 00:04:17,987 --> 00:04:20,467 Speaker 3: with the defense, they'll have targets that they want to reach, 81 00:04:20,547 --> 00:04:23,667 Speaker 3: and if they find out that they find those targets 82 00:04:23,667 --> 00:04:27,547 Speaker 3: that they reach, then that creates that consistency week in 83 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:31,587 Speaker 3: week out. So yeah, that's pretty much part of being 84 00:04:31,627 --> 00:04:32,827 Speaker 3: a professional athlete. 85 00:04:33,387 --> 00:04:35,867 Speaker 2: That's such an interesting point you make, Jonathan, because that 86 00:04:35,947 --> 00:04:38,347 Speaker 2: all feel consistency I don't think has talked about enough. 87 00:04:38,667 --> 00:04:41,827 Speaker 2: You know, the recovery, the rest, the right nutrition, looking 88 00:04:41,867 --> 00:04:43,947 Speaker 2: after your body, all that sort of thing. Is that 89 00:04:44,027 --> 00:04:47,867 Speaker 2: something that that has built over time? Did you have 90 00:04:47,947 --> 00:04:49,627 Speaker 2: it immediately in your career? 91 00:04:52,267 --> 00:04:56,387 Speaker 3: In all honesty, no, Yeah, it wasn't until I started 92 00:04:56,427 --> 00:04:59,627 Speaker 3: to get into the representative sides and started to see 93 00:04:59,667 --> 00:05:03,547 Speaker 3: some of the senior players and how they prepare, you know, 94 00:05:03,587 --> 00:05:06,107 Speaker 3: not only on the field, but how they prepare off 95 00:05:06,147 --> 00:05:08,387 Speaker 3: the which was really important. You know. It wasn't a 96 00:05:08,427 --> 00:05:13,747 Speaker 3: great stretching. I didn't stretch too much, and you know, 97 00:05:13,907 --> 00:05:16,907 Speaker 3: seeing how I had to value that part of the 98 00:05:17,107 --> 00:05:21,227 Speaker 3: or field stuff. So yeah, you need to value everything 99 00:05:21,387 --> 00:05:23,867 Speaker 3: as a professional athlete to get the best out of 100 00:05:23,907 --> 00:05:26,387 Speaker 3: not only yourself, but the best out of your team 101 00:05:26,427 --> 00:05:29,387 Speaker 3: as well. So everyone needs to be held accountable in 102 00:05:29,427 --> 00:05:30,427 Speaker 3: that area, and. 103 00:05:30,467 --> 00:05:32,507 Speaker 2: I guess there must be a fair degree of responsibility 104 00:05:32,547 --> 00:05:35,867 Speaker 2: on senior players. You know, a guy like James Fisher 105 00:05:35,867 --> 00:05:38,707 Speaker 2: Harris for example here at the Warriors, Now does he 106 00:05:38,747 --> 00:05:40,587 Speaker 2: have a sort of a responsibility that to model the 107 00:05:40,587 --> 00:05:42,987 Speaker 2: way for younger players? They look at him and say, okay, 108 00:05:43,227 --> 00:05:44,067 Speaker 2: that's how you do it. 109 00:05:45,307 --> 00:05:51,107 Speaker 3: Yeah. Well he's a premiership player, represented his country, captain 110 00:05:51,107 --> 00:05:53,627 Speaker 3: of the Warriors, so he leads by example and when 111 00:05:53,707 --> 00:05:58,667 Speaker 3: he talks everyone would listen. So yeah, he's a perfect 112 00:05:58,667 --> 00:06:02,027 Speaker 3: example that of what you want as a leader on 113 00:06:02,147 --> 00:06:05,147 Speaker 3: and off the field. And I think those young boys 114 00:06:05,147 --> 00:06:07,507 Speaker 3: there would be looking at him and seeing how he 115 00:06:07,547 --> 00:06:10,387 Speaker 3: prepares and or how he goes about his business to 116 00:06:10,427 --> 00:06:13,027 Speaker 3: get the best out of his performance week in week out, 117 00:06:13,027 --> 00:06:15,827 Speaker 3: and that's what you want. You want that consistency week 118 00:06:15,867 --> 00:06:18,787 Speaker 3: in week out to perform at your best. So it 119 00:06:18,827 --> 00:06:23,267 Speaker 3: doesn't just happen on game day, it happens all through 120 00:06:23,347 --> 00:06:23,747 Speaker 3: the week. 121 00:06:24,387 --> 00:06:27,427 Speaker 2: Are the Warriors aside that rugby league fans will make 122 00:06:27,467 --> 00:06:30,307 Speaker 2: a point of watching even if they're not Warriors fans. 123 00:06:31,587 --> 00:06:33,707 Speaker 3: Well, I think we've seen that last year or the 124 00:06:33,787 --> 00:06:37,667 Speaker 3: year before when they went on that run towards the finals. 125 00:06:37,787 --> 00:06:42,707 Speaker 3: You know, up the Wars call was flying over there 126 00:06:43,027 --> 00:06:47,587 Speaker 3: in New Zealand and certainly in Australia as well, and 127 00:06:47,667 --> 00:06:49,507 Speaker 3: you know a lot of people were talking about the 128 00:06:49,587 --> 00:06:53,187 Speaker 3: style of play that the Warriors were playing because entertaining 129 00:06:53,227 --> 00:06:55,347 Speaker 3: style of play, and you know they went on that 130 00:06:55,467 --> 00:06:58,907 Speaker 3: run towards the finals. So yeah, I think you know, 131 00:06:59,027 --> 00:07:02,747 Speaker 3: not only teams but fans do enjoy watching the Warriors. 132 00:07:03,107 --> 00:07:05,547 Speaker 2: They take on your former side the Cowboys tonight and 133 00:07:05,627 --> 00:07:07,547 Speaker 2: Magic round. How do you reckon these two match up 134 00:07:07,547 --> 00:07:08,267 Speaker 2: against one another. 135 00:07:09,627 --> 00:07:12,387 Speaker 3: Yes, it's got to be a tight match there. I 136 00:07:12,387 --> 00:07:15,867 Speaker 3: think they're fifth and sixth on the ladder at the moment, 137 00:07:15,907 --> 00:07:18,507 Speaker 3: but they're both starting to play some really good footing. 138 00:07:18,867 --> 00:07:21,547 Speaker 3: The Cowboys good off to a slow start throughout the 139 00:07:21,547 --> 00:07:24,547 Speaker 3: start of the season, but they're four in a row 140 00:07:24,627 --> 00:07:27,587 Speaker 3: at the moment, and their defenses improved a lot in 141 00:07:27,627 --> 00:07:32,147 Speaker 3: those four games. So the Warriors, they like that entertaining 142 00:07:32,267 --> 00:07:35,147 Speaker 3: style of play. They've got some big forwards and when 143 00:07:35,147 --> 00:07:39,987 Speaker 3: they lay the platform, Metcalfe and the halves can play 144 00:07:40,027 --> 00:07:42,547 Speaker 3: off the back of that. They got some big outside 145 00:07:42,587 --> 00:07:44,707 Speaker 3: backs that can bring the ball back with some venom 146 00:07:44,827 --> 00:07:47,467 Speaker 3: and get them on the front foot. So yeah, it's 147 00:07:47,467 --> 00:07:50,187 Speaker 3: going to be an interesting match between the two teams. 148 00:07:50,187 --> 00:07:55,627 Speaker 3: But I'm a Cowboys fan three and three, so I'm 149 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:56,667 Speaker 3: tipping the Cowboys. 150 00:07:57,707 --> 00:08:00,707 Speaker 2: Wouldn't expect anything less from you, JC, wouldn't expect anything les. 151 00:08:00,827 --> 00:08:03,107 Speaker 2: What about Magic Round? I mean there's I know a 152 00:08:03,227 --> 00:08:05,027 Speaker 2: number of kiwis have gone across to be part of 153 00:08:05,027 --> 00:08:07,627 Speaker 2: the weekend. Is it a popular concept over there? A 154 00:08:07,667 --> 00:08:10,707 Speaker 2: concept that works well? Magic Round. 155 00:08:12,347 --> 00:08:14,787 Speaker 3: I'm staying in the city at the moment and all 156 00:08:14,827 --> 00:08:18,107 Speaker 3: I've seen is footy jerseys the last couple of days. 157 00:08:18,147 --> 00:08:23,587 Speaker 3: So North Sydney Bears, Newtown Jets, Warriors jerseys. You're seeing 158 00:08:23,627 --> 00:08:26,947 Speaker 3: so many jerseys, So yeah, it's a popular concept and 159 00:08:27,427 --> 00:08:30,587 Speaker 3: I'm glad it's here at SUNCRB Stadium. I believe that 160 00:08:30,587 --> 00:08:33,867 Speaker 3: that's the best stadium to have it at. It's a 161 00:08:33,867 --> 00:08:37,187 Speaker 3: great stadium play rugby league, and when it's packed, there's 162 00:08:37,187 --> 00:08:39,747 Speaker 3: no better stadium to play out. So yeah, it's a 163 00:08:39,747 --> 00:08:43,107 Speaker 3: great concept, it's at the best stadium in the country, 164 00:08:43,107 --> 00:08:45,947 Speaker 3: and hopefully it's around for many years. 165 00:08:46,067 --> 00:08:48,667 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's hope. So, Jonathan, really appreciate you taking the 166 00:08:48,667 --> 00:08:50,707 Speaker 2: time to join us across New Zealand today. Apart from 167 00:08:50,707 --> 00:08:52,907 Speaker 2: this afternoon, are you up the Wars when they play 168 00:08:52,907 --> 00:08:55,827 Speaker 2: somebody else? Apart from the Cowboys? Are you up the Wars? 169 00:08:57,027 --> 00:09:01,107 Speaker 3: I am up the Wars. Great to hear. 170 00:09:01,187 --> 00:09:02,147 Speaker 2: Thanks for your time this. 171 00:09:02,067 --> 00:09:04,307 Speaker 3: Afternoon, mate, no worries, thanks having me. 172 00:09:04,227 --> 00:09:06,987 Speaker 2: No, thanks for joining us. Jonathan Jonathan first and there 173 00:09:07,027 --> 00:09:07,747 Speaker 2: the one and only. 174 00:09:07,867 --> 00:09:08,027 Speaker 3: Yeah. 175 00:09:08,107 --> 00:09:09,507 Speaker 2: I mean, of course he's going to pick the Cowboys, 176 00:09:09,547 --> 00:09:13,187 Speaker 2: isn't He's a Cowboys icon legend. Of course, he's so 177 00:09:13,307 --> 00:09:16,027 Speaker 2: deeply invested in that club. Of course he's going to 178 00:09:16,107 --> 00:09:19,547 Speaker 2: pick them. What about you, though, where a chance aren't we? 179 00:09:19,547 --> 00:09:22,307 Speaker 2: We absolutely have to be a chance against the Cowboys. 180 00:09:22,827 --> 00:09:24,867 Speaker 2: They've had a very good run recently, but they lost 181 00:09:24,867 --> 00:09:29,267 Speaker 2: their first three games, didn't they the Cowboys, before coming 182 00:09:29,307 --> 00:09:32,947 Speaker 2: back to win their next four, including putting fifty on 183 00:09:32,987 --> 00:09:37,307 Speaker 2: the Titans a week ago. But the Warriors, you know, 184 00:09:38,747 --> 00:09:41,907 Speaker 2: they've started well. They've bounced back from the setback of 185 00:09:41,947 --> 00:09:47,587 Speaker 2: the Raiders, the setback of the Melbourne Storm and the 186 00:09:47,667 --> 00:09:50,587 Speaker 2: last two times out beating the Broncos, beating the Knights 187 00:09:50,627 --> 00:09:54,027 Speaker 2: last week. Look, it hasn't been vintage rugby league, but 188 00:09:54,387 --> 00:09:56,507 Speaker 2: the table doesn't lie. And if they were to beat 189 00:09:56,547 --> 00:10:00,947 Speaker 2: the Cowboys tonight, which is a distinct possibility, it would 190 00:10:00,987 --> 00:10:03,147 Speaker 2: be their best ever eight game start to a season. 191 00:10:03,507 --> 00:10:06,347 Speaker 2: Never before have the Warriors won six of their feet 192 00:10:06,347 --> 00:10:09,587 Speaker 2: first eight games in any NRL season going all the 193 00:10:09,587 --> 00:10:13,587 Speaker 2: way back to the club's inception. So on that stat 194 00:10:13,707 --> 00:10:17,147 Speaker 2: alone you have to say that the season could be 195 00:10:17,187 --> 00:10:20,427 Speaker 2: shaping up into something pretty special. Of course, we also 196 00:10:20,467 --> 00:10:22,867 Speaker 2: have to remember the players who were yet to or 197 00:10:22,907 --> 00:10:25,667 Speaker 2: are still to come back into the team. We haven't 198 00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:29,747 Speaker 2: seen Dellan why Tennis Lesniak at all this season. He's, 199 00:10:30,027 --> 00:10:33,027 Speaker 2: by the sounds of it, not too far away. James 200 00:10:33,227 --> 00:10:36,827 Speaker 2: Fisher Harris, of course, we haven't seen him since the 201 00:10:37,667 --> 00:10:40,547 Speaker 2: lost to the Storm. He hasn't played the last two games, 202 00:10:41,227 --> 00:10:43,947 Speaker 2: Roger to e Varsa Shek. When was the last time 203 00:10:43,987 --> 00:10:45,827 Speaker 2: he played. I think it was the win over the Roosters. 204 00:10:45,947 --> 00:10:48,747 Speaker 2: Was the last time we saw Roger to e Varsa Shek. 205 00:10:50,187 --> 00:10:56,667 Speaker 2: So when those hyphenated surname players come back in, it's 206 00:10:56,667 --> 00:10:57,827 Speaker 2: just going to boost us, isn't it. 207 00:10:58,427 --> 00:11:01,627 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 208 00:11:01,747 --> 00:11:05,027 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 209 00:11:05,067 --> 00:11:06,667 Speaker 1: the podcast on radio.