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 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,947 --> 00:00:17,227 Speaker 2: NRL Grand Final tonight in Sydney. Melbourne Storm v Brisbane 4 00:00:17,307 --> 00:00:19,467 Speaker 2: Broncos set to go at nine thirty, although I think 5 00:00:19,507 --> 00:00:21,747 Speaker 2: that might be arbitrary, and just before we move on 6 00:00:22,427 --> 00:00:23,987 Speaker 2: last night I had a couple of text saying I 7 00:00:24,027 --> 00:00:25,947 Speaker 2: thought the game was kicking off at ten forty five. 8 00:00:26,147 --> 00:00:26,547 Speaker 3: It was. 9 00:00:26,587 --> 00:00:28,547 Speaker 2: We were told right across the week that game last 10 00:00:28,627 --> 00:00:30,667 Speaker 2: night was going to kick off at team forty five 11 00:00:30,707 --> 00:00:34,107 Speaker 2: New Zealand time eleven o five. It kicked off twenty 12 00:00:34,187 --> 00:00:36,827 Speaker 2: minutes after we were told that it would. And this 13 00:00:36,907 --> 00:00:39,147 Speaker 2: tends to happen on NRL Grand Final Day as well, 14 00:00:39,147 --> 00:00:42,907 Speaker 2: doesn't it. So anytime from nine to thirty you'll find 15 00:00:42,947 --> 00:00:45,907 Speaker 2: the Melbourne Storm taking on the Brisbane Broncos tonight, the 16 00:00:45,947 --> 00:00:49,467 Speaker 2: Storm looking for redemption after last year's Grand Final heartbreak, 17 00:00:49,667 --> 00:00:54,107 Speaker 2: the Broncos looking to win their first premiership in nineteen years. 18 00:00:54,427 --> 00:00:57,307 Speaker 2: There is, also, of course, from Warrior's involvement on Grand 19 00:00:57,347 --> 00:01:00,347 Speaker 2: Final Day. Today the reserve grade site will play the 20 00:01:00,347 --> 00:01:04,027 Speaker 2: Burly Bears for the state championship after Warriors won the 21 00:01:04,027 --> 00:01:07,067 Speaker 2: New South Wales Cup for the very first time last weekend. 22 00:01:07,467 --> 00:01:11,107 Speaker 2: That game is underway in just over an hour twenty 23 00:01:11,227 --> 00:01:14,867 Speaker 2: past three at the same venue, a Core Stadium in Sydney. 24 00:01:15,227 --> 00:01:18,347 Speaker 2: Let's bring in Jake Duke from Fox Sports League. Jake, 25 00:01:18,387 --> 00:01:19,987 Speaker 2: always great to have you on the show. Thanks for 26 00:01:20,067 --> 00:01:22,867 Speaker 2: joining us. Made it seems a little bit weird talking 27 00:01:22,867 --> 00:01:25,587 Speaker 2: about a Grand Final without Penrith and it they've won 28 00:01:25,627 --> 00:01:28,347 Speaker 2: the last four, they've been in the last five. Was 29 00:01:28,387 --> 00:01:31,427 Speaker 2: there lost to the Broncos last weekend any surprise to you. 30 00:01:32,987 --> 00:01:36,387 Speaker 3: Look, I saw a funny stat today. It was like 31 00:01:36,427 --> 00:01:38,787 Speaker 3: the last time Penrith went in a Grand Final, the 32 00:01:40,147 --> 00:01:43,307 Speaker 3: COVID nineteen pandemics hadn't happened yet, which kind of puts 33 00:01:43,347 --> 00:01:46,227 Speaker 3: in context how long it's been since we've had a 34 00:01:46,267 --> 00:01:49,267 Speaker 3: Grand Final without them. Look, I think maybe you could 35 00:01:49,347 --> 00:01:51,147 Speaker 3: argue they just ran out of juice, you know, the 36 00:01:51,827 --> 00:01:54,867 Speaker 3: fourteen meal, fourteen points up, I think the fourteen mil 37 00:01:54,907 --> 00:01:57,627 Speaker 3: at halftime and then they lost. And I think there 38 00:01:57,627 --> 00:02:00,467 Speaker 3: was another ridiculous stat that like if whenever they had 39 00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:03,147 Speaker 3: a twelve point lead, they were ninety eight to zero 40 00:02:03,187 --> 00:02:06,427 Speaker 3: over this last five years, like in that run. So 41 00:02:06,467 --> 00:02:08,427 Speaker 3: that just shows you that they haven't been run down 42 00:02:09,187 --> 00:02:11,987 Speaker 3: by that kind of margin for a very long time. 43 00:02:12,227 --> 00:02:14,387 Speaker 3: Whether they run out of juice, whether they just ran 44 00:02:14,427 --> 00:02:17,267 Speaker 3: into a good Bronco side that are kind of riding 45 00:02:17,347 --> 00:02:20,707 Speaker 3: high on belief and can kind of score points from 46 00:02:20,987 --> 00:02:23,027 Speaker 3: anywhere and never believe they're done. We saw them do 47 00:02:23,067 --> 00:02:25,227 Speaker 3: it against camera. They came from sixteen meal down. So 48 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:28,547 Speaker 3: I don't think anyone could default Penrith and say, oh 49 00:02:28,587 --> 00:02:31,707 Speaker 3: they you know, they're not me or anymore. They've lost it. 50 00:02:31,747 --> 00:02:34,907 Speaker 3: They just lost one game and I'm sure they'll be 51 00:02:34,947 --> 00:02:37,947 Speaker 3: back bigger and better than next year. Whether the effect 52 00:02:37,987 --> 00:02:40,107 Speaker 3: of having to win all those games towards the back 53 00:02:40,187 --> 00:02:41,787 Speaker 3: end of the year just to make it and stuff 54 00:02:42,827 --> 00:02:44,947 Speaker 3: took a toll, We'll never know. But I wouldn't be 55 00:02:44,987 --> 00:02:46,707 Speaker 3: writing them off and saying the dinnersty is over by 56 00:02:46,707 --> 00:02:47,227 Speaker 3: any stretch. 57 00:02:47,347 --> 00:02:49,027 Speaker 2: All right, let's look at the two teams. Who are 58 00:02:49,067 --> 00:02:52,507 Speaker 2: the Melbourne Storm Brisbane Broncos. When you analyze these two teams, 59 00:02:53,227 --> 00:02:56,107 Speaker 2: what do your eyes naturally land in terms of the 60 00:02:56,147 --> 00:02:57,627 Speaker 2: most important players tonight? 61 00:02:58,867 --> 00:03:02,107 Speaker 3: Look, I think this is the best Grand Final we 62 00:03:02,107 --> 00:03:05,747 Speaker 3: could have asked for in terms of sheer entertainment value. 63 00:03:06,027 --> 00:03:09,667 Speaker 3: Who is what might happen? Sheer point scoring ability? I 64 00:03:09,707 --> 00:03:12,827 Speaker 3: think these are probably the two best attacking teams in 65 00:03:12,867 --> 00:03:16,387 Speaker 3: the competition. On their day, They've got great amount of 66 00:03:16,427 --> 00:03:19,907 Speaker 3: points in them. They are stars across the board. So 67 00:03:20,147 --> 00:03:22,227 Speaker 3: it kind of looks to where where you can find 68 00:03:22,227 --> 00:03:24,947 Speaker 3: a weakness and deficiencies in both sides, and I think 69 00:03:24,987 --> 00:03:28,907 Speaker 3: both sides have some questionable edge defense at certain times. 70 00:03:28,947 --> 00:03:32,107 Speaker 3: We saw Jack Howith on that left edge for the 71 00:03:32,147 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 3: Storm get caught out a couple of times last week 72 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:38,667 Speaker 3: for by Penrith, and then you know some of the 73 00:03:39,707 --> 00:03:44,307 Speaker 3: Panthers right edge with young Casey MacLean and it might 74 00:03:44,347 --> 00:03:47,267 Speaker 3: be Paul Adam Molly out on that side they've had 75 00:03:47,267 --> 00:03:49,867 Speaker 3: some issues as well. So I think that's where you 76 00:03:50,427 --> 00:03:52,947 Speaker 3: might see this one I lost because in terms of 77 00:03:53,467 --> 00:03:57,147 Speaker 3: you know, forward packs and superstars, they've just got strike 78 00:03:57,187 --> 00:03:58,627 Speaker 3: all over the place, and it will be who can 79 00:03:58,667 --> 00:04:04,067 Speaker 3: pick apart the other's deficiencies better than the others. And look, 80 00:04:04,227 --> 00:04:07,467 Speaker 3: they are these two teams aren't as probably full proof 81 00:04:07,507 --> 00:04:10,587 Speaker 3: defensively as we've seen other teams be in recent years, 82 00:04:10,627 --> 00:04:12,627 Speaker 3: like Penrith, when you think about their run over the 83 00:04:12,667 --> 00:04:15,707 Speaker 3: last five years, they've been almost impossible to score against. 84 00:04:17,147 --> 00:04:20,547 Speaker 3: So you think about Penris, you know kind of issued 85 00:04:20,627 --> 00:04:22,707 Speaker 3: that the defense that they've showne over the previous years, 86 00:04:22,707 --> 00:04:24,627 Speaker 3: and then you look at the Melbourne Storm and the 87 00:04:24,667 --> 00:04:28,347 Speaker 3: Broncos sides we've got this year that there's points that 88 00:04:28,387 --> 00:04:29,387 Speaker 3: can be scored. 89 00:04:29,867 --> 00:04:34,267 Speaker 2: All right, Well, then to manufacture those scoring opportunities, I 90 00:04:34,267 --> 00:04:36,907 Speaker 2: guess you'll end in the Halves Cameron Munster, Jerome Hughes 91 00:04:36,907 --> 00:04:40,867 Speaker 2: so somehow has miraculously recovered from a broken wrist about 92 00:04:41,147 --> 00:04:44,187 Speaker 2: eight weeks ahead of schedule, Ben Hunting, the returning Adam 93 00:04:44,227 --> 00:04:46,547 Speaker 2: Reynolds for the Broncos. How big I say, might those 94 00:04:46,587 --> 00:04:47,147 Speaker 2: four guys have? 95 00:04:48,947 --> 00:04:52,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look they're the superstars, they're the key, right. You know. 96 00:04:52,867 --> 00:04:56,667 Speaker 3: Michael McGuire's had the chance to kind of decide whether 97 00:04:56,707 --> 00:04:58,467 Speaker 3: he wants to go with Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt 98 00:04:58,507 --> 00:05:02,587 Speaker 3: or Adam Reynolds and Ezra Man, and it appears that 99 00:05:02,707 --> 00:05:05,747 Speaker 3: tonight will go with the older Halves per and they're 100 00:05:05,747 --> 00:05:10,107 Speaker 3: actually the older Harves pairing NRL history, Adam Reynolds and 101 00:05:10,147 --> 00:05:14,027 Speaker 3: Ben Hunt, so look, they've been there before. Adam Reynolds 102 00:05:14,107 --> 00:05:16,747 Speaker 3: is obviously trying to win his second Grand Final, this 103 00:05:16,787 --> 00:05:19,907 Speaker 3: will be his fourth, so we saw him kind of 104 00:05:19,987 --> 00:05:22,987 Speaker 3: step up in those clutch moments last week against against Penrith, 105 00:05:23,427 --> 00:05:25,907 Speaker 3: Can he do it again? Ben Hunt? The ultimate redemption 106 00:05:26,027 --> 00:05:29,867 Speaker 3: story after what happened a decade ago, So there's so 107 00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:35,227 Speaker 3: many interesting parts to that. And then you've got Hughes, Grant, Munster, 108 00:05:35,427 --> 00:05:39,867 Speaker 3: Pappenhausen like the superstar spy and Jerome Hughes. I don't 109 00:05:39,867 --> 00:05:42,387 Speaker 3: think he's geting enough credit for what he did last 110 00:05:42,427 --> 00:05:44,347 Speaker 3: week and the fact that he played that game with 111 00:05:44,387 --> 00:05:47,027 Speaker 3: a busted arm on the same shoulder that's also busted. 112 00:05:47,467 --> 00:05:49,547 Speaker 3: He's going to need surgery on that shoulder in the 113 00:05:49,587 --> 00:05:51,147 Speaker 3: off season, which will real him out of the Key 114 00:05:51,187 --> 00:05:54,507 Speaker 3: weeks campaign like he is playing hurt. It's kind of 115 00:05:54,547 --> 00:05:56,747 Speaker 3: folklore stuff if Jerome Hughes can kind of go out 116 00:05:56,787 --> 00:05:59,267 Speaker 3: there and lead Melbourne to a Grand Final win tonight 117 00:05:59,267 --> 00:06:04,787 Speaker 3: because he's, yeah, he's playing absolutely busted and you know, 118 00:06:04,987 --> 00:06:06,987 Speaker 3: and piloting this team. He was so good in that 119 00:06:07,027 --> 00:06:10,347 Speaker 3: prelim final, So looking forward to seeing how he performs, 120 00:06:10,387 --> 00:06:12,387 Speaker 3: and I think he's the key for Melbourne. I know 121 00:06:12,427 --> 00:06:15,707 Speaker 3: Harry Grant's obviously a freak and they've got superstars, but 122 00:06:15,707 --> 00:06:18,627 Speaker 3: if Jerome who runs and straightens their attack and it 123 00:06:18,747 --> 00:06:20,987 Speaker 3: kind of exploits some of that Brisbane defense I was 124 00:06:21,027 --> 00:06:23,507 Speaker 3: talking about then, I think he's the key. 125 00:06:24,227 --> 00:06:27,667 Speaker 2: How much does Grand final experience count in a Grand Final? 126 00:06:29,507 --> 00:06:31,347 Speaker 3: I think a lot. And they say you've got to 127 00:06:31,347 --> 00:06:33,747 Speaker 3: lose one to win one, right, So both these teams 128 00:06:33,787 --> 00:06:36,507 Speaker 3: have lost Grand Finals in the last two years, so 129 00:06:37,387 --> 00:06:39,987 Speaker 3: they've all been there, they know what's gone wrong. They've 130 00:06:40,147 --> 00:06:42,587 Speaker 3: they've all had a chance to kind of assess and 131 00:06:42,707 --> 00:06:46,867 Speaker 3: suss what worked what didn't. So there's no real excuses 132 00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:49,027 Speaker 3: in terms of, you know, one being more experienced and 133 00:06:49,107 --> 00:06:52,347 Speaker 3: then the other. Obviously some of the Melbourne guys have 134 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:56,587 Speaker 3: tasted victory before, but that was a different team. You know, 135 00:06:56,627 --> 00:06:58,947 Speaker 3: that was five years ago. Cameron Smith was still there. 136 00:06:59,587 --> 00:07:03,947 Speaker 3: So this is a very kind of different Melbourne storm side. 137 00:07:04,747 --> 00:07:07,107 Speaker 3: Some of their real older statesmen like Bromige Boys and 138 00:07:07,107 --> 00:07:09,427 Speaker 3: all that Agorne. So this is a new test in 139 00:07:09,467 --> 00:07:10,987 Speaker 3: a new era for this storm side to win a 140 00:07:10,987 --> 00:07:13,427 Speaker 3: premiership in this era. And then you got the Broncos 141 00:07:13,467 --> 00:07:15,667 Speaker 3: that they had it won, right, they had a Grand 142 00:07:15,667 --> 00:07:19,907 Speaker 3: Final one. They just for whatever reason, you know, some 143 00:07:19,947 --> 00:07:22,027 Speaker 3: say they stopped playing trying to protect the lead. Other 144 00:07:22,107 --> 00:07:25,347 Speaker 3: say Nathan Cleary just pulled them apart. But I think 145 00:07:25,507 --> 00:07:27,147 Speaker 3: you know they would obviously learn a lot of lessons 146 00:07:27,187 --> 00:07:32,027 Speaker 3: from that kind of Grand final. So yeah, god, it's 147 00:07:32,227 --> 00:07:34,627 Speaker 3: it's such a tough one to pick. I honestly don't 148 00:07:34,627 --> 00:07:36,427 Speaker 3: know who's going to win this game. I think you could. 149 00:07:36,947 --> 00:07:38,867 Speaker 3: You could have a tight tussle, you could have a 150 00:07:38,867 --> 00:07:41,627 Speaker 3: blowout either way, you could have a shootout where it 151 00:07:41,827 --> 00:07:44,667 Speaker 3: ends thirty two thirty who knows? Who knows? 152 00:07:45,427 --> 00:07:47,907 Speaker 2: Can ask about the two coaches. This is Storm coach 153 00:07:47,947 --> 00:07:50,267 Speaker 2: Craig Bellamy's eleventh Grand Final. I think they'd take some 154 00:07:50,267 --> 00:07:54,587 Speaker 2: past Wayne Bennett as the coach who's overseen the most, 155 00:07:54,667 --> 00:07:57,467 Speaker 2: and then Michael McGuire of course with the Brisbane Broncos. 156 00:07:57,747 --> 00:07:59,587 Speaker 2: How much influence of those two guys had on their 157 00:07:59,587 --> 00:08:00,347 Speaker 2: respective teams. 158 00:08:01,307 --> 00:08:03,907 Speaker 3: Well, it's funny how they know a lot of the 159 00:08:03,947 --> 00:08:06,307 Speaker 3: coaches in the NRL obviously either come through the Craig 160 00:08:06,387 --> 00:08:10,267 Speaker 3: Bellamy or Wayne Bennett system all these days. Trent Robinson 161 00:08:10,267 --> 00:08:14,867 Speaker 3: as well, but like Madge obviously worked with Craig Bellamy 162 00:08:15,507 --> 00:08:20,427 Speaker 3: and they're very similar kind of guys, similar kind of coaches, intensity, 163 00:08:21,787 --> 00:08:27,627 Speaker 3: you know, ruthless trainers, kind of just super intense guys. 164 00:08:27,707 --> 00:08:32,227 Speaker 3: So it's funny how both their styles kind of match 165 00:08:32,347 --> 00:08:36,787 Speaker 3: up the Sea in that match. And also, like you know, 166 00:08:36,827 --> 00:08:39,587 Speaker 3: they've obviously got this intensity and they've you can see 167 00:08:39,587 --> 00:08:43,307 Speaker 3: that in the Broncos kind of fight and resilience they've 168 00:08:43,307 --> 00:08:45,627 Speaker 3: shown in the finals that's probably hasn't been there before. 169 00:08:46,187 --> 00:08:50,347 Speaker 3: Melbourne's always had that kind of you know, tough underbelly 170 00:08:50,387 --> 00:08:53,587 Speaker 3: that Craig Bellamick sides have. So but then you're adding 171 00:08:53,627 --> 00:08:56,187 Speaker 3: to the fact that you know they're they're actually really 172 00:08:56,187 --> 00:08:59,307 Speaker 3: good points scoring teams as well, and they just they're 173 00:08:59,427 --> 00:09:01,667 Speaker 3: very good at exploiting the opposition. So that's what I 174 00:09:01,667 --> 00:09:03,587 Speaker 3: mean when you say it's hard to pick whether it's 175 00:09:03,627 --> 00:09:06,787 Speaker 3: going to be a defensive battle plenty of points scored. 176 00:09:06,787 --> 00:09:09,427 Speaker 3: Are they just too good of attacking sides that you 177 00:09:09,467 --> 00:09:11,347 Speaker 3: know that they're going to score thirty points each and 178 00:09:11,387 --> 00:09:13,107 Speaker 3: it's going to come down to them who runs out 179 00:09:13,147 --> 00:09:17,227 Speaker 3: of time first, you know. So it is really one 180 00:09:17,267 --> 00:09:19,347 Speaker 3: of the most intriguing Grand Finals and it'll rate really 181 00:09:19,427 --> 00:09:22,827 Speaker 3: well too because you get the massive Queensland audience, you 182 00:09:22,827 --> 00:09:26,987 Speaker 3: get the Victorian audience, and then you obviously have places 183 00:09:27,067 --> 00:09:29,747 Speaker 3: like New Zealand and New South Wales that when they 184 00:09:29,747 --> 00:09:32,427 Speaker 3: have rusted on rugby league kind of supportership. We'll just 185 00:09:32,467 --> 00:09:36,907 Speaker 3: watch anyway. So it's shapes to be one of the 186 00:09:36,947 --> 00:09:40,147 Speaker 3: all time great Grand Finals. The weather here in Sydney 187 00:09:40,227 --> 00:09:43,787 Speaker 3: is amazing. It's going to be hot, actually hot hot 188 00:09:43,827 --> 00:09:46,667 Speaker 3: this evening when they run out of the field. So yeah, 189 00:09:47,267 --> 00:09:49,387 Speaker 3: it shapes as a great Grand Final, and you know, 190 00:09:49,507 --> 00:09:52,467 Speaker 3: keeps things dry and allows these two teams to kind 191 00:09:52,467 --> 00:09:55,587 Speaker 3: of play football because of daylight saving. So it technically 192 00:09:55,627 --> 00:10:00,867 Speaker 3: is a six just after six pm kickoff, So yeah, 193 00:10:00,907 --> 00:10:02,067 Speaker 3: at all shapes as. 194 00:10:01,947 --> 00:10:04,867 Speaker 2: One of the great unmissible Yeah, unmissible. You've painted a 195 00:10:04,907 --> 00:10:07,067 Speaker 2: great picture. Could be twelve teen, it could be thirty 196 00:10:07,067 --> 00:10:08,907 Speaker 2: four to thirty two, could be anything tonight, Jack, So 197 00:10:09,027 --> 00:10:10,747 Speaker 2: I won't ask you to pick a wind of What 198 00:10:10,787 --> 00:10:12,387 Speaker 2: I will do is thank you for your time mate, 199 00:10:12,507 --> 00:10:16,067 Speaker 2: Enjoy tonight and there's always appreciate your time across New Zealand. 200 00:10:16,587 --> 00:10:18,467 Speaker 3: I no problem if I give you a winner. I 201 00:10:18,467 --> 00:10:20,347 Speaker 3: think Melbourne might get it done, but who. 202 00:10:20,227 --> 00:10:23,867 Speaker 2: Knows, who knows? Indeed, who knows? Thanks Jack, Jack, Joe. 203 00:10:23,867 --> 00:10:24,867 Speaker 2: Get a Fox Sports. 204 00:10:24,667 --> 00:10:28,387 Speaker 1: League for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 205 00:10:28,507 --> 00:10:31,747 Speaker 1: live to news talks. 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