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 newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:16,467 Speaker 2: Just let's get inside the playing group and the coaching staff. 4 00:00:16,507 --> 00:00:19,267 Speaker 2: Earlier in the week I spoke with Warriors assistant coach 5 00:00:19,587 --> 00:00:22,187 Speaker 2: Slade Griffin to find out first of all, of this 6 00:00:22,347 --> 00:00:24,347 Speaker 2: was his first time in Vegas. 7 00:00:24,947 --> 00:00:27,547 Speaker 3: No, actually, I was lucky enough to come here. I 8 00:00:27,627 --> 00:00:31,267 Speaker 3: come with my wife actually about six or seven years ago. 9 00:00:31,307 --> 00:00:33,387 Speaker 3: We only did three nights, so that was plenty enough. 10 00:00:33,427 --> 00:00:35,627 Speaker 3: And here we got in and out. Well. 11 00:00:35,867 --> 00:00:38,467 Speaker 2: Quite different this time around, obviously with a game of 12 00:00:38,547 --> 00:00:41,347 Speaker 2: rugby league to play. How have you kept the players 13 00:00:41,347 --> 00:00:44,867 Speaker 2: focused with so much going on around them. 14 00:00:46,107 --> 00:00:48,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, so when we got here, we we let the 15 00:00:48,547 --> 00:00:51,907 Speaker 3: boys go out, just let their hair down, kind of 16 00:00:51,907 --> 00:00:52,547 Speaker 3: feel the town. 17 00:00:53,467 --> 00:00:55,067 Speaker 4: They had a really good night. They connected and they 18 00:00:55,067 --> 00:00:56,307 Speaker 4: all went to the same place and. 19 00:00:57,907 --> 00:01:00,147 Speaker 3: The security guards and stuff with them. So it was 20 00:01:00,307 --> 00:01:03,667 Speaker 3: very well done. And then we refocused. So the boys 21 00:01:03,667 --> 00:01:05,867 Speaker 3: have trained really hard. We had a couple of really 22 00:01:05,867 --> 00:01:08,907 Speaker 3: good sessions. Has just had a possession against Wigan which 23 00:01:08,947 --> 00:01:12,747 Speaker 3: is really smooth, and yeah, they're ready to have a 24 00:01:12,787 --> 00:01:15,307 Speaker 3: really Obviously they know we've come here for a job 25 00:01:15,347 --> 00:01:17,547 Speaker 3: to do, so they'll focused on that and then after 26 00:01:17,547 --> 00:01:19,187 Speaker 3: the game, if we have a really good win, they'll 27 00:01:19,187 --> 00:01:20,507 Speaker 3: be able to have a few more beers there. 28 00:01:20,787 --> 00:01:22,867 Speaker 2: Indeed, what have your training facilities been? 29 00:01:23,027 --> 00:01:23,107 Speaker 3: Like? 30 00:01:24,627 --> 00:01:30,267 Speaker 4: Really good. We trained at the UFC Gym, so that 31 00:01:30,387 --> 00:01:31,027 Speaker 4: was really cool. 32 00:01:31,347 --> 00:01:33,907 Speaker 3: Got a few fighting fans in the team so that 33 00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:36,427 Speaker 3: was a really awesome experience for them. And it's a 34 00:01:36,427 --> 00:01:37,307 Speaker 3: great facility there. 35 00:01:37,347 --> 00:01:41,507 Speaker 4: The fields. Yeah, the field's not the greatest, but you 36 00:01:41,547 --> 00:01:42,507 Speaker 4: know that was all good. 37 00:01:42,587 --> 00:01:46,187 Speaker 3: We got our work done, so you can't expect too much, 38 00:01:46,187 --> 00:01:47,827 Speaker 3: I guess in a foreign country. 39 00:01:47,507 --> 00:01:50,867 Speaker 2: Indeed, And what about the match venue? Allegiant Stadium, what 40 00:01:50,907 --> 00:01:52,107 Speaker 2: do you expect that to be? 41 00:01:52,267 --> 00:01:56,387 Speaker 3: Like, Oh, it's an amazing venue. We've driven past it. 42 00:01:56,387 --> 00:01:59,507 Speaker 3: It looks brand new. I've seen it on TV. But 43 00:01:59,587 --> 00:02:01,947 Speaker 3: it's going to be really cool to go inside. The 44 00:02:01,987 --> 00:02:03,907 Speaker 3: field will be a little bit narrower and a little 45 00:02:03,907 --> 00:02:06,987 Speaker 3: bit shorter. So we get to go there tomorrow. We 46 00:02:06,987 --> 00:02:08,667 Speaker 3: haven't been able to train there, will go out there tomorrow. 47 00:02:08,747 --> 00:02:12,667 Speaker 3: We'll walk around and just feel the stadium be amongst it. 48 00:02:12,987 --> 00:02:15,267 Speaker 2: How much will that change the way you go about 49 00:02:15,307 --> 00:02:19,027 Speaker 2: things that the slightly smaller dimensions of the playing surface. 50 00:02:20,027 --> 00:02:24,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's hard to plan for I think it's a 51 00:02:24,267 --> 00:02:25,547 Speaker 3: bit of a feel thing when you're out. 52 00:02:25,467 --> 00:02:25,987 Speaker 4: On the field. 53 00:02:26,027 --> 00:02:31,827 Speaker 3: But we had a trial against Cronella on that type 54 00:02:31,827 --> 00:02:34,147 Speaker 3: of field, and it's maybe a little bit harder to 55 00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:36,627 Speaker 3: attack against. Like there's not obviously as much space, so 56 00:02:37,267 --> 00:02:39,747 Speaker 3: that might be a little bit different. But yeah, I 57 00:02:39,747 --> 00:02:43,027 Speaker 3: guess it just makes He'll probably just make it more 58 00:02:43,387 --> 00:02:44,787 Speaker 3: tough in the middle of the field. You know, there's 59 00:02:44,787 --> 00:02:47,627 Speaker 3: not as much space, so there'll be some more bigger clusions. 60 00:02:47,627 --> 00:02:49,507 Speaker 2: I reckon just want to ask you about a couple 61 00:02:49,547 --> 00:02:54,187 Speaker 2: of players slayed James Fisher Harris obviously at the Warriors 62 00:02:54,547 --> 00:02:56,627 Speaker 2: for the first time. Can you give us some insight 63 00:02:56,707 --> 00:02:58,987 Speaker 2: into his early influence on this team. 64 00:03:00,387 --> 00:03:03,107 Speaker 3: Fish has been awesome. He's he's got his own aura. 65 00:03:03,227 --> 00:03:06,627 Speaker 3: You know, when he speaks, everyone listens. He doesn't say 66 00:03:06,627 --> 00:03:08,827 Speaker 3: a whole heat, but yeah, when he stands up in 67 00:03:08,827 --> 00:03:11,347 Speaker 3: front of the team, he just owns everyone's presence. So 68 00:03:12,547 --> 00:03:15,307 Speaker 3: as standards off the field, you know, he speaks with 69 00:03:15,427 --> 00:03:19,667 Speaker 3: his actions. He's always doing his extras. He's just a winner, 70 00:03:19,827 --> 00:03:21,947 Speaker 3: Like whatever it takes to whin he's willing to do. 71 00:03:22,027 --> 00:03:26,067 Speaker 3: He studies hard, which is very impressive for the type 72 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:29,307 Speaker 3: of player. He is He's really aggressive, but he's very 73 00:03:29,307 --> 00:03:31,627 Speaker 3: diligent as well, So he's been awesome for the young 74 00:03:31,627 --> 00:03:35,027 Speaker 3: boys to see, you know, that professionalism and that work ethic, 75 00:03:35,107 --> 00:03:37,307 Speaker 3: and he's dragged a feel of them with him as well. 76 00:03:37,387 --> 00:03:41,947 Speaker 3: So he's lifted the team's standards just by how he 77 00:03:41,987 --> 00:03:43,067 Speaker 3: goes about his own business. 78 00:03:43,667 --> 00:03:46,227 Speaker 2: Aaron Clark back at the club after five years at 79 00:03:46,267 --> 00:03:48,987 Speaker 2: the Titans, so he'll start and the thirteen jumper. What 80 00:03:49,027 --> 00:03:50,907 Speaker 2: do you expect to see from him, not just this 81 00:03:50,987 --> 00:03:52,307 Speaker 2: weekend but across the season. 82 00:03:54,107 --> 00:03:59,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's he's really excited to be back. He's kind 83 00:03:59,587 --> 00:04:01,547 Speaker 3: of he was out of the game and now he's 84 00:04:01,547 --> 00:04:04,827 Speaker 3: back at the Warriors, Colors back at home. He's he's 85 00:04:05,507 --> 00:04:07,907 Speaker 3: he played really well the Trials. He brings a lot 86 00:04:07,907 --> 00:04:09,827 Speaker 3: of league speed, bit of ball playing, and he works 87 00:04:09,867 --> 00:04:13,267 Speaker 3: really hard defensively. So he's a strong guy and yeah, 88 00:04:13,307 --> 00:04:15,387 Speaker 3: we're just excited to get him out there. 89 00:04:15,907 --> 00:04:19,707 Speaker 2: And your halves Combo Chanelle, Harris, Tavita, Luke metcalf in 90 00:04:19,827 --> 00:04:22,227 Speaker 2: six and seven. How did you land on that pairing? 91 00:04:24,267 --> 00:04:24,467 Speaker 4: Yeah? 92 00:04:24,467 --> 00:04:27,827 Speaker 3: They both just like it was a really tough competition 93 00:04:27,907 --> 00:04:30,747 Speaker 3: for the half spots and the boys competed really well. 94 00:04:31,787 --> 00:04:33,667 Speaker 3: Chanel's kind of been in the system for a year 95 00:04:33,707 --> 00:04:36,147 Speaker 3: with Luke's been here for two years now learning under Sean, 96 00:04:36,227 --> 00:04:40,107 Speaker 3: and they're probably just used to the systems and the 97 00:04:40,147 --> 00:04:42,987 Speaker 3: way we attack and and the way we defend. But 98 00:04:43,507 --> 00:04:46,507 Speaker 3: they've they've just had a really good preseason, to be fair, 99 00:04:46,827 --> 00:04:49,787 Speaker 3: both of them ripped in really hard and it gives 100 00:04:49,867 --> 00:04:52,307 Speaker 3: us a really good left foot right foot combination for 101 00:04:52,347 --> 00:04:53,307 Speaker 3: our kicking game as well. 102 00:04:54,027 --> 00:04:56,387 Speaker 2: And I know it's always hard right at the start 103 00:04:56,427 --> 00:04:59,107 Speaker 2: of a season, But how does it feel as you 104 00:04:59,507 --> 00:05:03,387 Speaker 2: look forward to Round one, even maybe comparatively to previous seasons? 105 00:05:04,067 --> 00:05:06,267 Speaker 2: You know, do you what does it feel like Heather 106 00:05:06,387 --> 00:05:08,947 Speaker 2: the first game of the season inside the Warriors camp. 107 00:05:09,987 --> 00:05:12,587 Speaker 4: Oh, it's definitely, you know, it's a bigger, big event. 108 00:05:13,947 --> 00:05:18,587 Speaker 3: The atmosphere is amazing the already you know, you can 109 00:05:18,707 --> 00:05:20,587 Speaker 3: a lot of fans have just started rolling in, so 110 00:05:20,907 --> 00:05:23,187 Speaker 3: it almost feels like a finals game. So there's there's 111 00:05:23,187 --> 00:05:25,107 Speaker 3: obviously a bit more around, a lot of sacrifice. The 112 00:05:25,147 --> 00:05:27,027 Speaker 3: boys they de leave their families to come over here, 113 00:05:27,107 --> 00:05:29,347 Speaker 3: so they want to make it worth it. So yeah, 114 00:05:29,387 --> 00:05:31,467 Speaker 3: I think it's got a bit more in it this 115 00:05:31,547 --> 00:05:33,227 Speaker 3: game than just a normal round game. 116 00:05:33,587 --> 00:05:35,227 Speaker 2: Have you managed to get a bit of a gauge 117 00:05:35,227 --> 00:05:36,147 Speaker 2: on on the Raiders. 118 00:05:39,267 --> 00:05:41,987 Speaker 3: We've watched their trials and stuff, and yeah, we know 119 00:05:42,067 --> 00:05:45,067 Speaker 3: they are always a really good They are a really 120 00:05:45,067 --> 00:05:50,467 Speaker 3: hard team, big forwards, strong ball carriers, Ricky Stewart. You know, 121 00:05:50,747 --> 00:05:53,707 Speaker 3: they compete really hard. They they fly off the line 122 00:05:53,747 --> 00:05:56,747 Speaker 3: and try belt you. So yeah, we know kind of 123 00:05:56,787 --> 00:05:59,427 Speaker 3: their style and and what we have to do against it. 124 00:05:59,467 --> 00:06:02,147 Speaker 4: But it's on the day. It's easier said than done. 125 00:06:02,267 --> 00:06:04,227 Speaker 2: Do you think your favorites for this game? 126 00:06:05,867 --> 00:06:06,907 Speaker 4: I wouldn't know, but. 127 00:06:08,467 --> 00:06:10,827 Speaker 3: You know, anything can happen in a game of rugby league. 128 00:06:10,987 --> 00:06:13,827 Speaker 3: It's the greatest equalizer of all sports. I reckon who 129 00:06:13,827 --> 00:06:17,027 Speaker 3: wants it on the day, But we're always confident and 130 00:06:17,067 --> 00:06:17,467 Speaker 3: the boys. 131 00:06:17,467 --> 00:06:18,827 Speaker 4: I've had a really good preseason. 132 00:06:18,987 --> 00:06:22,707 Speaker 3: I've trained really hard, worked on things we identified we 133 00:06:22,747 --> 00:06:25,747 Speaker 3: need to fix from last year. So yeah, I guess 134 00:06:26,187 --> 00:06:28,867 Speaker 3: it's our first like real test in an n our 135 00:06:28,907 --> 00:06:29,307 Speaker 3: OL game. 136 00:06:29,667 --> 00:06:32,787 Speaker 2: And you're seeing a few Warriors jerseys, Riplica jerseys along 137 00:06:32,827 --> 00:06:35,987 Speaker 2: the strip there and then and around where you're staying. 138 00:06:36,947 --> 00:06:39,227 Speaker 4: Mate there everywhere like this, there is fans everywhere. 139 00:06:39,227 --> 00:06:41,387 Speaker 3: All the teams have done well, but I don't know 140 00:06:41,387 --> 00:06:42,947 Speaker 3: if I'm biased, but I've just I've seen a lot 141 00:06:42,947 --> 00:06:46,187 Speaker 3: of Warriors jerseys are taken over, which is so cool. 142 00:06:46,187 --> 00:06:48,587 Speaker 4: Everyone's having a great time, doesn't matter what team you're from. 143 00:06:49,467 --> 00:06:52,147 Speaker 3: You see Warriors, Raiders fans out. They're all just having 144 00:06:52,187 --> 00:06:55,427 Speaker 3: a good time there in Vegas. Yeah, it's like a 145 00:06:55,467 --> 00:06:57,747 Speaker 3: lot of Aussies and Kiwis over here. But the vibes awesome. 146 00:06:57,747 --> 00:06:59,827 Speaker 3: You know, there's so much to do and wherever you 147 00:06:59,907 --> 00:07:02,347 Speaker 3: go you see some in our old jerseys. 148 00:07:02,347 --> 00:07:03,227 Speaker 4: So yeah, it's. 149 00:07:03,067 --> 00:07:05,867 Speaker 2: Cool, absolutely well cool time for the fans. Down to 150 00:07:05,907 --> 00:07:08,387 Speaker 2: business for you and the team. All the best against 151 00:07:08,387 --> 00:07:10,707 Speaker 2: the Raiders on Sunday. Slade, thanks for having a chat 152 00:07:10,747 --> 00:07:11,027 Speaker 2: to us. 153 00:07:12,107 --> 00:07:12,827 Speaker 4: Thank you very much. 154 00:07:12,907 --> 00:07:14,707 Speaker 2: That is a Slave Griffin, assistant coach of the team, 155 00:07:14,707 --> 00:07:16,187 Speaker 2: who I caught up with a couple of days ago. 156 00:07:16,427 --> 00:07:18,827 Speaker 2: He wasn't available at this time. The game's about to start, 157 00:07:18,867 --> 00:07:20,667 Speaker 2: so that's probably fair enough. 158 00:07:21,187 --> 00:07:24,347 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 159 00:07:24,467 --> 00:07:27,747 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 160 00:07:27,787 --> 00:07:29,427 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.