WEBVTT - Episode 72: Where there's a wah there's a way 0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:11.973 You're listening to a podcast from News Talks at B. 0:00:12.373 --> 0:00:17.053 Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio 0:00:18.333 --> 0:00:22.613 The Big League Podcast podcast News TALKSB. 0:00:23.733 --> 0:00:27.013 This week on The Big League Podcast, the Warriors find 0:00:27.093 --> 0:00:30.253 a way again, this time at sixteen twelve went over 0:00:30.293 --> 0:00:32.893 the Dolphins, extending their win streak to five. 0:00:33.373 --> 0:00:34.773 Michael Burgess joins me. 0:00:34.773 --> 0:00:38.333 To unpack another nervous watch late and an early look 0:00:38.333 --> 0:00:40.333 ahead at what promises to be a ripping game this 0:00:40.413 --> 0:00:43.693 Sunday against Canberra at Mount Smart And it's almost a 0:00:43.733 --> 0:00:46.293 state of origin time. The teams are in and at 0:00:46.413 --> 0:00:49.333 least one Warrior has made the grade, But should there 0:00:49.373 --> 0:00:49.973 have been more? 0:00:50.373 --> 0:00:53.813 My name is Nick new Ley. Let's go b LB. 0:00:54.453 --> 0:00:57.893 Who would have thought the Warriors would become masters of 0:00:57.973 --> 0:01:01.173 closing out the tight contest? For those hardy fans out there, 0:01:01.213 --> 0:01:04.293 I'm sure you'll remember, game after game this team historically 0:01:04.333 --> 0:01:07.213 would find a way to lose in a winning position. 0:01:07.253 --> 0:01:08.813 Heck, even look at last last year. 0:01:09.333 --> 0:01:12.093 Seven games they lost by six points or less and 0:01:12.133 --> 0:01:14.053 there was a drawer in there too for good measure. 0:01:14.093 --> 0:01:16.573 But take a look at this record for twenty twenty five. 0:01:16.613 --> 0:01:21.933 These are the wedding margins. Twenty eight two to fourteen, four, 0:01:22.253 --> 0:01:26.133 one and four. And look, yes, they are making it 0:01:26.173 --> 0:01:30.013 hard for themselves on occasion, including on Saturday against the Dolphins. 0:01:30.013 --> 0:01:34.053 But the character, the resilience, the second efforts that can't 0:01:34.053 --> 0:01:36.493 be folded, and what's more, on the face of it, 0:01:36.573 --> 0:01:39.293 at least it looks like the Warriors are still a 0:01:39.333 --> 0:01:43.133 wee way off their best, particularly with ball in hand 0:01:43.253 --> 0:01:46.253 and sterner tests. Oh wait, there's no question starting with 0:01:46.333 --> 0:01:50.173 this weekend on Sunday against Canberra, but this run five 0:01:50.253 --> 0:01:53.053 in a row, this record second on the ladder through 0:01:53.053 --> 0:01:57.533 eleven rounds, is worth celebrating. Michael Burgess, senior sports writer 0:01:57.613 --> 0:01:59.133 at the New Zealand Herald, what did you make a 0:01:59.213 --> 0:02:02.373 Saturday's performance and just the way the Warriors are getting 0:02:02.373 --> 0:02:03.053 it done of late? 0:02:03.693 --> 0:02:07.093 Niki summed it up perfectly. I mean, it's just been extraordinary, 0:02:07.173 --> 0:02:10.733 it really has. This run has been one of the 0:02:10.773 --> 0:02:13.533 more remarkable sequences I can remember, and I've been covering 0:02:13.533 --> 0:02:15.413 this team for a long time. I remember walking out 0:02:15.453 --> 0:02:18.413 of the Broncos game at Mount Smart five weeks ago 0:02:18.493 --> 0:02:20.333 when they got you know, they win in Golden Point, 0:02:20.493 --> 0:02:23.093 and thinking how privotal that was, looking at their draw 0:02:23.173 --> 0:02:26.173 coming up and thinking, gee, the Warriors could be if 0:02:26.253 --> 0:02:28.173 things go their way, could be seven to or eight too. 0:02:28.173 --> 0:02:30.253 But I didn't really think it would happen. And the 0:02:30.333 --> 0:02:34.813 fact they've I think the thing I didn't. I didn't 0:02:34.853 --> 0:02:38.053 see the victory coming on Saturday. I thought they'd be 0:02:38.093 --> 0:02:41.213 out of petrol. I really did. Because you can only 0:02:41.373 --> 0:02:43.773 go for so long winning these tight games. It takes 0:02:43.813 --> 0:02:48.173 so much physical, mental, emotional energy. But not just that, 0:02:48.493 --> 0:02:52.053 but the travel. The travel mate, you know, we forget. 0:02:52.093 --> 0:02:54.813 They've been to since the Broncos game. They've been to 0:02:54.893 --> 0:02:57.693 christ Jurch, come back to Auckland, been to Brisbane to 0:02:57.733 --> 0:03:00.093 play the Cowboys in a crazy game which which must 0:03:00.133 --> 0:03:03.093 have used up so much juice. They've come back to Auckland, 0:03:03.133 --> 0:03:05.173 gone to Wollongong, which is you know, flight to Sydney, 0:03:05.253 --> 0:03:08.853 bust to Wollongong in another crazy match, come back to Aukland, 0:03:08.853 --> 0:03:12.653 then they flight to Brisbane. You know, it's, as you said, 0:03:12.973 --> 0:03:15.933 tougher test to come. But what they've done this platform 0:03:16.413 --> 0:03:17.493 is absolutely massive. 0:03:18.173 --> 0:03:18.933 It certainly is. 0:03:19.173 --> 0:03:21.333 And as you say, now they're at the Lofty Heights, 0:03:21.333 --> 0:03:23.533 the second on the Nral Ladder. They're eight and two 0:03:24.333 --> 0:03:28.493 and it's that that scrambled defensive efforts, their resilience, which 0:03:28.573 --> 0:03:32.013 was shining again late against the Dolphins's. So we're going 0:03:32.093 --> 0:03:33.293 to get it into this game in a little bit 0:03:33.293 --> 0:03:35.813 more detail. But first up, let's take a listening to 0:03:35.973 --> 0:03:38.973 the highlights courtesy of Fox Sports. The Warriors beating the 0:03:38.973 --> 0:03:40.773 Dolphins sixteen points to twelve. 0:03:40.933 --> 0:03:43.853 The Warrior's Jed goes up. Now is there on the attack? 0:03:43.933 --> 0:03:44.613 How is to do that? 0:03:44.773 --> 0:03:48.013 Kicks out wine the polpe and also to a bass. 0:03:47.813 --> 0:03:52.453 Of check Pumpy attack that plasma is there, jitter Harris defeat. 0:03:53.333 --> 0:03:55.333 You actually go, but. 0:03:55.413 --> 0:03:59.413 I lost pop the last play, there's some wide speed 0:03:59.413 --> 0:04:02.373 here from the Dolphins. Metcalf gets the kick in any way, 0:04:02.453 --> 0:04:03.733 another chance for Pompy. 0:04:04.173 --> 0:04:09.413 Plisina is dead. He got it golf Harris to thes 0:04:10.013 --> 0:04:13.093 and the touch was backward, says the referee. 0:04:13.453 --> 0:04:16.413 The ball is knocked forward by Lecqua in the field 0:04:16.453 --> 0:04:16.853 of playing. 0:04:17.213 --> 0:04:17.973 We have a decision. 0:04:18.173 --> 0:04:19.493 We have justice. 0:04:19.973 --> 0:04:23.533 Zayah Cato look it back for wi feeder who was 0:04:24.013 --> 0:04:26.133 flowing his way into a contest. 0:04:26.253 --> 0:04:29.493 He nickel tips down. He kind of tats it. Nikol 0:04:29.613 --> 0:04:30.573 Lever is there. 0:04:31.173 --> 0:04:34.693 We're just looking at the right hand of Hamaso. He 0:04:34.773 --> 0:04:38.133 knocks the four forward into the arm of Chans Nickel 0:04:38.173 --> 0:04:41.093 Clockstad which is the first knockoff. 0:04:41.093 --> 0:04:43.653 But you have a decision still Adam deside and now 0:04:44.013 --> 0:04:46.253 he is near cup first man. 0:04:46.373 --> 0:04:50.453 Opson goes through the tackle there of Tom Gilbert's the 0:04:50.653 --> 0:04:55.453 Warriors their points to two of Vasa Sek and their car. 0:04:56.253 --> 0:04:58.693 He breaks through the prison bars himself who are playing 0:04:58.813 --> 0:05:04.133 quickly as well, Metcalf, pouncers crappers, tell himself, get to bells, 0:05:04.373 --> 0:05:05.453 get it a takedown. 0:05:05.933 --> 0:05:09.893 Brilliant pain look Calf doing it. 0:05:09.893 --> 0:05:14.933 Again for the Warriors. K curl scores and they've gone 0:05:15.093 --> 0:05:19.493 back sept back at eight points to nil. Across the guitar, 0:05:19.933 --> 0:05:21.573 he'll kick a chance out ride. 0:05:21.653 --> 0:05:27.093 Bostock was there looking forward tip gum By converting dolphins 0:05:27.173 --> 0:05:28.733 and Nichols play on. 0:05:28.853 --> 0:05:35.053 Here is the curl rfeas go just wanting it live. 0:05:35.213 --> 0:05:38.973 My gut instinct said that that was forward from Nichols. 0:05:39.253 --> 0:05:44.093 Nichols knocks the ball on in the field of play jack. 0:05:44.133 --> 0:05:48.533 You should have a rotaf back, trust me inside the 0:05:48.573 --> 0:05:53.453 Warriors thirty last play Tista Vita kicks out wide. 0:05:53.893 --> 0:05:58.533 Laif in his door had a jugger put down. If 0:05:58.613 --> 0:06:03.533 my field try it is so points to the Warriors. 0:06:04.493 --> 0:06:07.173 Here is guitar, Nick Arena. Now that hatter. 0:06:07.453 --> 0:06:10.733 He takes them out tis a minute and he does 0:06:11.133 --> 0:06:12.853 wins the race to the line. 0:06:13.213 --> 0:06:16.293 They have points at once on the point off the 0:06:16.333 --> 0:06:19.773 shoulder there Officier Harris direct contact, shouldered the head mo 0:06:19.893 --> 0:06:21.013 at force and a go. 0:06:21.493 --> 0:06:25.333 He goes four plays gone, goes back to Katoa. 0:06:25.413 --> 0:06:27.653 He looks at Nick Arema. 0:06:27.453 --> 0:06:31.533 HAMERSO TEPI ifdo fine work, I get it again. 0:06:32.253 --> 0:06:34.013 The Dolphins are alive. 0:06:34.613 --> 0:06:36.493 The head kicking well. 0:06:36.333 --> 0:06:39.533 On the edges have been outstanding for the Warriors. Last 0:06:39.573 --> 0:06:42.933 play it comes to Nick Arena. He puts a kick in. 0:06:43.213 --> 0:06:47.133 Costa is there toes it further and toes it out 0:06:47.173 --> 0:06:48.613 of play. 0:06:49.493 --> 0:06:54.453 Make it five on the trucks. Another nail player. 0:06:54.533 --> 0:06:59.293 Though at full time they've taken down the Dolphins at 0:06:59.333 --> 0:07:03.613 sun Corp Stadium sixteen points to twelve. 0:07:04.413 --> 0:07:10.853 This is the Big League podcast. This is going on, Yeah, 0:07:11.333 --> 0:07:14.973 the Big League podcast on the Warriors bandwagons. 0:07:14.373 --> 0:07:15.173 Since d one. 0:07:15.413 --> 0:07:18.093 Well, bur let's get through this game in a little 0:07:18.093 --> 0:07:20.573 bit more detailed. Look, I know we need to preface 0:07:20.613 --> 0:07:23.093 this by the fact you're actually in Melbourne. You're a 0:07:23.093 --> 0:07:24.373 busy man at the moment, and you're going to be 0:07:24.373 --> 0:07:28.213 again this week in Auckland FC in the A League semifinals. 0:07:28.213 --> 0:07:30.453 At the moment they'll host Melbourne Victory on Saturday. Then 0:07:30.453 --> 0:07:33.213 it's on to the Warriors at Mount Smart on Sunday 0:07:33.293 --> 0:07:36.373 against Canberra. But it was a real arm wrestle early, 0:07:36.413 --> 0:07:38.373 which it has been over the last few weeks. We 0:07:38.413 --> 0:07:41.453 had Chanelle Harris Devita dropped the ball over the line. 0:07:41.493 --> 0:07:43.853 There was a disallowed try each. But what I did 0:07:43.933 --> 0:07:46.333 like from what I saw at least were the Warriors 0:07:46.373 --> 0:07:49.293 fifth tackle options, you know, those kicks that could have 0:07:49.333 --> 0:07:52.013 been tries on any other day to Harris Deavita on 0:07:52.053 --> 0:07:55.773 two different occasions that they were very well placed, and 0:07:55.813 --> 0:07:58.973 the work in particular how Metcalf and Near Corre were 0:07:58.973 --> 0:08:01.413 combining on that right edge. There was a lot of 0:08:01.693 --> 0:08:04.893 different pictures being thrown at Tom Gilbert and Cody Nicarima 0:08:05.013 --> 0:08:08.253 and defense and eventually that told a lovely little way 0:08:08.533 --> 0:08:13.053 can pass for an outline for Near Correy to go through. 0:08:13.293 --> 0:08:17.293 And then immediately after that, look we've probably been waiting 0:08:17.333 --> 0:08:18.813 for the rubb of the green to go the Warrior's 0:08:18.853 --> 0:08:21.573 way over the last decade, and we finally got one 0:08:21.693 --> 0:08:24.253 out of nowhere Roger to have Arsischeck was one of 0:08:24.253 --> 0:08:26.213 the most obvious knock ons I've ever seen in a 0:08:26.653 --> 0:08:30.333 kick reception missed, it's regathered by Harris Tavita who was 0:08:30.373 --> 0:08:32.653 in an off side position, and then within the space 0:08:32.653 --> 0:08:36.213 of thirty seconds a barnstorming run from Aaron Clark and 0:08:36.253 --> 0:08:39.693 then a bit of individual brilliance from Luke Metcalf little 0:08:39.733 --> 0:08:42.253 Chip and Chase through Kirk Capewell and support and at 0:08:42.293 --> 0:08:44.893 that point it's ten points to Now we're heading into 0:08:44.933 --> 0:08:46.453 the sheds. What did you make of the first forty 0:08:46.533 --> 0:08:47.813 before we get into the second half. 0:08:48.693 --> 0:08:50.333 Yeah, I mean major turning point, isn't it. 0:08:50.373 --> 0:08:53.333 But I do think it's been a it's been a 0:08:53.333 --> 0:08:55.693 bit overblown. Like sure it was a knock on, it 0:08:55.773 --> 0:08:58.093 went sideways, but did go forward, no problem there and 0:08:58.213 --> 0:09:00.213 what he was off side. But the point I would 0:09:00.253 --> 0:09:02.653 make is it wasn't like the Warriors scored on the 0:09:02.693 --> 0:09:06.293 next tackle. You know they still had it was a swing. 0:09:06.333 --> 0:09:08.733 It was a turning point, But I thought the Dolphin's 0:09:08.773 --> 0:09:11.293 got a bit carried away after the game with going 0:09:11.333 --> 0:09:13.893 on and on abit that, because you know they did 0:09:13.933 --> 0:09:16.973 have time to recover. But what I did like like 0:09:17.053 --> 0:09:20.893 you was the last tackle plays because if that's a 0:09:20.933 --> 0:09:23.293 criticism of the last few weeks, and it's hard to 0:09:23.333 --> 0:09:26.933 criticize a team too much that's winning. But even Andrew 0:09:26.973 --> 0:09:29.693 Webster's said this after most games in this last period 0:09:30.093 --> 0:09:33.013 that they have, you know that overused were clunky, but 0:09:33.053 --> 0:09:35.653 they have been a bit clunky. Options haven't always been great, 0:09:35.853 --> 0:09:38.253 so they haven't got the most out of possession. But 0:09:38.533 --> 0:09:41.413 it kind of clicked a bit more on Saturday. They 0:09:41.533 --> 0:09:44.573 kind of felt like they'd planned what they wanted to 0:09:44.573 --> 0:09:47.933 do and then they executed well. So another good sign. 0:09:48.373 --> 0:09:51.413 Quite tenacious too, in that in that first half, you know, 0:09:51.453 --> 0:09:56.693 hot conditions, fast paced game, a lot happening, so you 0:09:56.773 --> 0:09:59.373 know to stay in. It's always a good sign when 0:09:59.373 --> 0:10:02.053 you stay in the contest and you're scoring tries towards 0:10:02.093 --> 0:10:07.573 the end of either half. And really nice, really nice 0:10:07.573 --> 0:10:10.533 to see in the coord because he was good in 0:10:10.573 --> 0:10:13.213 twenty three. He obviously had a lot of problems in 0:10:13.253 --> 0:10:16.333 twenty four with injuries and other things, but he looked 0:10:16.333 --> 0:10:17.933 on Saturda there were glimpses of. 0:10:19.773 --> 0:10:21.093 Paramount Nicordo, wasn't it. 0:10:21.373 --> 0:10:24.973 Yeah, I'll put my hand up and say that I've 0:10:25.013 --> 0:10:28.813 been pretty disappointed with Madatana Carter over the last year. 0:10:29.093 --> 0:10:31.733 But I thought, as you say, real glimpses of he 0:10:31.773 --> 0:10:34.053 went close to scoring a second early in the second half. 0:10:34.413 --> 0:10:35.653 You know, he's a big body. 0:10:35.853 --> 0:10:38.893 I think there was something made of it last year 0:10:38.893 --> 0:10:41.653 that is effectively the same height at least as. 0:10:41.533 --> 0:10:42.533 A Adam Fanua Blake. 0:10:42.533 --> 0:10:44.013 And you just want to you just want to see 0:10:44.013 --> 0:10:47.213 that sort of ball carrying physicality and presence used. Sometimes 0:10:47.573 --> 0:10:49.533 it just feels like he sort of braces for the 0:10:49.573 --> 0:10:53.053 contact rather than uses that massive frame and bends the 0:10:53.093 --> 0:10:55.413 defensive line. And look, just on your point too, burge 0:10:55.413 --> 0:10:58.453 around the dolphins and making a bit of a song 0:10:58.493 --> 0:11:01.413 of dance about the the RTS knock on. Look, you've 0:11:01.453 --> 0:11:02.973 just got to look at some of their statistics. They 0:11:03.013 --> 0:11:05.933 did not help themselves out or they were inaccurate, They 0:11:05.973 --> 0:11:08.173 were ill disciplined. The penalty count it did even up 0:11:08.173 --> 0:11:09.533 to towards the back end of the game, but it 0:11:09.573 --> 0:11:11.973 was eight to two after half an hour. 0:11:12.013 --> 0:11:14.133 I think the completion rate was about seventy percent. 0:11:14.213 --> 0:11:16.453 So they need to look at their own house before 0:11:16.493 --> 0:11:17.893 throwing some stones around. 0:11:18.213 --> 0:11:20.293 Yeah, I mean, to be fair, Christian Wolf's a good guy, 0:11:20.293 --> 0:11:21.773 and to be fair to him. I think he was 0:11:21.813 --> 0:11:24.893 just really frustrated as well because there were so many 0:11:25.373 --> 0:11:28.653 bunker calls and so many disallowed tries to both teams. 0:11:28.693 --> 0:11:31.533 But the Dolphins got their first year and they'd be 0:11:31.573 --> 0:11:33.973 a couple of those disallowed tries, which. 0:11:33.533 --> 0:11:35.773 I guess they could see in another way or they 0:11:35.813 --> 0:11:37.093 could argue. So yeah. 0:11:37.173 --> 0:11:38.933 Then we get into the second half and again it 0:11:39.013 --> 0:11:41.253 sort of resumes that sort of arm wrestle set for 0:11:41.293 --> 0:11:45.133 set type contest. It's not until relatively late that we 0:11:45.173 --> 0:11:47.413 see our next points through Jacob Labin, who I thought 0:11:47.453 --> 0:11:50.533 came on really strong first Nral career try from him 0:11:50.573 --> 0:11:54.093 offer another well placed kicked. That one was from Chanelle, Harris, 0:11:54.093 --> 0:11:56.493 Tavita and Burgiere starting. I think we're ten minutes to 0:11:56.533 --> 0:11:59.653 go sixteen points to know this one is all done 0:11:59.653 --> 0:12:00.253 and dusted. 0:12:00.773 --> 0:12:01.853 But this is the Warriors. 0:12:02.333 --> 0:12:04.213 They loved the close contest all of a sudden, so 0:12:04.253 --> 0:12:05.933 they just had to They had to add a little 0:12:05.933 --> 0:12:07.933 bit of GST for us, and we got a nervous finish. 0:12:07.933 --> 0:12:10.293 What did you the last ten or so minutes as 0:12:10.333 --> 0:12:12.613 you che and you see for Sha Harris, Git sinnburned 0:12:12.933 --> 0:12:15.173 a couple of lapses and all of a sudden you're 0:12:15.173 --> 0:12:16.093 on the edge of your seat. 0:12:16.533 --> 0:12:19.653 Yeah, I mean, for once, I wasn't writing this match report. 0:12:19.733 --> 0:12:23.973 I've had a few a few massive rewrites this year, 0:12:24.093 --> 0:12:25.653 or thinking I'm going to do a big rewrite because 0:12:25.613 --> 0:12:26.973 it's been some hard ones to write. 0:12:27.013 --> 0:12:27.453 I wasn't. 0:12:27.573 --> 0:12:29.933 I was means you say, in Melbourne in a pub 0:12:29.973 --> 0:12:31.013 with a whole lot of aalk and the f C 0:12:31.133 --> 0:12:33.453 fans quite memorable actually because they were enjoying the game. 0:12:33.493 --> 0:12:36.573 But also we're in a Melbourne pub with there's five 0:12:36.613 --> 0:12:38.973 massive screens all the AFL on, so we have to 0:12:39.013 --> 0:12:42.053 go and convince the guy to put the rugby league on, 0:12:43.133 --> 0:12:46.573 which made it for a really a really nice occasion. 0:12:47.533 --> 0:12:47.773 Yeah. 0:12:47.853 --> 0:12:50.813 I mean, it always felt kind of safe because you 0:12:50.893 --> 0:12:52.293 knew the time was sticking down. 0:12:52.333 --> 0:12:54.053 But it did get a bit uncomfortable, you know. 0:12:54.133 --> 0:12:57.253 And even the last play when the Dolphins make their 0:12:57.333 --> 0:12:59.373 kicking you I know, surely not, surely not. 0:13:00.173 --> 0:13:02.893 It got way too, way too tense. 0:13:03.013 --> 0:13:05.293 Webster again will be sitting there thinking, geez, why can't 0:13:05.333 --> 0:13:07.173 we just be comfortable like they were comfortable in christ 0:13:07.253 --> 0:13:10.293 Us against the Knights. But apart from that, they make 0:13:10.333 --> 0:13:13.133 it difficult. You turn it into a positive and you 0:13:13.173 --> 0:13:16.013 say that they hung on again, and look they do. 0:13:16.053 --> 0:13:19.213 Look they do look composed. You know, they do look 0:13:19.213 --> 0:13:23.093 pretty composed. The lapses are coming, the mistakes come, but 0:13:23.413 --> 0:13:27.733 they reset quickly. I'd say that is an obvious major 0:13:27.773 --> 0:13:31.333 difference from last year, where a mistake came. They couldn't 0:13:31.333 --> 0:13:35.693 defend their mistakes last year. This season they're defending their errors, 0:13:35.893 --> 0:13:38.893 or their the penalties or their issues. They're defending them 0:13:38.973 --> 0:13:41.853 quite well, which is massive, isn't it. 0:13:41.853 --> 0:13:47.013 Certainly Well, here's Andrew Webster's summation of that eighty minutes 0:13:47.173 --> 0:13:50.613 over in Brisbane against the Dolphins. He personally thought it 0:13:50.653 --> 0:13:52.733 was a marked improvement on the previous two weeks, the 0:13:52.773 --> 0:13:54.773 wins over the Dragons and the Cowboys. 0:13:54.853 --> 0:13:56.493 That one's a bit different the last couple of weeks. 0:13:56.533 --> 0:13:58.333 I was still a heart attack at the end. A 0:13:58.413 --> 0:14:01.653 bit about it I felt was just how in control 0:14:01.733 --> 0:14:02.773 we looked defensively. 0:14:03.093 --> 0:14:04.733 They had so much balling out of triline. We're in 0:14:04.773 --> 0:14:05.133 now half. 0:14:05.173 --> 0:14:06.693 Really the thing we're going to work on is just 0:14:06.813 --> 0:14:09.493 tackle four penalties or sixty games a game on leg 0:14:09.573 --> 0:14:12.133 up better their end. But I just a little talm 0:14:12.213 --> 0:14:15.453 controlled fish wind of the pin and right at them, 0:14:15.493 --> 0:14:17.573 we could have crumbled and the stay solid again. 0:14:18.373 --> 0:14:19.893 I actually thought we'd look way better. 0:14:20.293 --> 0:14:22.933 And I have to agree, yeah, look again, it was 0:14:22.933 --> 0:14:27.413 that that nail biting finish, But on the whole, calm collected. 0:14:27.773 --> 0:14:29.573 They're not usually words that you sort of associated with 0:14:29.573 --> 0:14:32.333 the Warrior's team burge, but there's a real DNA about 0:14:32.333 --> 0:14:35.173 this team there, and just the willingness to fight for 0:14:35.213 --> 0:14:39.213 each other and scramble defensively. Sometimes it doesn't look pretty, 0:14:39.333 --> 0:14:41.453 but it's it's very effective. 0:14:41.413 --> 0:14:44.173 Very effective and even even you know, losing your co 0:14:44.333 --> 0:14:48.173 captain to a sin bin, which I wasn't completely sure about. 0:14:48.253 --> 0:14:52.293 I thought maybe the the Dolphins players sort of. 0:14:54.373 --> 0:14:55.653 A bit of a it was a bit of a 0:14:55.933 --> 0:14:58.653 mitigating factor, wasn't It was sort of body position lar wad, 0:14:58.653 --> 0:15:00.333 But I think it was the nature of how Fisher 0:15:00.373 --> 0:15:03.653 Harris is armed and quite rap and cock shoulder that 0:15:03.693 --> 0:15:06.173 probably put it that way with and he's gone for 0:15:06.173 --> 0:15:08.733 at least a week now, so there was definitely something 0:15:08.733 --> 0:15:08.933 in it. 0:15:08.973 --> 0:15:10.773 But yeah, if. 0:15:10.653 --> 0:15:13.373 And doubt I like to see those given because it's 0:15:13.413 --> 0:15:16.173 something you want to see eradicated. 0:15:16.213 --> 0:15:19.093 So overall, no issue, but but it was one that. 0:15:19.053 --> 0:15:20.533 You could sort of you could argue, but no, I 0:15:20.533 --> 0:15:22.973 should be the fact he goes off. They remain composed. 0:15:23.213 --> 0:15:25.013 The Dolphins are a good team this year, you know. 0:15:25.213 --> 0:15:30.253 I like what they beat the Storm, a massive score 0:15:30.253 --> 0:15:32.733 on the Storm. You know, so they're a good team. 0:15:32.733 --> 0:15:35.653 They're at home, big crowd. It just all adds up 0:15:35.733 --> 0:15:38.973 to I don't know, you're getting an impression about this 0:15:39.093 --> 0:15:42.333 team which is quite exciting, Like no one's getting carried 0:15:42.333 --> 0:15:44.853 away like they're not the second best team in the NRL. 0:15:45.293 --> 0:15:47.933 The second on the ladder then definitely not the second 0:15:47.973 --> 0:15:50.813 best team in the NRL. I still wouldn't have them 0:15:50.973 --> 0:15:53.533 in the top four teams in the NRL in terms 0:15:53.533 --> 0:15:58.773 of ability right now. But they have got this foundation, 0:15:59.053 --> 0:16:02.453 which means that September football is looking more and more 0:16:02.573 --> 0:16:06.413 likely because you know, they can, like you said just before, 0:16:06.773 --> 0:16:09.253 there's a little bit pressure on now, so they can 0:16:09.293 --> 0:16:10.893 afford to drop a couple of games. They're going to 0:16:10.933 --> 0:16:12.173 drop a couple of games. They're going to have some 0:16:12.213 --> 0:16:15.373 hard times, but it won't be terminal. You know that 0:16:15.453 --> 0:16:17.773 if they rebound, then they should collect enough wins to 0:16:17.813 --> 0:16:20.213 be September. And I think the big point for me 0:16:20.413 --> 0:16:23.253 is what kind of team will we see in September. 0:16:23.693 --> 0:16:27.453 You know that the improvement that we could have in 0:16:27.573 --> 0:16:30.173 two or three months could be quite startling. You know, 0:16:30.213 --> 0:16:33.133 there's still questions that have got fair experienced half combination, 0:16:33.253 --> 0:16:35.773 et cetera, et cetera. They've got some other little holes, 0:16:35.813 --> 0:16:37.973 but they're in a position that a lot of other 0:16:38.053 --> 0:16:40.493 teams would love to be, and both in terms of 0:16:40.533 --> 0:16:43.573 their their points on the ladder, but just also in 0:16:43.653 --> 0:16:47.013 terms of their growth and their potential growth as a squad. 0:16:47.413 --> 0:16:49.573 A couple of individuals I did want to highlight before 0:16:49.573 --> 0:16:52.053 we start to take a look at Sunday's game against 0:16:52.293 --> 0:16:55.013 Canberra and look, I am down base here in christ 0:16:55.133 --> 0:16:56.333 so I've got a little bit of bias here. But 0:16:56.413 --> 0:16:59.373 Tannis sour Is Smith quite the story come out of 0:16:59.413 --> 0:17:02.493 the Halls or Hornets junior program. Had a little dabble 0:17:02.533 --> 0:17:05.373 in rugby union, ended up back in rugby league and 0:17:05.413 --> 0:17:08.133 with some unavailability I'll swear injuries to lots of bunty 0:17:08.173 --> 0:17:11.293 off He makes his RL first grade debut. It's the 0:17:11.413 --> 0:17:15.813 tenth RL first grade club debut that Andrew Webster has 0:17:15.973 --> 0:17:19.053 has handed out and his tenure since taking over in 0:17:19.093 --> 0:17:21.213 twenty twenty three came on pretty solid. No. 0:17:21.333 --> 0:17:22.973 Frills, you know, twenty five minutes. 0:17:22.973 --> 0:17:25.773 He's like a new bald brother with no jazz Ta 0:17:25.853 --> 0:17:29.053 Vuger or Dylan Walker. What did you make of Tannis 0:17:29.133 --> 0:17:31.133 dalers Smith getting a run in first grade? 0:17:31.293 --> 0:17:36.533 Well, yeah, in the great traditions of South Island Fords. Yeah, solid, 0:17:37.053 --> 0:17:39.613 had it go, got stuck in all the things you 0:17:39.653 --> 0:17:42.013 want to see. Not easy on debut, not easy coming 0:17:42.053 --> 0:17:45.213 on in that situation, in that game. They've quite liked 0:17:45.253 --> 0:17:48.093 him for quite a while and he's just had He's 0:17:48.133 --> 0:17:51.013 had injuries, he had a few other setbacks. So it's 0:17:51.053 --> 0:17:53.533 just great to see him getting a chance, you know, 0:17:53.573 --> 0:17:55.493 because until he gets a chance, you don't know what 0:17:55.533 --> 0:17:58.253 his ceiling is. But as you would know, Nick, not 0:17:58.413 --> 0:18:00.933 easy to make it out of christ Church, even though 0:18:00.933 --> 0:18:03.613 that even though the league scenes well, even though the 0:18:03.693 --> 0:18:05.133 league seems getting better down. 0:18:05.013 --> 0:18:07.013 I thought you meant more broadly speaking, just in general 0:18:07.093 --> 0:18:08.213 rather than rugby leagu Yeah. 0:18:08.093 --> 0:18:11.253 No, you've made it, made it as well on the 0:18:11.293 --> 0:18:13.133 mid League podcast. But I've made it big top. 0:18:13.213 --> 0:18:15.373 I was just meaning in terms of league. 0:18:15.653 --> 0:18:19.493 It's a tough pathway from playing footy in christ Church 0:18:19.613 --> 0:18:21.973 to getting to the narrow You know, the kids in 0:18:22.013 --> 0:18:26.493 Auckland have obviously got an advantage, so I reckon, you've 0:18:26.493 --> 0:18:29.093 got to be a bit a bit special. Yeah, Ue 0:18:29.173 --> 0:18:31.013 quite tough mentally to do so, so. 0:18:32.533 --> 0:18:33.573 We're repeating ourselves. 0:18:33.573 --> 0:18:36.573 But it's another nice little sign that a kid comes 0:18:36.573 --> 0:18:37.813 in and does well. 0:18:38.013 --> 0:18:39.733 And look at the other end of the career arc. 0:18:40.653 --> 0:18:43.413 Kirk Capele just slotting in there in the centers. He's 0:18:43.493 --> 0:18:46.973 up against an excitement machine and Herbie Farnworth. I know 0:18:47.013 --> 0:18:50.213 I did score a trilate, but some great defensive work, 0:18:50.213 --> 0:18:55.733 in particular covering for Dallan who loves jamming and on 0:18:55.853 --> 0:18:57.373 hand to score that try as well, it has to 0:18:57.373 --> 0:18:58.773 be in the right place at the right time to 0:18:59.453 --> 0:19:02.533 follow Luke Metcalf's little chip and chase. Here's Andrew Webster 0:19:02.613 --> 0:19:05.213 first on Kirk Caple's performance on Saturday. 0:19:05.293 --> 0:19:08.093 He's been awesome wherever he's played this year. People don't 0:19:08.093 --> 0:19:10.733 realize he had a lot of injuries and ningles last year. 0:19:10.733 --> 0:19:13.373 He's got himself physically in light shape and you see 0:19:13.373 --> 0:19:17.573 how well he plays and his leadership he's unbelievable. He's 0:19:17.653 --> 0:19:20.773 leading by his actions. I honestly think he's been so 0:19:20.853 --> 0:19:21.773 good for us, particularly the. 0:19:21.773 --> 0:19:25.533 Last six weeks capear Burge. He's becoming a bit of 0:19:25.573 --> 0:19:26.493 a fan favorite. 0:19:27.093 --> 0:19:29.533