1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,667 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB All. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:17,187 Speaker 2: Right, let's get to Oustralian correspondent Dan Lonigan. Now, Dan, 4 00:00:17,267 --> 00:00:19,787 Speaker 2: always good to check mate, welcome to the show. Nothing 5 00:00:19,827 --> 00:00:23,987 Speaker 2: more Australian right then, af ol. So that's where we'll start. 6 00:00:24,147 --> 00:00:27,467 Speaker 2: We very much getting to the pointed end of the season. 7 00:00:27,507 --> 00:00:28,667 Speaker 2: She's getting pretty tight. 8 00:00:29,747 --> 00:00:32,627 Speaker 3: Certainly is as great to be with you here. We're 9 00:00:32,667 --> 00:00:35,227 Speaker 3: into the first week ind of the finals and it's 10 00:00:35,307 --> 00:00:38,147 Speaker 3: been two one sided matches. So fine, you'd have to 11 00:00:38,187 --> 00:00:42,067 Speaker 3: say that probably for most of the pundits the favorite 12 00:00:42,067 --> 00:00:45,707 Speaker 3: scott beatn Thursday night Port Adelaide in greatful and they're 13 00:00:45,707 --> 00:00:48,027 Speaker 3: a very good at home in a wayside, which means 14 00:00:48,067 --> 00:00:51,907 Speaker 3: they play well in the regular season. They again dominated 15 00:00:51,947 --> 00:00:54,067 Speaker 3: the back end of the regular season, but their record 16 00:00:54,147 --> 00:00:57,067 Speaker 3: in finals and again they had the opportunity of a 17 00:00:57,187 --> 00:01:00,427 Speaker 3: home final and all I well, when I say all 18 00:01:00,427 --> 00:01:02,867 Speaker 3: I needed to do, it's easier said than done. You've 19 00:01:02,867 --> 00:01:04,947 Speaker 3: still got to go out and do it was to 20 00:01:05,507 --> 00:01:08,387 Speaker 3: win that home. They get another home final in two 21 00:01:08,427 --> 00:01:11,187 Speaker 3: weeks time of the week off it's womenary final and 22 00:01:11,227 --> 00:01:14,187 Speaker 3: they win that, they're into the Grand final. At the 23 00:01:14,267 --> 00:01:18,307 Speaker 3: MCG which the current coach Ken Hinckley's never achieved despite 24 00:01:18,627 --> 00:01:22,027 Speaker 3: often Darcy getting his team into the top four, which 25 00:01:22,067 --> 00:01:23,707 Speaker 3: is where you want to be at the end of 26 00:01:23,707 --> 00:01:26,227 Speaker 3: our home and away season, and it's happened four of 27 00:01:26,267 --> 00:01:28,987 Speaker 3: the last five years. And on Thursday night they came 28 00:01:29,067 --> 00:01:31,227 Speaker 3: up against the geelongside, me seeing one of the best players, 29 00:01:31,227 --> 00:01:36,147 Speaker 3: Tom Stewart, and were absolutely embarrassed and felted, humiliated all 30 00:01:36,187 --> 00:01:38,787 Speaker 3: those words by eighty four points. So they started okay, 31 00:01:39,227 --> 00:01:42,347 Speaker 3: but from quarter of time onwards they never looked like again. 32 00:01:42,587 --> 00:01:44,827 Speaker 3: A lot of pressure on them to perform. They've got 33 00:01:44,907 --> 00:01:48,947 Speaker 3: Hawthorne in a cutthroat semi final in Adelaide again this 34 00:01:49,107 --> 00:01:51,307 Speaker 3: week and the Hawks have been the great story of 35 00:01:51,347 --> 00:01:54,867 Speaker 3: this year. Normally, when you lose your first five games 36 00:01:55,347 --> 00:01:57,267 Speaker 3: of a home and away season, even though it's a 37 00:01:57,267 --> 00:02:01,107 Speaker 3: long season, as we also see in the NRL, it's 38 00:02:01,227 --> 00:02:03,027 Speaker 3: very hard to come back from that, I mean there's 39 00:02:03,067 --> 00:02:06,787 Speaker 3: no room for error. But Hawthorne since then he got 40 00:02:06,827 --> 00:02:09,347 Speaker 3: four games. They lost the Sydney in round six and 41 00:02:09,387 --> 00:02:11,947 Speaker 3: from then on they got on an absolute run. Two 42 00:02:12,107 --> 00:02:14,827 Speaker 3: narrow losses to Port Adelaide by one point at the 43 00:02:14,947 --> 00:02:17,667 Speaker 3: end and gwus by two points after leading all day 44 00:02:18,187 --> 00:02:21,947 Speaker 3: and one poor performance against Geelong and other than that 45 00:02:21,947 --> 00:02:23,947 Speaker 3: they've won on one Aasiland. They took on the Bulldogs 46 00:02:23,987 --> 00:02:28,027 Speaker 3: whose form has been pretty good, but look go magnificent. 47 00:02:28,067 --> 00:02:30,627 Speaker 3: Sam Mitch was a great coach. He leads well, he's 48 00:02:30,747 --> 00:02:33,387 Speaker 3: very good tactically, and the Bulldogs were no match for 49 00:02:33,427 --> 00:02:36,707 Speaker 3: Hawthorne who were too quick, too fast, too enthusiastic, and 50 00:02:37,107 --> 00:02:40,747 Speaker 3: they romped away. The Dogs are out again, another disappointing 51 00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:43,427 Speaker 3: exit when a lot was promised. They've got some talent 52 00:02:43,467 --> 00:02:46,707 Speaker 3: on the list, but they're our coached and so Hawthorne 53 00:02:46,707 --> 00:02:48,947 Speaker 3: are threw. And today we've got g WS and Sydney, 54 00:02:48,947 --> 00:02:51,627 Speaker 3: the battle of the Bridge of two Sydney teams. Sydney 55 00:02:51,667 --> 00:02:53,427 Speaker 3: you've got a good recent record in home and away 56 00:02:53,427 --> 00:02:57,187 Speaker 3: footy against GWS that have lost all three finals against them. 57 00:02:57,267 --> 00:03:00,307 Speaker 3: They finished on top. They formed later in the season 58 00:03:00,387 --> 00:03:02,507 Speaker 3: was not brilliant, but earlier in the season they set 59 00:03:02,587 --> 00:03:05,307 Speaker 3: the year up. And then tonight Carlton who've got an 60 00:03:05,307 --> 00:03:08,107 Speaker 3: opportunity to play in the finals when Freer lost their 61 00:03:08,187 --> 00:03:11,027 Speaker 3: last game two weeks ago. Get a lot of players back, 62 00:03:11,347 --> 00:03:16,187 Speaker 3: good players. Kerno Chera San Dockerty oven play since Round 63 00:03:16,187 --> 00:03:18,227 Speaker 3: one because of an injury. I wonder if they're a 64 00:03:18,267 --> 00:03:21,307 Speaker 3: bit underdone that Brisbane will be warm favorites. But as 65 00:03:21,347 --> 00:03:24,587 Speaker 3: I say, Darky, that means absolutely squad, it means nothing. 66 00:03:24,907 --> 00:03:26,627 Speaker 3: It's all about how you perform on the day and 67 00:03:26,707 --> 00:03:30,507 Speaker 3: cartment the best. We're second for the last part portion 68 00:03:30,587 --> 00:03:34,147 Speaker 3: of this season some chance, but I still would be 69 00:03:34,187 --> 00:03:37,507 Speaker 3: a bit surprised if they won, and I think Sydney 70 00:03:37,587 --> 00:03:40,747 Speaker 3: might just get GWS. And then again if GWS won, 71 00:03:40,907 --> 00:03:43,307 Speaker 3: that's what this sort of season has produced this year. 72 00:03:43,627 --> 00:03:46,427 Speaker 3: I wouldn't bat an eyelid, so it could go either way. 73 00:03:46,547 --> 00:03:50,067 Speaker 2: Dan again from Australia talking Oka Sports, So you guys 74 00:03:50,107 --> 00:03:53,827 Speaker 2: are pretty good at putting your hands on New Zealand 75 00:03:53,867 --> 00:03:57,267 Speaker 2: coaches when it comes to rugby. Hasn't really worked for 76 00:03:57,267 --> 00:04:00,107 Speaker 2: the Wallabies. They have managed to get over the line, 77 00:04:00,147 --> 00:04:01,667 Speaker 2: but no one cares. 78 00:04:01,427 --> 00:04:04,787 Speaker 3: Right, I don't think they care. I don't think they 79 00:04:04,827 --> 00:04:07,267 Speaker 3: care as much as they should those that are rusted 80 00:04:07,307 --> 00:04:09,787 Speaker 3: on quality supporters. You make a very good point to us. 81 00:04:09,787 --> 00:04:12,747 Speaker 3: It's just an observation I've made. Even having a look 82 00:04:12,827 --> 00:04:16,867 Speaker 3: at obviously all the websites and looking right across Australia. 83 00:04:17,187 --> 00:04:19,587 Speaker 3: There are those that would follow a clothes there are 84 00:04:19,627 --> 00:04:23,307 Speaker 3: those that would write on it and they talk about it, 85 00:04:23,667 --> 00:04:26,067 Speaker 3: but I think they're in the minority, fighting and losing 86 00:04:26,107 --> 00:04:27,947 Speaker 3: battle to sport. I mean, it's not just at the 87 00:04:28,027 --> 00:04:30,867 Speaker 3: elite level, it is at the development level. It's not 88 00:04:31,547 --> 00:04:34,227 Speaker 3: as popular as it once was. It is I think 89 00:04:34,347 --> 00:04:37,747 Speaker 3: a distant fourth in the football cards behind Ossie rules 90 00:04:37,947 --> 00:04:40,907 Speaker 3: in our particular order, rugby league depending which state you're in, 91 00:04:40,947 --> 00:04:43,707 Speaker 3: and of course the world game football. Even though we 92 00:04:43,787 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 3: need our national teams to be successful at both a 93 00:04:48,027 --> 00:04:51,187 Speaker 3: male and female level, and we know how disappointing the 94 00:04:51,307 --> 00:04:54,347 Speaker 3: Matildas were at the Olympic Games. That's the story for 95 00:04:54,347 --> 00:04:57,027 Speaker 3: another day. They really were very, very disappointing. I think 96 00:04:57,027 --> 00:04:59,947 Speaker 3: have been probably living on the success of the World 97 00:05:00,027 --> 00:05:03,147 Speaker 3: Cup last year, particularly how popular the World Cup was 98 00:05:03,147 --> 00:05:08,067 Speaker 3: in this country. But rugby union we're just struggling. The 99 00:05:08,187 --> 00:05:13,227 Speaker 3: disappointment of it is not really being looked into that much. 100 00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:16,427 Speaker 3: What ninth in the world Australia is ranked. They were 101 00:05:16,467 --> 00:05:18,947 Speaker 3: probably lucky to beat Argentina. It was good they had 102 00:05:18,947 --> 00:05:22,947 Speaker 3: to win. They lost their previous eight World Championship rugby matches. 103 00:05:23,307 --> 00:05:25,707 Speaker 3: Minister is a team that when I was growing up 104 00:05:25,747 --> 00:05:27,467 Speaker 3: in the eighties and nineties, I mean, they were the 105 00:05:27,467 --> 00:05:29,347 Speaker 3: probably the best team in the world, or if not 106 00:05:29,427 --> 00:05:32,787 Speaker 3: the best team, as good as your All Blacks Darky. 107 00:05:32,867 --> 00:05:36,107 Speaker 3: But we are that far away from those teams and 108 00:05:36,307 --> 00:05:40,227 Speaker 3: CT are certainly very close to us in regard to 109 00:05:40,347 --> 00:05:43,587 Speaker 3: being as good, if not better than Australia. Now Italy 110 00:05:43,587 --> 00:05:45,907 Speaker 3: have gone ahead of us, Argentina have gone ahead of US, 111 00:05:46,067 --> 00:05:47,707 Speaker 3: Ireland are one of the best in the world. In 112 00:05:47,747 --> 00:05:50,387 Speaker 3: Australia are better than them, better than Wales, better than Scotland. 113 00:05:50,787 --> 00:05:53,427 Speaker 3: But we're so far in the rearview vision mirror of 114 00:05:53,467 --> 00:05:58,187 Speaker 3: those teams I can't see in any particular time, certainly 115 00:05:58,187 --> 00:06:01,387 Speaker 3: in the next ten or twenty years, unless the development improves, 116 00:06:01,707 --> 00:06:04,227 Speaker 3: that Australia are ever going to be as good as 117 00:06:04,267 --> 00:06:07,427 Speaker 3: those teams. I think it just indicates that people aren't 118 00:06:07,427 --> 00:06:11,467 Speaker 3: playing the sport because Australia artist good at it and 119 00:06:11,827 --> 00:06:14,107 Speaker 3: those at the top haven't developed it. I think they've 120 00:06:14,427 --> 00:06:17,467 Speaker 3: kept it as a private school sport and they haven't 121 00:06:17,627 --> 00:06:20,707 Speaker 3: and it means that a lot of players have played 122 00:06:20,747 --> 00:06:24,507 Speaker 3: rugby union are getting better opportunities to play rugby league 123 00:06:24,707 --> 00:06:27,107 Speaker 3: for they're going across and playing that and that's what's 124 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:27,987 Speaker 3: hitting the code of it. 125 00:06:28,347 --> 00:06:30,627 Speaker 2: And Dan Lonagan, let's put a cherry out. Thanks for 126 00:06:30,627 --> 00:06:33,947 Speaker 2: your timing expertise. As Per, We've got a pretty excited 127 00:06:34,027 --> 00:06:37,987 Speaker 2: producer here. AT's do or die in the NRL. Is 128 00:06:38,027 --> 00:06:41,947 Speaker 2: there a chance that Wayne Bennett's the evergreen Wayne Bennett 129 00:06:41,947 --> 00:06:44,667 Speaker 2: gets a chance to maybe Rollinson out of our final series? 130 00:06:44,747 --> 00:06:47,387 Speaker 2: Or is a Newcastle going to tip the Dolphins up? 131 00:06:48,027 --> 00:06:51,227 Speaker 3: Oh? Look, it's a throw of the dice. It's exactly 132 00:06:51,267 --> 00:06:53,667 Speaker 3: what the NRL wanted, it's what the AFL wanted. And 133 00:06:53,787 --> 00:06:55,667 Speaker 3: it's been the longest RL sea As we talk about 134 00:06:55,707 --> 00:06:58,227 Speaker 3: it being long in the AFL, what has been twenty 135 00:06:58,267 --> 00:07:00,347 Speaker 3: seven weeks in the NRL, with of course the start 136 00:07:00,347 --> 00:07:03,267 Speaker 3: of the season in Vegas right at the beginning of March, 137 00:07:03,267 --> 00:07:06,267 Speaker 3: which is a long long time ago. So look, I 138 00:07:06,427 --> 00:07:08,107 Speaker 3: think they can do it. I know that form has 139 00:07:08,147 --> 00:07:09,787 Speaker 3: been a bit up and down, probably more down than 140 00:07:09,867 --> 00:07:11,587 Speaker 3: up in the second half of the season. Again, like 141 00:07:11,667 --> 00:07:14,267 Speaker 3: last year, they started well and fell away badly. But 142 00:07:14,307 --> 00:07:15,867 Speaker 3: he's a bit of a genius, isn't he a lone? 143 00:07:15,907 --> 00:07:19,147 Speaker 3: I'm not sure how much coaching he does nowadays. I 144 00:07:19,187 --> 00:07:21,667 Speaker 3: think he's a figure ahead. I think that he might 145 00:07:21,747 --> 00:07:24,507 Speaker 3: coach all the coaches and just over see the whole program. 146 00:07:24,507 --> 00:07:27,587 Speaker 3: But he still loves it. He's still heavily involved in it, 147 00:07:28,267 --> 00:07:30,267 Speaker 3: and they've done a great job to be as reasonably 148 00:07:30,307 --> 00:07:33,667 Speaker 3: competitive as they have been. I think they can full 149 00:07:33,667 --> 00:07:36,987 Speaker 3: credit the newcasts will still being in the race, but look, 150 00:07:37,067 --> 00:07:39,227 Speaker 3: I'd love to see them make it again. It's good 151 00:07:39,227 --> 00:07:41,347 Speaker 3: to see a new team in. But who's going to 152 00:07:41,347 --> 00:07:43,507 Speaker 3: beat the Storm, Who's going to beat Penrith, Who's going 153 00:07:43,547 --> 00:07:45,627 Speaker 3: to beat the Recess? When Penri's going to bor in 154 00:07:45,667 --> 00:07:47,787 Speaker 3: a row and their injury because he had done well 155 00:07:47,827 --> 00:07:49,947 Speaker 3: to stay in the race, And as I mentioned last 156 00:07:49,947 --> 00:07:51,907 Speaker 3: week on the program to Jason, I mean, how good 157 00:07:51,987 --> 00:07:55,227 Speaker 3: is Craig Valamy in the Melbourne Storm. The only issue 158 00:07:55,227 --> 00:07:57,067 Speaker 3: with the Storm is they probably need to win a 159 00:07:57,067 --> 00:08:00,387 Speaker 3: few more flags considering all the time they finished at 160 00:08:00,427 --> 00:08:02,707 Speaker 3: top two or I think they're the three vests Caronal 161 00:08:02,747 --> 00:08:05,187 Speaker 3: are pretty good and of course there's still a few 162 00:08:05,187 --> 00:08:08,587 Speaker 3: matches there to decide top four. But to answer your question, 163 00:08:08,667 --> 00:08:10,507 Speaker 3: as usual, on a long window way, I think that 164 00:08:10,787 --> 00:08:13,027 Speaker 3: the Dolphins can get in. The Bulldogs will make it 165 00:08:13,027 --> 00:08:15,067 Speaker 3: through for the first time. In a while. It should 166 00:08:15,107 --> 00:08:18,227 Speaker 3: be a magnificent final series, which of course kicks off 167 00:08:18,267 --> 00:08:18,747 Speaker 3: next week. 168 00:08:19,027 --> 00:08:21,907 Speaker 2: And I tell you what, Dan Lonigan, next year, it's 169 00:08:21,947 --> 00:08:25,507 Speaker 2: our year up the Wars. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. 170 00:08:25,547 --> 00:08:25,707 Speaker 3: Mate. 171 00:08:25,747 --> 00:08:27,147 Speaker 2: You go well, enjoy your weekend. 172 00:08:27,587 --> 00:08:28,947 Speaker 3: Thank you, Darcy, thanks for having me. 173 00:08:29,067 --> 00:08:30,947 Speaker 2: Yeah no, thanks very much for joining us as you 174 00:08:30,947 --> 00:08:32,507 Speaker 2: correspondent to Dan Lonigan. 175 00:08:33,067 --> 00:08:36,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 176 00:08:36,347 --> 00:08:39,627 Speaker 1: to news talks there'd be weekends from midday, or follow 177 00:08:39,667 --> 00:08:41,227 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.