1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 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 Newstalks ed B. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:15,747 Speaker 2: The Warriors will end Round twenty three of the NRL 4 00:00:15,907 --> 00:00:19,507 Speaker 2: outside the top four after a thirty two to fourteen 5 00:00:19,627 --> 00:00:22,707 Speaker 2: defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs in Sydney last night. 6 00:00:23,307 --> 00:00:28,107 Speaker 3: Mary to king On for Hayward's aut infronic Galvin's. 7 00:00:28,027 --> 00:00:35,027 Speaker 2: That dollogs caress has done it again, passed to caress 8 00:00:37,147 --> 00:00:37,867 Speaker 2: his hands. 9 00:00:39,627 --> 00:00:41,987 Speaker 3: Then you take it by a trendis he said? 10 00:00:42,107 --> 00:00:45,907 Speaker 2: He's the hands of a surgeon, the hands of a surgeon. Indeed. 11 00:00:46,187 --> 00:00:49,627 Speaker 2: A convincing win by the Bulldogs last night in very 12 00:00:50,187 --> 00:00:54,947 Speaker 2: difficult conditions. Jake Duke was on sideline commentary Your bull 13 00:00:54,987 --> 00:00:57,787 Speaker 2: Bugger for Fox last night. Have you dried out yet? 14 00:00:57,827 --> 00:01:01,747 Speaker 3: Mate? I had to paddle home in my boat, Jase. 15 00:01:01,867 --> 00:01:04,707 Speaker 3: It was. It was a tough one on the side 16 00:01:04,747 --> 00:01:06,987 Speaker 3: by last night and I got drenched night before in 17 00:01:07,587 --> 00:01:09,627 Speaker 3: Newcastle as well, so I'm not having a good run. 18 00:01:09,707 --> 00:01:12,707 Speaker 3: But in the studio today for the Fox League, so 19 00:01:12,947 --> 00:01:14,107 Speaker 3: thankfully I will stay dry. 20 00:01:14,307 --> 00:01:17,747 Speaker 2: Good stuff last night, mate, did the score line reflect 21 00:01:17,787 --> 00:01:18,147 Speaker 2: the game? 22 00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:24,627 Speaker 3: It's an interesting one, look it was. It can't even 23 00:01:24,787 --> 00:01:27,387 Speaker 3: recall because I was just so busy trying to stay 24 00:01:27,547 --> 00:01:30,467 Speaker 3: dry in that monsoon or conditions. But look, you just 25 00:01:30,547 --> 00:01:33,947 Speaker 3: have to think that the loss of Tomato Martin early 26 00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:37,707 Speaker 3: in that game just really threw the Warriors. Obviously he 27 00:01:37,827 --> 00:01:41,707 Speaker 3: copped a category one. Ha. So you lose your half 28 00:01:41,787 --> 00:01:45,067 Speaker 3: back who's just come in to replace Tanaboid, You've already 29 00:01:45,067 --> 00:01:48,467 Speaker 3: lost Luke Metcalf. You know, it's just a lot to 30 00:01:48,547 --> 00:01:51,427 Speaker 3: overcome for the Warriors in terms of cohesion in attack, 31 00:01:51,547 --> 00:01:55,107 Speaker 3: and Chanelle Harris Savita was out last week, back last night, 32 00:01:55,187 --> 00:01:57,907 Speaker 3: and I just think you could see in their attack 33 00:01:57,987 --> 00:02:00,347 Speaker 3: last night it was just a bit shot after that, 34 00:02:00,587 --> 00:02:04,187 Speaker 3: and in those conditions, the Bulldogs kind of warmed down 35 00:02:04,267 --> 00:02:08,907 Speaker 3: and completed really well controlled field position and then they're 36 00:02:08,947 --> 00:02:11,787 Speaker 3: a good side and so they just piled on the points. 37 00:02:11,827 --> 00:02:14,827 Speaker 3: It's probably, you know, probably not an accurate reflection of 38 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:17,267 Speaker 3: where the two teams are probably at. But the Warrior 39 00:02:17,347 --> 00:02:19,907 Speaker 3: is at the moment just kind of in a bit 40 00:02:19,947 --> 00:02:22,467 Speaker 3: of a in a bit of a slide, as I said, 41 00:02:22,547 --> 00:02:25,347 Speaker 3: with all those injuries and back to back losses at 42 00:02:25,387 --> 00:02:27,867 Speaker 3: home and now outside the top four, as you said, 43 00:02:27,987 --> 00:02:32,507 Speaker 3: So look it's it's tough, but there's still what four 44 00:02:32,587 --> 00:02:35,187 Speaker 3: games to go, so you know, you can you can 45 00:02:35,227 --> 00:02:36,947 Speaker 3: write the ship and kind of get things going, but 46 00:02:37,027 --> 00:02:38,507 Speaker 3: they just got to keep some players on the field. 47 00:02:38,667 --> 00:02:40,467 Speaker 2: Well that's it, doesn't it, Jake. You know, injuries have 48 00:02:40,547 --> 00:02:43,347 Speaker 2: been an absolute killer. The list was long anyway before 49 00:02:43,827 --> 00:02:47,067 Speaker 2: to Mighty Martin went down last night, Like you don't 50 00:02:47,067 --> 00:02:49,187 Speaker 2: want to make excuses, right because rugby league is a 51 00:02:49,227 --> 00:02:52,387 Speaker 2: game where injuries are effective life. But is it in 52 00:02:52,507 --> 00:02:55,507 Speaker 2: some ways an explanation at least for what's going on 53 00:02:55,587 --> 00:02:56,467 Speaker 2: at the Warriors right now? 54 00:02:57,707 --> 00:03:01,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, of course, Like you don't lose quality players like 55 00:03:01,587 --> 00:03:05,427 Speaker 3: as I said, look at Luke Metcalfe, a Mitch Barnett, obviously, 56 00:03:05,547 --> 00:03:09,067 Speaker 3: James Fisher, Harry Rus has missed some time as well. Like, 57 00:03:09,627 --> 00:03:12,627 Speaker 3: you don't lose quality players like that, and you know, 58 00:03:12,747 --> 00:03:15,547 Speaker 3: things just work for you. We've seen some teams have 59 00:03:15,667 --> 00:03:18,027 Speaker 3: some really bad injury tolls across the season, but I 60 00:03:18,107 --> 00:03:20,267 Speaker 3: think the Warriors, of all the teams that were kind 61 00:03:20,307 --> 00:03:23,787 Speaker 3: of in that race for the premiership, they've probably been 62 00:03:23,867 --> 00:03:27,707 Speaker 3: hit hardest, losing you know, key spine players and rep 63 00:03:27,947 --> 00:03:31,507 Speaker 3: forwards and as I said, even back up halves now, 64 00:03:31,667 --> 00:03:34,667 Speaker 3: so yeah, they probably had the toughest run the Warriors. 65 00:03:34,827 --> 00:03:37,907 Speaker 3: You've got to feel for them because it was shaping 66 00:03:38,027 --> 00:03:40,267 Speaker 3: is a really promising season and a kind of real 67 00:03:40,347 --> 00:03:42,387 Speaker 3: surprise season when you know, not many people gave him 68 00:03:42,387 --> 00:03:43,627 Speaker 3: a chance at the start of the year when they 69 00:03:43,667 --> 00:03:46,947 Speaker 3: had guys like Shaw Johnson retire and then Toho Harris 70 00:03:47,067 --> 00:03:49,267 Speaker 3: retire on the on the beginning of it, right before 71 00:03:49,307 --> 00:03:52,707 Speaker 3: the beginning of the season. So they've done fantastically well, 72 00:03:53,427 --> 00:03:55,067 Speaker 3: and as I said, it's not over yet. You've got 73 00:03:55,107 --> 00:03:57,667 Speaker 3: to regroup and find your kind of rhythm and how 74 00:03:57,747 --> 00:04:00,947 Speaker 3: it looks with those new guys in those new positions 75 00:04:01,747 --> 00:04:03,667 Speaker 3: obviously won't help. Now the Tomato mut and he'll be 76 00:04:03,707 --> 00:04:06,507 Speaker 3: a Category one, so he'll be ruled out for they're 77 00:04:06,507 --> 00:04:10,227 Speaker 3: clash against the Dragons on Friday. I think it is. 78 00:04:10,387 --> 00:04:14,987 Speaker 3: So yeah, you've got to got a regroup and maybe 79 00:04:15,067 --> 00:04:20,467 Speaker 3: recall Tannaboyd, Chanelle Harris, Tavita there and maybe just get 80 00:04:20,547 --> 00:04:21,987 Speaker 3: some direction right now. 81 00:04:22,507 --> 00:04:24,907 Speaker 2: The conditions were terrible, but the Bulldogs were good. Went 82 00:04:24,987 --> 00:04:26,907 Speaker 2: they were What did you make of their performance? 83 00:04:27,387 --> 00:04:30,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, the Bulldogs were really good. I think they've obviously 84 00:04:30,507 --> 00:04:31,867 Speaker 3: had a bit of a rocket up them since that 85 00:04:32,187 --> 00:04:35,347 Speaker 3: disappointing loss to the Tigers and They said postgame that 86 00:04:35,387 --> 00:04:36,947 Speaker 3: there's been a lot of talk about people saying, oh, 87 00:04:36,987 --> 00:04:39,067 Speaker 3: the Dogs can't play in the wet, because they've had 88 00:04:39,267 --> 00:04:43,307 Speaker 3: a few probably shock upsets losses this season in the wet, 89 00:04:43,347 --> 00:04:45,147 Speaker 3: and they got pumped by Brisbane earlier in the year, 90 00:04:45,187 --> 00:04:47,427 Speaker 3: and the Dolphins got him in the wet, and then 91 00:04:48,347 --> 00:04:49,947 Speaker 3: last week the Tigers got him in the wet. So 92 00:04:50,627 --> 00:04:52,427 Speaker 3: I think it was a real concerted effort from them 93 00:04:52,507 --> 00:04:54,987 Speaker 3: to kind of come out and play really strong wet 94 00:04:55,027 --> 00:04:57,387 Speaker 3: weather football. You could see that they can kind of 95 00:04:57,467 --> 00:05:02,187 Speaker 3: control field position really well, completed really high. Matt Burton's 96 00:05:02,267 --> 00:05:05,667 Speaker 3: kicking game was unbelievable. That forty twenty. You kicked off 97 00:05:05,707 --> 00:05:08,027 Speaker 3: and off low from the twenty and it basically went 98 00:05:08,107 --> 00:05:10,427 Speaker 3: out on their ten like it was just one of 99 00:05:10,467 --> 00:05:13,067 Speaker 3: the probably the best forty twenties I've ever seen snap decisions. 100 00:05:14,427 --> 00:05:16,427 Speaker 3: So they just, yeah, they just controlled everything from the 101 00:05:16,427 --> 00:05:19,107 Speaker 3: get go. But as I said, you know, with the Warriors, 102 00:05:19,547 --> 00:05:22,747 Speaker 3: I don't think they recovered from the fact that they 103 00:05:22,827 --> 00:05:24,867 Speaker 3: lost tomorrow Mornton. As we said, they're not. They haven't 104 00:05:24,907 --> 00:05:27,947 Speaker 3: been in good form and that doesn't help when that happened. 105 00:05:27,987 --> 00:05:28,467 Speaker 3: Straight away. 106 00:05:29,147 --> 00:05:32,067 Speaker 2: We've been looking over the last month or so at 107 00:05:32,107 --> 00:05:34,947 Speaker 2: the pack, behind the Warriors closing and on the top four. 108 00:05:35,627 --> 00:05:38,387 Speaker 2: As we sit here today, Jake, they're on thirty points. 109 00:05:38,467 --> 00:05:41,067 Speaker 2: The Roosters, who are ninth, are on twenty six. The 110 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:43,867 Speaker 2: Warriors couldn't fall out of the top eight, could they? 111 00:05:45,067 --> 00:05:47,147 Speaker 3: Look, obviously, it's possible. It is a bit of a 112 00:05:47,227 --> 00:05:50,627 Speaker 3: log gem there and some of those teams like Cronulla 113 00:05:50,627 --> 00:05:53,387 Speaker 3: and stuff still got to buy to come and we 114 00:05:53,427 --> 00:05:56,347 Speaker 3: saw last night the Roosters really put a really big 115 00:05:56,707 --> 00:05:59,627 Speaker 3: advantage in therefore and against beating the Dolphins. Wife, I 116 00:05:59,747 --> 00:06:01,587 Speaker 3: think it was sixty odd by the end. At the end, 117 00:06:01,787 --> 00:06:05,147 Speaker 3: I didn't catch the end of the score. But yeah, 118 00:06:05,267 --> 00:06:07,147 Speaker 3: there is some teams right, they're in that pack. But 119 00:06:07,227 --> 00:06:10,307 Speaker 3: you look at Brisbane now that their injuries as well, 120 00:06:10,427 --> 00:06:14,547 Speaker 3: considering Ezra man gorne So and Cobbo injured and then 121 00:06:15,107 --> 00:06:17,587 Speaker 3: Adam Reynolds as well, so they've got some injury concerns. 122 00:06:18,067 --> 00:06:21,147 Speaker 3: As I said, the Sharks in and there'sabouts and they've 123 00:06:21,187 --> 00:06:22,947 Speaker 3: got to buy it the sleeve. They've got a bit 124 00:06:22,987 --> 00:06:26,707 Speaker 3: of a softer run home. The Dragons have put two 125 00:06:26,707 --> 00:06:29,867 Speaker 3: together that most people probably think they're out of contention, 126 00:06:29,987 --> 00:06:32,227 Speaker 3: but if they keep winning they're still technically alive. And 127 00:06:32,307 --> 00:06:35,507 Speaker 3: then the Dolphins, like after last night's lost, where does 128 00:06:35,507 --> 00:06:38,307 Speaker 3: that leave them? So it's a bit of a mixed 129 00:06:38,387 --> 00:06:41,547 Speaker 3: back in that kind of chasing pack behind the wise. 130 00:06:42,307 --> 00:06:44,067 Speaker 3: And I think it's just probably a few teams. You 131 00:06:44,187 --> 00:06:45,787 Speaker 3: just who's going to get it right over the next 132 00:06:45,867 --> 00:06:46,627 Speaker 3: three or four weeks. 133 00:06:47,147 --> 00:06:49,267 Speaker 2: That's indeed, And as you say, it feels like the 134 00:06:49,307 --> 00:06:52,347 Speaker 2: top fourth the top four now I don't know, Raiders, storm, Dogs, Panthers. 135 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:54,587 Speaker 2: That seems like that is the top four with the 136 00:06:54,667 --> 00:06:57,547 Speaker 2: others now scrapping away. So Dragons, as you say, coming 137 00:06:57,627 --> 00:06:59,667 Speaker 2: to go medium ount smart on Friday night, How would 138 00:06:59,707 --> 00:07:01,627 Speaker 2: you be structuring the week if you're Andrew Webster. 139 00:07:03,387 --> 00:07:05,387 Speaker 3: Oh, look, I think first of all, you've got to, 140 00:07:05,587 --> 00:07:08,627 Speaker 3: you know, just on your halves straight away. They've obviously 141 00:07:08,627 --> 00:07:10,707 Speaker 3: got a bit of a quick turnaround, got to get 142 00:07:10,707 --> 00:07:13,107 Speaker 3: home today and then play Friday, so I imagine they 143 00:07:13,107 --> 00:07:17,467 Speaker 3: won't train too much, probably only one field session, one 144 00:07:17,587 --> 00:07:21,307 Speaker 3: major one and a captain's run. So yeah, you've just 145 00:07:21,347 --> 00:07:23,707 Speaker 3: got to settle on your halves. I think it'd be 146 00:07:23,747 --> 00:07:25,867 Speaker 3: interesting to see what they go with Wade egan Is. 147 00:07:26,307 --> 00:07:29,987 Speaker 3: Andrew Webster said last week that the you know, it's 148 00:07:30,067 --> 00:07:33,427 Speaker 3: wear and tear on that shoulder. It's not like something 149 00:07:33,467 --> 00:07:35,227 Speaker 3: he needs surgery on. He just is a guy that 150 00:07:35,307 --> 00:07:37,467 Speaker 3: makes forty tackles a game. So he's had the ac 151 00:07:37,707 --> 00:07:40,627 Speaker 3: joint issues. So he said, it's kind of a week 152 00:07:40,667 --> 00:07:44,347 Speaker 3: to week prospects, So see what happens there. But young 153 00:07:44,387 --> 00:07:48,067 Speaker 3: Sam Healy played well and then obviously James Fisher Harris 154 00:07:48,187 --> 00:07:50,347 Speaker 3: was back last night. Having him back for another week 155 00:07:50,987 --> 00:07:55,787 Speaker 3: probably a big boost. But yeah, it's interesting to see 156 00:07:55,827 --> 00:07:59,347 Speaker 3: what they do with the halves. I think you've probably 157 00:07:59,347 --> 00:08:01,187 Speaker 3: got to recall Tannaboyd and just go from there. 158 00:08:02,987 --> 00:08:04,627 Speaker 2: Again, the Panthers are going to win this again, or 159 00:08:04,947 --> 00:08:05,827 Speaker 2: they're going to win it again. 160 00:08:06,587 --> 00:08:11,627 Speaker 3: They are right, it's a very very real possibility. Look, 161 00:08:11,787 --> 00:08:14,227 Speaker 3: as you said, they're into the top four now and 162 00:08:14,547 --> 00:08:17,947 Speaker 3: I don't see them kind of relinquishing that spot. Although 163 00:08:18,067 --> 00:08:20,147 Speaker 3: I do think they do have some hard games. I 164 00:08:20,187 --> 00:08:22,827 Speaker 3: think they've got to play Canberra and I think they've 165 00:08:22,907 --> 00:08:25,347 Speaker 3: got to play Melbourne. I could be wrong about that, 166 00:08:25,507 --> 00:08:28,027 Speaker 3: but I think they do have two hard games and 167 00:08:28,027 --> 00:08:28,627 Speaker 3: they run home. 168 00:08:28,787 --> 00:08:30,387 Speaker 2: You know you did, you did right both of those 169 00:08:30,467 --> 00:08:33,947 Speaker 2: ye yep? And the Bulldogs and the Bulldogs Bulldogs. Yeah, 170 00:08:33,987 --> 00:08:34,387 Speaker 2: so there you go. 171 00:08:34,747 --> 00:08:38,907 Speaker 3: Yes, So they've got some hard games, so you never know. 172 00:08:39,027 --> 00:08:41,467 Speaker 3: But as I said, the guys high and them kind 173 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:44,787 Speaker 3: of keep falling away a little bit with the teams 174 00:08:44,867 --> 00:08:47,027 Speaker 3: kind of chasing that pack. And obviously the Broncos have 175 00:08:47,107 --> 00:08:49,667 Speaker 3: got injuries now and the Warriors got injuries, so there 176 00:08:49,747 --> 00:08:52,387 Speaker 3: is still an opportunity to grab that full spot back 177 00:08:52,427 --> 00:08:55,787 Speaker 3: because Penders will have some tough games and who knows 178 00:08:55,827 --> 00:08:57,347 Speaker 3: what kind of effect that has on them, you know, 179 00:08:57,547 --> 00:09:01,547 Speaker 3: like they're battling that hard to make the four, they've 180 00:09:01,547 --> 00:09:03,787 Speaker 3: got to play some tough teams. Will that affect them 181 00:09:03,827 --> 00:09:07,187 Speaker 3: come finals? Because you know a lot of these guys 182 00:09:07,227 --> 00:09:10,787 Speaker 3: have had big seasons already, they've played Origin and now 183 00:09:10,867 --> 00:09:13,507 Speaker 3: they've had to fight so hard and win nine or 184 00:09:13,547 --> 00:09:15,427 Speaker 3: ten straight. I think it's nine straight to get to 185 00:09:15,547 --> 00:09:18,067 Speaker 3: this point. Now they've got to stay there. Then you've 186 00:09:18,067 --> 00:09:20,067 Speaker 3: got to play finals. Like by the time penderth get 187 00:09:20,147 --> 00:09:23,387 Speaker 3: to a Grand Final, it's going to be probably fifteen 188 00:09:23,467 --> 00:09:26,507 Speaker 3: sixteen weeks of hard football where they've been up. So 189 00:09:27,587 --> 00:09:30,947 Speaker 3: it's a big ask and I think that's where you know, 190 00:09:31,427 --> 00:09:33,787 Speaker 3: this will be the test of their they you know, 191 00:09:33,827 --> 00:09:36,467 Speaker 3: they've passed the test many times of their championship medal, 192 00:09:36,507 --> 00:09:39,827 Speaker 3: but this is another one, right can you win it? 193 00:09:40,467 --> 00:09:42,187 Speaker 3: When things haven't gone your way and you've had to 194 00:09:43,147 --> 00:09:45,707 Speaker 3: just keep winning NonStop all the way through. You haven't 195 00:09:45,747 --> 00:09:47,547 Speaker 3: had the option to rest players like they've had in 196 00:09:47,627 --> 00:09:50,747 Speaker 3: previous years. You haven't had the chance to kind of 197 00:09:50,787 --> 00:09:54,907 Speaker 3: have things your own way. But you know, champion team 198 00:09:55,027 --> 00:09:57,507 Speaker 3: finds finds a way to do it. So who knows. 199 00:09:58,147 --> 00:10:00,747 Speaker 2: Intriguing final month of the regular season and coming before 200 00:10:01,427 --> 00:10:04,147 Speaker 2: the finals. Jake, enjoy the warmth and comfort of the 201 00:10:04,187 --> 00:10:05,347 Speaker 2: Fox studio this afternoon. 202 00:10:05,427 --> 00:10:05,587 Speaker 3: Mate. 203 00:10:05,627 --> 00:10:06,947 Speaker 2: Thanks for your time that day on ZB. 204 00:10:07,747 --> 00:10:09,787 Speaker 3: I certainly will thanks, Jakes, appreciate it now. 205 00:10:09,787 --> 00:10:12,627 Speaker 2: I appreciate your time, Jake. Jake Juke there familiar voice 206 00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:15,307 Speaker 2: to rugby league audiences on this side of the Tasman 207 00:10:15,347 --> 00:10:18,107 Speaker 2: part of the Fox Sport team sidelined there last night. 208 00:10:18,667 --> 00:10:21,867 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 209 00:10:21,987 --> 00:10:25,267 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow 210 00:10:25,307 --> 00:10:26,867 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.