WEBVTT - Ryan Girdler: Former Penrith Panthers player reviews the clash between the Warriors and Panthers

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<v Speaker 1>You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine

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<v Speaker 1>from News Talks edb Bill two to come fun it

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<v Speaker 1>now Met.

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<v Speaker 2>There is, as we mentioned to the stages set for

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<v Speaker 2>that meant sign.

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<v Speaker 3>The number seven position. Luke Metcalf scored two tries, kicked

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<v Speaker 3>four or five conversions and helped the Warriors move to

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<v Speaker 3>within two points of the Panthers and the Roosters at

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<v Speaker 3>the top of the NRL ladder. Ryan Girdler played over

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<v Speaker 3>two hundred games for the Panthers. He was an NRL

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<v Speaker 3>champion with them in two thousand and three. Also a

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<v Speaker 3>New South Wales state of origin and Australian representative, is

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<v Speaker 3>now part of Triple m's NRL coverage, the NRL's number

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<v Speaker 3>one audio network as an incisive and respected analyst, and

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<v Speaker 3>he joins us Now, Ryan, thanks for your time. How

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<v Speaker 3>race of was that Warrior's performance against the competition leaders?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, yeah, I think that certainly put the competition on notice.

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<v Speaker 2>I think we've all been sort of speaking all year

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<v Speaker 2>about the importance of those guys finishing one or two

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<v Speaker 2>so they get some finals at Mount Smart and I

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<v Speaker 2>sort of watched it obviously. Sorry for the noise on

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<v Speaker 2>at the airport about to go home. But obviously see it,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, on a weekly basis, the crowd and the

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<v Speaker 2>energy that they bring and the performance out there mount smart.

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<v Speaker 2>But to be their live was something that was really

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<v Speaker 2>good to experience and now I really understand what they mean.

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<v Speaker 2>If they can get a couple of home finals, it's

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<v Speaker 2>going to be very hard to be.

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<v Speaker 3>What was it about the Warriors last night that gave

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<v Speaker 3>them the edge?

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<v Speaker 2>I think like their physicality, their intensity obviously you know,

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<v Speaker 2>being indigenous around, and the cultural aspect of it. And

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<v Speaker 2>to see the guys, you know, or the Marry guys

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<v Speaker 2>sort of performed the Harker beforehand and you just saw

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<v Speaker 2>how that engaged the crowd. Kind of reminded me of

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<v Speaker 2>like a Test match, and then from there, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the onset they were just really physical. I thought they

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<v Speaker 2>were led really well by obviously Barnett, but I thought

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<v Speaker 2>James last night, which is exceptional, especially in those moments

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<v Speaker 2>where the momentums flung back to Penrith there in the

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<v Speaker 2>second half, some of his leadership there was there for

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<v Speaker 2>ord to see and obviously, you know, I think they've

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<v Speaker 2>been really they looked really settled with their attacking structures.

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<v Speaker 2>I thought they were great last week against the Titans,

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<v Speaker 2>obviously with that win, but I don't know, they just

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<v Speaker 2>seemed to be all full of confidence and really well

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<v Speaker 2>connected and they got great balance, so it was just

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<v Speaker 2>an out steven. Though Penrith made a little bit of

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<v Speaker 2>a push at the later part of the game. I

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<v Speaker 2>thought they were just always in complete control and they

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<v Speaker 2>were really impressive.

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<v Speaker 3>And into the mix, of course, came Luke Metcalfe. Hasn't

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<v Speaker 3>played for quite a long time. Looked like it'd never

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<v Speaker 3>been away. A couple of tries, good kicking game, plenty

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<v Speaker 3>of confidence. How much did he impress you last night?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, look at you know, I think it was over

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<v Speaker 2>four hundred days since he played halfback, so obviously been

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<v Speaker 2>playing a little bit of five eighth and I know

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<v Speaker 2>that there's a similar role, but he went into that

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<v Speaker 2>first receiver role last night and did a great job.

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<v Speaker 2>You spoke about, you know, the tries that he scored

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<v Speaker 2>and the impact he had with the football, but it

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<v Speaker 2>was you know, his kicking game and his maturity and

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<v Speaker 2>his decision defensively and all the little parts of his

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<v Speaker 2>game that I was really impressed with last night. As well, so, yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>it's going to be great for you guys to have

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<v Speaker 2>him pushing into the finals like.

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<v Speaker 3>A hell of seema. He keeps producing moments that excite

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<v Speaker 3>people both sides of the Talesman, do you see him

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<v Speaker 3>becoming one of the real genuine stars of the NRL

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<v Speaker 3>over the next couple of years.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeh, Look, I can't. I can't see why not. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>like he's got all the attributes done he and last night,

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<v Speaker 2>you know some of those the chases he put through

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<v Speaker 2>with the kicks and then the acrobatics in the air.

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<v Speaker 2>So just always seeing different parts of his game and

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<v Speaker 2>his development and obviously that run out of trouble and

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<v Speaker 2>then setting up the try in the same set of six.

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<v Speaker 2>So he had a massive impact in the game last night.

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<v Speaker 2>And he's a big physical guy and and you know

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<v Speaker 2>it just could be a guy that could just be,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, the star power that you guys need in

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<v Speaker 2>those big games in the finals, when someone's got to

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<v Speaker 2>pull something out of the out of the out of

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<v Speaker 2>the kit bag, he might just be the guy to

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<v Speaker 2>do that. With the confidency, out of the moment, we've.

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<v Speaker 3>Become used to seeing Penrith finding another gear when they're behind.

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<v Speaker 3>Did you think they were going to mount one of

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<v Speaker 3>their trademark comebacks last night?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well not really, to be honest, Like I thought

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<v Speaker 2>the Warriors were in complete control of that one. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>there was that ten or so minutes where they had

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit of possession. They came up with some

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<v Speaker 2>points and Nathan sort of pulled the trigger. But as

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<v Speaker 2>soon as that tried to I think it was Alamani

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<v Speaker 2>was disallowed because they were offside. I thought that God

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<v Speaker 2>of the Air went out of the balloon. Then I

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<v Speaker 2>think the Warriors and their fans were getting a little

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<v Speaker 2>bit nervous, But but it was fleeting, you know that.

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<v Speaker 2>I thought they were in complete control the whole night.

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<v Speaker 3>Actually going off with a pectoral injury, if he's unavailable

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<v Speaker 3>for an extended period, Ryan, how much does that change

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<v Speaker 3>Penrith's premiership outlook?

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, it definitely does. You know, Like there's only a

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<v Speaker 2>certain amount of players, you know, in each team that

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<v Speaker 2>can have that sort of impact, and him and Nathan

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<v Speaker 2>and those guys I would say at Penrith, and he's

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<v Speaker 2>a big part of their attacking structures. He allows their

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<v Speaker 2>halves just to get that little bit wider and Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>he's a great leader, great defensively and he's a big

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<v Speaker 2>part of what they do. So if he's out, it

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<v Speaker 2>certainly brings them back to the field.

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<v Speaker 3>Panthers worry is the Rooster's won last night. The Sharks

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<v Speaker 3>will probably beat the Dragons. This is some top four race,

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<v Speaker 3>isn't it.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, it's turning into a nice one. I think at

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<v Speaker 2>the halfway make everyone was a little bit worried that

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<v Speaker 2>the Penrith side were that good they were going to

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<v Speaker 2>kind of blow everyone away and it was a one

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<v Speaker 2>horse race. But I think we're seeing that, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>these other sides growing in confidence, and the Sharks are

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<v Speaker 2>mounting what looks like a really good finals push as well.

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<v Speaker 2>And the Roosters where they add look at the back

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<v Speaker 2>end of their game last night, they found a way

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<v Speaker 2>to win against the Bulldaux who were also making a

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<v Speaker 2>little bit of a push at the bottom part of

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<v Speaker 2>the A. So it's going to be a very interesting

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<v Speaker 2>final series.

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<v Speaker 3>As always, great to have you here for this one. Ryan,

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<v Speaker 3>hope we can welcome you back for a finals game

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<v Speaker 3>or two. Mate.

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<v Speaker 2>Well maybe, yeah, it looks like I'll be coming back

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<v Speaker 2>over and then obviously I'll be part of the Origin

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<v Speaker 2>push next year at when we come over at Eden Park,

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<v Speaker 2>which are going to be exciting as well.

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<v Speaker 3>Outstanding. Hey, great to chat mate, travel safe, really appreciate

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<v Speaker 3>your time.

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<v Speaker 2>My pleasure and enjoy the rest of the season with

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<v Speaker 2>the Warriors and I wish them all the best.

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<v Speaker 3>Thanks very much. Indeed, Ryan, good to talk to you mate,

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<v Speaker 3>Ryan Girdler. There Penrith Panthers legend the Warriors are real.

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<v Speaker 3>They are genuine NRL contenders. On that evidence, they can

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<v Speaker 3>beat any team on any given night. The Panthers are

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<v Speaker 3>the NL benchmark. Before last night, they had lost fewer

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<v Speaker 3>games than anybody else this season. They've scored more points

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<v Speaker 3>than anybody else the Panthers and conceded fewer than anyone else.

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<v Speaker 3>They hadn't lost to the Warriors in Auckland since twenty eighteen.

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<v Speaker 3>For the Warriors to beat them and to produce that

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<v Speaker 3>first half that they did tells you everything you need

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<v Speaker 3>to know about the Warriors. They can go all the way.

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<v Speaker 3>Luke Metcalf doesn't matter how it happened. He's back. He's

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<v Speaker 3>had to be extremely patient, but last night was a

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<v Speaker 3>reminder of what a quality rugby league player he is.

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<v Speaker 3>To Mighty Martin's been really good, really good since taking

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<v Speaker 3>over from Tanner Boyd. But Luke metcalf is a very

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<v Speaker 3>special rugby league player and yes he may be wearing

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<v Speaker 3>different colors next year, but for the next two months

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<v Speaker 3>he is a warrior and he could well be the

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<v Speaker 3>key Warrior. Others to stand out Aaron Clark absolute machine,

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<v Speaker 3>My god, what a player, James Fisher, Harris, what a leader,

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<v Speaker 3>lack a hell of that kid could be anything he wants.

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<v Speaker 3>The NRL Minor Premiership is a four horse race. Panthers

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<v Speaker 3>thirty six, Roosters thirty six, Warriors thirty four. As I

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<v Speaker 3>said to Ryan Girdler, the Sharks will probably beat the

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<v Speaker 3>Dragons and move to thirty four, so it'll be thirty six,

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<v Speaker 3>thirty six, thirty four to thirty four. After that, everybody

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<v Speaker 3>will have four games to go. The Warriors have the

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<v Speaker 3>Broncos away, the rabbit O's away, the Knights at home,

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<v Speaker 3>the Sea Eagles at home. Those teams are currently sixteenth, eighth,

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<v Speaker 3>sixth and tenth. Those games are all winnable, but in

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<v Speaker 3>the NRL every game is losable as well. The Warriors

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<v Speaker 3>lost to the Tigers in the early part of the season.

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<v Speaker 3>They lost the Bulldogs two weeks ago. Nothing is guaranteed,

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<v Speaker 3>but it is hard not to get excited about what

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<v Speaker 3>this team can do could do between now and early October.

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<v Speaker 1>All aboard for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen live to News Talk said B weekends from mid

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<v Speaker 1>or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio