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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow

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Speaker 1: this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio

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Speaker 1: The Big League Podcast League podcast News TALKSB.

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Speaker 2: This week on The Big League Podcast, The Prince of

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Speaker 2: Pinrose gets a walk off when we unpacked Sean Johnson's

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Speaker 2: spellbinding final outing and the NRAL as the Warriors stunned

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Speaker 2: Cronulla and it's time to pick off the scam that

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Speaker 2: is the twenty twenty four season Highlights, low lights and

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Speaker 2: fearless predictions for next year. My name is Nick Bewley.

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Speaker 2: Let's go b LB. Never have we been more happy

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Speaker 2: to admit we were wrong. After four straight defeats and

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Speaker 2: a final match against the top four side on their turf,

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Speaker 2: it defied logic to see this going any other way,

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Speaker 2: but Sean Johnson and his final NURL appearance, along with

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Speaker 2: a cast of co stars, had other ideas. To be honest,

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Speaker 2: I was just tough to see one last SJ line

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Speaker 2: break in the assists for Luke Metcalf to score the

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Speaker 2: warriors first try. Little did we know then we'd get

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Speaker 2: a second half master class, two more assists, including that

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Speaker 2: final pass for dw Z's third, and a memorable comeback

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Speaker 2: when it seems scarcely believable, but that is sewn Johnson right,

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Speaker 2: he could make the ridiculous look routine. One final entry

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Speaker 2: into the catalog of clutch moments, a fitting finish to

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Speaker 2: a career that's been a thrill to witness. Alex Powell

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Speaker 2: from The New Zealand Herald unpacked that one for me, mate,

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Speaker 2: I mean, not the fairy tale season, of course, but

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Speaker 2: a fairy tale finish for Sean Johnson. How good was that?

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Speaker 3: Mate? Thanks for having me? First off? It was great.

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Speaker 3: You know, it was everything that we could have wanted

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Speaker 3: at this point of the year, with everything basically with

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Speaker 3: nothing on the line. I thought it was great. I had.

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Speaker 3: I loved that little passing the torch moment between Johnson Metcalf.

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Speaker 3: I think that was basically I'm trying to even think.

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Speaker 3: I'm trying to think, how are we actually say it up? Because,

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Speaker 3: like you say, the season was gone, there's nothing to

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Speaker 3: play for, but we all got what we wanted. That's

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Speaker 3: how I sum it up.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I just I kept catching myself throughout the contest,

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Speaker 2: especially in that second half. Obviously we're unpacking in greater detail,

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Speaker 2: but you know, they're twenty two to four down. It

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Speaker 2: followed a script that we've talked about so many times,

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Speaker 2: where they they've started well, they've scored the first points,

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Speaker 2: they've dominated all the key metrics, they haven't been able

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Speaker 2: to convert that into points. Then their opposition on this case,

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Speaker 2: the Sharks get a sniff and it's just like a

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Speaker 2: freight train towards the back end of that second half.

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Speaker 2: At that point, Alex, how close were you to turning

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Speaker 2: the TV off? I have to ask, I was very.

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Speaker 3: Close, so just to sort of peel the curtain back.

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Speaker 3: This was also in between me trying to get Oasis tickets,

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Speaker 3: so I was just down on more than one front.

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Speaker 3: I think if you'd said you can have one of

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Speaker 3: two at the moment, you can have tickets or a

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Speaker 3: Warrior's win, I would have not have gone for the

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Speaker 3: Warriors win. But in a way, I'm sort of glad

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Speaker 3: that's the one I got.

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Speaker 2: Nice, nice, and then so obviously the Sharks have denied

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Speaker 2: those last couple try a couple of tries to start

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Speaker 2: the second half, which were big moments I don't disagree

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Speaker 2: with either. Court was one of those sort of subjective

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Speaker 2: I suppose obstruction calls with Niko Heinz denied. But then

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Speaker 2: the Warriors, you know, they just started to chance their arm,

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Speaker 2: which is all we've kind of wanted since the season

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Speaker 2: has been over in terms of playing to get into

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Speaker 2: the finals, rather the sort of conservative get to your

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Speaker 2: kick approach. We had a try on one of what's

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Speaker 2: Ennis Lesnicks tries. I think the kick through was on

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Speaker 2: tackle three. We had willingness to run from an urn

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Speaker 2: end that it was great footy to watch and you

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Speaker 2: couldn't help but feel as much as you bast and

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Speaker 2: the enjoyment of the moment, you're kind of going like,

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Speaker 2: where has that been?

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Speaker 3: It's a phrase that Stephen Kerney actually used when he

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Speaker 3: first became coach of the Warriors, warriorball, you know, where

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Speaker 3: you do stuff that's about outside the box. You'd like

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Speaker 3: to chance your arm. And I'm glad that we've seen

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Speaker 3: the Warriors can do it. We know that this is

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Speaker 3: in their locker. We saw it, you know, on a

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Speaker 3: ca last year. But this year has been a bit

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Speaker 3: more methodical and we've seen that they're just up against

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Speaker 3: clubs who maybe know how to do the ordinary a

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Speaker 3: bit better. But when the Warriors are playing like that

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Speaker 3: they're playing with freedom and they're playing with unpredictability. I

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Speaker 3: think that's when they're really going to catch teams out.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, bang on, let's go to the last minute.

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Speaker 4: Then.

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Speaker 2: Obviously Kronulla did well. They were down a man and

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Speaker 2: we'll touch on that too, but they scored while having

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Speaker 2: Kayle in the bench to retake the lead. After the

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Speaker 2: Warriors had scored three tries on the trot Jack Williams

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Speaker 2: there interchange prop drop the ball with about ninety seconds

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Speaker 2: to go. Let's have a listen to Sean Johnson. I'm

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Speaker 2: sure if you're listening to the Big League podcast you

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Speaker 2: all know what happened from there. But let's hear from

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Speaker 2: the man himself unpack that final set, which of course

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Speaker 2: culminated in DWZ going over in the corner for the

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Speaker 2: match winner.

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Speaker 5: Do I see to walk slid get us in the

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Speaker 5: right strip, don't deliveryone? Now I'm done, Lad, I'm done.

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Speaker 5: He's going now, so pretty mu.

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Speaker 6: Which was a three play sequence where I wanted just

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Speaker 6: to give my menument around the spots I knew we

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Speaker 6: could walks.

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Speaker 5: He took control of the footy.

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Speaker 6: We spoke about fading and certain spots Barney got a

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Speaker 6: quick play the book and then we just doubled up

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Speaker 6: on it. And I think that feeling of being in

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Speaker 6: the zone where you know why you're doing something and

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Speaker 6: the look you want to create for me to be

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Speaker 6: able to finish my career on that moment is probably

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Speaker 6: what I'm so content about. There's probably actually a bit

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Speaker 6: of talking to like, it wasn't just a one cutout ball.

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Speaker 6: There's things that lead led into that play to create

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Speaker 6: that look, and it's just the truth. You know me

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Speaker 6: and walks ahead embraced before because it was like he

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Speaker 6: was like, you're crazy man, because he knows exactly what

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Speaker 6: I said to him, and he went and executed it

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Speaker 6: and put me in a good spot to come up

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Speaker 6: about last Pass.

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Speaker 2: I just love him unpacking the game like that. I

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Speaker 2: think we can all agree. He's obviously already started his

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Speaker 2: own podcast, but he's going to have a big future

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Speaker 2: in the game and great to hear from him to

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Speaker 2: post match to say he's real keen to work with

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Speaker 2: the future Spine players and the key positional areas around

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Speaker 2: the halves going forward as a sort of a mental

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Speaker 2: or a coach. That last pass, it's just right on

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Speaker 2: the money, isn't it. And you think it's you know,

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Speaker 2: it's corny, it's sort of fairy tale stuff, call it

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Speaker 2: what you like. But for thirteen seasons and then for

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Speaker 2: it to come down to that game on the line,

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Speaker 2: to have that clutch moment, it's just it's so hard

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Speaker 2: to fathom for me that you know that the NRL

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Speaker 2: gods or the Rugby League god someone was smiling down

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Speaker 2: and said, you know what, for your service mate, We're

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Speaker 2: going to give you this one.

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Speaker 3: I don't think Sean Johnson were remembered for that one play.

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Speaker 3: It'll be you know, it'll be the line breaks, it'll

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Speaker 3: be the steps, it'll be you know, some of the kickses,

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Speaker 3: you know, just just all the stuff like that. It

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Speaker 3: just adds into what Sean Johnson is and that's been

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Speaker 3: the guy who has been the talisman of this team

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Speaker 3: for most of those thirteen years. Will forget those years

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Speaker 3: at the Sharks, but you're right, I'm glad that he

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Speaker 3: got to end it on a way where he was

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Speaker 3: the main man.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. As I said in the top, a catalog of

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Speaker 2: clutch moments just before we get to the highlights, courtesy

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Speaker 2: of our friends at Fox Sports. I did want to

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Speaker 2: touch on a couple of other players because as I

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Speaker 2: mentioned so Sean Johnson was front and center, but there

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Speaker 2: was some really strong co stars, if you will. For me,

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Speaker 2: the guy who jumped out and I've been a big

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Speaker 2: fan of him ever since he made his first great

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Speaker 2: debut last year was tamed to a picky at the

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Speaker 2: back himself. He had two tryass just super busy. You know,

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Speaker 2: he's a small guy, but he puts his body on

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Speaker 2: the line, you know, twenty plus runs and you know

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Speaker 2: that's his sixth game this season. Unfortunately for me, he's

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Speaker 2: had a couple of hia's where he's had to go off.

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Speaker 2: But he's been now involved in the Penrith win earlier

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Speaker 2: in the campaign, the Cronulla win at the weekend and

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Speaker 2: way back in Round three when the Warriors hosted the

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Speaker 2: Raiders down in my neck of the woods in christ Church.

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Speaker 2: He was the fullback then. So what did you make

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Speaker 2: a taine? And I guess, more broadly speaking, has he

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Speaker 2: shown how valuable he could be going forward into twenty

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Speaker 2: twenty five.

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Speaker 3: I like you, I'm a huge entertained to a picky.

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Speaker 3: That's such a hard job when you know you're not

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Speaker 3: the main guy, and he still comes in every week

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Speaker 3: and plays his hard out there, leaves nothing out there.

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Speaker 3: You mentioned the games he came in full. Let's also

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Speaker 3: not forget he was going to play that Dolphins game

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Speaker 3: at Mount Smart as well, but then was withdrawn at

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Speaker 3: the last minute because his partner went into labor. So

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Speaker 3: he could have played another one there but didn't. I

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Speaker 3: don't know what I want for tain to a picky.

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Speaker 3: I love the fact that the Warriors can call on

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Speaker 3: a guy like that to step in when they need him,

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Speaker 3: and there's so much of that of being a guy

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Speaker 3: who isn't going to play every week, but he's just

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Speaker 3: so safe when he does. Do you I'll put back

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Speaker 3: to you, do you think he should stay.

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Speaker 2: Stay at the club? Well, I hope he stays at

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Speaker 2: the club. I think he's got a big part to

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Speaker 2: play next year. To be perfectly honest, I know you're

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Speaker 2: probably more on the camp that going into twenty twenty

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Speaker 2: five they look at Roger at fullback. I'm sort of

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Speaker 2: the view and I'm probably, you know, perhaps reaching here

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Speaker 2: after one performance, but I wouldn't mind first round next

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Speaker 2: year seeing to a picky at one charms in the

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Speaker 2: centers and Roger on the wing, and that would then

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Speaker 2: mean Montoya, as much as I love his effort and

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Speaker 2: hard carries, would make way. But that's a discussion for

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Speaker 2: another day. But I get the sense that tame to

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Speaker 2: a picky he is a first grader and for him

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Speaker 2: to just have to settle for New South Wales Cup

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Speaker 2: at his age, at twenty five, I think there'll be

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Speaker 2: another club sniffling in and around if he can't get

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Speaker 2: regular opportunities. Let's get to the highlights then, courtesy of

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Speaker 2: Fox Sports. It was a brilliant call, I have to

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Speaker 2: say from Andrew Voss. It was quite fitting. I thought

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Speaker 2: that that VOSSI got the final Seawn Johnson game. Here

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Speaker 2: it is Warrior is thirty Kranulla twenty eight Saturday.

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Speaker 7: Super Saturday Night in Cranella and the Warriors first use

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Speaker 7: Johnson on the flat foot john set it so back

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Speaker 7: to Mecca.

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Speaker 2: That is so good.

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Speaker 7: The seven of the six r Johnson.

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Speaker 2: It's a good a passing of the bed, a.

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Speaker 7: Woman, Trindleby's shop to Ronson render for play, then number

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Speaker 7: seven for Granilla last play swingle.

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Speaker 5: Women so cling round.

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Speaker 7: And a great fame in New Zealand. Let be leading

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Speaker 7: scores against the Lais.

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Speaker 2: The first one was Wilton.

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Speaker 4: This time he goes to the outside and plays the

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Speaker 4: hero who is just so powerful.

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Speaker 7: Eighty four games before the final our last a ruck

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Speaker 7: Belod broadly passes to stop straight the Londal.

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Speaker 5: Juna is on his way, the kid.

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Speaker 7: Living his drone in the Cronulla Sharks jersey. He's promptly

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Speaker 7: dreaded that heine's calling for it.

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Speaker 2: He's with it, not for the line, says, but.

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Speaker 7: What a hardlight really is getting a four pointers if

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Speaker 7: you will? Tobby boy deff Reagan now the right side.

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Speaker 7: Johnson turpicky a tote zalazni Ark to score the nineteen

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Speaker 7: ninth trime of his career and the fiftieth for the Warriors.

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Speaker 7: Still a chance with the Warriors midcalv little show chops,

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Speaker 7: all kicks any here comes down.

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Speaker 6: He wins the race and down the.

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Speaker 7: Tri Sister Johnson and Delan with Tennis Alesia.

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Speaker 5: Brings up the tone.

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Speaker 7: One hundred career tries.

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Speaker 2: What a special moment.

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Speaker 7: Mogan, you walk up, double put Johnson, tour Picky rock down.

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Speaker 7: It clicks up.

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Speaker 4: Tenny's Alesiac was it over the He is such a

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Speaker 4: physical player here and just hits the lesbiack as he's

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Speaker 4: slipping from the inside. Had to be made great desperation

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Speaker 4: from Kennedy, or if some of the others have been

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Speaker 4: high contact. Oh thoughts on here now we're going, here

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Speaker 4: we go.

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Speaker 2: He's in the middle of that.

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Speaker 4: It's drindle drindles throwing the little the little shop pis

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Speaker 4: Wilton Stone Street, go back to back, So you aren't

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Speaker 4: into the brief.

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Speaker 2: Gone, Kyl, you're right. It pays the.

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Speaker 5: Penalty you to slip.

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Speaker 2: Eagan Johnson to a.

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Speaker 5: Picky said, you got a Nickel Club.

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Speaker 7: Star going for the line. The Warriors have got another.

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Speaker 7: The Warriors maybe riding in a headline. Here hold the

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Speaker 7: front page. Look MEPCD, look.

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Speaker 4: The front.

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Speaker 5: This is a stradry front.

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Speaker 7: The Warriors plaily fires it across Treadll to Kennedy. They're

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Speaker 7: playing return and Stone's trade is over. The scores are level,

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Speaker 7: possibly their last checks. Hagan Newalker Johnson Clutside outside runs

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Speaker 7: his own screen Riddled, produced directed by Sean Johnson, the

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Speaker 7: movie His Last Game Wins It for the Warriors.

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Speaker 5: Big League Podcast.

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Speaker 2: Right, let's get into our season review, and of course

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Speaker 2: I know Nathan Lemon and Michael Burgess. They started this

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Speaker 2: podcast last year and they had the you know, the

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Speaker 2: wonderful year that was where in terms of it sort

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Speaker 2: of season review that they couldn't They had a top

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Speaker 2: five each of their moments of the years. Bit of

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Speaker 2: a to get through five. I think in season twenty

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Speaker 2: twenty four we've taken the liberty to change it up

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Speaker 2: a touch and hand out some awards, highlights, low lights, etc.

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Speaker 2: I mean, if we completely unpacked the season, we'll be

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Speaker 2: here all day, but where we're going to look at

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Speaker 2: some of the key parts that stood out for us

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Speaker 2: in season twenty twenty four. Of course, the Warriors don't

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Speaker 2: play this week due to a buye, and irrespective of

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Speaker 2: what happens this weekend, they'll finish thirteenth with a record

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Speaker 2: of nine wins, a draw and fourteen losses, this of course,

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Speaker 2: coming after making the preliminary final last year. Let's start

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Speaker 2: with a grading, Alex, what mark do you give the

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Speaker 2: Warriors and why so?

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Speaker 3: I would go with a D plus. I don't think

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Speaker 3: other than the Titans away, there's not really been games

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Speaker 3: where I've been embarrassed for the Warriors. But at the

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Speaker 3: same time, there hasn't been enough good to overtake the

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Speaker 3: bad I think they should absolutely finish higher than thirteenth

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Speaker 3: from what we saw last year and from the players

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Speaker 3: at their disposal, I think there's been a lot of

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Speaker 3: mitigation and players being unavailable and some decisions that go

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Speaker 3: against them, and just moments they were going against them.

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Speaker 3: So I think a DED not quite a C minus,

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Speaker 3: but not quite a D. Okay, Yeah, I'll just go

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Speaker 3: with a firm D.

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Speaker 2: And of course, you know, context is important, and we're

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Speaker 2: measuring the warr is this iteration of the warr is

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Speaker 2: on last year, because you know, if we look back

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Speaker 2: to how we all felt twelve months ago about the

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Speaker 2: team going into this season, you know, all the noise

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Speaker 2: was getting back to a preliminary final, getting inside and

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Speaker 2: ensconced into the top four, let alone the top eight,

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Speaker 2: and for the season to fall away as it did

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Speaker 2: was incredibly disappointing. As you mentioned, injury issues, Tauhu, Harris

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Speaker 2: Sean Johnson barely fit throughout the course of the season.

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Speaker 2: I thought way Egan looked pretty banged up from about

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Speaker 2: round ten or eleven. He had a really strong start

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Speaker 2: to the year but faded away and hopefully some rest

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Speaker 2: will be good for him. Heading into season twenty twenty five,

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Speaker 2: but just the nature of some of the defeats as well.

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Speaker 2: I know we'll get into low lights shortly, but yeah,

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Speaker 2: just a lack of evolution to I just felt like

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Speaker 2: they rested a little bit. I'm hoping things would just

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Speaker 2: click as it did last year, and as we know

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Speaker 2: in the NRL being one of the toughest competitions and

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Speaker 2: sport in the Southern Hemisphere, you just have to continue

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Speaker 2: to get better. It felt like that sort of second

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Speaker 2: year syndrome and away, and unfortunately for the Warriors, they'll

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Speaker 2: look on with envy as a season of what ifs

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Speaker 2: has gone by. What was your highlight? Then Alex Lea's

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Speaker 2: get onto a positive note.

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Speaker 3: So initially, Nick, you and I talked this morning about

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Speaker 3: what would do here, and I've had a late change

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Speaker 3: from my heart of the year. Okay, initially I'd put

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Speaker 3: Mitch Barnett's origin call up just for what it meant

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Speaker 3: for him and the way the clubs read that. I've

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Speaker 3: since changed that to the signing of James Fisher Harris.

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Speaker 3: That is by far the best I felt this year

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Speaker 3: in terms of the Warriors.

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Speaker 2: I think in many ways, highlighting two individual moments kind

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Speaker 2: of sums up the collective, you know. I agree those

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Speaker 2: are both great moments, and the Barnet elevation and eventual

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Speaker 2: debut for New South Wales was thoroughly deserved. And the

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Speaker 2: excitement around James Fisher Harris. I remember at the time

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Speaker 2: thinking when Fish signed for the Warriors, I was like, oh, okay,

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Speaker 2: the premiership win though for mine is open still and

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Speaker 2: I felt it was closing on this group losing not

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Speaker 2: only Sean. We didn't know we were losing Sean at

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Speaker 2: that point, but we certainly knew that Adam fanoor Blake

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Speaker 2: was off. Now I'm still excited about Fisher Harris coming

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Speaker 2: and filling in those shoes from Adam fanol Blake, but

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Speaker 2: I do have my concerns with Johnson making way around

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Speaker 2: that half back position. My highlight of the year, I'm

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Speaker 2: going to go with the game, and I don't even

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Speaker 2: care if you call it recency bias, but I just

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Speaker 2: loved Saturday. I loved Sean getting his moment and getting

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Speaker 2: that comeback went over Cronal something like. I just never

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Speaker 2: really liked them, and we had that last year, of course,

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Speaker 2: and we've had it again this year. A shout out

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Speaker 2: to tell the young guys that came in and topped

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Speaker 2: Penrith that was bloody cool and magic round. I think

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Speaker 2: that deserves an honorable mention. But yeah, that that final game.

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Speaker 2: I know you mentioned before, Alex. You know Sean won't

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Speaker 2: be remembered just on that, but I think of, you know,

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Speaker 2: if he was putting together a Greatest Hits album and

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Speaker 2: it had his first try at Mount Smart and it

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Speaker 2: had that runaway against the Broncos, and it had that

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Speaker 2: you know that trice just for Lewis Brown against some

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Speaker 2: album storm, I think I think there would be somewhere

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Speaker 2: there in the in the Greatest Hits. So that was

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Speaker 2: my highlight of the year, right low lights, sadly a

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Speaker 2: few to pick from. I might go, that's OK, just

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Speaker 2: to change things up, and you did you did mention

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Speaker 2: Gold Coast before and feeling embarrassed. This is cheating slightly,

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Speaker 2: but it's it's a combination of the two games against

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Speaker 2: the titles. What is it about this bloody Gold Coast

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Speaker 2: team We just I don't know we take lightly or

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Speaker 2: what's going on. But if we cast our minds right

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Speaker 2: back to even when the game was announced, I was

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Speaker 2: so excited to finally get an Anzac Day game at

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Speaker 2: Mount Smart. Of course it's become a or it had

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Speaker 2: become a tradition. The Warriors would face the Melbourne Storm

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Speaker 2: and pretty much exclusively was held in Melbourne. We finally,

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Speaker 2: after groundswellow momentum after last season, get a ans auct

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Speaker 2: Day fixture. It had been a bit of a middling

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Speaker 2: start of the season by this point. Round eight was

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Speaker 2: the Anzac Day fixture that they look good. They almost

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Speaker 2: beat Melbourne Storm. Round two a good one down here

378
00:20:03,093 --> 00:20:06,133
Speaker 2: against the Raiders, sort of up and down, but for

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Speaker 2: them to lose that game on Anzact was just as

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Speaker 2: a real flat moment. Yes, they had some moments not

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Speaker 2: long after that that turned things around, but then to

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Speaker 2: roll and face them again eight weeks later over there

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Speaker 2: at a point of the season where their campaign was

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Speaker 2: still very much alive, and for the Warriors to be

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Speaker 2: beaten sixty six points to six against any opposition, let

386
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Speaker 2: alone the Gold Coast Titans, with all due respect, was

387
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Speaker 2: deeply embarrassing and upsetting for the Warriors fan base and

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Speaker 2: just frankly unacceptable. And from there it really felt like

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Speaker 2: the wheels started to fall off. Yes, they won the

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00:20:44,493 --> 00:20:47,173
Speaker 2: following week, against Brisbane, but it never really felt the

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Speaker 2: same from there, so that was my low light. It

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Speaker 2: was the closest. In fact, I think I did walk

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Speaker 2: away in the seventieth minute of that game and just

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Speaker 2: said I can't cop this anymore. So yeah, how about you.

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Speaker 3: I agree with everything you said on that Titans game.

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Speaker 3: The record lost as well. Something that was never picked

397
00:21:04,573 --> 00:21:06,973
Speaker 3: up by the media was that I also orted Chinese

398
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Speaker 3: that night and it took ages to get to livid

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Speaker 3: and I was just watching as the Warriors they didn't

400
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Speaker 3: try out to try So that was a bad night

401
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Speaker 3: all around.

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Speaker 5: My low light.

403
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Speaker 3: I've actually gone aback a bit earlier, so to round

404
00:21:18,013 --> 00:21:20,973
Speaker 3: seven when they traveled away to Saint George.

405
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Speaker 2: To face Dragons week before the end zecdote, yep, exactly.

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Speaker 3: Week before there was the same week they signed James

407
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Speaker 3: Fish Harris and you used the phrase the wheels fell off,

408
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Speaker 3: and that's the exact same prase I've used for this one.

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Speaker 3: So basically for context, the Warriors opened the season with

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Speaker 3: two losses against the Sharks in the Storm. They then

411
00:21:34,693 --> 00:21:37,253
Speaker 3: won three on the bounce against was it the Raiders,

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Speaker 3: the Knights, and gil who is it now? On they

413
00:21:40,053 --> 00:21:43,253
Speaker 3: smashed outs. They then drew with Manly and I was like, okay, well,

414
00:21:43,533 --> 00:21:46,493
Speaker 3: you know, you take a draw and those Then they

415
00:21:46,533 --> 00:21:49,253
Speaker 3: went to Saint George and they were played off the park. Now,

416
00:21:49,333 --> 00:21:51,653
Speaker 3: that game triggered a formtch losing run, which I don't

417
00:21:51,693 --> 00:21:53,973
Speaker 3: think the Warriors came back from. When they took the

418
00:21:54,013 --> 00:21:56,013
Speaker 3: field against the Dragons that night, they were seventh on

419
00:21:56,053 --> 00:21:58,333
Speaker 3: the ladder. They were never in the top eight again

420
00:21:58,413 --> 00:22:01,933
Speaker 3: after that. The way they played I think was really

421
00:22:02,053 --> 00:22:05,173
Speaker 3: when there was just no coming back from that, and

422
00:22:05,293 --> 00:22:07,533
Speaker 3: known they had moments where you think, yep, this is it.

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00:22:07,613 --> 00:22:10,293
Speaker 3: They make a run for here were on and then

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Speaker 3: it never happened. So that Dragon's game for me was

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00:22:13,933 --> 00:22:16,413
Speaker 3: where it was the beginning of the end basically for

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Speaker 3: twenty twenty four.

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Speaker 2: I don't disagree with any of that, and it's bringing

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Speaker 2: aboaut some memories of that day too. That yeah, I

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Speaker 2: don't want to recall on, Well, don't recall on with

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Speaker 2: any fondness. All right, let's get back to a bit

431
00:22:30,453 --> 00:22:32,893
Speaker 2: more of a positive. Then we'll mix things up a touch.

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Speaker 2: What was who's your player of the year. I feel

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Speaker 2: like this is relatively obvious and I think we're unanimous here,

434
00:22:37,733 --> 00:22:38,413
Speaker 2: but you go first.

435
00:22:38,773 --> 00:22:41,733
Speaker 3: I think everyone's unanimous here, including the club. The Simon

436
00:22:41,813 --> 00:22:45,333
Speaker 3: mannoring medallist will announce it. How the Simon mannoring medalist

437
00:22:45,733 --> 00:22:48,933
Speaker 3: here on the Big League Podcast look out that this

438
00:22:49,093 --> 00:22:53,253
Speaker 3: is not an exclusive. I'm I believe will be Mitch Barnett.

439
00:22:53,253 --> 00:22:55,173
Speaker 3: I don't think anyone else comes close to what Mitch

440
00:22:55,173 --> 00:22:58,333
Speaker 3: Barnett's done this year. He's led the team both as

441
00:22:58,413 --> 00:23:01,013
Speaker 3: captain and just as a senior player. There was a

442
00:23:01,053 --> 00:23:03,093
Speaker 3: point in the year where Mitch Barnett was the most

443
00:23:03,173 --> 00:23:05,253
Speaker 3: expensive player and er off fantasy. And I know that's

444
00:23:05,493 --> 00:23:07,693
Speaker 3: never how we should judge it, but I mean, if

445
00:23:07,733 --> 00:23:09,533
Speaker 3: you said that coming into the start of the year,

446
00:23:09,533 --> 00:23:11,413
Speaker 3: even when you know back when Barnett signed for the club,

447
00:23:11,493 --> 00:23:13,333
Speaker 3: then this guy will be the best player in the league,

448
00:23:13,573 --> 00:23:15,573
Speaker 3: you'd have all left. There was a great video the

449
00:23:15,613 --> 00:23:18,453
Speaker 3: Warriors did before Round one last year where all the

450
00:23:18,533 --> 00:23:20,653
Speaker 3: new players got their jerseys presented to them, and Barnet

451
00:23:20,733 --> 00:23:22,373
Speaker 3: had just come from the Knights where he was told

452
00:23:22,413 --> 00:23:25,613
Speaker 3: he wasn't wanted. And you know Round one twenty twenty

453
00:23:25,613 --> 00:23:27,573
Speaker 3: three was against the Knights, so that was a nice

454
00:23:27,573 --> 00:23:29,573
Speaker 3: little coincidence for him. And he said as he got

455
00:23:29,613 --> 00:23:31,013
Speaker 3: the Jersey. A lot of people were asking him if

456
00:23:31,053 --> 00:23:33,453
Speaker 3: he wanted to prove the Knights wrong, and he didn't

457
00:23:33,453 --> 00:23:34,533
Speaker 3: want to do that. What he wanted to do was

458
00:23:34,533 --> 00:23:35,333
Speaker 3: he wanted to prove.

459
00:23:35,173 --> 00:23:35,893
Speaker 2: The Warriors right.

460
00:23:36,173 --> 00:23:38,853
Speaker 3: Yeah, and that has stood by me or stood with

461
00:23:38,973 --> 00:23:41,253
Speaker 3: me ever since. Just the amount of respect I've had

462
00:23:41,373 --> 00:23:43,413
Speaker 3: much Bunnett and he just gets better and better. Origin

463
00:23:43,493 --> 00:23:45,733
Speaker 3: kept it all off, you know, come out well because

464
00:23:45,733 --> 00:23:47,853
Speaker 3: the Warriors don't have Origin players because a we don't

465
00:23:47,893 --> 00:23:50,533
Speaker 3: really get the top end Australian players coming here. We

466
00:23:50,933 --> 00:23:52,653
Speaker 3: might every now and then Fluke one, which is like

467
00:23:52,733 --> 00:23:53,373
Speaker 3: what's happened here?

468
00:23:53,493 --> 00:23:55,853
Speaker 2: Well, I think Barney he was the first for New

469
00:23:55,933 --> 00:23:59,053
Speaker 2: South Wales at least where he'd made his debut while

470
00:23:59,173 --> 00:24:01,293
Speaker 2: playing for the Warriors. So of you know, in the

471
00:24:01,333 --> 00:24:03,613
Speaker 2: past we've had players and sort of more thinking along

472
00:24:03,653 --> 00:24:08,013
Speaker 2: the Queensland lines you Lilliman's or your Price or more

473
00:24:08,013 --> 00:24:10,693
Speaker 2: recently in the capable yeah, where they've already made an

474
00:24:10,733 --> 00:24:15,493
Speaker 2: Origin debut. But for him to on Warriors form into

475
00:24:15,533 --> 00:24:18,373
Speaker 2: the Origin arena, I think just typifies how good he was.

476
00:24:18,933 --> 00:24:22,333
Speaker 2: And yeah, he had an outstanding season and he can

477
00:24:22,373 --> 00:24:24,693
Speaker 2: hold his head really just on. I guess that conversation

478
00:24:24,733 --> 00:24:27,453
Speaker 2: around him joining the club, like it's easy to forget

479
00:24:27,493 --> 00:24:30,613
Speaker 2: too that he joined on the premise that Nathan Brown

480
00:24:30,733 --> 00:24:33,173
Speaker 2: was going to be his coach, who'd worked with at Newcastle,

481
00:24:33,573 --> 00:24:35,573
Speaker 2: and you know a guy like that could have easily gone,

482
00:24:35,613 --> 00:24:37,413
Speaker 2: oh well, like I've come over here and now you

483
00:24:37,493 --> 00:24:40,333
Speaker 2: guys have binned off Brown and who's this Andrew Webster Feller.

484
00:24:40,413 --> 00:24:43,813
Speaker 2: But he bought him to the idea and he's still

485
00:24:43,853 --> 00:24:45,333
Speaker 2: here now and he's going to have a big part

486
00:24:45,373 --> 00:24:47,453
Speaker 2: to play in the next couple of years. Longside James

487
00:24:47,493 --> 00:24:53,853
Speaker 2: Fisher Harris, who or what surprised you most in twenty

488
00:24:53,893 --> 00:24:56,853
Speaker 2: twenty four. This canna be good or bad. So I've

489
00:24:56,893 --> 00:24:59,213
Speaker 2: gone for a good one and it's Tomighty Martin. You know,

490
00:24:59,933 --> 00:25:02,013
Speaker 2: Tomighty Martin's had a strange career. I was a huge

491
00:25:02,053 --> 00:25:04,893
Speaker 2: fan of him at the Cowboys. They obviously backed him

492
00:25:04,893 --> 00:25:06,653
Speaker 2: to be the man that replaced Jonathan Thurston and then

493
00:25:06,693 --> 00:25:08,733
Speaker 2: of course he had that brain bleed and to get

494
00:25:08,773 --> 00:25:11,573
Speaker 2: the game away, came back after three years out, went

495
00:25:11,613 --> 00:25:14,413
Speaker 2: to the Broncos and played fullback and ended up coming

496
00:25:14,413 --> 00:25:16,173
Speaker 2: to the Warriors as sort of an exchange for an

497
00:25:16,213 --> 00:25:20,253
Speaker 2: unofficial exchange for Reese Walsh, but the way he's played

498
00:25:20,333 --> 00:25:23,053
Speaker 2: in Seawan Johnson's absences here, so he's had sixteen triasis

499
00:25:23,173 --> 00:25:26,333
Speaker 2: in sixteen games. I think most of those came in

500
00:25:26,413 --> 00:25:29,933
Speaker 2: about a three or four game stretch when Shawn Johnson

501
00:25:30,013 --> 00:25:33,253
Speaker 2: was out. I've never seen to Mighty Martin as sort

502
00:25:33,253 --> 00:25:35,613
Speaker 2: of a sitting halfback at a game managing halfback like

503
00:25:35,693 --> 00:25:37,653
Speaker 2: Sean Johnson was, but when he has played there, it's

504
00:25:37,693 --> 00:25:40,933
Speaker 2: absolutely looked like the best position for him. And he's

505
00:25:40,933 --> 00:25:43,773
Speaker 2: obviously he's played He's played alongside Johnson, he's played alongside

506
00:25:44,493 --> 00:25:47,333
Speaker 2: Jonathan Thurston, he's played alongside Michael Morgan, and he's never

507
00:25:47,493 --> 00:25:51,053
Speaker 2: been sort of the guy. He's always been the support act.

508
00:25:51,133 --> 00:25:52,853
Speaker 2: But when we saw him as the main man, I

509
00:25:52,973 --> 00:25:55,373
Speaker 2: think that absolutely took him to a new level. And

510
00:25:55,573 --> 00:25:58,053
Speaker 2: I have no doubts next year about who's going to

511
00:25:58,093 --> 00:25:59,693
Speaker 2: wear number seven. First up, It's going to be to

512
00:25:59,773 --> 00:26:03,573
Speaker 2: Mighty Martin. Wow, wow, wow, Do you not think No,

513
00:26:04,333 --> 00:26:08,053
Speaker 2: I'm not a line there. I agree with what you're saying,

514
00:26:08,733 --> 00:26:11,773
Speaker 2: but I thought that the fade and form and towards

515
00:26:11,773 --> 00:26:13,373
Speaker 2: the back end of the season made it pretty easy.

516
00:26:13,653 --> 00:26:15,413
Speaker 2: Of Course, they're always going to bring Shan Johnson back,

517
00:26:15,453 --> 00:26:20,893
Speaker 2: but I don't. I only think there's probably one safe

518
00:26:20,933 --> 00:26:23,413
Speaker 2: spot in that back line for twenty twenty five at

519
00:26:23,453 --> 00:26:26,973
Speaker 2: the moment, and that's what's in is listening. Wow. Anyway,

520
00:26:27,173 --> 00:26:30,333
Speaker 2: that's maybe a conversation Nathan and Burge can get us

521
00:26:30,333 --> 00:26:32,133
Speaker 2: back in for some hot takes in twenty twenty five.

522
00:26:32,413 --> 00:26:35,613
Speaker 2: My surprise, and I sort of touched on it before.

523
00:26:35,813 --> 00:26:36,093
Speaker 5: It was.

524
00:26:37,653 --> 00:26:41,493
Speaker 2: When they were at full strength, which was few and

525
00:26:41,573 --> 00:26:44,013
Speaker 2: far between, but even when those senior players were there

526
00:26:44,293 --> 00:26:48,053
Speaker 2: and playing and available, it was that lack of evolution

527
00:26:48,813 --> 00:26:51,973
Speaker 2: with ball in hand and that conservative nature that I

528
00:26:52,133 --> 00:26:56,693
Speaker 2: was quite surprised by. And I'm sure there's a lot

529
00:26:56,773 --> 00:27:00,413
Speaker 2: of layers in context as to why they constantly would

530
00:27:00,893 --> 00:27:04,413
Speaker 2: choose that fifth tackle, conservative keck option or always use

531
00:27:04,533 --> 00:27:07,333
Speaker 2: the right edge for shape and trying to get what

532
00:27:07,453 --> 00:27:10,813
Speaker 2: Ten's leasing out was so effective in twenty twenty three.

533
00:27:10,893 --> 00:27:13,573
Speaker 2: But just a couple of stats that jumped off the page,

534
00:27:13,613 --> 00:27:15,933
Speaker 2: and it's not they're not big numbers, but they sort

535
00:27:15,973 --> 00:27:18,893
Speaker 2: of show a little bit where the Warriors sort of

536
00:27:18,933 --> 00:27:21,853
Speaker 2: dipped attack wise. Anyway, one hundred and eleven tries they

537
00:27:21,933 --> 00:27:26,173
Speaker 2: scored in twenty twenty three ninety this year, and the

538
00:27:26,253 --> 00:27:29,413
Speaker 2: Warriors had the second best or going into Obviously there's

539
00:27:29,413 --> 00:27:31,693
Speaker 2: still all the other sixteen clubs still have this week

540
00:27:31,733 --> 00:27:33,613
Speaker 2: ind to play, but the Warriors as things stand have

541
00:27:33,733 --> 00:27:37,333
Speaker 2: the second best completion rate of any team at eighty

542
00:27:37,373 --> 00:27:42,413
Speaker 2: two percent. And for mine, it's that conservative nature of

543
00:27:42,533 --> 00:27:45,373
Speaker 2: trying to not chance your arm that we just saw

544
00:27:45,453 --> 00:27:48,573
Speaker 2: when we were so good against Cronulla that ultimately I

545
00:27:48,773 --> 00:27:51,693
Speaker 2: think is proved the bit of their undoing and I

546
00:27:51,813 --> 00:27:53,853
Speaker 2: hope that they can find the balance right. It needs

547
00:27:53,893 --> 00:27:57,013
Speaker 2: to be closer to what you termed earlier as Warrior ball,

548
00:27:57,133 --> 00:27:59,613
Speaker 2: or even back in the day where Ali Lawatiti was

549
00:27:59,653 --> 00:28:02,373
Speaker 2: throwing it around like a Harlem globe trotter like. I

550
00:28:02,533 --> 00:28:04,253
Speaker 2: just don't think they got that right, and that was

551
00:28:04,293 --> 00:28:07,573
Speaker 2: a surprise to me. I thought that they'd elevate their

552
00:28:07,573 --> 00:28:10,733
Speaker 2: attack to another level and if anything, it went backwards.

553
00:28:10,933 --> 00:28:16,013
Speaker 2: One last individual one, what was your who was your

554
00:28:16,413 --> 00:28:17,373
Speaker 2: young player of the year.

555
00:28:18,413 --> 00:28:21,853
Speaker 3: I've gone for Ali Latawa handful of appearances, but every

556
00:28:21,933 --> 00:28:24,613
Speaker 3: time he plays he just looks incredible.

557
00:28:24,893 --> 00:28:26,253
Speaker 2: How good was he on Saturday?

558
00:28:26,813 --> 00:28:28,733
Speaker 3: He just gets better and better, like ever since he

559
00:28:28,853 --> 00:28:30,693
Speaker 3: played one game last year and didn't look out of

560
00:28:30,733 --> 00:28:32,133
Speaker 3: place for a minute. And that was a way to

561
00:28:32,213 --> 00:28:33,813
Speaker 3: the Raiders, which for me was one of their best

562
00:28:33,853 --> 00:28:36,453
Speaker 3: wins of twenty twenty three. This year has not been

563
00:28:36,493 --> 00:28:39,573
Speaker 3: as easy's and injuries. He's been concussed, but I think

564
00:28:39,693 --> 00:28:41,493
Speaker 3: if he's not in the conversation to be a starting

565
00:28:41,573 --> 00:28:43,773
Speaker 3: center next year, they've got rocks in their heads.

566
00:28:43,893 --> 00:28:44,813
Speaker 2: Just got some stats.

567
00:28:44,813 --> 00:28:46,933
Speaker 3: See average one hundred and twenty six running meters per

568
00:28:47,093 --> 00:28:50,253
Speaker 3: game from center. You know that's not getting the ball

569
00:28:50,333 --> 00:28:53,013
Speaker 3: every set, but you just can't stop him. Three tries

570
00:28:53,093 --> 00:28:57,053
Speaker 3: to assists in six games, seven line breaks. He has

571
00:28:57,133 --> 00:28:58,013
Speaker 3: to be in there next year.

572
00:28:58,333 --> 00:29:00,773
Speaker 2: Putting Nico Hines on his back side on Saturday too,

573
00:29:00,853 --> 00:29:02,453
Speaker 2: got a lot of enjoyment out of that, but not

574
00:29:02,493 --> 00:29:04,013
Speaker 2: nothing against Heines. I like him as a player, but

575
00:29:04,093 --> 00:29:08,253
Speaker 2: it was just a bollocking run. Yeah. I'm almost wanting

576
00:29:08,373 --> 00:29:10,973
Speaker 2: to agree, but just for the sake of changing things up,

577
00:29:11,093 --> 00:29:14,573
Speaker 2: I'm going to go with Lequahala Seema, who's still well.

578
00:29:14,573 --> 00:29:16,613
Speaker 2: He's got a lot of rugby league ahead of him,

579
00:29:16,653 --> 00:29:19,093
Speaker 2: but I got his first taste of first grade, some

580
00:29:19,253 --> 00:29:22,533
Speaker 2: real nice flashes of what he could be, whether it's

581
00:29:22,613 --> 00:29:25,093
Speaker 2: through the middle or out on the edge. He's been

582
00:29:25,173 --> 00:29:27,453
Speaker 2: carving up a new South Wales Cup. I think he

583
00:29:27,613 --> 00:29:30,013
Speaker 2: was born in two thousand and five, which makes him

584
00:29:30,013 --> 00:29:31,973
Speaker 2: either I think he's nineteen. I know that's crazy to

585
00:29:32,013 --> 00:29:34,773
Speaker 2: say out Louday, I think he's nineteen later this, Yes,

586
00:29:35,173 --> 00:29:37,013
Speaker 2: there's a long way to go, but you can tell

587
00:29:37,053 --> 00:29:39,253
Speaker 2: if he's already at that point in time where they're going,

588
00:29:39,653 --> 00:29:42,413
Speaker 2: you know what, We're happy to give you some minutes here.

589
00:29:42,453 --> 00:29:44,933
Speaker 2: In first grade he came up with some real eye

590
00:29:45,013 --> 00:29:47,773
Speaker 2: catching if it's his first run in first grade, he

591
00:29:47,853 --> 00:29:50,733
Speaker 2: ran over the top of a bulldog's middle. I was

592
00:29:50,773 --> 00:29:53,853
Speaker 2: just like, yeah, there's something about this kid, and we're

593
00:29:53,893 --> 00:29:56,853
Speaker 2: going to see lecque halo seema a lot, hopefully in

594
00:29:57,213 --> 00:30:00,253
Speaker 2: a warrior's jersey. They need a time down long term, right.

595
00:30:00,333 --> 00:30:05,253
Speaker 2: Last one is with a view to season twenty twenty five,

596
00:30:05,373 --> 00:30:09,333
Speaker 2: what is your fearless prediction? And we will come back

597
00:30:09,373 --> 00:30:11,853
Speaker 2: to this of course, right.

598
00:30:11,773 --> 00:30:14,013
Speaker 3: So this is actually quite a negative one. I think

599
00:30:14,053 --> 00:30:16,053
Speaker 3: we're going to see the end of to Harris next year.

600
00:30:17,613 --> 00:30:20,173
Speaker 3: Injuries have continued to hit him. His contract up at

601
00:30:20,173 --> 00:30:21,853
Speaker 3: the end of the next year. They've got younger players

602
00:30:21,893 --> 00:30:24,853
Speaker 3: coming through. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the

603
00:30:24,933 --> 00:30:27,613
Speaker 3: captaincy given to a Barnett or a James Fish Harris,

604
00:30:27,693 --> 00:30:30,093
Speaker 3: like what they did when Roger Tavasashak came and they

605
00:30:30,133 --> 00:30:33,853
Speaker 3: took it off Simon Mannering. So I know, like we

606
00:30:33,853 --> 00:30:35,453
Speaker 3: should never be into sort of hear say stuff, but

607
00:30:35,613 --> 00:30:38,253
Speaker 3: my chiropractor goes to the same gym as tour Who

608
00:30:38,813 --> 00:30:40,813
Speaker 3: in the off season. It just says that he does

609
00:30:41,013 --> 00:30:43,173
Speaker 3: not look like he moves painfree.

610
00:30:44,093 --> 00:30:47,373
Speaker 2: Look, I think they did this sensible thing in terms

611
00:30:47,413 --> 00:30:49,613
Speaker 2: of not playing him for the back end of the

612
00:30:49,653 --> 00:30:52,293
Speaker 2: season to at least give him a chance. It seems

613
00:30:52,453 --> 00:30:55,413
Speaker 2: everywhere on like you say, in and around the traps

614
00:30:55,453 --> 00:30:58,933
Speaker 2: wiries forumsly like online that you know, this fear is

615
00:30:58,973 --> 00:31:00,613
Speaker 2: he might have not even get to the start line

616
00:31:00,613 --> 00:31:03,933
Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five. But I'm sure they'll put every

617
00:31:04,013 --> 00:31:06,413
Speaker 2: effort there. But yeah, it wouldn't shock me if that

618
00:31:06,733 --> 00:31:10,973
Speaker 2: comes to pass. A fearless prediction. And this is real

619
00:31:11,573 --> 00:31:15,853
Speaker 2: negative Nancy pessimistic areas. But I just have great concerns

620
00:31:16,333 --> 00:31:18,933
Speaker 2: around I know you're a lot more optimistic around tomorrow

621
00:31:19,013 --> 00:31:22,813
Speaker 2: Martin at half back, but I just don't out of

622
00:31:22,853 --> 00:31:26,653
Speaker 2: what they've got with Martin and Metcalf and Harris Tavita.

623
00:31:27,173 --> 00:31:30,893
Speaker 2: I just can't see a half back or a halves

624
00:31:30,973 --> 00:31:34,333
Speaker 2: peering taking the club back to at least where they

625
00:31:34,413 --> 00:31:36,333
Speaker 2: were or near where they were in twenty twenty three.

626
00:31:36,453 --> 00:31:39,373
Speaker 2: So my fearless prediction is the Warriors won't make the

627
00:31:39,453 --> 00:31:43,493
Speaker 2: APE next year. And I'm already of the view, which

628
00:31:43,573 --> 00:31:45,893
Speaker 2: is just the way my brain works. But I'm more

629
00:31:45,933 --> 00:31:48,733
Speaker 2: excited about twenty twenty six than i am twenty twenty five.

630
00:31:49,373 --> 00:31:51,573
Speaker 2: I'm always happy to be proven wrong when I'm negative

631
00:31:51,573 --> 00:31:54,173
Speaker 2: about these things, but that's just how I feel at

632
00:31:54,213 --> 00:31:57,173
Speaker 2: this point in time. And contextualizing that too with when

633
00:31:57,213 --> 00:31:58,653
Speaker 2: you look at some of these other clubs who are

634
00:31:58,733 --> 00:32:01,013
Speaker 2: just so well set for the here and now, and

635
00:32:01,133 --> 00:32:04,173
Speaker 2: a team you know, for example, like South Sydney will

636
00:32:04,213 --> 00:32:07,413
Speaker 2: bounce back, I just, yeah, I think it might get

637
00:32:07,693 --> 00:32:09,533
Speaker 2: I'm not necessarily going to say it might get uglier

638
00:32:09,613 --> 00:32:11,533
Speaker 2: before it gets better, but we might be in a

639
00:32:11,573 --> 00:32:14,573
Speaker 2: bit of a holding pattern while we balance what's a

640
00:32:14,693 --> 00:32:17,333
Speaker 2: roster with some older players with someone who are just

641
00:32:17,413 --> 00:32:24,573
Speaker 2: starting to taste first grade l Big Hits, Big.

642
00:32:24,453 --> 00:32:27,013
Speaker 5: Moments, the Big League Podcast.

643
00:32:27,293 --> 00:32:29,453
Speaker 2: Well, goodness, gracious me, it was a tough old week

644
00:32:29,533 --> 00:32:33,773
Speaker 2: for tipping. I was saved by Sunday's games, I was

645
00:32:33,933 --> 00:32:39,013
Speaker 2: one for six going and uh it was just the

646
00:32:39,053 --> 00:32:43,253
Speaker 2: Panthers at that point. And then Newcastle got the job

647
00:32:43,333 --> 00:32:47,173
Speaker 2: over Gold Coast and my smoking of the week came

648
00:32:47,253 --> 00:32:51,293
Speaker 2: in the Raiders beat the Roosters in a real testing affair. Gee,

649
00:32:51,293 --> 00:32:55,173
Speaker 2: I've seen see Brandon Smith and Sam Walker season ending

650
00:32:55,213 --> 00:33:00,093
Speaker 2: knee injures, Victor Radley out verbal barbs, exchange between Trent

651
00:33:00,213 --> 00:33:02,333
Speaker 2: Robinson and Elliot Whitehead. There was a bit bit doing

652
00:33:02,373 --> 00:33:04,493
Speaker 2: in that game. It wasn't too much better for you either, Alex,

653
00:33:04,573 --> 00:33:07,493
Speaker 2: you're one out of the box. Came in the Eels

654
00:33:07,533 --> 00:33:11,493
Speaker 2: beating the Dragon. But like me, it was pretty lean,

655
00:33:11,653 --> 00:33:11,893
Speaker 2: wasn't it.

656
00:33:12,613 --> 00:33:13,973
Speaker 3: Yeah, not a good week. And there were so many

657
00:33:14,013 --> 00:33:15,693
Speaker 3: results that you sat there as they came and went, oh,

658
00:33:15,733 --> 00:33:17,173
Speaker 3: this will come back to buy me on the podcast.

659
00:33:17,253 --> 00:33:18,933
Speaker 3: Isn't it there?

660
00:33:18,973 --> 00:33:19,493
Speaker 7: What I mean?

661
00:33:20,053 --> 00:33:22,613
Speaker 2: I feel yeah, like the Dolphins being a you know,

662
00:33:23,173 --> 00:33:26,093
Speaker 2: running out of steam. They just absolutely rolled through the

663
00:33:26,133 --> 00:33:28,493
Speaker 2: Broncos and now very much alive in the in the

664
00:33:28,573 --> 00:33:32,013
Speaker 2: top eight picture. Let's look at the final round. Plenty

665
00:33:32,133 --> 00:33:34,253
Speaker 2: to play for a lot of teams live for that

666
00:33:34,533 --> 00:33:37,533
Speaker 2: eighth spot. The Broncos are not one of them. And

667
00:33:37,573 --> 00:33:40,733
Speaker 2: they'll open things up against the Melbourne Storm home US

668
00:33:40,813 --> 00:33:43,293
Speaker 2: and Mett Alex. We weren't to know at the time

669
00:33:43,333 --> 00:33:45,973
Speaker 2: of recording that Craig Balamy was going to say, oh,

670
00:33:46,093 --> 00:33:48,533
Speaker 2: let's rest a dozen players, so there was a little

671
00:33:48,573 --> 00:33:50,173
Speaker 2: caveat around that prediction.

672
00:33:50,013 --> 00:33:53,453
Speaker 3: Right absolutely, Like like you say, the Cowboys did so

673
00:33:53,533 --> 00:33:55,373
Speaker 3: well to get up and beat them, but I think

674
00:33:55,413 --> 00:33:57,333
Speaker 3: I'm going to tip the Storm this week. The Broncos

675
00:33:57,533 --> 00:33:59,333
Speaker 3: just looked horrendous. I don't know if you saw Kevin

676
00:33:59,373 --> 00:34:01,533
Speaker 3: Walter's press conference after Saturday.

677
00:34:01,893 --> 00:34:03,133
Speaker 2: I didn't catch it. No, what did you say?

678
00:34:03,613 --> 00:34:06,373
Speaker 3: Oh, he just looks like a man beaten? Yeah, you

679
00:34:06,453 --> 00:34:10,173
Speaker 3: know all those those like Australian based enter our journalists

680
00:34:10,173 --> 00:34:12,453
Speaker 3: are just root clos Like you know, when the coach

681
00:34:12,533 --> 00:34:14,853
Speaker 3: starts asking questions back to the journalists, you know, what

682
00:34:14,933 --> 00:34:17,093
Speaker 3: war would you do? And the journals we're having none

683
00:34:17,093 --> 00:34:18,773
Speaker 3: of it. You know who They're just going No, I'm

684
00:34:18,813 --> 00:34:22,213
Speaker 3: not the coke. I love that yeah, Storm as well.

685
00:34:22,333 --> 00:34:24,693
Speaker 2: I think the cues and the rack for the Broncos

686
00:34:24,893 --> 00:34:27,773
Speaker 2: and those guys at the Storm rested last week were

687
00:34:27,813 --> 00:34:30,013
Speaker 2: now wanting to be hit the ground running ahead of

688
00:34:30,093 --> 00:34:33,413
Speaker 2: what will be a one V four game for them

689
00:34:33,813 --> 00:34:37,453
Speaker 2: next week the Battle for the Wooden Spoon Friday Night,

690
00:34:37,693 --> 00:34:42,053
Speaker 2: West Tigers Parramatta Eels. He doubling down here on the Eels, Alex. Yeah,

691
00:34:42,133 --> 00:34:44,373
Speaker 2: same reason, guys looking to prove themselves for next year.

692
00:34:44,453 --> 00:34:46,853
Speaker 2: New coach coming in. Great went over the Dragons, that

693
00:34:46,973 --> 00:34:49,893
Speaker 2: could have ended their season. But yeah, go with the Ears.

694
00:34:50,013 --> 00:34:52,853
Speaker 2: See they looked like were they up like forty four

695
00:34:52,853 --> 00:34:55,013
Speaker 2: to twelve or something and they just forgot how to

696
00:34:55,053 --> 00:34:56,533
Speaker 2: play rugby league for it. But they got a little

697
00:34:56,533 --> 00:35:00,373
Speaker 2: bit diicy, but they got the job done against St. George. Yeah,

698
00:35:01,253 --> 00:35:04,733
Speaker 2: flip a coin. I'm going to go. I love Benji Marshall,

699
00:35:04,893 --> 00:35:11,973
Speaker 2: so I'll tip the Tigers, Ah Rabbits roosters roosters with

700
00:35:12,053 --> 00:35:12,773
Speaker 2: all these injuries.

701
00:35:13,373 --> 00:35:15,853
Speaker 3: Yeah, like you said Walker, I don't think Walker is

702
00:35:15,853 --> 00:35:18,333
Speaker 3: definitely out for the season, but Brandon Smith and Victor

703
00:35:18,373 --> 00:35:21,373
Speaker 3: Radley are. I don't see how they come back. Throwing

704
00:35:21,413 --> 00:35:24,333
Speaker 3: to the fact that the Rabbit O's is a local rivalry,

705
00:35:24,413 --> 00:35:26,773
Speaker 3: so they will be pumped to try and finish their season.

706
00:35:26,893 --> 00:35:29,533
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, these two hate each other. I'm going to

707
00:35:29,573 --> 00:35:31,733
Speaker 2: go with South Sidney as well. Just inflicting a bit

708
00:35:31,773 --> 00:35:34,173
Speaker 2: of damage even though well about a week to ten

709
00:35:34,253 --> 00:35:37,973
Speaker 2: days ago. I thought the Roosters they were my Premiership favorites.

710
00:35:38,053 --> 00:35:40,853
Speaker 2: But I think if Walker is out and I know

711
00:35:40,933 --> 00:35:43,253
Speaker 2: they can shift Kerry and do some things. They got depth,

712
00:35:43,373 --> 00:35:48,733
Speaker 2: but Smith as well. That's a big blows Dragons Raiders.

713
00:35:49,293 --> 00:35:51,453
Speaker 3: I mean, I'd like to think the Dragons, like you said,

714
00:35:51,493 --> 00:35:53,613
Speaker 3: they scored a lot of points very quickly to finish

715
00:35:53,653 --> 00:35:57,973
Speaker 3: that Els game just wasn't enough. Look, I've got a

716
00:35:58,013 --> 00:36:00,173
Speaker 3: good record of going against the Raiders with these so

717
00:36:00,213 --> 00:36:01,373
Speaker 3: I'm going to keep that for another week.

718
00:36:02,573 --> 00:36:04,173
Speaker 2: I'm going to stick with what's been a good thing

719
00:36:04,213 --> 00:36:06,733
Speaker 2: for me, the Great Machine. After last week beating the Roosters,

720
00:36:06,813 --> 00:36:09,973
Speaker 2: they're not completely done that they've had. Some crazy things

721
00:36:10,053 --> 00:36:12,973
Speaker 2: would need to occur, particularly in this last game of

722
00:36:13,013 --> 00:36:16,333
Speaker 2: the regular season. That both these teams, in fact, their

723
00:36:16,373 --> 00:36:20,293
Speaker 2: points difference differentials are shocking, so they're going to need

724
00:36:20,653 --> 00:36:22,733
Speaker 2: a bit to go their way. Two teams that are

725
00:36:22,773 --> 00:36:26,133
Speaker 2: safely ensconced in the eights, the Bulldogs and the Cowboys.

726
00:36:26,813 --> 00:36:28,773
Speaker 3: I didn't like the Bulldogs last week, but I think

727
00:36:28,813 --> 00:36:29,613
Speaker 3: they'll still get up.

728
00:36:30,933 --> 00:36:35,013
Speaker 2: Agreed and doubly agreed. We both tipped them and they

729
00:36:35,093 --> 00:36:39,333
Speaker 2: were turned up by the Manly Seagulls. But perhaps it's

730
00:36:39,373 --> 00:36:41,333
Speaker 2: one of those ones where a good time to have

731
00:36:41,413 --> 00:36:43,893
Speaker 2: a loss and reset and perhaps look at some things

732
00:36:43,933 --> 00:36:46,573
Speaker 2: that have been papered over. So I think the Bulldogs

733
00:36:46,613 --> 00:36:48,613
Speaker 2: are particularly at home where they have a really strong record,

734
00:36:48,653 --> 00:36:53,173
Speaker 2: will get the job done. Panthers Titans. Panthers don't need

735
00:36:53,293 --> 00:36:56,053
Speaker 2: don't it's quick fire predictions for a reason. We don't

736
00:36:56,053 --> 00:37:00,173
Speaker 2: need to get into that one. Manly Sharks Sharks interesting.

737
00:37:00,373 --> 00:37:01,813
Speaker 2: Keen to hear your thoughts on that just quickly.

738
00:37:02,493 --> 00:37:04,653
Speaker 3: Do we know what Tom Taboovich's prognosis is.

739
00:37:04,853 --> 00:37:06,813
Speaker 2: I think they were thinking he'd be at least a

740
00:37:06,933 --> 00:37:10,853
Speaker 2: week and particularly given that they can't get into the

741
00:37:10,933 --> 00:37:15,533
Speaker 2: top four, that they would give them some time heading

742
00:37:15,573 --> 00:37:18,493
Speaker 2: into finals, whereas Cronulla after that loss of the Warriors,

743
00:37:18,493 --> 00:37:21,133
Speaker 2: still have the potential of finishing in the top four.

744
00:37:21,653 --> 00:37:23,693
Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean you'd think Manly be used to playing

745
00:37:23,693 --> 00:37:25,453
Speaker 3: without Tom tavoybitch by now. But I think it is

746
00:37:25,493 --> 00:37:28,413
Speaker 3: a huge loss. Sharks have a point to prove. They

747
00:37:28,453 --> 00:37:30,333
Speaker 3: shouldn't have lost that game last week and they'll know it.

748
00:37:31,493 --> 00:37:33,093
Speaker 2: No, I agree with that what you're saying. I'm going

749
00:37:33,133 --> 00:37:34,813
Speaker 2: to go with Cronulla as well, particularly if they're all

750
00:37:34,853 --> 00:37:37,933
Speaker 2: without Manly, without Tommy Turbo and to round things out,

751
00:37:37,973 --> 00:37:40,893
Speaker 2: this is the one really that should determine who gets

752
00:37:40,973 --> 00:37:45,373
Speaker 2: that eighth spot, Newcastle and the Dolphins.

753
00:37:45,453 --> 00:37:48,133
Speaker 3: Is it fins up, Alex, No, Look, I'm going with

754
00:37:48,173 --> 00:37:51,253
Speaker 3: the Knights. Andy McDonald's friend of the podcast, the producer

755
00:37:51,293 --> 00:37:53,133
Speaker 3: of Week in Sport with Jason Pine is a huge

756
00:37:53,173 --> 00:37:55,693
Speaker 3: Knights fan. I'm on this for you, Andy.

757
00:37:55,893 --> 00:37:59,533
Speaker 2: I'm with you, mate. I do like Andy McDonald, but

758
00:37:59,733 --> 00:38:01,733
Speaker 2: I'm going to go fins up when they're with ball

759
00:38:01,813 --> 00:38:04,413
Speaker 2: in hand and they got guys like the Hammer and

760
00:38:04,573 --> 00:38:07,973
Speaker 2: Herbie Farnworth and they Wayne Bennett's really changed things up,

761
00:38:08,013 --> 00:38:12,013
Speaker 2: hasn't he. He drops Young Katawa, the Halfbacker's gone pretty

762
00:38:12,053 --> 00:38:15,693
Speaker 2: well with Jake Averillo's and the halfs. But yeah, I'd

763
00:38:15,733 --> 00:38:18,093
Speaker 2: love to see the Dolphins in year two. That'll be

764
00:38:18,253 --> 00:38:22,053
Speaker 2: a great success story for expansion to see them playing

765
00:38:22,213 --> 00:38:26,933
Speaker 2: finals football. Rodio. I think that about wraps us up

766
00:38:27,053 --> 00:38:30,693
Speaker 2: for season twenty twenty four, at least from a NRL standpoint.

767
00:38:30,733 --> 00:38:33,693
Speaker 2: We'll have a word to our big boss Nathan Lynn

768
00:38:33,773 --> 00:38:36,693
Speaker 2: once he's back from his European travels and see if

769
00:38:36,733 --> 00:38:39,293
Speaker 2: we can get some big league podcast action in the

770
00:38:39,733 --> 00:38:42,693
Speaker 2: international season when the Kiwis and Kiwi fans open their

771
00:38:43,013 --> 00:38:47,133
Speaker 2: Pacific Championship campaigns. But thanks so much for everyone tuning

772
00:38:47,213 --> 00:38:51,173
Speaker 2: in across the course of the season. We will be

773
00:38:51,333 --> 00:38:53,853
Speaker 2: back in due course and we hope we'll be bringing

774
00:38:53,893 --> 00:38:57,093
Speaker 2: you a lot more positivity out of the Warriors, particularly

775
00:38:57,453 --> 00:38:59,693
Speaker 2: in season twenty twenty five. But my thanks to you

776
00:39:00,333 --> 00:39:02,613
Speaker 2: Alex for stepping in. I think we've done okay, haven't

777
00:39:02,613 --> 00:39:04,813
Speaker 2: we for a couple of guys off the bench pretty much,

778
00:39:04,933 --> 00:39:08,013
Speaker 2: you know, Jazz Tavanga areas just up up the guts.

779
00:39:08,493 --> 00:39:10,853
Speaker 3: I'd say we're the Chanelle Harris Devita and to Mighty

780
00:39:10,933 --> 00:39:14,133
Speaker 3: Martin to Berg and Nathan being Shawn Johnson, Luke Metcalfe.

781
00:39:14,733 --> 00:39:17,613
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll allow that. I'll allow that so long as

782
00:39:17,693 --> 00:39:18,773
Speaker 2: I'm Chanel.

783
00:39:19,013 --> 00:39:20,413
Speaker 3: Yeah, all right, sweet up, it's mine.

784
00:39:21,573 --> 00:39:23,973
Speaker 2: Appreciate it's on though, mate, And thanks again for all

785
00:39:24,013 --> 00:39:27,813
Speaker 2: those who have listened to keep us subscribed. And once

786
00:39:27,893 --> 00:39:30,933
Speaker 2: we have new episodes coming into wherever you your podcasts,

787
00:39:30,973 --> 00:39:32,373
Speaker 2: you will see them first thing

788
00:39:37,173 --> 00:39:40,093
Speaker 1: For more from News Talks B listen live on air

789
00:39:40,293 --> 00:39:42,973
Speaker 1: or online and keep our shows with you wherever you

790
00:39:43,093 --> 00:39:45,453
Speaker 1: go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,