1 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,840 S1: G'day. Welcome to the offload on this Monday I'm James Willis, 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:13,160 S1: joined by Josh Morris and journalist Andrew Webster from The Australian. 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,560 S1: We've got there's plenty to get through after round two. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,360 S1: Some big headlines out of the weekend, some teams struggling already, 5 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,520 S1: others setting the way. James good to see you mate. Firstly, 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,040 S1: I want to start with Friday night. Alex Johnston incredible. 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,760 S1: Broke the all time try scoring record surpassing Ken Irvine 8 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,400 S1: after decades and pretty special scenes. And you were amongst 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:35,920 S1: it because you were on the sideline. 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,440 S2: Yeah I was it was a amazing scenes. I was 11 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,560 S2: sidelined for that. And um, just to see the fans 12 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,159 S2: reacting the way they did, I mean they, the NRL 13 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:45,680 S2: came out and said that they were going to find 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,000 S2: everyone who jumped over the fence. And within 30s there 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,839 S2: was 5000 people on the field. It was such a 16 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,360 S2: crazy experience. I had people coming up to me trying 17 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,120 S2: to steal my mic and had to shoo a couple 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,080 S2: of them away, almost had to tackle a couple of 19 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,310 S2: blokes coming up. to me, they were a bit aggressive, but, uh, no, 20 00:01:02,310 --> 00:01:05,910 S2: it was, uh, and and to. It would have been, um, 21 00:01:06,310 --> 00:01:09,790 S2: probably a travesty if he got it this week against um, 22 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:12,149 S2: the Tigers up in Central Coast, there would have been 23 00:01:12,150 --> 00:01:15,550 S2: probably 5000 people there. So to do it in a 24 00:01:15,590 --> 00:01:19,670 S2: sold out Allianz Stadium, as they were the visiting team 25 00:01:20,150 --> 00:01:24,350 S2: on the scoreboard with all that little, uh, sidelines to 26 00:01:24,350 --> 00:01:27,110 S2: the book of feuds, it was just a wonderful spectacle. 27 00:01:27,110 --> 00:01:31,470 S2: And congratulations to, uh, to AJ and I'll always remember 28 00:01:31,470 --> 00:01:34,110 S2: where I was when he scored the winning, uh, the, 29 00:01:34,110 --> 00:01:35,350 S2: the try to take over. 30 00:01:35,390 --> 00:01:38,670 S1: Ken Irvine Yeah, special scenes and Webby, the unfortunate thing, 31 00:01:38,670 --> 00:01:42,150 S1: I think for Souths was it kind of cost them momentum. Although, 32 00:01:42,190 --> 00:01:43,350 S1: you know, in the end they made a lot of 33 00:01:43,550 --> 00:01:46,590 S1: silly errors in that second half. Um, what have you 34 00:01:46,630 --> 00:01:48,910 S1: what did you make of it? Wayne Bennett's reaction was 35 00:01:48,910 --> 00:01:51,550 S1: interesting in the press conference as well. And of course 36 00:01:51,550 --> 00:01:53,710 S1: there's a bit of drama out of it. As Josh mentioned, 37 00:01:53,750 --> 00:01:56,190 S1: given the rivalry between these two teams. 38 00:01:56,630 --> 00:01:59,980 S3: Um, one, it was exactly the type of scene that 39 00:01:59,980 --> 00:02:04,060 S3: we forecast on this very podcast a week ago. Just 40 00:02:04,060 --> 00:02:06,820 S3: how it would be an amazing moment for the game. 41 00:02:06,820 --> 00:02:09,140 S3: And that's exactly what it was. I do find it 42 00:02:09,180 --> 00:02:11,780 S3: hilarious that both South Sydney in the NRL of like 43 00:02:11,780 --> 00:02:14,220 S3: putting it all over their socials and saying the same thing, 44 00:02:14,260 --> 00:02:17,540 S3: even though they specifically said not to do it. Um, 45 00:02:17,540 --> 00:02:19,340 S3: so they should have leaned into it in the first place. 46 00:02:19,380 --> 00:02:20,980 S3: There's still a bit of drama out of it. So 47 00:02:20,980 --> 00:02:24,660 S3: the whole visiting team, uh, that the, this what I 48 00:02:24,660 --> 00:02:28,339 S3: love about the Souths Roosters rivalry, they're so petty. It's 49 00:02:28,340 --> 00:02:32,139 S3: so childish. We got prime ministers and billionaires and Hollywood actors, 50 00:02:32,139 --> 00:02:35,380 S3: and they're all just basic, uh, rugby league bogans, like 51 00:02:35,419 --> 00:02:37,820 S3: the the rest of us. Giving it to each other. 52 00:02:37,820 --> 00:02:42,780 S3: But apparently the NRL. I'm not. Apparently they are investigating 53 00:02:42,780 --> 00:02:45,860 S3: why the Roosters called it visiting team. Not, uh, not 54 00:02:45,860 --> 00:02:48,500 S3: putting South Sydney because it's a breach of the rules. 55 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:50,139 S3: It's a breach of the rules. 56 00:02:50,620 --> 00:02:53,019 S2: Let it go. It's it just adds it just adds 57 00:02:53,020 --> 00:02:55,740 S2: to the the feud doesn't it? It does, it makes, 58 00:02:55,740 --> 00:02:58,730 S2: it makes it more interesting and sarasil get their turn 59 00:02:58,730 --> 00:03:01,609 S2: when they play at a stadium they want. That's not 60 00:03:01,610 --> 00:03:03,970 S2: their home ground. Allianz isn't their home ground. 61 00:03:04,010 --> 00:03:06,770 S3: It's ours. Put stickers all over Allianz every time they 62 00:03:06,770 --> 00:03:09,889 S3: go saying South is our home ground. So as I said, 63 00:03:10,010 --> 00:03:12,690 S3: the the pettiness between the two clubs is it's a 64 00:03:12,690 --> 00:03:13,410 S3: thing of beauty. 65 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:16,329 S1: Is anyone going to be fined? No one will be fine. 66 00:03:16,330 --> 00:03:16,730 S1: Will they? 67 00:03:16,810 --> 00:03:20,650 S3: I'll tell you what happened. One one guy has, um, uh, 68 00:03:20,730 --> 00:03:24,130 S3: went early. One guy jumped. It went after the first 69 00:03:24,130 --> 00:03:26,450 S3: try and got held down on the ground. I know this. 70 00:03:26,490 --> 00:03:26,810 S1: Right. 71 00:03:27,130 --> 00:03:28,370 S2: That's right. He did too. 72 00:03:28,770 --> 00:03:30,970 S3: I thought we were supposed to run on. I thought 73 00:03:30,970 --> 00:03:34,290 S3: we were supposed to be on it. Apparently, there's another 74 00:03:34,290 --> 00:03:37,130 S3: two fans who ran onto the field, but then have 75 00:03:37,130 --> 00:03:40,970 S3: been charged with assault. Because they are. Because they belted 76 00:03:40,970 --> 00:03:41,850 S3: up the security guards. 77 00:03:41,850 --> 00:03:44,450 S2: So, yeah, one one happened right in front of me, actually, 78 00:03:44,450 --> 00:03:47,330 S2: when there was a, a young fella with a, um, 79 00:03:47,490 --> 00:03:50,570 S2: a his camera phone on and was baiting a security 80 00:03:50,570 --> 00:03:53,250 S2: guard and swearing and getting up in his face. And 81 00:03:53,250 --> 00:03:56,610 S2: the security guard went to tackle him. And then he 82 00:03:56,650 --> 00:03:58,930 S2: tried to punch the security guard. And then after that, 83 00:03:58,970 --> 00:04:01,730 S2: he got swarmed on and got taken away. So there 84 00:04:01,730 --> 00:04:04,810 S2: were a couple of people that ruined it. Um, and 85 00:04:04,810 --> 00:04:06,930 S2: they got dealt with, which is what you want to see. 86 00:04:07,130 --> 00:04:09,410 S1: Yeah. Special scenes overall though. And of course, the Prime 87 00:04:09,410 --> 00:04:11,210 S1: Minister was one of the people that made the walk 88 00:04:11,210 --> 00:04:14,890 S1: onto the field and was interviewed after the game as well. Hey, uh, 89 00:04:14,930 --> 00:04:16,690 S1: out of the weekend, before we talk about some of 90 00:04:16,690 --> 00:04:20,290 S1: the positives, there are a couple of teams and coaches 91 00:04:20,330 --> 00:04:23,370 S1: as part of that that are probably under pressure already. Webby, 92 00:04:23,370 --> 00:04:26,490 S1: I'm keen to get your thoughts firstly on Manley, then 93 00:04:26,490 --> 00:04:29,610 S1: zero from two to start the year. Very disappointing against 94 00:04:29,610 --> 00:04:32,410 S1: the Knights at the weekend who played the second half 95 00:04:32,410 --> 00:04:33,930 S1: without their two star players. 96 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:35,850 S3: Yeah, not good signs is it. I mean the drums 97 00:04:35,850 --> 00:04:39,890 S3: have been beating about Anthony Seibold for, you know almost 98 00:04:39,890 --> 00:04:43,370 S3: since he arrived at Brookvale, but particularly towards the end 99 00:04:43,370 --> 00:04:47,130 S3: of last year, whether whether Manley decided to pull the 100 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:49,849 S3: trigger on him or not. I can't see him lasting. 101 00:04:49,850 --> 00:04:53,810 S3: If they keep performing like they did at Brookvale for 102 00:04:53,850 --> 00:04:56,000 S3: Pines on a. On a Sunday afternoon they had it 103 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,600 S3: all there. They had the two. The Newcastle two best 104 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,480 S3: players sidelined in the first half with injury. If they're 105 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,160 S3: not ripe for a victory then I don't know, James. 106 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,000 S3: I'm more interested in what you think about it. Like 107 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:09,920 S3: like that's a team that that should be your top 108 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,400 S3: eight teams shouldn't it? With that, the quality that they've 109 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:13,320 S3: got in that team. 110 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,400 S2: They do have quality. But one thing they have lost 111 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,640 S2: is a lot of experience. You can't undervalue the the 112 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,840 S2: the loss of um Daly Cherry-Evans. Like the way he 113 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,240 S2: got them around the park for the last ten years. 114 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,880 S2: And then someone like Josh alloy as well. He was a, a, 115 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,119 S2: a figure in that forward pack as well. Um, and 116 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,400 S2: for me, look Jake, he played, I think he played 117 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,200 S2: something like 68 minutes or something and only had five 118 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,560 S2: runs as well. So there's probably a couple of players 119 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,800 S2: out there that need to do a bit more in 120 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:47,120 S2: terms of their senior players. You can't just try and 121 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,080 S2: hope that Tommy Turbo has a good game and can 122 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,279 S2: win it by himself, because he he can't do that 123 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,630 S2: at this stage of his career anymore. He needs help. 124 00:05:54,630 --> 00:05:57,390 S2: He needs people to lean on, and I just don't 125 00:05:57,390 --> 00:05:59,390 S2: think they have that at the moment. And the fact 126 00:05:59,390 --> 00:06:02,430 S2: that they've been beaten twice at home to start the 127 00:06:02,430 --> 00:06:05,710 S2: season and like you said, they lost Dylan Brown and 128 00:06:05,710 --> 00:06:08,870 S2: Kalyn Ponga, who were absolutely electric in that first half. 129 00:06:09,029 --> 00:06:11,150 S2: It's worrying signs for manly. 130 00:06:11,470 --> 00:06:14,070 S3: Uh, the the thing that really interests me is like, 131 00:06:14,110 --> 00:06:16,190 S3: I mean, last year, so much of it was put 132 00:06:16,190 --> 00:06:19,830 S3: down to the the drama around Jerry Evans and whether, 133 00:06:19,870 --> 00:06:21,710 S3: you know, there was all this talk about a split 134 00:06:21,710 --> 00:06:23,990 S3: in the player ranks, about the players not liking the 135 00:06:23,990 --> 00:06:27,989 S3: coach and being off off Anthony Seibold. There's no excuses now. 136 00:06:28,310 --> 00:06:31,630 S3: You know, there's no excuses. Whatever. Whatever animosity was towards 137 00:06:31,630 --> 00:06:35,429 S3: Tony Mestrov, the former CEO. Like that's that's no longer 138 00:06:35,430 --> 00:06:37,190 S3: a factor. Whether it was a factor in the first 139 00:06:37,190 --> 00:06:40,110 S3: place or not. So they don't really have any other 140 00:06:40,110 --> 00:06:43,510 S3: excuses but to to be winning games of football and 141 00:06:43,510 --> 00:06:47,349 S3: certainly not losing games like they did, uh, yesterday afternoon. 142 00:06:47,830 --> 00:06:50,150 S1: And Josh, three of the Queensland sides are yet to 143 00:06:50,150 --> 00:06:53,299 S1: win a game. The Broncos the Cowboys and the Titans. 144 00:06:53,300 --> 00:06:54,820 S1: So a disappointing start for them. 145 00:06:55,220 --> 00:06:57,979 S2: Yeah you wouldn't think that the Broncos would have gone 146 00:06:58,020 --> 00:07:00,620 S2: oh and two to start the season. But purely off 147 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:03,380 S2: the back of the way that they've been uh completing 148 00:07:03,380 --> 00:07:06,779 S2: and holding onto the ball. They haven't respected it at all. 149 00:07:06,779 --> 00:07:09,940 S2: And um, they got themselves out to a very comfortable 150 00:07:09,940 --> 00:07:12,460 S2: lead against the eels, but then it's almost like they 151 00:07:12,460 --> 00:07:14,180 S2: put the cue in the rack and just thought that 152 00:07:14,180 --> 00:07:16,460 S2: they'd breezed through it. And you can't afford to do 153 00:07:16,460 --> 00:07:19,220 S2: that in this day and age in the NRL and 154 00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:22,580 S2: with the six agains and the momentum, uh, switches. And 155 00:07:22,820 --> 00:07:25,420 S2: I'm happy for Parramatta that they uh, they went up 156 00:07:25,420 --> 00:07:27,860 S2: there and got the win. Obviously with what happened in 157 00:07:27,860 --> 00:07:31,860 S2: round one against um against the storm. Jason Ryles would 158 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:34,700 S2: have liked to have seen a better performance and they 159 00:07:34,700 --> 00:07:36,900 S2: had to come from behind to win. So it would 160 00:07:36,940 --> 00:07:39,460 S2: have been very happy there. I gotta switch the game 161 00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:42,700 S2: off yesterday. Halfway through the Dolphins and Titans game because 162 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:45,060 S2: it was a drop a thon. And if they're going 163 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:46,540 S2: to play like that for the rest of the year, 164 00:07:46,540 --> 00:07:48,660 S2: they won't feature in the in the finals. Like I, 165 00:07:48,660 --> 00:07:51,180 S2: I think the Dolphins have got the team to play 166 00:07:51,290 --> 00:07:54,770 S2: finals football, but at the moment they just the teams 167 00:07:54,770 --> 00:07:56,570 S2: that are struggling at the start of this year, it 168 00:07:56,570 --> 00:07:58,930 S2: all comes down to their ball possession and and their 169 00:07:58,930 --> 00:08:02,370 S2: completion rate. And yeah that that's probably the main reason 170 00:08:02,370 --> 00:08:05,810 S2: why they're not winning. And look I do feel a 171 00:08:05,810 --> 00:08:09,730 S2: little bit sorry for the Cowboys. Um in round one. 172 00:08:10,010 --> 00:08:12,830 S2: Uh they lost uh Braden Burns in the last ten 173 00:08:12,830 --> 00:08:15,530 S2: minutes and they ended up losing the game from there on. 174 00:08:15,530 --> 00:08:18,050 S2: And then, uh, I think it was Kai O'Donnell got 175 00:08:18,050 --> 00:08:21,170 S2: sinbinned and it was, it was a soft sin binning. 176 00:08:21,170 --> 00:08:23,650 S2: Like you could have just said, rightio. Give it, give 177 00:08:23,650 --> 00:08:26,290 S2: it six, uh, six again or a penalty. I didn't 178 00:08:26,290 --> 00:08:28,250 S2: think it deserved to go to the bin. And then 179 00:08:28,250 --> 00:08:31,170 S2: from that position, uh, the tyre gets kicked on with 180 00:08:31,170 --> 00:08:33,570 S2: it in the first half. And by first half the 181 00:08:33,570 --> 00:08:35,970 S2: game was pretty much over. So I do feel a 182 00:08:35,970 --> 00:08:39,450 S2: little bit sorry, uh, for, for Todd Payten in that instance, 183 00:08:39,450 --> 00:08:41,490 S2: but he's got to start winning games because he is 184 00:08:41,490 --> 00:08:44,290 S2: probably the other coach that's under the most pressure this year. 185 00:08:45,690 --> 00:08:48,050 S1: Yeah, absolutely. And that is the thing. Todd Payten coming 186 00:08:48,050 --> 00:08:50,010 S1: off a disappointing season last year. And they've got a 187 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,960 S1: pretty good roster. Webby with a lot of representative players, 188 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,280 S1: both Queensland and Australian players. 189 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,040 S3: I don't know what's happened at the Cowboys. I mean, 190 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,040 S3: Todd Payten was coach of the year a few years ago. 191 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,400 S3: And um, I was in Vegas. I like Todd. There's 192 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,680 S3: something about him. He's I like the directness of the 193 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,800 S3: way that he speaks publicly. And he's very open, honest 194 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,160 S3: guy from from what it looks like on the outside 195 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,680 S3: looking in. I heard a great story in in Vegas 196 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,520 S3: about Todd Payten, about how he went to the board and, and, 197 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,720 S3: and pitched so strongly for Tom Dearden to go to 198 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:21,840 S3: that club. I think people sort of forget when Tom 199 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,960 S3: Dearden left the Broncos, he was damaged goods and people thought, 200 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,480 S3: you know, at the age of 22, he had lived 201 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,480 S3: up to the next Allan Langer tag, which is ridiculous 202 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,240 S3: in itself. But, um, you know, Todd Payten really came 203 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:35,080 S3: out swinging for Tom to come to that club and 204 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,520 S3: he's turned into, as we all know, you know, one 205 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,200 S3: of the best sevens, if not the best on his 206 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,240 S3: on his day in the competition played for Queensland in Australia. 207 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,480 S3: So um you know I'd like it. I don't really 208 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,200 S3: know what the better option is than Todd Payten up there. 209 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,310 S3: Uh there's Ben. Oh, I remember calling. I called him 210 00:09:51,309 --> 00:09:53,710 S3: last year saying, is it right to, you know, that 211 00:09:53,710 --> 00:09:55,630 S3: that you got fronted by some of your senior players 212 00:09:55,630 --> 00:09:57,950 S3: about your coaching style? And he said, I did, and 213 00:09:57,950 --> 00:09:59,910 S3: I took it on board and I was receptive to it. 214 00:09:59,910 --> 00:10:03,230 S3: But for whatever reason, it's not sort of, uh, it's 215 00:10:03,230 --> 00:10:07,150 S3: not resulting in, in, in, in victories. And if, if, again, 216 00:10:07,190 --> 00:10:10,390 S3: like Anthony Seibold, if, if they don't start putting some 217 00:10:10,390 --> 00:10:12,830 S3: victories together, then he's got to be under enormous pressure 218 00:10:12,830 --> 00:10:13,790 S3: if he isn't already. 219 00:10:14,350 --> 00:10:16,390 S1: Hey, Josh, uh, on the podcast last week, you had 220 00:10:16,390 --> 00:10:18,150 S1: a bit to say about the rule change and how 221 00:10:18,150 --> 00:10:20,230 S1: you thought it had played out in round one. I'm 222 00:10:20,270 --> 00:10:22,310 S1: keen for an update from you on whether you think 223 00:10:22,309 --> 00:10:23,830 S1: it's settled down a little bit. There's a lot of 224 00:10:23,830 --> 00:10:26,310 S1: points scored at the weekend and a lot of teams 225 00:10:26,309 --> 00:10:28,189 S1: winning by 40 plus as well. 226 00:10:29,630 --> 00:10:31,350 S2: And even the coaches don't know. 227 00:10:31,670 --> 00:10:32,670 S3: Was that a pin drop? 228 00:10:33,510 --> 00:10:37,150 S2: It was. That was a pin drop. Even the coaches 229 00:10:37,150 --> 00:10:41,429 S2: don't know. Like Craig Fitzgibbon is still bemused with it. 230 00:10:41,429 --> 00:10:45,510 S2: Like he he he didn't realize like the Jesse Ramian one. 231 00:10:45,510 --> 00:10:47,950 S2: And I think we're going to see like if you 232 00:10:47,950 --> 00:10:50,510 S2: just make any contact at all, it's going to be 233 00:10:50,510 --> 00:10:54,510 S2: a penalty. Like there's some. Sometimes there needs to be 234 00:10:54,510 --> 00:10:56,590 S2: a bit of common sense added to the rules. And 235 00:10:56,750 --> 00:10:58,550 S2: we saw a couple of times there. There was one 236 00:10:58,550 --> 00:11:01,470 S2: with Dylan Edwards where he just got hit on the 237 00:11:01,470 --> 00:11:03,670 S2: legs as he was making the catch. Now that wasn't 238 00:11:03,710 --> 00:11:07,309 S2: a genuine attempt at getting the ball. Jessie Raymond kind 239 00:11:07,309 --> 00:11:10,150 S2: of wasn't really looking and then made contact. He was 240 00:11:10,190 --> 00:11:12,630 S2: he was kind of looking up in the air and 241 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:16,270 S2: he gets penalized for that. And I think there's still 242 00:11:16,270 --> 00:11:18,709 S2: frustration from the coaches. I think a couple of them 243 00:11:18,710 --> 00:11:21,710 S2: over the weekend were still unclear on on the rules. 244 00:11:21,710 --> 00:11:25,310 S2: And and with the six agains, we're seeing still seeing 245 00:11:25,309 --> 00:11:27,510 S2: plenty of six agains. And I was speaking to Debbie 246 00:11:27,510 --> 00:11:30,429 S2: about this just before we went on on air. I 247 00:11:30,429 --> 00:11:33,630 S2: almost think that the interchange bench needs to go back 248 00:11:33,630 --> 00:11:36,430 S2: to ten, like with the the speed of the game 249 00:11:36,429 --> 00:11:38,270 S2: and the way we're seeing it and the fatigue and 250 00:11:38,270 --> 00:11:42,510 S2: these blowout scores, like we we dropped from 12 to 251 00:11:42,510 --> 00:11:45,230 S2: 10 to speed up the game and, and increase fatigue 252 00:11:45,230 --> 00:11:47,540 S2: so we could see more football. than we went down 253 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:50,459 S2: from 10 to 8 for the same reason. But now 254 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:54,060 S2: we've introduced these six again and introduced them from 20m out. 255 00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:57,100 S2: Now they're just giving six away again all the time. 256 00:11:57,100 --> 00:11:59,100 S2: And I don't say this very often, but I feel 257 00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,660 S2: sorry for the middle forwards. Yeah. Your hook is your 258 00:12:01,660 --> 00:12:06,180 S2: your front rowers, your back rowers because most of the teams, 259 00:12:06,179 --> 00:12:08,020 S2: when they get the six again, they don't shift the 260 00:12:08,020 --> 00:12:11,300 S2: ball unless they're inside the attacking team's 20. Like they 261 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:13,819 S2: go straight back through the middle of the field. These 262 00:12:13,820 --> 00:12:16,900 S2: middles are having to make a lot more tackles under 263 00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:19,140 S2: a lot more fatigue. And you know, we brought in 264 00:12:19,140 --> 00:12:23,460 S2: this extra player for hire. But if we maybe go 265 00:12:23,460 --> 00:12:25,900 S2: back to ten substitutions we're going to see a bit 266 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:29,420 S2: less fatigue winners, see some better contact and better wrestle. 267 00:12:29,420 --> 00:12:31,460 S2: And we might be able to slow these rucks down 268 00:12:31,460 --> 00:12:33,820 S2: again and get to a speed where we're not going 269 00:12:33,860 --> 00:12:36,620 S2: to see all these six again's happening. So I, I 270 00:12:36,740 --> 00:12:40,020 S2: just think at the moment, again, the game's too fast. 271 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:43,260 S2: You look at the Panthers and the Cronulla game like 272 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:45,970 S2: there weren't as many in that game And the Panthers, 273 00:12:45,970 --> 00:12:49,610 S2: they've only conceded six points. So they're doing something right. 274 00:12:49,650 --> 00:12:51,770 S2: I don't know what it is, but I think teams 275 00:12:51,770 --> 00:12:54,929 S2: should be watching what they're doing in defense because obviously 276 00:12:54,929 --> 00:12:56,850 S2: it's working for them and no one else at the moment. 277 00:12:56,850 --> 00:12:59,210 S2: But I just think with the way that the game 278 00:12:59,210 --> 00:13:02,650 S2: has sped up, like it needs to be taken into 279 00:13:02,650 --> 00:13:05,570 S2: consideration that we look at maybe going back to ten, 280 00:13:05,610 --> 00:13:08,050 S2: ten players, uh, substitutions. 281 00:13:08,290 --> 00:13:10,610 S1: Yeah. Where we are, I'm noticing just teams are rolling 282 00:13:10,610 --> 00:13:14,410 S1: through other teams very, very quickly. Like it's momentum from 283 00:13:14,410 --> 00:13:16,570 S1: one end to the other. And as Josh just said, 284 00:13:16,730 --> 00:13:19,250 S1: there'd be an argument. And the thing is, there is 285 00:13:19,250 --> 00:13:21,449 S1: a bit of policy on the run here. So if 286 00:13:21,450 --> 00:13:23,530 S1: they figure out by round four, it's not working and 287 00:13:23,530 --> 00:13:27,290 S1: the scorelines look like they are now, they could always shift. 288 00:13:27,290 --> 00:13:30,209 S1: The administration has shown they can do that well. 289 00:13:30,570 --> 00:13:32,929 S3: They did well. They rushed through all these changes and. 290 00:13:33,490 --> 00:13:35,530 S2: They didn't get rid of the line drop out rule. 291 00:13:35,730 --> 00:13:38,730 S3: No, that's that's fine. But I mean, you know, they 292 00:13:38,730 --> 00:13:41,610 S3: they like the, the changes to the to the six 293 00:13:41,610 --> 00:13:45,040 S3: to go's coming from, you know, the penalty, not being 294 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,880 S3: rewarded within the from 20m out. Um you know that 295 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,120 S3: dropped on Boxing Day that edict to clubs so they 296 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,400 S3: can quickly change it that way and they can change 297 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,680 S3: it back. The number one complaint from all the former 298 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:01,280 S3: players and coaches that I speak to, uh, at the 299 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,880 S3: moment is just the, the, the set restarts and just 300 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,600 S3: how it's, it's, it's tipped the balance too far one way. 301 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,559 S3: So at some point you think the NRL are going 302 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,120 S3: to have to listen to all those stakeholders and think 303 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,560 S3: that you know, it's um it's too much. 304 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,160 S1: Uh meanwhile there's a discussion about the finals potentially having 305 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,000 S1: a shake up, the biggest in the games 118 year 306 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,120 S1: history with a potential ten team playoff series instead of eight. 307 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,360 S1: Just now, I feel like we hear this story every 308 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,680 S1: couple of years. They've spoken about conferences before. They've spoken 309 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,040 S1: about different finals. Series are in principle. And keep in mind, 310 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:40,080 S1: we've got two new teams coming into the competition. How 311 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:41,520 S1: do you like the idea? Do you like the idea 312 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,190 S1: of a ten team finals. Or if it's not broke, 313 00:14:44,230 --> 00:14:44,950 S1: don't fix it. 314 00:14:45,310 --> 00:14:48,510 S2: Oh yeah, I'm a bit. If it's if it's not broke, 315 00:14:48,510 --> 00:14:50,510 S2: don't fix it. But what I will say is the 316 00:14:50,510 --> 00:14:52,910 S2: season needs to be shorter as well. Like if we're 317 00:14:52,910 --> 00:14:56,070 S2: going to have 20 teams, let's just play every team 318 00:14:56,070 --> 00:14:59,470 S2: once and then get into finals. You can you can 319 00:14:59,470 --> 00:15:01,150 S2: have a little break for origin if you want. You 320 00:15:01,150 --> 00:15:03,830 S2: stick origin in the middle and play that over, you know, 321 00:15:03,870 --> 00:15:07,510 S2: 2 or 3 weeks and then and then that'll lengthen 322 00:15:07,510 --> 00:15:09,350 S2: the season out a little bit. But we've got to, 323 00:15:09,390 --> 00:15:11,590 S2: you know, fit in international football at the end of 324 00:15:11,590 --> 00:15:14,070 S2: the year. I just think there's so much football being 325 00:15:14,070 --> 00:15:17,430 S2: played at the moment. Let's get the season length right 326 00:15:17,430 --> 00:15:19,750 S2: before we change the final series. 327 00:15:20,150 --> 00:15:23,190 S3: I think that's definitely what Peter V'landys has. I've talked 328 00:15:23,190 --> 00:15:25,950 S3: to him about it. He he likes that idea. A 329 00:15:25,950 --> 00:15:29,350 S3: 20 team competition where they play each other once, um, 330 00:15:29,910 --> 00:15:34,310 S3: with a big, uh, origin slash international, uh, window in 331 00:15:34,310 --> 00:15:35,950 S3: the middle and also at the end of the year. 332 00:15:35,990 --> 00:15:37,870 S3: But that's still a long way off. But in terms 333 00:15:37,870 --> 00:15:41,590 S3: of ten teams, even if it's a 2010 competition, well, 334 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:45,540 S3: if it rewards mediocrity, like just. 335 00:15:45,580 --> 00:15:47,020 S2: Yeah, well, you're going to see you're going to see 336 00:15:47,020 --> 00:15:49,260 S2: the teams that are ninth and 10th get flogged in 337 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:50,500 S2: the first week anyway, aren't you? 338 00:15:50,940 --> 00:15:52,860 S3: And it's like, but it's it again. And I know 339 00:15:52,860 --> 00:15:54,980 S3: I say it every time on this podcast. All these 340 00:15:54,980 --> 00:15:57,740 S3: decisions are about the TV deal. It's all about trying 341 00:15:57,740 --> 00:16:00,820 S3: to monetize the game even further when you know at 342 00:16:00,820 --> 00:16:03,260 S3: some point you're going to dilute it. 343 00:16:03,540 --> 00:16:05,940 S2: Can you imagine if the if they had the ninth 344 00:16:05,940 --> 00:16:08,540 S2: and 10th position for the last ten years, the Tigers 345 00:16:08,540 --> 00:16:09,619 S2: would have been sweet. 346 00:16:11,740 --> 00:16:11,980 S3: There you. 347 00:16:11,980 --> 00:16:17,140 S1: Go. Well, last year the Dolphins, the Dolphins and Manly 348 00:16:17,140 --> 00:16:20,220 S1: finished two points outside of the top eight with 12 349 00:16:20,220 --> 00:16:22,620 S1: wins and 12 losses. Yeah. So they would have they 350 00:16:22,620 --> 00:16:25,620 S1: would have snuck into the finals and played. I don't know. 351 00:16:25,660 --> 00:16:27,820 S1: The Sharks and Warriors in week one. 352 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:31,540 S2: Would that mean that the the teams that come first 353 00:16:31,540 --> 00:16:33,380 S2: and second of the week off potentially. 354 00:16:34,180 --> 00:16:37,340 S1: Oh yeah. I, I don't know I'm not sure. But 355 00:16:37,380 --> 00:16:39,500 S1: I think the current system is great and it's far 356 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:42,580 S1: better than the old system where it was 1V8, 2V7 357 00:16:42,580 --> 00:16:44,500 S1: and all that sort of stuff. Hey, just before we go, 358 00:16:44,540 --> 00:16:48,420 S1: what's happening with Bronson? Uh, Sherry and the Bulldogs. Webby, 359 00:16:48,460 --> 00:16:49,860 S1: what are you hearing about this? 360 00:16:50,020 --> 00:16:53,460 S3: Oh, look, I don't think it's as dire as some have, uh, 361 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:57,300 S3: have have, uh, painted it, but it's certainly not all 362 00:16:57,340 --> 00:17:00,860 S3: rainbows and unicorns at Belmore for Bronson Cherry. I think 363 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:02,700 S3: the way it's been explained to me this morning by 364 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:05,660 S3: someone is pretty high up at Canterbury, is he's just 365 00:17:05,660 --> 00:17:09,180 S3: not happy about the positional shift. I think it's it's 366 00:17:09,220 --> 00:17:12,660 S3: a done deal that he won't be given a contract extension. 367 00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:15,620 S3: So um he hasn't but but look who's taking his 368 00:17:15,619 --> 00:17:18,460 S3: place at left centre. I mean in all fairness to 369 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:20,620 S3: Bronson Cherry he's done well since he's come back. But 370 00:17:20,619 --> 00:17:25,140 S3: Canterbury don't necessarily owe him anything. He's uh he's um 371 00:17:25,700 --> 00:17:28,100 S3: I thought the giveaway was his, um his stand in 372 00:17:28,100 --> 00:17:30,739 S3: manager because he's, uh, his new manager is suspended at 373 00:17:30,740 --> 00:17:33,020 S3: the moment saying, you know, you got to fight for 374 00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:35,060 S3: your position. That gave it all away to me. 375 00:17:36,020 --> 00:17:37,859 S1: Yeah. Jameis, what do you make of it as a 376 00:17:37,859 --> 00:17:38,540 S1: former Bulldog? 377 00:17:39,609 --> 00:17:44,090 S2: Ah, look, it's it's a tough one because, you know, 378 00:17:44,130 --> 00:17:46,490 S2: the Bulldogs gave him gave him the shot when no 379 00:17:46,490 --> 00:17:50,410 S2: one else wanted to. And Bulldogs fans don't forget that either. Like, 380 00:17:50,410 --> 00:17:52,490 S2: if he goes and asks for a release after they've 381 00:17:52,490 --> 00:17:54,690 S2: given him a shot. And to me, like he had 382 00:17:54,690 --> 00:17:56,449 S2: four years out of the game, like you would have 383 00:17:56,450 --> 00:17:58,530 S2: thought he would have built up a bit of resilience, 384 00:17:58,530 --> 00:18:01,650 S2: having to play a different side of the field and 385 00:18:01,650 --> 00:18:04,290 S2: cracking the shits about it. I, I don't get there's 386 00:18:04,290 --> 00:18:06,690 S2: no resilience there. And if you did get dropped to 387 00:18:06,730 --> 00:18:09,810 S2: to reserve grade, well then show some resilience, put in 388 00:18:09,810 --> 00:18:12,570 S2: good performances and get back in the team. Like I 389 00:18:12,570 --> 00:18:17,409 S2: just think these days players, when they, they just expect 390 00:18:17,410 --> 00:18:19,650 S2: to be first graders. And if you you're not, you're 391 00:18:19,650 --> 00:18:23,570 S2: still a professional athlete. If you get dropped, don't kick stones. 392 00:18:23,810 --> 00:18:27,290 S2: The jersey isn't yours. It doesn't like yesterday they had 393 00:18:27,290 --> 00:18:30,010 S2: your name on it in Vegas, but it doesn't for 394 00:18:30,050 --> 00:18:31,890 S2: for most of the year. It's not. Your name's not 395 00:18:31,930 --> 00:18:34,050 S2: on the back of the jersey. It's not your jersey. 396 00:18:34,250 --> 00:18:37,330 S2: You have to perform. And if Cameron doesn't think he's 397 00:18:37,330 --> 00:18:40,000 S2: performed well, then that's fair enough. He gets put down, 398 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,320 S2: he gets he he kicks stones. But you get over it. 399 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,040 S2: You go down there, you play the best you possibly 400 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,280 S2: can and you get yourself back in the side off 401 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,159 S2: your performances. So I just think he needs to do that. 402 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,560 S2: Too often we see kids, um, you know, get dropped 403 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,800 S2: and then straight away they're not happy. They speak to 404 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,080 S2: their managers, they agitate for a release. And I just 405 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,360 S2: I can't cop that. I really can't like you've got 406 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,040 S2: to show a bit of resilience, a bit of character, 407 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,440 S2: go through the tough times. Right? And like I said, 408 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,760 S2: he's gone through tough times before. So I, I want 409 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:13,440 S2: to see him stay in the Bulldogs jersey. I think 410 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,200 S2: he's a great player. But um yeah, we'll have to see. 411 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,119 S2: Wait and see because a lot can happen in rugby 412 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:20,320 S2: league boys. 413 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,240 S1: That's it. We're out of time. Thank you. We'll catch 414 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:23,520 S1: you next Monday on the show. 415 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:24,480 S3: Thanks, boys. 416 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:25,119 S2: Thank you. 417 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,640 S1: Josh Morris and Andrew Webster joining us there. Make sure 418 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,679 S1: you subscribe to the Continuous Call team through your podcast channels. 419 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,000 S1: We're also on YouTube and Instagram. We'll see you next time.