1 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,120 S1: Hello there. Happy Monday and welcome to the offload for 2 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,120 S1: another week. We're joined today by Andrew Webster and Josh 3 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:14,600 S1: Morris from the Continuous Call team. G'day boys. Good to 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,239 S1: be here. Good afternoon. Good to be here. Um we'll 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,880 S1: see how this goes with three different heads on the screen. 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:23,720 S1: So this uh this will be an interesting one. Let's 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,520 S1: start obviously before we look through the weekend games. Um, 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,960 S1: I'm keen just to wrap up what's happened with Zac 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,040 S1: Lomax boys. And obviously, uh, he's signed a two year 10 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,120 S1: deal with the Western Force. There'll be a big chance 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,920 S1: here of playing for the Wallabies as well. Webby, just, uh, 12 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,000 S1: bring us up to date on that. Well, it's just 13 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,559 S1: been announced today that he's done a two year deal 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,199 S1: with the Western Force. Um, to be honest, I don't 15 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,560 S1: think he had any other options, uh, at all. Zac Lomax, 16 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,319 S1: he says in, uh, in the press release that, uh, 17 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,760 S1: dropped a few minutes ago that, um, he wanted the 18 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,840 S1: challenge of playing in a World Cup on Australian soil. Well, 19 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,240 S1: let's be fair dinkum. Like, he didn't really have many 20 00:01:00,420 --> 00:01:03,819 S1: options to go to. Um, I hope it works out 21 00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:07,180 S1: for Zach, but, um, rugby union's been beating their chest 22 00:01:07,180 --> 00:01:08,899 S1: in the last couple of hours saying how this is 23 00:01:08,940 --> 00:01:13,860 S1: a they've signed another NRL player. He, uh, he went 24 00:01:13,860 --> 00:01:16,060 S1: and did a tour of all these Super Rugby franchises 25 00:01:16,060 --> 00:01:18,460 S1: in November, then went completely cold on it and was 26 00:01:18,459 --> 00:01:20,820 S1: going to sign with the Melbourne Storm until that was blocked. 27 00:01:20,819 --> 00:01:23,340 S1: So he didn't really have much choice but to to 28 00:01:23,380 --> 00:01:25,899 S1: sign with rugby union. He couldn't source a deal in France, 29 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:28,340 S1: he couldn't source a deal in, uh, in Japan, and 30 00:01:28,340 --> 00:01:32,459 S1: he couldn't source a deal with, uh, with another NRL club. So, uh, 31 00:01:32,459 --> 00:01:35,700 S1: I'm not sure what the money is exactly, but rugby 32 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:38,660 S1: union was telling me last week that it was around 400. Uh, 33 00:01:38,660 --> 00:01:40,540 S1: and he can build on that if he stays in 34 00:01:40,540 --> 00:01:44,980 S1: the game. Um, but it's, uh, it's. Yeah. Uh, hopefully 35 00:01:44,980 --> 00:01:46,900 S1: this is the last time I ever speak about Zac 36 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:50,380 S1: Lomax ever again for the next two years, at least. Josh, 37 00:01:50,380 --> 00:01:52,100 S1: what do you make of the latest? How do you 38 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:54,180 S1: reckon it'll go in rugby? And, uh, in the end, 39 00:01:54,220 --> 00:01:55,780 S1: they couldn't get a deal done for him to stay 40 00:01:55,780 --> 00:01:58,700 S1: with with another league team because Parramatta wouldn't let him go. 41 00:01:59,740 --> 00:02:04,070 S2: It's a it's it's frustrating. I mean yeah, he he 42 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:06,790 S2: took less money to go to Parramatta to, to play 43 00:02:06,790 --> 00:02:08,510 S2: in the centres and then got put on the wing, 44 00:02:08,870 --> 00:02:13,150 S2: played representative football and then you know he got he 45 00:02:13,190 --> 00:02:14,790 S2: got a sense that he might be able to make 46 00:02:14,790 --> 00:02:18,350 S2: some money in this R3 60 comp and it fell through. 47 00:02:18,389 --> 00:02:21,429 S2: He took a gamble, it didn't pay off. And then 48 00:02:21,710 --> 00:02:23,389 S2: you know, he tried to come back and then go 49 00:02:23,389 --> 00:02:26,270 S2: to another club like it's I just think the way 50 00:02:26,270 --> 00:02:29,550 S2: it's been handled has been poor. And I guess the 51 00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:32,549 S2: fact that he hasn't finished his last two contracts as well, 52 00:02:32,550 --> 00:02:35,829 S2: and there are rumours around, you know, about his character, 53 00:02:35,830 --> 00:02:38,150 S2: the type of player or person he is off the 54 00:02:38,150 --> 00:02:41,870 S2: field as well. You know that, that those whispers grow 55 00:02:41,870 --> 00:02:45,270 S2: and grow and then you just don't know. And you know, 56 00:02:45,430 --> 00:02:48,110 S2: like where we said, I reckon that was his only choice. 57 00:02:48,150 --> 00:02:50,910 S2: He he only had the one option. And it's disappointing 58 00:02:50,910 --> 00:02:52,790 S2: because he is a talented player. We don't want to 59 00:02:52,790 --> 00:02:55,790 S2: lose our best players to rugby union, let's be honest. 60 00:02:55,790 --> 00:02:59,669 S2: But it's his own doing. Like he's got no one 61 00:02:59,669 --> 00:03:02,090 S2: else to blame but himself. He took a punt, didn't 62 00:03:02,090 --> 00:03:03,810 S2: come off, and now he moves on and we move 63 00:03:03,810 --> 00:03:06,089 S2: on from him. There'll be someone else that'll step into 64 00:03:06,130 --> 00:03:06,810 S2: his spot. 65 00:03:06,850 --> 00:03:09,050 S1: Do you? What would you worry about those things in general, Josh, 66 00:03:09,050 --> 00:03:11,330 S1: if someone joined a team that you were playing in 67 00:03:11,330 --> 00:03:13,970 S1: and they had that recent contract history, is that a 68 00:03:13,970 --> 00:03:16,450 S1: concern or do you just say, hey, look, we've got 69 00:03:16,450 --> 00:03:18,209 S1: to get on with the season. And if they can play, 70 00:03:18,210 --> 00:03:18,890 S1: they can play. 71 00:03:19,250 --> 00:03:22,970 S2: Oh look. Yeah, I don't know. It's just a thing 72 00:03:23,010 --> 00:03:25,609 S2: these days isn't it? I mean, you know, I got 73 00:03:25,610 --> 00:03:27,930 S2: a release while I was at the, the sharks to 74 00:03:27,930 --> 00:03:30,410 S2: go to the Roosters as well. The contracts these days 75 00:03:31,290 --> 00:03:33,770 S2: aren't what they used to be. They're not watertight. There's 76 00:03:33,810 --> 00:03:38,930 S2: there's loopholes in probably every playing contract around. So, um, 77 00:03:39,170 --> 00:03:41,330 S2: but like I said, he he tried to take a 78 00:03:41,570 --> 00:03:44,730 S2: gamble on this, this competition, thinking that, you know, he 79 00:03:44,730 --> 00:03:47,890 S2: could set himself up for life. And he's probably cost himself, 80 00:03:48,330 --> 00:03:50,650 S2: you know, upwards of a million bucks. 81 00:03:50,970 --> 00:03:53,450 S1: Yeah. No doubt. Hey, it was a fascinating opening round 82 00:03:53,450 --> 00:03:57,410 S1: with some blowouts I don't think anyone really expected. Um, Webby, 83 00:03:57,450 --> 00:04:00,580 S1: firstly on Souths yesterday. It was a great game. A 84 00:04:00,580 --> 00:04:03,220 S1: lot of points. 70 points in total. And so good 85 00:04:03,220 --> 00:04:06,060 S1: to see all their star players out there having a crack. 86 00:04:06,060 --> 00:04:07,140 S1: I thought they were all brilliant. 87 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:10,060 S3: They were. I'm excited about Souths this year. I reckon 88 00:04:10,060 --> 00:04:12,500 S3: they're a real threat. Um, obviously with Fifita there, it 89 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:16,420 S3: all depends on whether, um, whether Latrell and Cody stay 90 00:04:16,460 --> 00:04:19,420 S3: fit and uh, and on the field, but, um, yeah, 91 00:04:19,420 --> 00:04:20,659 S3: they look they look good, didn't they? 92 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:23,420 S2: I'm with you, Webby. I think it all comes down 93 00:04:23,420 --> 00:04:25,779 S2: to if they can keep these players on the park. 94 00:04:25,980 --> 00:04:28,620 S2: And Cody, I think Cody's the biggest one. I mean, 95 00:04:28,660 --> 00:04:33,380 S2: their halves depth isn't really that strong. I mean, they had, um, 96 00:04:34,060 --> 00:04:38,500 S2: Humphries is their, uh, young Ashton forward hurt himself yesterday 97 00:04:38,740 --> 00:04:41,260 S2: and then they had Jonah Glover who came across from 98 00:04:41,260 --> 00:04:43,940 S2: the dragons from memory. And he hurt himself in the 99 00:04:43,940 --> 00:04:47,339 S2: Charity shield. So they're kind of in the halves, their 100 00:04:47,339 --> 00:04:51,180 S2: depth tested already. And we saw the effect of losing 101 00:04:51,180 --> 00:04:53,460 S2: Cody what it had on their spine last year. They 102 00:04:53,460 --> 00:04:56,539 S2: weren't able to score as many points. So if Cody 103 00:04:56,580 --> 00:04:59,739 S2: Walker is a key man because not only does he 104 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,400 S2: come up with their attack, he gets the ball to Latrell. 105 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,039 S2: He knows the importance of Latrell and that left edge. 106 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,719 S2: And if Latrell can maintain, you know, his weight and 107 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,240 S2: his fitness throughout the year because he's not playing fullback now, 108 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,640 S2: he's not going to be doing as much running. He 109 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,480 S2: needs to be careful because at the start of the 110 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,800 S2: season everyone's in shape. But it's, you know, that middle 111 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,080 S2: part of the season where you're not training as much. 112 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,320 S2: Sometimes your diet can slip and before you know it, 113 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,040 S2: you can put a bit of weight on. If he 114 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,960 S2: can manage his weight throughout the year and and look 115 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:29,720 S2: in the shape that he is now at the back 116 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,760 S2: end of the season, well, Souths are a real prospect, 117 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:34,440 S2: but they've got to stay injury free. 118 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,159 S1: And Alex Johnston approaching the all time try scorer record, 119 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,520 S1: he scored one try at the weekend. Uh, it could 120 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,000 S1: be broken if he scores a double in Friday night's 121 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,880 S1: grudge match with the Roosters at Allianz Stadium. Wayne Bennett 122 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,400 S1: Weber has said that he doesn't want everyone storming the 123 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,599 S1: field like we've seen when, uh, Buddy Franklin broke the 124 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,000 S1: all time AFL record in recent years. Uh, personally, I 125 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,180 S1: would love to see that happen. I want everyone on 126 00:06:00,180 --> 00:06:02,339 S1: the field. I think it's too special not to. 127 00:06:02,660 --> 00:06:04,980 S3: I think that's the old Copper and Wayne Bennett coming out. 128 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:07,779 S3: He doesn't want anyone breaking any rules. The club thinks 129 00:06:07,779 --> 00:06:10,380 S3: the same way. I spoke to Blake Solly just before 130 00:06:10,380 --> 00:06:13,779 S3: coming on air, and he said, look, he supports. What, um, 131 00:06:14,060 --> 00:06:18,460 S3: what Wayne has said. Look, I've read today that they're 132 00:06:18,460 --> 00:06:21,700 S3: going to increase security. I think they should lean into it. 133 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:23,700 S3: If it's going to happen, then they should lean into 134 00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:26,580 S3: it like that. Like there's such incredible moments that have 135 00:06:26,580 --> 00:06:32,140 S3: happened with the Swans, buddy. Obviously with, um, with, uh, with, um, 136 00:06:32,660 --> 00:06:35,180 S3: who was it, Tony Lockett? You know that they're great 137 00:06:35,180 --> 00:06:38,260 S3: scenes and the AFL are prepared to stop the game. 138 00:06:38,260 --> 00:06:40,220 S3: Let them come on. They're going to try and get 139 00:06:40,220 --> 00:06:43,180 S3: the players off if it does happen. Um, Josh, I 140 00:06:43,180 --> 00:06:45,580 S3: liked your idea, though, before we came on air. I'm 141 00:06:45,580 --> 00:06:46,860 S3: not going to steal your thunder. 142 00:06:47,220 --> 00:06:50,940 S2: No. Well, actually, Webby, who actually gets the fine if 143 00:06:50,940 --> 00:06:54,140 S2: if people get on because it's $5,500, this could be 144 00:06:54,140 --> 00:06:58,260 S2: a great revenue raiser for whoever gets whoever gets the fight. 145 00:07:01,870 --> 00:07:05,190 S2: There you go. Problem solved. But no, I said, look, 146 00:07:05,230 --> 00:07:08,070 S2: it probably is going to happen. Why don't they just 147 00:07:08,070 --> 00:07:11,470 S2: wait until full time? You wait until full time, get 148 00:07:11,470 --> 00:07:14,150 S2: some barricades set up, and then let the fans come 149 00:07:14,150 --> 00:07:17,310 S2: in and enjoy their moment. Although I, you know, I 150 00:07:17,310 --> 00:07:20,070 S2: know the Roosters players, I've, I've played in that grudge match. 151 00:07:20,070 --> 00:07:21,870 S2: I know they'll be doing their best to stop him 152 00:07:21,870 --> 00:07:24,470 S2: from scoring. They won't want to be the ones that, 153 00:07:24,510 --> 00:07:28,230 S2: you know, guaranteed. Uh, the record for Alex Johnston. So 154 00:07:28,270 --> 00:07:30,670 S2: there's a lot of storylines leading into that. And I 155 00:07:30,670 --> 00:07:32,870 S2: just think Wayne doesn't want people to run onto the 156 00:07:32,870 --> 00:07:35,510 S2: field because he half the time he looks like he's 157 00:07:35,510 --> 00:07:37,950 S2: going to fall asleep in those matches. At 830 on 158 00:07:37,950 --> 00:07:40,110 S2: Friday nights, if people come on the field, it's going 159 00:07:40,110 --> 00:07:42,150 S2: to take half an hour to clear them. He may 160 00:07:42,150 --> 00:07:44,590 S2: even just go straight to bed. He won't even worry 161 00:07:44,590 --> 00:07:46,790 S2: about the end of the match. So that's what we 162 00:07:46,830 --> 00:07:49,110 S2: got to worry about. I think that's what he's worried about. 163 00:07:49,670 --> 00:07:51,670 S1: I think it happens. There'll be even if you tell 164 00:07:51,710 --> 00:07:53,070 S1: people not to, they'll do it. 165 00:07:53,110 --> 00:07:56,230 S3: It's a beautiful thing, you know, like the the serendipity 166 00:07:56,270 --> 00:07:58,910 S3: of the roosters is is hilarious. 167 00:07:59,010 --> 00:08:01,690 S1: Yeah, I did the six again rule. What do we 168 00:08:01,690 --> 00:08:03,850 S1: think about. Actually let me just ask you it this way. 169 00:08:04,130 --> 00:08:07,690 S1: The average 20 point winning margin across this round. Round 170 00:08:07,690 --> 00:08:11,170 S1: one was the highest for an opening weekend since 2022. 171 00:08:11,370 --> 00:08:13,730 S1: There's some talk that the change six again rule has 172 00:08:13,730 --> 00:08:16,290 S1: contributed to that in any way. Do we think so 173 00:08:16,330 --> 00:08:18,610 S1: or is it just a blip? I've got to say 174 00:08:18,610 --> 00:08:21,810 S1: I wasn't I'm not too sure about that. James, what 175 00:08:21,810 --> 00:08:22,290 S1: say you? 176 00:08:22,650 --> 00:08:24,290 S2: I absolutely hate it. 177 00:08:24,290 --> 00:08:26,450 S1: I think the rule in general. 178 00:08:26,490 --> 00:08:30,090 S2: Full stop. I think the rule in general, I just 179 00:08:30,130 --> 00:08:33,770 S2: there's just no accountability for six against. They just give 180 00:08:33,770 --> 00:08:37,330 S2: them out like they're lollies these days. Like, uh, if, 181 00:08:37,370 --> 00:08:39,370 S2: if I was going to change anything, if you're going 182 00:08:39,410 --> 00:08:42,490 S2: to give a penalty inside the own 20 to get 183 00:08:42,490 --> 00:08:45,490 S2: them out of their own half, let's bring back the 184 00:08:45,490 --> 00:08:47,930 S2: penalty inside the 20, in the red in the red 185 00:08:47,929 --> 00:08:51,250 S2: zone and start start chucking blokes in the bin for that. 186 00:08:51,250 --> 00:08:53,329 S2: Like if you have a look at the I called 187 00:08:53,330 --> 00:08:56,370 S2: the manly Canberra game, uh, Canberra didn't touch the ball 188 00:08:56,370 --> 00:09:00,220 S2: for pretty much the first 12 or 13 minutes and 189 00:09:00,220 --> 00:09:02,979 S2: the amount of six seconds they had inside the red zone. 190 00:09:02,980 --> 00:09:05,420 S2: If they had been penalties after five minutes, one of 191 00:09:05,420 --> 00:09:07,140 S2: them would have went to the bin and they would 192 00:09:07,179 --> 00:09:09,900 S2: have they would have, you know, then tightened up. And 193 00:09:10,059 --> 00:09:12,939 S2: I just think that there's just no accountability for it. 194 00:09:12,940 --> 00:09:16,100 S2: Sometimes you don't even know what they're for. And also 195 00:09:16,140 --> 00:09:20,179 S2: now that it's outside, the 20 blokes can just fly 196 00:09:20,220 --> 00:09:23,420 S2: out of line, be offside by 3 or 4m and 197 00:09:23,420 --> 00:09:25,620 S2: just fly it all and try and take someone out 198 00:09:25,620 --> 00:09:28,220 S2: just to try and slow the momentum of the set 199 00:09:28,260 --> 00:09:31,340 S2: down so the teams can use it to their advantage 200 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:35,020 S2: to to try and stop a team's momentum. So I just, 201 00:09:35,020 --> 00:09:37,420 S2: I just really don't like it. I think it it 202 00:09:37,460 --> 00:09:40,260 S2: needs to go back to the penalty inside the 40 203 00:09:40,260 --> 00:09:42,939 S2: or like I said, bringing the penalties inside the 20 204 00:09:42,940 --> 00:09:46,300 S2: metre zones and start start bending people more often, like 205 00:09:46,300 --> 00:09:48,780 S2: we just can't. It's just annoying. The fans are getting 206 00:09:48,780 --> 00:09:50,740 S2: annoyed with it. You speak to the fans all the 207 00:09:50,740 --> 00:09:54,060 S2: time and they like these referees. They just give, give 208 00:09:54,100 --> 00:09:56,260 S2: six away games and we don't even know what they're for. 209 00:09:56,300 --> 00:09:58,579 S2: And us as commentators, we don't even know what they're 210 00:09:58,580 --> 00:10:03,080 S2: for sometimes. So I just think sometimes the NRL are 211 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,280 S2: a bit knee jerk, reactive to stuff. And I think 212 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:07,440 S2: they've got this one wrong. 213 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,040 S1: Webby, what do you make of it at this stage? 214 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,280 S3: Stop changing the rules. Look, I mean, they rushed this 215 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,200 S3: in during Covid during the Covid break. Um, and this 216 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,520 S3: is the this is the third change to that rule 217 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:24,320 S3: since it started like, um, it's it's policy on the run, really. 218 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,400 S3: And I agree with James. It's like they're so subjective. 219 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:28,719 S3: They're so subjective. 220 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:29,680 S2: They are aren't they. 221 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,479 S3: And it gets such a it gives so much momentum 222 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,880 S3: to a team. So you know they're trying to they 223 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,920 S3: want to I texted Peter V'landys drink the other night 224 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,880 S3: the other night. And I said maybe this is a 225 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,440 S3: these blowouts are a sign that you your uh your 226 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,320 S3: kick off change is right. But they only want to 227 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,560 S3: make the kick off change because the six six to 228 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,600 S3: goes have made it so easy to get momentum. 229 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,160 S2: And that's the thing as well. Uh, Webby, when you're 230 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,080 S2: talking about subjective, like the older referees get a feel 231 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,640 S2: for the game, like they know when to give them, 232 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,900 S2: when not to give them. The younger referees don't have 233 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:02,180 S2: that feel at the moment, so they're just giving them nilly. 234 00:11:02,179 --> 00:11:05,260 S2: Willy and you talk about the speed of the game 235 00:11:05,700 --> 00:11:08,500 S2: where we're getting to a fine line now where it's 236 00:11:08,500 --> 00:11:11,780 S2: almost touch football, like that's not what our game is. 237 00:11:11,780 --> 00:11:14,740 S2: Our game is brutal. It's it's a game that not 238 00:11:14,740 --> 00:11:17,819 S2: everyone can play like it is a physical game. And 239 00:11:17,820 --> 00:11:19,980 S2: if you bring in the speed and speed it up 240 00:11:19,980 --> 00:11:22,260 S2: too much, it becomes like touch football. You're going to 241 00:11:22,260 --> 00:11:23,740 S2: see a lot more fatigue in the game. You're going 242 00:11:23,740 --> 00:11:26,020 S2: to see a lot more concussions because blokes are too tired. 243 00:11:26,020 --> 00:11:27,780 S2: They're going to stick their head in the wrong spot. 244 00:11:27,940 --> 00:11:30,260 S2: So we've got to get a fine line here between 245 00:11:30,260 --> 00:11:33,020 S2: the pace of the play and and injuries and things 246 00:11:33,020 --> 00:11:33,900 S2: like that as well. 247 00:11:34,179 --> 00:11:37,380 S3: There's nothing wrong with defence, you know, like there's two 248 00:11:37,380 --> 00:11:39,859 S3: sides of the game. You know I'm a traditionalist. 249 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:42,260 S2: The players know what they're signing up for. Webby. 250 00:11:42,620 --> 00:11:45,300 S3: That's right. But but you know so the NRL's buzz 251 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:48,219 S3: phrase at the moment is ball in play. And they 252 00:11:48,220 --> 00:11:50,180 S3: like to say how much the ball is in play 253 00:11:50,179 --> 00:11:52,980 S3: in comparison to rugby union. Thanks, scoop. I think we've 254 00:11:52,980 --> 00:11:55,260 S3: all watched both games for for long enough to know 255 00:11:55,260 --> 00:11:57,300 S3: the difference, but you know what I mean. I don't 256 00:11:57,300 --> 00:12:00,429 S3: think defence is necessarily a bad thing. And I've tried 257 00:12:00,470 --> 00:12:03,750 S3: and yeah, it's, um. Yeah, it's always hard. I'm trying 258 00:12:03,750 --> 00:12:06,190 S3: to balance those two things between attack and defense. But 259 00:12:06,230 --> 00:12:09,510 S3: it's you're right, it's gone far too. Um, the other way. 260 00:12:09,630 --> 00:12:12,710 S2: They say defense wins competitions, don't they? And now now 261 00:12:12,870 --> 00:12:16,590 S2: pretty much it's whoever can stop momentum wins competitions because 262 00:12:16,590 --> 00:12:18,589 S2: that's what it is. The team that gets the six 263 00:12:18,590 --> 00:12:22,790 S2: agains gets this huge wave of momentum. The defense has 264 00:12:22,790 --> 00:12:25,630 S2: to make it a whole heap of tackles. And if 265 00:12:25,630 --> 00:12:27,589 S2: they can't stop the momentum, well, then they get their 266 00:12:27,590 --> 00:12:29,790 S2: score blown out. If they can stop the momentum, then 267 00:12:29,790 --> 00:12:31,790 S2: get it back. Then they go on a run and 268 00:12:31,790 --> 00:12:34,670 S2: they end up getting the scores back to even or winning. 269 00:12:34,670 --> 00:12:37,750 S2: So at the moment it's whoever controls momentum wins games, 270 00:12:37,750 --> 00:12:38,550 S2: not defense. 271 00:12:38,910 --> 00:12:42,350 S1: Boys are any major alarm bells from the weekend. The 272 00:12:42,350 --> 00:12:46,110 S1: storm beat the eels 52 to 4. The sharks beat 273 00:12:46,110 --> 00:12:50,630 S1: the Titans 50 to 10. Um, obviously some. Are we 274 00:12:50,670 --> 00:12:53,110 S1: saying far too early for any major concerns? Yeah. 275 00:12:53,150 --> 00:12:56,829 S2: Look, I mean, the 50 point, you can't win a comp. 276 00:12:57,070 --> 00:13:00,170 S2: It's been proven. It's history. Someone's going to break it 277 00:13:00,170 --> 00:13:02,450 S2: one day. It's it's it's it's a stat that has 278 00:13:02,450 --> 00:13:06,090 S2: to be broken. But round one I mean, like, we're 279 00:13:06,130 --> 00:13:09,570 S2: everyone's so critical of the Broncos. Yes, they were poor. 280 00:13:09,570 --> 00:13:12,050 S2: But it's round one. I remember last year they started 281 00:13:12,050 --> 00:13:14,810 S2: the season. Their first month of football was horrendous. I 282 00:13:14,809 --> 00:13:18,650 S2: think they played mainly down at Brookvale and got absolutely 283 00:13:18,690 --> 00:13:22,610 S2: flogged and and everyone was calling for Madge's head and 284 00:13:22,610 --> 00:13:24,770 S2: then they went on this run where they all they 285 00:13:24,770 --> 00:13:29,290 S2: did was just control the football and just dominate possession. 286 00:13:29,290 --> 00:13:31,130 S2: And that's all you need to do in this first 287 00:13:31,130 --> 00:13:34,090 S2: month of football. It's it's a pretty simple game sometimes 288 00:13:34,090 --> 00:13:36,090 S2: rugby league, if you get a a fair share of 289 00:13:36,090 --> 00:13:38,970 S2: possession and you complete really high, you give yourself every 290 00:13:38,970 --> 00:13:41,810 S2: chance to win. And and right now, those sides that 291 00:13:41,970 --> 00:13:45,210 S2: were on the end of those big, big scorelines were 292 00:13:45,330 --> 00:13:46,530 S2: besides that didn't do that. 293 00:13:47,370 --> 00:13:50,970 S3: I was very disappointed in the the Titans, I gotta say. Yeah. 294 00:13:51,530 --> 00:13:54,970 S3: New ownership. Um, Tino Wood resigned. I thought it was like, 295 00:13:55,010 --> 00:13:58,090 S3: you know, it was um, it was a really again, 296 00:13:58,090 --> 00:14:01,620 S3: it's early and it's it's Josh Hannah's first, um, first season. 297 00:14:01,980 --> 00:14:04,820 S3: But to me, it just it just confirmed that they've 298 00:14:04,820 --> 00:14:07,699 S3: got so much more to, to do. And the thing is, 299 00:14:07,740 --> 00:14:09,940 S3: I know this is probably reading into it too much, 300 00:14:09,940 --> 00:14:12,500 S3: but to see those players on the field afterwards joking 301 00:14:12,500 --> 00:14:15,980 S3: around with their opposition players, I just thought, you know, 302 00:14:16,020 --> 00:14:18,900 S3: you've just had 50 scored against you. I just would 303 00:14:18,940 --> 00:14:21,060 S3: have thought they'd I just I just would have thought 304 00:14:21,060 --> 00:14:22,500 S3: they might have cared a little bit more. 305 00:14:22,740 --> 00:14:25,580 S2: Yeah. It's one of those fine ones though as well, 306 00:14:25,620 --> 00:14:27,260 S2: because when I was a young player I used to 307 00:14:27,260 --> 00:14:30,340 S2: be filthy, right? I used to hate losing. And, you know, 308 00:14:30,380 --> 00:14:33,260 S2: you develop relationships over your career as you get a 309 00:14:33,260 --> 00:14:35,220 S2: bit older. And you, these are blokes that you don't 310 00:14:35,220 --> 00:14:37,380 S2: really see that often. So when you see them after 311 00:14:37,380 --> 00:14:40,100 S2: the game, you know the full time whistle is gone. 312 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:43,060 S2: I can't change the result. I mean that's that's done. 313 00:14:43,060 --> 00:14:44,700 S2: But what I'm going to go, I'm going to go 314 00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:46,500 S2: and catch up and say hello to me mate. And 315 00:14:46,580 --> 00:14:49,220 S2: sometimes the cameras get get it there while you're sharing 316 00:14:49,220 --> 00:14:51,020 S2: a laugh and and what not. But that's the good 317 00:14:51,020 --> 00:14:53,260 S2: thing about our game, you know, you can go there 318 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:55,940 S2: 80 minutes, bash the shit out of each other and 319 00:14:55,940 --> 00:14:58,220 S2: then go and have a laugh after the match. So 320 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,680 S2: I think, you know, sometimes we are a bit too critical. 321 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,720 S3: But if it's a bad game, yeah it's terrible. Particularly, 322 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,680 S3: particularly if you're a Titans fan and a member. Uh, 323 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:10,960 S3: to me it stood out. I just thought, you know, like, 324 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,000 S3: you know, I understand. You go and talk to to 325 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,200 S3: former teammates and, and friends and you know, blokes who played, 326 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:17,480 S3: you know, rep footy with but. 327 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,760 S2: You would prefer to see it off camera than on camera. 328 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,400 S3: Well just don't be. They just look too happy. 329 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,560 S1: Is a pretty bad loss. So was Friday night what 330 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,840 S1: happened to the Broncos over against the Panthers 26 nil 331 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:30,600 S1: at Suncorp. 332 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,800 S2: That was the same thing. It was just they just 333 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,400 S2: didn't respect the ball at all. They uh they turned 334 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,720 S2: it over a lot of like just unforced errors. Just 335 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,400 S2: dropped passes. Reece Walsh kind of had a mixed game 336 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,040 S2: through an intercept for a try. Tried to come up 337 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:51,320 S2: with a couple of high percentage plays that turned out 338 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:55,280 S2: to be low percentage plays really. And um, they just 339 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,220 S2: Penrith just showed them the blueprint of how to start 340 00:15:58,220 --> 00:16:01,100 S2: a season just and they spoke about it. Nathan Cleary 341 00:16:01,140 --> 00:16:02,540 S2: spoke about it at the start of the game. We're 342 00:16:02,540 --> 00:16:04,380 S2: just going to put them in positions where we want 343 00:16:04,420 --> 00:16:06,460 S2: to put them and then just put them under pressure, 344 00:16:06,740 --> 00:16:08,900 S2: and that's all they did for for 80 minutes. They 345 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:11,700 S2: didn't go away from it and then they just slowly, 346 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:14,580 S2: slowly cracked the Broncos side. But to keep them to 347 00:16:14,620 --> 00:16:18,100 S2: to nil, that was a fair statement for round one boys. 348 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:21,420 S1: Also, can someone explain to me what a disruptor is 349 00:16:21,460 --> 00:16:24,060 S1: and why it's suddenly become an issue from round one? 350 00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:25,700 S1: Who would like to go first on this? 351 00:16:25,740 --> 00:16:27,580 S2: I'll let Webby go first on this one. 352 00:16:28,540 --> 00:16:30,900 S3: I don't even know it was a rule change. I 353 00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:34,420 S3: didn't know it used to be called a cynical disruptor. 354 00:16:34,540 --> 00:16:35,540 S2: Oh mate. 355 00:16:35,980 --> 00:16:38,860 S1: There was an email from the NRL at the start 356 00:16:38,860 --> 00:16:40,860 S1: of the season to say if, in the opinion of 357 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:42,980 S1: the referee or the bunker, a player does not genuinely 358 00:16:42,980 --> 00:16:45,940 S1: contest for the ball and interferes with the ability of 359 00:16:45,940 --> 00:16:48,940 S1: the opposing player to contest for the ball, this may 360 00:16:48,980 --> 00:16:52,300 S1: be considered obstruction and penalised. 361 00:16:52,980 --> 00:16:55,300 S2: See? There you go. At the start of the season, 362 00:16:55,300 --> 00:16:58,470 S2: they didn't even try it in the trials like I 363 00:16:58,590 --> 00:17:01,510 S2: had no idea about it until someone said, oh, there's 364 00:17:01,510 --> 00:17:03,750 S2: a new rule. And I was like, well, what is 365 00:17:03,750 --> 00:17:07,350 S2: it like? And then you see, on the weekend you have, 366 00:17:07,390 --> 00:17:10,830 S2: you're supposed to get two hands to it. Two hands. 367 00:17:11,030 --> 00:17:13,950 S2: Stonestreet knocks it back with one hand. They score off. 368 00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:16,550 S2: It doesn't come back like so. They make up a 369 00:17:16,550 --> 00:17:18,390 S2: rule and then they don't even know the rule. They 370 00:17:18,390 --> 00:17:21,230 S2: can't even place a rule. Like as I spoke about 371 00:17:21,270 --> 00:17:25,109 S2: the reactive nature of these rules. Like it's just a 372 00:17:25,109 --> 00:17:27,950 S2: stupid rule. Yes. If they don't, if they go through 373 00:17:28,109 --> 00:17:30,390 S2: and just don't even make a play at the ball, 374 00:17:30,390 --> 00:17:33,230 S2: then it's a penalty. But to to get two hands 375 00:17:33,230 --> 00:17:35,510 S2: to it, I just think is a bit ridiculous. If 376 00:17:35,510 --> 00:17:40,030 S2: they can manage to avoid all the the defenders and 377 00:17:40,030 --> 00:17:41,950 S2: get their hands to the ball and bat it back, 378 00:17:41,950 --> 00:17:44,150 S2: that's fair play. Let it go. 379 00:17:44,190 --> 00:17:46,910 S1: Yeah, Webby. The rest of the email says genuinely contesting 380 00:17:46,910 --> 00:17:49,149 S1: is deemed to mean arriving at the ball at the 381 00:17:49,150 --> 00:17:52,070 S1: same time as the defender and with two arms in 382 00:17:52,070 --> 00:17:55,310 S1: the air to catch or bat the ball back. This 383 00:17:55,310 --> 00:17:58,970 S1: covers all kicks, including short kicks to restart play. 384 00:17:59,770 --> 00:18:05,130 S3: Well Jameis you tell me um sometimes your your body position. 385 00:18:05,130 --> 00:18:07,170 S3: I'm assuming you can only get one hand to it. 386 00:18:07,330 --> 00:18:11,170 S2: Yep. So if you if you did a a same 387 00:18:11,210 --> 00:18:13,250 S2: a double foot take off when you finally got to 388 00:18:13,290 --> 00:18:16,050 S2: the ball and you go both hands, you can't jump 389 00:18:16,090 --> 00:18:18,889 S2: as high. You can go up higher off one foot 390 00:18:18,890 --> 00:18:21,170 S2: and one arm in the air. And that's what you're 391 00:18:21,170 --> 00:18:24,530 S2: going to see most players doing. Like you, unless you 392 00:18:24,530 --> 00:18:28,970 S2: have like a proper run off and and don't get impeded, 393 00:18:29,010 --> 00:18:31,770 S2: then you can go contestable two hands above your head. 394 00:18:31,770 --> 00:18:34,370 S2: But more often than not, you're only getting one hand 395 00:18:34,369 --> 00:18:36,690 S2: to it and then bringing the other one later on 396 00:18:36,730 --> 00:18:40,490 S2: to to grip the ball. So it's to me, that 397 00:18:40,490 --> 00:18:42,010 S2: rule is just farcical. 398 00:18:42,050 --> 00:18:44,490 S1: Well, there's a couple over the weekend where a player 399 00:18:44,490 --> 00:18:47,610 S1: used one hand and that was deemed to be illegal, 400 00:18:47,609 --> 00:18:49,729 S1: but it's all very confusing for fans. Like, I mean, 401 00:18:49,730 --> 00:18:51,450 S1: if you've been following the game your whole life and 402 00:18:51,450 --> 00:18:54,450 S1: they changed something via an email in the off season, 403 00:18:54,890 --> 00:18:57,940 S1: they might need a public awareness campaign or something on 404 00:18:57,940 --> 00:18:59,860 S1: buses and everything else to say. These are the five 405 00:18:59,859 --> 00:19:00,899 S1: rule changes this year. 406 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:02,300 S3: Stop changing the rules. Stop. 407 00:19:02,540 --> 00:19:03,580 S1: Just stop changing the rules. 408 00:19:03,660 --> 00:19:06,020 S2: If it costs it. If it costs the team a game, 409 00:19:06,060 --> 00:19:06,540 S2: that's it. 410 00:19:06,580 --> 00:19:07,139 S1: That's it. 411 00:19:07,420 --> 00:19:10,619 S2: There's going to be a ride at NRL. Called it. Like, 412 00:19:10,660 --> 00:19:12,139 S2: seriously like sorry. 413 00:19:12,340 --> 00:19:16,140 S1: And is it designed. It's designed to protect the defending. 414 00:19:16,180 --> 00:19:19,500 S2: I don't know what it's designed to do. That's it's 415 00:19:19,500 --> 00:19:24,340 S2: just silly. Like they made that penalty because blokes were 416 00:19:24,340 --> 00:19:26,580 S2: just running through and not contesting the ball at all. 417 00:19:26,619 --> 00:19:29,020 S2: Now they're saying instead of getting one hand to it, 418 00:19:29,020 --> 00:19:32,540 S2: you've got to get two. Like it's just it's not. 419 00:19:33,340 --> 00:19:34,300 S1: Doesn't quite make. 420 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:35,340 S2: Sense. I'm done with. 421 00:19:35,340 --> 00:19:35,459 S3: It. 422 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:39,580 S2: It just it just doesn't make sense. 423 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:41,940 S1: Boys, that was fun. Thank you. We'll do it again 424 00:19:41,940 --> 00:19:42,660 S1: next time. 425 00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:43,220 S2: Cheers. 426 00:19:43,420 --> 00:19:46,300 S1: That's, uh, Josh Morris and, uh, Andrew Webster joining us. 427 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:47,860 S1: By the way, you can subscribe to all of our 428 00:19:47,859 --> 00:19:52,260 S1: podcasts via Instagram, YouTube, and also your podcast feed. Just 429 00:19:52,260 --> 00:19:53,980 S1: search for the Continuous Call team.