Fisher-Harris signs with Warriors + Round 7 Preview w/ Cameron Smith

The huge news of James Fisher-Harris signing with the Warriors dropped in the middle of The Captain’s Run.

Please note that there is no footage for the preview of Sunday games. Please go to Spotify or Apple to hear these.

0:00 Furner to Souths
12;41 Ben Hunt interview
19:20 Fisher-Harris breaking news
30:06 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad interview
34:58 Des v Ricky
44:43 Queensland fullback
50:46 Roosters v Storm preview
55:52 Dragons v Warriors preview
1:00:13 Eels v Dolphins preview
1:04:20 Panthers v Tigers preview
1:07:29 Manly v Titans preview
1:11:56 Broncos v Raiders preview

now I want to ask you Smithy what do you
reckon the biggest news is s Sydney
bringing in uh support for Demetrio is
it Schuster’s departure or is it Zack LX
contract situation um well it it seems
as though um Jason Demetrio’s sort of
coaching uh dilemma at s has been an
ongoing thing right so it’s not sort of
new news but um I guess you know reports
now of of someone coming in um so it’s
Dave ferer that’s reported isn’t it to
come in and sort of assist with him
there um yeah look I I don’t know how
Jason demitro would feel about that
because I think um you know he’s gone on
record to say that you know he’s
confident with himself as a coach and he
understands that um it’s a tough job but
he he believes that he’s doing the right
thing by the club and his team um the
work that they put in every week and
he’s been backed up by his players like
there’s been players quoted that they
say you know they love Jason um they
they they’re on board with you know his
philosophy with the way he coaches the
footy side and what they’re about and
you know they just they’re just not able
to find their best on game day at the
moment so um maybe that oh look yeah
they’re probably as big as each other
really like the Lomax thing is huge as
well um probably probably not so much
him moving because I think that was that
was inevitable but I I guess the ripple
effect that that will have at param
matter is the bigger the bigger story of
the whole event I
reckon yeah I mean so much news to talk
about uh shuster’s departure also very
uh I think it’s going to get a bit more
messy before it gets better very uh you
know getting conflicting reports there’s
Clauses in contracts no there’s not
really Clauses but he could be breached
and then you know Gus G coming out
saying he you know he can’t talk too
much on it but he thinks that you know
they probably couldn’t breach him for
that full contract they could breach him
for maybe small look the whole situation
is very strange um but I want to talk
about the sou City bringing in more
support Demetrio if that’s all right
with you that a good one yeah let’s go
yeah let’s do it okay so Dave ferer
David ferer apologies uh so he has
coached the Campbell Raiders from 1992
till uh 2000 the Wigan Warriors sorry
this is his playing career apologies
apologies 92 to 2000 the Wigan Warriors
and then he played for the Leeds rhinos
he also played for Australia he played
for sou Wales New South Wales you know
so we’re talking about a guy that you
know has a very handy NRL career very
handy NRL career yeah he M he was
actually assistant coach of the
kangaroos um when I was playing there
Tim shenel was head coach and he was
assisant coach so you know he he’s
played at the highest level he’s coached
at the highest level so he knows what
it’s it’s all about yeah and I think
that you know maybe the younger
generation might be thinking a a bit of
NRL maybe and they might not know Dave
ferer is actually he played 200 NRL
games he’s played 310 professional games
so we’re not talking about a you know
just an average n role player we’re
talking about a 200 gamer we’re talking
about a guy that played for his country
uh then you’ve got his coaching career
uh he was coached for North Queensland
for a bit uh he was named uh a coach for
Cambra uh for a bit as well also um and
then I think he’s been assistant coaches
uh with a few other clubs so there’s a
fair resume there and I I know he’s not
the biggest name in regards to profile
these you know with this current
generation but there’s absolutely a
profile there’s absolutely a regime
there there’s a man that has dealt with
being a player but also a coach uh and
assistant coach of the highest level
what are your thoughts on first of all
the uh the appointment of David ferer
but also do you think it means justice
system do you think it means Insurance
what what do you think it all means oh
look no I think um I think it’s been a
decision made as a collective group you
know to to add someone to this coaching
roster just to to sort out or or to try
to improve the way that this footy
side’s playing and um I think we’re
we’re reading that he’s going to come in
and and help um the defensive part of of
the game because they like let’s be
honest they’ve leaked a ton of points
this year you know and when you when we
always talk about campi you know the
quality sides the elite teams that are
at the pointy end of the uh the ladder
they they defend well they defend well
and and sou have been there before but
they’ve just for some reason they’ve um
they’re really struggling in that part
of the game over the last you know 12
months you go back to halfway through
last year so um you know when I think of
Dave ferer and you know I was I’m of the
age where I actually grew up watching
him play for the Raiders and you know he
was he was a great uh ball Runner um
back rower um you scored plenty of tries
he was a goal kicker as well but he was
known for his defense he had a bit of a
hard Edge about him and um knew exactly
where to be and where to position
himself so he’s got he’s defensively
minded as far as his coaching is
concerned and that was his role in the
Australian side as well so he’s he’s
bringing a lot of experience and a lot
of knowledge um to this football side so
you know over the next couple of weeks
maybe we we might see a slight change to
the system in which they defend and um
you know the way they play because
there’s no doubt they need Improvement
there’s no doubt you just you you don’t
have to watch their games um you know to
see that if you look at the points
conceded this year for the Rabbid o it’s
it’s not great viewing like I don’t know
where they’re ranked might be able to
look it up but um I don’t know where
they’re ranked in the competition at the
moment but it’s got to be pretty low cuz
they conceded did they concede did they
concede 120 points in their first four
matches so it it was something like that
wasn’t it mate oh it was massive so they
their points differential right now is
-102 and the closest is the Titans which
is- 86 so they’re not even you know it’s
not even close it’s not even an argument
as to you know the differential and
they’ve conceded 196 points there you go
um compared to the Titans 46 so you’d
say they they’re ranked last they’re
ranked by yeah they’re ranked 17th as
far as points conceded so there needs to
be something done there and watching a
few of the um line breaks made by the
Sharks on the weekend it was just flimsy
defense flimsy defense and you know like
I I can’t say that in a nicer way you
know there there was a there was a break
made by um brale straight up the middle
and like I’ve seen South Sydney
Defenders with their backs turned to the
Rock um you know guys not even sort of
half attempting to make a tackle like
you got to be desperate when you’re
defending when you’re defending you got
to want to make tackles you got to want
to get your body to the opposition who’s
opposition player who’s got the footy
you know and and it they
looked yeah they just look like a a tied
footy side now maybe a little bit
physically tired but I think they’re
mentally tied given you know the
speculation and the all the reports and
the and the talk around their footy club
and their coach they they just look a
little bit worn down at the moment so
you know maybe this change with um Dave
ferer coming in it just brings a little
bit of a different Outlook um you know
some different sort of messaging around
the way they want to attack their footy
as far as their defense is concerned and
it might be the change they need yeah in
regards to the way they look and you’d
have a much better a grasp on this than
me and look I’m the first one to admit
I’m I’ve been guilty of this but they
look like a side of individuals when
they get fatigued they almost go inward
like individually they almost focused
every man for himself exactly they’re
almost focused inward yeah and going I
just got to get through this for myself
instead of you know that’s why everyone
goes oh communication’s key you got to
talk a lot talking a lot is it yes it is
for putting people in the correct
positions but a lot of the time mate as
you know better than anyone it’s just
about keeping you guys engaged with each
other so you’re not going inwards and
focused in on yourself rather than
focusing on the job beside you is that
is that a fair statement unfair
statement is that no no it’s fair
because at the end of the day mate like
this is um it’s a team sport we’re
playing and and you cannot get the job
done as individuals you just cannot you
cannot do it we’ve seen over the history
of the sport um you know you throw
together
um you know uh a team of Champions
they’ll never beat a champion team it’s
it’s one of the oldest saying in the
game but that’s just the way it works
you know if you go out there and play as
individuals and all you’re doing is
looking after yourself and worrying
about um you know making sure well well
that I didn’t I didn’t stuff up there I
didn’t muck up there that was his fault
like you know I mean if you have that
mindset then that’s not going to help
help the team outcome you got to be able
to work together particularly like
defense a defensive line does not work
when when when it’s every man for
himself that that’s that’s something you
learn in junior rugby league yeah you
know so these guys should understand
that but you know as I said M like this
it’s a it’s a new new coach coming in um
maybe with some new ideas um a different
outlook on on the way they want to um
you know approach their defensive
systems or you know the way they work
their defensive line and I don’t know
who who knows we we might see a
difference over the next couple of weeks
in the Rabbid o defensive line yeah look
I’m I I really do believe now I have to
be honest and this is just my opinion I
do think it is a suggestion
that he at the moment demitro probably
is has one foot out and one foot in in
regards to the Rabbid O’s leadership
Administration they’re probably look at
him going okay we need to ensure
ourselves in saying that I actually do
like this uh point of attack I do like
the idea of okay we’re in the middle of
a season okay yes has it been diabolical
and the worst you know terrible start
all that kind of stuff it’s been
terrible but The Season’s not over you
know we’re we’re one from four but
there’s still a salvageable season here
for us and if we get rid of the coach
now even though I thought probably on
his way out um before the canala game
but if we get rid of the coach right now
without any insurance plans we’re
basically saying the season’s over
because I highly doubt you know a rookie
coach whether it’s Hornby or even Mal
just to come in and fix everything
immediately I think that’ll take some
time I actually don’t mind this approach
from uh the rabitos cuz they’re kind of
um killing two birds with one stone they
bringing in ferer who’s got experience
he’s known as a defensive coach if if
this setup works and it’s it’s exactly
what they needed great Demetrio stays on
crisis averted if it doesn’t they have
that insurance of a a guy that’s been
around the traps he knows he knows the
business inside out instead of promoting
say a rookie in that position um what
are your thoughts in regards to sign for
the RIT at the well yeah well look that
that could be the reason and um one of
our listeners text in the red hot
rooster he says hey beon go call me
suspicious but is Dave ferno’s
appointment all about having a caretaker
coach in the system um just in case they
uh they decided to let Demetrio go it it
may well be the case it may well be the
case um because you know there was talk
around ma coming in but he was he was
essentially told by the N wasn’t he that
um it’s either the kangaroo or the
rabitos yeah so I think he made that
decision pretty quickly and he was going
to stick with with the kangaroos so um
yeah that that that’s him out but it
might be the point it it might be the
one of the main reasons why they’ve gone
for Dave ferer is that you know he’s got
NRL experience he’s got experience at
the highest level as far as the
international foot is concerned and he’s
played the game yeah so he understands
it he’s got a high level of
understanding of how the whole thing
works maybe he he is there just for
insurance but
um but I think you know the way the way
that um Jason Demetrio has spoken during
the week like it it sounds as though
like he’s on board for him to be there
yeah you know one of his quotes was was
saying that you know he’s really happy
to have Dave ferer joining he’s going to
add a lot to the coaching staff and most
importantly the players so um that was
that was a direct quote from from JD
yeah now it’s look with with demito um I
mean I hope they turn it around like no
one wants to see a bloke lose his job no
one wants I mean that’s worst thing you
want in rugby league so I hope this is
is the exactly what they needed maybe
it’s just a an injection of life into
like bringing someone new in the
coaching staff sometimes can just get a
reaction that you may have kind of been
lulled into got the great Benny hunt AKA
Dozer on the line what’s going on
brother not too much mate just one a
little break in between training how you
going mate I’m very good I’m very good
how’s the the the vibe around uh camp at
the moment obviously got the win on the
weekend yeah it’s good mate really good
uh was our first day back at train today
had bit of recovery stuff yesterday but
now there’s a really good feel around
the place obviously coming off a a good
a you know pretty decent win hey Benny
Smithy here um made three and three for
the year What’s um well you just said
it’s pretty good feeling after the win
on the weekend but where do you think
the team’s at at the moment just after
those first six
rounds yeah man
obviously you’d probably like to be
above three and three but um you know at
this point of the year like it’s
you know it’s probably is where we’re at
we’re a bit inconsistent that probably
sums up where we are at um you know
we’re good one week and sort of fall
asleep the next week and you know that’s
our biggest challenge going into this
weekend against the Warriors mate is
being able to turn it up and and do it
you know a couple weeks in a row mate uh
what I’ve really noticed about you guys
this year especially since flano like
come on board and and I I don’t mean
this like rude or disrespectfully in the
in the past Seasons but I just felt like
there wasn’t as much energy you know
making things happen and I feel like
this year especially when you’re playing
there’s a lot of punch on your edges
even through the middle everything seems
a bit more energetic is that a feeling
you feel internally or or not much has
really changed with feno coming on
board uh yeah it is something that um
you know feno’s really been driving is
you know talk about that punch on the
edges he’s really been riding hard like
we obviously got big powerful outside
backs and he’s been riding into those
guys about starting our set sets fast
with lots of energy and the other thing
is like just having energy around you
know celebrating little wins you if
there’s you know you get an error out of
the opposition or you know you take
someone over the sideline getting
excited and um you know really
celebrating those moments something that
we probably you know didn’t do enough of
in the past hey mate um we’ll touch on
it quickly got to ask you the Zach lomac
situation lot of chat around him over
the past sort of month um now that
that’s sorted that can only be a good
thing for the
squad yeah I think so Maiden um
to be honest it wasn’t a a really big
distraction anyway like you look at
Zach’s form he’s playing outstanding so
you can’t really say it was distracting
him and um everyone else was just sort
of going about their business yeah there
was a you know he obviously been around
some locker rooms everyone’s having Jabs
at him here and there about different
things but um yeah like it hasn’t been a
massive distraction but it is good now
that it’s still and we can just all get
all of it you know hey hey Benny there’s
there’s chat around Um Zack being
selected for the blues on the wing now
is he is he having a bit of a rethink
about whether he wants to change posies
now that there’s a state of origin
birthday for him man I don’t know but
you know I probably
would I think he suits it mate I really
do like I know he doesn’t want it you
know I’ve been there before as well you
know being playing at Hooker I don’t
like playing hooker so I understand
where he’s coming from like I want to
you know want to play your position you
want to play but yeah um if you got an
opportunity play for your state then you
know i’ if I was him I’d be G for it m
Ben what about yourself mate obviously
there was um you know in the paper
saying you were been unhappy last year
and things seem to have settled down are
you fully settled in now I mean you’re
obviously playing some really good footy
but are you fully settled in and and
you’re I guess enjoying it a bit more
now yeah man you know I am settled um
you know I’m enjoying
myself yeah I’d like to be playing some
better for you to be honest you know
pretty disappointed with my game on the
weekend but um yeah I am settled and
there’s a lot of things that have
changed you know around the club um you
know there was a lot of the stuff last
year that I guess was being brought up
there was a lot of things that weren’t
brought up and then there was some that
were brought up that weren’t even true
yeah so there just a lot of speculation
around things but there has been a lot
of change around the place and you know
just you know a lot better field on feel
on and off the field and yeah it’s
enjoyable um M you you just mentioned
origin before
um we’re about what a couple of months
away
now um have you been keeping an eye I
know you got you know plenty on your
mind with the dragons but have you been
keeping an eye on what’s going on with
the other Queensland boys your your
teammates from the last couple of series
and and the way the Maron are shaping up
for this
year yeah SM it’s you know kind of
something you just you you don’t really
well I don’t anyway go out and really
think about what it is but you kind of
just naturally keep an eye on it you
know and a couple of injuries with guys
like Tino and yeah um you know Tommy
Gilbert and stuff like that you when
that sort of stuff happens you’re like
oh geez like that hurts a lot so um you
you losing someone like Tino it’s yeah
definitely hurts but there’s some guys
that are in some really good form still
for
us mate uh heading into this week what’s
the you know you’re hosting the Warriors
who have been on fire this year and and
genuinely yeah uh I I personally think
they’re a Premiership threat this year
so it’s a really good opportunity for
you boys to kind of measure yourself
against close to the Benchmark how are
you you approaching this
game yeah that’s a big challenge for us
Ki it’s you know we had a you know a
really good win here at wi Stadium
against manly a few weeks ago and you
know we see them as a really quality
team too I see them as a really quality
team and you the challenge for us is to
get up to that same level and play with
the same energy and intensity and really
just work hard for each other because we
know you know like you said Warriors are
excellent side and they’re going to be
hard to knock over but um you know if we
can match them I think with energy in
the middle and um you do all the little
things right and like we always talk
about complete high and play the
percentages and we’ll give ourselves a
chance but you that’s the big challenge
for us M you’ve you’ve shown already in
the first you know six weeks you spoke
about that mly game you can compete with
what many people are saying are the you
know the top tier footy sides are you
are you searching
for um a finals birth this year do you
reckon you can do it
mate yeah I definitely think we’ve got
the team that can do it um you know
we’re showing glimpses of you know what
we can do but like I keep talking about
the challenges the consistency we need
to do it week in week out and um you if
we can find that then you know I really
think we are a chance mate we’ve got
some quality guys here and um you know I
believe we can do it mate uh thanks so
much for joining us today uh honey I
appreciate it mate and uh good luck for
this to
you welcome back to the captain’s run
and you I mean I cannot believe it and
I’m sure our listeners are sitting there
mind blown right now now not only has
the uh the uh the Panthers released
Fisher Harris from the last two years of
his deal the Warriors have announced a
4-year deal starting next season of
Fisher Harris joining the club I mean
this is this is big this is absolutely
huge what are your thoughts SMY well
it’s massive given you know he’s played
his entire career at at penth and you
know it’s um it’s no secret that he’s
been a huge part of their their three
Pat there’s no there’s no secret about
that he just come off a season where he
won the Golden Boot um where he was
judged the the best player in the world
um and he’s he was voted he’s been voted
prop of the year what 2020 2021 as as
well but you know it it I think it goes
without saying that he’s regarded by a
lot of people in rugby league circles as
the best prop in the game currently so
this is massive massive news um
moving forward particularly you know you
talk about penth you know we always talk
about you know how how big the uh the
the the pool of young players coming
through a penar but gez it’s hard to
replace someone like James Fisher Harris
M it’s just incredible mate massive
signing for the Warriors though oh the
wars are going crazy they might have a
day of Celebration New Zealand is there
um well you know but in saying that like
we don’t want to we don’t want to show
any disrespect to Adam fenel Blake too
because he’s been one of The Shining
lights I believe for the Warriors um
over the last 12 months it’s a reason
why they went so deep into the
competition as well but um my goodness
oh mate oh abolutely did anyone did
anyone see this coming no this has been
kept under RS and yeah I second your
thoughts mate no disrespect Adam for
Blake like he has been also literally
one of the best Delan front rowers um
and also one of the best front RS in the
game but yeah fish Harris going to that
club what a huge day uh Warriors CEO
Cameron George has said it’s a huge
signing for us undoubtedly one of the
biggest in our club’s history um I will
say this will be probably the biggest
test of the depth of young Talent uh
that the Panthers have faced and why do
I say that it’s not necessarily because
they haven’t been tested before it’s
because in the outside backs usually you
can get an 18 or 19yearold guy that’s a
gun that’s kind of ready for first grade
to to a degree 1920 20 21 in the front
row though very rarely do you have an 18
19 year old and yes there obviously is
pain house say OS for sure but very
rarely do you have an 18 19 year old
20-year- old prop ready to go and be the
inspirational leader in the middle that
fish Harris has been I mean what a test
for the club what is what does this mean
for the
Warriors is there a market on the
2025 Premiership oh mate it’s just him
and Barnett up front it might be the the
most mongr a front rowers combination
ever had my God my God what what did you
just call them
mongrels big mongrels they are they are
big mongrels ready to go with the drop
of a hat okay so so for the for the for
the Warriors oh actually we’ll talk
about the Panthers I guess as a Panthers
fan when you didn’t see it coming you
didn’t have time to kind of
I guess digest and use this is going to
be a tough one to swallow because you
would have expected Fisher Harris to
play his career out at Panthers you I I
know rugby league is a crazy world but
if there was one player outside of maybe
Nathan clear maybe even more than Nathan
cley you would have expected Fisher
Harris to be there till the end yeah
well he made his debut there in
2016 um so he’s played his entire career
there and yeah I think you know for mine
I I didn’t see him moving so um you know
it’d be interesting to see not not that
it’s any of our business but um I could
only imagine that it’s you know for
family reasons maybe that he wants to go
back to New Zealand um you know rather
than being in penth because there’s no
doubt that he loves playing for penth
and um has you know really really
enjoyed representing that footy club and
that Jersey you know he’s he’s a very
proud penrith Panthers player so you can
see that in the way he performs every
week it’s
um yeah it’s just I don’t know I’m still
a little bit in shock
M I am too I think I think my biggest
concern with penrith obviously you know
you’ve lost L you’ve lost Fisher Harris
you you know the list goes on of high
quality players I guess the the the
biggest concern I have with for penrith
is I haven’t seen anyone fill in and
come close to the level of footy that
fisher Harris has delivered whereas when
I look back to Burton I go well they had
T and may coming through that we saw
with a tongue or crit you know we we
kind of had SE then you even looked at
the har situation we’ve seen them
without ly get some WIS whereas you know
with fish Harris I’ve never really seen
a front row come in and do that anywhere
near the close job that he does yeah
they they seem as though they’ve their
stocks for you know particularly sort of
outside backs or even halves they they
got high quality sort of young guys
waiting in the wings um but not so much
you know those those front rowers mate
like they it takes a little bit to to
develop and to mature in those positions
sure you can get a young guy that sort
of bursts onto the scene and they’ll
have a few good games but it’s not until
they’ve been around the game for you
know maybe three or four seasons they
sort of get into their you know mid 20s
that they’re actually they they’re
hardened in that position because it’s
the tough like let’s be honest it’s the
it’s the hardest position on the field
physically but they’re running they’re
running into brick walls and then like
they’re putting them in front of all the
other Giants and it’s it’s a tough game
you don’t you don’t it’s not just about
the physicality because you you see so
many young athletes come into our game
they’re big fast strong powerful you
need to be
mentally mentally tough so mentally
tough to be able to not not just get out
there and play in the middle um but to
be able to turn up every tackle every
run um return the ball off kickoffs
every training session and be at your
top like James Fisher Harris has been
for a long time now like I’m looking
across some of his numbers from his
debut year like you played 2 three games
in his Deo year campy remember like
playing in the front row he he’s pretty
much averaged over 20 matches every
season yeah wow so not only is he high
quality but his durability is remarkable
like I’ll just R him off quickly so this
is games per season from 2016 23 15 in
in 2017 then he went 25 24 23 24 23 23
wow like it’s just you know like so what
you what you’re buying there is from a
Warriors point of view that’s that’s
value for money that’s value for money
so basically you know we’re getting some
text in there four-year deal for a 29y
old front rower ain’t a great deal
another text fouryear deal 2.7 million
for a 29 29 front rower ain’t a great
deal forwards for boys forwards
especially front rowers don’t play till
33 these days so he’s currently still 28
it obviously be 29 when the contract
starts look if it’s if it is reported
2.7 million that means they got him for
675 a year I mean I I I struggle to see
how that’s a bad deal he doesn’t look
like he’s injury prone doesn’t look like
he’s carrying niggly injuries yeah I I
but if you yeah if you yeah I agree with
you I think if if he was on a million a
year then you’d maybe question it yeah
but um he he doesn’t look like he’s he’s
dipping in form at all yeah so I think
it’s a great time to to get a hold of
him yeah and like look could be easy in
2 years time if he does lose a step or
two to then turn oh it was a bad signing
but it’s like okay let’s let’s let’s say
the last two years he injury prone
whatever but they win a Premiership next
year do you just go uh yeah we’ll cop
those two years for a Premiership like
you’ve got your return return in your
investment you’ve got it absolutely and
and I mean that’s really what they’ll be
talking next year with for I mean even
this year with FAL Blake they’re talking
premierships in my opinion next year for
sure they’ be talking premierships you’d
have to assume
so I assume the Warriors are looking at
it going okay first of all 675k a year I
mean that’s a good deal for one but also
if we want to win a Premiership with
this current roster we need the best of
the best now right now y um well that’s
smart right because they they’re looking
at it going well our our window is open
and you know a lot of people don’t like
to talk about Windows and um you know
thinking well do we have an opportunity
to win a Premiership do we not I think
it’s clear that when you look across the
competition there there’s there’s teams
with an opportunity to win it and
there’s teams that aren’t that’s just a
fact of life Warriors are certainly a
team right now that have an opportunity
to win a Premiership in the next couple
of years uh if you aren’t aware the
bombshell that just happened Fisher
Harris has been released from the last
two years of his contract he has signed
a 4year deal with the Warriors that
starts next
season what do you think this means for
for penrith panthers in regards to
recruitment Smithy obviously you’ve got
a guy like I understand Schuster is a
very different situation but there’s a
guy like Schuster available now do they
do you think that they have to go out
and recruit where do you think Pender
stand recruitment was well I don’t know
I’m not too sure what their stocks are
like coming through like props they got
some they got some good ones um that
come off the bench for them um and have
been doing so over the last couple of
Seasons but as far as uh Rook or or some
Juniors coming through I’m not too sure
so do they go out and buy one do they go
out and buy one like I’m not we don’t
know for sure what um Fisher Harris is
being paid or how much space he’s taken
up on the cap at penth let’s say I think
we’re what we’re hearing around that 600
Mark maybe slightly over who do they go
out and find there’s been yeah there’s
been talk around around Nelson the S
solomona maybe not being quite happy in
Melbourne or or Melbourne not being
happy with him um yeah I’m I’m not too
sure because he he’s a giant now uh we
this couldn’t have been timed better
matter of fact this wasn’t even planned
we just have such strong connections
we’ve just called CH nichel clock strad
straight to his line he’s there direct
line direct line how you going brother
hey sup boys how’s it going very good
mate what about the bomb were you aware
of this at all mate James fish har is
signing for the club for next
year oh man what a signing a jeez I I
heard um heard you boys talking about
Nelson too if he wants to come home how
to
M oh how good how good mate uh I mean
it’s just just dropped did were you guys
made aware of before the drop or you
heard as when we heard when when did you
hear about it yeah no sort of the same
time as you boys it’s sort of um
something that’s yeah
totally out of out of uh out of out of
the Blues someone someone like f pretty
hard case cuz all through kiwi Camp the
last two years since I knew I was coming
home I’ve been trying to pach all the
boys in the team telling them to come
home you
know all those sort of things and it’s
always I always thought it fell on De
ears but I got one out of 17 so that’s a
pretty good catch I
think pretty big fish
that’s that’s just come from someone in
the background I heard him that’s from
one of the other
[Laughter]
boys ch um M we’re just talking about um
you know we wanted to you know show no
disrespect to AFB because he’s been
unbelievable for you guys over the last
couple of Seasons but um you’ve known
now for quite some time that he’s
leaving the club did you ever think
though he was going to be replaced with
someone of the quality of James Fisher
Harris yeah no got give massive respect
to what Adam’s been able to Doh for the
Warriors team and what he’s Contin
continually doing as well week and week
out and or was always going to be big
shoes to fill and I thought maybe with
what was out there um you know Fords
wise on the market and everything else
we were probably going to have to bring
one of the young boys through and try
and get him to to sort of fit into that
role that he has in our team and um yeah
getting someone um you know in the likes
of fish you know he’s the current ki’s
Captain the way he holds himself the
professionalism and everything else it’s
you know it’s it’s someone that fits um
right into to um Adam’s mold mate uh
speak about some of the the younger fors
you’ve got coming through you know
obviously me being deep into the game
I’m aware of like guys like laan and um
I think Zion as well I know he’s I don’t
know if he’s still suspended but you
that trial I mean you got you got some
probably some of the best young forwards
coming through what’s someone that has
really impressed you this year some of
the young
fellas yeah I think you’ve had hit it on
the top of the head there with those two
um those two boys are probably the ones
that have impressed me the most in
particular Jakey and these he’s no
surprise that Jake’s you know he’s in
the team for the third week in a row now
and he’s he’s deserved his opportunity
he’s worked really hard um head down
bomb up we always see him and um
catching up with coaches cutting clips
and he’s he’s really set the platform
for all those young boys coming through
and it’s it’s pretty um hard case
because all those boys are still still
kids man I think a lot of them are still
uh 20s eligible or 21’s eligible uh
which is crazy so the the future of the
club is in good hands hey M what about
yourself you had the Hemi um issue at
the start of the year so you missed the
start of um the 2024 season but you’ve
been back a couple of games now how’s
the body and um what are your thoughts
on the way the team’s
traveling yeah it was bit of a um you
know something that you can’t sort of
control injury-wise
and just have to get yourself ready and
prepare as best as you can for uh for
your return to Footy and um yeah really
enjoying being back in the squad uh this
is the third week this week bod’s
holding up all right watch which is nice
um just got to frontload the recovery
and um just look after all those things
that I can and yeah really stoked with
how the boys um have been going sort of
lot of really good lessons coming week
in week out and um yeah probably the
weekend we’re all pretty disappointed
because we were quite patchy with
getting our our game on and there were
moments there when we did get our game
on we we’re quite hard to stop so
I thought the refering performance was
pretty poor lopsided penalty count
particularly in the area of 10 to six
against to one some of them you know
just leads
to just just battling field position
hold te he’s on he’s on another planet
mate if he’s critical of the six against
and the penalties he’s on another planet
I just said he coached well him and
Whitey coach well but the way they
shooted with the when they were standing
with hand on the ball holding over the
ball they shoot it on the ground if we
want to go back to last year or the
years we’ve had no worries we’ll start
wrestling and we’ll start shooting up
high to the game’s been going real good
without that type of um wrestleing
Ruck wow we woo holy moo there you have
it Ricky Stewart goes bang now did the
jno just lay up for him and just say
please slam dunk this Ricky and Ricky
said I will slam dunk that I will
absolutely slam dunk that um
okay so it should be noted this is uh
okay um so Bulldog Richie is reporting
um you know uh multiple multiple sources
in joyo stadium uh claim that after
speaking to the media hasle walk down
the tunnel under the malman ner
grandstand and waited outside the
Raiders dressing room to tell Stuart
what he had said Insight Stuart was
having a beer with Club officials when
told Hasler a teammate of he’s in 1990
the 1990 kangaroo tours waiting outside
in the hall Hasler told Stewart what he
had said to the media in the comments
clearly upset the Raiders coach who
according to Witnesses said Fu we should
have got another 156 again I’m going to
go hard in there Fu he dropped the f
bomb uh wow uh
okay gr manle is in the media a briefing
on Monday said that Chevy sh was a good
meter offs side when charging down for
and drop goal attempt which is
interesting because didn’t we just intro
introduced a ridiculous new thing where
drop goals were reviewed but we’ll get
to that yes that was an error and should
have been picked up by the touch judges
monitoring the 10 meters he said on
Monday this is anle anley said referee
Casey Badger should have signal six more
tackles but if that had happened and
foren still attempted the field goal the
Titans likely would have received a
penalty right in front of the post
because they did not get any advantages
it’s uh time for the good oil thanks to
K State Australia’s most awarded extra
virgin olive oil grown harvested in
first cold press in Northern Victoria
give us some good oil Smithy what do you
think a it’s a good old little Barney
isn’t it little stash between two
veteran coaches yeah um you know what
good on Desi for actually knocking on
the door of the camber Raiders and
telling Ricky hey mate look this is what
I’ve said just giving you a heads up so
I reckon sticky mate he was he had the
loaded gun it was locked and loaded when
he walked into that press conference he
knew exactly wanted what he wanted to
talk about he just needed the right
opportunity he just needed the perfect
time the perfect opportunity just to
unleash
on uh well on on on a response that he
wanted to give for what uh deser spoken
about in his press conference um given
the Titans coach went first um I don’t
mind it I actually don’t mind it a bit
of bit of banter bit of chitchat I think
um Ricky spoke about you know the Titans
cheating at the Rock now what he means
by that is just buying time or slowing
the play the ball down I think that’s
what he’s referring to as cheating
wasn’t not accusing the titans of
actually cheating in the match but um it
was funny to hear him talk about uh I
know exactly what Dez is doing up there
you know I know exactly what Brett
White’s doing Brett White was the
assistant coach at the Raiders for
several years so would he would he have
not been doing the same thing at the
Raiders previously this is his second
season at the Titans I’m sure I know
Brett White quite quite well from um his
time at the Melbourne storm and look he
he was he was a very very good defensive
uh front rower um yeah he was great all
round player actually to be honest um as
tough as they come but he understands
you know he has a strong understanding
of how to slow the play the ball down
and and how to defend properly so I I
could only imagine he was he was
training coaching practicing the same
things at the
Raiders um that he’s doing now with the
Titans so um yeah a little bit I had a
bit of a a chuckle to myself when I
heard sticky talk about that um because
i’ i’ I’d imagine I’d be quietly
confident that they were practicing the
same things when Brett White was
coaching at the Raiders but uh yeah well
it look it’s it’s another one like
comments from gry menle saying oh look
there could have been more six againsts
given the more set restarts isn’t that
the case every game yeah that was
weird like like really like if you look
at every match you go okay that team
just got a set restart right the very
following set of six when the other team
has the ball you go well that was a slow
play of the ball just like the other one
they could have been a six again you
could give you could give 50 100 more
set restarts that’s why I don’t like the
rule I hate the rule because that that
is that is that is every game that’s
played every week every week you could
give 40 50 more set restarts it’s just
when the when the referee decides to
give them is is what happens and and
sometimes we have that situation where
what was it 10 to one was it 10 to cber
one to the Titans restarts yeah
something like N I think overall like 9
to2 I think something like that so it’s
quite quite substantial yeah a bit of a
difference and you know what like when
you’re getting that many more sets um it
can it can take its toll and
particularly when when a game goes to to
Golden point but um yeah the the one and
and I’ll let you take this on Kempy was
what you raised around um the field goal
attempt by Kieran foren which he missed
but you know gry menle has come out and
said yeah um Chevy Stewart was offside
it should have been a
penalty yeah look it’s uh it’s it’s
almost um it’s almost like this dis
disruptor rule which I hate far out I
hate that rule so much um this this we
come out with a rule at the start of the
year that field goals could be reviewed
basically um and then the first
opportunity they get to use it they
don’t use it uh very strange very
strange um and look I think uh Ricky was
quite
calling them
cheats that is quite extreme that’s
quite extreme especially if you could
probably go through the Raiders game and
see Hands On ball certain tactics used
to slow the rock down now does that mean
that the Raiders are as bad as the
Titans not necessarily but at the same
time it’s still the the same use
techniques and I think that like people
need to understand in sport like teams
have no obligation to follow the rules
the ref just has an obligation to
enforce it you know like the team’s
obligation is to win uh you know yes
within a certain rule set but they’re
not obligated to follow it um and so
yeah like look Desi if they did go in
with a plan of trying to slow the rock
down it backfired it backfired um and so
you know that’s just part of rugby
league it’s about you know how often I
don’t know about you Smithy but before
going out in some games we were told to
hold down early in the in the game to to
test where the line was with the ref Y
and so sometimes test them out like
sometimes fans go oh my God a penalty in
the first 5 minutes it’s because the
players sometimes I can’t speak for
other teams but when I was playing it
was like guys I want you to lie on as
long as you can we get we cop that first
penalty okay that’s where the standard
is and we move from there um but I’ll be
honest like you know for all of our
listeners out there every team is doing
pretty much the same thing right they
train the same thing as each other they
go out and try to do the same thing like
you look at all the set plays that
team’s put on yeah there might be little
variations to you know different clubs
on the weekend but they’re all they’re
all putting on similar plays um you know
similar set structures in their attack
they do the same things in the play of
the ball and the way they tackle you
know two men up top someone comes around
Cho the legs put them on the ground SL
the play theball down it’s just that
some teams do it better than others yeah
that’s all it is yep that’s all it is
and if you look over the last three
years that’s been the pen Panthers they
do everything that they do they do it
better than everyone else
which makes them the best side there’s
other sides out there trying to do what
they do but they just can’t whether it
be through um you know the way that they
practice it the way that they try to
implement it on the weekend um you know
sometimes it’s it’s to do with squad or
rosters um and the quality of players
being able to sustain that that high
standard of what they’re trying to do
but at the end of the day every team is
doing the same thing yeah just some do
it better than others and like how often
do you okay so there might be a week or
two where a new tactic is introduced and
then every other club’s doing it like
it’s there’s no clubs that sitting there
going oh that was a really smart tactic
that they keep getting away with we’re
not going to do it though we’re not
going to do it though like come on
everyone’s trying to win here now as you
said yes there are some teams are better
than others like for example there’s one
thing that the Panthers do unbelievably
well and this isn’t even illegal this is
legal but they they hit they win that
first Contact and they don’t take the
defender to ground they actually hold
them up and drag them and turn them
around to their own own goal try line
slower play the ball it slows the rock
down but it’s not necessarily wrestling
it’s it’s winning the contact and so
you’re actually you don’t get pinged as
much as you do for you know let’s say
you taken to the ground and then you
start wrestling you’re going to get
pinged every time nowadays P Walsh where
do they go how do they fit is it one or
the other or could they fit into the
same side what are your thoughts man
well man it all depends where they’re at
in 6 weeks time right you and exactly
what Billy said there like it’s yes it
is approaching us um quite quickly but a
lot can happen in that time like we we
see week to week C be how much can
change have a look at the James Fisher
Harris thing this morning yeah we didn’t
know that was happening that just
exploded onto our desk but um yeah a lot
can happen so I think as as An Origin
coach or anyone coaching in a rep team
particularly origin because it’s
mid-season right you you really can’t
sort of put anything in in creete right
now because you know there could be
injuries there could be suspensions um
there could be a a dip in form which Mak
you think you know you might go in a
different direction with particular
players um you know so with with the [ __ ]
ponga thing like there’s there’s no
doubt like he’s playing extremely well
at the moment extremely well um you know
it’s the main reason why the knights
have been in the games that they’ve been
in and and won those couple of games
that they’ve won is because of
you know what he’s providing for them
like he played half a game last week
with a hit pointer which is um extremely
painful I’m told I never got one but um
you he pushed through it and and nearly
and nearly Jagged the win for
them um playing with with that injury
that he had so you know he’s a quality
player and he has showed in the past
what what he’s been able to provide for
Queensland so I think you know listening
to Billy talk there about not not
putting a line through anyone um and and
he’s more than happy to to to be a
little bit unorthodox or think out of
the out of the box a little bit as far
as selections are concern I’ve got no
doubt that he would do that because that
that’s the type of player he was too
mate he’s always thinking of ways to be
a little bit different he’s thinking of
ways to get a little Edge on the
opposition um and thinking of ways to
stay ahead of the game that’s that’s
what the good coaches do they don’t just
go along with the flow and and hope you
know what they’re doing will be good
enough they’re always looking at ways to
be better and be the best um where do
you fit him in I’m not too sure the
hardest thing for for Kum ponga is
that this Queensland side they’ve won
the last two
series um and you know I know I’ve just
finished saying that um you know you’re
always looking to get better but
sometimes changing up a squad when
they’ve got a little bit of cohesion
going already might not be the best
thing um I look at I look at my time in
that Queensland side um that went on a
bit of a run you know we were lucky
where we didn’t have to make too many
changes a lot of our guys stayed fit um
there were no long-term injuries um if
there were changes made most of them
were around injuries that were
forced um
so how do you fit a Ken ponga into a
side where you’ve got already ree Walsh
uh Monster playing six you know CH dily
Cherry Evans no one’s going to take his
spot at seven
um and then you got Ben Hunt and Harry
Grant so to to carry KP without someone
you know being injured or unavailable
for some reason um I don’t know I just I
don’t think it will happen not for game
one at least what I love the most is
about queensland’s kind of selection
policy for quite a while now and you
even heard it in the way Billy was
talking that at no point in that
conversation when he was kind of giving
explanation did you hear you know
whoever’s playing
it was always who suits Queensland
better and I do think that that that’s
probably where Queensland have had the
upper hand on New South Wales at the
selection table is how many times
especially during the dynasty that you
were a part of and led you know there’d
be a guy you know Nate miles and no
disrespect to Nate miles but he had the
Titans mate and he would be struggling
like just wouldn’t be he just be
struggling but you guys knew Nate miles
suited exactly the game plan that you
guys wanted to to go yeah it’s a good
point mate and and even you know you
think of one of the greatest players to
play our game Jonathan thir and and uh a
handful of his Cowboys teammates like
they were coming in they were coming in
from a club side that hadn’t won a game
of football in say three or four weeks
you know what I mean so things weren’t
weren’t going great in cluband for them
but you know you just knew that they
were going to get the job done for the
Maron when when they come into Camp um
so that that’s been the way of of the
Queensland side you know over over the
period of time that um you know I played
and represented Queensland and even
beforehand um you know so I think Queen
uh I think Billy wants to uphold that
that sort of that way of thinking um as
coach now so the the biggest question
mark for me will be um you know if Cam
mster can stay fit we we’ve heard from
him um in a
postgame interview U might have been
last week or or possibly the week before
where he spoke about you know that that
groin or or hip injury that he’s U
managing at the moment that you know
he’s not at 100% And it’s just it it
really is a a day-to-day proposition
where you know he’s just got to get
through training and do his best day
to-day to to feel good um you know you
you can tell he’s not 100% fit yeah you
know like he’s doing his best out in the
field at the moment but you can tell
he’s not 100% fit but um you know things
as I said before mate things can change
quickly and and what are we two months
away from from the first origin we’ll
just have to see where where Cam’s at
with his with his Hipp or groin
situation if it’s not good and it’s not
it’s not good enough for him to to get
through a week of training I I think
Billy wouldn’t have any sit uh
hesitation to bring KP in and possibly
play in The halfes Roosters host the
storm for probably much of the round
live on SC Joe Kane Bret camoy and Spud
Carol will be on live on SC roosters
Team new Tesco returns Manu to the
Senate Su to the wing tanoa out with
concussion Sam Walker moved to the
reserves very interesting storm team
news the big man Nelson asopa solomona
has returned for his first NRL game of
the season kamaka is out with a cal
injury Smithy what do you reckon mate
how your boys feeling or what well
slightly nervous um given the way that
that game finished the other day against
um the dog at
home and again it’s just struggling to
just to put teams away the Storm at the
moment and they need to be a little bit
concerned traveling to Sydney against um
The Roosters who well look it it it
wasn’t a pretty game the other weekend
but they had a strong Victory against
the knights uh no to Desco Joey Manu was
just unbelievable playing fullback but
he goes back to centers Tesco returns of
course um
interesting to see how big Nas goes yeah
first uh anrl match for him this year um
of course been struggling with a little
bit of a hammy issue but he’s he’s in um
would have loved to have seen him with
that combo between him and uh Tu Kamika
uh the two big boys just um you know
putting their their stamp on this match
particularly against you know some of
the forwards that they’re coming up
against the roosters I I think if they
if if they play their best
game I think the storm can win it but
they I don’t know if they’ve put
together an 80-minute performance this
year as yet they’ put together you know
some 50 some 60 Minute
performances um but yeah I just if they
need to put together an 80-minute
performance because if they have a
lapsing concentration this this footy
side can score points quickly The
Roosters yeah with the storm I totally
agree with you in regards to they
haven’t put together 80 minutes but
also lucky is absolutely the wrong word
they haven’t gotten lucky because they
have fought their way back into matches
to win matches but they have had a
tendency to rely on big plays in big
moments and during the season and it’s
look it’s great that they’ve proven
they’ve got players that can do that CU
that’s in finals footy you need players
that can have big moments but during the
season as you know mate like you can’t
be relying on big plays to win matches
you need to rely on your systems you
need to rely on set after set you know
building pressure and so I think with
the
storm like obviously you wouldn’t have
wanted to lose to the Bulldogs that’s
crazy talk but I almost feel like they
needed at least close to a loss to wake
up a little bit and go boys we’re not as
good as we probably are sitting in the
well that’s that’s not right they are a
top tier side but we’re not playing as
well as we should be you know even
though we’re second on the ladder and
things are going well and we’ve beaten
the Warriors and we’ve beaten the
Broncos we probably should be a bit
better than we are
beat yeah there you go beat penri yeah
well I reckon you you got to go all the
way back to round one mate to to see
their best performance of the year now
it was only 8 n all right it’s only 8
nil but that was their their most
consistent or strongest performance of
the season um go back or or sorry you
you move on from that they they had to
come up with a miracle um against the
Warriors they were gone they they needed
two tries in the space of 3 minutes and
they did it um still don’t know how that
happened but they went they then lose to
Newcastle all bit you know they were
down a few key players um but they go
down to Nei then they have one of the
stranger games of of the year against
the Broncos where they where they just
snuck home by two and they scored
some um you how do I put it like a
couple of Tenny tries a couple of Tenny
tries you must say yeah um you know and
and Hold On by two and and again they
were taking on a a underst strength uh
bronos side you got to remember they
they played for a full half without Adam
Reynolds that’s when that’s when he
injured his hamstring yeah and then last
week they just hold on against the
Bulldogs where it was another scenario
like the Warriors where they had to they
scored late to win it yeah you it was it
was a it was a great charge by Shawn
blor on the left Edge to to score the
the winning triy to to get home against
the Bulldogs so um I’m sure Craig’s
extremely happy with the wins um they’ve
been tough they’ve been gritty but I
just I don’t think he’d be happy with
the way they’re playing at the moment I
I I I couldn’t see him looking at their
performances and saying look we’re we’re
playing great footy at the moment um
we’re playing smart we’re doing
everything that we we’ve planned to do
so that’s why I’m saying this is this is
a danger one for them if they go up
there and play like they have in the
last couple of
weeks it it might result in a in another
loss dragons V Warriors 600 p.m. Friday
night
uh dragons paying $280 Warriors paying
$144 big big game uh for both teams uh
dragons obviously get things uh back on
track and the Warriors looking to kind
of cement themselves as a Ral
Premiership heavyweight now dragons as
we heard earlier they did put manly to
the sword so it’s not with you know it’s
not not in their power to be able to go
well against the top tier side how do
you see this one playing out Smithy yeah
well they’re not going to fear taking on
the Warriors are they um as you just
mentioned matez they they knocked over
Manley although Manley didn’t play all
that great they were far from their best
uh Warriors though they you know they’re
a high quality outfit high quality
outfit um they fought
back um very bravely to to fight out
that that 22 Old draw with Manley on the
weekend um and I think they’ll be
they’ll be looking at this next little
period over the next few weeks to really
try and solidify their spot on the
ladder you know if they if if they play
anywhere near their best I think it’ll
be too good for Dragons but the dragons
are are a footy side that just you know
on their day they can they really can um
you know they can they can match the
good sides Low Max back in the centers
with Jack bird out that that’ll be
interesting to see how he goes that’s
that’s his preferred spot he has been
playing extremely well on the wing uh
but I’ve just yeah I I’ve got
Warriors I’ve got Warriors ahead on this
one yeah look it’s an interesting one
because I do think the dragons have
actually a quite a decent game plan uh
that does that may trouble the Warriors
and it is the fact that I’ve noticed
that they’ve been really good at getting
their wide running forwards into the
game and hitting uh and basically going
from three to three Defender and for
listeners three Defender is usually your
half so there is a world where dragons
if they’re on and they complete at a
high rate that he’s going to be have to
be tackling I think uh would it be sewer
if it’s not SE it’s leur I think and so
Su is in incredible form leur is um
obviously a big big boy and so if they
can execute that and fatigue SJ there is
a Pathway to Victory uh that that you
know it’s a reality for the dragons
because if you take SJ out that side you
you can get the win yeah well Jaden Su
is going to be um starting one side I
think it’s um Raymond fella marinina has
been named on the in the other um back
row Camp e so y yeah big game um yeah
look you know there’s quality in this
dragons outfit they’ve showed us this
year that they can compete um they
really need to hold on to the footy
though if they don’t hold on to the
footy like every other footy side in the
competition but particularly this team
here it’s going to make it hard for them
because they’re just they are so potent
with the football the Warriors you give
them a sniff um they’ve got quality all
around the park they got great front
rowers um you know we just spoke with ch
and Nigel claad about the way inan going
at the moment like he he’s carving teams
up at the middle at the moment quick
play of the balls loose defense he is
away and that just brings Johnson into
it it brings nichel clad into it yeah
they’re just very formidable when they
get a roll on so um they’re going to
have to be tight with the footy tight
with their defense I’ve got them edged
ahead though uh the Warriors yeah what
I’m loving about the Warriors game is is
their ability to stay patient in footing
matches and I think last week was a
really good example of that they 160
down they didn’t Panic they stuck to
their systems four four hit-ups a kick
from SJ do it again four hit-ups a kick
from SJ and that’s what I’m liking is
that as you said if you give them a
sniff they’ll keep you down your end for
15 minutes and before you know it you
haven’t touched the ball for 10 to 15
minutes because they do play although
their attack is very exciting to watch
it actually is quite structured it
actually is um you know you look at say
for the Broncos for example although
they have structured attack a lot of
that is basically like spin it to
someone and then let’s just see what
happens uh whereas the Warriors is very
much let’s get to certain positions on
the field and then exploit uh different
uh I guess holes or you know lazy
Defenders um so I’m with you mate I do
give the Warriors The Edge in this game
uh now uh eels verse the Dolphins uh now
e St news Tangi recalled he will St on
the bench civo still in reserves after a
double in New South Wales Cup last
weekend the hammer he’s out with the
hammy industry tra filler is in at
fullback second NRL game PL returns for
suspension Stone to the bench sha o
salivan replaces the suspended Anthony
Milford how do you see this one playing
out mate yeah Anthony Milford two weeks
did he two weeks for the hit on Walsh
unnecessary contact so sha o salivan
he’s back in the footy side first time
back since round one wow I think it was
yeah um after their first up loss he was
put back to reggies um this one is being
played in Darwin
Kempy uh um so yeah a little bit
different for these footy sides
different conditions going to be hot and
muggy steamy more than likely raining um
I think eels I think eels no Hammer no
Hammer as soon as he come from the field
last week against the
Broncos um they just looked a completely
different footy side now I know you
could say that about every every team um
but he is so important to their attack
like he’s he’s that much of a threat um
it’s it’s like
Broncos without Walsh right they’re a
completely different footy side without
the speed out wide um they just they
have to come up with a different way um
to play their footy and to try and find
points so I think they may struggle a
little bit without him uh they will have
a red o crack like they always do um the
Dolphins um but I reckon Wayne would
have been pretty disappointed with their
effort last week um the amount of drop
ball that they they come up with I think
they had 18
errors which is just that’s you know you
cannot you cannot turn the ball over
that many times and expect to be in the
footy game but um yeah I’m going eels I
got eels um I like I like the the fact
that Blaze Tang’s been recalled he’s
coming off the bench of course but he’s
a he’s a he’s an exciting young man um I
think that’ll be too good yeah Darwin I
think that’s going to look the yields
beat a Cowboys team that almost beat
themselves uh even though the yield
showed a lot of fight and you know they
definitely did play better than the week
before I do think de RI is a good
combination with brown at least better
than having a rookie with him look I I’m
going to go dolphins for the upset um oh
yeah look I think that if they can just
play a very simple brand of footy and
hold the ball yes I think the yields May
struggle with that because again they
beat a cowboy side that you know the
amount of errors that they were making
and yep just and also silly errors they
didn’t need to make though look being
expensive footy for the Cowboys it is
worked so it’s hard to knock it but at
the same time they’re they’re they’re
having it’s risky so you’re going to
make some sometimes it’s going to be you
know globe truter and it’s going to be
great and everyone’s going to love it
and then other times it’s going to be
like what the hell just happened so I
think with the dolphins if they play a
very simple style of footy and look to
just grind them out of the game in
Darwin so that’s probably going to be a
little bit hotter the ball’s going to be
a little bit slippier that may be a I
guess a Pathway to Victory well I reckon
I reckon Ki there’s no doubt that that’s
the way they’ll play that they’ll come
out with a simple game plan like they
did in round two right so they were
awful round one with their ball handling
got beat I reckon Wayne Bennett would
have gone back and said Hey listen boys
what we got exactly what we deserve
today we didn’t show respect to the
football we didn’t want to hold on to it
so you can’t win 40 games without the
ball in your hands and you know what
they did in round two they come out
finished with a completion rate of
92% wow 92% so I reckon that’s a what
we’ll a similar performance we’ll see
this week against param meta um taking
that into account though I just think
yeah I just think no Hammer takes a a
lot of their um potency away from their
attack and their TR scoring ability um a
lot of tries are scored by him and
around him by the things that he does so
I’ve got the eels edging them out
welcome back to the captain’s run let’s
straight into it shall we Panthers host
the Tigers 3 p.m. at Carrington Park BST
um clear still sideline with the
hamstring injury expected back round
eight Loui name despite leaving the
field with a knee injury last weekend
senson returns from an injury uh Tor
made clear to play after uh yeah I mean
posting a video of himself of someone
speeding the car that he was in he
wasn’t driving but he’s been clear to
play uh West Tigers team news Galvin
returns for suspension nen jordens to
centers baitman back from concussion and
Lou and Samuel both return from
suspension on the bench what you reckon
Smithy yeah look I’ve I’ve got
penrith um I’ve got penrith in this one
great to see locky Galvin back um he set
the NRL a light didn’t he the young
fellow in his first few games and then
he’s missed a couple from a suspension
and they they’ve gone lost loss without
him is that right I think the last
couple haven’t they y so great to have
him back um I think they’ll be a much
improved footy side with him back the in
in the team um Benji he didn’t miss him
last week he no he he spoke about how
disappointed he was with the way they
played and how you know at the start of
this year when he took over as as
full-time coach that there were
standards set and you know what would be
acceptable what would not be acceptable
and he said they were well below our
standards that we spoke about so that
was disappointing for him I think I
think up to that point I think he was
pretty happy with you know the the way
that they’ve played all season um so so
you know you’d like to think there’s a
bounceback coming this weekend Battle of
the west but I think penth particularly
arrested penth so they had the buy last
weekend um still no Cleary but I think
you know rested penrith senson back from
injury is a huge inclusion I think
they’re going to be too strong um and
played a BST too so a ground that they I
think most of them are familiar with I
think they pretty much all of that penth
footy side would have played at least a
couple of games at penth uh sorry at at
Bathurst um so I think they’re going to
be a little bit too strong yeah penrith
off a by I had a theory that um you know
after their last game against Manley
they looked like a side that would had
almost uh I guess their program was for
to to Peak at the start of the Year get
those initial games out of the way get
the points under the belt and then head
into the buy and really give the boys
because I mean Isaiah yo came off with a
bit of niggles Jon L came off Fisher
Harris he didn’t play as many minutes
and so I think that that was just a side
that was desperate for the break they
look tied and understandably so so them
coming off a break I think it’s going to
be a very tough game for the Tigers to
kind of withstand that Avalanche that
the penth Panthers are going to throw at
them yeah especially M if they if they
start hot and they score a couple early
ones yeah um that might just Dent the
confidence of of this young West Tigers
footy side um yeah I just think across
the park they’re going to be a little
bit too strong now on to Titans Manley
Saturday 5:30 p.m. seabus super Stadium
Campbell out with an injury Sammy
returns from injury to take his place
fullback for feder moves into the
starting side after coming off the bench
last weekend Lodge straight back into
the starting side for the Manley seagull
after his ACL injury Garrick Brown also
return sa on the wing for his first
appearance since round one Ben ofic and
sipley drop out big question uh they’ve
decided to go with Sammy at the back
instead of brimo and brimo at six what
are your thoughts on that
um I actually think he he wants to play
six brimson okay yeah I I think he’s
pretty Keen to play there
um um actually I went for went for a
coffee this morning after school drop
off and ran into AJ brimson and oh no
way Sammy verel yeah they I think they
had the morning off or might have been
the day off and they just coming up from
the beach um yeah they looked up and
about the boys I know they they still
haven’t won a game of footy but you know
they’re just they said they’re working
hard at training um you know and they
just they’re just searching for that
first Victory just
to just to just to have a a bit of a
breath and take a little bit of pressure
off the entire Squad you know they’re
all feeling the pressure at the moment
you know not having won a game in this
campaign so far but um yeah look you
know I think AJ I think he’s looking
forward to the opportunity of playing
six okay um you know I think he he
really enjoys that opportunity to be a
little bit closer to the footy um where
he can get his hands on the ball you
know one off The Rock he has the option
to run he has an option to pass he’s got
a nice kicking game as well um so yeah
look I think he’s really looking forward
to this opportunity I think I think
they’re actually relishing the
opportunity to take on you know Manley
who have been You Know spoken about and
regarded by a lot of people as one of
the better teams in the competition so
far particularly the way they’re
attacking um and I think also go coaster
thinking as well you know if they just
get him on the right day and they can
they can start really well that they
might just they might force them into a
bit of panic because let’s let’s be
honest everyone expects manly to beat
the Titans yeah everyone expects them to
beat the Titans much like everyone
expected manly to beat the
dragons so they’re they’re fully aware
of that and you know that’s they turned
into a pretty poor performance against
the dragons and the dragons won also too
Desi they got Desi hler there who has
coached a handful of these manly players
and he knows what they’re all about so
um after all of that I’m going to tip
mey oh that’s great stuff I’m going to
tip I’m going to tip Manley because
they’re just
um yeah I just they’re they’re a
different side to the last couple of
years I just think they’re a
much stronger like mentally stronger
footy
side um and yeah yeah I think they’ve
they found a bit more consistency than
what they’ve had over the past couple of
years probably a bit to do with that is
cuz Tommy turbo has been playing longer
minutes but um I’ve got Manley yeah look
I’ve got Manley as well and I think with
Manley okay you’ve played early in the
year you got the first five six rounds
out of the way your attack is sorted you
know you can put on points I think the
focus for them now heading into this
week it’s a real opportunity to set
standards so whether it’s a great team
or a bad like a team not going so well
or whether it’s in the middle of a game
and you’re 16 nil up or 18 nil up it’s a
real opportunity to go no we need to be
ruthless here we need to go to the goal
coast and not just win we need to win
well if we consider ourselves a
Premiership threat this year um I think
that should be a real focus of an
80-minute performance because even
though they’ve been really good this
year they haven’t put together an
80-minute performance this year mainly
and you know Titans are a good side to
do that against because the obviously
the level isn’t going to be as high as
some of the to your
sides no I completely agree mate this is
this is a game where they really
shouldn’t underestimate the Titans um
they need to have the mindset like you
know they’re taking on one of the top
sides you know they they cannot they
cannot afford to roll up to the goal
Coast thinking ah here we are in Sunny
Southeast Queensland weather’s great um
playing against the Titans haven’t won a
game like we’re just going to roll out
and win this like they they’ve got to
have the mindset of hey we’re coming up
here to get a job done and that’s to win
a game of footy play it like you’ve
played it against the top sides now
Broncos take on the Raiders unchanged
from last week the Broncos Reynolds and
pay has still out Madden retains his
half spot Raiders Zack Hoskins replaced
by ATA Mar
Mariota uh schilla comes onto the wing
and Albert HTI still recovering from
Burns in a cooking accident last month
this is going to be a cracking game what
do you reckon with this one Smithy yeah
cracker um I don’t know how the Broncos
going to go playing on a Saturday do
they do they they feel right playing on
a thday Friday nights mate bloody their
whole week’s going to be out of whack
mate which makes me a bit nervous the
toughest we’ve been given this toughest
thw out of anyone they just keep
throwing us top dogs after top dogs and
we’re just doing our best mate yep um
you know what uh
listen I think this is going to be a
very very close game no Reynolds No Pain
har still and look they’re going to have
to play tough and they’re going to have
to control the footy if they don’t
Broncos if they don’t then the Raiders
will take it to them um they’ll have a
cracker red hot a cracker anyway listen
I’m going to go Broncos because they’re
playing at home it’s going to be a close
game though mate this is uh so at the
moment I’m going Broncos to head-to-head
but the Raiders are paying
$293 value there juicy that is Juicy as
it comes and and like you know what is
one of the obviously our back the
Broncos backline is is really good but
you know one of our strongest suits is
our forward pack and if there is one for
forward pack that can match the Broncos
it’s a bloke with tarp in it they just
ran for 300 M papal it’s young um so
mate I think this is going to be a I
think there’s going to be fireworks for
one and I also think that it’s going to
be extremely close match