Join Cameron Smith and I in another episode of The Captain’s Run.
0:00 Dale Finucane retires
8:43 Ponga injury
12:23 Tunnel push
19:09 Warriors v Titans
24:18 Dragons v Roosters
29:17 Storm v Souths
34:00 Terry Hill
35:37 Manly v Eels
39:15 Tigers v Broncos
45:15 Cowboys v Panthers
52;06 Dolphins v Knights
54:28 Raiders v Sharks
we’ll probably start with Dale can we
start with Dale mate oh absolutely his
retirement absolutely well and and you
know as a person that’s sort of covered
and watched a lot of rugby league you
know I I’ll say my piece after you but
what are you what’s your thoughts or
memories of of D fukan oh mate d fukin i
the I guess the biggest compliment that
I can give especially as a Winger uh you
know like rugby if you play NRL you’re
tough like you’re you’re tougher than
usually the general public now that’s
like you know the general public if they
were tested maybe they would be as tough
but usually you go through some tough
stuff to get into an NRL side what is
the most exceptional thing about D fukan
he was the toughest of the tough uh you
know so in a in a group of men and now
women obviously but in a group of men
that would out tough 90% of the
population he was at the the the tip of
the pyramid matter of fact he would be a
bloke that a lot of people would want
you know to lead into battle uh and just
some of the stuff that that he did on
the field uh in regards to to you know
you get the superstars you got your
reice walshes and there’s a place for
him your Billy slat is we love it
there’s nothing better than watching
your Billy Slade is killing it and but
when you’re talking about the glue in
teams the guys that may not get the same
reps as AR Walsh or Nathan K it’s D for
nuking every day of the week what about
yourself Smithy well man I was lucky
enough to have him as a teammate um of
mine for for several seasons and uh you
know what like what a legend of a player
he was he was a guy that you really
really enjoyed playing alongside um he’s
a guy that would just get out there and
just play No Frills footy like he
reminds me a bit of um another teammate
of mine Dallas Johnson right so you know
and they’d admit you know publicly to
this that they weren’t given the same
skill set of say you know like a billy
Slater or a Cooper Kon um Greg engas
these type of guys but what they did do
is they worked extremely hard at at
putting themsel in a position and
finding a way to to make themselves NL
players or play at a standard that that
could um you know see them stay in the
NRL and you know D was certainly one of
them he’s one of the toughest he’s one
of the toughest players I’ve ever played
alongside ever ever and you know you’re
sort of you’re tossing up some of the
greatest players of our game that you
know I could I could mention there with
you know guys like webkey and sier and
um you know Gordon TS and I’ve played
against a couple of good ones as well
and you know guys like Ruben but he he
was tough as nails and like if you
compare him to those guys like he was
giving away so much size so as far as
like stature is concerned he you know he
wouldn’t be any taller than me if he’s
taller than me like he’s a bees you know
what I mean and you know he’s probably
weighing in at a touch over 100 kilos so
but he played the the game the same
style as those other guys that I just
spoke about um that were absolute Giants
so um he was he was such a good teammate
as I mentioned to have
um to play alongside because you just
knew you knew exactly what he was going
to give you and they’re the best guys to
have alongside you in a team isn’t I’m
think I’m right there C you like you
don’t have to as soon as they pull the
boots on and get out on the field you
don’t have to worry about them because
you know exactly what they’re going to
give you you know exactly what they’re
going to do and on top of that mate and
most importantly is he he’s one of the
nicest fellas you’ll ever meet as well
just a really really down to earth um
type of guy you know never ever got
carried away with his achievements on
the footy field lovely family you know
his wife Maddie and he’s he two little
kids um just some of the nicest people
you’ll ever meet um you know and and he
did it he had to do it the hard way too
like he he he the first three seasons he
had at the dogs like he he joined a side
that was um you know really competitive
a team that was sort of they were at the
top of their game at the
time um but he he actually played in
three losing Grand finals before he was
was able to win one so he he played in
the 2012 Grand Final um uh and got
beaten by the storm then he loses the
2014 Grand Final and the 2016 Grand
Final before he had the opportunity to
to play in the 2017 Grand Final against
the Cowboys representing the storm
scored a try the big fell so he’s a
grand final TR scorer um and got his
first Premiership so you know he’s the
type of guy that he was one of the first
in and one of the last to leave always
working on himself um physically and
mentally to make himself better and you
know just a legend so so Dale um on
behalf of myself and KMI and all of the
captains run listeners congratulations
on a wonderful career mate and I’m sure
he’s going to be in the game in some
capacity oh mate absolutely and you know
the ageold joke of like nice guys
finished last D fukin is the opposite of
that he is genuinely one of the best BLS
and also just very supportive of you
know even with the anytime I’d reached
out and help me with a podcast or
anything like that mate he was there in
a heartbeat well I’ll tell you I’ll mate
he might have a modeling career what
well I’ve seen him modeling the bloke
the bloke mer oh yeah yeah absolutely
yeah yeah is is he staying on the book
yeah he’s on the book still of course of
course Hey listen bl’s clothing are not
made for good sorts they’re made for the
Battlers like myself yes the the great d
nukin uh they’re made for the butler
they’re made for the butler um I will
say and I know this is going to sound
really silly and stupid but he is one of
the very few players in uh when they
play when they make an error you go ah
you know what you kind of earned that
like it’s all good you like you know
what I’m saying whereas 90% of players
when they make an error I’m like oh my
God just hold a bloody ball whereas when
he does because he has earned such a
reputation of like mate the only way
that’s happening is if like he’s just so
fatigued that it happened you go yeah
all right fair enough it’s kind of Patty
carrian for me at the Broncos for
example when he makes an errow go yeah
you’ve done about 25 FTS m we’ll defend
you we’ll defend the set for you mate
don’t worry about that yeah well yeah I
haven’t seen look I’m sure um we had a
bit of a joke about um you know Dale and
and Craig Bellamy’s relationship in
Melbourne saying that Dale was um an
adopted child of Craigs that’s how much
he loved him right he just loved the way
he went about things at training and
worked hard and just played hard and all
that sort of stuff like the way that
Craig loves his players playing but um I
did see some quotes from from Fitzy
Craig Fitz Gman he’s current coach at at
the shy just summing up you know what
he’s meant to Canela now he’s only been
there what two three seasons now um you
know so he’s made an immediate impact
and so Fitzy went on to say to have
players like Dale they come along that
embody the team spirit and then it and
then is just as complete Savage in every
fashion he’s such a great man our club
will never forget his time here so you
know that’s um that really sums up sort
of what he’s about um he plays the game
hard but trains hard also but then
outside of you know the training field
and and the playing field he’s just a
great club person and a person that
really you know gets the best out of
everyone else as well so um wonderful
wonderful wonderful person wonderful
footy player um and I’m sure we’ll see
him around the uh the traps continuing
on mate just looking at this uh bamy
quote back in 2021 he’s been better for
the club than the club has been for him
that is a very weighty you know
statement from bam after so so much
success at that club it’s pretty
incredible for for bam to say that oh I
made huge you know given the amount of
players that have gone through they
quality players and and have done a lot
of wonderful things for the footy Club
so that again that just sums up you know
I’m talking about Fitzy who’s made
comment about um Dale just in that short
period of time um you know he’s done
amazing things in Melbourne too so um
wonderful guy wonderful player um yeah
what a great career 251 games made
punched out so that’s pretty impressive
unbelievable unbelievable yeah
incredible career and absolutely you
know one of the best BLS you’ll ever
meet and uh hopefully I mean he doesn’t
mind the camera old Dale a bit of
singing bit of singing here and there
hey no he loves performing doesn’t he
loves performing so who knows Australian
Idol just quietly he um well yeah I
don’t know about that um he he’s good
but yeah he well he might have a bit
more time now to practice um practice
his skills people behind him SM doesn’t
matter how good he is he’s got the
people behind him he’s got the uh he’s
got the raspy voice hey the raspy voice
yeah yeah hey there’s a real there’s a
real angle with the raspy voice Butler
Aussie Butler raspy voice there’s a
niche yeah there’s a niche get into it
um mate other big news uh over the
weekend pong is
injury uh you know so he’s done his Liz
Frank he’s going to be out for a few
months um minimum most like well not
most likely a chance he could out be for
the whole season uh thoughts um well
this is massive for Newcastle um stating
the obvious so you know given his form
last year and then even the start of
this year where that they’ve been
struggling
right that like the knights have been
struggling but he’s he’s been the one
guy that if you think well they’re a
chance of winning it’s it’s been off the
back of him no one else yeah so I just
don’t know I don’t know what they’re
going to do at the moment oh well I do
know what they have to do they have to
come up with a plan B real quick
real quick because like I think he’s
been so heavily relied on with you know
just his that X Factor and and not just
his X Factor but just his his his out
andout ability to to beat Defenders and
um you know if he doesn’t make a clean
line break he’s causing a bit of Havoc
to the defensive line and getting the
knights on the front foot um so I just
don’t know what their answer is now
without him like
that’s if if we’re going to be honest
like that’s the main reason why they
made it as far as they did last year was
off the back of his performances now I
know you know all the other players were
playing some pretty good footy and they
were up and about but it was all off the
back of KP and what he was doing um but
this year he’s continued on but I I
don’t think we’ve seen as much sort of
enthusiasm or upbeat sort of style of
footy from the rest of his teammates
that’s a concerning thing now like I
know there’s talk about you know the
impact of origin and all that sort of
stuff stuff like forget about origin
it’s the Newcastle Knights who are going
to be the the heaviest hit in this whole
sort of
injury mate it’s uh the concerning thing
out with the Knights is that you know
last year even when they were on their
run I agree with you that you know it
was it was on the back of KP but if he
were to go down in that period he’ be
like look there is a bit of grit here
yeah you know who knows like maybe they
they they might not go on a 10- win
streak but you know maybe they’ll fight
their way through a few victories my
concern with the Knights is like like
they look like a quite a defeated not
even defeat is probably the wrong word
but they definitely don’t look meally
mentally ready to handle the loss of KP
uh from from what I’ve seen so far that
they don’t look like a team that has a
Steely underbelly right now maybe
they’ll grow into it towards the end of
the year but right now to handle such a
big loss but but why not like why yeah
why where’s where’s that confidence gone
from last
year you know you and I both just spoke
about how you know KP was the main man
but they’re all up and about weren’t
they yeah where’s that gone how has that
disappeared it can’t they can’t just
they can’t have lost that feeling or
that that belief that they had last year
yeah you know and just I don’t know like
they their entire Squad just I don’t
know yeah like I what was the word you
used defl deflated no what what was the
word oh he’s defeated or mentally yeah
defeated yeah like just it looks like
when they’re out there like
if things don’t go well from early then
they just like well it’s going to be too
hard today
boys yeah which is the wrong mentality
to have like you should be in the fight
especially no matter what their roster
like their roster is pretty good like
it’s not necessarily like you know some
of these rosters when they kind of
capitulate you go well look you know
some Reserve graders are in there
sprinkled throughout maybe they’re not
ready for you know all that kind of
stuff welcome back to the captain’s run
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uh you know let’s let’s talk a little
bit more about the ponga situation cuz
we’ve obviously got the heatherington
and mani situation uh in the tunnel but
I would love to have you have your
thoughts of cuz ironically it was a
quite a momentous game because obviously
the Bulldogs put on a score on the
knights um you know signaling great
signs for the club bad signs for the
knights uh Club then also ponger injury
heatherington man in the uh in the
tunnel first of all I’d love to hear
your thoughts on the um the man
heathering situation because you’ve
actually been on the end of a bit of
niggle from the the little fellow man so
you know firsthand how infuriating it
can be he’s got me he’s got me before
Reed um what year was it 20 2018 off the
top of me head um yeah I think it was a
semi-final um we’re playing parata at
Amy Park and yeah no he just um I kic I
I took a kick from dummy half and he was
at marker and after I kicked it he just
he s he tried to tackle me which is no
dramas but then he he held on to me he
wouldn’t let go of me and I’m trying I’m
trying to get down field on the on the
sort of kick Chase or get down um into
the defensive line for tackle one and he
just he refused to let go um so yeah
like he anyway he uh I give I tried to I
tried to um chop his arm off well I
tried to talk him out of holding on to
me right so I got I got rid of one arm
and I was I was trying to hit the other
one and clipped him across the
melon and uh they he put me in the bin
the ref what put me in the
bin oh mate if the BL if the bloke let
me go I wouldn’t have done what i’ done
yeah y you know what I mean but anyway I
was yeah he got me I’m one of his
victims oh mate and I one of his
casualties oh mate as I want to say like
first of all you know that’s M’s not his
job but he it’s a part of his game that
he he’s trying to do whatever he can to
you know B the rules and get you filed
up and so I think in those situations
especially you know your situation this
is where the refs need to make a
decision of okay if he’s going to do
that he he needs to be penalized and
punished accordingly um because
otherwise we’re going to see what
happened in the heatherington situation
which was actually quite similar to
yours where he was intentionally just
holding on holding on like just you know
crazy long and hetherington’s lost his
you know Marbles and going get off me
yep um
and it’s it’s a bit of a tough situation
because although heatherington Had a
Brain explosion it’s like well he’s not
being protected by the refs no to to
like be a to continue playing footy so
what are your thoughts on the initial
blowup um yeah well as well he ended up
getting fed didn’t he Reedman for
instigating I think I’m not sure if he
got or or or um incre what’s the right
word I’m trying to was it it wasn’t for
instigating it yeah in inam flaming
inflaming this the situation um yeah
which well I think they said instigating
like the the melee where more people
joined in and it all sort of got a bit
of a Ruckus which they end up going to
the bin for so um no I agree with you
and and I go back to that situation you
know where I got BN um just do something
about it like if you’re referees and
there’s someone there sort of niggling
and antagonizing people just sit them
down or penalize them and they’ll learn
the lesson quick
they they won’t want to continually give
penalties away um for their for their
footy side but yeah like but at the same
time like the situation we’ seen in in
the tunnel the other day with with with
Reed and heatherington like what come on
boys like you can’t you can’t be
carrying on like that what like although
although um I don’t know I might be sort
of um in the minority here but I thought
I thought a week
was I I thought that was pretty heavy
like for a little a small little
incident in the tunnel I know it’s
unsavory and it doesn’t look great but a
week I mean it it is a a pretty miss a
game for that for pushing a bloke in the
in the tunnel yeah um like it’s I’ll
tell you what it is like it’s a dumb
it’s dumb it’s so dumb that’s what it is
like it’s a stupid thing to do it’s a
dumb thing to do um you know
just a letter of warning or a fine I
think was sufficient but yeah they
they’ve you miss a game for that holy
moly I got to say and look this is going
to sound like I’m you know Shifting the
blame I’m not you know heatherington is
responsible for his accents very very
silly what he did yes but at the same
time like Dum mate kns night staff what
are you doing letting him wait there oh
what like you know what this guy’s like
you know that he’s got a screw loose get
him in the
dressing short apologies yeah short fuse
not screw loose short fuse mate he like
look I’m not trying to excuse footy
players we are absolutely accountable
for our decisions and dumb situations
yep but you have to understand a certain
mentality especially in the forward pack
is needed for for to be a forward in the
NRL yeah they’re play in that position
and so it’s like here’s an example
perfect example boxers they will go out
on their Shield they will literally they
are warriors that and sometimes they
need their Corners to protect them and
say mate You’ had enough for today like
this is it you know it’s not working for
you you’re a warrior we love that about
you but let’s protect you and so I just
think in that situation it’s not as
dramatic I’m not it’s not a huge deal
I’m not not making out like it’s a
massive deal but it is like night staff
surely you know what he’s like you guys
aren’t hotheads you are sinking smart
you thinking more clearly get him in the
dressing room yeah know your man oh
surely get him in there get him in there
keep him away from that from that type
of stuff from happening like just pre it
was preventable wasn’t it oh man he’s
waiting like we’ we’ve seen we’ve seen
it happen like and I was witnessed to it
directly at the Battle of Brookie oh
yeah absolutely Adam Blair and Glenn
Stewart when referee s been both players
but they they send b them within about 5
Seconds of each other yeah and what
happens they catch up with each other
before they leave the field and she’s on
again Y and ironically that the ref
actually in in this circumstance
intentionally B them quite a ways apart
yeah so that wouldn’t happen and
heatherington just gone n I’m just going
to wait get here just up oh my
God anyway look is it end world no does
it look good no but you know yeah it is
what it is let’s get straight into some
rugby league previews Warriors the Ws
versus the tars I guess
Titans I don’t know about that yeah I
don’t know
uh Thursday 2 p.m. at comia Stadium
Auckland Warriors team news Kate will
out with a throat injury suffered
against the dragons Dylan Walker
returned turns from ankle injury on the
bench sha Johnson name despite Achilles
concerns and Osco talk about that he
will be have to be rested soonish uh
just to maintain that uh Titans Team new
is unchanged from the lost to manly for
feda Nam to start though and Sammy
Palaca still sideline what do you reckon
Smithy uh first of the Anzac Day games
KMI this is um over in ockland and it’s
a sellout as is the dragons roosters
still trying to find out whether the
storm rabbits will be sold out but it’ll
be close it’ll be close but um we may
have that figure by the time we get to
the game but first of the Anzac games um
always a big day um take away rugby
league take away the sport uh huge day
for both Australia and New Zealand um
but then you add in the footy on top and
it is a fantastic day just to bring uh
bring everyone together bring the
communities together friends and
families together um so I’m really
excited to see this one kick off now the
Warriors usually take on the storm so
that’s first and foremost a big change
they’ve taken an anac game back over to
New Zealand which is great um and
they’ll be looking to bounce back of
course from that uh that horror show on
the weekend against uh the dragons where
they were beaten
easily
um yeah interesting to hear that that
talk about SJ about how he’s going to
need a rest soon um obviously you know
we spoke earlier about getting a little
bit older and the game’s getting faster
so um maybe they just look at this one
maybe maybe he’s spoken to the coaching
staff about this week you know wanting
to take part everyone wants everyone
wants to play this one oh yeah it’s big
occasion um so maybe it’s this one and
then he looks for a rest in round nine
but great opportunity for Titans to kick
off their campaign Still winless Still
winless They nearly Jagged one on the
weekend and there were some good signs
from the Titans not just the week gone
um but the previous week as well
just I’ve seen some better signs in
there areas of the game now they’re
still a little bit off with you know
their footy and I think they’re still
trying to work out that whole style of
footy that Desi is trying to bring to
their organization but the effort was
the good sign and they nearly got they
nearly got there they nearly got Manley
um you know wether Manley sort
of weren’t you know sort of at their
very best because they were playing
Titans on them I’m not too sure but the
score line suggested that you know they
took it to him all the way so good signs
for Titans look if they Jag a win
against the Warriors that’s got to boost
the morale around the place oh mate what
what a swing game for both clubs you
know for example if the Titans get a win
huge morale boost if the Warriors lose
it’s like uh oh you know very shaky last
couple games you could even you can even
argue last three weeks um so it actually
is you might look at this game and go oh
you know yeah Warriors should do them
and you know we should all move on but
there could be huge ramifications from
this because Warriors if they put put
this way Warriors go out and win
convincingly okay it’s back to
scheduling as normal if they lose it’s
uh oh like we have some serious problems
here our key player is rumored to not
rumored but like it looks like he’s
going to need some time off because he’s
struggling with some injuries and we’ve
just lost to the dragons the Titans and
we drew with Manley yes um and yeah as I
said the Titans though going o over to
New Zealand getting the win I mean
outside of maybe getting a win in penth
or Melbourne it’s probably the biggest
road trip you could have yep absolutely
mate yep that and and adding the uh the
Cowboys as well going all the way up the
townsel but yeah Big opportunity for for
Titans um for feeder’s name to start so
um yeah a few changes there well a
change for Desi he’s he’s looking for a
physical fast start by the Titans and if
they can jump away and get away let’s
just say they get a couple of early ones
if they can if they can get away to a
two TR
lead I don’t know like that that does
wonders for for the mindset right that
does wonders for your confidence and
your belief and and they just kick on
from there so again you know the effort
areas that’s that’s what they need to
maintain out of last week look I I’m I’m
siding with the Warriors given their at
home very very tough team to beat there
uh look it’ll it’ll be a massive
occasion given you know the whole Anzac
Day theme and everything that goes on
before the game um and a sold out crowd
too it’s it’s a difficult place to play
um and maybe if the Titans go over there
with maybe three wins under your belt
you might be a little bit more um
confident about their chances but I’m
just I’m siding with the
warriors uh to get a win on homeo okay
uh dragons V The Roosters Thursday 4:05
p.m. that is tomorrow Dragon team news
no CH changes from the Warriors win last
week roosters team news young and Walker
return Mo to centers Jennings drops out
of the 17 and Watson back to the bench
how do you see this one
Smithy this one’s a little bit harder
given the form lines coming in now
roosters had their chances last week but
they just they struggled to convert
those
chances um you know Trent Robinson spoke
after the game about a couple of
refereeing blunders but you still can’t
take away the fact that your team had
opportunities to win or at least to
score points
um in in certain situations and and they
didn’t so just their ability to convert
those opportunities against you know the
good size at the moment is you know the
sort of that’s the question mark on them
um the
dragons I don’t know how do you sum the
dragons up which team turns up really
well that’s what that’s what I mean like
they’re they’re just so hard to pick at
the moment like they are literally rocks
and diamonds yeah they are the rocks and
diamonds
of the NRL absolutely absolutely they
when they play well they are so good but
when they play poorly my goodness they
play poorly they can they can find an
ordinary game so you know hopefully we
see the good Dragon side that turned out
like last week where they complete High
completion rate they play physical well
well you know what they the one thing I
will give them is that they do play with
you know pretty positive energy and
they’re physical most
weeks um but you know they just trying
to you know convert all that that into
playing some a good style of footy and
and hold on holding on to the ball
that’s a different story but if they get
it right they’re such a good footy side
they got a good mix of um you know the
the youth like Ty Sloan at the back um
you know Zack Lomax is in career best
form Benny Hunt is playing incredible
again you know they such such a good
balance across their footy side if they
get it right then they can beat anyone
and they can beat the roosters it’s just
a matter of doing that um and am I am I
willing
to go out and Limb and say the dragons
beat him oh am I actually going are we
going out is it should I is that rude to
say that no going out in the limb to
back the dragons or or does their form
warrant them to say look they’re a
legitimate
chance they’re so up and de I’m going
roosters
I’m going The Roosters mate I don’t know
why I’m going The Roosters look what I
loved about last week’s performance of
the dragons and and mate you would have
way more insight on this than me but you
know like any game of rugby league it
happens in like patches is the wrong
word but Cycles or you know 10 to 15
minute periods especially with the six
again rule or or the lack of wrestle uh
and I think that the war what the
dragons did really well is the Warriors
just applied pressure for a good 15 I’ll
say 10 to 15 minutes and the dragon just
hung in there hung in there they knew
eventually whether it was by their own
good play or penalty something would
relieve that pressure and so what did
they do they hung in there they got a
penalty coming out their own end they
went uh full field they got another
penalty coming out of their own end and
all of a sudden the momentum completely
swung and they were the ones in in their
cycle where they’re dominating they’re
dictating the terms of the game and I
think that uh you know you look at the
roosters the concern I guess heading
into this game for the roosters is they
have an inability to take advantage of
their again cycle I don’t know what word
you would use but their patch of play
where you go all right boys no matter
what happens here it’s going to swing
against us so we need to make sure we
score points in this period I go back to
the storm game uh moner goes off you
know roosters need to score points in
that period cuz eventually m is going to
come back on storm will get their tails
up and it’s going to be we’re going to
going to be under pressure again and
that’s what I really liked about the
dragons performance and so the roosters
if they don’t capitalize on the moments
where they’re dictating terms in the
game there is a chance that dragons
could get up look I’m going to go
roosters head to-head but I think this
is actually going to be a lot closer
than people may may give it credit for
yep no I’m with you totally agree with
that um I I reckon it it could turn out
to be one of the classic Anzac games to
be honest flano getting the boys up
fired up Robo you know he’s he’s been
quite vocal in press conferences lately
and you know there’s there’s Whispers
not even Whispers but some are of the
opinion he’s a bit under pressure I am
actually of that opinion that that the
robo is a little bit under pressure to
deliver this year um so yeah mate I
agree it could be a huge huge Clash
another sellout so big crowd I reckon
they’ll be up for this one 300 p.m.
isn’t it uh four 405 kickoff 405 kickoff
now storm V rabido 750 Amy park storm
team news uh unchanged from the win over
Roosters on Thursday rabido team used
cook recall at Hooker mamalis to the
bench Arrow turns from shoulder injury
sha Mitchell in for T TOA gagy in for
Tyrone Monroe on the wing um mate the
best thing I like about the storm so far
that they’re probably playing six out of
10 so what’s exciting for the storm is
when they do hit their straps around
finals time I’m very excited for that
what what do you think about this game
yeah I think um you know watching them
go about their business the other night
I think the most impressive part of
their game was that 10-minute period
when moner was off so they didn’t
concede a try when he was off um you and
and that’s that’s been the the most
consistent part of their game this year
I know they’ve made some changes a few
little tweaks with their defense coming
off last year they weren’t overly happy
with the way they defended last year um
even though they they finished in the
top four and went to a prelim but um
yeah they’re they’re making themselves
really hard to score against that’s what
they’re doing Melbourne I think they’re
they’re in the top four they might be
second maybe for points conceded um
they’re pretty high on the ladder anyway
but um that’s that’s where they gain a a
lot of their Confidence from they’re
still working on this combination of um
you know the spine together it’s only
the I think they’ve played three games
in the last two years together so penous
and monster Hughes and Grant so they’re
still working a few things out but when
they get it right they look they look
really dangerous um you know as so
solomona one game back I know he’s
played a couple of games in US Wales cup
but first game back in the NRL last week
he’s only going to be better for the run
and they love this game mate they love
it they they love this one they get up
for the Anzac game it’s now become a
traditional game in Melbourne to be held
on Anzac night um and there’s a bit
happening in the city of course with um
you know the E and bombers and um
Collingwood magpies playing the earlier
match across the road at the MCG so
there’s just a buzz around the whole
city there’s people out in all of their
football colors um throughout the
streets and um all around town they love
it
I I think I think they’ll win and they
could possibly put a big score on the
rabbits yeah like you know rabbit o I
hate to sound I guess hyperbolic but it
really is each game from here on out is
almost season ending uh and I’m not
saying that if they lose this the season
is over what I’m saying is there is so
much on the line every 80 minutes now
for the Rabbid o you know you’ve got
players that could get dropped you’ve
got coaches that could be on the Move
you’ve got huge shakeups at the club and
so for at least for the foreseeable
future until they turn things around it
really is every 80 minutes you’re
playing for your jersey almost really um
yeah there’s really not anyone in that
Squad outside of maybe cam Murray maybe
Jackie whiton um that could safely say
if I play py this week I’ll be here next
week um and so it really is such a big
big week for the rabitos but
unfortunately look if you have a couple
of bad games you can almost for lack of
better word pull a rabbit out of the hat
and just like get back to your old form
but I I just look at the rabbit o and I
think so many bad habits have been
developed over a long period of 20
period game of you know since the Midway
last year I just can’t see them being
out to just like we might go we might
get to the end of the 80 minutes and go
geez the rabido tried really hard but I
just can’t see them they can try really
hard but is everything going to fall
into place I’m not really sure well
since round 12 last year C be like they
they haven’t had a run of good form at
all yeah like they’ve had so many losses
and like the fence is letting them down
their ball controls letting them down
and then because they’re doing so much
work theyve just they look like they
have no energy so I don’t know maybe
maybe the buyers done on wonders um
Damen Cook’s back in the side so pretty
Keen to see how cookie goes um he’ll be
starting he’ll be starting nine I’m sure
he’ll be out for a big game or he
doesn’t want to go back to reserve grade
again so but yeah I’m sticking to me
guns mate I think storm by a comfortable
margin yeah I’m I’ve heard I didn’t hear
but I read that Damen cook really went
back and ripped and teared in reserve
grade and played really well which is
good to um good to know I think also
that the return of Joy Aro um I mean
when you talk about hasn’t played a
single game this year as he pretty much
I think since round one since round one
uh and so when you talk about their
defense like he’s the heart of one of
the hearts of their defense where he
does the tough stuff and so maybe he can
you know link up with Ken Murray and
Jack Waton to lead the boys back into
form hopefully but yeah I see the storm
winning it’s actually uh some really sad
news as come across their desk um
according to reports uh the it is
understood that Terry Hill has passed
away uh in the Philippines understood
according to the telegraph uh that he
passed away from a heart attack um he’s
been working with Charities overseas and
his family’s been notified uh Terry Hill
he played 246 first grade games to south
east west Manley and West Tigers between
1990 and 20
2003 uh um yeah devastating news for the
rugby league community and obviously his
family and friends Smithy yeah really
sad news mate um you know I remember
watching uh Terry Hill as a young fellow
playing for Manley and representing New
South Wales and one of the one of the
great players for a long long time you
know played in The Centers and he was
just a character wasn’t he on top of you
know the quality of football that he was
and you know you remember you know some
funny some funny moments of of him um on
the Footy Show you know it takes you
back to your childhood but you know
those times when he used to go out to
the dapto dogs and had his little
segment with the Greyhounds and all that
sort of stuff you know that was yeah
really really funny um but you know
thinking of the times you know when he
pulled on the Jersey for Manley and you
ofes and the kangaroos as well he was a
great competitor wonderful player um
yeah just really sad news so we we send
our our condolences and our best wishes
to all of the Hill family um really sad
news to hear that we’ve we’ve lost one
of our
another one of the rugby league
community at such a young age 52 mate
just just sad absolutely mate absolutely
um all right now uh got a preview Manley
vers eels um will be Friday 8:00 pm at
Four Points Park Brook Vil oval uh
mainly team news is allia returns to
suspension lodged to the bench Brown
returns from a knee injury uh e team
news Ethan Sanders named to debut he’s a
highly touted half that’s uh report edly
going to sign with Raiders for next year
cro recalled that the expense of Shawn
Russell Madison starts in the second row
tongi hands Maka back on the bench Blaze
Tangi and morti dropped out how do you
see this one playing out Smithy well i’
i’ like to think that the heels going to
bounce back after the words spoken by
the coach Brad Arthur and um he hasn’t
uh he hasn’t held back making some
changes and you know fair enough if you
you send a team up you know to to Darwin
to get a job done against you know the
Dolphins and they underperform the way
they did um you know things need to
change so he’s put a few people on on
notice there with those changes but um
look I I think we we’ll see a much
better performance there’s no doubt
about that from param matter um and they
have to they have to bounce back but I
think mly at home um they’re playing
some great footy at the moment
although yeah they can be it up and down
themselves they love this track they
love
Brookie uh and J Josh Alloa back from
that uh that week suspension I think um
it’s going to just add a bit of starch
up front I think mly too
strong ah this is a tough one a really
tough one I agree with you man I think
that the eels are going to bounce back
uh I mean I’d be genuinely shocked if
they don’t bounce back you know with all
the talk over the week and I guess you
know the playing group has to understand
that the the club’s Under Pressure the
coach is under pressure they’ve got the
roster that should be doesn’t
necessarily mean they need to win every
game but at the very Le at least be in
every game um bit of a a surprising move
from Brad Arthur uh Ethan Sanders is
playing six or at least he’s been named
at six rather than seven with Dylan
Brown at seven uh Sanders is a seven
coming through the ranks I’m I’m pretty
you know about 95% confident uh so he
yeah I had this criticism last week as
well and the week before with the e but
I’m just genuinely surprised that they
haven’t got a single person in their
top 30 squad or even extended Squad that
is ready to step in if Mitchell Moses
goes down at seven it genuinely
surprises me I mean even Sanders being
named at six I I assume now maybe that
could change when the game comes around
I assume the concern there is they don’t
he’s too young to run the team and so
they’re going to have that
responsibility on Dylan Brown I’m not
sure um but yeah I do think the squad
depth and uh balance is is definitely
out a whack currently at the eels yeah
well they’ve struggled haven’t they
since you know Mitch got injured and
they’ve just they’ve struggled for that
that cohesion and finding you know that
best style of footy that they can find
to to win matches so um you know but I
think more so than anything forget about
game plans forget about tactics and all
that sort of stuff I think Brad Arthur
you know just going back to his uh his
scathing words of their performance last
week I think he’s just looking for the
the Paramount eels to to really just
roll their sleeves up this week get in a
bit of a dog fight and see who wants it
more I think that’s what he’ll be
looking for yeah yeah hope hopefully
they turn up hopefully they turn up when
the when the eels are going well they
play some really exciting footy I’m
actually missing Smithy you going have
to say Tigs Broncos Tigs Broncos yeah we
got the Tigs Broncos sday 5:30 Campbell
town when the teleprompter doesn’t work
for me I literally don’t know what I’m
talking
burgundy wrong burgundy absolutely mate
the big dogs are back all the big dogs H
Reynolds peura all returned for the
Bronx um although Ezra and San Cobo are
they are they officially ruled out
officially ruled yeah I’m pretty sure
yeah yeah there you go jock Madden he
moves to 5’8 and Dean Mariner he comes
back onto the
wing um yeah this made big game big game
I I just think Bronx with all the big
dogs
back well too strong the only concern I
have with the Broncos is like it’s just
that the errors sometimes yes and I feel
like an idiot cuz they go out and they
win anyway and I’m just like I keep
talking about these errors and these
completions but it’s tough but but
you’re right though at some stage it’s
going to come back to B it absolutely
will you can get away with it you can
get away with it you know for you know
three four games but at some stage at
some point in the season it doesn’t
matter who you’re playing it’s going to
hurt you yeah you just don’t want it to
be this week though well I mean I mean
some of the best like chat I’ve heard
you talk about our footing season is
when you said how you play in the footy
season is usually how you end up playing
in your biggest game at the end of the
year that’s right you go back to that
Grand Final and there is no denying that
the errors cost them the Grand Final yep
um they completed a high percentage
there they probably beat Panthers and
quite handedly um it took a 97%
completion rate uh for the Panthers to
just win uh so it yeah look I look I
understand the Broncos play a very
different style of footy and they’re
exciting and they can go from anywhere
in the field I get that but I just think
a good balance needs to be found between
that kind of footy and obviously you
know you’re very conservative kind of
completion rate footy in regards to
Tigers although they lost I think it was
22 to6 I actually thought they were
quite good for about 70 minutes or 65
minutes against the Panthers y the
weekend no they they’re having a crack
mate and that’s I think that’s the
pleasing thing for Benji is that you
know for the most part of this year I
think there may be only one one game
maybe maybe two where they’ve sort of
they’ve gone out and the effort just
hasn’t been there and and they’ve let
themselves down but um you know look
look they were outclass on the weekend
okay they were outclass by penth um
little bit tough too going out to Beth
you know it’s a different ground they
not many of their players would have
played out there whereas penth a little
bit different I think they take a game
out there every year um but the effort
was there so you know they got done by
16 by what many people consider the best
team of the comp so they can hold their
heads High um but they got to be up for
the fight they got to be ready for this
one they are a potent side
brisman they are a potent side and if if
they’re thinking well H hasn’t played
for you know six weeks reynolds’s been
out for three perur has been out for
another three or four as well like
they’re going to be a little bit Rusty
hey boys I think again they’ll be ready
to go these three yeah they will slot
straight back in and they’ll they’ll
come out and play and put a performance
in like they’ve haven’t missed a game so
the the TOs got to be up for this one
it’s I like the fact that they’re at
Campbell town um so they get a chance in
front of I reckon it’ll be a big crowd I
reckon they’re going to get a really
good crowd there you know given the the
feeling about the West tigers at the
moment there’s there’s a bit of a a good
feeling about them they’ve had a couple
of good results and the Bronx are in
town like last year’s Grand
finalist um
yeah it’s a chance for this young footy
side to get out there and and have a
real real crack against one of the the
benchmarks yeah I think for the Tigers
you know your main goal has to be
winning that first Contact and line
speed because if you get in a battle
with you know momentum with the Broncos
you’re just never going to win it I I
just don’t there’s really not another
club in the competition outside of the
pen Panthers that can go toet to toe
yeah when both teams are rolling and
they’re staying in that that almost a
fitness battle of who will break first I
mean the Broncos love that stuff with
guys like carrian carrian and hass’s
Motors yeah are just unbeatable um well
M I was just going to bring I was going
to bring that up like where they’re
going to have to do a really good job is
through the middle and on that combo
with Payne har and carrian their onew
punches just unbelievable it’s it’s the
best in my opinion A lot of people would
disagree but I reckon the combination
that those two guys have now I know
carrian wears 13 on his back but he
plays as another front rower anyway I
know he he you know does a bit of
passing and all that sort of stuff and
so does pay but they’re onew combos with
whether they’re playing short balls
together um tipping onto each other or
whether they’re just using each other as
an option Runner to take Defenders away
it’s just I don’t know the fitness and
the amount of times how they just keep
coming at you it’s the best in the comp
so those two back together as well and
then you throw in you throw in a player
like Cory Jensen oh man who just m like
he he will he’s he is tough as nails and
you know if you’re thinking well here we
go we got a bit of a rest har and
carrian aren’t carrying the football
well he’s going to get you on the back
foot as well so it’s a it’s a great Trio
of of starters in the middle um that’s
that’s where that’s where they need to
try and minimize impact that those guys
have on on the game particularly early
in the match yeah I’d be I mean maybe
this is silly advice but if seriously if
I’m the Tigers I’d be testing the ref to
see how long I can slow the rock down um
why not initially to say okay where how
because if as I said if we if the Tigers
don’t slow the rock down I just I just
don’t see how they can compete with a a
brzy bronos so hopefully from a Tigers
perspective that gets done uh now
Cowboys take on Panthers Saturday 7:35
Queensland Country Bank Stadium Cowboys
team news too bench neem takes his spot
in the front row uh Michael Mel starts
uh in onto the bench apologies clear
plays his first game since round three
Edward fit to start a fullback T May
returns after missing last week how do
you see this one playing out mate uh
yeah look I’ve got penth but um yeah we
just heard assistant coach Jimmy money
talk earlier in the show about North
Queensland and how they need to they
just need to aim up against pen this
week they need to be want to get in the
arm wrestle um which they
haven’t done um a lot this year you know
they’ve been great Front Runners you
know if they start well and they score a
couple of early tries like they they
kick on and they go on with it but when
they come up against sides like like
they did last week with canella where
they completed well um scored a scored
points at a steady rate they
just it’s like they they they don’t know
how to get themselves back in the game
so this is this is the a good challenge
for them you know playing at home
playing against the the three-time
premier that they they need to want to
get in the arm wrestle and stay in it
stay in the arm wrestle okay and and see
see how far the opposition want to go
like I’ll guarantee like penrith don’t
mind it they they’ve got to they got to
have that understanding that you know
like we get penth in an arm wrestle
they’re going to want to go for a long
period of time and they’re going to make
us try and break first well that’s the
challenge
boys that’s the part of the game you
need to fix no one’s questioning your
ability to score points because you you
got the
best um stat in the game for scoring
points
it’s your ability when it gets hard to
prevent the opposition from scoring so
that’s the challenge for the cows this
week I’ve got penrith just because of
they love that style of play um you
obviously big news that you know clear
is back in for them but I just think
that they love that style of play
they’re happy to go up in the grind um
and it suits them playing against the
side like Cowboys at the moment that
that really don’t particularly like the
arm wrestle yeah mate I have to further
I totally agree with your point in
regards to Cowboys you go back and you
watch that game against the
Sharks and it felt like it felt like the
Cowboys almost told themselves I will
never get momentum back so just like
whereas like obviously those 17 blocks
out there they’re definitely mentally
aware that if we hang in long enough
eventually something that will happen to
give us some momentum back yeah whether
it’s a a knock on by the shakies a call
from the referee or a big play from us
and I just think for the the Cowboys
they’ve got to be willing to say to us
like it is a non-negotiable that we
fight until we get that momentum swing
whereas I kind of felt like on the
weekend they went oh it’s been about 10
minutes in the game and we actually
haven’t had a sniff here okay it’s not
looking good and and I don’t mean that
in a mean way I’m just talking no it it
did seem like that you know that’s why
it look yeah it looked like they got to
the 10-minute Mark and and the Sharkies
have completed it 100% And they said um
today is not our day or at least this
half is not our day
um and so I think that the biggest
challenge for the Cowboys is to have
that non-negotiable of we don’t care
about how many points we score we just
have to be in the fight for as long as
it takes to get that momentum swing back
what about what about big Jace to the
bench mate mate I don’t know what’s
going on there uh look if he has a knee
injury that stops him from being able to
play as many minutes
like it’s a tough one because then you
go well if you can’t play
footy All Season then isn’t that isn’t
that considered a potential medical
retirement look I I don’t want to make
this extreme or make a big deal out of
this or whatever what I mean is is like
just so confused as to what’s going on
with t Malo and his minutes and also
he’s he’s playing impact he’s he’s no
playing nowhere near what we know he can
play no well you know there’s clearly an
issue there with the knee that he has to
manage right so it’s an ongoing thing um
and and you look at the seasons where he
was considered one of the best players
in the competition like he was playing
60 plus minutes every game yeah now I
know like when you when you’re dealing
with injuries and all that sort of stuff
that that has impacts on on your minutes
but I don’t know like does continue
continually playing
him is that does that do any good for
himself and the team as well I don’t
know I’m asking the question I’m not
saying that Jason shouldn’t be in the
footy side yeah I’m just thinking is
there an opportunity for him to miss a
couple of games maybe sort out the issue
and it’s it’ll be better for that
football side and Jason in the long term
that yeah if he has won maybe two games
off does the knee come good where he can
give a few more minutes to the football
side and have a greater impact for
them yeah I absolutely agree mate I
think that that question has to be asked
because as I said like it came out that
he has this knee injury and that’s why
he’s playing less minutes and then so
you go the thing about footy and and I
actually probably didn’t know this it
probably took me a couple of years to
accept this because as a young fell
you’re not as mentally you know strong
or whatever but once you cross that line
whatever injury you have whether it is a
reasonable excuse or not doesn’t matter
and so you’re either good enough to play
or you’re not and it took me it took me
a little bit to kind of get that around
my head like you know let’s say I had a
little bit of an injury or a bad
shoulder that needed a Reco at the end
of the year you know if I had a bit of a
bad game you know the the younger
version of myself would say oh but I got
a bad shoulder but the older boys would
always say say to me mate are you good
enough to play or not if you’re not
don’t play if you are you’re on the
field and you get treated just like
everyone else and I I think that kind of
has to I guess come in to play with
tamalo is he fit enough to
play as in well that’s a question eight
well the numbers yeah like the numbers
they’ve been on the decline for the last
three seasons mate so like 2019 is
averages right season
averages so 2019 he had average 19
carries for 197 M 2020 was average 19
carries again for 208 M and then we look
at 21 average runs 15 M for 155 so he’s
still making 10 per
carry uh similar in 2022 then you go to
2023 he’s all the way down to 13 carries
140 M and then this year mate average
runs seven for 85 yeah wow so that’s a
that’s a huge decline that one but it
seems to me that there’s a it looks to
me in take outside names or whatever
looks to me like a player that is
injured that’s playing through injury
that that may need a few weeks off to
sort the injury out again I don’t know
if that’s the case maybe he’s just down
on form I’m not sure Dolphins V the
night Sunday 2 p.m. at Sun Corp Stadium
dolphin team news Donny Hugh returns
Sullivan drops out oh Sullivan drops out
Knights team news David Armstrong today
Bo he was the bloke that scored those
tries in the on the wing in the trials
looked very exciting for replacing kin
pong Gaga returns to centers
heatherington out through suspension
what do you reckon Smithy Sano uh
they’re playing they’re playing this
game at suncorp a you said the Dolphins
they love playing at Sun Corp although
they you know hom ground KO Stadium they
like that one too but Sun Corp uh sio
Sunny match I think the fins could
really really drum up a big one on the
scoreboard oh okay yeah sorry Knights
fans um the main man he’s out for an
extended period still don’t know how
many weeks pong is going to be on the
sideline for with that Les Frank uh
injury but I’ll tell you what this is
they’re a good outfit the Dolphins good
outfit they just they play pretty
straightforward style of footy but they
just go hard every time one small one
well want say small change one change to
their lineup so they got pretty much the
same Personnel lining up as what took on
the Paramount eels last weekend and I I
just think they’re going to be they’re
in much better form than
Newcastle much better form um yeah you
know I’ve seen first and like calling
games where Newcastle have played I call
the game where KP injured injured that
hit pointer against the roosters they
were on fire early looked like they’re
going to put 40 on the roosters and then
KP injures
himself is not seen for another well
sorry he touched the ball once in about
40
minutes um of footy and they they just
looked they didn’t look like they were
in the game they had they had no
answers uh to The Roosters defend they
didn’t look like making a line break or
tackle break or anything like that so
look unless they come up with just
a you know an outstanding game of footy
I reckon the Dolphins too strong yeah
with the Knights I just I haven’t seen a
single performance from this year where
I’ve gone yeah that’s that’s the
standard of foot I expected uh every
single performance even the ones the
games that they’ve won I have been very
uh underwhelmed so I’m going to go I’m
going to go the Dolphins as well Raiders
V sharks uh KO weeks replaces Fogg out
with a ruptured bicep uh trendle drops
out ainson Partners hind in the halves
seone C returns from suspension ston
stream drops out of the 17 after scoring
on debut how do you see this one playing
out manate a really impressive last week
shies very very good game of football
they just controlled it from start to
finish um yeah they they’ve got a good
game that they’re playing at the moment
so this is always a bit of a battle way
Raiders sharks yeah it is yeah Y is it
is it a sticky thing what is it like is
it is it because I think it’s a I don’t
know as a gal vers the Raiders almost
but it was gal vers
everyone absolutely he just hided
everyone he hated everyone absolutely um
yeah look you know going off the back of
yeah their performance on the weekend
you you’d have to stick with the
Sharkies um got a few changes of course
though but uh I I think the big one the
big out this in this game is Jamal foggy
oh man ruptured bicep like awful injury
yeah have they have they said is it what
6 eight weeks we heard like from yeah
eight weeks so like that’s that’s a big
blow um to the Raiders who you know had
some some really good signs early in the
season although um it’s as far as result
yeah results are concerned mixed bag
they they’re four from eight but I’m
going sharies mate I agree with you
Raiders with at fogy I think it’s going
to be a very tough SLO
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Come on, Kempy, upload the full episode bra