I mean, do you think there was discontent in the camp?

Well, I definitely think there's some of those players are looking at the formations or the way they've been asked to play.

I mean, On Tuesday, I'm sorry, on Friday, in the Tees interview, he's challenged about playing 4-4-2.

And he said, well, what do you do now? Do you think about the system? And he was like, well, people only talk about systems when you get beat.

Every support is like an expert.

In the next game, he changes the formation.

So, I mean, I think there is some players.

I mean, from what you hear about the likes, what maybe Popov and Hugel are on, from what they've offered so far, why aren't you putting that into a midfield player? Or would you have been better off keeping Alex Reid and signing both Hugel and Bondo and then sort of putting the money into the midfield? Do you think there's a case to be had for the fact that they've sort of put all their eggs in one basket in terms of the players that they wanted?

But how have you found your recruitment, our recruitment, sorry, to be and also leading on to something that we've discussed earlier on in the episode? I mean, how do you think Poole's midfield is shaping up? Do you think it's going to be something that will hold us back this season and our ambitions?

I can answer those two at the same time.

Recruitment-wise, I think it's been a lot better.

It's good to see that we've got people in the background who do the recruitment that are not drunk.

I'm pleased with the recruitment because I think there's been a lot of a mixture there of experienced recruitment players, players who've got something to prove.

to Larry McEwan from Spinewa like Brook and Lunga who played in Leeds Bromley and played as many starters as he wanted and obviously you've got proven players like Nolan and so it's been a good mixture I think we've strengthened nearly every area I think we needed so many defence was strong we just needed a little bit of tinkering with to start a bit more gets to it.

But we've kept the call straight.

So just to finish off then, Mark, how are you feeling heading into those two games? Do you think we'll see some positive results? And if not, why?

Yeah

... at home.

Well, firstly, I've got a nickname Spud.

Hopefully, people don't think it's 'cause of my head.

I used to eat 15 potatoes before a game, so that was, um...

That used to smash, uh, the S bins at home.

I'll give you a tip.

Yeah.

And he was copping a lot of flack, but you have to imagine a lot of that flack's gone now he's won the series.

Yeah, a lot of crap down here, mate.

I hate what they call the keyboard warriors.

I was fortunate enough in 1999 to play my last two State of Origin games with Laurie.

We actually had a drawn series up there at Lang Park back then, but for him to cop all the criticism, the way he speaks, he's so calm, but deep down he was hurting.

And what a great performance.

You know, I get annoyed with players when you hear about the coach, oh, he's not doing his job.

Spudweiser,

But if we're going to use big minutes for Murray and Radley, and then there's the other big body of Fenua Blake, I'm thinking that Ethan Strange gets out there and Appy doesn't get used.

Well, let me ask the Strange question with regard to Strange and Coruscant.

Can they play the last 20 minutes only? Who? Can they play the last 20 minutes only? What do you mean by that? That's it.

They go on.

Because of who they are, their movement, their speed, et cetera, their mind, they won't be tired.

Will they deliver if they play together somewhere on the field in the last 15, 20 minutes?

They've said it.

You know what? Personally, I'll be honest with you.

You played at Wembley?

Yeah, it was great.

Yeah, that was 1995.

Um, but we've had a touring party of 47.

We then went across to Paris.

Been up and did the, uh, Western Front.

Now we've, uh ...

They have, they have not.