How have you found this one, Piggy?

Well, um, a mutual friend of ours, Levy.

Actually, I think he's a part-owner in it, so.

[laughs]

[singing] Wish someone would show me living this life can be lonely.

Trying to get away from the old me.

Still stuck singing these blues.

All I really need is a little good news.

Could that be a factor if the scores are tight into the second half, just like it was last week against the Panthers?

Yeah, I have no doubt that it can be, and the reason I say that is because I, I actually loved the second half of last week's game where the Newcastle Knights were defending their try line, and they had that sea of blue and red, um, supporting them and willing them on and keeping them going because I've no doubt that that would've played a part, uh, in the way that those players were, were, were, were just getting across the field and doing everything they can to keep Penrith a- away from their try line.

So, you know, they're, they're talking that the Knights will probably have the majority of the crowd, and I think it can play a part in Sunday night's game.

They're so exciting to watch." But the last three weeks it's been their defense, hasn't it? So 10 against the Rabbitohs, 10 conceded against the Warriors in front of 48,000 fans in Auckland, and then 14 against the Panthers with 12 men for most of the game.

Yeah, it's been sensational, and that's, you know what? That's what you need at this time of year.

You gotta back your defense, and then off the back of your defense, if you're defending really well, you tend to get a fair bit of energy once you've got the football.

So, you know, the Knights have proven that through this final series, that they're backing their defense even though they are, uh, really, really good with the football in hand.

So I don't think they'll change too much.

So what's to say they don't produce the upset on Sunday night?

Oh, and they're every chance of doing that, Levy.

You're 100% right.

I've just got to say, I think it's just been so entertaining right through the final series, the way they've gone about their business and, you know, a lot of people have written them off each week as they've gone through and they've proved everyone wrong and now they've got to the grand final, they've got one more to go and they're every chance of doing it again.

The big thing about it is it's just so great that, you know, Newcastle haven't been in a grand final for such a long time and we just know how loyal the Newcastle fans are and It's just rewards for them for that support that you were just talking about, sticking with their club.

They get the opportunity to cheer on their team in the grand final.

And I know one thing, it's going to create an unbelievable atmosphere out there on Sunday night, having all those fans from Newcastle get behind their team I can't wait to get out there on Sunday.

Who do you think's going to lift the Proven Summons trophy on Sunday night?

It's unbelievable.

Yeah, it's outstanding, isn't it? Look, he's obviously, as you said, he's got his second opportunity in the head coaching role and he's made every post a winner.

From day one when he went up to Newcastle and he's got the community involved.

He's really connected the playing group with the region and off the back of that, they've just had a fantastic final series.

It started with that victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs and then they went over to New Zealand.

They got the job done there.

And then what we saw yesterday was just amazing over the Panthers.

Do you agree?

There has been a bit of money for the Roosters, and that's plus or minus two and a half at the line, Mark.

Can't wait for this one tonight, Levy.

Obviously, we're calling it with J-Moz as well, but it's going to be an absolute cracking game.

Up there at Suncorp, sold out.

Two great teams, you know, they've both had great seasons.

Match-ups right across the park, you know, the fullbacks, the halves.

the centres, Toya and Farnworth, wherever you look, it's just going to be a great game.

Panthers, $1.27, the Knights, $3.80, and it's 10.50 at the line.

But, gee, the Roosters look like they're warming up for something bigger and better, don't they?

Yeah, well, they'll give themselves a chance.

They'll give themselves a hope.

They did a really good job.

Obviously, they got out to a 12-0 lead.

And then, as you mentioned, the Sharkies so early in that game lost Nico Hines.

And then just after that, they lost Hiroti as well to that leg injury when he ran into the advertising sign.

But the Newcastle Knights, they held on, two-point victors, and they're into a prelim, the wooden spooners from last year.

$1.45 the Roosters, Cronulla $2.75, and it's seven and a half at the better line.

Yeah, Levy, that's probably the only question mark over the Roosters, I think, is just how they recovered from that brutal game against the Penrith Panthers last week.

I like them.

I like the Roosters in this one.

I just think if they can bring that same enthusiasm, that same intensity that they brought to that game for long periods, I just think they've got too much firepower for the Sharkies.

The Warriors $1.52, the Knights $2.55 and it's five and a half at the line.

Boys, I'm tipping the upset in this one.

I'm tipping the Newcastle Knights.

But to be in a prelim four years on, it's just remarkable.

Yeah, they've done a really good job, haven't they? You know, they've built the side.

They've had some exceptional talent come through.

Katara at halfback, Jack Bostock in the centre.

These guys were pretty much unknowns that the club went out and recruited a few years ago.

And then they had that Melbourne crew that went there initially, Kafusi, the Bromwich boys and whatnot, and they've obviously set up a really good foundation for that club.

And off the back of that, you know, they've got an outstanding team, the hammer at the back.

Is it pretty special to see the emergence of so many guys like this in the Knights squad?

The Rabideau's $1.40, the Knight's $3, and it's seven and a half at the better line.

Yeah, looking forward to this one tonight, Levy.

I'm going to stick with your Rabideau's.

I just think they've got too much class, and I think there's obviously, as we know, a fair few key outs for the Knights, and there has been for a while.

So I think the Rabideau's get the job done.

I don't think I've ever seen the MCG look better, and you think about how many people are watching this Thursday night footy back in the United States, and we've got San Fran taking on LA at the moment down at the MCG.

Yeah, I'm watching it right now, Levy, as we're talking.

So, sensational.

The place will be rocking.

Yeah, look, they've done well, haven't they, Warriors? Obviously set themselves up nicely, finishing in second spot.

But I know for the last few weeks on the continuous call team, Levy, we've been talking about it, haven't we? The fact that they had their last few games at home and if they finished in that top two, they get the opportunity to have week one.

at home and you know if they're able to beat the Dolphins it's going to be a tough game for them but if they are able to beat them they then get that prelim final at home and that's massive for the New Zealand side if they're able to do that they can set themselves up really nicely before potentially heading back over to Sydney for the grand final

and then Friday night it's the do or die clash between the Rabbitohs and the Knights the Bunnies coming off that well well putting 50 points past their arch rivals the Roosters last week

Yeah, they did a great job.

It was a special night, wasn't it? We were out there at Talion Stadium, Jai Arrow's 100th game.

I will mention Jai was out at the Dragons game yesterday supporting his great mate Damien Cook.

Oh, is it Wynn Stadium on Sunday?

Yeah, yeah, the two o'clock game, Wynn Stadium, Dragons and Eels.

Oh, okay, I've got to do Reconbank Stadium, but that's all right.

A little mistake there.

Reconbank's at four o'clock.

Little Birdie tells me we're going to be chatting on Mondays and Fridays over the next few weeks, Piggy, about rugby league and finals and everything else.

Yeah, I think I'm going to be joining you on a Monday as well, Levy, talking about all the finals.

I'm looking forward to that.

Yeah, this is going to be a

cracking game tonight.

Can't wait to get out to Conbank Stadium.

Obviously, the Bulldogs, they need to win to keep their finals chances alive.

But I think the Panthers, I think they can get the job done tonight.

Cowboys $1.25, the Tigers $4, and that's 12.5 at the line.

Can the Tigers go back-to-back? I'm not too sure.

I think the Cowboys win that one.

Am I right in saying that something similar happened to you but it wasn't a police station?

Yeah, my wife gave birth to my second son, William.

Carly gave birth to him on the front seat of our car.

Um... out the front of the hospital.

We didn't make it inside.

So the mother-in-law and I had the wicker keeper gloves on Levy and delivered him

Jeez, this should be a good game tonight too.

Yeah, it'll be a cracking game.

Wasn't there 33 errors or something?

I think there was about 34 or 35 errors.

I think some of the players apologised after the game.

It was that bad.

But how the Eels won still amazes me, but they did.

They can't be that bad

And they've got one and a half start for the trip to Canberra.

Yeah, this is probably one of the hardest of the round to pick.

Just before we do, Piggy, last night, 70 point margin, the Chookies, what?

What about that? Yeah, geez, it would have been tough watching for all those Cowboys fans that had made the trek up there to Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

It was a really, really ordinary night for Cowboys fans.

I will say this, off the back of the Cody Nicorima signing this week, Piggy, nice roster on paper for next year.

Yeah, look, they obviously had to make some changes and they've done that and they've brought some key players in.

So it's exciting for the Dragons and plenty of work to get done come

What's your

opinion? Oh, mate, look, I just, yeah, there's a lot of drama going on there.

I don't want to delve into it too much, but I've got to say, I feel for Benji.

I've stuck up for Benji for a long time.

Well,

$1.53 the Warriors, four and a half start for this cracker.

Levy, I'm tipping the Warriors, but I think the Doggies will give a real good account of themselves, obviously off the back of that big win last weekend.

I wasn't convinced with the Warriors in their game against the Dragons.

does,

Levy, and it's great to hear that all those listeners on the cruise love this segment because at the end of the day, I'm probably the only constant.

You have holidays, Sully has holidays, so it's really nice to know that I'm here week in and week out.

No,

The Knights, $3.00. And it's eight and a half at the better line.

Yeah, the Sharky's really short for this one, obviously off the back of that big win over the Dolphins.

But I'm tipping the upset here, Levy.

I like the Newcastle Knights.

West Tigers $1.58, the Dragons $2.40, and it's four and a half at the Bedar line.

Well, I've stuck solid with the Dragons all year.

I'm not going to change now.

I'm not going to change now.

I've found myself at the bottom of the continuous call team tipping competition, so I'm going to stay there.

Dragons to win.

Race six where?

There's a few race sixes.

The Tigers, after a couple of big spankings, they're $1.53 in the head-to-head, $2.50 for the Titans, and they've got four and a half start to Sunday's game.

Boys, am I right in saying this is the last game at Leichhardt Oval for a while? Yeah, for a couple of years.

For a couple of years because of the redevelopment.

Surely, off the back of what Duncan just said about how they've been touched up the last few weeks, they bounced back at Leichhardt Oval and put on a great performance for their fans.

There's a way.

Has Laurie Daly been in touch to say, what are you doing? Well, that wasn't me.

That was MG.

I just ran with it.

I think it's Queensland Day, isn't it? $1.58 for the Fins, four and a half start for the Cowboys.

Yeah, I'm gonna take the Cowboys.

I'm gonna take the outsiders.

I think the, they've done a great job to start the season.

They've got a bye next week, so they'll be keen to get the two points here.

Is this true?

Yeah.

Well, Levy, that's gonna be my tip tomorrow.

Did you stitch up Ben Cray or something this week, did you?

Yeah.

Well, uh, there was a photo of him in a blue headgear, um, that he w- wasn't very happy with at the time.

He only wore it once in one game.

But I did happen to print that photo out and-

Just not sure who's gonna back up here, so, uh, bit standoffish with the prices at the moment.

moment.Oh, I'm, I'm loving what the Cowboys are doing at the moment.

I'm, uh, I'm on the Cowboys.

How's he performing?

I'm watching.

Yeah, their t- his team's undefeated, the Wollongong Dioceses.

They've, uh, they've, uh, smashed everyone at the moment, so they're going really well.

Penrith $1.32, Canberra 3.40, and that's 10 and a half at the line.

Uh, I'm gonna go with the Panthers, but, um, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit of an up- upset and the Raiders can possibly drag a victory.

How have you fared, Piggy, in the moving states?

Yeah, I have moved a fair few times over the years but the only moving story I've got, Levy, is when I was a little kid, my mum and dad moved... and they left me playing with the kids down the road and forgot about me and moved out.

Jeez, you've had a big week at the Old Dragons, pig.

Yeah, it has been a big week, but all full steam ahead now.

Young is in charge.

He's made a few changes, and I'm sure the boys, they trained this morning, so they'll be ready to go.

They're going to camp this afternoon and ready for Anzac Day tomorrow.

Pig?

Yeah, who would've thought? Who would've thought, Luke, the Storm be in the position they're in? Um, I like the Raiders off the back of their win last week, as Duncan said, over the Bunnies.

Um, at home as well.

I think they, I think they win that one, the Raiders.

Is that right?

Yeah, that's right.

Obviously there's some restrictions, Luke, but I've been on fire to start this year and, um, had another winner last week.

So this week I'm gonna go Sydney race four, number one, Plaintiff.