Um, what are you looking forward to this week in sport, boys?

Well, I'm, I'm looking forward to, to see how, uh, the changes of the Kangaroo side, what, what players we see, um, chucked in there.

I was ... [laughs] I gotta be honest, I was, I was in New Zealand last week, um, on a golfing trip, which was amazing.

Um, and we went back to one of the guys' rooms to watch the game, and when ...

And I didn't, I wasn't up on the news, so when I saw Reece Walsh run out, I was like, "This is, [laughs] um, a bit odd." Um, with the Clive- Clive Churchill Medalist, he hasn't played, uh, and James Tedesco and, and Reece hadn't played for four or five weeks.

Oh, look, it was justified with Reece's performance.

It was phenomenal.

[laughs]

Um, what are you looking forward to this week in sport, boys?

Well, I'm, I'm looking forward to, to see how, uh, the changes of the Kangaroos side, what, what players we see, um, chucked in there.

I was ... [laughs] I've gotta be honest, I was, I was in New Zealand last week, um, on a golfing trip, which was amazing.

Um, and we went back to one of the guys' rooms to watch the game and when ...

And I didn't, I wasn't up on the news, so when I saw Reece Walsh run out, I was like, "This is, um, [laughs] a bit odd." Um, with the C- Clive Churchill Medallist, he hasn't played, uh, and James Tedesco and, and Reece hadn't played for four or five weeks.

Oh, look, it was justified with Reece's performance.

It was phenomenal.

[laughs]

What have you made of the World Cup so far?

I like it.

I think we've seen the two best sides, though, haven't we? I mean, in terms of that performance on Thursday night, it was just outrageous, the quality of that game and some of the performances.

I can't see any team getting close to those two teams.

I really can't.

For New Zealand, I know the Pacific Island teams are strong, but the level of that game that I saw, and it is hard to judge because we haven't seen the Samoas and the Tongas come up against the New Zealand or Australia to sort of match their wares.

But, oh, geez, the class in both that Australia and New Zealand team was on show.

Do you go to golf trips so you can go to work? LAUGHTER

He loves

you guys.

I was a rooster as a kid, but then 2019, it busted me.

It busted me, mate.

Look, mate, I'm on the Newcastle BMW.

I bought my young fella in for work today, and he's decked out in Newcastle gear.

He's turncoat as well.

it.

I, I, I terribly feel sorry for Cleary, but for Phoenix Crossland, if he's to miss this grand final, I, I'd be so gutted for him.

He's been enormous for them too, hasn't he, in, in the finals campaign, his energy around the middle of the field.

Um, I, yeah, well, it's just different, Sugar.

Like, it's, it's a different thought process.

Um, I, I've always sort of thought if you, if you get suspended in, if you do something wrong in club land, you shouldn't get suspended from Origin and, and vice versa.

it doesn't allow his skills to shine like it does in league.

Talking to our, um, our Geordie, our, our producer and, about that.

You know, I, I just, I hope we don't lose what we're seeing when he goes over to rugby union.

I, I, I terribly feel sorry for Cleary, but for Phoenix Crossland, if he's to miss this Grand Final, I, I'd be so gutted for him.

He's been enormous for him too, hasn't he? In, in the finals campaign.

His energy around the middle of the field.

Um, I, yeah.

Well, it's just different, Sug.

Like it's, it's a different thought process.

Um, I, I've always sort of thought if you, if you get suspended in, if you do something wrong in club land, you shouldn't get suspended from Origin and, and vice versa.

it doesn't allow his skills to shine like it does in league.

I terribly feel sorry for Cleary, but for Phoenix Crossland, If he's to miss this grand final, I'd be so gutted for him.

He's been enormous for him too, hasn't he, in the finals campaign.

His energy around the middle of the field.

Well, it's just different, Shug.

It's a different thought process.

I've always sort of thought if you get suspended and do something wrong – in club land you shouldn't get suspended from origin and vice versa if you do something in origin you shouldn't get suspended for your clubs like you get to spend it in where you're playing this is a whole different sort of kettle of fish what you're talking about i don't think they're going to change anything this week um and yeah the challenge i mean i guess the unfortunate thing for phoenix he may miss a fair chunk of the world cup too

his skills to shine like it does in league.

Talking to our Geordie, our producer, about that.

Yeah.

You, so yeah.

Yeah.

I, actually, it sort of half crossed my mind, but I mean, yeah, how do you...

I mean, what do you do? You just go, "Hang, hang on, someone else want to kick?" 'Cause Tuilagi's going off with a HIA.

I don't know.

I, I understand your point, but what do you, I mean, what do you do?

[laughs]

Yeah.

That's fine.

Um, what we saw prior to, uh, Trindall's dislocated shoulder, how good that combination was working.

I, I thought that combination worked this year better than it's ever worked.

I thought Nico probably had his best season or, um, of, of the season, of the year since he, he won the Dally M.

Uh, when they were clicking through that sort of seven-week patch there where they put 66 on the Dolphins, where they, you know, beat the Warriors, where they, you know, it, it was, it, it was working pretty well, Fletch.

I know the last five weeks have been horrendous for them.

Yeah

Yeah.

That's fine.

Um, what we saw prior to, uh, Trindall's desiccated shoulder, how good that combination was working.

I, I thought that combination worked this year better than it's ever worked.

I thought Nico probably had his best season or, um, of, of the season, of the year since he, he won the Daily M.

Uh, when they were clicking through that sort of seven-week patch there where they put 66 on the Dolphins, where they, you know, beat the Warriors, where they, you know, uh, it, it was, it, it was working pretty well, Fletch.

I know the last five weeks have been horrendous for them.

... that's the reason why Elizabeth Frank's takes-

Really?

Um, yeah, no, not...

No, I'd, I'd, I'd just stir Rat up more than anything.

Uh, they were, they were, they done enough.

Uh, the Cowboys were, were ordinary.

They had 18 errors in a, you know, elimination final was very ordinary.

Uh, but the Sharkies, they, they done enough and, and we touched on it earlier, um, off air.

He was phenomenal, wasn't he?

Mm

...

Vermont, um, just found a way to sort of hang in there and get the job done against, uh, you know, the pretty powerful Warriors side.

And losing Laker Alisema before the game wasn't ideal, but, um, th- they had the power game down the Warriors, but I think it was the first time I saw them, um, uh, just the creativity on the edges, just not having...

I mean, this is what, their third-string half now? Um, I know it's Tomardy Martin who's been going good, but I think it was the first time we've really seen him get caught out, um, without that creativity, without the half, from a halfback.

And that right edge is an issue.

Yeah.

Well, talking about the, the changing in personnel, just, you know, with Watene-Zelezniak and, um, Tumati Martin in and out, Metcalf, and you, you sort of just...

... boys, tell us, uh, who was the most impressive team over the weekend?

Uh, I thought the Dolphins were mine.

Um, just found a way to sort of hang in there and get the job done against, uh, you know, that pretty powerful Warriors side.

And losing Lachey Alexander before the game wasn't ideal, but, um, th- they had the power game down the Warriors, but I think it was the first time I saw them, um, uh, just the creativity on the edges, just not having...

I mean, this is, what? Their third-string half now.

Um, I know it's Tamati Paora, he's been going good, but I think it was the first time we've really seen him get caught out, um, without that creativity, without the half, from a halfback.

And that right edge is an issue.

Yeah.

Rat, are you

with me? Well, I'm hoping so.

They certainly showed that form four weeks ago, Shug.

They were there about, so, you know, flying, they were fit, they were scoring plenty of points, so, you know, looking great.

Trindle, the loss of Trindle was a big loss, obviously, but he'll be back.

Is he definitely back, Rat? Yeah, he'll be back.

He's back? Yeah.

I'll tell

Rat, are you with me? Well,

I'm hoping so.

They certainly showed that form four weeks ago, Shug.

They were there about, so, you know, flying, they were fit, they were scoring plenty of points, so, you know, looking great.

Trindle, the loss of Trindle was a big loss, obviously, but he'll be back.

Is he definitely back, Rat? Yeah, he'll be back.

He's back? Yeah.

I'll tell

Rat, are you with me? Well, I'm

hoping so.

They certainly showed that form four weeks ago, Shug.

They were there about, so, you know, flying, they were fit, they were scoring plenty of points, so, you know, looking great.

Trindle, the loss of Trindle was a big loss, obviously, but he'll be back.

Is he definitely back, Rat? Yeah, he'll be back.

He's back? Yeah.

I'll tell

What if you threw a mega third-party deal to be the third-party sponsor for the best player we've seen in some time, Nathan Cleary? Could you imagine that?

That'd be huge.

That would be absolutely enormous.

I think with Chet going back there, though, and seeing what Chet did on the weekend, I think he'd love to have a season with his brother down there at Penrith.

And I can't see him leaving once that kicks into gear.

Look, the Hudson Young situation, I can see, but geez, it's unfair and all these other clubs trying to keep players.

I mean, I know they need a leg up, but I just think they've gotten too much.

What about your test match, like Wallaby jacket? Would you ever wear

What if you threw a mega third-party deal to be the third-party sponsor for the best player we've seen in some time, Nathan Cleary? Could you imagine that?

That'd be huge.

That would be absolutely enormous.

I think with Jet going back there, though, and seeing what Jet did on the weekend, I think he'd love to have a season with his brother down there at Penrith.

And I can't see him leaving once that kicks into gear.

Look, the Hudson Young situation, I can see, but, jeez, it's unfair on all these other clubs trying to keep players.

I mean, I know they need a leg up, but I just think they've gotten too much.

What is it down there in the Shire? What's about it, Rat?

Well, it's been proven, hasn't it?

Boys, this was my sell, right? So thinking if you were to win the comp remarkably – I think the only way you do it, so currently now, they're not going to finish top four.

They can't finish top four.

So they have to win the comp through four big games.

Do you really want to add a rivalry match such as Melbourne to make it five straight games, risking further injury, suspension, HIA? My personal view is, boys, get in the ice bath, get in the sauna, chill.

Nico, go and see what the great man Jim Dimmick did ahead of the 95 grand final.

He turned up, head shaved, ready for business.

I don't like digging.

I'm not at all worried by what we saw of the Roosters, but what do you boys think?

Uh, I think it might be a bit of an aberration.

I, I think they'll be all right.

It's sort of one of those games you probably go into, and they probably thought, "Oh, we'll, we'll, we'll roll over these fellows." And you just can't do that at this league at any level.

Um, someone can knock you over.

So, um, yeah, I, I think they'll, they'll bounce back out of that.

Um, pretty impressed by the Warriors.

Mm

... by what we saw of the Roosters, but what do you boys think?

Uh, I think it might be a bit of an aberration.

I, I think they'll be all right.

It's sort of one of those games you probably go into, and they probably thought, "Oh, we'll, we'll, we'll roll over these fellas," and you just can't do that at this league at any level.

Um, someone can knock you over.

So, um, yeah, I, I think they'll, they'll bounce back out of that.

Um, pretty impressed by the Warriors.

Mm

I'm not at all worried by what we saw of the Roosters, but what do you boys think?

Uh, I think it might be a bit of an aberration.

I, I think they'll be all right.

It's sort of one of those games you probably go into, and they probably thought, "Oh, we'll, we'll, we'll roll over these fellas," and you just can't Do that at this league at any level, um, someone can knock you over.

So, um, yeah, I, I think they'll, they'll bounce back out of that.

Um, pretty impressed by the Warriors.

I tell you what-

Mm

Mm.

Like, hi- his performance from, uh, the ruck is so critical.

Had a, uh, he probably had one of his more unhappy games against St. George.

Um, wasn't, again, wasn't great last week.

But hi- his running game just sets up the play for Nico and, and Brayden, and, you know, he's on the back of the, of a good forward pack.

If he can get, um, you know, Blake running the ball, I think i- it'll take a lot of pressure off Nico, and, you know, there's no question, you know, Blake Brayley is, is, uh, a critical sort of part to their success.

So yeah, I'm, I'm expecting a little bit more out of Blake Brayley.

Yeah

Does he need to get – because, you know, Tricky Trindle, they're saying it could be four weeks.

Yeah, it could be.

You know, I was saying this a couple of weeks ago, that the key, in my personal opinion, to Cronulla going deep and winning a competition – is Blake Braley.

His performance from the ruck is so critical.

He probably had one of his more unhappy games against St. George.

Again, wasn't great last week.

But his running game just sets up the play for Nico and Braden, and he's on the back of a good forward pack.

And

Mm.

Like, his, his performance from, uh, the ruck is so critical.

Had a, uh, he probably had one of his more unhappy games against St. George.

Um, wasn't, again, wasn't great last week.

But his, his running game just sets up the play for Nico and, and Brayden, and, you know, he's on the back of the, of a good forward pack.

If he can get, um, you know, Blake running the ball, I think it, it'll take a lot of pressure off Nico, and, you know, there's no question, you know, Blake Brayley is, is a, a critical sort of part to their success.

So yeah, I'm, I'm expecting a little bit more out of Blake Brayley.

Yeah