Is that a little bit of a concern? We've got a hooker and we've got a few that can play hooker instead of two hookers.

Yeah.

Well, I think you've, um, when you mentioned my [laughs] my playing days, and yes, it was a long time ago, but, um, you know, Jeremy Marshall-King has been one of the form players in the NRL and probably one of the most underrated players for a long, long time.

Um, certainly played, you know, a, a role that was so crucial for the Dolphins and the success they had.

So, you know, a lot of people talk about how good, um, you know, Isaiah Katoa is, and he's a very good player.

Um, and Cody, uh, Nikorima who also had a fantastic year.

But, um, Jeremy Marshall-King is, you know, a linchpin for their attack and, um, starts their attacking plays, and he always plays really well.

How's that managed?

Is that a little bit of a concern? We've got a hooker and we've got a few that can play hooker instead of two hookers.

Yeah.

Well I think you've, um ...

When you mentioned my [laughs], my playing days and yes, it was a long time ago, but, um, you know, Jeremy Marshall-King has been one of the form players in the NRL and probably one of the most underrated players for a long, long time.

Um, certainly played, you know, a, a role that was so crucial for the Dolphins and the success they had.

So, you know, a lot of people talk about how good, um, you know, Isaiah Katoa is, and he's a very good player.

Um, and Kodi Nikorima who also had a fantastic year.

How's that managed?

And with that point differential thing, do you think about that or do you just go for the win?

You just go for the win.

You know, you go for the performance and, you know, you hope and you bank on it that, you know, what you've put into training, not only this week but throughout the season, will come to the fore, you know, in the weekend.

And you just do your best and, you know, whatever the outcome might be in terms of the points differential, that's what you live with.

But, you know, these boys have really earned where they are at the season.

It's nice for Capewell and Wade Egan to get a rest.

But as this team has shown, it doesn't matter who's sitting on the sidelines, they still turn up and do a job.

What do you make of Webster?

And with that point differential thing, do you think about that or do you just go for the win?

You just go for the win.

You go for the performance and you hope and you bank on it that what you've put into training, not only this week but throughout the season, will come to the fore in the weekend.

And you just do your best and, you know, whatever the outcome might be in terms of the points differential, that's what you live with.

But, you know, these boys have really earned where they are at the season.

It's nice for Capewell and Wade Egan to get a rest.

But as this team has shown, it doesn't matter who's sitting on the sidelines, they still turn up and do a job.

What do you make of Webster?

And Simla, do you think, obviously, firstly, how do you think the game will go? Is it a bit of a banana skin? And would they be chatting the whole sort of minor premiership stuff up this week? Or is it just one of those things, get the job done and that's that?

You know, the Warriors are probably just too, you know, too professional.

You know, I spend a lot of time with James Fisher-Harris in our Kiwis camps and in recent weeks.

And all he's talking about is just the next game and preparing the same way they've prepared for each game so far.

So, you know, when you've got your leader and someone that's won four premierships, you know, taking that approach, it rubs off on all those players.

And you can see the...

The impact that James is having on the Demetrics, the Lakers, even the other leaders in the group, Mitch Barnett, Charles Capewell, they're all having this calming influence on the younger players, but also giving them the space to do what they do and play through a tough rugby league.

What would be your advice for these boys, you know what I mean? One piece of advice, running, you know, finishing in the top two and trying to get the job done for the franchise.

And Simla, do you think, obviously, firstly, how do you think the game will go? Is it a bit of a banana skin? And would they be chatting the whole sort of minor premiership stuff up this week? Or is it just one of those things, get the job done and that's that?

You know, the Warriors are probably just too professional.

You know, I spend a lot of time with James Fisher-Harris in our Kiwis camps and in recent weeks.

And all he's talking about is just the next game and preparing the same way they've prepared for each game so far.

So, you know, when you've got your leader and someone that's won four premierships, you know, taking that approach, it rubs off on all those players.

And you can see the...

The impact that James is having on the Demetrics, the Lakers, even the other leaders in the group, Mitch Barnett, Charles Capewell, they're all having this calming influence on the younger players, but also giving them the space to do what they do and play through a tough rugby league.

What would be your advice for these boys, you know what I mean? One piece of advice, running, you know, finishing in the top two and trying to get the job done for the franchise.

It's extraordinary.

It has been.

It has been.

And, you know, each week, uh, you know, you've-- I think, you know, as a, a Warriors fan since, you know, day one, 1995, and probably even be-before that, before, you know, they got their license, um, you know, this year, you know, you've been following them and just, you know, everyone asks us if it's their year.

And each week they've been, you know, they've been proving themselves.

They've overcome, you know, the loss of some key, key players, you know, Tanner Boyd and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and, you know, they just keep, um, they just keep turning up and, uh, you know, that's the resilience, the fight, the consistency that, um, that you need from a team who want to, um, have the aspirations that they do, which is to ultimately, you know, win the competition.

You could sit there as the sage and go, "Watch out for this." What would you tell them, Motu?

I would tell them just to keep doing what they're doing.

Is it... is it a massive help or could it actually be more pressure in terms of having the crowd sort of right there on your back, all the expectation? How important is home advantage in the finals?

Yeah, home advantage is massive and You know, the things that, you know, you sort of take for granted when you're, you know, like myself, you know, I have the comfort of watching from home or at Go Media in the stands now.

But, you know, sleeping in your own bed, you know, going to your local coffee shop as part of your game day routine or, you know, going to see your parents or, you know, your loved ones.

So, you know, those are the things you don't get to do when you're playing away from home.

But then also the other challenges that it puts on the away teams is that, you know, the opposite to what I'm saying.

They're in a foreign country, even though they used to come to New Zealand.

But, you know, once that Go Media, Mount Smart stadium crowd kicks in, it's a really tough and hostile environment to play in front of.

Where do you sit on that?

I think that's even more worth applauding than the offensive efforts, the fact that they kept them locked out in that last 15 minutes.

Yeah, and that was one of the noticeable things from watching the game, Das.

It was just, you know, the Warriors defensively were so intense and aggressive, but also with the ball in hand, they had the same mindset.

You know, they wanted to win every collision, you know, whether they were tackling, you know, the Panthers players or running with the ball.

And, you know, when you look at the stats last night, the Warriors ran for 400 meters more than the Panthers side.

And only one Panthers forward ran for over 100 meters, which in contrast, we had two Warriors forwards, Eddie Toyava-Iramia and also Tannis Dallas-Smith.

They ran for more metres than any of the Panthers forwards off the bench, which tells you that there was also no let-up when the bench players came on for the Warriors.

Metcalfe comes back, and Metcalfe makes a statement, and they can't drop him now, can they, surely?

Has it been a more competitive, has there ever been a more competitive team to pick than we have right now? And if you're able to, able to share some of the names that potentially might be on the radar?

Yeah, we've all...

You know, we're, you know, we've been, um, connecting with, uh, you know, a lot of the players over recent years, especially, you know, once, um, Stacey, uh, took over the Kiwis coach, uh, role from, from Michael Maguire.

And, you know, we've had discussions with players like, you know, Kayler Diggs and Ethan Strange over the years.

Um, but, you know, unfortunately for us, you know, they've had Origin, um, aspirations which, you know, we, we fully support.

But, you know, now, you know, this rule change actually opens it up for players to represent the Kiwis, which I think is a positive because, you know, prior to this rule change, you know, we were a little bit, uh, hamstrung and, and behind the eight ball because, you know, the other, the other nations in the tier two, um, you know, they were able to have players play in Origin and yet represent Samoa or Tonga.

Where this rule change allows us to, to also have that, uh, that opportunity and our players to also have that opportunity also.

Motu, in terms of where you think the, the depth of the Kiwis is at, uh, would this be one of the strongest periods from a, from an international depth point of view that New Zealand's ever had?

Do you think they can? When you look at the way it unfolded up against the Dolphins, it suggests to me that maybe it's not a bridge too far, but it's going to be tough for some of these younger blokes, isn't it?

Yeah, it is tough.

You know, it is tough, you know, to play, you know, in the grind of the NRL every week.

And that's why, you know, you'll see Andrew Webster, you know, rotate, you know, some of these young players in and out of the squad.

You know, some of these players have actually, you know, earned the trust of the coach, but also their teammates like Dimitri Vaimonga.

Tanner Stowell-Smith is starting to get regular game time off the bench.

So, yes, it is tough.

strengths for this wise team i don't want to you know punch down because they only just lost and they are a good team even though they've lost a couple of key players i see james fisher harris is back in the reserves whether he makes an entry or not maybe late after injuries uh another story but the positives around this side what have you liked have you liked the way darlin has come back into it do you enjoy uh well i mean just tell me what what does it for you in this side motu

Were you surprised Luke was given that seven jumper, and what has impressed you most about his performances?

Just his coolness under pressure and his calmness, and he grew into the seven role, and anyone will tell you that um you know that's familiar with the game you know halfback is probably the most uh pressurized position you know in an nrl site so you know they've done an outstanding job to take on the role and then grow and get better each game and you know to be leading the daily end points as you mentioned and he started to build a nice combination you know with chanel harris davida and really found his place in the team so you know that's why it's a a disappointing and a devastating loss if the reports are accurate.

It seems like a more comfortable run, but is July quite important given the injury list and the fact that new guys are going to have to come in?

Yeah, I think, you know, rather than looking at, you know, there is a favourable sort of a run.

You know, there are no game in the NRL as usual.

is an easy game or a given, but those teams, like you say, are in the bottom half of the table.

But I think the Warriors will just need to focus on their performance because when they perform well, no matter who's on the field or not, they're a chance in every NRL game.

And they've shown it this year with, like you mentioned, some of the guys that haven't been playing and they've been injured.