Would it be more exciting for you to play with some of the guys who you are going to play with in a squad or to go somewhere where your great-granddad has gone?

I guess it's a bit of both like the quality players we have in the side is unreal and to be able to mix with them and learn off them every week in the World Cup camp is going to be amazing and then also to live on my great grandad's legacy that's another pretty cool feat that hopefully I'm able to live up to so yeah there's a lot of other things too like I've always dreamed to play in this jersey as a kid and I used to watch these boys you know back in the days back in 2015 and stuff when some of the greats were running around and I used to idolise them a lot so there's definitely a lot of things that I'm looking forward to.

Team that you reckon is the biggest

threat? That's a hard one actually.

I've looked at all the teams and everyone's stacked there.

Everyone's put out some amazing teams so it's going to be an awesome World Cup I think.

Tonga's team is nuts and then Samoa as well and Australia's Strong as ever, you know, so it's going to be a great test.

I can't decide, would it be more exciting for you to play with some of the guys who you are going to play with in a squad or to go somewhere where your great-grandad has gone?

gone?Um, I guess it's a bit of both.

Like, um, the quality of players we have on the side is, uh, it's unreal, and, um, to be able to mix with them and, uh, learn off them every week.

Um, and, and the World Cup camp's gonna be amazing, and then also to live on my, um, great grandad's legacy, that's another pretty cool feat that, um, hopefully I'm able to live up to.

So, um, yeah, there's, there's, there's a lot of other things too, like I've always dreamed to play in this jersey as a kid and, um, we used to watch these boys, um, you know, back in...

I remember the days back in 2015 and stuff when, um, you know, some of the greats were running around, and I used to idolize them a lot.

So it's, um... there's definitely a lot of things that are, that are, um, I'm looking forward to.

Is that... do you reckon that that is gonna follow? Like, all of these people who are into the Warriors, is that gonna follow over to the Kiwis, do you think?

I have to say, if there's one thing that you can say to all the Warriors fans out there right now, obviously, heading into Sunday's match, what would it be that you want to send a message out from you and the boys? It

would probably be saying, like, just have our backs no matter what, I guess.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's hard sometimes, and as players so yeah if you guys could just have our backs no matter what it goes a long way

we can't be like the best fans in the NRL and then just like switch up I so agree with you but looking at playing the Knights this weekend what are you sort of expecting from them and what are you guys hoping to do

we're going to be expecting a lot of shifts like The last time we played them they told me and they still somehow pulled us apart on our edges time to time.

So we know Ponga is going to be running and going to be an indicator on their shifts.

They love an end-to-end sort of try and they are an end-to-end team especially.

What stands out for you?

Yeah, definitely with like Roger and Tanner Boyd, who were probably our top two form players at that time, you know.

And such strike players for us, that's two massive losses.

And we've lost Jackson Ford for half a season now, which... who's leading the daily M's, you know? So they're huge losses.

And I think it's just a credit to Webby and the coaching staff, how they prepare all of us, not just the playing squad and the quality of boys and depth we have behind the squad that when they do get the chance, they're ready to go.

And it's no sort of step backwards.

So yeah, it's just credit to how Webby prints us and how he has everyone on the same page every week.

Is part of that tidying things up and tightening things up a little bit?

What stands out for you?

Yeah, definitely with, like, Roger and Tanner Boyd, who were probably our top two form players at that time, you know, and some stroke players for us.

That's two massive losses, and we've lost Jackson Ford for half a season now, which...

He was leading the daily M's, you know, so they're huge losses.

And I think it's just a credit to Webby and the coaching staff, how they prepare all of us, not just the playing side and the quality of boys and depth we have behind the squad that when they do get the chance, they're ready to go.

And it's no sort of step backwards.

So, yeah, it's just credit to how Webby prints us and how he has everyone on the same page every week.

Is part of that tidying things up and tightening things up a little bit?

How's he going this week? How's he looking?

looking?No, he's real good.

Um, he's been killing it in cup and, um, he's definitely in our already, so, uh, everyone's pretty confident in him, so should be good.

[laughs]

Honestly, like it's pretty, pretty intense, eh? And, um, yeah, our leaders are the best in the game, so I mean, it just makes everyone step up and, uh, sort of being a young kid like me, I just wanna live up to their standard.

So yeah, it's a bit of both and, um, our halves have been killing it as well.

I mean, the depth we have is amazing, you know? So-

Can you believe everything's happened to you over the last couple of years? It's been a pretty amazing ride from where you came from.

Yeah, it's been awesome.

The club's had so much faith in me now and I want to stay in this club for long term and I want to be here.

and play as many games as I can for this club, for what this club's done for me.

I'm just loving it at the moment.

I love my footy.

I feel like I've taken a big step from last year in my confidence and my playing ability and just backing that.

Do you feel like you belong in the NRL now? Are you feeling comfortable?

How do you find the difference in the starting role?

Yeah, I guess sort of coming off the bench a bit different, like, kind of bring a little burst of energy, which Dimitri and I sort of look to do.

But yeah, I think starting the game is sort of a lot more of a slow burner.

Like you can start the game fast, but also I think that's how I like to play is sort of the gritty sort of get through a lot of work sort of game.

So like, you know, you have Fischer's and Barney.

So it was a bit different.

I started a few last year.

Hey, Tanner, do you feel now, mate, I mean, eight games already this season, 21 NRL appearances for you now, do you feel like you're just so much more, I know you spoke about being confident in your game, but do you feel like you're so much more at home now as a first grader that when you walk into training or when you're running out with the team on game day or game night, that you've got that sense that you belong in this arena?

How do you find the difference in the starting

role? Yeah, I guess sort of coming off the bench a bit different, like, got to bring a little burst of energy, which Dimitri and I sort of look to do.

But yeah, I think starting the game is sort of more of a slow burner.

Like you can start the game fast, but also I think that's how I like to play is sort of the gritty, sort of get through a lot of work sort of game style.

Like, you know, you have Fischer's and Barney.

So it was a bit different.

I started a few last year.

Hey, Tanner, do you feel now, mate, I mean, eight games already this season, 21 NRL appearances for you now, do you feel like you're just so much more, I know you spoke about being confident in your game, but do you feel like you're so much more at home now as a first grader that when you walk into training or when you're running out with the team on game day or game night, that you've got that sense that you belong in this arena?

Heartbreaking circum- circumstances at the end there, but how are you feeling?

Nah, I feel good.

Uh, yeah, just came down to moments, I think.

Uh, just big moments that sort of changed the game or, um, they capitalize on, you know.

So, uh, they, they came to play and they, they obviously had a real good game plan about how they're gonna go, um, about their footy and, uh, uh, they dominated us in, in periods too.

But, um, yeah, you can, you can see, um, they're, they're a really good side and, um, yeah, it was just a really good game, really tough game.

How do you think your year's gone so far?

Uh, no, it's been really good.

What did you make of some of this young talent coming through?

Yeah, I'm a fan of quite a lot of them too.

I've played a lot of footy with them growing up, so it was pretty cool to be in the NRL for those boys and see them progress.

Yeah, there's obviously some real good talent coming through and we don't lack that with our juniors.

There's so many boys that are putting their hand up consistently and it's shown on the weekend.

Followed by Maka, just to name one of them that I've played with for a long time and he put his hand up so it's good to see.

you

know, like especially with sort of having decisions to pick and who's going to be on your bench and stuff.

What did you make of some of this young talent coming through?

Yeah, I'm a fan of quite a lot of them too.

I've played a lot of footy with them growing up, so it was pretty cool to be in the NRL for those boys and see them progress.

Yeah, there's obviously some real good talent coming through and we don't lack that with our juniors.

There's so many boys that are putting their hand up consistently and it's shown on the weekend.

Followed by Maka, just to name one of them that I've played with for a long time and he put his hand up so it's good to see.

What goals do you set yourself for this season? There is a lot of talent competing for spots on that pack and on that bench.

Yeah, 100%.

tenor at what part of this season did you feel like you you truly belonged in first grade in the nrl

uh i'm not too sure i think um, I think I'm still battling sort of, um, bit of self doubt and stuff and, and confidence issues, I think, um, towards the back end, but I started to gain more and more confidence, you know, the bigger minutes I was playing and, um, realizing, um, and having the boy around me, you know, telling me I'm good enough to be here and stuff.

And, um, I'm here for a reason.

So that helped a lot, but yeah, still sort of still trying to build on that.

um, pick something for the future, I guess.

In terms of where the club's at, Tanner, and your experience of the season, given so many boys were playing New South Wales Cup and then having first grade experience, what is that group of players like? Are you pretty tight as a squad?

Yeah, honestly, we're all close as is.

Especially New South Wales Cup boys, I think that's what got us to the end.

Tanner, at what part of the season did you feel like you truly belonged in first grade, in the

NRL? I'm not too sure.

I think I'm still battling sort of a bit of self-doubt and stuff and confidence issues, I think, towards the back end.

But I started to gain more and more confidence, you know, the bigger minutes I was playing and realising that having the boy around me, you know, telling me I'm good enough to be here and stuff and I'm here for a reason.

So that helped a lot.

But yeah, still sort of still trying to build on that.

But yeah, pick something for the future, I guess.

In terms of where the club's at, Tanner, and your experience of the season, given so many boys were playing New South Wales Cup and then having first grade experience, what is that group of players like? Are you pretty tight as a squad?