What did you make of their performance against Samoa last night?

Yeah, you know, I think there's been a bit of talk about this, but some of the decisions that went against the Samoans, and obviously they got a bit frustrated, and it's pretty hard to chase points when you're down, you know, I think at halftime it was like 22-6 or 22-4, something like that, and it was always going to be hard for them, but I thought the Australians probably their best performance of the tournament last night.

They're starting to click into gear.

And once again, if you look at Caelan Ponga, if you look at Reece Walsh, probably two players there that have probably just gone to another level in this tournament.

Both those guys, with the opportunities that they've had, have taken them.

And you look at Reece Walsh in that game last night, I think he scored three tries last again last night, but just the freakish talent in terms of when he gets the ball and the opportunities that he can create.

But also I think the Australians have done really, really well in terms of scored a lot of their points on the edges.

What does it mean to you to be in this position? And it must be satisfying to be in this position, but also a big week ahead.

Have you enjoyed the day? You caught up with a lot of your mates?

Oh, it was great to be at the Kiwi reunions, Gordie, and, you know, just seeing some of the older guys there, the generation before me, and I wanted us to watch from the banks on Carlisle Park and watching the likes of Fred Akoi and James Lulawai and Dane O'Hara and, you know, to actually see some of those guys here today is a real privilege.

What about your taste of Carlisle Park? Oh, mate.

Go back.

Take me back.

Here we go.

Here we go.

Are we in a positive space?

Has the depth of New Zealand rugby league through the NRL, um, got exponentially better?

I think one of the big things those years, you look at the squads and you look at the players, uh, in terms of where we currently are now.

The NRL is a big-- You look at, you know, the pathways, not only for the male players, the women's game now is starting to really eventuate.

And what it actually does, the depth of players that we have, we have so many young kids, you know, uh, in, in Queensland, in New South Wales, uh, that are going over there at a younger age.

You know, guys are leaving here sixteen, seventeen, going to Australia, even younger, being signed on.

Uh, I noticed out of the South Island there was a Tanis, uh, Pal, uh, Smith, whose younger brother got signed by the Roosters.

Uh, you know? So, so there's a lot of opportunities now, a-and the great thing about that is next year we have the Perth Reds, the year after, you have the PNG Chiefs and potentially a third team, uh, another third team or a second team out of New Zealand in twenty-nine, thirty.

... where do you think the Kiwis have the advantage?

Has the depth of New Zealand Rugby League through the NRL, um, got exponentially better?

I think one of the big things is you look at the squads and you look at the players, uh, in terms of where we currently are now.

The NRL is a big-- You look at, you know, the pathways, not only for the male players, the women's game now is starting to really eventuate.

And what it actually does, the depth of players that we have, we have so many young kids, you know, uh, in, in Queensland, in New South Wales, uh, that are going over there at a younger age.

You know, guys are leaving here sixteen, seventeen, going to Australia, even younger, being signed on.

I noticed out of the South Island, there was, uh, Tanis, uh, Telia-Smith, whose younger brother got signed by the Roosters.

Uh, you know, so, so there's a lot of opportunities now, a- and the great thing about that is next year we have the Perth Reds, the year after you have the PNG Chiefs and potentially a third team, uh, another third team or a second team out of New Zealand in twenty-nine, thirty.

years.Tawera Nico joining us here to talk about the Kiwis squad, and Tawera, I just want to ask you too, you look at the teams like Australia and the other leading nations, where do you think the Kiwis have the advantage?

you know, belief can be a big thing.

So, you know, with the Knights, I think they'll have their belief factor and the support of their crowd.

One of the things that I did, I remember getting into the first one, I played Super League Grand Final in 97, and it was the biggest crowd then, we had 60-odd thousand up at ANZ in Suncorp.

But it was really around just focusing on your role, making sure you've done everything all year, preparing the best that you could, and just embracing the game.

So, you know, for those younger guys who haven't been there, and there's, you know, the Knights fellas who thoroughly deserve it, but you've got some campaigners like I know the likes of Daly Cherry Evans, who's been there before.

I'm not too sure how many of the Roosters, this Roosters squad has played in a grand final before either.

So it's been a little while, but looking forward to Nafahu White.

Do you already know which way that's going or is it still something to be worked out in the coming days?

years.

Yeah, 25 years since they were the last one.

And, you know, we had the great Joey Jobs played in that one in 2001 when they won that match.

So 25 years, they don't come around very often.

And I think one thing that, you know, Justin Holbrook's really installed in this team is that sense of belief.

You know, and, you know, the Roosters, I think the Roosters haven't been there for six or seven years either.

So, you know, both teams are coming to the grand final.

Do you already know which way that's going or is it still something to be worked out in the coming days?

Uh, is that a factor or something you have to factor in? Are you looking for a different, different type of athlete nowadays in the international arena?

I think one of the s- key things is, uh, looking at, you know, the, the speed of the game now.

You know, the game has got a lot quicker, a lot faster, so you've got...

If you look at the shape of the guys now and, and the, the guys out there playing at, at that highest level, they're a lot leaner, they're a lot more faster.

You know, their body shape's changed a little bit.

They're still big and strong, but you're actually looking for the more athletic build now.

And if you look at the players and right across the board, their body shape, uh, you know, what's expected of them, that's one of the key factors.

Uh, good to have the guys having that type of competition as well in the middle of the year because we haven't had that before.

Why do you think Rugby League manages to create that kind of connection, that deep connection with the Games fans? Why do you think Rugby League manages so well to do that?

I think one of the key things, finally, is when you look at our community, you look at our people, they're really working class.

You know, they've got a lot of Samoans, they've got a lot of Tongans, they've got a lot of Pacific Islanders.

You know, Auckland is the huge, the capital of the Pacific, you know what I mean, with all those people.

You know, they left their homelands to come for a better life in New Zealand, to work, to provide for their children, you know, to make things better for them.

So I think, you know, there's a real deep connection there.

And, you know, you look at the Tongan side, Adam Panua Bloke, Stefanu Utokumanoa, All these guys Are at the top of their game So when you're representing your country You have that connection, your heritage It's a real deep connection There's a real cultural I suppose connection to that And that's the point of difference With our Pasifika people With our Māori people And I think that's That's the main connection and engagement in representing your parents and all those that have gone before you.

Maybe should have won that game.