TRANSCRIPTION 🔗
00:00:03
Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to the Code NRL Show Grand Final Edition brought to you by the all-new Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, built with an incredible camera and a powerful battery to keep up with your day, especially Reedy's day.
00:00:17
Speaker 2: I love it. Love the battery, Dad. Goes forever, brother.
00:00:21
Speaker 1: Available now at Samsung.com, Mick. Get your hands on one. fatigue heading in yet. It's only halfway through grand final week.
00:00:30
Speaker 3: No.
00:00:30
Speaker 1: We had a late night last night at the Dalliams.
00:00:32
Speaker 2: Did you guys kick on? Did you kick on, Dave?
00:00:34
Speaker 1: No, too smart.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: Mick, who are you causing trouble?
00:00:37
Speaker 1: Oh, he's a troublemaker.
00:00:38
Speaker 2: Pestering people in the.
00:00:40
Speaker 1: Why do you get so pesty, Mick?
00:00:41
Speaker 3: Who do you think is the biggest pest, especially if they've had one drink?
00:00:45
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah.
00:00:46
Speaker 3: I had two.
00:00:46
Speaker 2: That is you, Brent. I had a couple of, just a couple of sneaky mid-strengths.
00:00:50
Speaker 3: Actually, I'm going to say, Brent was about Five out of ten on an annoyance level.
00:00:55
Speaker 1: On an annoyance level, yeah.
00:00:56
Speaker 3: Which is basically normal.
00:00:57
Speaker 1: Yeah. I would have said he's five out of ten. He's still bloody annoying.
00:01:01
Speaker 3: Yeah, but you know, he's an excitable young chap.
00:01:04
Speaker 2: Well, everyone left, Mick. Everyone left in a hurry, didn't they?
00:01:07
Speaker 1: Nathan Cleary, a deserved winner.
00:01:09
Speaker 2: Clearly. Clearly a deserved winner.
00:01:10
Speaker 1: Did you say clearly Cleary?
00:01:12
Speaker 2: Clearly Cleary. So that's three times quickly. It was always Cleary. It was a great moment, obviously. He was at his parents' house, I think, recovering from the– Leg surgery, ankle surgery. Nice shout out to his partner, Mary Fowler. Love that moment. But it's good. He's ticked that off now, right? That was the one thing he had to do in his career. He's done it now. Done everything, that guy. Yeah.
00:01:32
Speaker 3: I just love his demeanor. He's just so considerate, so calm, so appreciative, so humble. Yeah. He's just like you sit there and you watch him and you listen to him and we interact with him on occasion. And he's just the best player in the game. Like, he's just.
00:01:52
Speaker 2: He's so normal.
00:01:53
Speaker 3: Yeah, he is. He is. It's hard to fathom how, like, normal he is in a way. But, yeah, obviously his parents have done a great job. And he's a reflection of that system out at Penrith as well because those players, whilst they've had lots of success, you know, they've been pretty good to deal with throughout.
00:02:14
Speaker 1: There's always debate around the Deleon winners. and there's a lot of fan confusion over how it's achieved, the end results. Ultimately, it is the regular season, rounds one through to 27, that the Dallium polling and points are collated, and ultimately those points form the team of the year, the Dallium team of the year. But there's a situation, guys, that something that probably needs to be rectified, and we seem to have this debate every year around the coach of the year. And we always say it respectfully because through rounds one to 27, Andrew Webster, awarded last night the Dallium Coach of the Year, did an amazing job for the New Zealand Warriors. But here we have Justin Holbrook, the fairy tale story of the grand final, taking a team from the wooden spoon to the grand final, not achieving the Dallium Coach.
00:03:08
Speaker 2: Of the Year. I'd actually also extend it to maybe even Captain of the Year. You look at that last night, James Fisher Harris won it, right? He's a co-captain. Great leader.
00:03:16
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:03:17
Speaker 2: But I would argue Calum probably should have won the captain of the year now. He's in the grand final. They're in the grand final.
00:03:23
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:03:23
Speaker 2: And they're a remarkable job they've done, Dave. But they've got to look at that. I mean, that's something they've got to, I think, change. Because I think if you look at it now, if you sit back now, grand final, we can look at who's the coach of the year and who's potentially the captain of the year. It's the two Newcastle guys. It's Holbrook and Ponga. So, you know, I think that... And that's no disrespect to Andrew Webster or James Fitzharris. Done an amazing job at the Warriors, right?
00:03:44
Speaker 1: But I think.
00:03:45
Speaker 2: Or not taking into account the finals.
00:03:48
Speaker 3: No.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: Then it creates this sort of situation where you look at it and go, maybe they've got that one wrong.
00:03:53
Speaker 3: You either do it the week of the first final series or if you're going to do it in this week, which could be in this week in terms of the awards ceremony, it's got to go to take into account the finals for sure.
00:04:05
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:04:05
Speaker 1: For sure. I think that's a change that the NRL need to make.
00:04:08
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:04:09
Speaker 3: Yeah. And not for the overall award. That's got to be round one to 27, obviously.
00:04:15
Speaker 1: Yeah, only coach and probably to read his point, captain. Yeah.
00:04:18
Speaker 2: Well, I mean, look, I mean, Andrew Webb's had a great year. They obviously flamed out in the finals, right? Really disappointing. But him and James had great years at that club and the club's a juggernaut over there. But. I just think by not taking into account the finals, you're just missing something.
00:04:32
Speaker 3: As Dave, I think Dave was alluded to, they won the award under the current criteria.
00:04:36
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:04:37
Speaker 3: So it's the criteria that needs to change. Yeah, yeah. So they won after round 27. If they were going to present that award straight after, I don't think anyone would have complained
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about Andrew Webster.
00:04:48
Speaker 1: Fellas, the extraordinary story that is the Newcastle Knights here on grand final day up against the champions, well, the champion team, in relation to their roster, the Sydney Roosters.
00:05:00
Speaker 2: You love talking about the Roosters roster, Dave.
00:05:03
Speaker 3: No, I think- What else are you going to talk about this weekend?
00:05:05
Speaker 1: What are you talking about?
00:05:07
Speaker 2: You bang on about it all year. That roster should- You love that roster.
00:05:10
Speaker 1: Well, it is, really.
00:05:11
Speaker 2: You're a big fan of that roster.
00:05:12
Speaker 1: It's effectively- I think there's only four non-current or past origin players in the lineup. Hmm. Only four.
00:05:21
Speaker 2: Good roster.
00:05:22
Speaker 1: Damn good roster. I don't think– you could have NBA. You could have Major League Baseball. You could have any sport you want to pick around the world, and this is a Netflix series, this Newcastle Knights. Yeah. Spurned to grand final. As you know, Mike– So where I'm going– stay with me. Where I'm going here is there seems to be this perception that we're too focused on the Knights fairy tale. As sports writers and journos, we're too enamoured and cheering for the story of the Newcastle Knights. I've been tipped and suggested that the Roosters, they don't like it. They don't like the fact that we're covering the Knights probably more so than the Roosters and that there's a perception that there's only one team in the grand final.
00:06:18
Speaker 2: The Roosters have been well covered all year. They've had a lot more coverage than the Knights all year, I'd imagine, in our paper at least, right? Because they're a Sydney club on our doorstep. The Knights are a great story. I mean, they've captured the imagination of everyone who's not a Sydney Roosters supporter. And after all, that's who we cater to, right? The readers. And the vast majority of readers, I think, are far more interested in the Knights story than they are in the Roosters story. That's a fact.
00:06:44
Speaker 3: I get the Roosters gripe, though, because there is... sentiment around the Newcastle Knights, but that's just the reality of where we're at, given the fairytale situation that the Knights find themselves in. It's, you know, a couple of years ago, I think Canterbury were filthy when they played against South Sydney in that grand final and South Sydney rung the bell. I think they rung the bell as they were kick off and all these sorts of things, right? So, yeah, it's not a Newcastle home game, but I think the, The sentiment around.
00:07:18
Speaker 2: It might feel like one, Mick. It might.
00:07:20
Speaker 1: We have a lot of Knights fans out there. 50,000, I reckon.
00:07:22
Speaker 3: As you guys know, my knowledge of other sports is very limited. Is this like Leicester City winning the- In rugby league terms, I've never seen anything like it. If these guys win the grand final- The closest thing I can think of, and they didn't win the grand final, they made the grand final, was the St. George side in 96. They were decimated by Super League. 40 sat out the year. They played the star-started manly side. Lost- eventually in that grand final, like they lost their coach in pre. It was all these sorts of calamities that they were no chance of making the grand final, made the grand final, couldn't get the job done. I don't see another situation in my time.
00:07:58
Speaker 1: The Roosters have actually done it, done the same thing. I think it was 09, Wooden Spoon. 2010. Lost the grand final. Lost the grand final. Yeah, but I just- Go to the grand final. So Spoon to grand final.
00:08:13
Speaker 3: Yeah, but I don't think they would have sat- You look at that Rooster saw. I just don't know. I just- I can't see a situation of how a side that was so lowly regarded and then lost so many- If you sat here and you said to the Newcastle Knights, they're going to lose Dylan Brown, Dylan Lucas, Jacob Safidi, and now Trey Mooney for an extended period. I know, obviously- Dylan Lucas has come back and now Phoenix Rock. If you said you're going to lose those three or four players for an extended period, I think hand on heart all of us would have said bottom four side.
00:08:45
Speaker 1: Well, what about this? What would the Roosters look like if we took away Nafahu White, Reece Robson?
00:08:53
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:08:54
Speaker 1: Who else? Sam Walker.
00:08:55
Speaker 3: Lindsay Collins because they're missing their entire starting front row.
00:08:57
Speaker 1: Lindsay Collins as well.
00:08:58
Speaker 3: All right.
00:08:59
Speaker 1: Sam Walker.
00:09:00
Speaker 2: Yep.
00:09:00
Speaker 3: And a back row for a decent period. You do that with any side. Look at what happened to Penrith last week. They just got decimated at the wrong time, right? But, yeah, it's a remarkable performance. And as I said, not one that I've seen. And the emotion that's been attached to the players, the staff, the former players, unprecedented.
00:09:21
Speaker 1: Yeah. Do you think they'll use it as ammunition, as motivation? The Roosters, Rudy?
00:09:26
Speaker 2: Well, I don't think they need to. But, you know, I'm sure, as you mentioned, Dave, there's people there who are, frustrated and annoyed at the publicity the Knights are getting. Clearly they're talking about this. Clearly they're aware of it, right? So maybe there's a little bit of a chip on their shoulder with not getting the same accolades as the Knights are getting. I mean, they should win, really. But we've been saying that about every team that's faced the Knights for the past three weeks. They should win. But the Knights keep finding a way. And I don't put it past them to find a way again. Because as Mick said, their plan was such a motion. I mean, can you imagine, when are they coming to Sydney? Saturday?
00:10:06
Speaker 1: Saturday.
00:10:07
Speaker 2: Can you imagine when they get in that
bus Saturday, they pull out of that car park, head up that highway, and there's people again lining the streets. You know, it's just going to be... They're just going to ride a wave of emotion to this final. And as long as I reckon they hold the opening 20 minutes or so and they match them in the roost in the opening 20 minutes, I reckon it's all bets are off. Yeah.
00:10:30
Speaker 3: Brent Robinson has said some interesting stuff in the finals period where he's made a point post-game to say, I don't think we've ever been as fit as we are now in terms of health off the roster. And it shows, right? They're firing at the right time. They've got everyone back. You know, Sam Walker's had that. concerned, but he's back playing, played okay last week, got through. So he's the only one that's sort of, you know what I mean? And over the last few years, every grand final that Trent Robertson's coached in, there's been some sort of drama. Obviously, Boyd Corner had a long layoff, came back for that 13 grand final. And then you've got Cooper Cronk's shoulder in 18. 19 was Jake Friend, who hadn't played for a while, came back. And this year, it's Connor Watson to a lesser extent, but that's sort of gone under the the radar are a little bit given the hype around the Newcastle Knights. So it's, yeah, it's, it's really, it's an interesting matchup, but when you sit there and you break it down, the Rooster should win.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: Rudy, you mentioned if the Knights can stay in the fight for the first 20 minutes, and I tend to, I tend to agree. I think if, I think if the Knights are in this, let's, let's say this, if the Knights are at a tight scoreline at halftime, I think they can still really be there at the, at the finish. The Roosters have started fast. Um, in each of their past two finals matches, I have gone on the record and said I'm a little bit concerned about, in racehorse terms, the form of rolling through a busted Cronulla and rolling through a dolphin side, I just don't think, I just don't, I thought it was a favourable arrival into the top four.
00:12:11
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:12:12
Speaker 1: And because they got pumped by 60, pumped by 50, pumped by 40 through the season. And for me, that's not, they were never going to win a grand final.
00:12:20
Speaker 2: So.
00:12:20
Speaker 3: How good would it be for the myth of the team that's conceded 50?
00:12:25
Speaker 1: Well, it's going to happen.
00:12:26
Speaker 2: Well, some record's going to win, right? Because the Knights went in the top four.
00:12:31
Speaker 3: Outside the four, yeah.
00:12:32
Speaker 1: First team outside the top four.
00:12:33
Speaker 2: And the Roosters conceded 50. So there's a myth.
00:12:37
Speaker 1: One of the asterisks against the Roosters. Given the fact that it was a second grade team. No.
00:12:43
Speaker 3: No, done.
00:12:45
Speaker 1: But the Chooks have the power through the middle, and that's where the Knights need to hold the fort, hey, Nick?
00:12:51
Speaker 3: Yeah, and the Knights did an exceptional job last week because they were camped inside their 20 for basically that whole game. And I was a little bit concerned around the weather because I was like, it didn't favour the Knights' style of play, but they didn't shy away from it. They kept, you know, they got those one-on-one opportunities with the opposition centre and or the opposition half that create so many opportunities. No side scores more long-distance drives this year than the Newcastle Knights. So, you know, if they clock off for a second, the Roosters, they're going to make them pay. And the form that Kalen's in and Gagai and Best and these sort of fellas, it's, you know, they have such attacking weapons and will punish you from any point of the field. So the fact that they won that game, I think they won last week through their defence, is a huge thing for the Newcastle Knights.
00:13:38
Speaker 2: I want to throw a little hot take at you. Maybe it's not a hot take. Nafari White, I think he's now the best front rower in the game. I think he's gone past Payne Haas.
00:13:46
Speaker 3: He's the form front rower in the game.
00:13:47
Speaker 2: Yeah, the best. You're saying you still think Payne's the best front rower?
00:13:53
Speaker 1: He only played like 20-odd minutes against Cronulla.
00:13:56
Speaker 3: He's a machine. I don't think it's that silly.
00:13:59
Speaker 2: Okay, it's not such a hot take.
00:14:01
Speaker 3: A lukewarm take.
00:14:01
Speaker 2: Payne Haas? Yeah, I think he's gone past Payne Haas. Yeah, I think he has.
00:14:07
Speaker 3: On form this year, he has.
00:14:08
Speaker 1: Joe Tarpany?
00:14:10
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:14:11
Speaker 1: On form?
00:14:11
Speaker 2: Yep. I think he's the best front rower in the game, as I said, Dave.
00:14:15
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:14:15
Speaker 2: I mean, he's been unbelievable.
00:14:17
Speaker 3: If you sat there and you ranked the front rowers and you took into account everything, I would have him behind Payne.
00:14:24
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:14:24
Speaker 3: If you said to me, who's the form front rower of the competition, hands down, Nafahu. No issue with me whatsoever. And I think we probably said it back.
00:14:32
Speaker 1: If you're building a roster and you've got, Front rowers to pick from, you've got Payne Haas, Nafahu White, Joe Tarpany, Adam Fennelblake, James Fisher-Harris. You're picking Nafahu White first.
00:14:46
Speaker 2: He's years younger. I'd take Payne first.
00:14:48
Speaker 3: No, Payne.
00:14:49
Speaker 2: But he's very close. He's very close.
00:14:51
Speaker 3: But that's the conversation we're having, right?
00:14:53
Speaker 2: That's a coin flip.
00:14:54
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:14:55
Speaker 2: Like those two.
00:14:56
Speaker 1: No, you said you're picking Payne, not Nafahu.
00:14:58
Speaker 2: You know what? I'd probably take Nafahu White.
00:15:01
Speaker 3: That's what I'm trying to say to you, Reedy. If you're talking form- the FIHO best
property in the game. If you're looking, if you're taking everything into account, I have Payne ahead still, but it's not, I'm not smashing you for this.
00:15:12
Speaker 2: It's a split here between them.
00:15:14
Speaker 1: No, Payne's still there.
00:15:16
Speaker 3: Payne's still number one for mine.
00:15:17
Speaker 1: To be fair, Fisher Harris is still there.
00:15:18
Speaker 2: Nah. Joe Tarpon is still there. If you're building a roster tomorrow, he's got so many years on those two guys.
00:15:24
Speaker 1: Okay. Now you're going the age factor.
00:15:28
Speaker 2: You're saying building a roster. Okay. So why would you take two blokes who are 30 or 31 over a bloke who's Yeah, okay.
00:15:34
Speaker 1: 24 or whatever Nevaeh White is. Okay, not even building a rock. They're all off contract. If they're all off contract.
00:15:40
Speaker 3: Well, bang.
00:15:40
Speaker 2: It's Nevaeh White or Payne Haas. And then it's light years.
00:15:44
Speaker 1: To the rest. I'm with Brent.
00:15:46
Speaker 2: Wow, this is unheard of. Anyway, I'm just saying.
00:15:50
Speaker 1: I'm without speech.
00:15:51
Speaker 2: I'm just saying he is that good. He's that good.
00:15:55
Speaker 3: As if I'm belittling. Mate, he's a gun.
00:15:58
Speaker 2: At times, he's been almost unstoppable.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: Yeah. He's so chesty. He's so thick. His chest is so thick.
00:16:04
Speaker 1: Chesty Bonds.
00:16:06
Speaker 3: He's huge. He's a monster. But he's such a softly spoken, smiley guy. Yeah, he's a champion. Yeah, he's world class.
00:16:13
Speaker 2: Just a gun. Superstar.
00:16:15
Speaker 1: Just as far as this game, let's just wrap this game up because all roads lead to Sunday. I still come back to this round 21 performance in Newcastle and it's the Roosters winning 23-22. In that game, the Knights lose Dylan Brown, Dylan Lucas, and Calum Ponga doesn't play in the game. He actually hasn't played the Roosters this season, believe it or not. He didn't play the first game either earlier in the season. They give the ball to Tedesco. He scores three tries. Cherry Evans kicks a field goal to win it. I'm coming back to that game as a base for the Knights to build off, and I think it'll be the exact same scoreline.
00:16:57
Speaker 3: 23-22.
00:16:57
Speaker 1: For the Roosters? Yes.
00:17:00
Speaker 2: Intriguing. Yep.
00:17:01
Speaker 3: Who wins Clive Churchill for you, Dave?
00:17:03
Speaker 1: Reece Robson.
00:17:04
Speaker 3: Oh, I agree with Dave.
00:17:06
Speaker 1: He has been... I've.
00:17:08
Speaker 2: Got my man, Sammy.
00:17:10
Speaker 1: Sammy Walker, baby. What about Nafahu?
00:17:14
Speaker 2: Mate, so good. He'll come second.
00:17:16
Speaker 3: He'll come second.
00:17:17
Speaker 2: KP3.
00:17:17
Speaker 1: The best frontrunner in the game won't get Clive Churchill if the Roosters win.
00:17:22
Speaker 2: Maybe not, no. I think Sam Walker wins it for him.
00:17:25
Speaker 1: First try scorer?
00:17:26
Speaker 3: Daniel Tupou.
00:17:27
Speaker 1: Oops.
00:17:27
Speaker 3: Oops.
00:17:28
Speaker 2: I think I said Tupou as well.
00:17:29
Speaker 1: He was recognised by the NRL today for his extraordinary achievement.
00:17:34
Speaker 2: What a player.
00:17:34
Speaker 3: Tupou. He goes around again next year.
00:17:39
Speaker 1: Mine is Lindsay Collins' first drive score.
00:17:40
Speaker 2: Oh, I like that. That's a bit left field. Left field, the Matt Damon lookalike.
00:17:45
Speaker 1: Who wins Mick and score?
00:17:46
Speaker 3: Roosters by two. Hopefully it's a tight game, but I just can't go past that Roosters.
00:17:52
Speaker 2: I think I said Roosters by seven.
00:17:55
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:17:56
Speaker 2: Sammy Walker kicks the field goal.
00:17:58
Speaker 1: And what a wonderful thing it is that in our grand final segment, Reedy cannot remember the tip that he put into the paper.
00:18:07
Speaker 2: It was very tough to do.
00:18:09
Speaker 1: Quote, unquote, I think I had them winning by seven.
00:18:11
Speaker 2: I think it was.
00:18:12
Speaker 3: Why was it tough, Reedy?
00:18:14
Speaker 2: Because, you know, KP. Love my man, KP. Andre, champions.
00:18:19
Speaker 1: Righto, boys. Let's talk about the weekend games. Thanks to the all-new Samsung Galaxy S26 FE. We are showcasing the best of the weekend. Reedy, Mick, what was your favorite moment from last weekend? Incredible footy.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: Well, I've gotten rid of Flack this week, Dave. He's suggesting that Marky Mark would be quickly forgotten. Now, Mark, it wasn't personal. I want to assure you of that. So I'm going to say what my holler was from last weekend was Marky Mark because he was remarkable. And I'll tell you what I won't forget. The way he played. Some of the tries he scored.
00:18:52
Speaker 3: Can you clarify that statement then?
00:18:54
Speaker 2: Well, I was just saying Bulldog came at me on 360 and, well, not at me. He was suggesting Marky Mark would leave a legacy in rugby league. And I said, well, how can you say that about a bloke who's only going to play two years in the game? I don't think in two years you leave a legacy.
00:19:08
Speaker 1: No, I think that's fair.
00:19:10
Speaker 2: And I actually said he'd be quickly forgotten. Now, that was probably a bit harsh. Probably a bit harsh because he won't be forgotten because he's been remarkable in these two years in the code. I was just suggesting... And maybe it was a bit of my rugby league bias coming out, that he'd only spent two years in the game, he was leaving it. Look, Mark, you won't be forgotten, brother. But the legacy bit was a bit over the top. But you won't be forgotten.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: You're being remarkable. Well, let me say this. You are very forgetful. That is true. You may forget him, but everyone else won't. Mick, what have you got?
00:19:44
Speaker 3: Caelan Pong is here on Moses Liotta.
00:19:45
Speaker 2: That was huge.
00:19:48
Speaker 3: I interviewed him after the game, and he's like, oh, I got lucky.
He slipped, and I was like, went back to watch replay. There was no slip in there.
00:19:54
Speaker 1: No, no.
00:19:54
Speaker 3: Perfect execution, perfect technique, and yeah, great shot at a pivotal moment.
00:20:00
Speaker 1: Has KP had shoulder issues in the past?
00:20:02
Speaker 2: He's had concussion issues, obviously. Well, documented, but. I can't remember him having shoulder problems.
00:20:08
Speaker 1: I just think it was a powerful hit. So good.
00:20:11
Speaker 3: No, actually, yeah.
00:20:12
Speaker 1: I was trying to think of the injuries he's had in the past.
00:20:14
Speaker 2: Yeah. Because he was so- It was an amazing moment, that footy game.
00:20:17
Speaker 1: There were so many. What about last night? We went to the Daly Ams last night with the Samsung Galaxy phones, and it was Tyson Jackson.
00:20:25
Speaker 2: He was everywhere.
00:20:26
Speaker 3: Threading his stuff on.
00:20:27
Speaker 2: The red carpet.
00:20:28
Speaker 1: What's going on? He was in his special tux. It was a great night. He's on the red carpet interviewing Robert Toya.
00:20:35
Speaker 2: Got himself on camera. Yeah. You know, loved it.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: Pretty special. Yeah. We can't forget about the best fan moments from the weekend game submitted by our Code Sports readers, Sandon Smith's tap and go try. Great vision. Oh, mate, Sandon Smith, another great story.
00:20:56
Speaker 2: What a story. Squeezed out of the roosters.
00:20:57
Speaker 1: Absolute game changer.
00:20:58
Speaker 2: Ends up at Newcastle. And turn it into a match winner.
00:21:01
Speaker 1: That shows a lot of maturity to have the, the, the awareness.
00:21:05
Speaker 3: Loved it.
00:21:05
Speaker 1: Like to not be totally consumed by the, the game and what's on the line. He just went, I'll play touch footy here.
00:21:11
Speaker 3: I love it. I just love the now. So I love the, the, um, ad lib footy, but just the, I don't think enough players sometimes have a feel or understand like the robotic at times. And just to, to make that moment, it was footy now. So that's all it was, was footy IQ. And, Love that.
00:21:31
Speaker 1: That's all thanks to the all-new Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, available now at Samsung.com. Outside the grand final, there's a fair bit of news happening, fellas. Mick, bring us up to speed with what's happening at South Sydney.
00:21:42
Speaker 3: Oh, Reedy's across the South Sydney one. Reedy, go, mate. It's your baby.
00:21:46
Speaker 1: You're going to short ball it to Reedy.
00:21:47
Speaker 2: Well, this answers one of our readers.
00:21:48
Speaker 1: This is your team player, Mick.
00:21:49
Speaker 3: Oh, it's Reedy's yarn.
00:21:50
Speaker 2: This answers one of our reader questions, though. They asked about Cody Walker. Oh, okay. We've jumped straight to it.
00:21:55
Speaker 1: Don't forget to get your end of the mail bag, codesports.com. We're going through after the grand final. We're doing everything. World Cup, the works. So keep you.
00:22:02
Speaker 2: All your- Are we going to keep going, are we? Yeah, why not? Oh, exciting.
00:22:06
Speaker 1: Well, we are doing record numbers. So thanks to the Samsung Galaxy.
00:22:11
Speaker 2: In terms of South- I'm sorry, you want to.
00:22:13
Speaker 1: Go on about the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE? No, I was just about to say, get you- Ask us any questions through the off-season, codesports.com.
00:22:20
Speaker 2: Cody Walker, there was a board meeting at South on Tuesday. And basically they have rubber-stamped an upgraded offer to Cody Walker. It's now in excess of $ 400, 000 for next season, upwards heading towards $ 450, 000. I think there are expectations that Cody will take that offer, or they're hopeful he'll take that offer. So I think, yeah, they're hopeful Cody will stay. Brandon Smith's done a one-year extension, interestingly. That'll be announced imminently. And Luttrell, they're just staying the course with Luttrell.
00:22:50
Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't mind. Is that common practice for boards to have to rubber stamp every deal?
00:22:55
Speaker 2: No, I don't think it is.
00:22:56
Speaker 3: I don't understand the Katie Walker.
00:22:59
Speaker 2: They have a, Souths have got a rule where if it's above a certain amount of money.
00:23:02
Speaker 3: Katie Walker wouldn't be there.
00:23:04
Speaker 2: Well, I don't know what the figure is, Mick. There's a threshold, but if it's above a certain amount of money, it's got to be rubber stamped.
00:23:09
Speaker 3: I understand the top end guys or guys with behavioural issues, obviously, but that's obviously not Cody, but. Yeah, I find that interesting. They need to keep him. David Fafita as well as the other one.
00:23:19
Speaker 1: I also think this is unprecedented from South Sydney, Mick, in relation to putting everything on hold until after a season.
00:23:27
Speaker 2: Well, it was unprecedented, Dave, but it's... There's 20 players. It was because of what they've been through. Yeah, but I mean, there's really only about five or six.
00:23:35
Speaker 1: So maybe this is a new strategy where the board get to have a bit more of a say.
00:23:39
Speaker 2: They've always had a rule at the board, contracts above certain amounts of money. need to be rubber-stamped by the board. And obviously Cody's around the fourth, sounds around the 450 mark now. That needs to be rubber-stamped by the board. Dave Fafita's, they've put a three-year deal to Dave Fafita. Again, I think they think they're pretty confident Dave will take that deal.
00:23:59
Speaker 1: When's he off contract?
00:24:00
Speaker 3: He's a November 1 guy.
00:24:01
Speaker 2: In the next season.
00:24:02
Speaker 3: Three years.
00:24:03
Speaker 1: I'd only go two.
00:24:04
Speaker 2: For Dave?
00:24:04
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:24:05
Speaker 2: He's had a good year. No, of course he has.
00:24:08
Speaker 3: But it's four more years, yeah, I'm with Dave.
00:24:09
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:24:10
Speaker 2: Thank you. Yeah.
00:24:11
Speaker 3: It's not
too long.
00:24:12
Speaker 1: It's not too long. I like to keep Dave on a short leash, keep him fired up.
00:24:16
Speaker 2: Well, they go Brandon. Brandon's only a one-year extension.
00:24:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, that's good. I like that.
00:24:21
Speaker 2: And the big ones now that are left, or once they get those guys done, obviously Latrell's the big one, but then you've got Campbell Graham. Again, I think they're going to take their time. My understanding is with Campbell Graham.
00:24:31
Speaker 3: He was so impressive last night.
00:24:32
Speaker 2: Oh, he spoke brilliantly.
00:24:33
Speaker 3: Accepting speech.
00:24:34
Speaker 2: Jack White.
00:24:36
Speaker 1: Best speech, actually.
00:24:37
Speaker 2: They're going to take their time with Jack as well.
00:24:39
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's understandable.
00:24:40
Speaker 2: They've got some balls in the air.
00:24:41
Speaker 1: I saw a little tidbit, something for Raiders fans.
00:24:44
Speaker 2: Josiah Puhulu?
00:24:45
Speaker 1: Thank you.
00:24:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, look, he was a young kid who was at the Gold Coast a couple of years ago. If you remember, there was a bit of a contract stoush there where if he played one more game, he was due a bonus and Dez didn't pick him. I think it was like 20 grand or something, right? So he obviously got the pips about that, left the club, went to Melbourne. But he's got a year left in his deal at Melbourne. Things haven't really worked out down there. And the Raiders were in talks of potentially signing him for next year. So Melbourne would let him go with a year to go on his deal.
00:25:15
Speaker 1: He's always had a bit of talent.
00:25:16
Speaker 2: Mate, when he was at the Gold Coast, he was like one of the next big things. But things just haven't... I think people thought he'd go to Melbourne and he'd kick on. But it just hasn't worked out. I think he's a quiet, shy kid. I think being in Melbourne hasn't been... Being away from family has been difficult for him. I think he's partnered with players in the NRLW as well.
00:25:35
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:25:36
Speaker 2: I think she's been on the Gold Coast, so it's just been a bit difficult for him. He's got some talent.
00:25:41
Speaker 1: What's happening at the Red V, Mick?
00:25:42
Speaker 3: Yeah, a bit of news around the Dragons. Josh Kerr, 12 months left on his contract. He's in talks with Super League clubs, being granted permission to explore that. Look, they're not rushing him out the door, Josh Kerr, but given his lack of game time late in the season, he's fallen down the pecking order. They love him as a bloke there, but I think you'll find that he'll take up a long-term deal at a Super League club next season, and that just frees up roster spot, salary cap space, and puts Tyrell Sloan back on the radar, Dave, I think, a little bit.
00:26:13
Speaker 1: Yeah. I think in a perfect world, Tyrell stays. Probably just needs to find that cap space and roster spot.
00:26:21
Speaker 2: He'll go good in England, Josh Kerr.
00:26:23
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:26:23
Speaker 2: I think. I think it'll suit him. Yep, definitely.
00:26:27
Speaker 1: Down at the Sharks, Michael Gabriel has extended through until 2029. He had a couple of suitors, so that's a good resigning for the Sharks. Very important.
00:26:34
Speaker 3: Does that point to next year for you, for another day? Like, will he start? Who starts for him next year in their background?
00:26:41
Speaker 1: My only concern, Mick, there is, and it's the rugby league world we live in now, is Michael Gabriel has predominantly played left centre. Kael Eero is a left centre. So one of them is going to have to make a switch to the right. And that will determine, I think in a perfect world, yes, my answer to you is yes, Michael Gabriel plays NRL as the starting centre. But on the left or the right, I'm not sure.
00:27:07
Speaker 3: Wouldn't they, I don't have the answer to this, but once Jesse Raymond was leaving, wouldn't they have switched Michael Gabriel in New South Wales Cup and played him.
00:27:16
Speaker 1: On the other side?
00:27:17
Speaker 3: I'm asking. I don't know the answer to this.
00:27:19
Speaker 1: I actually didn't get– I went to a couple of Jets games, didn't get them all.
00:27:22
Speaker 2: That's the coaching him coming.
00:27:23
Speaker 1: Out, you know?
00:27:24
Speaker 3: Well, they may have– no, I'm just saying. They did it. They may have. I'm just thinking if you think he's your long-term option and the left side– True. That's smart. Unless you think Cale can switch. I don't know.
00:27:35
Speaker 1: He did have a– yeah.
00:27:36
Speaker 3: And he's Stone Street.
00:27:37
Speaker 1: A lock for– And Stone Street's a certainty on the wing.
00:27:39
Speaker 3: For Catoa's spots.
00:27:41
Speaker 2: What about with the Bradman best? What are we hearing there?
00:27:44
Speaker 1: Well, nothing can really happen until November 1, can it, for Bradman?
00:27:48
Speaker 2: It's going to be very intriguing, that Bradman best chase. He's been so good in the finals.
00:27:52
Speaker 1: Oh, my God. Hey, guys, enjoy your grand final day. We'll be there. All the coverage is on Code Sports, and we'll talk to you next week.