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00:00:03
Speaker 1: Welcome to the Code NRL show. Michael Cariano, Sprint Reid here as always. The show rolls on, fellas. Rugby League World Cup is here. Thursday night, Allianz Stadium, almost 40,000. Actually, you know what? There will be 40,000 inside Allianz Stadium for the Kiwis versus Kangaroos. Awesome way to start this World Cup tournament. I think it's surprising a few people how quickly it's come around. Maybe even you, Reid.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: I'm looking forward to seeing you on the seven coverage.
00:00:30
Speaker 1: Oh, yeah.
00:00:31
Speaker 2: You're central. for their coverage of the entire tournament.
00:00:34
Speaker 1: Is that right?
00:00:35
Speaker 3: Well, that's what you're telling us.
00:00:36
Speaker 1: Oh, yeah.
00:00:37
Speaker 2: 100%.
00:00:37
Speaker 1: You said you're the biggest star of the network. Yeah, well, look at Bill McLaughlin. Who else? Trent Robinson, Luke Keery.
00:00:45
Speaker 2: It's going to be a big start. I mean, the first games, I think, are a preview of the final. Can that happen if they play in the first game? They can, right? They can be in the final. I think Australia and New Zealand is probably a preview of the final. I don't see anyone else getting there. It's going to be a huge, huge game. Big crowd. Great start to the tournament.
00:01:02
Speaker 1: It's exciting.
00:01:03
Speaker 2: I'm going, Dave. I'll be there as well.
00:01:05
Speaker 1: Well, good to hear.
00:01:05
Speaker 2: Will you be there, Michael?
00:01:06
Speaker 3: I'll be there too, yes. I'll be there. I think it's the best Kiwi side we've seen in more than a decade. I really like the look of this New Zealand side. And whilst they might not beat Australia to start the tournament, they're a hope. They're a real hope. I just think it's the best balanced Kiwi side we've seen. And usually you go, you can pick the holes in that squad. I'd like to see you do it.
00:01:31
Speaker 2: It's a good-looking forward pack, isn't it? It's a good-looking team. Unbelievable.
00:01:36
Speaker 3: It's a good-looking team. It's a really, really strong in-form team generally, you know, with Caelan and, you know, even Cody Nicorino was great for the Dolphins this year and their forward pack, look at the blokes that aren't playing. You can see a real balance there in that team. So I think it's a really dangerous side and it sets up the tournament beautifully.
00:01:57
Speaker 1: I can see the Kiwis winning this game. Yeah.
00:02:01
Speaker 3: In these conditions, it's going to be wet probably. That forward pack comes into play big time. I'm not with you, boss. What about Callum Ponga? Callum Ponga, with all due respect to the Newcastle Knights. You're going against your man, KP.
00:02:15
Speaker 2: I think he's a great player.
00:02:16
Speaker 1: How does that feel?
00:02:17
Speaker 2: I think Australia will win.
00:02:18
Speaker 1: Deep down in your stomach, how did that make you feel?
00:02:20
Speaker 2: I think he's the danger.
00:02:21
Speaker 1: You are.
00:02:22
Speaker 2: I think Australia wins.
00:02:23
Speaker 3: Let's look at it. Callum Ponga's been outstanding this year. Up against a forward pack that, were toilers really. And they exceeded all expectations.
00:02:33
Speaker 1: 100%, yeah.
00:02:34
Speaker 3: That Newcastle Knights forward pack. Wait till he plays behind this forward pack.
00:02:37
Speaker 1: Oh, yeah.
00:02:37
Speaker 3: He won't know what to do with himself in terms of time and space and these things that they're going to be able to create for him. Not so much maybe because of the weather on Thursday night, but I think it's going to be an opportunity for Callum to set this tournament alight because he has had to do it the hard way in a way at Newcastle. And this is not a disrespect to Newcastle because they were outstanding.
00:02:58
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:02:58
Speaker 3: But this forward pack is something else.
00:03:00
Speaker 2: I think Australia's got a handy fullback as well, actually. Reece Walsh goes pretty good for me.
00:03:04
Speaker 3: This is not sledging the Australian team.
00:03:06
Speaker 2: I know it's not, Mick. I don't know what you're saying, but I think this Australian team's being a little underrated.
00:03:13
Speaker 3: In my view. It's a side that's not in form in a way. You look at Reece Walsh, hasn't been in form. You look at Mitch Moses, hasn't been in form.
00:03:22
Speaker 1: Pat Carrigan.
00:03:23
Speaker 3: Pat Carrigan had a dip year. So you've got these guys.
00:03:26
Speaker 1: No Payne Haas.
00:03:27
Speaker 2: I agree.
00:03:28
Speaker 1: It's the finals.
00:03:29
Speaker 3: I'm not saying they shouldn't have been picked.
00:03:30
Speaker 2: Yeah. They have to be picked.
00:03:32
Speaker 1: Reece Walsh hasn't played since August.
00:03:34
Speaker 2: I understand that. Hey, at least he's fresh.
00:03:38
Speaker 3: He's rested.
00:03:40
Speaker 1: I find it fascinating that Kevvy Walters has gone without the Clive Churchill medalist at fullback.
00:03:45
Speaker 2: I understand why he's done it. Reece got the job done for him last year. I think for me, Reece is a better player than Teddy, in my opinion. And you blokes will probably argue with me, right? But I think they're different footballers, right? Different players. And I think... Well, I think that's the point. And Kevvy's a loyal guy, right? And Reece did the job last year for him. And Reece, from the day he got injured, I think Kevvy called him that week and Reece said, I'll be ready for you. And he got there. So I think.
00:04:14
Speaker 1: I reckon Reece would have said that to Madge too all year.
00:04:16
Speaker 2: Well, maybe he did.
00:04:17
Speaker 1: And he didn't have that season.
00:04:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, maybe. But he's done the job for Kevvy in the past. I think that's important in Kevvy's eyes. And I think loyalty in this space, I reckon loyalty counts a little bit more.
00:04:28
Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't have a huge issue with him picking Reece over
Load full transcript
Teddy. I probably would have gone Teddy, but I think Kevvy said that Teddy's going to start fullback next week. He's had a big campaign that he just needed that little spell, right?
00:04:42
Speaker 1: So that's interesting, Mick, because ultimately– we anticipate the Kangaroos are going to be in the final. So while we might not be debating, like while we might have a little debate now, it's going to be one hell of a debate.
00:04:55
Speaker 3: Depending on how everyone plays.
00:04:57
Speaker 1: For the World Cup final.
00:04:58
Speaker 2: I just got a press release from Channel 7. Yep. Agenda says panellist and code sports, chief sports writer David Rico will be on deck.
00:05:07
Speaker 1: Oh, on the press release.
00:05:08
Speaker 2: What about you? Dave, sorry to cut you off.
00:05:11
Speaker 3: If we sit there and strip it back around the form of the Australian side, you've got Reece, you've got Tom. You've got Tony Staggs. You've got Luttrell. These guys haven't been shooting the lights out in the back end of the year. Throw in Munster. Throw in Mitch Moses.
00:05:25
Speaker 2: 100%.
00:05:25
Speaker 3: Throw in Carrigan. Throw in Harry Grant. It's not an Australian side where you go, wow, this is a red hot team that's been in form. These guys are superstars.
00:05:36
Speaker 2: They're big game players.
00:05:37
Speaker 3: They're superstars, so let's not overreact.
00:05:40
Speaker 1: I think we're assessing on, are they going to flick the switch in the first game? Mm-hmm. Or are they going to build through the tournament?
00:05:45
Speaker 3: I think they're going to be a build through the tournament side, the Kangaroos. And I think New Zealand have picked this team that's ready to play. And traditionally sort of New Zealand have been those tournament builders.
00:05:58
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:05:59
Speaker 3: But I think it's going to be Australia who are going to be that tournament builders this time around.
00:06:03
Speaker 1: What's your score, Reid, man?
00:06:04
Speaker 2: Australia wins pretty easy, 10 to 12 points.
00:06:11
Speaker 3: I think it'd be like.
00:06:12
Speaker 2: 16-12.
00:06:12
Speaker 3: I think it's going to be a tight game.
00:06:13
Speaker 2: Who have you got winning?
00:06:15
Speaker 3: I'll pick Australia.
00:06:16
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:06:17
Speaker 3: But it's possible that this is a genuine, and I can't remember if I've ever said this about an international game, a genuine toss of the coin job.
00:06:25
Speaker 2: You've never said that about an international game? No.
00:06:27
Speaker 3: I think Australia, every game that I've watched, I think Australia's going to win.
00:06:32
Speaker 2: Well, you've got the Kiwis.
00:06:33
Speaker 1: Kiwis, four to six points.
00:06:35
Speaker 2: Wow.
00:06:35
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:06:36
Speaker 3: You just love New Zealand. You're an honorary Kiwi.
00:06:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, you are. You're a warrior's man. Kiwis.
00:06:42
Speaker 1: Moving on to some other pool matches. I've got to say, I am keen to see this one unfold on Saturday afternoon over in Perth. It's Tonga versus England. The Sea of Red against the Barmy Army in the crowd. I have concerns over England. In the team, they've got bloody good players. Herbie Farnworth, AJ Brimson. Victor Radley, Max King's in there.
00:07:09
Speaker 2: Kai Pierce-Paul.
00:07:09
Speaker 1: Kai Pierce-Paul. There's some really good individuals. The spine's the concern, how they pull it all together. But for Tonga, they are a legitimate finals contender here.
00:07:24
Speaker 2: Yeah. I reckon this game will show why the NRL needs to take over Super League Day.
00:07:29
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:07:29
Speaker 2: Because I think the English game, particularly the local players, the English players who are playing in Super League, I think they're going to be out of the depth in this game. It would not surprise me if the Poms get flogged.
00:07:41
Speaker 1: I wouldn't surprise them.
00:07:42
Speaker 2: Flogged by time. And that NRL takeover of Super League is about to reach a conclusion, hopefully gets a green light, because Super League needs the NRL. Desperately needs the NRL. The NRL doesn't need Super League. Super League needs the NRL, and I think this game will show why.
00:07:58
Speaker 1: Yep.
00:07:58
Speaker 3: I don't know if they're going to get flogged, England, but I think they're going to have an underwhelming tournament, and they're behind... Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga for mine, if you sit there and you break it down. But I don't think they're going to get flogged. That Ashes series, whilst Australia won 3-0, that was closer than we thought.
00:08:16
Speaker 2: But, Mick, didn't you feel– I mean, I watched a few of those games. It felt like Australia was in second gear.
00:08:20
Speaker 3: I watched them more. Australia looked clunky.
00:08:21
Speaker 1: Yeah, they were clunky.
00:08:22
Speaker 3: They were clunky.
00:08:22
Speaker 1: And they still won.
00:08:23
Speaker 3: They didn't have cohesion.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: Yeah. But you've got to give them– But they still won easy, really.
00:08:29
Speaker 3: But I don't think– A majority of those games, there was moments that Australia won and eventually... Yeah. I don't think it was a... You know, Australia's gone there, won 3-0. You're not going, it was a 3-0 comprehensive victory. Are you saying it's because of the way Australia played or do we give the English side some credit?
00:08:47
Speaker 2: No, I think Australia were really poor. They weren't great in that series and they still won quite easily in my view. I think that's a reflection of how poor England was. And I think maybe getting... Maybe I said they get flogged this weekend. It wouldn't surprise me if they get flogged. That might be a little harsh. But I don't expect them to get close to Tonga.
00:09:07
Speaker 1: Mick, you just mentioned that England have now fallen behind the likes of Tonga and Samoa. And I find that really interesting that if
you'd said that 10 years ago, we would have said you're kidding yourself. So what does the next 10 years look like for England? And does PNG go above England? And that, again- That's the fear, Dave, right?
00:09:32
Speaker 3: And that, again, is extraordinary. I don't think so, Dave, because the PNG, like the first couple of years of the Chiefs, there's not going to be an influx of PNG, Papua New Guinean players playing in the NRL.
00:09:45
Speaker 2: He's talking 10 years down the track.
00:09:46
Speaker 1: 10 years down the track, yeah.
00:09:48
Speaker 3: But I think the PNG have had pathway opportunities, like through Queensland Carpenter, and we haven't seen a huge amount of players- Ten years' time, Mick. I know, ten years' time. Get your point, ten years' time. Ten years' time, no.
00:10:04
Speaker 2: Right.
00:10:05
Speaker 3: I think the gap will close. That would not surprise me.
00:10:07
Speaker 1: No, it wouldn't surprise me.
00:10:09
Speaker 3: The gap will close, but I'm not sure if they go past England yet.
00:10:12
Speaker 2: Because it depends on whether the Super League approves this NRL.
00:10:16
Speaker 3: Yep.
00:10:16
Speaker 2: Bid. I mean, if Super League don't approve this NRL bid.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: Then I think it's a guarantee that PNG will go past England.
00:10:22
Speaker 2: I agree with you, Dave. I think there's every chance that happens because the game over there is battling and unless they can find a way to pick some momentum up and get some money into the game over there, they'll continue to fall behind.
00:10:36
Speaker 3: I just think they're just going to have too many players at their disposal to choose from still. And he's still going to have a much bigger pool.
00:10:42
Speaker 2: Well, can you imagine when PNG gets rolling? Your man Mick Chambers over there.
00:10:46
Speaker 3: Gets the pathways, churning out talent. How many players to choose from still?
00:10:52
Speaker 2: Well, the hope is in 10 years' time that those pathways are just producing players.
00:10:56
Speaker 3: They will. They will. That's the hope. The gap will be. Yeah, but the chase is.
00:11:01
Speaker 1: The other thing too is, Mick, those pathways players will be playing in a genuine NRL competition.
00:11:07
Speaker 3: I understand.
00:11:07
Speaker 1: And will be match-hardened. As opposed to an England team playing a large majority of Super League.
00:11:12
Speaker 3: I understand. Which is an inferior competition.
00:11:14
Speaker 2: And a competition that's withering on the vine over there.
00:11:16
Speaker 3: Okay. The Chiefs in 10 years' time will be, we're hoping, we all hope will be at least 50% locals.
00:11:24
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:11:24
Speaker 3: Okay. But there's only 50% that are going to play.
00:11:27
Speaker 2: But that's only the Chiefs players.
00:11:28
Speaker 3: I know. But I just don't think 10 years' time we're going to have 100 PNG players playing in the NRL.
00:11:35
Speaker 1: Sure.
00:11:35
Speaker 3: That's my point.
00:11:36
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:11:36
Speaker 3: Where at the moment we've got. You look at the Pacifica and how many Samoan and Tongan players we've got playing, it's huge.
00:11:42
Speaker 2: Dave's talking about the Poms, right? How many Poms are in the NRL now? 10, 15?
00:11:46
Speaker 3: Yeah, but there's– okay, okay.
00:11:48
Speaker 2: So you might have– you'll have that. Okay, okay.
00:11:50
Speaker 1: And let's be fair.
00:11:51
Speaker 3: We're not going to have 100 Papua New Guineans playing professional rugby league in the world.
00:11:55
Speaker 1: Let's be fair. Max King and Victor Radley aren't English-based players.
00:12:01
Speaker 3: No, but let's say 100 players. So there's more than 100 Englishmen playing. across both competitions. That's my point. So whilst I think the gap will close, don't think we'll get to see, I think 20 years' time potentially, we'll see PNG go the path of Tonga and Samoa. I think Fiji has probably been a little bit underwhelming when you see what the other Pacific nations have been able to do.
00:12:26
Speaker 1: Particularly in rugby, union.
00:12:28
Speaker 3: So I think those two areas in the next little period are the ones to really give this a global– And it is global now. You sit there and you look at Tonga, Samoa, PNG are going to be handy. The issue is the Northern Hemisphere and France and England. And last time I did a World Cup, they played Wales and Ireland as well, like 13. So that's the concern. So they get the Pacifica, right? And then hopefully off the back of the NRL's involvement with Super League, we can see those other nations become competitive again.
00:13:04
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
00:13:05
Speaker 1: Fellas, just at the West Tigers this week, they've picked up Tyson Frizzell for a season in 2027, a 12-month contract. That'll be his 17th season in the NRL for Tyson Frizzell. He brings a whole heap of experience. He's very much respected within any dressing room that he walks into. But he joins Kurt Mann, Jaden Braley, and also Jake Averillo at the West Tigers. Wow. What are we thinking here? Personally, I like the signing because I think it's absolutely what this club needs. They need a calming influence and a standard setter. And I think that's Tyson Frizzell.
00:13:46
Speaker 3: Yep, I agree. I agree, Dave. And you look at the guys that you mentioned, all those guys that they bought, good trainers, good work ethic, kind of scrap for everything. And that's probably not something that the Tigers have had the luxury of over the last few years of guys that are just going to roll their sleeves up And get the job done. Tyson, you know, ideally, you sit there and you look at his average minutes, you hope it's 25 to 30 for the Tigers next year. Yeah. You know, because they've got a lot of good young players and guys that can play big minutes. But if he can just do that job for 25, 30 minutes and, you know, he's super tight with Benji Marshall. Benji's been trying to sign him
for the last few years. They were mates at the Dragons when they played together. But Benji, since I think he first got the assistant job at, The Tigers have been trying to sign Tyson Frizzell. Eventually got his man, but I think it's a real steady, calming signing for the West Tigers.
00:14:40
Speaker 2: I think he'll be more important for what he does off the field than on the field, I think. Particularly with those young guys, Samuel Afanu, Terrell May, the influence he can have on those two guys. Golo Tyson Frizzell has been in the game for so long. He's the ultimate professional. And Jayden Braley, and as you said, Kurt Mann are the same, right? I mean, they're going to have a great influence on that young forward pack. And I think that in the long term, their impact will be measured far beyond their playing days, hopefully at that footy club and the impact they have on Samuela and Terrell in particular.
00:15:13
Speaker 3: The big thing about the Tigers this year was, you know, their 1-15 was pretty good. It fell off a cliff.
00:15:19
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:15:20
Speaker 3: You add these guys in and you go, well, there's guys that if they need to, if Appie goes down, Braley can play big minutes, Kirt Mann can play big minutes. Brazil, you don't want to play big minutes. Avarela can play... multiple positions. So what they've instantly done is added some much needed first graders into the mix there. And so I think whilst they haven't gone out and landed marquee players, I think their recruitment's been really smart, the West Tigers this offseason.
00:15:45
Speaker 2: I think Avril will have more impact on the field than those other three blokes.
00:15:49
Speaker 1: Oh, definitely.
00:15:50
Speaker 2: We saw in the state championship for the Dolphins, he was unbelievable playing a 5'8. Now, they initially, correct me if I'm wrong here, right, they initially brought him to play in the centres and they were going to move him to 5'8.
00:15:59
Speaker 3: It was an option. There was an option there.
00:16:01
Speaker 1: I think he plays in the outside back. Yeah.
00:16:03
Speaker 3: The thing has always been to play him at centre because Jerome was still contracted at the time. And then, you know, put him in the mix, get a look at him in the off-season and put him in the mix to replace Jerome. But now, obviously, Jerome's gone. So I think, no doubt, he'll get some reps there in summer and see how he goes.
00:16:20
Speaker 1: More wins than last year, Mick, for the Tigers? I think so.
00:16:24
Speaker 2: So who have you got the Tigers halves?
00:16:25
Speaker 1: You said- Latufanu and Adam Dewey, I reckon.
00:16:28
Speaker 2: Latufanu. Okay.
00:16:30
Speaker 3: In an ideal world for the West Tigers- Who have you got?
00:16:32
Speaker 2: I'd play Averillo ahead of Latufanu, from what I've seen.
00:16:35
Speaker 1: But in an ideal world- Sorry, you're going off of the state championships?
00:16:37
Speaker 2: No, I'm going off what I saw of Latufanu this
year.
00:16:40
Speaker 1: Yeah. In an ideal world- He convinced you he could be- Well, he's got a World Cup coming up.
00:16:44
Speaker 2: Well, he mightn't even be the starting- Well, he is. He is, yeah. Okay. For the whole tournament, you think he will be?
00:16:49
Speaker 3: He's starting. It depends how they play. I don't know.
00:16:52
Speaker 2: So- What I've seen of him so far.
00:16:55
Speaker 1: Why are you cranky?
00:16:56
Speaker 3: Just relax. I'm just saying.
00:16:58
Speaker 2: What I've seen of him so far in the NRL, he's not a starting six in the NRL.
00:17:03
Speaker 1: That's all.
00:17:03
Speaker 2: That's all I'm saying.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: Right. And then so what if Jake Averillo doesn't work out?
00:17:09
Speaker 2: Well, then you give Latu Fano a go.
00:17:11
Speaker 1: And then what if Latu Fano doesn't work out?
00:17:12
Speaker 2: Then you're screwed.
00:17:13
Speaker 1: Andrews.
00:17:15
Speaker 3: No.
00:17:16
Speaker 2: Oh, a job on Andrews. Yeah.
00:17:17
Speaker 3: I think in an ideal world for the West Tigers- If they're playing well, it's Fano, Dewey, and Averello at centre. That gives them the best balance and best strike. Whether it works, I don't know.
00:17:30
Speaker 2: Who were the centres this year again? It was.
00:17:32
Speaker 3: Stafford and Taylor.
00:17:33
Speaker 2: Taylor and May. Stafford Taylor's gone. Makassini's still there, right?
00:17:36
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:17:37
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:17:38
Speaker 1: So you've got more than eight wins, Nick?
00:17:41
Speaker 2: Yeah. Ooh, finals?
00:17:42
Speaker 1: I think the experience takes them.
00:17:44
Speaker 2: You got them in the finals? No. Oh, okay.
00:17:47
Speaker 3: You're the only bloke. And you'll be right eventually. And then you're going to walk around strutting around going, I told you so much, mate. You've done it for the last decade.
00:17:53
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. I finally got there.
00:17:56
Speaker 3: I need 13 wins.
00:17:56
Speaker 2: Benji, we trust, baby.
00:17:57
Speaker 1: I need 13 wins on this year's NRL ladder.
00:18:01
Speaker 2: What did they win last year?
00:18:02
Speaker 3: Can you never say they're going to make the top four? I don't care if they win their first six straight. I won't tip them to the top four next year. Can you just not say?
00:18:07
Speaker 2: I won't get– I got caught up early.
00:18:09
Speaker 1: You mentioned Samuel Afonu.
00:18:11
Speaker 2: I won five of their first seven last year.
00:18:12
Speaker 1: Is there any chance of him resigning?
00:18:14
Speaker 2: Don't.
00:18:16
Speaker 1: I think so, before November 1. It's gone very quiet.
00:18:20
Speaker 3: I think it's in the club's court, apparently, waiting to.
00:18:24
Speaker 1: He wants big money, right?
00:18:25
Speaker 2: He does.
00:18:25
Speaker 3: He does. But, yeah, we're creeping towards November 1, aren't we?
00:18:31
Speaker 2: I think it's the market, right?
00:18:32
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:18:32
Speaker 2: It'll be interesting to see what sort of interest you'll get on the open market, Sam Weller.
00:18:37
Speaker 3: Well, there's back rowers, plenty.
00:18:38
Speaker 1: A lot of back rowers.
00:18:39
Speaker 3: Hudson Young. It's a cluttered market. Jordan Rickey, the two sharks.
00:18:44
Speaker 1: Wilton and Navarro.
00:18:46
Speaker 3: There's plenty. So once that, I think Hudson Young will probably be that first domino to four. And then once that, whether he goes or stays, that will open the market up.
00:18:54
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:18:55
Speaker 3: So there's lots of back rowers.
00:18:57
Speaker 1: On the market. What is going on? I'm hearing. You're reporting.
00:19:03
Speaker 2: I'm hearing.
00:19:03
Speaker 3: I'm hearing. You're reporting.
00:19:05
Speaker 1: Yes. Yes. The wildcard round could be on.
00:19:08
Speaker 2: The next year.
00:19:10
Speaker 1: Well, you tell me.
00:19:11
Speaker 2: It's firmly on the agenda, Dave. The NRL is talking to the clubs about it at the moment.
00:19:15
Speaker 1: You're going to need to convince me.
00:19:17
Speaker 2: The draw comes out. Well, the draw will come out after the World Cup. And yeah, it's on the agenda. They're getting feedback at the moment from the clubs and the broadcasters on whether they bring wildcard weekend in next year, as soon as next year. They've been talking about it down the track. In 28 or 29. The talk is about potentially next year.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: Once the comp expands, I'm going to come to the party, but I don't know about next year.
00:19:39
Speaker 3: Look, I was at 16 teams. I thought it was disgraceful to even mention the word.
00:19:44
Speaker 2: Disgraceful.
00:19:45
Speaker 1: It was.
00:19:45
Speaker 3: Well, we had 16 and half the sides make the phone call.
00:19:48
Speaker 1: I'm with you, Mick.
00:19:49
Speaker 3: Everyone gets a ribbon. It got me so irritated. We're at 18 next year.
00:19:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're on board.
00:19:56
Speaker 3: You can start to come around. At 20, I'm 100% in. I'm at 20 because when we have conferences and what the competition looks like, but at 18- I'm not going to blow up if it gets introduced. At 16, I was losing the plot over it. At 18, and this is the thing. So it's going to happen. We know it's going to happen. So whether it's not next year when we get to 19 with P & G or the year after with 20, it's going to happen. But as Reedy said, everyone's been talking about it, speculating, but the fact that it's firmly in play for 2027 is the news because it's going to happen at some point.
00:20:29
Speaker 2: It was very big in the AFL this year, Dave.
00:20:31
Speaker 1: It was a big hit.
00:20:31
Speaker 3: Of course it's going to be a hit.
00:20:34
Speaker 1: Was it a sugar hit?
00:20:35
Speaker 3: No, it's going to be a hit.
00:20:36
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:20:37
Speaker 3: There's no sugar hit.
00:20:37
Speaker 1: So based on this year's ladder, it's 9 and 10, right? Yes. That's Manly versus Storm.
00:20:44
Speaker 2: No, no, 9 plays 8,
10 plays 7. Okay, okay.
00:20:49
Speaker 1: So 9 plays 8. So Manly would have played the Cowboys.
00:20:52
Speaker 2: Yep.
00:20:52
Speaker 1: The 8th place Cowboys against the 9th place Seagulls.
00:20:55
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:20:55
Speaker 1: And the 10th place Storm would have played the Newcastle Knights in 7th.
00:21:00
Speaker 2: Okay. And David buys everyone a week off. It will stop resting of players in the last round, which is an issue. And it buys the top six a week off heading into the finals, which I think those clubs probably deserve a break, right? They've earned it.
00:21:18
Speaker 3: Is there any concern, and this is that play, don't play, like for the top, if you get the week off in the top four, is that a concern? Is that a concern?
00:21:28
Speaker 2: So if you win, yeah.
00:21:29
Speaker 3: So you've got, you know, you play around 27, week off.
00:21:33
Speaker 1: Oh, like a consistency.
00:21:34
Speaker 3: Game, week off.
00:21:35
Speaker 1: I think by then, Mick.
00:21:36
Speaker 3: I'm happy. It doesn't bother me.
00:21:38
Speaker 1: People will talk about it, right?
00:21:39
Speaker 3: People will talk about it.
00:21:40
Speaker 2: Well, if you look at it this year, right? I mean, the top four teams who won in week one, none of them made the final, the grand final, right?
00:21:49
Speaker 1: Well, both the grand finalists had to win four games.
00:21:51
Speaker 2: Four games, yeah.
00:21:52
Speaker 3: Yeah, so I don't know. I'm not sure either way. But traditionally- Imagine you got the buy in the last round.
00:21:59
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah.
00:22:00
Speaker 3: Oh, yeah. That's going to be drama. That'll be very interesting now, the buy in the last round. Because Newcastle did it smart with terms of Phoenix Crossland. They had the buy in the last round. It robbed Jacob Safidi of the grand final because he couldn't count that game. But then Crossland got that knee done because they were giving him the week off to play.
00:22:16
Speaker 1: So, yeah, interesting. Interesting.
00:22:19
Speaker 3: I think... It will work. We'll watch it. It'll have record ratings. So it's obviously going to work.
00:22:24
Speaker 1: Yeah. Do we know who the Bears are playing in round one yet, fellas? Not yet.
00:22:28
Speaker 3: Suggestion South.
00:22:29
Speaker 2: This talks about around South. That's who they've requested, I think.
00:22:32
Speaker 3: Oh, good. Just back on wildcard, Dave.
00:22:34
Speaker 1: Sorry, I took a sidestep there.
00:22:36
Speaker 2: Do we.
00:22:37
Speaker 3: If you make wild... So Craig Bellamy, okay? Does he's... final streak continue by playing in the– say they lose in the wildcard.
00:22:45
Speaker 2: Does it count as a finals game?
00:22:46
Speaker 3: Does that count as a finals game?
00:22:47
Speaker 1: Oh, yeah.
00:22:47
Speaker 3: Or does he have to go the next week?
00:22:49
Speaker 1: Yeah, you're talking about statistics. Is a wildcard viewed as a finals game?
00:22:54
Speaker 3: Is that a finals game?
00:22:55
Speaker 2: I think that is a finals game, isn't it?
00:22:57
Speaker 1: Well, they're calling it the wildcard finals, aren't they?
00:23:00
Speaker 2: Yeah, maybe not. Maybe it's not. Maybe you've got to win to win a spot in the finals.
00:23:04
Speaker 3: We need Aaron Wallace to confirm.
00:23:06
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. I would say, Dave, the club's– the initial feedback the NRL's got from the clubs is we're not against it, but we want to see how it changes the structure of the comp and how it will work moving forward. What's the benefit of it from 28 onwards? So if you're going to bring it in next year, show us when the comp goes to 20 or 19 teams, how it, in 2028, how it benefits the game.
00:23:32
Speaker 1: Have you heard if the kickoff rule is dead?
00:23:34
Speaker 2: I think that is dead, yes.
00:23:35
Speaker 3: Thank God.
00:23:36
Speaker 1: That didn't go anywhere. It was a bit of a fizzer. Yeah. I'm just throwing random ones here because– What else have you got for us? I'm being a bit one of our logout colleagues.
00:23:47
Speaker 2: Who's that? You haven't got me yet.
00:23:48
Speaker 3: No, not you.
00:23:49
Speaker 2: Oh.
00:23:50
Speaker 1: What did I say? Perth. Yeah. Still to be determined.
00:23:55
Speaker 3: Yep.
00:23:56
Speaker 1: Buy in Magic Round. I wonder who gets that this year.
00:23:59
Speaker 3: Are there going to be buys this year?
00:24:00
Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, true.
00:24:00
Speaker 2: We won't need it.
00:24:02
Speaker 1: Not required with the bears coming in.
00:24:04
Speaker 3: A lot of footies.
00:24:05
Speaker 1: The bears have confirmed that they're on a– the board will conduct the search for replacements to the– Yeah.
00:24:12
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:24:13
Speaker 2: And they put a– it's a very limited time period. You've got 10 days to– now it's only eight or nine.
00:24:17
Speaker 3: To apply for that job. Well, it's very– time is of the essence.
00:24:20
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:24:20
Speaker 3: They start training soon. They don't have a CEO.
00:24:23
Speaker 2: Yeah. But, yeah, they've asked people to send their applications to the.
00:24:29
Speaker 3: You should do it, Reedy.
00:24:29
Speaker 2: To the club, yeah.
00:24:30
Speaker 3: You should be set up.
00:24:31
Speaker 2: I tried to apply. I actually went online to apply online. You can't do it.
00:24:34
Speaker 1: Oh, right.
00:24:34
Speaker 2: You've got to actually send in a letter with a two-page cover letter in your resume, one-page resume.
00:24:40
Speaker 1: It's like applying for a job at Pizza Hut or something.
00:24:42
Speaker 2: I thought I'd applied just for, you know, I was going to say shits and giggles.
00:24:47
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's okay.
00:24:48
Speaker 2: Just to see what the response I got, but I'm not going through the whole rigmarole of a two-page cover letter with a resume.
00:24:56
Speaker 3: When was the last time you did a resume, you think?
00:24:58
Speaker 2: A long time ago.
00:25:00
Speaker 3: Still got it.
00:25:01
Speaker 2: Anyway, but that's how you do it. Send it to the company secretary of the Perth branch.
00:25:04
Speaker 3: In case you're watching and you want to reply.
00:25:06
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:25:06
Speaker 2: Do it. Time's limited. Get in.