00:00:10
S1: Everyone, welcome to the Mark My Words podcast, ladies and gentlemen. It is here. Finals footy. M g piggy, are youse fired up?
00:00:19
S2: Pumped is the word yes. I mean yes, m g you know what? Outside right now is probably 2425. By the weekend it's going to be 2728. And just like the weather, the footy heats up as well. Oh yes.
00:00:33
S3: He's wanting to use that one.
00:00:37
S1: So you know what? You are the modern day Thomas Keneally.
00:00:40
S3: Blow that whistle. Blow that whistle.
00:00:43
S1: How are you going piggy. You ready to.
00:00:44
S3: Go. I'm ready to rock and roll. Can't wait. It's going to be a massive weekend of footy. Uh I got Friday night Saturday night and Sunday. What about Sunday Panthers Roosters. Well at Commbank that's going to be.
00:00:55
S2: That's that's that's the game of the round by a mile.
00:00:58
S1: Well there's a finals fire up in just a moment between Latrell and James Tedesco. We'll get to that in just a moment. But boys, as we start a podcast every week, something a little random.
00:01:07
S2: Behind the scenes.
00:01:07
S1: Behind the scenes. Um, as you know, um, when you sort of do what I do and you get tipped off to a few things, and I'm starting with a little bit of a information I've been sent from, let's just say an insider from the Saint George Illawarra Dragons, you'll know that Piggy Riddell is looking good. He's lost a bit of weight.
00:01:26
S2: He's looking real.
00:01:27
S1: Good training.
00:01:27
S2: His ass off.
00:01:28
S1: Yeah, well, I received this. G'day, Mark. I'm getting a bit sick of Mark walking around the Bruce Gordon Centre telling everyone how much weight he's losing. Maybe let him know that he could lose a lot more if he stopped eating all this junk that he religiously feeds on all day, in between socialising and sometimes actually doing his job. Um, I've got photos of coke. Can I have a look? Two minute noodles. There's chocolates in his drawer.
00:01:51
S3: How do you know it's my desk?
00:01:52
S1: Because there's a name tag and photos of your family on it. Mark Riddell and your family?
00:01:56
S3: Yeah. So they've put it on there. They've put it on my desk.
00:01:58
S1: Now I can't give up my sources. But who does? Who's Darren?
00:02:02
S3: What does. What's.
00:02:05
S1: Who's Darren?
00:02:05
S3: What does.
00:02:06
S1: He. What's he do?
00:02:07
S3: So does he does all he sort of like I don't know what his official title is. I'll have to ask him. But he's like.
00:02:13
S1: She's making a big.
00:02:14
S3: Impact. No, I think he does like logistics and like, he's the man that's in the sheds for the NRL team setting up the shed before the game. Okay. He's helping the boys, like booking the promo. So you're above.
00:02:24
S2: You're above him in pecking order.
00:02:25
S3: Well, no, no, not at all.
00:02:27
S2: You said before you were like.
00:02:29
S1: You know what he did too, didn't he? Yeah he did. Yeah. Throwing his weight around.
00:02:34
S3: He sits about four desks down from me. So and he's always got two GB on. He's an avid listener. He listens to leave. He listens to Fordham in the in the mornings. So all the boys give him shit. So.
00:02:45
S1: So do you walk around like, you know, telling everyone you're losing weight. You know, this fitness regime?
00:02:49
S3: I don't, but the.
00:02:49
S1: Fact my man does, you do.
00:02:51
S3: Well, the fact that we hammered him the other day on your show and then Levy clipped that up. Daz, if you're gonna watch this Levy, clip that up and send it to me to give to you to make sure that you heard it and he heard it.
00:03:03
S1: Well, Daz, just keep sending me that information, especially for Mark my words and the continuous.
00:03:07
S3: I actually went and saw him today because I knew that this had surfaced and I actually congratulated him. I said, like, I love the banter. Yes, and I love how quick you've been.
00:03:16
S2: Oh yeah.
00:03:17
S3: To return fire. I said, it's fucking game on now.
00:03:21
S1: Yes. We've created more drama at the Dragons. Oh hey, by the way, you know the other one. Have you seen that? Um Peter V'landys has come up with this idea about an NRL land like a theme park around NRL. Yeah, it got me thinking. Right. What would you like?
00:03:35
S3: Can you start that again. I haven't I'm not a NRL Disneyland.
00:03:39
S1: Yeah. They're going to do a Disney World Disneyland.
00:03:41
S3: What.
00:03:41
S1: Yeah. Where you'd be able to talk to your favourite players like interactively and all that sort of thing. Imagine the opportunities here. Like remember Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson sitting on the roof drinking um, Breezers Bacardi Breezers. But you could set up a roof and sit on the on the roof and drink Bacardi Breezers with the players. I mean, there are so many opportunities.
00:04:01
S3: Would they set up a room with a puppy dog in it like the.
00:04:04
S1: No. Actually, you know what they could do? They could set up like a set up, like a backyard. Now they could set up a backyard and then a couple of fences and they could re they could redo the barbecue. The dragons had jumped over the fence.
00:04:19
S3: Yeah. Let's do the Covid barbecue.
00:04:21
S2: No, they haven't been there. And Jack de Belin's. Yes.
00:04:24
S3: Well I was actually there. Matt Dufty, you know, I was my house was across the road. Have I told you this? That's right. I literally.
00:04:31
S2: That's right. Yes.
00:04:32
S3: I'm across the road from his house. And can I tell this story? I might as well turn into a bit of a story for you. 2020, whatever it was in Covid. And I was working here and I was driving home and it was probably about, I don't know, 530 I get home half an hour from home and missus rings me and goes, nah, I'm just letting you know something's going on at Vinnie's house, like all the boys are rocking up and, um, with with, with on the drink, you know, barbecue and all that. I'm like, oh, okay. So anyway, I get home. The boys see me get home.
00:05:04
S1: Took over a half a slab.
00:05:06
S3: No. Well, they, they were, they were ringing me and texting me. They're like, come over, come over. And I'm like, uh, I'm not that dumb. So anyway, I went to bed. Next minute, me young bloke comes in. Dad, dad, something's going on. The police are out the front. So I, uh, go to the front blinds and I'm watching. Right. I can see I've never told this. I can see the neighbor next door in her pink dressing gown hiding in the bushes. She's the lady that dobbed him in to the police. Right. I'm watching all this unfold. The police walking up the front stairs, knocking on the front door. And as they walk in the house, boys just doing the the Harold Holt down the road, out the side. I'm in stitches, I know. Who gives a shit? Now, about.
00:05:59
S2: Well, that's the thing about it.
00:06:00
S3: I'm in stitches laughing, and I'm just seeing Blake's legged leg it down the road.
00:06:06
S2: At the time, it was the. It was the crime of the century.
00:06:08
S3: Oh, now you're back.
00:06:10
S2: Oh, I'm worried about.
00:06:11
S3: What were we thinking?
00:06:12
S2: What were we thinking?
00:06:12
S3: All of us.
00:06:13
S2: We were slaves, man.
00:06:14
S1: Who was who? Who was the idiot, though? That did the. Did the bolt and left his wallet on the barbecue.
00:06:20
S3: Dufty. Dufty. Well, Dufty went down and he just took off. Boom. Flying down the street. I saw him run off and mate, I was laughing that off. Oh. Anyway.
00:06:32
S1: Well, speaking of Matt Dufty, of course he's with the South Sydney Rabbitohs these days. Plays fullback this weekend. Um and there's a bit of drama brewing between the Roosters and the Rabbitohs. And um look it'd have to go. A few things have to work out for them to meet in the prelim. Otherwise they'd end up meeting on grand final day. If things don't work out the way that some people would like. But Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco, uh, are embroiled in a bit of a war of words. Tedesco thinks that Luttrell shouldn't have stood over young Rodwell when he put on that big hit last Friday night, the game that we called piggy. Yeah. And then Luttrell fired back, saying, well, if James Tedesco's got a problem, here's my number. Um, piggy? Firstly, you were there with me calling that game. It's one of the most ferocious hits I've seen for a while.
00:07:13
S3: Yeah. Uh, and it was all legal, and it was all fine. Um, it was an absolute bell ringer. Yep. Uh, gee, I don't know if I mentioned this the other day. Do you remember the tackle Craig Field got done by Mark Glanville when he jumped in the air and he got hit.
00:07:27
S2: You remember that? Did I say that to you?
00:07:30
S3: I thought.
00:07:30
S2: I did. Yeah.
00:07:31
S3: Yeah, but I it reminded me of that. I had no issue. I've got no issue really with anything that they've said here. I sort of don't think Latrell needed to bring the whole. I don't know, says something about Greg Inglis running over him a few years ago or something. I don't think that needed, but I don't really care. Like I don't think anyone. I think Tedesco's well within his rights to stand up for Toby Rodwell, but I think Latrell is also well within his rights to have a crack back.
00:07:56
S2: I concur. Yeah. I think it's fantastic for our game. I think that. Okay. So I love what Teddy did. Yeah. Sticking up for his. Because that means he's a true captain. I love what Latrell did because it's great for the game. And did Latrell do anything illegal? No no no no. Uh. Did we? And look, I look, I was a guy who saw very close to win a lot in my career. Now post-career. I, I look at incidents on games in a different way. I look at it. If it was my son being on the end of one of them, because I've got a vested interest in it. And I felt for Rodwell because I know his dad and I would have been I would have felt for me. My my kid was out, but it wasn't illegal. So I'd say to my, my son, dust yourself up, get on with it, because that's going to be the biggest hit you'll ever cop.
00:08:39
S3: Yeah, that's right.
00:08:40
S2: And I would I would have called it out if Latrell hit him high. I think the world of rugby league would have been a god. It would have been a gog with. How fucking dare you? How dare you do that? But it wasn't illegal. It was a great tackle. It's fantastic theater. Um, it's kind of like the the Spencer thing. It's it's just this powder keg that rugby league produces every now and then that gets everyone captivated. And this is another this is another instance. Um, you know, it's, it's fantastic. It's, it's who we are talking about on the eve of finals and the journos must be going.
00:09:15
S3: Yeah, we've got our stories for the week.
00:09:17
S2: Goodness. Thank you Latrell.
00:09:19
S1: But but it's funny, like you said, you don't have a problem with anything in there. I don't either. I actually love it. I want more of it because. Because these are the stories. These are the sort of this is something the media can latch on to rather than the media going looking for crap to report, you know, and, and people get the shits with the way the media covers the game and what they seize upon. These are the sorts of things the media can delve into and, you know, talk about and, and use to fuel rivalries and sell the game and put bums on seats. So I much prefer this sort of thing as opposed to boring statements where players are media managed to within an inch of their life and they're told, oh, don't say this because we don't want to upset this person. Don't say this. I love the fact that James Tedesco is giving it to Latrell, and I love that Latrell Mitchell's giving it to James Tedesco. I want more of it.
00:10:03
S2: Well, you know what we saw this week too. Yesterday we saw a press conference from David Fifita that I haven't seen before. Emotional. He was speaking about his Wayne Bennett's influence on him. Um, his dad's passing, which is I think the anniversary is on the 12th, the day they're playing against the Knights. And he was teary. And I think that to me again, let your guard down, boys, because we want to see the other side of our rugby league players who we adore. Yeah. You know, that's something that even every vintage goes through every, you know, every, every decade of rugby league players all have some remote synchronicity. And as they're getting older, these as, as the new age comes around, we're seeing our rugby league players get more and more guarded because they've got so many, so much access to get hold of them. Social media. And when I saw David Fifita in tears, I went, wow, that's. You don't see that anymore? Yeah. And that was so refreshing to see. Yeah. Just to see your true emotion. I loved it.
00:10:59
S1: Yeah. It's fantastic, isn't it? So, um, it whets the appetite for it does.
00:11:04
S2: It does.
00:11:04
S1: Um, just away from sort of the finals for a second. Uh, a couple of other yarns. Benji Marshall's waste of time. No time making changes to the Tigers. John Morris is on the way out. Uh, one of the assistant coaches, um, the NRL's on the verge of sealing a $57 million rescue package. Um, and tones and I, as exclusively revealed by Andrew Webster on the daily podcast here on, uh, the continuous call team tones and I will be our grand final entertainment dance, monkey dance, monkey dance monkey.
00:11:32
S2: Well, that's the that's the song. That's the that's the that's a hit, isn't it? Yeah. Um, look, as Valente said, our entertainment's the game. Yeah. Um, if if AFL do anything better than us, it is the, the half time entertainment which is Kylie Minogue for them this year. Um, I don't really think that many people go to the game. And don't forget ours is at 8:00 at night, so it's a bit different scenario when the AFL it's in daylight. Um, which I love to see our game one day have a daytime grand final, just, just to see what it was like just to bring back that. Oh. But yeah look I yeah she's she's a great Australian. Yeah. You know, she's, she's a judge now on.
00:12:06
S1: Aussie music.
00:12:06
S2: I think I think Aussie she. Oh yeah.
00:12:08
S1: Support our own.
00:12:09
S2: Yeah.
00:12:10
S1: Give him a platform to put on a show in front of 80,000 people. Um so that's what's happening there. The Super League um NRL on the verge of selling a $57 million rescue package. I mean that's good for the Super League.
00:12:20
S3: It's great. Very good for the Super League and they need it mate. They it's going downhill at a rate of knots. The Super League the money's just not there. The clubs are most of them are privately owned. And so a heap of money into it.
00:12:33
S1: So is that the root cause of the problem for Super League that there's just. I don't think they.
00:12:37
S3: Get much money out of the broadcast deals over there. So.
00:12:40
S2: Well they're they're in a EPL. Yeah.
00:12:43
S3: That's right. They're dictated to by EPL.
00:12:45
S2: Yeah. And what ever happened to Ryan Carr. Do we know what happened to him.
00:12:49
S3: Like.
00:12:49
S2: Like that. Was that the Castleford now, you know, but you can't say.
00:12:54
S3: Yeah, I'm not too sure.
00:12:56
S2: Okay, look away for five minutes.
00:12:58
S1: Is there drama?
00:13:00
S3: No, I just think there was probably, uh. How does the best way to put this? There's probably just a couple of issues there that certain people didn't agree to agree with. And he was moved on.
00:13:11
S2: But it's um. So now cookie and that are still going there. Sloan. Yeah, I.
00:13:15
S3: Actually spoke to cookie today. Not, not too much about that, but yeah, he's still going over there. So he's actually going over on his own. He's going to obviously get himself sorted over there. Then the family will come over after that.
00:13:25
S2: Why isn't Tyrell Sloan. Why doesn't someone pick him up in like, come on, that kid. He's come of age this year. I don't know whether it's because he's got bigger. He's got his he's he's got longer hair. I don't know what it is.
00:13:36
S3: He's he's a great fella.
00:13:37
S2: He looks like a good fella. And he just seems to be that he's got so much more to give our game.
00:13:42
S1: Speaking of young blokes, what about the young.
00:13:44
S2: Kobe.
00:13:45
S1: Black? Oh, the Canberra bloke. Oh, that's one of the most impressive debuts we've ever seen.
00:13:49
S2: It's 20.
00:13:50
S3: Points.
00:13:51
S1: Yeah.
00:13:51
S3: He broke his record in 2000. Yeah, I still remember that. It was, uh, pretty sure it was. Versus the Warriors at win stadium. 22 points.
00:13:59
S2: 22 points.
00:14:00
S1: He's found his half back.
00:14:01
S2: So well.
00:14:02
S3: He's well one game. You know it's a great great start but a great start. He's going to have a fair bit of pressure on him. Yeah come next year.
00:14:09
S2: He's got he's got he's got two great rookies now hasn't he. And what he's got the the luxury of doing now if he wants to can always put Ethan Strange in the centers. Mhm. If you've got them two young halves operating.
00:14:19
S3: Yeah. He's. Well he's got options.
00:14:20
S2: That's good.
00:14:21
S3: Isn't it. Yeah. He's got options or lock. What about the Tigers clean out. What do you want?
00:14:25
S1: You want to talk about the Tigers clean out?
00:14:27
S3: Well, looks like Johnny Morris is leaving the club. I'm just interested, Levi. You might have a scoop here. Do you?
00:14:33
S1: Me?
00:14:34
S3: Yes.
00:14:35
S1: About what?
00:14:36
S3: Veteran coach Shane Flanagan has been linked to it. The Tigers.
00:14:40
S1: I reckon Shane Flanagan's probably linked himself to the.
00:14:44
S3: That's what I was waiting for.
00:14:46
S1: Shane Flanagan potentially go and join the Wests Tigers with all the jobs that he's currently got. What about all the knifing he's done to get all the TV jobs and radio.
00:14:54
S3: And Disney.
00:14:54
S1: Jobs? What about. He said to me the other day, he goes, I'm exclusive to triple M these days. I said, oh, good luck to you, Shane. Fair dinkum.
00:15:01
S2: Good on.
00:15:01
S1: Him. Yeah, mate. When he needed a job, when he got punted by, you know, all the drama at the sharks and everything else who helped him out. Us. We gave him a lifeline. He forgets about all of that. And now he's linking himself to the West Tigers. Well, Benji Marshall, do yourself a favour. Distance yourself quickly.
00:15:17
S3: That's ruthless.
00:15:19
S1: I'm in a mood today. You are? You are.
00:15:21
S3: I'm glad I brought that up.
00:15:22
S1: Yeah, yeah. You know where I genuinely like. That's me taking the piss, ladies and gentlemen. You know where I genuinely think Shane Flanagan would be, um, would be beneficial. Beneficial. And working under Kieran Foran at Manly. Oh, he just needs he just needs a little bit of experience I reckon. Kieran. He's obviously a great young bloke, never coached before. Just to have somebody that understands the whole coaching thing, the pressure, recruitment, everything else. I reckon it'd be a really good person, Shane, to have there Because Shane's not going to try and knife him and get the gig. Just have him as an assistant.
00:15:53
S3: I just saw Peter Gentle. He just resigned from his role there.
00:15:56
S2: Oh, really?
00:15:57
S3: Really I'm sure. Yeah. Peter Gentle, who was the head of, um, recruitment. Jimmy.
00:16:02
S2: Yeah.
00:16:02
S3: Jimmy. Jimmy Dimmock was there. He's still there. Yeah. Um but yeah, Peter Jennings resigned from.
00:16:07
S1: I've had people say that um like Desi Desi might head back to me. I'm sorry, Des Hasler cannot go back to manly, given he's just sued the club.
00:16:15
S2: No, you wouldn't think.
00:16:16
S1: Like, how could the manly even consider bringing a club legend back to the club? But who's just sued them? No, that doesn't make any sense.
00:16:23
S2: Rugby league is a funny game.
00:16:24
S3: Oh, yeah. Oh.
00:16:26
S2: I've seen worse. I've seen different things happen.
00:16:28
S1: Let's get into the preview. We do that for better. This week's odds brought to you by better stay ahead of the game with better download the better app today. What are you really gambling with Friday night? Allianz Stadium, South Sydney dollar 40 Newcastle $3 outsiders you line the two teams up south should win, but it's finals time, boys.
00:16:47
S2: Piggy, what do you think, mate?
00:16:48
S3: Oh, at the moment I'm leaning towards the Rabbitohs. Especially after I know they played a Roosters team that had a heap of players out, but at the end of the day they did the job that they needed to do. Was it 50 points to 20? I think it ended up yeah. Um they're flying. Wayne's got them flying at the right time of the year. I actually questioned him about nine rounds out from the finals. I just thought they'd already had their three byes. I thought, geez, it's going to be a tough run for him because they had to be up every week to, you know, get themselves in the finals and get a position there. But they've timed it nicely. Latrell's come back in. Uh, I think it's going to be a, uh, an a night for, uh, for your bunnies. Levy. Duncan back in as well, ain't he?
00:17:27
S2: Yeah, Duncan's back in. And I think that that's ironic that you say like nine weeks ago, because that's kind of just around the time that, um, Jai got his diagnosis and, you know, and they're playing now with 14 men. Yeah, they really are. They're playing on a, on a, we don't know. No one from the, the outside looking in can just comprehend exactly how emotional this club is at the moment with their, their fallen hero. Um, and they're playing for him every week. And the fact that latrell's back the, the, the fact that Fafita is playing so well and I want to give a wrap to Brendan Smith who's been underrated.
00:18:01
S3: He's done a good job.
00:18:02
S2: He's been fantastic. And he's back to his best from the Melbourne's days. But no one's.
00:18:06
S3: Running.
00:18:06
S2: The ball, running the ball, which gives them another option. And and I think at the moment um unfortunately for the Knights they're kind of they've got the wobbles because of the fact I think they've seen Dylan Edwards, Dillon Lucas, Dylan Brown Saifiti, Trey Mooney who's probably been there.
00:18:22
S3: He's gone.
00:18:22
S2: He got he's got his shoulder. So they're kind of wobbling. But they've been the success story of the year. And I think, uh, Souths could could do a number on him.
00:18:31
S1: Um, speaking of raps Keon Koloamatangi the way he handled himself last week. I know we spoke about it last weekend. Uh, piggy, you gave Kian a rap for the way in which he handled the the face off with Spencer.
00:18:41
S3: Linear thought he did a great job. Obviously everyone knows how fiery Spencer gets, but Keon just kept his cool. Yeah, just kept his cool. He smiled. He stared him down. He shaped up everything and just didn't lose his cool and. And he got. He got what he wanted, and he probably got what South spoke about during the week that if we if we get under his skin, we're going to get some penalties. And that's what they got.
00:19:03
S1: Out of interest. Em. Gee, you're keen on Koloamatangi and Spencer Hughes in your face like he was. How would you handle that situation.
00:19:10
S2: Well, today.
00:19:11
S1: No, no no. Back in the.
00:19:12
S2: Oh, there would have been punches thrown.
00:19:13
S1: Just.
00:19:14
S2: Just straight in. There would have been.
00:19:15
S3: I know, but you know what then it would have been over. Then everyone gets back on.
00:19:17
S2: That's exactly right. It would have been over. You know what? Maybe 1 or 2 punches being thrown. Then someone grabs your arm and you're like this. Go! Let me go, you prick. He's punching me.
00:19:25
S1: Like we don't condone violence.
00:19:27
S2: But that's the that's what I think we're talking about that a bit later on the show. We've got a little rundown here that I thought I saw something about Spencer later, and I'll save my power for that. But it's just, um, you know, these days that no one's going to throw a punch at you. That's the thing.
00:19:41
S1: Yep. All right. That's the that's the Friday night game.
00:19:44
S2: So by the way, there's a couple of stats here. Um sales have one a fall from 11 uh, against teams in the top eight. Um while the Knights have won three from ten. So they're the two bottom sides in the top eight at the moment. Souths 36%. The Knights 30%.
00:19:59
S1: Saturday the early game 4:00.
00:20:01
S3: That's why he's here stat man. That's why he's here. He's.
00:20:07
S1: Uh.
00:20:09
S3: He's the great man. He's just prepared.
00:20:11
S1: He's come prepared.
00:20:12
S3: Beautiful.
00:20:13
S1: Saturday 4:00 is the first game at Go Media Stadium. The place will be going on its head.
00:20:18
S2: Sold out in 17 minutes.
00:20:19
S1: Warriors dollar 57. Dolphins $2 40 milligram. You can kick off this time.
00:20:24
S2: Um, I just want to kick off and say that. Well done Warriors. Um uh 17 minutes. Surely if they beat the Dolphins they get to play at Eden Park with its 50,000 capacity. The NRL are kind of trying to get them to do that. I don't know what the hold up would be but they've got to beat the Dolphins first. Um this goes back to my love of the Warriors. Goes back. I used to always love the Warriors because my brother in law Brandy was their first player there and had an affinity with them. But what they did over Covid, um, and the sacrifice they made, I think that's why we're seeing this, this movement, this avalanche of, of wild supporters, because I think we all have short memories or long memories, whichever way you want to put it, because we remember the sacrifice that every one of them players made made.
00:21:06
S1: Good point.
00:21:06
S2: They lived away for so long, six months away from their family, shacked up in a hotel room, training on paddocks.
00:21:13
S1: Never complained about it. Yeah.
00:21:15
S2: And now they. And I think if we're going to get this new team in in New Zealand, you should ask Cameron George and the Warriors where they want it. That's how much respect I have for them. They should be, they should be. They should dictate where the new team goes. Yeah. You don't want to put it in in Auckland if it's going to be competition for them. Put it on the South Island if you want to get juniors going through. Yeah. But they should be asking them. Um as for the game fantastic. The two most attacking teams in the competition from anywhere in the field could be anything. I'm going for the first week of finals. Always go for the favourites to see where the chips may lie, but I think this is going to be a fantastic attacking game. I hope the weather's good because that back line of the Dolphins is the best in the comp.
00:21:55
S3: I'm going the upset on this game. Dolphins. I've been a massive fan of the Dolphins for a long, long time. I've tipped them that they can win the comp.
00:22:03
S1: Just stop. I need to use one of yours MJ wow wow.
00:22:06
S3: Wow.
00:22:07
S1: Wow wow.
00:22:08
S3: Well this is my I think this is my upset of the round. And I can't go off the dolphins now because I've stuck by him. They are at full strength. They are. They've got everyone in and I think during the year and I'm testing my memory here. But they played Penrith in Darwin. Yep. Just got done. And then the next week they went to New Zealand and just got done by two points. I think it might have been.
00:22:27
S2: That's a big that's a hard road trip.
00:22:28
S3: Hard road trip of that. I think they can go over there and cause an upset.
00:22:32
S1: There's there's three teams in this final series that have all conceded 50 points this season. You know the old stat that you can't win the. Do you reckon that stat disappears this year.
00:22:40
S2: I think so.
00:22:40
S3: Could.
00:22:41
S2: Do I think so. Look, we'll soon see. We'll soon see because it's one of the like, it's an amazing stat that no team. But this year we've seen, I think there's only three teams in the top eight that haven't had 50 put on them. Like the Roosters had 50 put on them.
00:22:53
S3: Yeah.
00:22:53
S2: Dolphins twice.
00:22:54
S3: Dolphins 66 nil.
00:22:56
S1: Down. Zeleznik plays his two 50th this week.
00:22:58
S2: He's back down.
00:22:59
S1: Yeah there you go.
00:23:00
S2: Two downs back.
00:23:01
S1: 250. That'll give him.
00:23:02
S2: I didn't know that. Um this the one player I'm looking forward to. I don't think.
00:23:07
S3: Named.
00:23:08
S2: Downs in the back. He's on his collarbone. I was gonna say that's a big comeback.
00:23:12
S1: Thanks very much for the stats there. One oh brilliant stuff.
00:23:17
S2: Well if he was playing it was funny.
00:23:20
S1: You know what? If Dallin Watene-zelezniak was playing his two 50th. I'd say the Warriors are sure things, but he's not playing.
00:23:26
S2: I am looking forward to, uh, Lekka the wrecker in the centres.
00:23:30
S3: Oh, I hate those centre.
00:23:32
S2: And Herbie Farnworth to see what he's what he's got.
00:23:34
S3: Well, uh, who's the other centre? Is it Pompey or is it um old mate tower.
00:23:41
S2: Yeah.
00:23:42
S1: Lay it down.
00:23:43
S2: Our nephew. Oh, really? Yeah. It's his sister's son.
00:23:47
S3: Oh, right. Leah. Tower and Halsema. Farnworth and Bostock. Wow. They're massive matchups, eh? So good. Um, that'll be great. But then I'm going to tip the upset. I'm going to stick with the dolphins.
00:24:00
S1: Okay. Um. All right. So that's what's happening there. We move to.
00:24:03
S3: Your.
00:24:03
S1: Idea. I'm just I've got to go to a meeting after we record this and I've just got an urgent call, so I'm just quickly replying.
00:24:09
S2: Okay.
00:24:10
S1: Sorry to be rude anyway. James Hardie finals blueprint segment. We love James Hardie. I heard you recording reading some commercials for James Hardie on the way to work this morning.
00:24:20
S2: Actually very good. I say.
00:24:22
S3: Thank you.
00:24:23
S1: So you're now reading ads for two different companies on this radio network. You're rivalling m g.
00:24:27
S3: No I'm not.
00:24:28
S2: Yeah, yeah.
00:24:29
S1: You're rivalling.
00:24:30
S2: Yeah mate. I'm only doing.
00:24:32
S1: The voice six last time.
00:24:35
S3: How many. How many big man doing.
00:24:37
S1: No.
00:24:37
S2: None big.
00:24:38
S1: Take a look at me yesterday.
00:24:41
S2: He does, he does, he does. Those lows.
00:24:43
S1: Jeez. What about.
00:24:44
S3: You? Oh, actually.
00:24:45
S1: Your former teammate.
00:24:46
S3: Actually, who's Damien Cook, showed me this morning. Josh Reynolds latest lows. And he's saying that Renault grubs a bit stiff. Oh well the way his grub was walking a little stiff.
00:25:02
S1: It wouldn't be Daryl if you're talking about being stiff.
00:25:05
S2: Though. Prostate.
00:25:07
S1: Uh, let's get into the James Hardy segment. So this is our feature segment brought to you by James Hardy, the finals blueprint brought to you by our mates, James Hardy. Design and build modern mixed material homes with one trusted brand. It's possible with James Hardy and we are dissecting the exact master plan from the forward pack all the way to the big game finishes, and whether they've built a squad that can endure the heat of September or if their structure collapses under the pressure. So boys, sharks, Cowboys game the blueprint for victory. I'm glad to see you've got your hat on.
00:25:39
S3: I left mine in my car. Sorry.
00:25:41
S2: Well the shock is coming off. three losses in a row, but Trindall is a massive, massive. In.
00:25:47
S3: Is he 100%?
00:25:48
S2: I don't think he would be. I don't think anyone is this time of year. No, no. Especially like Isaiah. We'll get Isaiah in a minute. But how he's playing I don't know. I know um okay. So like I suppose the sponsor of this segment, James Hardy, the sharks have got to build a foundation. I think you can, you can use that.
00:26:05
S3: Um, this Blake.
00:26:07
S2: And I think more so I don't know if Jesse Calhoun.
00:26:09
S1: Is a James Hardy, I got it.
00:26:11
S3: Sorry.
00:26:11
S1: I'm sorry. He's a bit slow on the.
00:26:12
S2: Building, boys. Um, I'm not sure whether Jesse Calhoun is the starting prop in a semi for me. I love his work ethic and I love his toughness. But I would be saying having someone like Oregon Kaufusi in that first 15, 20 minutes against the, uh, against the Cowboys who have a formidable forward pack. Um, it's all about giving Blake Brailey um, room. Yeah. Um, was Nikko left? Trindall. Right? Yeah. So you see how how far he passes when the Sharkies are playing poorly. Brailey hardly ever runs. So my whole, um take on the shark is if I'm Craig Fitzgibbon is. How do I free up? Break. Break Brailey around the dummy half area. Well, I make my passes maybe a metre or two wider to Trindall and um. Nicko and I have my forwards in around there as dummy runners. But sometimes I'm going to give it to the forwards and sometimes I'm going to make Brailey dummy and go. So. Oh look, I think the sharks have the better team on paper, but if I was going to pick an upset this would be my upset. The Cowboys who welcome back. Welcome back Nanai. Um they welcome back Coen Hess and Bateman. Oh no. They both go the bench I think. Uh Griffin names back. He's a he's a big bopper. Zac Laybert on the wing as well. So, um.
00:27:28
S1: That's a good shot. MM. I'm with you, Cowboys.
00:27:31
S2: I think Tom did Tom Dearden's up for I think Tom Dearden the his effect on the game is just I love how he plays.
00:27:39
S1: There's something about the sharks. Do they fall apart when the When the heat's on.
00:27:42
S2: But don't.
00:27:42
S3: Forget, the sharks have won 14 of their last 17 games against the Cowboys.
00:27:46
S1: Last.
00:27:46
S3: Week. Did you watch the Cowboys? They got beaten by Canberra.
00:27:49
S1: Beware. They bounce back.
00:27:51
S2: They're playing. They're playing. They're playing at Allianz. Yeah that's big.
00:27:56
S1: It's closer to Townsville than Shark Park dickhead.
00:28:01
S2: Peggy what's your uh what's your listen. What's your hypothesis.
00:28:05
S3: I'm very good.
00:28:07
S1: I'm just showing off today.
00:28:11
S3: I'm gonna go with the sharks in this one. Um, I am a little bit intimidated by the back row of the cowboys, especially with Lukey. Um, nanny Lukey there with Cotter, obviously Cotter getting off his.
00:28:24
S2: What do you think about that charge?
00:28:25
S3: Yeah, well, I want to see the best players play in the final. So I was like, oh well, great. You got it down. Well done. I just can't confidently back the Cowboys because I don't know what I'm going to get.
00:28:36
S2: No.
00:28:36
S3: They could come out and beat Cronulla by 30 points or they could get beaten by 50. Yep. You you just don't you can't.
00:28:43
S1: Just say the same about the sharks.
00:28:45
S3: Potentially. Yeah, potentially. But I just think the sharks have been there and done that for the last 3 or 4 years. They've got to the preliminary final in every occasion. And I think that they beat the Cowboys.
00:28:57
S1: Did you say the preliminary final. There's a little you're becoming more and more like Roman. So that is the blueprint to success. Thanks to James Hardy. Thanks to James Hardy for jumping on board the Mark My Words podcast. And just on those better odds, sharks dollar 42 Cowboys 292 90 about the cows. Um, and then the game to wrap up the round. Sunday is going to be a beauty.
00:29:18
S2: Wow.
00:29:18
S1: Combat stadium. Yes. Panthers dollar 33. Roosters $3.35. Gentlemen.
00:29:24
S3: Well, what are you thinking? Crowd first before we get into it.
00:29:27
S2: Sold out.
00:29:27
S3: Yeah. You reckon it'll be back?
00:29:29
S2: Yeah.
00:29:30
S3: Oh. How good.
00:29:30
S2: Yeah, it'd be 30,000.
00:29:31
S3: Easy. That's unreal.
00:29:32
S2: Easy.
00:29:33
S3: I just didn't think the Roosters supporters would travel, mate.
00:29:35
S1: The Panthers will the whole.
00:29:36
S3: It'll just be all Penrith.
00:29:37
S2: Oh, 15, 25% Roosters reckon 1520.
00:29:41
S3: You analyzing their.
00:29:45
S2: 1 million supporters million dollars.
00:29:48
S3: Yeah. Well, actually, I said something the other week where I forget which game it was. It was a Penrith game and I thought it wasn't the greatest crowd. And I thought maybe the Penrith fans obviously they know well we're going to get it.
00:29:58
S2: Melbourne was that Melbourne at Commbank.
00:29:59
S3: Might have been and you know what I mean. Penrith fans might say, oh, I'll stay at home for this one because I want to be there for week one of the finals. And I just realised that I told my boys that I'd take them to this game, so I better buy some tickets.
00:30:10
S1: Are you working on Sunday? Yes, yes.
00:30:12
S3: I'm working Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
00:30:14
S1: You have pulled a gut.
00:30:15
S2: You have. You pulled a triple this week?
00:30:17
S3: Triples and my NRL W team are playing before the Sharks and Cowboys. So I'm actually going from the coach's box out the door and around into the commentary.
00:30:29
S1: Well don't let the result affect your performance on the radio.
00:30:32
S2: This is the last round this week.
00:30:35
S1: There's a vote of confidence from the Dragons fans. How's that five year plan going?
00:30:40
S3: Yeah, we're in year one.
00:30:42
S2: As we're three months in James Hardie.
00:30:44
S3: We're building the foundation.
00:30:48
S1: I like it. Gotta look after the sponsors. That's right. All right. Best bets boys. I'm going to go the Cowboys MG off. You've sold them to me.
00:30:54
S2: Are we going to talk.
00:30:56
S3: About the Penrith.
00:30:57
S1: Or did we.
00:30:57
S2: Do it?
00:30:57
S3: No not really. We sort of got sidetracked.
00:30:59
S1: Sorry I was talking. I wasn't.
00:31:01
S3: And whatnot.
00:31:01
S2: That's a look I think um that's massive. Ian's got about 11 players who didn't play against Souths last week. And just on that I think I think they were pissed off as well Souths that they put so many kids up against them in that game. The more I think about it, I think that they you know I don't know. It's that's that's another topic for another day. But. Tedesco Smith Toya yeah no no one Aussie.
00:31:24
S3: What about Crichton coming back.
00:31:26
S2: Crichton and Radley.
00:31:27
S3: Back.
00:31:27
S2: Out and yeah what a time to come back. Um if ever the Roosters are going to beat Penrith it's it's this Sunday. Um I, I can't see Penrith getting beat honestly. As long as Nathan Cleary is in that team. Uh team. They are just dynamite. Um. Full strength Penrith. When you've got blokes like some blokes who can't even make the the 17 or the 19, um you know that they're at full strength. And when they got uh Mitch Kenny back and Isaah Yeo that means to me that they are. I don't know how Isaiah was playing. I watched that Brian Sweeney the the physio on a video the other day and he said, mate, he's he's defied logic. How you can rupture your your pec and then come back four weeks later. No one's ever done it. He said obviously he'd be at 65 or 70%. I said, well, 65 or 70%. Isaiah was better than most players in the comp.
00:32:14
S3: Yeah.
00:32:15
S2: And it's not it's not him. It's not about his strength or what he can do on the field. It's about him before a game, putting his boots on and looking across and going.
00:32:23
S3: We got yeah we playing today.
00:32:24
S2: Yeah he's playing. Yeah.
00:32:26
S3: Ooh that was good. That was really good from you.
00:32:29
S1: You're firing me up today.
00:32:30
S2: I've got.
00:32:30
S3: Goosebumps.
00:32:31
S1: Goosebumps.
00:32:32
S3: You know what he's got? He's got finals. Finals fever.
00:32:37
S1: You know what? Give me your hand. You wouldn't be able to use an Allen key, would you?
00:32:42
S3: Old sausage fingers over there. What about.
00:32:45
S1: What about this one?
00:32:46
S3: Oh, that's no good.
00:32:48
S1: That's the doctor evil. Ah, yes.
00:32:51
S2: I can't catch flies.
00:32:55
S1: Peggy, come in quickly.
00:32:57
S3: Uh, look, I'm going with the Panthers. Everything m g. I agree with him. Be interesting. Their left edge. Penrith's left edge. That'll get challenged. Obviously, it's had a few issues this year. Um, but I think the the Penrith Panthers, they know how to get it done and they get it done.
00:33:12
S1: All right. Um I went off early with the best bets. I'm glad I did because m g you've allowed me to look up some stats. I'm going to go a double. I'm going to go to North Queensland into Brian to score a try for the Panthers because he scored 17 tries in 18 finals appearances. So Cowboys into Brian Todd to score a try.
00:33:29
S3: I'm going to go Herbie Farnworth any time try scorer into a Dolphins upset.
00:33:34
S2: Uh I'm just going to multi I'm going to box the four winners, four favorites. It'll be about six bucks. I would, I would say if you backed, uh, who's Friday?
00:33:43
S1: So you're not going with the Cowboys?
00:33:44
S2: No, I don't think so. Now I'm I'm sticking to the I'm sticking to the sharkies.
00:33:47
S3: Oh yes, I turned him.
00:33:51
S2: You did you d'oh. Well, when I saw in that in that g string the other day.
00:33:56
S3: I was all over.
00:33:56
S2: That was gone.
00:33:59
S1: All right. Well it's going to be a great weekend. We'll have it all covered on the continuous call team. Of course, MGI don't want you to go off early. I don't want you to play the game before you get there.
00:34:08
S2: All right. No I won't.
00:34:09
S1: I won't just bring it down. And then when that red light comes on red mist. I just want you to go hard. Red mist. Say, mate.
00:34:16
S2: See you buddy.
00:34:17
S3: Bye bye.
00:34:18
S1: Peggy. See ya. See you later. See you later. Well done. Um, enjoy your finals footy week one. That means after this three weeks until grand final day and we're going to be here right throughout it. This has been, mark my words. Thanks to you better and our mates at James Hardy.
S1: Everyone, welcome to the Mark My Words podcast, ladies and gentlemen. It is here. Finals footy. M g piggy, are youse fired up?
00:00:19
S2: Pumped is the word yes. I mean yes, m g you know what? Outside right now is probably 2425. By the weekend it's going to be 2728. And just like the weather, the footy heats up as well. Oh yes.
00:00:33
S3: He's wanting to use that one.
00:00:37
S1: So you know what? You are the modern day Thomas Keneally.
00:00:40
S3: Blow that whistle. Blow that whistle.
00:00:43
S1: How are you going piggy. You ready to.
00:00:44
S3: Go. I'm ready to rock and roll. Can't wait. It's going to be a massive weekend of footy. Uh I got Friday night Saturday night and Sunday. What about Sunday Panthers Roosters. Well at Commbank that's going to be.
00:00:55
S2: That's that's that's the game of the round by a mile.
00:00:58
S1: Well there's a finals fire up in just a moment between Latrell and James Tedesco. We'll get to that in just a moment. But boys, as we start a podcast every week, something a little random.
00:01:07
S2: Behind the scenes.
00:01:07
S1: Behind the scenes. Um, as you know, um, when you sort of do what I do and you get tipped off to a few things, and I'm starting with a little bit of a information I've been sent from, let's just say an insider from the Saint George Illawarra Dragons, you'll know that Piggy Riddell is looking good. He's lost a bit of weight.
00:01:26
S2: He's looking real.
00:01:27
S1: Good training.
00:01:27
S2: His ass off.
00:01:28
S1: Yeah, well, I received this. G'day, Mark. I'm getting a bit sick of Mark walking around the Bruce Gordon Centre telling everyone how much weight he's losing. Maybe let him know that he could lose a lot more if he stopped eating all this junk that he religiously feeds on all day, in between socialising and sometimes actually doing his job. Um, I've got photos of coke. Can I have a look? Two minute noodles. There's chocolates in his drawer.
00:01:51
S3: How do you know it's my desk?
00:01:52
S1: Because there's a name tag and photos of your family on it. Mark Riddell and your family?
00:01:56
S3: Yeah. So they've put it on there. They've put it on my desk.
00:01:58
S1: Now I can't give up my sources. But who does? Who's Darren?
00:02:02
S3: What does. What's.
00:02:05
S1: Who's Darren?
00:02:05
S3: What does.
00:02:06
S1: He. What's he do?
00:02:07
S3: So does he does all he sort of like I don't know what his official title is. I'll have to ask him. But he's like.
00:02:13
S1: She's making a big.
00:02:14
S3: Impact. No, I think he does like logistics and like, he's the man that's in the sheds for the NRL team setting up the shed before the game. Okay. He's helping the boys, like booking the promo. So you're above.
00:02:24
S2: You're above him in pecking order.
00:02:25
S3: Well, no, no, not at all.
00:02:27
S2: You said before you were like.
00:02:29
S1: You know what he did too, didn't he? Yeah he did. Yeah. Throwing his weight around.
00:02:34
S3: He sits about four desks down from me. So and he's always got two GB on. He's an avid listener. He listens to leave. He listens to Fordham in the in the mornings. So all the boys give him shit. So.
00:02:45
S1: So do you walk around like, you know, telling everyone you're losing weight. You know, this fitness regime?
00:02:49
S3: I don't, but the.
00:02:49
S1: Fact my man does, you do.
00:02:51
S3: Well, the fact that we hammered him the other day on your show and then Levy clipped that up. Daz, if you're gonna watch this Levy, clip that up and send it to me to give to you to make sure that you heard it and he heard it.
00:03:03
S1: Well, Daz, just keep sending me that information, especially for Mark my words and the continuous.
00:03:07
S3: I actually went and saw him today because I knew that this had surfaced and I actually congratulated him. I said, like, I love the banter. Yes, and I love how quick you've been.
00:03:16
S2: Oh yeah.
00:03:17
S3: To return fire. I said, it's fucking game on now.
00:03:21
S1: Yes. We've created more drama at the Dragons. Oh hey, by the way, you know the other one. Have you seen that? Um Peter V'landys has come up with this idea about an NRL land like a theme park around NRL. Yeah, it got me thinking. Right. What would you like?
00:03:35
S3: Can you start that again. I haven't I'm not a NRL Disneyland.
00:03:39
S1: Yeah. They're going to do a Disney World Disneyland.
00:03:41
S3: What.
00:03:41
S1: Yeah. Where you'd be able to talk to your favourite players like interactively and all that sort of thing. Imagine the opportunities here. Like remember Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson sitting on the roof drinking um, Breezers Bacardi Breezers. But you could set up a roof and sit on the on the roof and drink Bacardi Breezers with the players. I mean, there are so many opportunities.
00:04:01
S3: Would they set up a room with a puppy dog in it like the.
00:04:04
S1: No. Actually, you know what they could do? They could set up like a set up, like a backyard. Now they could set up a backyard and then a couple of fences and they could re they could redo the barbecue. The dragons had jumped over the fence.
00:04:19
S3: Yeah. Let's do the Covid barbecue.
00:04:21
S2: No, they haven't been there. And Jack de Belin's. Yes.
00:04:24
S3: Well I was actually there. Matt Dufty, you know, I was my house was across the road. Have I told you this? That's right. I literally.
00:04:31
S2: That's right. Yes.
00:04:32
S3: I'm across the road from his house. And can I tell this story? I might as well turn into a bit of a story for you. 2020, whatever it was in Covid. And I was working here and I was driving home and it was probably about, I don't know, 530 I get home half an hour from home and missus rings me and goes, nah, I'm just letting you know something's going on at Vinnie's house, like all the boys are rocking up and, um, with with, with on the drink, you know, barbecue and all that. I'm like, oh, okay. So anyway, I get home. The boys see me get home.
00:05:04
S1: Took over a half a slab.
00:05:06
S3: No. Well, they, they were, they were ringing me and texting me. They're like, come over, come over. And I'm like, uh, I'm not that dumb. So anyway, I went to bed. Next minute, me young bloke comes in. Dad, dad, something's going on. The police are out the front. So I, uh, go to the front blinds and I'm watching. Right. I can see I've never told this. I can see the neighbor next door in her pink dressing gown hiding in the bushes. She's the lady that dobbed him in to the police. Right. I'm watching all this unfold. The police walking up the front stairs, knocking on the front door. And as they walk in the house, boys just doing the the Harold Holt down the road, out the side. I'm in stitches, I know. Who gives a shit? Now, about.
00:05:59
S2: Well, that's the thing about it.
00:06:00
S3: I'm in stitches laughing, and I'm just seeing Blake's legged leg it down the road.
00:06:06
S2: At the time, it was the. It was the crime of the century.
00:06:08
S3: Oh, now you're back.
00:06:10
S2: Oh, I'm worried about.
00:06:11
S3: What were we thinking?
00:06:12
S2: What were we thinking?
00:06:12
S3: All of us.
00:06:13
S2: We were slaves, man.
00:06:14
S1: Who was who? Who was the idiot, though? That did the. Did the bolt and left his wallet on the barbecue.
00:06:20
S3: Dufty. Dufty. Well, Dufty went down and he just took off. Boom. Flying down the street. I saw him run off and mate, I was laughing that off. Oh. Anyway.
00:06:32
S1: Well, speaking of Matt Dufty, of course he's with the South Sydney Rabbitohs these days. Plays fullback this weekend. Um and there's a bit of drama brewing between the Roosters and the Rabbitohs. And um look it'd have to go. A few things have to work out for them to meet in the prelim. Otherwise they'd end up meeting on grand final day. If things don't work out the way that some people would like. But Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco, uh, are embroiled in a bit of a war of words. Tedesco thinks that Luttrell shouldn't have stood over young Rodwell when he put on that big hit last Friday night, the game that we called piggy. Yeah. And then Luttrell fired back, saying, well, if James Tedesco's got a problem, here's my number. Um, piggy? Firstly, you were there with me calling that game. It's one of the most ferocious hits I've seen for a while.
00:07:13
S3: Yeah. Uh, and it was all legal, and it was all fine. Um, it was an absolute bell ringer. Yep. Uh, gee, I don't know if I mentioned this the other day. Do you remember the tackle Craig Field got done by Mark Glanville when he jumped in the air and he got hit.
00:07:27
S2: You remember that? Did I say that to you?
00:07:30
S3: I thought.
00:07:30
S2: I did. Yeah.
00:07:31
S3: Yeah, but I it reminded me of that. I had no issue. I've got no issue really with anything that they've said here. I sort of don't think Latrell needed to bring the whole. I don't know, says something about Greg Inglis running over him a few years ago or something. I don't think that needed, but I don't really care. Like I don't think anyone. I think Tedesco's well within his rights to stand up for Toby Rodwell, but I think Latrell is also well within his rights to have a crack back.
00:07:56
S2: I concur. Yeah. I think it's fantastic for our game. I think that. Okay. So I love what Teddy did. Yeah. Sticking up for his. Because that means he's a true captain. I love what Latrell did because it's great for the game. And did Latrell do anything illegal? No no no no. Uh. Did we? And look, I look, I was a guy who saw very close to win a lot in my career. Now post-career. I, I look at incidents on games in a different way. I look at it. If it was my son being on the end of one of them, because I've got a vested interest in it. And I felt for Rodwell because I know his dad and I would have been I would have felt for me. My my kid was out, but it wasn't illegal. So I'd say to my, my son, dust yourself up, get on with it, because that's going to be the biggest hit you'll ever cop.
00:08:39
S3: Yeah, that's right.
00:08:40
S2: And I would I would have called it out if Latrell hit him high. I think the world of rugby league would have been a god. It would have been a gog with. How fucking dare you? How dare you do that? But it wasn't illegal. It was a great tackle. It's fantastic theater. Um, it's kind of like the the Spencer thing. It's it's just this powder keg that rugby league produces every now and then that gets everyone captivated. And this is another this is another instance. Um, you know, it's, it's fantastic. It's, it's who we are talking about on the eve of finals and the journos must be going.
00:09:15
S3: Yeah, we've got our stories for the week.
00:09:17
S2: Goodness. Thank you Latrell.
00:09:19
S1: But but it's funny, like you said, you don't have a problem with anything in there. I don't either. I actually love it. I want more of it because. Because these are the stories. These are the sort of this is something the media can latch on to rather than the media going looking for crap to report, you know, and, and people get the shits with the way the media covers the game and what they seize upon. These are the sorts of things the media can delve into and, you know, talk about and, and use to fuel rivalries and sell the game and put bums on seats. So I much prefer this sort of thing as opposed to boring statements where players are media managed to within an inch of their life and they're told, oh, don't say this because we don't want to upset this person. Don't say this. I love the fact that James Tedesco is giving it to Latrell, and I love that Latrell Mitchell's giving it to James Tedesco. I want more of it.
00:10:03
S2: Well, you know what we saw this week too. Yesterday we saw a press conference from David Fifita that I haven't seen before. Emotional. He was speaking about his Wayne Bennett's influence on him. Um, his dad's passing, which is I think the anniversary is on the 12th, the day they're playing against the Knights. And he was teary. And I think that to me again, let your guard down, boys, because we want to see the other side of our rugby league players who we adore. Yeah. You know, that's something that even every vintage goes through every, you know, every, every decade of rugby league players all have some remote synchronicity. And as they're getting older, these as, as the new age comes around, we're seeing our rugby league players get more and more guarded because they've got so many, so much access to get hold of them. Social media. And when I saw David Fifita in tears, I went, wow, that's. You don't see that anymore? Yeah. And that was so refreshing to see. Yeah. Just to see your true emotion. I loved it.
00:10:59
S1: Yeah. It's fantastic, isn't it? So, um, it whets the appetite for it does.
00:11:04
S2: It does.
00:11:04
S1: Um, just away from sort of the finals for a second. Uh, a couple of other yarns. Benji Marshall's waste of time. No time making changes to the Tigers. John Morris is on the way out. Uh, one of the assistant coaches, um, the NRL's on the verge of sealing a $57 million rescue package. Um, and tones and I, as exclusively revealed by Andrew Webster on the daily podcast here on, uh, the continuous call team tones and I will be our grand final entertainment dance, monkey dance, monkey dance monkey.
00:11:32
S2: Well, that's the that's the song. That's the that's the that's a hit, isn't it? Yeah. Um, look, as Valente said, our entertainment's the game. Yeah. Um, if if AFL do anything better than us, it is the, the half time entertainment which is Kylie Minogue for them this year. Um, I don't really think that many people go to the game. And don't forget ours is at 8:00 at night, so it's a bit different scenario when the AFL it's in daylight. Um, which I love to see our game one day have a daytime grand final, just, just to see what it was like just to bring back that. Oh. But yeah look I yeah she's she's a great Australian. Yeah. You know, she's, she's a judge now on.
00:12:06
S1: Aussie music.
00:12:06
S2: I think I think Aussie she. Oh yeah.
00:12:08
S1: Support our own.
00:12:09
S2: Yeah.
00:12:10
S1: Give him a platform to put on a show in front of 80,000 people. Um so that's what's happening there. The Super League um NRL on the verge of selling a $57 million rescue package. I mean that's good for the Super League.
00:12:20
S3: It's great. Very good for the Super League and they need it mate. They it's going downhill at a rate of knots. The Super League the money's just not there. The clubs are most of them are privately owned. And so a heap of money into it.
00:12:33
S1: So is that the root cause of the problem for Super League that there's just. I don't think they.
00:12:37
S3: Get much money out of the broadcast deals over there. So.
00:12:40
S2: Well they're they're in a EPL. Yeah.
00:12:43
S3: That's right. They're dictated to by EPL.
00:12:45
S2: Yeah. And what ever happened to Ryan Carr. Do we know what happened to him.
00:12:49
S3: Like.
00:12:49
S2: Like that. Was that the Castleford now, you know, but you can't say.
00:12:54
S3: Yeah, I'm not too sure.
00:12:56
S2: Okay, look away for five minutes.
00:12:58
S1: Is there drama?
00:13:00
S3: No, I just think there was probably, uh. How does the best way to put this? There's probably just a couple of issues there that certain people didn't agree to agree with. And he was moved on.
00:13:11
S2: But it's um. So now cookie and that are still going there. Sloan. Yeah, I.
00:13:15
S3: Actually spoke to cookie today. Not, not too much about that, but yeah, he's still going over there. So he's actually going over on his own. He's going to obviously get himself sorted over there. Then the family will come over after that.
00:13:25
S2: Why isn't Tyrell Sloan. Why doesn't someone pick him up in like, come on, that kid. He's come of age this year. I don't know whether it's because he's got bigger. He's got his he's he's got longer hair. I don't know what it is.
00:13:36
S3: He's he's a great fella.
00:13:37
S2: He looks like a good fella. And he just seems to be that he's got so much more to give our game.
00:13:42
S1: Speaking of young blokes, what about the young.
00:13:44
S2: Kobe.
00:13:45
S1: Black? Oh, the Canberra bloke. Oh, that's one of the most impressive debuts we've ever seen.
00:13:49
S2: It's 20.
00:13:50
S3: Points.
00:13:51
S1: Yeah.
00:13:51
S3: He broke his record in 2000. Yeah, I still remember that. It was, uh, pretty sure it was. Versus the Warriors at win stadium. 22 points.
00:13:59
S2: 22 points.
00:14:00
S1: He's found his half back.
00:14:01
S2: So well.
00:14:02
S3: He's well one game. You know it's a great great start but a great start. He's going to have a fair bit of pressure on him. Yeah come next year.
00:14:09
S2: He's got he's got he's got two great rookies now hasn't he. And what he's got the the luxury of doing now if he wants to can always put Ethan Strange in the centers. Mhm. If you've got them two young halves operating.
00:14:19
S3: Yeah. He's. Well he's got options.
00:14:20
S2: That's good.
00:14:21
S3: Isn't it. Yeah. He's got options or lock. What about the Tigers clean out. What do you want?
00:14:25
S1: You want to talk about the Tigers clean out?
00:14:27
S3: Well, looks like Johnny Morris is leaving the club. I'm just interested, Levi. You might have a scoop here. Do you?
00:14:33
S1: Me?
00:14:34
S3: Yes.
00:14:35
S1: About what?
00:14:36
S3: Veteran coach Shane Flanagan has been linked to it. The Tigers.
00:14:40
S1: I reckon Shane Flanagan's probably linked himself to the.
00:14:44
S3: That's what I was waiting for.
00:14:46
S1: Shane Flanagan potentially go and join the Wests Tigers with all the jobs that he's currently got. What about all the knifing he's done to get all the TV jobs and radio.
00:14:54
S3: And Disney.
00:14:54
S1: Jobs? What about. He said to me the other day, he goes, I'm exclusive to triple M these days. I said, oh, good luck to you, Shane. Fair dinkum.
00:15:01
S2: Good on.
00:15:01
S1: Him. Yeah, mate. When he needed a job, when he got punted by, you know, all the drama at the sharks and everything else who helped him out. Us. We gave him a lifeline. He forgets about all of that. And now he's linking himself to the West Tigers. Well, Benji Marshall, do yourself a favour. Distance yourself quickly.
00:15:17
S3: That's ruthless.
00:15:19
S1: I'm in a mood today. You are? You are.
00:15:21
S3: I'm glad I brought that up.
00:15:22
S1: Yeah, yeah. You know where I genuinely like. That's me taking the piss, ladies and gentlemen. You know where I genuinely think Shane Flanagan would be, um, would be beneficial. Beneficial. And working under Kieran Foran at Manly. Oh, he just needs he just needs a little bit of experience I reckon. Kieran. He's obviously a great young bloke, never coached before. Just to have somebody that understands the whole coaching thing, the pressure, recruitment, everything else. I reckon it'd be a really good person, Shane, to have there Because Shane's not going to try and knife him and get the gig. Just have him as an assistant.
00:15:53
S3: I just saw Peter Gentle. He just resigned from his role there.
00:15:56
S2: Oh, really?
00:15:57
S3: Really I'm sure. Yeah. Peter Gentle, who was the head of, um, recruitment. Jimmy.
00:16:02
S2: Yeah.
00:16:02
S3: Jimmy. Jimmy Dimmock was there. He's still there. Yeah. Um but yeah, Peter Jennings resigned from.
00:16:07
S1: I've had people say that um like Desi Desi might head back to me. I'm sorry, Des Hasler cannot go back to manly, given he's just sued the club.
00:16:15
S2: No, you wouldn't think.
00:16:16
S1: Like, how could the manly even consider bringing a club legend back to the club? But who's just sued them? No, that doesn't make any sense.
00:16:23
S2: Rugby league is a funny game.
00:16:24
S3: Oh, yeah. Oh.
00:16:26
S2: I've seen worse. I've seen different things happen.
00:16:28
S1: Let's get into the preview. We do that for better. This week's odds brought to you by better stay ahead of the game with better download the better app today. What are you really gambling with Friday night? Allianz Stadium, South Sydney dollar 40 Newcastle $3 outsiders you line the two teams up south should win, but it's finals time, boys.
00:16:47
S2: Piggy, what do you think, mate?
00:16:48
S3: Oh, at the moment I'm leaning towards the Rabbitohs. Especially after I know they played a Roosters team that had a heap of players out, but at the end of the day they did the job that they needed to do. Was it 50 points to 20? I think it ended up yeah. Um they're flying. Wayne's got them flying at the right time of the year. I actually questioned him about nine rounds out from the finals. I just thought they'd already had their three byes. I thought, geez, it's going to be a tough run for him because they had to be up every week to, you know, get themselves in the finals and get a position there. But they've timed it nicely. Latrell's come back in. Uh, I think it's going to be a, uh, an a night for, uh, for your bunnies. Levy. Duncan back in as well, ain't he?
00:17:27
S2: Yeah, Duncan's back in. And I think that that's ironic that you say like nine weeks ago, because that's kind of just around the time that, um, Jai got his diagnosis and, you know, and they're playing now with 14 men. Yeah, they really are. They're playing on a, on a, we don't know. No one from the, the outside looking in can just comprehend exactly how emotional this club is at the moment with their, their fallen hero. Um, and they're playing for him every week. And the fact that latrell's back the, the, the fact that Fafita is playing so well and I want to give a wrap to Brendan Smith who's been underrated.
00:18:01
S3: He's done a good job.
00:18:02
S2: He's been fantastic. And he's back to his best from the Melbourne's days. But no one's.
00:18:06
S3: Running.
00:18:06
S2: The ball, running the ball, which gives them another option. And and I think at the moment um unfortunately for the Knights they're kind of they've got the wobbles because of the fact I think they've seen Dylan Edwards, Dillon Lucas, Dylan Brown Saifiti, Trey Mooney who's probably been there.
00:18:22
S3: He's gone.
00:18:22
S2: He got he's got his shoulder. So they're kind of wobbling. But they've been the success story of the year. And I think, uh, Souths could could do a number on him.
00:18:31
S1: Um, speaking of raps Keon Koloamatangi the way he handled himself last week. I know we spoke about it last weekend. Uh, piggy, you gave Kian a rap for the way in which he handled the the face off with Spencer.
00:18:41
S3: Linear thought he did a great job. Obviously everyone knows how fiery Spencer gets, but Keon just kept his cool. Yeah, just kept his cool. He smiled. He stared him down. He shaped up everything and just didn't lose his cool and. And he got. He got what he wanted, and he probably got what South spoke about during the week that if we if we get under his skin, we're going to get some penalties. And that's what they got.
00:19:03
S1: Out of interest. Em. Gee, you're keen on Koloamatangi and Spencer Hughes in your face like he was. How would you handle that situation.
00:19:10
S2: Well, today.
00:19:11
S1: No, no no. Back in the.
00:19:12
S2: Oh, there would have been punches thrown.
00:19:13
S1: Just.
00:19:14
S2: Just straight in. There would have been.
00:19:15
S3: I know, but you know what then it would have been over. Then everyone gets back on.
00:19:17
S2: That's exactly right. It would have been over. You know what? Maybe 1 or 2 punches being thrown. Then someone grabs your arm and you're like this. Go! Let me go, you prick. He's punching me.
00:19:25
S1: Like we don't condone violence.
00:19:27
S2: But that's the that's what I think we're talking about that a bit later on the show. We've got a little rundown here that I thought I saw something about Spencer later, and I'll save my power for that. But it's just, um, you know, these days that no one's going to throw a punch at you. That's the thing.
00:19:41
S1: Yep. All right. That's the that's the Friday night game.
00:19:44
S2: So by the way, there's a couple of stats here. Um sales have one a fall from 11 uh, against teams in the top eight. Um while the Knights have won three from ten. So they're the two bottom sides in the top eight at the moment. Souths 36%. The Knights 30%.
00:19:59
S1: Saturday the early game 4:00.
00:20:01
S3: That's why he's here stat man. That's why he's here. He's.
00:20:07
S1: Uh.
00:20:09
S3: He's the great man. He's just prepared.
00:20:11
S1: He's come prepared.
00:20:12
S3: Beautiful.
00:20:13
S1: Saturday 4:00 is the first game at Go Media Stadium. The place will be going on its head.
00:20:18
S2: Sold out in 17 minutes.
00:20:19
S1: Warriors dollar 57. Dolphins $2 40 milligram. You can kick off this time.
00:20:24
S2: Um, I just want to kick off and say that. Well done Warriors. Um uh 17 minutes. Surely if they beat the Dolphins they get to play at Eden Park with its 50,000 capacity. The NRL are kind of trying to get them to do that. I don't know what the hold up would be but they've got to beat the Dolphins first. Um this goes back to my love of the Warriors. Goes back. I used to always love the Warriors because my brother in law Brandy was their first player there and had an affinity with them. But what they did over Covid, um, and the sacrifice they made, I think that's why we're seeing this, this movement, this avalanche of, of wild supporters, because I think we all have short memories or long memories, whichever way you want to put it, because we remember the sacrifice that every one of them players made made.
00:21:06
S1: Good point.
00:21:06
S2: They lived away for so long, six months away from their family, shacked up in a hotel room, training on paddocks.
00:21:13
S1: Never complained about it. Yeah.
00:21:15
S2: And now they. And I think if we're going to get this new team in in New Zealand, you should ask Cameron George and the Warriors where they want it. That's how much respect I have for them. They should be, they should be. They should dictate where the new team goes. Yeah. You don't want to put it in in Auckland if it's going to be competition for them. Put it on the South Island if you want to get juniors going through. Yeah. But they should be asking them. Um as for the game fantastic. The two most attacking teams in the competition from anywhere in the field could be anything. I'm going for the first week of finals. Always go for the favourites to see where the chips may lie, but I think this is going to be a fantastic attacking game. I hope the weather's good because that back line of the Dolphins is the best in the comp.
00:21:55
S3: I'm going the upset on this game. Dolphins. I've been a massive fan of the Dolphins for a long, long time. I've tipped them that they can win the comp.
00:22:03
S1: Just stop. I need to use one of yours MJ wow wow.
00:22:06
S3: Wow.
00:22:07
S1: Wow wow.
00:22:08
S3: Well this is my I think this is my upset of the round. And I can't go off the dolphins now because I've stuck by him. They are at full strength. They are. They've got everyone in and I think during the year and I'm testing my memory here. But they played Penrith in Darwin. Yep. Just got done. And then the next week they went to New Zealand and just got done by two points. I think it might have been.
00:22:27
S2: That's a big that's a hard road trip.
00:22:28
S3: Hard road trip of that. I think they can go over there and cause an upset.
00:22:32
S1: There's there's three teams in this final series that have all conceded 50 points this season. You know the old stat that you can't win the. Do you reckon that stat disappears this year.
00:22:40
S2: I think so.
00:22:40
S3: Could.
00:22:41
S2: Do I think so. Look, we'll soon see. We'll soon see because it's one of the like, it's an amazing stat that no team. But this year we've seen, I think there's only three teams in the top eight that haven't had 50 put on them. Like the Roosters had 50 put on them.
00:22:53
S3: Yeah.
00:22:53
S2: Dolphins twice.
00:22:54
S3: Dolphins 66 nil.
00:22:56
S1: Down. Zeleznik plays his two 50th this week.
00:22:58
S2: He's back down.
00:22:59
S1: Yeah there you go.
00:23:00
S2: Two downs back.
00:23:01
S1: 250. That'll give him.
00:23:02
S2: I didn't know that. Um this the one player I'm looking forward to. I don't think.
00:23:07
S3: Named.
00:23:08
S2: Downs in the back. He's on his collarbone. I was gonna say that's a big comeback.
00:23:12
S1: Thanks very much for the stats there. One oh brilliant stuff.
00:23:17
S2: Well if he was playing it was funny.
00:23:20
S1: You know what? If Dallin Watene-zelezniak was playing his two 50th. I'd say the Warriors are sure things, but he's not playing.
00:23:26
S2: I am looking forward to, uh, Lekka the wrecker in the centres.
00:23:30
S3: Oh, I hate those centre.
00:23:32
S2: And Herbie Farnworth to see what he's what he's got.
00:23:34
S3: Well, uh, who's the other centre? Is it Pompey or is it um old mate tower.
00:23:41
S2: Yeah.
00:23:42
S1: Lay it down.
00:23:43
S2: Our nephew. Oh, really? Yeah. It's his sister's son.
00:23:47
S3: Oh, right. Leah. Tower and Halsema. Farnworth and Bostock. Wow. They're massive matchups, eh? So good. Um, that'll be great. But then I'm going to tip the upset. I'm going to stick with the dolphins.
00:24:00
S1: Okay. Um. All right. So that's what's happening there. We move to.
00:24:03
S3: Your.
00:24:03
S1: Idea. I'm just I've got to go to a meeting after we record this and I've just got an urgent call, so I'm just quickly replying.
00:24:09
S2: Okay.
00:24:10
S1: Sorry to be rude anyway. James Hardie finals blueprint segment. We love James Hardie. I heard you recording reading some commercials for James Hardie on the way to work this morning.
00:24:20
S2: Actually very good. I say.
00:24:22
S3: Thank you.
00:24:23
S1: So you're now reading ads for two different companies on this radio network. You're rivalling m g.
00:24:27
S3: No I'm not.
00:24:28
S2: Yeah, yeah.
00:24:29
S1: You're rivalling.
00:24:30
S2: Yeah mate. I'm only doing.
00:24:32
S1: The voice six last time.
00:24:35
S3: How many. How many big man doing.
00:24:37
S1: No.
00:24:37
S2: None big.
00:24:38
S1: Take a look at me yesterday.
00:24:41
S2: He does, he does, he does. Those lows.
00:24:43
S1: Jeez. What about.
00:24:44
S3: You? Oh, actually.
00:24:45
S1: Your former teammate.
00:24:46
S3: Actually, who's Damien Cook, showed me this morning. Josh Reynolds latest lows. And he's saying that Renault grubs a bit stiff. Oh well the way his grub was walking a little stiff.
00:25:02
S1: It wouldn't be Daryl if you're talking about being stiff.
00:25:05
S2: Though. Prostate.
00:25:07
S1: Uh, let's get into the James Hardy segment. So this is our feature segment brought to you by James Hardy, the finals blueprint brought to you by our mates, James Hardy. Design and build modern mixed material homes with one trusted brand. It's possible with James Hardy and we are dissecting the exact master plan from the forward pack all the way to the big game finishes, and whether they've built a squad that can endure the heat of September or if their structure collapses under the pressure. So boys, sharks, Cowboys game the blueprint for victory. I'm glad to see you've got your hat on.
00:25:39
S3: I left mine in my car. Sorry.
00:25:41
S2: Well the shock is coming off. three losses in a row, but Trindall is a massive, massive. In.
00:25:47
S3: Is he 100%?
00:25:48
S2: I don't think he would be. I don't think anyone is this time of year. No, no. Especially like Isaiah. We'll get Isaiah in a minute. But how he's playing I don't know. I know um okay. So like I suppose the sponsor of this segment, James Hardy, the sharks have got to build a foundation. I think you can, you can use that.
00:26:05
S3: Um, this Blake.
00:26:07
S2: And I think more so I don't know if Jesse Calhoun.
00:26:09
S1: Is a James Hardy, I got it.
00:26:11
S3: Sorry.
00:26:11
S1: I'm sorry. He's a bit slow on the.
00:26:12
S2: Building, boys. Um, I'm not sure whether Jesse Calhoun is the starting prop in a semi for me. I love his work ethic and I love his toughness. But I would be saying having someone like Oregon Kaufusi in that first 15, 20 minutes against the, uh, against the Cowboys who have a formidable forward pack. Um, it's all about giving Blake Brailey um, room. Yeah. Um, was Nikko left? Trindall. Right? Yeah. So you see how how far he passes when the Sharkies are playing poorly. Brailey hardly ever runs. So my whole, um take on the shark is if I'm Craig Fitzgibbon is. How do I free up? Break. Break Brailey around the dummy half area. Well, I make my passes maybe a metre or two wider to Trindall and um. Nicko and I have my forwards in around there as dummy runners. But sometimes I'm going to give it to the forwards and sometimes I'm going to make Brailey dummy and go. So. Oh look, I think the sharks have the better team on paper, but if I was going to pick an upset this would be my upset. The Cowboys who welcome back. Welcome back Nanai. Um they welcome back Coen Hess and Bateman. Oh no. They both go the bench I think. Uh Griffin names back. He's a he's a big bopper. Zac Laybert on the wing as well. So, um.
00:27:28
S1: That's a good shot. MM. I'm with you, Cowboys.
00:27:31
S2: I think Tom did Tom Dearden's up for I think Tom Dearden the his effect on the game is just I love how he plays.
00:27:39
S1: There's something about the sharks. Do they fall apart when the When the heat's on.
00:27:42
S2: But don't.
00:27:42
S3: Forget, the sharks have won 14 of their last 17 games against the Cowboys.
00:27:46
S1: Last.
00:27:46
S3: Week. Did you watch the Cowboys? They got beaten by Canberra.
00:27:49
S1: Beware. They bounce back.
00:27:51
S2: They're playing. They're playing. They're playing at Allianz. Yeah that's big.
00:27:56
S1: It's closer to Townsville than Shark Park dickhead.
00:28:01
S2: Peggy what's your uh what's your listen. What's your hypothesis.
00:28:05
S3: I'm very good.
00:28:07
S1: I'm just showing off today.
00:28:11
S3: I'm gonna go with the sharks in this one. Um, I am a little bit intimidated by the back row of the cowboys, especially with Lukey. Um, nanny Lukey there with Cotter, obviously Cotter getting off his.
00:28:24
S2: What do you think about that charge?
00:28:25
S3: Yeah, well, I want to see the best players play in the final. So I was like, oh well, great. You got it down. Well done. I just can't confidently back the Cowboys because I don't know what I'm going to get.
00:28:36
S2: No.
00:28:36
S3: They could come out and beat Cronulla by 30 points or they could get beaten by 50. Yep. You you just don't you can't.
00:28:43
S1: Just say the same about the sharks.
00:28:45
S3: Potentially. Yeah, potentially. But I just think the sharks have been there and done that for the last 3 or 4 years. They've got to the preliminary final in every occasion. And I think that they beat the Cowboys.
00:28:57
S1: Did you say the preliminary final. There's a little you're becoming more and more like Roman. So that is the blueprint to success. Thanks to James Hardy. Thanks to James Hardy for jumping on board the Mark My Words podcast. And just on those better odds, sharks dollar 42 Cowboys 292 90 about the cows. Um, and then the game to wrap up the round. Sunday is going to be a beauty.
00:29:18
S2: Wow.
00:29:18
S1: Combat stadium. Yes. Panthers dollar 33. Roosters $3.35. Gentlemen.
00:29:24
S3: Well, what are you thinking? Crowd first before we get into it.
00:29:27
S2: Sold out.
00:29:27
S3: Yeah. You reckon it'll be back?
00:29:29
S2: Yeah.
00:29:30
S3: Oh. How good.
00:29:30
S2: Yeah, it'd be 30,000.
00:29:31
S3: Easy. That's unreal.
00:29:32
S2: Easy.
00:29:33
S3: I just didn't think the Roosters supporters would travel, mate.
00:29:35
S1: The Panthers will the whole.
00:29:36
S3: It'll just be all Penrith.
00:29:37
S2: Oh, 15, 25% Roosters reckon 1520.
00:29:41
S3: You analyzing their.
00:29:45
S2: 1 million supporters million dollars.
00:29:48
S3: Yeah. Well, actually, I said something the other week where I forget which game it was. It was a Penrith game and I thought it wasn't the greatest crowd. And I thought maybe the Penrith fans obviously they know well we're going to get it.
00:29:58
S2: Melbourne was that Melbourne at Commbank.
00:29:59
S3: Might have been and you know what I mean. Penrith fans might say, oh, I'll stay at home for this one because I want to be there for week one of the finals. And I just realised that I told my boys that I'd take them to this game, so I better buy some tickets.
00:30:10
S1: Are you working on Sunday? Yes, yes.
00:30:12
S3: I'm working Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
00:30:14
S1: You have pulled a gut.
00:30:15
S2: You have. You pulled a triple this week?
00:30:17
S3: Triples and my NRL W team are playing before the Sharks and Cowboys. So I'm actually going from the coach's box out the door and around into the commentary.
00:30:29
S1: Well don't let the result affect your performance on the radio.
00:30:32
S2: This is the last round this week.
00:30:35
S1: There's a vote of confidence from the Dragons fans. How's that five year plan going?
00:30:40
S3: Yeah, we're in year one.
00:30:42
S2: As we're three months in James Hardie.
00:30:44
S3: We're building the foundation.
00:30:48
S1: I like it. Gotta look after the sponsors. That's right. All right. Best bets boys. I'm going to go the Cowboys MG off. You've sold them to me.
00:30:54
S2: Are we going to talk.
00:30:56
S3: About the Penrith.
00:30:57
S1: Or did we.
00:30:57
S2: Do it?
00:30:57
S3: No not really. We sort of got sidetracked.
00:30:59
S1: Sorry I was talking. I wasn't.
00:31:01
S3: And whatnot.
00:31:01
S2: That's a look I think um that's massive. Ian's got about 11 players who didn't play against Souths last week. And just on that I think I think they were pissed off as well Souths that they put so many kids up against them in that game. The more I think about it, I think that they you know I don't know. It's that's that's another topic for another day. But. Tedesco Smith Toya yeah no no one Aussie.
00:31:24
S3: What about Crichton coming back.
00:31:26
S2: Crichton and Radley.
00:31:27
S3: Back.
00:31:27
S2: Out and yeah what a time to come back. Um if ever the Roosters are going to beat Penrith it's it's this Sunday. Um I, I can't see Penrith getting beat honestly. As long as Nathan Cleary is in that team. Uh team. They are just dynamite. Um. Full strength Penrith. When you've got blokes like some blokes who can't even make the the 17 or the 19, um you know that they're at full strength. And when they got uh Mitch Kenny back and Isaah Yeo that means to me that they are. I don't know how Isaiah was playing. I watched that Brian Sweeney the the physio on a video the other day and he said, mate, he's he's defied logic. How you can rupture your your pec and then come back four weeks later. No one's ever done it. He said obviously he'd be at 65 or 70%. I said, well, 65 or 70%. Isaiah was better than most players in the comp.
00:32:14
S3: Yeah.
00:32:15
S2: And it's not it's not him. It's not about his strength or what he can do on the field. It's about him before a game, putting his boots on and looking across and going.
00:32:23
S3: We got yeah we playing today.
00:32:24
S2: Yeah he's playing. Yeah.
00:32:26
S3: Ooh that was good. That was really good from you.
00:32:29
S1: You're firing me up today.
00:32:30
S2: I've got.
00:32:30
S3: Goosebumps.
00:32:31
S1: Goosebumps.
00:32:32
S3: You know what he's got? He's got finals. Finals fever.
00:32:37
S1: You know what? Give me your hand. You wouldn't be able to use an Allen key, would you?
00:32:42
S3: Old sausage fingers over there. What about.
00:32:45
S1: What about this one?
00:32:46
S3: Oh, that's no good.
00:32:48
S1: That's the doctor evil. Ah, yes.
00:32:51
S2: I can't catch flies.
00:32:55
S1: Peggy, come in quickly.
00:32:57
S3: Uh, look, I'm going with the Panthers. Everything m g. I agree with him. Be interesting. Their left edge. Penrith's left edge. That'll get challenged. Obviously, it's had a few issues this year. Um, but I think the the Penrith Panthers, they know how to get it done and they get it done.
00:33:12
S1: All right. Um I went off early with the best bets. I'm glad I did because m g you've allowed me to look up some stats. I'm going to go a double. I'm going to go to North Queensland into Brian to score a try for the Panthers because he scored 17 tries in 18 finals appearances. So Cowboys into Brian Todd to score a try.
00:33:29
S3: I'm going to go Herbie Farnworth any time try scorer into a Dolphins upset.
00:33:34
S2: Uh I'm just going to multi I'm going to box the four winners, four favorites. It'll be about six bucks. I would, I would say if you backed, uh, who's Friday?
00:33:43
S1: So you're not going with the Cowboys?
00:33:44
S2: No, I don't think so. Now I'm I'm sticking to the I'm sticking to the sharkies.
00:33:47
S3: Oh yes, I turned him.
00:33:51
S2: You did you d'oh. Well, when I saw in that in that g string the other day.
00:33:56
S3: I was all over.
00:33:56
S2: That was gone.
00:33:59
S1: All right. Well it's going to be a great weekend. We'll have it all covered on the continuous call team. Of course, MGI don't want you to go off early. I don't want you to play the game before you get there.
00:34:08
S2: All right. No I won't.
00:34:09
S1: I won't just bring it down. And then when that red light comes on red mist. I just want you to go hard. Red mist. Say, mate.
00:34:16
S2: See you buddy.
00:34:17
S3: Bye bye.
00:34:18
S1: Peggy. See ya. See you later. See you later. Well done. Um, enjoy your finals footy week one. That means after this three weeks until grand final day and we're going to be here right throughout it. This has been, mark my words. Thanks to you better and our mates at James Hardy.
