00:00:10
S1: G'day, everyone. Welcome to the Mark My Words podcast, World Cup edition. Again, we're going to review all the games today. What a weekend it was of footy. Joining me in the chairs Gutho Jameis how are you boys. Very well.
00:00:24
S2: Mate. I'm well mate.
00:00:25
S1: What about the games mate.
00:00:27
S2: Outstanding weren't they. You know we speak about the last night's game a bit later but um yeah some really really good games of football. A couple of blowouts like we expected. But uh, I was, I was pretty happy with the weekend of footy.
00:00:41
S1: What about the French and robbed the Lebanese. Robbed the game.
00:00:47
S2: I told you it'd be close.
00:00:48
S1: I know, because everyone. And we'll get into it. We'll go into it a little bit more detail. But everyone thought the the main act was Samoa and Tonga, which it was. But what a what an enthralling second half.
00:00:58
S2: It got the stadium ready didn't it? It did, in that the last five minutes of.
00:01:02
S1: The first game didn't do too much.
00:01:04
S2: Jeez. You felt sorry for him, didn't you? They thought they'd won the game. They've raced onto the field. Everyone's on the field.
00:01:10
S3: It was a proper rollercoaster. That last ten minutes. You didn't know what was going to happen, who was going to win, where it was going to come from. And I think it going in. Yeah. Going into overtime, I think it just went to another level.
00:01:20
S1: It was great. We'll we'll cover that shortly. Semi-Finals. Semi-Finals this weekend. It's all all all confirmed. So New Zealand they'll take on Tonga at McDonald Jones Stadium up there in Newcastle. That'll be on Saturday night 805. And then Sunday night at the same time. 805 Australia take on Samoa. So there our semi-finals for this weekend, but let's have a look back. It goes all the way back to Friday night down in Wollongong, where the England side had a victory. But it wasn't enough in the end when when we we saw the results last night, they won 34 points to 12 over Papua New Guinea.
00:02:00
S2: Yeah. And look they've been probably the most disappointing out of this whole World Cup haven't they. England. Um yep. They had a you know a real opportunity. They needed to score plenty of points. At half time it was 24 nil. But ten points in the second half just was not good enough. They just they got frustrated. You could tell they were getting frustrated because they know they needed points. And PNG, you know a couple of tries in that second half just really unsettled them.
00:02:27
S1: Yeah. It was disappointing for England because they'll go and point a minute for a long time. And that's.
00:02:31
S3: What I was about to.
00:02:31
S1: Say.
00:02:32
S3: Yeah they they started really well. They played. They were playing the footy they wanted to. And then I don't know, too many errors. They were trying to force it when it wasn't there. And when you do that and you are chasing the scoreboard, it can go backwards. And I think definitely went backwards in the second half for them. But I thought PNG were solid in that were just to stay in it just to make it difficult and yeah. Disappointed.
00:02:51
S1: Well England, what do they do now. So they're obviously very disappointed with their World Cup campaign. What changes do they need? Not not necessarily just the team, but I mean the game in England.
00:03:02
S2: As a whole. I just think they need to probably look in their own backyard a bit more like invest in in their competition and their players. There was a heavy reliance on on NRL players wasn't there? Yeah. I mean like, you know, you can obviously Herbie and Dom Young, those types of blokes that that are English. But I think they need to do potentially more camps for the for their own.
00:03:26
S3: During the.
00:03:27
S2: Weeks, during the year, so that when they get into these situations, they know their structure and it's like a system. So, um, you know, and I think they need to pick, pick their strongest team from their, the strongest clubs.
00:03:41
S3: Yeah. I think it's hard for them though, because they only did lose that one game. Like I saw Herbie come out and said they were disappointed in that. And um, I think the way they need to get better is to beat those bigger teams, like they should have won against Tonga. And um, I agree with Mose how they should have those camps regularly throughout the year and and invest more over there and in their own their own backyard. And, and then when the other NRL players come in, they're a lot better there.
00:04:06
S1: I agree with everything with everything you boys have said there, but they're almost though Peter V'landys has gone over there wants to buy Super League. I think he's had two cracks at it now two different offers they've rejected both like and and the issue. Not that I'm know anything about what's gone on and what's transpired. But in England all the all the clubs are privately owned. So they're all privately owned by, you know, most of them are wealthy, wealthy businessmen. Some invest a lot into their clubs, some don't invest a lot at all. So they're obviously getting pushed back. But surely from an English rugby league perspective, having the NRL invest in Super League and I won't say take it over, but um, assume some sort of control is a great thing for England rugby league.
00:04:54
S2: I think so. And I think um the way that they they can obviously become better is align themselves with an NRL club and use each other. You like to have loan periods where players go over there. If they're not playing first grade, they can go over there and, and you know, help their teams out. And, you know, I think, you know what Peter has done for the game. Um, you know, someone he the Super League needs someone like him to come over and, and he's pretty, um, demented but stubborn. And he knows the value. Yeah. He knows.
00:05:29
S1: He knows how to get it done.
00:05:30
S2: He knows how to get it done. And, um, you know, obviously they've knocked him back, but I'd imagine he wouldn't have changed his offer too much in, in what he's selling. But, um. Yeah, I think it's a no brainer for the Super League to, to try and get, you know, the NRL to come in and help.
00:05:45
S1: Were we talking on I'm pretty sure we were talking on air last week. Were we about like clubs being affiliated with clubs over there. A the same sort of, you know, like the Warriors with the Warriors. And yeah, like for me, that sort of makes sense because, you know, not that you're going to send your best players over there, but if you've, if they've still got the quota and they've got an allowance for whatever, 5 or 6 quota players, and you've got some great young kids that are 18, 19, 20 that you can send over there. But then on the flip side, the English players, they might have some really good young ones as well that they might want to send over for, you know, 6 to 12 months to get, you know, some experience over here. Like there's, there's, there's a lot of benefit for, for both sides of the world to have the system set up that way.
00:06:30
S3: Yeah, I agree. And I think, as you said, for the young kids, especially if they're 3 or 4 positions behind a, a backline that's that's stacked and going well, like you're never going to play. And if you can even three months, you go over there, play a handful of games, come back and there's a few injuries and you just got to come back and play. You're going to be more ready than you are playing 2021 or or reserve grade. So I think it would be a great initiative, and I think it'll probably get done eventually, but it's just a matter of when and and how they see it working.
00:06:57
S1: I know this is going off topic slightly, talking about the women's game and the women's game over there. We saw, um, you know, England, they missed out on the finals as well. Samoa beat them in the female game. But we were actually talking last week and we're like well why don't England rugby league put their season early in the English year like in the year and then have it finished before the NRL W season starts. Right. So then.
00:07:23
S3: Girls come.
00:07:24
S1: Over. Well the girls actually then can go professional because they can go over to England and they can go and you know, the Saint George Illawarra Dragons girls can go over to England, they can go and play for whoever. Or if there's an affiliated club, they can spend a season playing football. They might get 10 or 11 games or whatever it is. They then finish that English season. And then the same with those girls that are over there. They can come over here.
00:07:46
S2: And not only that, it's going to lift the standard, isn't it? Because right now Australia is miles ahead of everyone in the international game. In the girls? Yeah. Like they're the only way you're going to get that gap disparity is by, you know, bringing some of these girls over to that competition and, and lifting the standard of that up as well.
00:08:04
S3: I think playing against quality, like you can see the game even on the weekend, the Jillaroos 124 to 6, I think it was like you need.
00:08:11
S2: Was for the.
00:08:12
S3: Six. Yeah. That was the biggest celebration. Yeah. But you know what I mean. Like when you're playing quality you're going to get better and you can see how far the games come. But you need to be able to play good people to get better. And then that makes the whole game better.
00:08:24
S2: So right now the Aussie girls are a victim of their own success. Yeah.
00:08:28
S3: Good. Yeah.
00:08:29
S1: Well, the other thing is they've had investment in the in the NRL w space.
00:08:33
S3: Yeah exactly.
00:08:33
S1: Which obviously better systems better pathways. The you know the trainings a lot more professional. They train more and you know the English girls, you know they've probably got a sprinkling of NRL players but nowhere near enough. And they're just they're just way behind. But we we digress. We've spoken a lot about England here. What about Papua New Guinea?
00:08:52
S2: Well look I think um I think they're on the up like I do think they're improving and um you know they, they could have threw the towel in at 24 nil at half time. Yeah. Uh, but they, they showed enough fight back and actually won the second half. Did they.
00:09:10
S3: I think it was 1212 would have been close.
00:09:12
S2: 1210.
00:09:13
S3: Yeah.
00:09:13
S2: 1210 1210. So I don't mind it. Um you know, they are losing a bit of experience there with Reece Martin leaving and not sure if Jack de Belen will play again. So they lose a bit there.
00:09:24
S3: So yeah I think.
00:09:26
S2: Um it's going to be an interesting period of transition for Papua New Guinea now. And with the chiefs coming in in two years. Um what that is going to look like for their national team. I think the Chiefs coming in is only going to make their team stronger when they start getting a bit more NRL experience.
00:09:43
S1: Well you'd like to think so. Wouldn't you like to think when a lot of those locally born or local PNG players potentially go into those systems and, and, uh, Voros perfect example of that. The Lou I look alike when he's, uh, into that professional system, uh, with the chiefs. And then that can only be of a benefit to the, to the national side down the track. Reece Martin he's going into a football manager role, I think. Yeah, operations manager.
00:10:09
S2: Operations.
00:10:10
S1: For the Chiefs. So he kicks off that Laughing yeah that'll that'll be nice. Some tax free dollars. Actually had dinner with their coach the other night. I was asking for a few of those tax dollars mind you.
00:10:21
S2: Did you did you float the social coordinator.
00:10:24
S1: No I didn't, I didn't I did speak. He listens. He listens to the pod. I did speak about the island. And we were talking about the I he was actually telling me and forgive me, Willie, if I'm not supposed to say this, but I think they think they're going to actually do their their reviews each week over there on the island. So they'll actually go over. There's actually facilities and rooms and recovery. They'll do their. review and everything. They'll actually all go over as a group. Who knows? Who knows? I didn't get that far. One good thing was that he did shout dinner, so that was nice. That was very nice. Uh, Saturday afternoon we had New Zealand taking on Fiji. Well, I think we spoke about it last week and we were all wrapped in how they played against Australia. But I think they played that grand final last week against Australia. Like we spoke about New Zealand putting their best team out and and making sure they went and made a statement as well. So we sort of knew this could have been a big score and it ended up being a big score. Still entertaining and still a lot going on out on the field. It was people going after each other until the last couple of minutes as well. So yeah. Um, again, great for the obviously, as you said, that Fiji probably gave it all against Australia and um, it was bound to come down. But New Zealand again, they were great. Um full team, full strength. And that's what they wanted to do. Didn't help when they lost early.
00:11:43
S2: No no. Yeah, obviously he's a big focus of their attack. They play a lot, a lot through him. And to lose him. Um they were always going to be up against it 48 nil at half time. Off the back of that um you know there was a lot of going on early, but yeah, you just probably picking the wrong blokes to niggle.
00:12:06
S1: Well I'm going to, I'm going to get to that now what about that. Well first of all Ronaldo. He's gone for a week. He's going to miss the semi-final. He came flying outside in. Got it wrong on Big Ronald uh Tonga. Um he goes for a week but it's it's the Brandon Wakeham uppercut.
00:12:25
S2: Yeah.
00:12:26
S1: From nowhere.
00:12:26
S2: It was almost like a side.
00:12:28
S1: We just he just it was a split second decision and he went whoosh. And then she was on.
00:12:34
S2: Yeah. And then um that absolutely just fired up the the Kiwi forward pack and then they, they just went after him after that.
00:12:41
S1: Do you reckon he was shitting his pants when he was walking off the field and he was.
00:12:45
S2: Laughing.
00:12:45
S1: He was getting held back by.
00:12:47
S2: People. I think he had a smile and he was laughing at the start. And then he realized he was serious and, oh, I better get in the sheds.
00:12:53
S1: I'm out of here, boys. Take the jersey off. Run! It actually happened throughout the game. Yeah. With him? Yeah. There was a few little incidents through that throughout that game where I don't know whether antagonizing the New Zealand side is the word, but there was a couple of late shots, a couple of cheap shots.
00:13:10
S2: Yeah. But it was it was a really dominant performance. You have a look at you know that scoreline compared to what Australia did against him. And yeah you'd have to say that New Zealand are favourites at the moment in this competition.
00:13:21
S1: Yeah. Well they are. I think they are. They're obviously playing Tonga next Saturday which will be huge. But they've done exactly what they needed to do. Obviously disappointing that Ronaldo won't be there. Uh he'll be off for a week. But uh, they've got themselves right there. They're fit and healthy. I think from all reports other than missing Ronaldo.
00:13:42
S2: And Casey McLean. Another four tries.
00:13:44
S1: Yeah very good. I think two saying that um Asarco 13 from 13. I think we see in the next couple of games there's Australia used 3 or 4 goal kickers. And yeah they're still searching for who's going to kick. And then in the in last night's game as well there's a couple of missed goals. So you just never know when that's going to be pivotal in these sort of tournaments as well. I think he's the sweetest kicker of football I've ever seen.
00:14:05
S2: Just makes it look easy.
00:14:07
S1: Sweetest. Like I have the best. We've probably got great stats. Yeah goalkeeper. But just the way he kicks the football it's just the sweetest I've seen anyone kick the kick the ball. Well done to him. Moving on to uh to Saturday night. And we just touched on this one a little bit. But Australia they did what they needed to do. Uh 66 points to six over the Cook Islands boys.
00:14:28
S2: Yeah. Well, that's what we wanted to see, wasn't it? And we said last week, I kind of feel sorry for for the Cook Islands after their performance against Fiji, where, uh, Fiji got the better of him for 60 minutes and, um, I'd imagine Kevin wouldn't have been too happy with that. And he wanted to, to get back to his full strength side and, and go after them. And I think, um, you know, Tino certainly laid the platform for them with his aggression, defence and, and his running got himself a double. But you know, I think that's exactly what they want to see. Reece Walsh. Uh electric. I think he had five try assists.
00:15:03
S1: Um well remember we threw it up last week. If he had a shocker what happens. Well he just went out and absolutely I think he listens. He must have listened. He must have listened. Sorry I wasn't bagging you.
00:15:12
S2: Both wingers got got a hat trick. But like you said, um. Gutho three goal kickers Reece Walsh, Cameron Munster, Ethan Strange. Um.
00:15:23
S1: So especially at the pointy end of this tournament like goalkicking so tired and and um.
00:15:28
S2: And you got there as well.
00:15:29
S1: That's what I mean. You've got to find someone that's confident to go out there and and kick them. Because when you, you are in those tight games, it might be a penalty goal or a missed conversion that cost you. So um they should lock in on that.
00:15:40
S2: But it was, it was interesting again. Um Cook Islands got on the board first. Yeah.
00:15:45
S1: They scored six.
00:15:45
S2: For 20 minutes, 15 minutes. So that's um something that obviously Australia need to address as well because we've missed the start in pretty much every test that we've played so far.
00:15:56
S1: What about the Cook Islands. Brad Takairangi. What about his.
00:15:59
S2: Shot on.
00:16:00
S1: Tommy. He'll be dying. Tackers will be dining out on that forever now. It's already in his room. It's already hanging up on repeat, just going over and over and over.
00:16:08
S2: He's got a sequence.
00:16:09
S1: Shot on turbo. He just looks at it, goes well. Tackles his way in the back 30. So yeah I know easy for him. I know he put he put every bit of it to into into turbo. Poor old turbo copped it. He'll be he'll be dining off that one for a while. Old Tackers but well done to him as well like I think he'd been. I think I saw something where he played first time for Cook Islands in 2008 or 909. Yeah. I think was his fourth World Cup oh nine. I played with him in 2011. Yeah, I was with him at Paris every year for many, many years. So he's been around a long time, and I think he's still knocking around in the local leagues. He's still got his opportunity there to go out. And, um, I'm sure he'll remember that one for a while. Well, boys yesterday. Oh, let's get to it.
00:16:53
S2: Two. I think the two best games of the weekend for Lebanon.
00:16:58
S1: They took on France 24 points to 20. It ended like chaos. How do you describe the whole what would you say the whole sort of last 20 minutes. Really the whole 20 minutes and how it all unfolded. The field goals. The non-field goals, two point field goal. Yeah. Like a drop out. Conti doing the long drop out when it was the last play of the game. Drill it into the living. Yeah. Like giving them the opportunity. And he would have been ruing that. But, um, and then in the end.
00:17:29
S2: Even just the.
00:17:30
S1: One that was missing that.
00:17:31
S2: Yeah, even just the, the try from Cesar Rouge as well. The little kick ahead and then karate knocks it on. It bounces for him and he scores to even it up. And then they had the penalty where they went in front. And uh two blokes get sinbinned and they they get a penalty to go up the other end. They get a repeat set. Conti goes long and he realises it and just steps back and couldn't have hit it any sweeter.
00:17:59
S1: You saw his face. He just sort of. He started smiling. It's a good feeling. You know what? For both the teams. There was some great moments. But like I know it's a saying like you there shouldn't have been a loser. No, you know what I mean?
00:18:14
S2: Yeah. I would have been happy for him to walk away with a draw. Draw for sure. Um, but this is, you know, this is kind of the thing, like that's what the World Cup's about as well. It's about like these types of games and what they, you could see what it meant to both sides. Like it wasn't a dead rubber. They both.
00:18:30
S1: Couldn't.
00:18:30
S2: Play the finals. But the pride that they showed on the line like they were ripping into each other. Yeah. And I, I just thought I was, I was behind friends. I, I really wanted him to get a win.
00:18:42
S1: What about when, when the situation unfolded and you see the teammate don't know who it was, but like I'll make puts the kick over. Yeah. And you see him like this, like running back towards the line. But then you look at the other ones and they're cheering us off. They've got him on the shoulders. They've got the drums out there right behind him. It's like they're at a wedding. They're going crazy. Yeah. The they're literally where the try was scored. The drums were lined up on the sideline. The field was sick. Everyone came on. So well done to Lebanon. I don't think they'd won a test match since 2022. Yeah. Four years, they said. Yeah. So they hadn't won one for a long time. Great way to. I'm sure they're probably still partying now. The boys, um, they'll thoroughly enjoy that one nice way for them to finish the, uh, World Cup tournament. Unfortunately for France.
00:19:28
S2: You know what? But they'll be they would have been proud with that effort as well.
00:19:31
S1: Yeah.
00:19:32
S2: No doubt.
00:19:32
S1: Especially going 80 and 80 Like you want to have a good game and to finish the tournament. And that's, as you said, that's what that's what you want. Yeah mate, you got one job one. I can't turn.
00:19:42
S2: It off but I.
00:19:45
S1: You've got a phone that doesn't go on silent in a podcast studio.
00:19:49
S2: Throw it out the door.
00:19:51
S1: Come on mate.
00:19:51
S2: But I think, you know, this is what we need to see. And, um, you know, with with more teams coming into the NRL comp, we need to see more international football from the likes of these countries, you know.
00:20:03
S1: Well it's a discussion that's going to come up now isn't it. After what we've seen especially last night. I'm all for it but I just don't know where. Well that's what we're talking about off air. We're just saying like make the season shorter, suss it all out, look after the old legs and and add more all these games in because it's going to it'll bring those blowout games closer because we're getting more footy diverse each other. And then the likes of England can jump in somewhere and play and then they're getting an extra game and everyone, just like you saw the crowds last night. or since? Since it started. Well, we'll talk about Tonga and Samoa and what we think should happen. I reckon after we go, let's go through the game because I, I, I won't get to it. We'll get to it in a sec. But Tonga they won 20 points to 18. Unbelievable record crowd. They actually beat your you playing that day weren't you the first day when Moses went berserk. Opening. Yep. Opening the opening game of Commbank Stadium. It's actually broken the record for the highest ever attendance 29,000 odd 411. I thought that's what it was. One on. Thanks, mate. Um, yeah. And, um. Uh. Unbelievable. Not even. You know what? Not not only sorry, not only just inside the stadium, but the scenes that you saw outside, they were going up, going up the street. Church Street was. Yeah, it was ridiculous. The flags everywhere and, uh, cars with flags, boats with flags, everyone just having a good time. Drums out there from the Lebanon game.
00:21:27
S2: Yeah, it started before. Yeah. With the drums and Lebanon and they. Channel seven had the coverage. They flashed her once at one stage and they had, um, cops dancing with. One of the drummers had the cops hat on.
00:21:42
S1: That's what rugby league does.
00:21:43
S2: What's going on?
00:21:44
S1: Rugby league does.
00:21:44
S2: Having a party. But that's what it was. It was a really good atmosphere outside the stadium. And then they delivered on the inside didn't they.
00:21:52
S1: Yeah. Well let's go to it. What about the game.
00:21:54
S2: Oh look for me it's getting it was getting close to origin standard for me. There was probably a couple of errors.
00:22:03
S1: Or way too many.
00:22:04
S2: In the game. But you know, I reckon the physical contacts were there throughout the majority of the game. And you know, watching the tower and the tower at the start of the match, uh, the passion that they showed and even like just the crowd, like the, the audio coming through. Yeah, it was unbelievable for the whole match. It would have been absolutely outstanding to be there. I was actually jealous I wasn't there.
00:22:28
S1: Yeah. It's time, right? Well, these two teams could meet again. Yeah. In the final. Like they could potentially meet again in the in the World Cup final. We've got Tonga taking on New Zealand. And Samoa will take on Australia. But the game itself like standouts. I think Rob Toia he got player of the match. Yeah. Um but boys so many players put their you know who I've loved watching Manu Lele and his dominance through the middle like in 13 and four playing. I think we might have mentioned it on here like Justin Holbrook. Surely he's sitting back going yeah. Well okay, there we go. There's another there's another because he's got Dylan Lucas coming back. He's already got McEwen and he's and he's lost Tyson Frizell to the to the Tigers. So he goes, well hold on a second. I've got a 13 straight away. Maybe he already knew that I don't know.
00:23:18
S2: He's going to Matty Croker. You put on ten kilos and you're going to the front.
00:23:22
S1: You're moving up. Well he was there previously wasn't he? Matt Croker. But, um. Boys, what are you. What were your thoughts? Who stood out for you?
00:23:31
S2: For me, like the the defensive efforts. Um, there are a number of try scoring opportunities. Both sides went close a couple of times, but just desperation defense and just a foot into touch here and there. Um, it was just unbelievable. Dalen in the first half just got his foot out. And then right at the end uh fire lungo to win the game. Foot out, foot out.
00:23:54
S1: Just what about when um, what about when Benaiah dived over? Yeah, Lehigh.
00:24:01
S2: Knocked him.
00:24:02
S1: Out over the line. I think there was 5 or 6. Like there was proper tries that they just stopped, especially, uh, Samoa early. Tonga had all the chances and just kept turning up, kept turning it up. And that's why it was such a tight game for 80 minutes.
00:24:14
S2: Yeah. And like you spoke about Gutho the the goal kicking Samoa. They scored four tries. They outscored him but just couldn't get the the goals to go over uh handy that Ronald Volkmann was on the bench.
00:24:27
S1: What about that?
00:24:28
S2: What a cameo from 2021 minutes. And you reckon Parramatta fans are going well. How good is.
00:24:35
S1: This? Yeah, I know.
00:24:37
S2: I and Volkman together out there on the field. That's right. He he almost came on and took over the halfback duties and allowed. He did and allowed Louis to. And you saw him, Louis, play down that short side. They get the play and then. Well because with that goes down.
00:24:50
S1: Two left foot kickers. So they had Chanel and then Louis who both left footers.
00:24:54
S2: And Chanel kicked one out on the.
00:24:55
S1: On the floor and shanked a couple. So he just comes on and takes a bit of pressure off him. And that's all it takes sometimes. And as you said saw him come up with a big play down the short side.
00:25:04
S2: And not not only that um Harris-tavita looks like he's he's done World Cups over there. How many. We've seen it three times this year.
00:25:11
S1: I'd never seen it before.
00:25:12
S2: Never seen it. Never before. Three hammies in.
00:25:15
S1: Goalkicking. Yeah yeah. Don't worry. It didn't happen here. Yeah. I was good at warm ups too. Unreal. Jesus. Um. All right, let's go. Let's go. Before we get to the listener. Questions, boys? The whole Tonga, Samoa. And I saw it. Saw it on social media a little bit last night. Uh, the whole origin comparison and things like that. But what, what ideas do we have for Samoa? Tonga?
00:25:43
S2: Well, this is.
00:25:44
S1: When.
00:25:44
S2: What we were kind of speaking about as well. If you shorten the season and have a six week week period, does the the Super League comp run in line with ours or not really. They run.
00:25:54
S1: Two weeks before we start and they go a week longer.
00:25:57
S2: Needs to get to a point where, well, and then when we can have these periods that match up and then you can get the likes of England coming over here. But I would I would suggest you almost have origin being played on the Wednesday, and then on the Saturday you have almost a Tri-Nations.
00:26:16
S1: Yeah.
00:26:17
S2: With New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga.
00:26:20
S1: My issue with this, and I'm just being devil's advocate here, is that players that play for Samoa and Tonga also play for New South Wales and Queensland.
00:26:28
S2: Well that's where.
00:26:28
S1: You guys going. I know but you're gonna dilute. You're gonna dilute one to to put on the other.
00:26:34
S2: I don't think you're gonna see any less passion if there's no.
00:26:39
S1: No no.
00:26:39
S2: Samoans or Tongans in the origins.
00:26:41
S1: We'll state of origin be still be the same. If those players don't play, then I don't have the answers. But I'm just saying that that's what you're never going to have the answer. Like that's what will happen. Some of those great players that we saw play last night, there's no doubt they're going to play for Samoa and Tonga. Yeah, but they're also going to want to play for New South Wales, New South Wales or Queensland. And because there's so much no offence because there's so much cash in the origin game. What is it. 30. Yeah. 30 grand a game.
00:27:07
S2: I think it.
00:27:08
S1: Is. You know that they're going to play that. And the game is funded differently on an international level than what it is. But I don't have the answers. I want to see more Samoa Tonga but I just don't know.
00:27:21
S2: Well I also want to see more of these the minnows as well? Like they need to play more if we're if we're dead set about wanting to make the World Cup more interesting and intriguing, you need to see these teams play play more often rather than waiting.
00:27:37
S1: Yeah. All right. Let's get to the best part of the podcast, the listener questions we got Mike. First up with Tonga topping the combined pool. Do they have the defensive structure to upset the Kiwis in the semifinal? Yes. Yeah I agree.
00:27:55
S2: And it was interesting. I watched the the after match and Isaiah Katoa was speaking about last year when they played in the Pacific tournament and how many points that they leaked. And their defense has been a massive focus throughout this World Cup. So um, yeah, I think they've, they've got that defensive mindset mindset. And like we said, you saw last night the, the desperation in defence to to stop a couple of tries. They they won the game with defensive stops like Lehigh and then at the end getting bundled into touch. So I definitely think they have the structure that can upset them.
00:28:35
S1: All right Johns got one here and almost generalizing this one. But do you think Samoa though this week will have enough firepower and the game to worry the Kangaroos. I think they will definitely like again we saw last night off goal kicks. They probably win. So like that. And I feel like the way they're playing exactly the same like they're stopping tries. They're playing footy. They're not just running straight through the middle, they're playing footy to to test teams. And then you've got the likes of hammer and uh, falling out the back who just half a gap gone. And yeah, like I think they've just got to go after the game. And for us, if they start well against Australia, we've seen like the first 20 minutes might be where they struggle a little bit. And then if they can get a little lead or be in the fight, it's going to go down to the wire for me.
00:29:19
S2: I think they've still got too many errors in them. Yeah. If they can, you know, get that completion rate up around 85%. They give themselves every chance to beat Australia.
00:29:30
S4: Yeah. Everyone will. My worry. Not that I'm worried but I want to see Australia win. But I just worry that that was such a big occasion.
00:29:38
S1: For.
00:29:39
S4: Both.
00:29:39
S1: Of those.
00:29:39
S4: Teams last night. Right.
00:29:41
S2: They're going to be bruised I hope.
00:29:42
S1: Yeah.
00:29:43
S4: Tonga and Samoa take it to Australia and New Zealand and we get two great semi-finals. But that was huge.
00:29:48
S1: Emotional too high.
00:29:50
S4: Everything like and Australia and New Zealand almost sat back haven't they. Like they had. They played each other the first game and they've got through Fiji. They've both got through Cook Islands. They're almost sitting there waiting and I, I would assume that that's the only question mark I got over both of them. Is that how they get themselves back up for the semis.
00:30:08
S1: That's true.
00:30:09
S4: Yeah. All right. Oh Franky boy he's got one here. What was the main tactical turning point in the dying minutes of the Tonga Samoa clash? I don't know if there was a turning point. Was it. I thought it was.
00:30:18
S1: I think it was. Yeah, I think Volckman came on. Volckman changed the game for for Samoa. And then yeah, just that try from Adam at the end. Just missed tackle.
00:30:26
S2: Yeah. That was quite a simple try.
00:30:28
S1: Yeah. Just too easy.
00:30:30
S4: Well I'll make it up outside. Um Spencer wasn't open that space up. Yeah. Left him one on one.
00:30:36
S2: Wrong shoulder tackle.
00:30:37
S1: Yeah.
00:30:37
S4: Yeah. He tried to go across him didn't he.
00:30:39
S2: Tried to go across and almost take out his legs and off the back of that um I think they started watching the clock. Yeah. And obviously you got to try and throw the ball around. But they had a chance. They still were good enough to get themselves down there and get a chance. But they they just couldn't get there.
00:30:54
S4: Look Jill's come up with a great one. And I think we have answered this. But does international rugby league need more. Yeah. Well I wouldn't say standalone, but we need more tests. I think in general, whether it's for Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga like.
00:31:07
S2: Bring back the Anzac Day test. Well why don't we have a test with Australia and New Zealand and then Tonga as well.
00:31:14
S4: Great. A great idea. Like I um I, I'm not across how the whole tier one to tier two nations things worked, but Samoa and Tonga are no longer tier two.
00:31:25
S1: I don't think so.
00:31:26
S4: Like if they are, I don't even know what they are or not. But I think that needs to go. Yeah. Like the we've seen this tournament that Tonga and Samoa are on just the same level as New Zealand and Australia. Yeah. And then you've got England and probably Fiji after that the next two. But um I just think we need more test football. How they get that in smarter people than us are going to have to work that out.
00:31:50
S1: It's not our job.
00:31:51
S4: Um anyway. Oh we're done. Can't wait this weekend. Semi-Finals guys. Thanks for joining us. Make sure you like subscribe follow continuous call team get on YouTube. Check us out. We'll be back on Thursday for our preview of both semi-finals. Thanks for joining us boys. Thank you. See you later. Bye bye.
S1: G'day, everyone. Welcome to the Mark My Words podcast, World Cup edition. Again, we're going to review all the games today. What a weekend it was of footy. Joining me in the chairs Gutho Jameis how are you boys. Very well.
00:00:24
S2: Mate. I'm well mate.
00:00:25
S1: What about the games mate.
00:00:27
S2: Outstanding weren't they. You know we speak about the last night's game a bit later but um yeah some really really good games of football. A couple of blowouts like we expected. But uh, I was, I was pretty happy with the weekend of footy.
00:00:41
S1: What about the French and robbed the Lebanese. Robbed the game.
00:00:47
S2: I told you it'd be close.
00:00:48
S1: I know, because everyone. And we'll get into it. We'll go into it a little bit more detail. But everyone thought the the main act was Samoa and Tonga, which it was. But what a what an enthralling second half.
00:00:58
S2: It got the stadium ready didn't it? It did, in that the last five minutes of.
00:01:02
S1: The first game didn't do too much.
00:01:04
S2: Jeez. You felt sorry for him, didn't you? They thought they'd won the game. They've raced onto the field. Everyone's on the field.
00:01:10
S3: It was a proper rollercoaster. That last ten minutes. You didn't know what was going to happen, who was going to win, where it was going to come from. And I think it going in. Yeah. Going into overtime, I think it just went to another level.
00:01:20
S1: It was great. We'll we'll cover that shortly. Semi-Finals. Semi-Finals this weekend. It's all all all confirmed. So New Zealand they'll take on Tonga at McDonald Jones Stadium up there in Newcastle. That'll be on Saturday night 805. And then Sunday night at the same time. 805 Australia take on Samoa. So there our semi-finals for this weekend, but let's have a look back. It goes all the way back to Friday night down in Wollongong, where the England side had a victory. But it wasn't enough in the end when when we we saw the results last night, they won 34 points to 12 over Papua New Guinea.
00:02:00
S2: Yeah. And look they've been probably the most disappointing out of this whole World Cup haven't they. England. Um yep. They had a you know a real opportunity. They needed to score plenty of points. At half time it was 24 nil. But ten points in the second half just was not good enough. They just they got frustrated. You could tell they were getting frustrated because they know they needed points. And PNG, you know a couple of tries in that second half just really unsettled them.
00:02:27
S1: Yeah. It was disappointing for England because they'll go and point a minute for a long time. And that's.
00:02:31
S3: What I was about to.
00:02:31
S1: Say.
00:02:32
S3: Yeah they they started really well. They played. They were playing the footy they wanted to. And then I don't know, too many errors. They were trying to force it when it wasn't there. And when you do that and you are chasing the scoreboard, it can go backwards. And I think definitely went backwards in the second half for them. But I thought PNG were solid in that were just to stay in it just to make it difficult and yeah. Disappointed.
00:02:51
S1: Well England, what do they do now. So they're obviously very disappointed with their World Cup campaign. What changes do they need? Not not necessarily just the team, but I mean the game in England.
00:03:02
S2: As a whole. I just think they need to probably look in their own backyard a bit more like invest in in their competition and their players. There was a heavy reliance on on NRL players wasn't there? Yeah. I mean like, you know, you can obviously Herbie and Dom Young, those types of blokes that that are English. But I think they need to do potentially more camps for the for their own.
00:03:26
S3: During the.
00:03:27
S2: Weeks, during the year, so that when they get into these situations, they know their structure and it's like a system. So, um, you know, and I think they need to pick, pick their strongest team from their, the strongest clubs.
00:03:41
S3: Yeah. I think it's hard for them though, because they only did lose that one game. Like I saw Herbie come out and said they were disappointed in that. And um, I think the way they need to get better is to beat those bigger teams, like they should have won against Tonga. And um, I agree with Mose how they should have those camps regularly throughout the year and and invest more over there and in their own their own backyard. And, and then when the other NRL players come in, they're a lot better there.
00:04:06
S1: I agree with everything with everything you boys have said there, but they're almost though Peter V'landys has gone over there wants to buy Super League. I think he's had two cracks at it now two different offers they've rejected both like and and the issue. Not that I'm know anything about what's gone on and what's transpired. But in England all the all the clubs are privately owned. So they're all privately owned by, you know, most of them are wealthy, wealthy businessmen. Some invest a lot into their clubs, some don't invest a lot at all. So they're obviously getting pushed back. But surely from an English rugby league perspective, having the NRL invest in Super League and I won't say take it over, but um, assume some sort of control is a great thing for England rugby league.
00:04:54
S2: I think so. And I think um the way that they they can obviously become better is align themselves with an NRL club and use each other. You like to have loan periods where players go over there. If they're not playing first grade, they can go over there and, and you know, help their teams out. And, you know, I think, you know what Peter has done for the game. Um, you know, someone he the Super League needs someone like him to come over and, and he's pretty, um, demented but stubborn. And he knows the value. Yeah. He knows.
00:05:29
S1: He knows how to get it done.
00:05:30
S2: He knows how to get it done. And, um, you know, obviously they've knocked him back, but I'd imagine he wouldn't have changed his offer too much in, in what he's selling. But, um. Yeah, I think it's a no brainer for the Super League to, to try and get, you know, the NRL to come in and help.
00:05:45
S1: Were we talking on I'm pretty sure we were talking on air last week. Were we about like clubs being affiliated with clubs over there. A the same sort of, you know, like the Warriors with the Warriors. And yeah, like for me, that sort of makes sense because, you know, not that you're going to send your best players over there, but if you've, if they've still got the quota and they've got an allowance for whatever, 5 or 6 quota players, and you've got some great young kids that are 18, 19, 20 that you can send over there. But then on the flip side, the English players, they might have some really good young ones as well that they might want to send over for, you know, 6 to 12 months to get, you know, some experience over here. Like there's, there's, there's a lot of benefit for, for both sides of the world to have the system set up that way.
00:06:30
S3: Yeah, I agree. And I think, as you said, for the young kids, especially if they're 3 or 4 positions behind a, a backline that's that's stacked and going well, like you're never going to play. And if you can even three months, you go over there, play a handful of games, come back and there's a few injuries and you just got to come back and play. You're going to be more ready than you are playing 2021 or or reserve grade. So I think it would be a great initiative, and I think it'll probably get done eventually, but it's just a matter of when and and how they see it working.
00:06:57
S1: I know this is going off topic slightly, talking about the women's game and the women's game over there. We saw, um, you know, England, they missed out on the finals as well. Samoa beat them in the female game. But we were actually talking last week and we're like well why don't England rugby league put their season early in the English year like in the year and then have it finished before the NRL W season starts. Right. So then.
00:07:23
S3: Girls come.
00:07:24
S1: Over. Well the girls actually then can go professional because they can go over to England and they can go and you know, the Saint George Illawarra Dragons girls can go over to England, they can go and play for whoever. Or if there's an affiliated club, they can spend a season playing football. They might get 10 or 11 games or whatever it is. They then finish that English season. And then the same with those girls that are over there. They can come over here.
00:07:46
S2: And not only that, it's going to lift the standard, isn't it? Because right now Australia is miles ahead of everyone in the international game. In the girls? Yeah. Like they're the only way you're going to get that gap disparity is by, you know, bringing some of these girls over to that competition and, and lifting the standard of that up as well.
00:08:04
S3: I think playing against quality, like you can see the game even on the weekend, the Jillaroos 124 to 6, I think it was like you need.
00:08:11
S2: Was for the.
00:08:12
S3: Six. Yeah. That was the biggest celebration. Yeah. But you know what I mean. Like when you're playing quality you're going to get better and you can see how far the games come. But you need to be able to play good people to get better. And then that makes the whole game better.
00:08:24
S2: So right now the Aussie girls are a victim of their own success. Yeah.
00:08:28
S3: Good. Yeah.
00:08:29
S1: Well, the other thing is they've had investment in the in the NRL w space.
00:08:33
S3: Yeah exactly.
00:08:33
S1: Which obviously better systems better pathways. The you know the trainings a lot more professional. They train more and you know the English girls, you know they've probably got a sprinkling of NRL players but nowhere near enough. And they're just they're just way behind. But we we digress. We've spoken a lot about England here. What about Papua New Guinea?
00:08:52
S2: Well look I think um I think they're on the up like I do think they're improving and um you know they, they could have threw the towel in at 24 nil at half time. Yeah. Uh, but they, they showed enough fight back and actually won the second half. Did they.
00:09:10
S3: I think it was 1212 would have been close.
00:09:12
S2: 1210.
00:09:13
S3: Yeah.
00:09:13
S2: 1210 1210. So I don't mind it. Um you know, they are losing a bit of experience there with Reece Martin leaving and not sure if Jack de Belen will play again. So they lose a bit there.
00:09:24
S3: So yeah I think.
00:09:26
S2: Um it's going to be an interesting period of transition for Papua New Guinea now. And with the chiefs coming in in two years. Um what that is going to look like for their national team. I think the Chiefs coming in is only going to make their team stronger when they start getting a bit more NRL experience.
00:09:43
S1: Well you'd like to think so. Wouldn't you like to think when a lot of those locally born or local PNG players potentially go into those systems and, and, uh, Voros perfect example of that. The Lou I look alike when he's, uh, into that professional system, uh, with the chiefs. And then that can only be of a benefit to the, to the national side down the track. Reece Martin he's going into a football manager role, I think. Yeah, operations manager.
00:10:09
S2: Operations.
00:10:10
S1: For the Chiefs. So he kicks off that Laughing yeah that'll that'll be nice. Some tax free dollars. Actually had dinner with their coach the other night. I was asking for a few of those tax dollars mind you.
00:10:21
S2: Did you did you float the social coordinator.
00:10:24
S1: No I didn't, I didn't I did speak. He listens. He listens to the pod. I did speak about the island. And we were talking about the I he was actually telling me and forgive me, Willie, if I'm not supposed to say this, but I think they think they're going to actually do their their reviews each week over there on the island. So they'll actually go over. There's actually facilities and rooms and recovery. They'll do their. review and everything. They'll actually all go over as a group. Who knows? Who knows? I didn't get that far. One good thing was that he did shout dinner, so that was nice. That was very nice. Uh, Saturday afternoon we had New Zealand taking on Fiji. Well, I think we spoke about it last week and we were all wrapped in how they played against Australia. But I think they played that grand final last week against Australia. Like we spoke about New Zealand putting their best team out and and making sure they went and made a statement as well. So we sort of knew this could have been a big score and it ended up being a big score. Still entertaining and still a lot going on out on the field. It was people going after each other until the last couple of minutes as well. So yeah. Um, again, great for the obviously, as you said, that Fiji probably gave it all against Australia and um, it was bound to come down. But New Zealand again, they were great. Um full team, full strength. And that's what they wanted to do. Didn't help when they lost early.
00:11:43
S2: No no. Yeah, obviously he's a big focus of their attack. They play a lot, a lot through him. And to lose him. Um they were always going to be up against it 48 nil at half time. Off the back of that um you know there was a lot of going on early, but yeah, you just probably picking the wrong blokes to niggle.
00:12:06
S1: Well I'm going to, I'm going to get to that now what about that. Well first of all Ronaldo. He's gone for a week. He's going to miss the semi-final. He came flying outside in. Got it wrong on Big Ronald uh Tonga. Um he goes for a week but it's it's the Brandon Wakeham uppercut.
00:12:25
S2: Yeah.
00:12:26
S1: From nowhere.
00:12:26
S2: It was almost like a side.
00:12:28
S1: We just he just it was a split second decision and he went whoosh. And then she was on.
00:12:34
S2: Yeah. And then um that absolutely just fired up the the Kiwi forward pack and then they, they just went after him after that.
00:12:41
S1: Do you reckon he was shitting his pants when he was walking off the field and he was.
00:12:45
S2: Laughing.
00:12:45
S1: He was getting held back by.
00:12:47
S2: People. I think he had a smile and he was laughing at the start. And then he realized he was serious and, oh, I better get in the sheds.
00:12:53
S1: I'm out of here, boys. Take the jersey off. Run! It actually happened throughout the game. Yeah. With him? Yeah. There was a few little incidents through that throughout that game where I don't know whether antagonizing the New Zealand side is the word, but there was a couple of late shots, a couple of cheap shots.
00:13:10
S2: Yeah. But it was it was a really dominant performance. You have a look at you know that scoreline compared to what Australia did against him. And yeah you'd have to say that New Zealand are favourites at the moment in this competition.
00:13:21
S1: Yeah. Well they are. I think they are. They're obviously playing Tonga next Saturday which will be huge. But they've done exactly what they needed to do. Obviously disappointing that Ronaldo won't be there. Uh he'll be off for a week. But uh, they've got themselves right there. They're fit and healthy. I think from all reports other than missing Ronaldo.
00:13:42
S2: And Casey McLean. Another four tries.
00:13:44
S1: Yeah very good. I think two saying that um Asarco 13 from 13. I think we see in the next couple of games there's Australia used 3 or 4 goal kickers. And yeah they're still searching for who's going to kick. And then in the in last night's game as well there's a couple of missed goals. So you just never know when that's going to be pivotal in these sort of tournaments as well. I think he's the sweetest kicker of football I've ever seen.
00:14:05
S2: Just makes it look easy.
00:14:07
S1: Sweetest. Like I have the best. We've probably got great stats. Yeah goalkeeper. But just the way he kicks the football it's just the sweetest I've seen anyone kick the kick the ball. Well done to him. Moving on to uh to Saturday night. And we just touched on this one a little bit. But Australia they did what they needed to do. Uh 66 points to six over the Cook Islands boys.
00:14:28
S2: Yeah. Well, that's what we wanted to see, wasn't it? And we said last week, I kind of feel sorry for for the Cook Islands after their performance against Fiji, where, uh, Fiji got the better of him for 60 minutes and, um, I'd imagine Kevin wouldn't have been too happy with that. And he wanted to, to get back to his full strength side and, and go after them. And I think, um, you know, Tino certainly laid the platform for them with his aggression, defence and, and his running got himself a double. But you know, I think that's exactly what they want to see. Reece Walsh. Uh electric. I think he had five try assists.
00:15:03
S1: Um well remember we threw it up last week. If he had a shocker what happens. Well he just went out and absolutely I think he listens. He must have listened. He must have listened. Sorry I wasn't bagging you.
00:15:12
S2: Both wingers got got a hat trick. But like you said, um. Gutho three goal kickers Reece Walsh, Cameron Munster, Ethan Strange. Um.
00:15:23
S1: So especially at the pointy end of this tournament like goalkicking so tired and and um.
00:15:28
S2: And you got there as well.
00:15:29
S1: That's what I mean. You've got to find someone that's confident to go out there and and kick them. Because when you, you are in those tight games, it might be a penalty goal or a missed conversion that cost you. So um they should lock in on that.
00:15:40
S2: But it was, it was interesting again. Um Cook Islands got on the board first. Yeah.
00:15:45
S1: They scored six.
00:15:45
S2: For 20 minutes, 15 minutes. So that's um something that obviously Australia need to address as well because we've missed the start in pretty much every test that we've played so far.
00:15:56
S1: What about the Cook Islands. Brad Takairangi. What about his.
00:15:59
S2: Shot on.
00:16:00
S1: Tommy. He'll be dying. Tackers will be dining out on that forever now. It's already in his room. It's already hanging up on repeat, just going over and over and over.
00:16:08
S2: He's got a sequence.
00:16:09
S1: Shot on turbo. He just looks at it, goes well. Tackles his way in the back 30. So yeah I know easy for him. I know he put he put every bit of it to into into turbo. Poor old turbo copped it. He'll be he'll be dining off that one for a while. Old Tackers but well done to him as well like I think he'd been. I think I saw something where he played first time for Cook Islands in 2008 or 909. Yeah. I think was his fourth World Cup oh nine. I played with him in 2011. Yeah, I was with him at Paris every year for many, many years. So he's been around a long time, and I think he's still knocking around in the local leagues. He's still got his opportunity there to go out. And, um, I'm sure he'll remember that one for a while. Well, boys yesterday. Oh, let's get to it.
00:16:53
S2: Two. I think the two best games of the weekend for Lebanon.
00:16:58
S1: They took on France 24 points to 20. It ended like chaos. How do you describe the whole what would you say the whole sort of last 20 minutes. Really the whole 20 minutes and how it all unfolded. The field goals. The non-field goals, two point field goal. Yeah. Like a drop out. Conti doing the long drop out when it was the last play of the game. Drill it into the living. Yeah. Like giving them the opportunity. And he would have been ruing that. But, um, and then in the end.
00:17:29
S2: Even just the.
00:17:30
S1: One that was missing that.
00:17:31
S2: Yeah, even just the, the try from Cesar Rouge as well. The little kick ahead and then karate knocks it on. It bounces for him and he scores to even it up. And then they had the penalty where they went in front. And uh two blokes get sinbinned and they they get a penalty to go up the other end. They get a repeat set. Conti goes long and he realises it and just steps back and couldn't have hit it any sweeter.
00:17:59
S1: You saw his face. He just sort of. He started smiling. It's a good feeling. You know what? For both the teams. There was some great moments. But like I know it's a saying like you there shouldn't have been a loser. No, you know what I mean?
00:18:14
S2: Yeah. I would have been happy for him to walk away with a draw. Draw for sure. Um, but this is, you know, this is kind of the thing, like that's what the World Cup's about as well. It's about like these types of games and what they, you could see what it meant to both sides. Like it wasn't a dead rubber. They both.
00:18:30
S1: Couldn't.
00:18:30
S2: Play the finals. But the pride that they showed on the line like they were ripping into each other. Yeah. And I, I just thought I was, I was behind friends. I, I really wanted him to get a win.
00:18:42
S1: What about when, when the situation unfolded and you see the teammate don't know who it was, but like I'll make puts the kick over. Yeah. And you see him like this, like running back towards the line. But then you look at the other ones and they're cheering us off. They've got him on the shoulders. They've got the drums out there right behind him. It's like they're at a wedding. They're going crazy. Yeah. The they're literally where the try was scored. The drums were lined up on the sideline. The field was sick. Everyone came on. So well done to Lebanon. I don't think they'd won a test match since 2022. Yeah. Four years, they said. Yeah. So they hadn't won one for a long time. Great way to. I'm sure they're probably still partying now. The boys, um, they'll thoroughly enjoy that one nice way for them to finish the, uh, World Cup tournament. Unfortunately for France.
00:19:28
S2: You know what? But they'll be they would have been proud with that effort as well.
00:19:31
S1: Yeah.
00:19:32
S2: No doubt.
00:19:32
S1: Especially going 80 and 80 Like you want to have a good game and to finish the tournament. And that's, as you said, that's what that's what you want. Yeah mate, you got one job one. I can't turn.
00:19:42
S2: It off but I.
00:19:45
S1: You've got a phone that doesn't go on silent in a podcast studio.
00:19:49
S2: Throw it out the door.
00:19:51
S1: Come on mate.
00:19:51
S2: But I think, you know, this is what we need to see. And, um, you know, with with more teams coming into the NRL comp, we need to see more international football from the likes of these countries, you know.
00:20:03
S1: Well it's a discussion that's going to come up now isn't it. After what we've seen especially last night. I'm all for it but I just don't know where. Well that's what we're talking about off air. We're just saying like make the season shorter, suss it all out, look after the old legs and and add more all these games in because it's going to it'll bring those blowout games closer because we're getting more footy diverse each other. And then the likes of England can jump in somewhere and play and then they're getting an extra game and everyone, just like you saw the crowds last night. or since? Since it started. Well, we'll talk about Tonga and Samoa and what we think should happen. I reckon after we go, let's go through the game because I, I, I won't get to it. We'll get to it in a sec. But Tonga they won 20 points to 18. Unbelievable record crowd. They actually beat your you playing that day weren't you the first day when Moses went berserk. Opening. Yep. Opening the opening game of Commbank Stadium. It's actually broken the record for the highest ever attendance 29,000 odd 411. I thought that's what it was. One on. Thanks, mate. Um, yeah. And, um. Uh. Unbelievable. Not even. You know what? Not not only sorry, not only just inside the stadium, but the scenes that you saw outside, they were going up, going up the street. Church Street was. Yeah, it was ridiculous. The flags everywhere and, uh, cars with flags, boats with flags, everyone just having a good time. Drums out there from the Lebanon game.
00:21:27
S2: Yeah, it started before. Yeah. With the drums and Lebanon and they. Channel seven had the coverage. They flashed her once at one stage and they had, um, cops dancing with. One of the drummers had the cops hat on.
00:21:42
S1: That's what rugby league does.
00:21:43
S2: What's going on?
00:21:44
S1: Rugby league does.
00:21:44
S2: Having a party. But that's what it was. It was a really good atmosphere outside the stadium. And then they delivered on the inside didn't they.
00:21:52
S1: Yeah. Well let's go to it. What about the game.
00:21:54
S2: Oh look for me it's getting it was getting close to origin standard for me. There was probably a couple of errors.
00:22:03
S1: Or way too many.
00:22:04
S2: In the game. But you know, I reckon the physical contacts were there throughout the majority of the game. And you know, watching the tower and the tower at the start of the match, uh, the passion that they showed and even like just the crowd, like the, the audio coming through. Yeah, it was unbelievable for the whole match. It would have been absolutely outstanding to be there. I was actually jealous I wasn't there.
00:22:28
S1: Yeah. It's time, right? Well, these two teams could meet again. Yeah. In the final. Like they could potentially meet again in the in the World Cup final. We've got Tonga taking on New Zealand. And Samoa will take on Australia. But the game itself like standouts. I think Rob Toia he got player of the match. Yeah. Um but boys so many players put their you know who I've loved watching Manu Lele and his dominance through the middle like in 13 and four playing. I think we might have mentioned it on here like Justin Holbrook. Surely he's sitting back going yeah. Well okay, there we go. There's another there's another because he's got Dylan Lucas coming back. He's already got McEwen and he's and he's lost Tyson Frizell to the to the Tigers. So he goes, well hold on a second. I've got a 13 straight away. Maybe he already knew that I don't know.
00:23:18
S2: He's going to Matty Croker. You put on ten kilos and you're going to the front.
00:23:22
S1: You're moving up. Well he was there previously wasn't he? Matt Croker. But, um. Boys, what are you. What were your thoughts? Who stood out for you?
00:23:31
S2: For me, like the the defensive efforts. Um, there are a number of try scoring opportunities. Both sides went close a couple of times, but just desperation defense and just a foot into touch here and there. Um, it was just unbelievable. Dalen in the first half just got his foot out. And then right at the end uh fire lungo to win the game. Foot out, foot out.
00:23:54
S1: Just what about when um, what about when Benaiah dived over? Yeah, Lehigh.
00:24:01
S2: Knocked him.
00:24:02
S1: Out over the line. I think there was 5 or 6. Like there was proper tries that they just stopped, especially, uh, Samoa early. Tonga had all the chances and just kept turning up, kept turning it up. And that's why it was such a tight game for 80 minutes.
00:24:14
S2: Yeah. And like you spoke about Gutho the the goal kicking Samoa. They scored four tries. They outscored him but just couldn't get the the goals to go over uh handy that Ronald Volkmann was on the bench.
00:24:27
S1: What about that?
00:24:28
S2: What a cameo from 2021 minutes. And you reckon Parramatta fans are going well. How good is.
00:24:35
S1: This? Yeah, I know.
00:24:37
S2: I and Volkman together out there on the field. That's right. He he almost came on and took over the halfback duties and allowed. He did and allowed Louis to. And you saw him, Louis, play down that short side. They get the play and then. Well because with that goes down.
00:24:50
S1: Two left foot kickers. So they had Chanel and then Louis who both left footers.
00:24:54
S2: And Chanel kicked one out on the.
00:24:55
S1: On the floor and shanked a couple. So he just comes on and takes a bit of pressure off him. And that's all it takes sometimes. And as you said saw him come up with a big play down the short side.
00:25:04
S2: And not not only that um Harris-tavita looks like he's he's done World Cups over there. How many. We've seen it three times this year.
00:25:11
S1: I'd never seen it before.
00:25:12
S2: Never seen it. Never before. Three hammies in.
00:25:15
S1: Goalkicking. Yeah yeah. Don't worry. It didn't happen here. Yeah. I was good at warm ups too. Unreal. Jesus. Um. All right, let's go. Let's go. Before we get to the listener. Questions, boys? The whole Tonga, Samoa. And I saw it. Saw it on social media a little bit last night. Uh, the whole origin comparison and things like that. But what, what ideas do we have for Samoa? Tonga?
00:25:43
S2: Well, this is.
00:25:44
S1: When.
00:25:44
S2: What we were kind of speaking about as well. If you shorten the season and have a six week week period, does the the Super League comp run in line with ours or not really. They run.
00:25:54
S1: Two weeks before we start and they go a week longer.
00:25:57
S2: Needs to get to a point where, well, and then when we can have these periods that match up and then you can get the likes of England coming over here. But I would I would suggest you almost have origin being played on the Wednesday, and then on the Saturday you have almost a Tri-Nations.
00:26:16
S1: Yeah.
00:26:17
S2: With New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga.
00:26:20
S1: My issue with this, and I'm just being devil's advocate here, is that players that play for Samoa and Tonga also play for New South Wales and Queensland.
00:26:28
S2: Well that's where.
00:26:28
S1: You guys going. I know but you're gonna dilute. You're gonna dilute one to to put on the other.
00:26:34
S2: I don't think you're gonna see any less passion if there's no.
00:26:39
S1: No no.
00:26:39
S2: Samoans or Tongans in the origins.
00:26:41
S1: We'll state of origin be still be the same. If those players don't play, then I don't have the answers. But I'm just saying that that's what you're never going to have the answer. Like that's what will happen. Some of those great players that we saw play last night, there's no doubt they're going to play for Samoa and Tonga. Yeah, but they're also going to want to play for New South Wales, New South Wales or Queensland. And because there's so much no offence because there's so much cash in the origin game. What is it. 30. Yeah. 30 grand a game.
00:27:07
S2: I think it.
00:27:08
S1: Is. You know that they're going to play that. And the game is funded differently on an international level than what it is. But I don't have the answers. I want to see more Samoa Tonga but I just don't know.
00:27:21
S2: Well I also want to see more of these the minnows as well? Like they need to play more if we're if we're dead set about wanting to make the World Cup more interesting and intriguing, you need to see these teams play play more often rather than waiting.
00:27:37
S1: Yeah. All right. Let's get to the best part of the podcast, the listener questions we got Mike. First up with Tonga topping the combined pool. Do they have the defensive structure to upset the Kiwis in the semifinal? Yes. Yeah I agree.
00:27:55
S2: And it was interesting. I watched the the after match and Isaiah Katoa was speaking about last year when they played in the Pacific tournament and how many points that they leaked. And their defense has been a massive focus throughout this World Cup. So um, yeah, I think they've, they've got that defensive mindset mindset. And like we said, you saw last night the, the desperation in defence to to stop a couple of tries. They they won the game with defensive stops like Lehigh and then at the end getting bundled into touch. So I definitely think they have the structure that can upset them.
00:28:35
S1: All right Johns got one here and almost generalizing this one. But do you think Samoa though this week will have enough firepower and the game to worry the Kangaroos. I think they will definitely like again we saw last night off goal kicks. They probably win. So like that. And I feel like the way they're playing exactly the same like they're stopping tries. They're playing footy. They're not just running straight through the middle, they're playing footy to to test teams. And then you've got the likes of hammer and uh, falling out the back who just half a gap gone. And yeah, like I think they've just got to go after the game. And for us, if they start well against Australia, we've seen like the first 20 minutes might be where they struggle a little bit. And then if they can get a little lead or be in the fight, it's going to go down to the wire for me.
00:29:19
S2: I think they've still got too many errors in them. Yeah. If they can, you know, get that completion rate up around 85%. They give themselves every chance to beat Australia.
00:29:30
S4: Yeah. Everyone will. My worry. Not that I'm worried but I want to see Australia win. But I just worry that that was such a big occasion.
00:29:38
S1: For.
00:29:39
S4: Both.
00:29:39
S1: Of those.
00:29:39
S4: Teams last night. Right.
00:29:41
S2: They're going to be bruised I hope.
00:29:42
S1: Yeah.
00:29:43
S4: Tonga and Samoa take it to Australia and New Zealand and we get two great semi-finals. But that was huge.
00:29:48
S1: Emotional too high.
00:29:50
S4: Everything like and Australia and New Zealand almost sat back haven't they. Like they had. They played each other the first game and they've got through Fiji. They've both got through Cook Islands. They're almost sitting there waiting and I, I would assume that that's the only question mark I got over both of them. Is that how they get themselves back up for the semis.
00:30:08
S1: That's true.
00:30:09
S4: Yeah. All right. Oh Franky boy he's got one here. What was the main tactical turning point in the dying minutes of the Tonga Samoa clash? I don't know if there was a turning point. Was it. I thought it was.
00:30:18
S1: I think it was. Yeah, I think Volckman came on. Volckman changed the game for for Samoa. And then yeah, just that try from Adam at the end. Just missed tackle.
00:30:26
S2: Yeah. That was quite a simple try.
00:30:28
S1: Yeah. Just too easy.
00:30:30
S4: Well I'll make it up outside. Um Spencer wasn't open that space up. Yeah. Left him one on one.
00:30:36
S2: Wrong shoulder tackle.
00:30:37
S1: Yeah.
00:30:37
S4: Yeah. He tried to go across him didn't he.
00:30:39
S2: Tried to go across and almost take out his legs and off the back of that um I think they started watching the clock. Yeah. And obviously you got to try and throw the ball around. But they had a chance. They still were good enough to get themselves down there and get a chance. But they they just couldn't get there.
00:30:54
S4: Look Jill's come up with a great one. And I think we have answered this. But does international rugby league need more. Yeah. Well I wouldn't say standalone, but we need more tests. I think in general, whether it's for Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga like.
00:31:07
S2: Bring back the Anzac Day test. Well why don't we have a test with Australia and New Zealand and then Tonga as well.
00:31:14
S4: Great. A great idea. Like I um I, I'm not across how the whole tier one to tier two nations things worked, but Samoa and Tonga are no longer tier two.
00:31:25
S1: I don't think so.
00:31:26
S4: Like if they are, I don't even know what they are or not. But I think that needs to go. Yeah. Like the we've seen this tournament that Tonga and Samoa are on just the same level as New Zealand and Australia. Yeah. And then you've got England and probably Fiji after that the next two. But um I just think we need more test football. How they get that in smarter people than us are going to have to work that out.
00:31:50
S1: It's not our job.
00:31:51
S4: Um anyway. Oh we're done. Can't wait this weekend. Semi-Finals guys. Thanks for joining us. Make sure you like subscribe follow continuous call team get on YouTube. Check us out. We'll be back on Thursday for our preview of both semi-finals. Thanks for joining us boys. Thank you. See you later. Bye bye.
