TRANSCRIPT 🔗
00:00:10
Speaker 1: Hello.
00:00:11
Speaker 2: This is becoming a regular thing. Summer edition. Edition number two. Braith is up and left. He did one show. He's now off in Hawaii. So it's your good friend Dan here.
00:00:22
Speaker 3: And look at the cast we've got here.
00:00:24
Speaker 4: Firstly, Mick Hennis.
00:00:25
Speaker 5: Thanks, fellas.
00:00:26
Speaker 6: How good.
00:00:26
Speaker 4: We've dragged you in.
00:00:27
Speaker 6: Yeah, how good.
00:00:28
Speaker 4: Pete Bedell.
00:00:29
Speaker 3: You're everywhere, Pete Padilla. We needed an ugly man on this show. That's me. So, yeah, I'm everywhere.
00:00:34
Speaker 2: Mate, I just saw you at the boxing like an hour ago, and now you're here, and now you're back at the boxing tomorrow night.
00:00:39
Speaker 7: Yeah, there's plenty of money in boxing. That's why you're doing it tomorrow night. And, Mick, he'll be on the boxing as well.
00:00:43
Speaker 2: You know what's great about having you here, Reedy? Buzz is starting to pinch your gigs.
00:00:48
Speaker 6: I was about to say, Buzz must have been unavailable then.
00:00:50
Speaker 2: And it's great that you've got one back on him. He's stolen your Triple M gig, but not here at Fox.
00:00:55
Speaker 6: It's good to see a host who wears a shirt. Have you noticed Brace Instagram? I don't think he owns a shirt, Braith.
00:01:00
Speaker 4: Have you looked at Braith?
00:01:01
Speaker 6: I know. Some of us have to cover up.
00:01:04
Speaker 3: Who's going to win the World Cup, Mick? Won't tip against Australia, Dan.
00:01:07
Speaker 8: I'll tell you what, New Zealand, for me at the moment, got their nose in front in terms of favouritism, but I still think the Aussies might find something.
00:01:15
Speaker 1: Pete?
00:01:15
Speaker 3: Tonga.
00:01:16
Speaker 7: I'm barracking for the yarn.
00:01:17
Speaker 3: Tonga?
00:01:18
Speaker 6: Australia for me, Dan.
00:01:20
Speaker 4: Brady.
00:01:22
Speaker 6: What about these blokes?
00:01:24
Speaker 2: You have been a rugby league xenophobe this whole tournament.
00:01:28
Speaker 3: Australia?
00:01:30
Speaker 6: I've been on Australia from day one, Dan.
00:01:31
Speaker 2: They have been the fourth best team in this tournament.
00:01:33
Speaker 6: I understand that, but at some point they'll click, Dan. There's too much time.
00:01:36
Speaker 3: He was out the back and it was all New Zealand.
00:01:38
Speaker 8: Oh, New Orleans.
00:01:39
Speaker 6: That's not true.
00:01:40
Speaker 8: When they said, Kevin, he's coming up on the show, bang, straight to Australia.
00:01:44
Speaker 2: Any time I've seen a microphone on you or a camera on you, you've just brushed it. Not only have you tipped Australia, which is fine, but you've just cancelled out.
00:01:54
Speaker 8: Samoa, please.
00:01:55
Speaker 6: I think I said we walloped Samoa, yeah. I did say that at some point. I may have gone a bit far there. Don't worry, Dan.
00:02:01
Speaker 7: As soon as Calum Conger's name to play for the Kiwis, he'll be on the Kiwis.
00:02:04
Speaker 3: By the way.
00:02:06
Speaker 2: Can we acknowledge, it's been a great tournament. And it's probably been the best one there's been. That game on Sunday night at Tonga Samoa, people are saying it's better than Origin.
00:02:21
Speaker 3: And it was its own event. Look at these scenes here.
00:02:27
Speaker 2: And no wonder it got such a big audience as well because it was great footy.
00:02:32
Speaker 6: What was great.
00:02:32
Speaker 2: About it, Mick, for me, was you had everything that Samoa Tonga was all about. The game meant virtually nothing. They were both going to make the semis. They knew they were going to make the semis. Yet, it was like a damn World Cup final.
00:02:45
Speaker 8: It's become way too big for a 30,000-seat stadium.
00:02:48
Speaker 3: I think that's recognisable.
00:02:49
Speaker 8: From the war cries to the Izzy Katoa magic to the shot from Jerome Luai on Dimitri Viamunga, the try-savers from Hoppawati. It was one of the most epic international games I've ever seen, I've ever witnessed. And You're right, Dan, we just have to have more of these. We have to find a way in our calendar that these two play each other more.
00:03:12
Speaker 3: It was such a special night for the game.
00:03:13
Speaker 8: And you're right, it's been a great tournament, but none better than what that showcased the other night.
00:03:17
Speaker 7: Well, boys, that's one of the best tests I've ever seen. And I've watched Test Match footy for 30 years. And my phone blew up more watching that game than any Test Match in my lifetime. Because I've had mates saying, how good is this? I thought it was better than an Origin game in recent years. The physicality, the pace, the tempo. that they need to play a three-test series every year.
00:03:38
Speaker 6: I was sidelined for this, Dan. I've got to tell you, the noise at comeback, I've never experienced noise like that at comeback. I compare it to... Suncorp, an original night at Suncorp Stadium where the noise is just off the charts, right? That's what this is like. And it was constant. It never died down at all throughout that game. And it was a great game. It was a great game to match the theatre, right?
00:03:58
Speaker 2: I don't know if they'll do a three-test series, but everyone's got their idea now.
00:04:02
Speaker 6: But what I'm saying is you've got to capitalise. That's minimum once a year. I've got a theory, but do we.
00:04:09
Speaker 3: I would play it during the Origin Series.
00:04:11
Speaker 8: Can't do it.
00:04:11
Speaker 3: Concurrent.
00:04:12
Speaker 8: Why?
00:04:12
Speaker 6: Cannot do it. Why?
00:04:13
Speaker 3: You can't.
00:04:13
Speaker 6: Because do you think Steve Crichton, do you think Jerome Luoi, do you think Himalaya Kawatu are going to play for Tonga or Samoa when they can earn, potentially, there's talk about Origin payments going to 100 grand a game. They can earn 300 grand for an Origin Series.
00:04:26
Speaker 3: I'll
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tell you.
00:04:27
Speaker 6: They will not play for Samoa and Tonga.
00:04:28
Speaker 3: I believe they would.
00:04:29
Speaker 6: They have given up. Well, that hurts Origin.
00:04:31
Speaker 4: But that hurts Origin, Bomber.
00:04:33
Speaker 6: That then hurts Origin. That damages Origin.
00:04:34
Speaker 3: We've got enough Origin.
00:04:35
Speaker 2: We've got Kevi waiting, so... We'll have to cut this off. But just one point. We have surely passed the era where the kangaroos have to sacrifice money for those nations. Those nations, that is money. That game now is money. You put New Zealand against Samoa and Tonga. We don't have to have this altruistic attitude. Surely there is enough money in International Rugby League that it can sustain itself.
00:05:04
Speaker 3: All right.
00:05:05
Speaker 2: Let's talk about the footy, because Kevin Walters.
00:05:07
Speaker 3: I'll.
00:05:08
Speaker 2: Tell you who no-one's talking about, the Kangaroos.
00:05:10
Speaker 6: No-one's talking about the Kangaroos, but here we go.
00:05:12
Speaker 3: We're into the bottom.
00:05:13
Speaker 2: Into the last four, and they play a big game on Saturday night, semi-final time. The best four teams in the tournament. And Kevvy, Fox League's very own, is with us.
00:05:23
Speaker 1: Hello, Kevvy.
00:05:25
Speaker 6: Good afternoon, gents.
00:05:26
Speaker 8: How are you?
00:05:26
Speaker 3: Everything well?
00:05:27
Speaker 4: We're flying.
00:05:29
Speaker 6: Firstly, well done making it. Obviously, that's minimum expectation.
00:05:34
Speaker 1: Um.
00:05:35
Speaker 4: Are you.
00:05:37
Speaker 6: Disappoint is not the word.
00:05:38
Speaker 2: Are you slightly concerned about the progress the team has made to this point?
00:05:42
Speaker 6: It was always probably going to be rusty.
00:05:44
Speaker 4: Where are you at now?
00:05:46
Speaker 1: I'm very happy with where the team's at.
00:05:48
Speaker 6: We've had three games.
00:05:50
Speaker 1: I'm really happy with, you know, the way we've come through those three games. We've come through unscathed.
00:05:55
Speaker 6: We've got everyone fit.
00:05:56
Speaker 1: Everyone in the squad is fit and ready to go. So, yeah, looking forward to the semi-final on Sunday night. It's going to be a cracking game. Samoa have been in good touch throughout the tournament as well.
00:06:06
Speaker 5: It should be a ripper. It should be good.
00:06:08
Speaker 7: Kev, it's Pete Bedell, your favourite Queensland journalist.
00:06:10
Speaker 3: Hope you're going well, buddy.
00:06:12
Speaker 1: Mate, the.
00:06:13
Speaker 5: Thanks for those chocolates too, Pete.
00:06:15
Speaker 6: I appreciate that.
00:06:17
Speaker 5: That's right.
00:06:18
Speaker 7: And Narelle's getting her flowers as well.
00:06:19
Speaker 6: Don't worry, that's on the way.
00:06:20
Speaker 1: That's beautiful, mate.
00:06:21
Speaker 7: Before you go to St Helens for your junket. But look, Kevvy, the selections, you've had some tough calls to make in this
series. You've had Tedesco v Walsh. You've had Dearden v Walker. How tough have those two positions been to separate and why have you gone with Reece and Eden for this next semi-finals?
00:06:41
Speaker 1: It's the luxury of the Australian side to have, you know, quality players, not just those two positions, but also, you know, our middle forwards, our hookers. We've got great depth across the whole squad.
00:06:49
Speaker 5: So that's been not so much. It's been a.
00:06:52
Speaker 1: Challenge to get the right players playing at the right moments. And I feel like we've done that well as the Australian side. And this week, again, with Reece at fullback, nothing except Reece is the incumbent Australian. player uh from last year on the ashes tour he didn't do a whole lot wrong this year he didn't get much of an opportunity through origin but we've seen when reese is at his best he's uh you know he's one of our elite players and i do feel um a bit in your heart for james tedesco he's been a wonderful player for a really long time this year has probably been one of his better years you know in the nrl and also in state of origin so but i could only pick one one fullback guys and We've gone with Reece again this week, and I'm sure that Reece is very excited to be playing. And James, whilst he's not playing, he's also contributing to the overall performance of the team with what he's doing at training.
00:07:40
Speaker 5: He's been sensational, and it's great to have him on board as well.
00:07:44
Speaker 6: Hey, Kevin, it's your other favourite Queensland journalist here, Brent Reid. I wanted to ask you about the decision to leave Luttrell out. How difficult was that?
00:07:54
Speaker 1: Tough one but bradman best again if i look at bradman's season this year he went away with us last year on the kangaroo tour and unfortunately didn't get his opportunity but this year he played well through origin uh winning origin team and then of course into the finals the knights were surprised everyone with their form and on the back of a lot of the work that bradman had done you know in the left center position so i get a tough call but these are the decisions that i have to make as coach of the australian side and the kangaroos and i don't just make it by myself there's people that I certainly consult and that I trust in some of those, you know, to get the team right this week. So that's the selection that we've gone with. And I'm really confident that Bradford will do a great job for the kangaroos. And then, of course, we've got, you know, a player like James Tedesco, possibly, and also Latrell Mitchell sitting on the bench. And if required, we can inject them into the game at any stage with the flexibility now of the six-man bench.
00:08:45
Speaker 3: Kev, it's Mick.
00:08:45
Speaker 8: While we're on former greats and Queensland greats, former Brisbane Broncos great Michael Ennis, just ask you a question, mate, if.
00:08:52
Speaker 3: That's all right.
00:08:53
Speaker 1: That's good, Mick.
00:08:54
Speaker 8: We're just celebrating beforehand, you know, what that spectacle was of Samoa and Tonga the other night. The thing that stood out for me was the relentless physicality and the one thing that's been questioned a little bit with the Australian side over the first couple of games has been the forward pack. What changes have you made there or what mentality are you hoping to see from your boys up against this fierce Samoan pack on the weekend?
00:09:18
Speaker 1: Our line speed and our contact is something that we've been working, well, the players have been working really hard on to get that right. We feel if we can get that right and just provide a platform that's even, we feel like we've got the right players in this squad to take advantage of that. Now, the opening couple of rounds, yeah, we did find ourselves at different stages in the game on the back foot, but that's international football.
00:09:39
Speaker 6: These guys.
00:09:40
Speaker 1: from, you know, the Tongans, the Samoans, certainly the New Zealand pack. They're all world-class players. So, you know, we've got to match it with them. And I believe we've got the right squad here, particularly our forwards, the right mentality to move the team forward.
00:09:52
Speaker 5: And then we can take, you know, some responsibility for that. The players can. We can get some nice work off the back of that with the backs that we have and the skill.
00:10:00
Speaker 1: The power and the execution we have out wide will be a real bonus for us.
00:10:04
Speaker 8: One of the things with Fox League, we travel to different games and I tell you, mate, for a little bloke, Kevi Walters can put some tucker away.
00:10:11
Speaker 3: Kev, how have you gone with the buffet, mate? You've been in camp now.
00:10:14
Speaker 6: For a month.
00:10:15
Speaker 5: Yeah, I've strapped my hands together, Mick.
00:10:16
Speaker 6: I've come another year.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: The food has been very good and that's something that I have been enjoying as well as the football, mate.
00:10:23
Speaker 6: Yeah, for sure.
00:10:24
Speaker 1: Good on you, Mick.
00:10:25
Speaker 5: I love you, big fella.
00:10:26
Speaker 3: You've got the final, if you may, Kev. It's November 15.
00:10:30
Speaker 6: When do you get on the plane?
00:10:31
Speaker 2: You haven't got much time to say goodbye to everyone.
00:10:35
Speaker 9: Well, it's a pretty tight schedule that we're running, but of course my commitment is here with the Australians right now and I believe we'll be there next week as well for the final, and then I'll make some plans around getting over to St Helens after that.
00:10:46
Speaker 5: That was all part of the negotiation, you know, when I did my contract with them.
00:10:49
Speaker 1: They were fully supportive of me coaching the Kangaroos, and obviously when my commitments here are finished, then I'll, you know, jump on the plane and head over.
00:10:58
Speaker
5: To St Helens.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: I believe the weather there at the moment, it's ripping. It's going so good.
00:11:03
Speaker 5: I'm looking forward to that.
00:11:05
Speaker 6: It'll only get better too once we get to December and January.
00:11:08
Speaker 3: Good luck.
00:11:08
Speaker 6: We're going to miss you, mate.
00:11:09
Speaker 2: I know you'll be back at Fox League one day, but, mate, thank you very much for your time this afternoon.
00:11:16
Speaker 6: And, mate, good luck.
00:11:19
Speaker 1: I might tell everyone I just signed a contract as a UK correspondent for Fox League.
00:11:23
Speaker 5: So I'll be back with the streams any time soon, mate.
00:11:26
Speaker 4: Beautiful.
00:11:27
Speaker 6: All right.
00:11:28
Speaker 4: He loves an urn, Kev.
00:11:29
Speaker 6: He loves an urn.
00:11:30
Speaker 5: Well, we've got to survive, boys.
00:11:33
Speaker 4: There you go.
00:11:34
Speaker 2: We're about to talk about your team, Kevvie, so we need to let you go because you mightn't like what some of us are going to say.
00:11:39
Speaker 4: See you, Kevvie.
00:11:40
Speaker 6: All right.
00:11:40
Speaker 5: See you, boys.
00:11:41
Speaker 6: Thank you.
00:11:41
Speaker 5: Go easy on me, please.
00:11:43
Speaker 2: So Australia Samoa, of the three... opponents Australia could have had? New Zealand, who they struggled with in the forwards, Tonga, Samoa. Is this a good match-up for the Kangaroos?
00:11:56
Speaker 3: I think it is.
00:11:57
Speaker 8: I think they took a lot of confidence out of last week. They needed to score some points. Now, they went into the tournament without an attacking coach. They went in there with just Kevin Bentea as their assistance. They opted to go more down the high performance after a gruelling regular season.
00:12:12
Speaker 3: And their attack has been clunky at times.
00:12:15
Speaker 8: They got out of jail, I thought, against New Zealand on the back of some individual brilliance, particularly what we're seeing now, a couple of intercepts. I thought they were average again against Fiji. And again, it was individual brilliance that was enough to save them on that night. Last week was the game I felt like they needed. They just needed some confidence and they needed to be able to move the ball a little freely.
00:12:36
Speaker 3: And a lot of that was.
00:12:38
Speaker 8: based around the fact that they've gone into the tournament with a spine that none of them had played finals. And that was a question mark. None of them had played for five weeks. And fundamentally, we've seen that in Harry Grant's game. I've not seen Harry Grant throw passes that have hit the ground all season. And I've seen it regularly throughout the tournament. Tommy Dearden missed a lot of footy through the year. He's in at halfback now. Cameron Munster hadn't played finals. Walsh hadn't played finals and had had injuries. Walsh has been brilliant. But I think That game was exactly what we needed the other night, and I think
we'll see the cohesion a lot better this weekend against Samoa.
00:13:12
Speaker 7: Well, what's concerned me, Mick, you make some good points there, but their forward pack has been dominated through the tournament. That's concerned me. I mean, I thought the Aussies traditionally have had a team that they always bash down the front door and they dominate the ruck. They haven't generated any ruck speed in this tournament. I thought New Zealand were the better team in Game 1. They relied on individual brilliance to get out of it. I thought Fiji were the better team in the forwards in Game 2. And they lifted naturally against the Cook Islands, but they're a Mino-Pacific nation. So I've been disappointed in Pat Carrigan. I think Pat Carrigan needs to do more. Tina Fusil-Malawi has been off the pace. He improved against Cook Islands. And Colin Matangi has been disappointing with his stints off the bench. And even when he started against Fiji, he didn't assert himself enough. So if they don't bash down the front door, Samoa can get them this week.
00:13:55
Speaker 6: I don't know if they need to. I think they just need to hold their own because I think You mentioned that spine, Mick. Yeah, they haven't been in great form. They haven't played a lot of footy at the back end of the year or through the year finals footy anyway. But there's so much talent there. And I think if you look at that spine, that's the best spine in this World Cup, right? So I think that forward pack just needs to hold its own. And those guys will find a way to win footy games. And Australia traditionally, they just turn up when it matters. That's what they've done, right? And that's where my faith comes from in this football team. I think guys like Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, Tommy Deer and Reece Walsh, they'll just find a way to win it for Australia.
00:14:28
Speaker 8: Were you surprised that Blake Braley wasn't included in the team? I just feel like if Samara are vulnerable anywhere, in terms of their X factors through their back line, their back row is up there with the best in the World Cup, really, on form. At the moment, Manu Lele-Lewis, he's the best young forward in the game, without a doubt.
00:14:50
Speaker 3: That's the fact.
00:14:52
Speaker 8: McEwan Savage, he's been a ripper for Newcastle and had a great tournament.
00:14:56
Speaker 3: And Lemuelu, he's getting better and better as well.
00:14:59
Speaker 8: So the question marks for me is can their forward pack, through the middle of the field, can they contain Australia? There's no doubt they've missed Payne Haas. He's been an astronomical loss for them through that middle part of the field. But I'm a little bit with Rudy. I think we'll see a savage Australian side really put the foot on the pedal through the middle. But I was surprised that Braley wasn't there because I'd like to see him and Grant in that one-two punch. I just don't think Grant at the moment has been as effective over the 80-minute period.
00:15:29
Speaker 2: What's really noticeable is, yeah, they're getting burdened up in the forwards, but some defensive deficiencies. Like, Tom has scored 1,000 tries in this tournament, but I'll tell you what, they've conceded a few on that side as well.
00:15:41
Speaker 6: That combination with him and Ketone, he's been exploited a bit, and that's an issue I'm sure Kevvy's addressed this week, and I'm sure he's done it in previous weeks. Look, Tom's a full-back, right? We know that's where he plays. And he has, with ball in hand, he's been devastating, but the defensive side of that game... He's been caught out a few times. I'm sure that's an area Samoa will try to exploit, Dan, this week. I'm sure it's something Kevi's worked on.
00:16:02
Speaker 8: I think it's a huge fortnight for Tony Staggs in terms of his representative credentials.
00:16:07
Speaker 3: It's a huge fortnight for him. Well, he got the spot. I mean, not that.
00:16:10
Speaker 2: I mean, he's a right centre.
00:16:12
Speaker 6: Luttrell left out, which... I'm stunned by that, Dan. Because I think if you've got Luttrell... Everyone knows what I think about Luttrell, how highly I think about Luttrell. And I think there's not... There's certain players in our game who, on the bigger stage... saved their best performances. And he, for me, is one of those guys. I know he was quiet against New Zealand, right? A lot of the Australian side were. But for me, if you pick Kevi... If you pick Latrell in this squad, Kevi's pick Latrell in this squad, knowing he was slightly underdone, I think you pick him... with the aim of playing him when it matters. And these games now really matter. And I think this is the sort of game, you give Latron an opportunity, he will shine in the semis, in the final. So I was surprised. I'm surprised he's not in that team.
00:16:57
Speaker 1: I agree, really.
00:16:57
Speaker 7: I actually would have played him throughout because I know there's been concerns about his back and his general fitness. But I think there was a bit of a shaving away of rust in that game against New Zealand.
00:17:05
Speaker 3: He didn't get a lot of ball either, quality ball. And I think just.
00:17:08
Speaker 7: cometh the hour, cometh the man, and I think Luttrell would have stood up in these games. And I worry about Catoni defensively. But the other one, guys, for me is Cameron Munster. I don't think he's playing great football. And he's so critical.
00:17:21
Speaker 3: To that spine and how it functions.
00:17:23
Speaker 7: And there's been debate about Dearden and Walker, but the one mainstay has been Cameron Munster, or should be, and he's the one that has to dominate this week and really take this tournament by the scruff of the neck.
00:17:33
Speaker 3: I thought he found it.
00:17:35
Speaker 8: Pete, in the back end of that game against the Cook Islands game. That's why he's one of the guys that I feel like last week was really important for. Every big game I'm going into,
I'm taking Cameron Munster. There's just something about what Cameron Munster brings to a footy side that in big games, he just gives me assurance. But I'm definitely, I think that right edge has been a concern.
00:17:55
Speaker 6: The idea of moving Luttrell or Bram and Bass to the right side, Mick, I mean, their left centre is predominantly right. Is it that significant to move them to the other side of the field?
00:18:04
Speaker 8: Can be. Can be for some. That would have to be an individual conversation. But I feel like we put ourselves in a tough position by not picking genuine wingers. And I reckon that that's been a bit of a concern for us. Like, I love Tom, but it's clear that when we've got the footy, and I thought last week Tom found that real roving mentality.
00:18:22
Speaker 3: That's when he's at his best.
00:18:23
Speaker 8: He had that freedom to come off that right edge with the footy and cause some dramas and linked up with Walsh nicely in the attack. But defensively, they've had their challenges, that right edge. Now, whether it's communication, relationship, I don't know, but it's not working. It's not working at the moment. And if you look at that New Zealand game and even the Fijian game, had they have landed a bit of pass execution, they pull them apart multiple times.
00:18:49
Speaker 6: I feel a bit for Kev there, though, because he didn't have a lot of options on the wing. When you think Josh had a car, wasn't available... Jojo Fafita pledged to play for Tonga. Brian Tyree's playing for Samoa. They didn't have a lot of wing options.
00:19:01
Speaker 8: Well, Tom Jenkins scored a couple of tries, I think, Rudy, through.
00:19:04
Speaker 6: He was in the extended squad.
00:19:06
Speaker 8: And I think Jack Bostock was going okay, too, at the back end of the year at right centre.
00:19:10
Speaker 6: They picked him, obviously, on the wing, Jack Bostock.
00:19:11
Speaker 3: But that's what I'm saying.
00:19:12
Speaker 8: Tom Trebojevic has proven he's been able to play right centre as well. But they just, as you said, they just haven't had that luxury of riches as wingers that we've previously had to be able to select from.
00:19:23
Speaker 2: Australia, Samoa, that's Sunday night. Saturday night, New Zealand Tonga. Kalen's not going to play, is he, Brady?
00:19:29
Speaker 6: Yeah, he's been cleared for contact today.
00:19:31
Speaker 2: 23 days it would be between games.
00:19:33
Speaker 6: This is the new standard, Dan, for a broken arm. Three weeks. Jerome Hughes did it. Wow. Now Kalen looks like he's going to do it. I expect him to play now. I was surprised as well. But as I said, he saw the specialist today. He's been cleared for contact. And as long as he can handle the getting up and down off the ground and passing the football, he will play. And I expect him to play because he's desperate to play.
00:19:53
Speaker 2: Well, if he gets through this week, and he's right for the final if they qualify, finish the year as
the best player in the competition.
00:19:59
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's enormous. His final series was.
00:20:01
Speaker 8: Epic for Newcastle. And he's got a different look about him, Ponga. He's got a real different look about him. And you throw him into this balance of the side, Pete. The forward pack's ridiculous.
00:20:12
Speaker 3: It is.
00:20:13
Speaker 7: Well, Mick, I said at the start of this tournament, someone asked me for my tips, predictions. I had New Zealand winning the tournament.
00:20:19
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:20:20
Speaker 7: And I had Caelan Ponga as the player of the tournament. And unfortunately, he broke his arm in that first game. But even the glimpses we saw, I mean, that step that he put on to burn Walsh was unbelievable.
00:20:29
Speaker 4: World class.
00:20:30
Speaker 7: And look, if he's there for the semifinals, a beautiful lead into the final if they win.
00:20:34
Speaker 3: They can go all the way if Pong is there.
00:20:36
Speaker 8: If they both win, like if New Zealand and Australia both win, that battle of Walsh and Pong next week, after what they dished up week one, will be on another level.
00:20:45
Speaker 2: Some very sad news today. The passing of Paul Langmeck, total shock. You know, I can rattle off his achievements over 300 games and origin and Australia and was part of the 1986 Invincibles and first grade coach at one point with South Sydney, but Mick, that'd be selling him short because he's just that, he was that light, that beacon. Whenever he was in a room, he was the energy of the room.
00:21:14
Speaker 3: He was, mate.
00:21:15
Speaker 8: You talk to anyone and he was just such a great bloke and you're right. I think because of the personality, sometimes you forget about the player and just how bloody good he was, but Yeah, Langers, I'll never forget. I was a 19-year-old and he was coaching Souths at the time. It's a long story, but I thought it was a G up when he ran because I grew up in that era of loving Terry Lamb, Jim Dimmick.
00:21:39
Speaker 3: And Langers.
00:21:42
Speaker 8: From that time, from that conversation on the phone, we always remained mates. Obviously, I went to Canterbury and he was just so great to be around. He was great company, but it was in recent years, his generosity and his love and trying to keep everyone connected in the game that, you know, is an incredible legacy that he leaves. And yeah, it's a tragic day, real tragic day for the Lang Mac family and for the game. And I was so lucky to know him, that's for sure.
00:22:08
Speaker 6: It's so sad, Mick.
00:22:08
Speaker 7: I mean, our thoughts go to his family, but I thought his larrikinism belied just how good a player he was.
00:22:14
Speaker 3: I mean, I was a para fan as a kid.
00:22:16
Speaker 4: I love the 80s.
00:22:16
Speaker 7: And I just remember hating seeing Langers with the ball because he was so good. But even When you look at what he did, at 1987, he racked up 100 games at age 22 years and 26 days. That was a record. That is an amazing achievement, and that testifies just how good he was.
00:22:33
Speaker 3: Skillful and tough, the pair of them.
00:22:36
Speaker 6: Yeah, and only 61, I think, Dan, which is way too early, right?
00:22:40
Speaker 3: Terrible.
00:22:40
Speaker 6: As you know, Dan, he was the sort of guy who just lit up a room whenever he was around Paul Langwick, so he'll be sorely missed by everyone in rugby life. I know.
00:22:46
Speaker 2: It's like, I know for Canterbury fans, probably brings up memories of Steve Folks, when he passed way too early and a much-loved member of.
00:22:55
Speaker 3: The club.
00:22:56
Speaker 2: And our thoughts go to the Langmac family and everyone associated with the Canterbury Bulldogs. Terrible, terrible day. All right, we're going to take a break. When we come back, when we come back, we've got to get to player movement.
00:23:09
Speaker 3: It's November 5.
00:23:10
Speaker 4: This is what we want.
00:23:11
Speaker 3: This is what we want.
00:23:12
Speaker 6: Where's all the player movement?
00:23:13
Speaker 5: It's happening.
00:23:13
Speaker 4: Get the popcorn. Mick's got the popcorn.
00:23:16
Speaker 6: He can't wait.
00:23:16
Speaker 2: We're pretending we haven't been negotiating for the last 12 months.
00:23:22
Speaker 1: Paul Langbeck comes down to make a replacement in the Canterbury side.
00:23:27
Speaker 4: He puts up the ball. Paul Langbeck, I thought was in front of him, but he's not involved anyway. Blindside rush for Langmak and O'Brien.
00:23:42
Speaker 6: Again, they make ground off it.
00:23:45
Speaker 4: O'Brien looks at the line. Langmak will score. So it's Mortimer and Langmak from the scrum base and Langmak goes in for the.
00:23:52
Speaker 6: Easiest of tries. Forwards win matches and whoever dominates the round the ruck is going to win the game. How many grand finals did you win, Langmans?
00:23:59
Speaker 8: Three.
00:24:00
Speaker 4: Is that the grand final gone? That's the grand final gone as far as I'm concerned. What was the highlight of your time at West's? Down to the fullback, it's a point and it's down! And Paul Lehmach races away for the first time of the match. Lehmach, Lehmach, Lehmach, there's to Pearson, Pearson. Bulldozed his way through, one Lehmach there again, they're over. 315 games.
00:24:31
Speaker 6: Origin.
00:24:32
Speaker 4: Kangaroo Tour 1986.
00:24:33
Speaker 1: And a great character of the game, Paul Langman.