บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ 'YOU PICK HIM, YOU PLAY HIM’: Latrell snub | $1.2M Burton Bears offer, Harry Grant Titans bombshell

except for Kupi, had agreed, penned in, just making sure they were comfortable with the living situation. Well, Brian Tollard didn't even go there. He just signed, right? So I do feel like this one's a little bit different. I don't think there's like an agreement in principle yet with Hudson Young, but he's an important signing for them because you sit down, we know how much they've spent on their back line. they really need to add some, some forward power. And despite coming off that serious injury, Hudson Young, still a premier back row in the game would have been a walk up start to the Kangaroos, uh, in the world cup. If he was, if he was fit, um, the length is going to be interesting for mine. 00:05:35 Speaker 3: I can't give him four years. 00:05:36 Speaker 4: I thought Canberra went above and beyond. 00:05:38 Speaker 2: They did. 00:05:38 Speaker 4: And I know, you know, they went above and beyond with that, that, that off us. So, you know, ideally it'd be two years, but I don't think two years we'll get it done. So probably land three years. 00:05:47 Speaker 3: Three is okay. I think three is okay for Hudson. I'd give him three years. Um, Yeah, we'll see where it lands. But if they miss him, there's still other back rowers around. There's plenty of them actually. So it's not life or death, I reckon, for Chammy and the Chiefs, but he is a very, very good player. 00:06:04 Speaker 4: I feel like he's the first domino to fall in terms of the back row market for two reasons. One, he was sort of granted that permission a little bit earlier and he's not playing in the World Cup where a few of the other back rowers. So you've got these other guys. So I think once Hudson makes his mind up, there'll be a flow and effect for the Jordan Rickies, Brent Nickers, T. Wiltons, Liam Martins. 00:06:27 Speaker 2: Of the world in a way. 00:06:28 Speaker 4: So yeah, really interesting to see how it plays out. 00:06:32 Speaker 2: What about Nathan Cleary? 00:06:33 Speaker 1: News overnight that he's close to agreeing to a two-year deal with a two-year option. 00:06:39 Speaker 2: It doesn't surprise me, guys. 00:06:40 Speaker 1: I've got to admit, I always anticipated Nathan to stay at Penrith. I know the Sam Walker situation created headlines about the Chooks. The Chiefs were probably the player. as far as financials, but. 00:06:52 Speaker 2: I always anticipated he'd stay. I think it's a good move. Certainly a great move for Penrith. The alternative is disastrous. 00:07:01 Speaker 3: It's huge for Peter Wallace, the incoming coach. I assume Peter's going to take over from Ivan in 2028. He needed to keep Nathan Cleary. He is the talisman of that footy club, the figurehead of that footy club. So it's a huge win for Peter Wallace, early win. 00:07:17 Speaker 4: Great win. Great result for Penrith. Clearing the Panthers to get that deal done and off the back of Isaiah Yeo being done for two weeks now. Sorry, a month or so now. 00:07:29 Speaker 2: Months, yeah. 00:07:30 Speaker 4: Just finally sign off that paperwork and that will get done. Case has been cleaned, re-signed. Isaiah Papali is already done. 00:07:36 Speaker 3: They're ticking them off, aren't they? 00:07:37 Speaker 2: They are. 00:07:38 Speaker 4: They are. 00:07:38 Speaker 2: Something's going to fall out though. Yeah, it will. 00:07:40 Speaker 4: And one of Liam Martin or Moses Leota is probably the way it shakes out for the Panthers. But no, a huge win for... for Penrith, and we spoke around the Chiefs. That makes it interesting for them now because you look at that halfback market and the ones, you know, Nathan was their number one priority. They never got a chance to get in front of him, but that was going to be the player that they wanted to build that club around. Obviously, I already signed Jerome Luai. Dane Harrison was another option. He's obviously re-signed as well. 00:08:10 Speaker 2: Where do they go, Mick? 00:08:11 Speaker 3: Sam Walker? Cameron Munster? 00:08:13 Speaker 2: Sam Walker's definitely an option there. I don't think they'll go Munster. I think they'll go Sam. 00:08:18 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think Sam's probably more likely than Cam. 00:08:20 Speaker 3: Do you think Sam Walker and Jerome Lua works? 00:08:23 Speaker 2: Not really. Not really. 00:08:25 Speaker 3: Just because– He'll have a footy note amongst us. 00:08:28 Speaker 4: Well, we've seen probably when he's– he played really well this year outside of DCE, and Jerome and Sam, they're both instinctive players. That's why I don't like– Off the cuff sort of stuff. That's why I never liked the Galvin-Walker combination potential at Canterbury either, right? Because I just– like Sam wears seven, but he's– He plays a bit like an old school six. 00:08:50 Speaker 2: What's Jerome's length of deal? 00:08:52 Speaker 3: Three. 00:08:52 Speaker 2: Was it three years? 00:08:54 Speaker 1: What's the guarantee that he's not the full guy after one season, two seasons? 00:09:00 Speaker 4: Well, you can't plan for that. What are you going to say? 00:09:02 Speaker 2: Oh, Sam. 00:09:03 Speaker 4: We're signing Sam just in case Jerome leaves. 00:09:06 Speaker 2: No, you actually... You do sign Sam. You play them together. 00:09:09 Speaker 3: I'm... Jerome ain't leaving that deal, man. That's 1.2 tax-free when he's got half a million dollars at least in third-party deals. 00:09:18 Speaker 1: I would argue his form's not really showing that he's got- Yeah, but what are you going to do? 00:09:23 Speaker 2: Well, that's right. 00:09:24 Speaker 3: You can't kick him out the door. 00:09:25 Speaker 2: Well, that's why you need Sam Walker. 00:09:26 Speaker 4: In defense of Jerome, he hasn't broken a contract. 00:09:29 Speaker 1: No. 00:09:30 Speaker 4: He saw out his contract at Penrith and utilized his options to get out at the Tigers, so he hasn't broken a deal. 00:09:36 Speaker 1: No, I'm not saying that either, but I'm saying the P & G Chiefs could find themselves in a situation where

Jerome Leroy's not playing to the form that you would have hoped, and you desperately need a playmaker. Yeah. 00:09:47 Speaker 4: That's not why I'm signing Sam. 00:09:49 Speaker 2: Oh. 00:09:50 Speaker 4: Because then they've got that signing wrong then. If you're doing that- Yes, they have. If you're going in on thinking you're going to sign Sam Walker because- Well, you- Hmm. Jerome Law is not going to work, that's not a formula for success. You've got to find someone that's going to compliment Jerome because they've made that decision. They've bought Jerome. 00:10:08 Speaker 3: I reckon what they've got to do is, look, they're going to sign Sean O'Sullivan, right, for their first season. I'm not sure whether you just play Sean for 28th. And you wait and see what happens at Canberra, potentially, where there's Kobe Black and Ethan Sanders. One of those guys won't be there. 00:10:28 Speaker 2: Izzy Katoa? 00:10:28 Speaker 3: One of those guys won't be there in 28. Well, that's a good one. Izzy Katoa. 00:10:32 Speaker 4: We know Manly got some issues as well. 00:10:35 Speaker 3: I'm not sure I'd sign Jamal Fogarty, though. 00:10:37 Speaker 4: He's the one that works with Jerome, though. Yeah. In terms of complementing his style of play, that combination works for mine. 00:10:43 Speaker 2: Yeah. 00:10:46 Speaker 3: You never gain. If you sign him as a bridging half for one year, I could understand that, right? So then that could buy you a bit of time. 00:10:53 Speaker 4: Tomorrow for one year? 00:10:54 Speaker 3: Yeah. 00:10:54 Speaker 4: How long is it? Did you sign four you do on Canterbury? 00:10:56 Speaker 2: Three, wasn't it? Okay, mainly. 00:10:57 Speaker 3: Three, wasn't it? 00:10:58 Speaker 2: Could be three or four, but it's a, yeah. 00:11:02 Speaker 4: But then also it depends on what hooker you sign because. 00:11:06 Speaker 3: Well, do they double down and go hard after Harry Grant now? 00:11:09 Speaker 4: Potentially, did I divert and go, well, we had X amount. 00:11:12 Speaker 3: It's good surfing. 00:11:13 Speaker 4: We had X amount for, and then you start Shawano Sullivan. If you've got Harry Grant at Hookah and Jerome, well, there's, and AJ Brimson at Fullback, that's probably. 00:11:22 Speaker 2: Gold Coast or Port Moresby? The surfing in Port Moresby? 00:11:26 Speaker 3: Man, I find that so, we'll get to, are we talking Harry? 00:11:29 Speaker 2: Yeah, why not? 00:11:29 Speaker 3: I just find the idea that Harry Grant is going to leave Melbourne and go to Gold Coast, which seems increasingly likely. by the day, I find that astonishing, astonishing that Harry Grant would leave a club where he's the captain and I believe, I think they can contend for a title this year, next year, sorry. I think they've got a good enough squad. I know that. 00:11:55 Speaker 4: He's not leaving next year. 00:11:55 Speaker 3: But at least in Melbourne, I think there's a belief that you're at a club that wins. To go to the Gold Coast, which is a club, and Look, I love the Titans. I love their owners. I love the people involved. I love the Titans. But they don't win. 00:12:09 Speaker 2: You don't love the Titans. 00:12:10 Speaker 3: They don't win. 00:12:11 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they're trying to win. 00:12:12 Speaker 3: So Harry's going to pack up and go. 00:12:14 Speaker 4: Well, that's why they bought him for it. That's why they had signed him. He's a circuit breaker. 00:12:17 Speaker 2: He would be the most significant signing in the club's history. 00:12:19 Speaker 3: Oh, by far. By far. He's a great player. 00:12:21 Speaker 4: Better than when Gold Coast signed Wally Lewis. 00:12:24 Speaker 2: Would be. 00:12:24 Speaker 3: Don't bag the King, mate. 00:12:25 Speaker 2: Yeah, but he was a bag. 00:12:26 Speaker 3: The King's a- Captain Coach. This is a King-free bagging zone. You can't bag the King on here. I went to his last game, you know. Against Penrith, the captain coach, Wally. He scored a try. 00:12:35 Speaker 2: Did he perform well for the Seagulls? 00:12:37 Speaker 3: He scored a try, mate. 00:12:38 Speaker 4: Did he perform well? 00:12:39 Speaker 2: He was coaching and captain. 00:12:40 Speaker 3: He was at the back end of his career. 00:12:42 Speaker 4: That's what I'm saying. This is why this would be a better sign-in. 00:12:46 Speaker 2: Bigger sign-in. 00:12:46 Speaker 3: Mate, I think if they get in, you're right. It's the biggest sign they've ever made. He is a superstar. 00:12:52 Speaker 2: Bigger than the king. 00:12:54 Speaker 4: Bigger than Jarrod Hayne. 00:12:56 Speaker 3: Much bigger than Jarrod Hayne. I just find it amazing. But it feels like it's happening. 00:13:00 Speaker 2: Well, it hasn't happened. 00:13:03 Speaker 3: No, I said it feels like it's happening. 00:13:06 Speaker 1: I understand the Titans are going to go absolutely massive for him. And I genuinely believe there's an interest from Harry to get there. 00:13:16 Speaker 3: There's no doubt there's an interest. Otherwise, he would have taken up the offer he's got on the table for Melbourne, which is significant. 00:13:22 Speaker 4: That would be huge, boys, if they end up signing him and it'll legitimise the Titans who haven't done much to feel like a legitimate club. 00:13:30 Speaker 3: You know what I reckon the danger is? I'd be wary of Brisbane shaking things up and making space for him. 00:13:36 Speaker 2: Great. 00:13:38 Speaker 3: Look, I don't necessarily think it's a concrete thing right now. 00:13:42 Speaker 1: I think Josh Hanna has got a relationship with Harry Grant from the Queensland Origin Camp, and I don't know if Harry's got a relationship with Michael McGuire. 00:13:49 Speaker 3: He knows a lot of those blokes, though, from Queensland Origin Camp. 00:13:52 Speaker 2: They might not be there. They may not be there. The match might not be there. 00:13:56 Speaker 3: I'd suggest Brisbane's closer to a comp than the Gold Coast, so. 00:14:00 Speaker 4: Which Harry still hasn't won.

00:14:01 Speaker 3: He has won a comp. 00:14:02 Speaker 4: He's not won a comp. 00:14:03 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:14:03 Speaker 3: That's the bit I find amazing about him, leaving Melbourne and going to the Gold Coast. I think he's close to winning a comp in Melbourne. 00:14:09 Speaker 2: He's also closer to the end of his career. 00:14:11 Speaker 3: Yeah. 00:14:11 Speaker 2: So he might be setting himself up. Maybe he's set up. Melbourne is going to pay him good money. Melbourne's offered him a ball. 00:14:17 Speaker 4: Melbourne aren't going to shortchange him. 00:14:18 Speaker 1: But hang on, but Melbourne aren't going to be in premiership contention once Craig leaves and or Munster and Harry Stefani Tucumanu. 00:14:27 Speaker 2: In the next two years. 00:14:27 Speaker 3: Mate, that's a club that's shown that. 00:14:30 Speaker 2: I'm not going to ride them off. 00:14:30 Speaker 3: They regenerate. 00:14:31 Speaker 4: I'm not going to ride them off. 00:14:32 Speaker 3: And I'll tell you what, they've got blokes already, young blokes contracted long-term. They've got a succession plan in place. Even when Harry goes, actually, they've got a succession plan in place because they've got a young kid named Jai Bowden who is, I think he was Queensland under-9 in hooker. He's a gun, right? They've got a succession plan for Munster with Hayden Watson. Hayden Watson also played hooker. 00:14:53 Speaker 2: So has the Titans. Although they've got young players like that too. 00:14:58 Speaker 3: Hasn't that worked well in recent years, their succession planning? 00:15:01 Speaker 2: It's changed dramatically in the last 18 months. 00:15:03 Speaker 3: Has it? 00:15:04 Speaker 2: Pathways, 100%. Okay. 00:15:06 Speaker 4: You're big on the Titans, Dave. 00:15:07 Speaker 3: You are. 00:15:07 Speaker 2: I just know what's happening up there. 00:15:09 Speaker 3: Right. 00:15:09 Speaker 2: Slow burn. 00:15:10 Speaker 3: Very slow burn. 00:15:11 Speaker 2: Slow burn. 00:15:12 Speaker 3: Harry might accelerate it. You never know. 00:15:14 Speaker 4: Yeah. Pretty good spine if you've got Kenny, Campbell, Harrison and Grant. 00:15:20 Speaker 3: You've got to play finals footy with that spine. Okay. 00:15:26 Speaker 2: Matty Burton. Burton. 00:15:27 Speaker 3: Oh, Burton. 00:15:27 Speaker 2: You want to take this? 00:15:29 Speaker 1: Brady. 00:15:29 Speaker 3: No. 00:15:30 Speaker 2: Brinkmanship. Brinkmanship. 00:15:35 Speaker 1: Over in WA, they're making moves at an administration level and also at a market level, player market level. Is there much brinkmanship going on over there, Brady? 00:15:44 Speaker 3: Not really, mate. 00:15:45 Speaker 4: Where do you put that word from? 00:15:47 Speaker 3: It's not that big a word. 00:15:48 Speaker 2: Is that the Auss? 00:15:49 Speaker 4: When you used to write at the Auss? Brady used to write for the Australians. 00:15:51 Speaker 3: Pick up a dictionary at some time in your life, boys, and... Expand your vocabulary, please. Look,

I mean, obviously, Matty Burns is deep in talks with the Perth Bears. 00:16:02 Speaker 2: Is he deep? 00:16:03 Speaker 3: Yeah. They got some clarity this week on that exemption. They've got salary cap allowance. 00:16:09 Speaker 2: What's the cap allowance? 00:16:09 Speaker 3: So the cap allowance is they've got to– so there's three provisos, right? They can pay a player 20% of his salary outside the salary cap, right? But there's three provisos. One, he's got to be one of their top two highest paid players. Two, he's got to be paid a million dollars minimum a year. And the third one I've forgotten. What was it? Do you remember? 00:16:28 Speaker 2: I know the other two that I remember. 00:16:30 Speaker 3: Oh, maybe he's got to be part of their top 30 squad, I think. He's got to be a full-time player or something like that. Anyway, he's got to be paid at least a million a year. 00:16:36 Speaker 4: Let me find the email. Let me find the email. 00:16:42 Speaker 2: He's trying to move on. 00:16:43 Speaker 3: Basically what it means. 00:16:44 Speaker 4: The player's contracted to the Perth Bears. Obviously, that's a given. 00:16:46 Speaker 3: Oh, there you go. 00:16:47 Speaker 2: That's a given. 00:16:47 Speaker 3: Okay. 00:16:48 Speaker 2: That's one of them. 00:16:49 Speaker 3: That's one of the three. 00:16:49 Speaker 4: Well, there's seven things. Oh, don't worry about it. I'm not going to go. 00:16:52 Speaker 3: There's three at the top pick. 00:16:53 Speaker 2: I'm with you, Reid, man. 00:16:54 Speaker 3: Basically, it means Matt Burt will be paid a minimum of $ 1. 2 million a year if he goes to Perth. That's the bare minimum they will pay. 00:17:03 Speaker 4: The only other exciting bit, the exemption is only available for one player, and that is only for the 27, 28, and 29 seasons. 00:17:08 Speaker 2: Yeah. 00:17:09 Speaker 4: And the player can be a different player each year. 00:17:13 Speaker 3: But it will be Matt Burt. Yeah. He takes up the opportunity. 00:17:16 Speaker 4: And it's interesting, I spoke to Mel last week, and they really only have room for one marquee player. 00:17:21 Speaker 1: Right. 00:17:22 Speaker 4: Because, I think we've said it on this show, they didn't sign anyone for one season. So to think that come November 1, they're going to have this amazing pot of gold where they'd be able to lash and get three or four players, it just didn't make sense. 00:17:33 Speaker 3: The only thing I would say, Mick, is I think they have a belief that if they need to manufacture room, they'll be able to do it. 00:17:40 Speaker 4: They would. Yes, they could because they're not at full capacity for the 27 cap, right? 00:17:43 Speaker 3: Yeah. 00:17:45 Speaker 4: But that's not going to give them a P & G money. 00:17:48 Speaker 3: I mean more in terms of potentially moving players on. I mean, they've got guys there. 00:17:52 Speaker 4: So they want to move blokes on. 00:17:53 Speaker 2: They haven't played a game yet. Well, no, I think

that's... That's my Jerome Lewa theory. 00:17:55 Speaker 3: I think that is... We all know how the game works. If you want to create room, generally you can't create room. 00:18:02 Speaker 2: Now, a bit of homesickness. 00:18:04 Speaker 3: Yeah, homesickness, that sort of stuff. 00:18:06 Speaker 2: Well, you want to move a player on in the preseason. 00:18:08 Speaker 3: Well, I'm saying potentially. 00:18:09 Speaker 4: Why are you guys moving everyone on before they even started? He's moving Jerome, right? And you're moving, who are you moving? 00:18:15 Speaker 3: Someone from the Bears. If they had to. But anyway, Burton's- But they don't have a lot. 00:18:18 Speaker 4: Okay, my point is they don't have a huge amount of wiggle room. They obviously can land one marquee, and the person they've identified is Burton. 00:18:25 Speaker 3: Yeah. And he'll go over there, Dave, at some point in the next week. have a look around, catch up with everyone over there, then he's got a decision to make. But look, I mean, the dogs have spoken to him about staying. I believe they've offered him, or the talk is they haven't offered him a formal deal yet, as I understand it, but they've spoken money. And it's good money to stay and play in the centres. I mean, he'd end up a million-dollar player with a ratchet clause, my understanding. So he doesn't necessarily have to. 00:18:50 Speaker 2: Pack up and go. Big money for. 00:18:54 Speaker 3: A centre. Yeah. That's my understanding, Dave. Significant money, around the $ 800 with a ratchet clause. Wow. So you need to pay him top dollar to get him to move, and they will have to, Perth. But over the space of five years, you're paying him like $ 1. 2 million. That's an extra million dollars that he's getting. So that's pretty tempting. 00:19:14 Speaker 2: Yep, sure is. 00:19:15 Speaker 3: They need him, though. 00:19:16 Speaker 2: And then the next question is, do they move him early? 00:19:18 Speaker 3: This is the next question, yeah. Hmm. 00:19:21 Speaker 2: If he signs with Perth. 00:19:22 Speaker 3: Well, and Perth will obviously want him. 00:19:24 Speaker 4: 100%. 00:19:24 Speaker 2: Play with Sexton. 00:19:25 Speaker 4: The only issue is Canterbury's not going to get anything in return from Perth. 00:19:28 Speaker 1: Not from Perth, but they do get cap space and there's dominoes falling left, right and centre. 00:19:33 Speaker 2: Sam Walker? I haven't heard that. 00:19:36 Speaker 3: They keep saying they're not in for Sam Walker. 00:19:38 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:19:38 Speaker 4: I'm just wondering what for. 00:19:40 Speaker 2: No, like, we don't know. 00:19:43 Speaker 3: You never know. Tops change, things change. 00:19:45 Speaker 2: Big cities. 00:19:46 Speaker 3: Clubs can move. Clubs can move players. 00:19:47 Speaker 2: As soon as that World Cup's over. Yeah. 00:19:49 Speaker 3: Yeah. Could be a bit happening. 00:19:50 Speaker 2: The big guns will get moving. 00:19:53 Speaker 3: Do you think, look, we've had this discussion for about two years now. Do they need to sign a halfback or what? 00:19:58 Speaker 2: Please, yes. Or the doggies. 00:20:00 Speaker 4: Well, I guess, do they, if they don't re-sign Burden, because they've offered him that money at Centerville. 00:20:04 Speaker 2: Didn't Galvin get a flyover, you? 00:20:05 Speaker 4: Yeah, he's a flyback. But do they come in and- Do they come in and go after a Bostock or someone like that for that money? 00:20:13 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's true. 00:20:15 Speaker 4: If they've offered Burton that. 00:20:16 Speaker 3: Or do they chase a fullback? 00:20:17 Speaker 2: Or do they chase a fullback? 00:20:19 Speaker 3: Or do they chase a hooker like Harry Grant? 00:20:22 Speaker 4: You know what they need? All of them. 00:20:26 Speaker 3: Not sure they've got the money for that, Mick. Not sure letting Burton go will clear the money for that. 00:20:29 Speaker 2: But that's what they need. Is it Gus the Guru? 00:20:31 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:20:31 Speaker 2: Isn't that what they need? 00:20:32 Speaker 3: Allegedly. 00:20:33 Speaker 2: Fullback, halfback, because they've got a really good 5'8 in Galvin, and a hooker. 00:20:39 Speaker 3: They might have a good halfback in the system. And Alex Conte was great at the World Cup for Lebanon. Maybe they've got a halfback. Maybe they need a hooker. Maybe Harry Grant. 00:20:49 Speaker 2: Conte's been terrific. 00:20:50 Speaker 3: Maybe they need Harry Grant. 00:20:50 Speaker 2: He's got a booming kick. 00:20:52 Speaker 4: I just love how he tucks the game. 00:20:54 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:20:54 Speaker 4: Alex Conte. 00:20:55 Speaker 3: Or a fullback. Is there a fullback out there somewhere? 00:20:58 Speaker 2: I think Conte's got his nose in front of Woods now. 00:21:00 Speaker 4: Because he's playing. 00:21:02 Speaker 2: Well, and he's proven he can play on the biggest stage. He's just playing footies. But it's on the biggest stage, man. He's not flopping. 00:21:09 Speaker 3: No. 00:21:09 Speaker 2: No, he was good. He was good. 00:21:11 Speaker 4: But, yeah, I think they need one of the above in all of those positions. 00:21:18 Speaker 2: Reid, man, you live over in the Northern Beaches. 00:21:20 Speaker 3: God's country. 00:21:21 Speaker 2: Debatable. I thought that was Queensland. 00:21:24 Speaker 3: Yeah, both God's country. Oh, wow. God shares the love, mate. It's love. 00:21:29 Speaker 2: What are they doing at Manly, Reedy? Are they cutting players or are they moving? 00:21:33 Speaker 3: There's some players up for grabs. Yeah, some players up for grabs, Dave, because it sounds like Kieran wants to reshape that squad a little bit. So they're looking to tinker with a few guys. 00:21:44 Speaker 2: Who's their head of recruitment? 00:21:46 Speaker 3: I don't think they've got one anymore. 00:21:47 Speaker 2: There you go. Okay. 00:21:48 Speaker 4: Who's their head of footy? 00:21:49 Speaker 2: I don't think they've got one. Who's their head of football? 00:21:50 Speaker 3: I

don't think they've got one anymore. 00:21:52 Speaker 2: Not much doing. 00:21:53 Speaker 1: No, isn't... Nah, he's not. Craig Walker's there. 00:21:58 Speaker 3: Sorry, Craig Walker's there. I think he's their head of recruitment, I think. So they've tinkered with a few things off the field. Now they're tinkering with a few things on the field. And they've got to make some changes. I think that squad's a bit imbalanced, so... They're just manoeuvring. They've got to find money to make Tommy Traore, which is a big offer. 00:22:15 Speaker 2: Luke Brooks. 00:22:15 Speaker 3: Well, they're not going to be able to move him. He's got a torn ACL. So, I mean, no one's going to pay Luke Brooks to come and sit on the sidelines for six months next year, which is what will happen. I mean, Jamal Fogarty's the one. Because they've got Joey Walsh, they've re-signed long-term. One and Tony Large have re-signed long-term. Brooks will be back at some point next year. Jamal's probably the guy who's– would be easier to move if they were to move him. But I'm not sure that's on the table. 00:22:44 Speaker 2: Luke Brooks, PNG Chiefs alongside Jerome Lillard? No, it doesn't work. It doesn't work. 00:22:50 Speaker 4: Jamal would work. I actually like that combination, Jamal and Jerome. 00:22:54 Speaker 3: Bring your mate. 00:22:57 Speaker 2: Okay, so what about Paseka? 00:22:59 Speaker 3: Well, listen, what happened there was that Canberra obviously, everyone in the game's heard that Manly's got to move players, right? But Canberra's picked up the phone and rung Manly. And asked whether they would allow them to speak, whether Taniola Paseka was one of those guys who might be available. Manly said no. So that was the extent of that. Because Paseka's on big, big dollars this year. Next year, sorry. But, I mean, if they lose him, he's their best middle. 00:23:30 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's not like they've got an abundance of middles. 00:23:32 Speaker 3: We saw him the other night for Tonga. He was unbelievable when he came on. 00:23:35 Speaker 4: He's a good player. 00:23:35 Speaker 2: Very good, very good. 00:23:36 Speaker 4: David Muali is their sign-in for next year that they invested big time on, on big money. 00:23:42 Speaker 2: What's big time? 00:23:43 Speaker 3: Probably $ 600, $ 700 or something. And again, hindsight, that looks– Davey struggled in Melbourne, struggled at South. That looks a poor sign-in. 00:23:53 Speaker 4: A lot of their future of their full pack is going to rest on that sign-in. given the investment that they've put in him. He's a big sign. 00:24:05 Speaker 2: He's a big money deal. 00:24:06 Speaker 4: So, yeah, they just got their cap out of whack a little bit. Obviously, they've got a lot of halves there. They over-invested on their outside backs for too long, but Ruben Garrick's now moved on. 00:24:16 Speaker 3: Have they done Lee Hoiopawada or not? 00:24:18 Speaker 2: I don't think so. 00:24:19 Speaker 3: No, I don't think so. I thought at some

point he'd extend it for one more year, but it doesn't sound like he has. 00:24:26 Speaker 2: I'm not sure. 00:24:28 Speaker 3: But, I mean, he's a good footballer, man. He's been great at the World Cup as well. They need to keep him. 00:24:33 Speaker 2: He's been very good. 00:24:35 Speaker 3: It's hard to balance that when you've got to– you know, Tommy's at a point where I think this is probably Tommy's– maybe his last big deal. Depends on how long it is, yeah. 00:24:42 Speaker 2: Right? 00:24:42 Speaker 3: And he took a pay cut last time around. I don't think Tommy's– I don't know this. I haven't spoken to him. I get the impression Tommy's not in the mood to take a pay cut again. So they're going to have to find a million dollars plus for Tommy. And at the moment, I don't think they can make him– competitive offer at the moment, given the way their cap is. Because he's a November 1 guy, Tommy. 00:25:03 Speaker 4: Well, he's off contract, yeah. 00:25:04 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:25:05 Speaker 2: Guys, World Cup semifinals. 00:25:07 Speaker 3: Exciting. 00:25:08 Speaker 1: Honestly, it's been the best World Cup on record. We go to Newcastle Saturday, Kiwis Tonga. 00:25:14 Speaker 2: Then we're down at Allianz. 00:25:16 Speaker 1: Yep. 00:25:16 Speaker 2: Aussies versus Samoa. Quickly, Kiwis Tonga, Mick. Looking forward to it. 00:25:22 Speaker 1: KP firming every day to play. This is my team to win the tournament, Kiwis. Kiwis? 00:25:28 Speaker 3: Yeah. You put a line through Australia. 00:25:30 Speaker 2: From the start, I said they'd win. 00:25:32 Speaker 1: Unbelievable. 00:25:32 Speaker 2: Well, I think these are the two best teams. Kiwis? 00:25:35 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yep. Yeah. 00:25:37 Speaker 2: Where do you rank Australia? Three. 00:25:40 Speaker 3: Yep. 00:25:41 Speaker 2: At the moment, where do you rank Australia? 00:25:42 Speaker 3: I think Australia will win it. I said it from the start. I still think they'll win it. 00:25:45 Speaker 2: I'll answer that question. Where do you rank Australia at currently? 00:25:48 Speaker 3: They're the best team. I think they win the tournament. I've said that from the start, Dave. I stand by it. 00:25:53 Speaker 2: Through this tournament- Where are they ranking? 00:25:55 Speaker 3: Oh, in terms of form? Two, three. They did beat New Zealand in the first game, if you remember. Yeah, yeah. Maybe you've forgotten that. It was only two weeks ago. Okay. 00:26:04 Speaker 2: Anyway. All right. No, no. 00:26:05 Speaker 3: It was only two weeks ago, but anyway. 00:26:07 Speaker 4: Do you remember that? 00:26:21 Speaker 3: No. 00:26:21 Speaker 2: I've forgotten all of it. I rest. 00:26:24 Speaker 4: I've forgotten that. 00:26:26 Speaker 3: I'll tell you what I am stunned by, Dave. 00:26:28 Speaker 2: Yeah, go for it. 00:26:29 Speaker 3: Latrell Mitchell on the extended bench. If you pick Latrell Mitchell in this tournament, when the big games come around, you play him. Latrell

is at his best in big games. And I understand Brad Van Best is a very good player in big games, but for me, you play Latrell. If you pick him in the squad, you play him in the games that matter. 00:26:51 Speaker 4: I agree to an extent just because he's in the squad doesn't mean he plays, right? 00:26:54 Speaker 3: I disagree. 00:26:55 Speaker 4: But no, no, but I'm picking him. I'm picking him. It's like James Tedesco. You've got James Tedesco in the squad. Is it disrespectful that he's not playing every week? Well, no, he's the second best fullback at the moment, so he's in the extended squad. So I have no issue with Latrell being in the squad and not playing, right? But I would be playing him ahead of Ketone Staggs. I know they play at Brest and Latrell play on the same side of the field, but I'd be having a conversation and say, boys, if you both want to play, who's comfortable playing on the other side of the field? Because Ketone's club form has flown into this test series and he hasn't been great. I'd be playing Best and Luttrell. 00:27:30 Speaker 3: Either way, I just think you've got to have Luttrell in there. 00:27:33 Speaker 4: I don't disagree with you, Reedy. 00:27:34 Speaker 3: Thanks. 00:27:35 Speaker 4: Not on the proviso that if he's in the squad, you've got to play him, right? But he's the best centre option at the moment for Australia, so I'd be playing him. 00:27:42 Speaker 3: Okay. I'm glad we're on the same page. 00:27:43 Speaker 2: Sort of. 00:27:46 Speaker 3: Imagine him and Tommy on that right-hand side. Oof, superstars galore. That'd be devastating. 00:27:52 Speaker 2: Dave, not feeling it? 00:27:53 Speaker 3: Yeah, I am. 00:27:55 Speaker 2: I don't really come with Rudy on his Latrell. 00:27:58 Speaker 4: Takes, but you're right. 00:28:02 Speaker 1: But I think it comes back to this team of picking Stag. 00:28:08 Speaker 2: I don't know if he's the best option on form. 00:28:13 Speaker 3: He's not. 00:28:14 Speaker 2: And I thought Pat Carrigan was an odd choice on form, his season he had. 00:28:18 Speaker 3: Who are you going to play ahead of? Who are you going to play ahead. 00:28:21 Speaker 2: Of, Pat? I would have had Mitch Barnett in the squad. 00:28:23 Speaker 1: Me too. 00:28:23 Speaker 4: That's been the Australian. That's the problem with Australia is that this team has not been in good club form. 00:28:29 Speaker 3: No, I agree. 00:28:30 Speaker 2: And it's shown in this tournament. 00:28:32 Speaker 3: I just look at that spine. At some point, I know it's going to click. At some point, it has to click. 00:28:36 Speaker 2: Does it? 00:28:37 Speaker 3: They're too good, man. They're too good not to. 00:28:39 Speaker 2: They'll be too good for Samoa. 00:28:42 Speaker 4: They should, yeah, they should be. And Samoa, big blow, you should know Harris Tevita, Ronald Volkman. 00:28:46 Speaker 3: Volkman's a good one. 00:28:47 Speaker 2: I thought Ronnie, I reckon Ronnie's going to, it was, yeah, yeah. 00:28:53 Speaker 4: He's, the impact in the game was awesome, right? But it was made for him because he's such an ad-lib player, tiring the fans, chasing points, right? That situation to come on against Tonga was, and he still owned the moment, right? But it is a drop-off when you compare the five, like Munster up against, which really, it should be, We can't win for Munster. But that side hasn't been in great form, and I think we've seen it in the tournament. 00:29:17 Speaker 2: There's something about. 00:29:18 Speaker 1: The Roosters grand final win that James Tedesco, Clive Churchill medalist, is in the reserves, and so too the halfback, Sam Walker. Premiership winning halfback only three weeks ago. 00:29:27 Speaker 2: He's also in the reserves. 00:29:30 Speaker 4: I think it's more a reflection of how good Reece Walsh is compared to James Tedesco. Tedesco is an all-time great. So to keep him out, I don't think it's a reflection on him. It's more around what Reece did in that opening game as well. And Sam Walker, when you put it like that, Dave, he was the fourth choice half. Nathan, Mitch, Dearden, and now Walker. 00:29:53 Speaker 2: Yeah, good point. 00:29:55 Speaker 3: So. 00:29:56 Speaker 2: Would you like to see Braley on that bench? 00:29:58 Speaker 4: Has to play. Mick? Has to play. 00:29:59 Speaker 2: Because Ethan Strange is in the 14. I saw that. 00:30:02 Speaker 4: No, don't like it. I'd be playing Braley. Ethan Strange can stay in the extended squad just in case. 00:30:07 Speaker 2: Yeah, utility case. 00:30:09 Speaker 4: But I'd be playing Braley over that one-two punch with Harry Grant because Harry hasn't been good either this tournament. He hasn't been great this tournament. 00:30:15 Speaker 3: He's solid. 00:30:15 Speaker 4: I think there's a spark that Australia will need against New Zealand or Tonga potentially in a final, even against Samoa. Let's not discount Samoa. what Samoa can do and how good they were on the weekend despite losing. Yeah, I'd be playing Braley in my 17. 00:30:29 Speaker 3: You love Blake Braley though. 00:30:31 Speaker 4: Just think he adds his. 00:30:32 Speaker 2: He changes the ruck speed. 100% he does. 00:30:34 Speaker 1: 100%. 00:30:35 Speaker 3: Did Harry play punches in 80 minutes? Did he play 80 minutes last game? 00:30:40 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:30:42 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, if he's on the extended bench, he could play anyway, right? 00:30:45 Speaker 2: Of course he can. But I'm saying I'd be playing him. Yeah, I would be. 00:30:49 Speaker 3: Okay. I think it depends on how the game's playing out. Well, if. 00:30:54 Speaker 2: Provided there's no injuries, I'll be playing him out. 00:30:56 Speaker 3: Okay. 00:30:57 Speaker 2: Go enjoy your World Cup and we'll catch you next week.