July 28, 2024 • 26 mins
Ben Hurley joins Manaia Stewart to explain the Mt. Everest the Warriors must climb to make the Finals.
Then the fellas recap a Bulldogs Stonka (12:45), and Ben unleashes another Hurley's Heroes (19:25).
Brought to you by Four'N Twenty!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
There and welcome into the Mad Monday Podcast, brought to
you as always by four and twenty PI. Is a
perfect at home snack for watching rugby league. My name
is saw Monnayowe and joined by the injured Torhu Hurley.
Get a ben here you getting on, mate.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Boneur Monsieur Stewart. I'm very French. I'm very Olympics focused
at the moment, also obviously the rugby league focus, but
I actually wanted to start out with the Olympic focused
trivia question. See if you can get it. Who's the
only current NRL player who is a former Olympian?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Oh, a former Olympian. I was going to say, Mark
Nawanga need to is over there with the Ossie seventh
Steam and then he's going to play for the Roosters.
Who is Oh well warbrockh.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well dan it out? Yes, I thought I thought I
was gonna trick you there, but yes, well wall break
Now that's the I was in the rugby union sevens
team New Zealand last last time.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, and he's got the Olympic rings on the forearm
there so you can see it whenever he's playing. I've
always wanted to get the Olympic ring tattoo, just to
show people that went to the Olympics, like, you know,
you could just get that tattoo at any point out you.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Know, anyone can get it. Yeah. Absolutely, Imagine how annoyed
annoyed they would be that you just went in and
got a cheap tattoo at the back of a bloody
bus stop or whatever.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, I know, I've got to mate. This is his
second Olympics. Now. I imagine he would be absolutely for
years if he saw me rock up to the pub
with an Olympic tattoo. That's kind of why I want
to do it. But anyway, we're not here to talk
about Olympic tatoos. Were here to talk about the wires
and they got up twenty eight sixteen over the Tigers.
You and I commentated this one being are we the
(01:55):
headlines this week? Of all the comments on social media
and that have been like, oh jeez, relaxive R and
you beat the wooden Spooners. But I actually I don't
see it that way. I'm more excited about it than
I think those commenters are.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Well, look, you know we went down by sixty points
to the Titans. Who are I think second to last.
So you know, you've got to take the wins. You've
got to enjoy the wins. And yeah, as you say,
we commentated it, and it was a pretty scrappy game
and not necessarily the prettiest win that the Warriors have
(02:28):
ever had, but we'll take the two all day.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, And I've got to be honest, despite how scrappy
it was, twenty eight to sixteen is sort of the
score line that you would have predicted for this game.
And I think it was just that there were massive
stretches where it looked really messy. Then we let in
a few sort of soft tries. But like I was
saying heading into the game, all I wanted was for
the Warriors to win this one and then just for
(02:53):
us to have a week of a Warrior's win, you
know what I mean, Like just because let's be real,
we've got to win every game now from here on
out to the end of the season to make the playoffs.
So let's just enjoy this week and knock it to
ahead of ourselves because the dark times are coming.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Oh. Look, I've had lots of great street manner in
the last couple of days from people who listen to
our commentary, and you know, people just saying, you know,
all it is is knowing more in a row, and
that's you know, let's live in hope for a week.
You're absolutely right. This is a very specific bubble of
(03:33):
hope that we're in for the next five or so days.
So just enjoy it. We're standing at the bottom of Everest.
We've taken about half a dozen steps up and there's
and there's a lot more to do, but yeah, let's
just enjoy it while it's here.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah, it's we're talking about it in the commentary. If
you didn't listen, you know that we are standing at
the bottom of Everest. As you said earlier, we need
to climb it. Ten games in a row, we need
to win, and look, that does seem unlikely, but if
it's going to happen, it has to start with a win.
And that's exactly what happened on the weekend. So we
need to really just take that one, don't we as
(04:09):
a country, and just really really basking it. And you know,
I'm not sure away from the fact that yet we're
going to need the oxygen tank very very shortly. But
as it stands right now, we're full of hope and optimism.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, can we get any Nepalese players into the side.
You know that seemed to help ed Hillary is he had, like,
you know, probably the most famous Nipalese person ever with him.
And yeah, maybe maybe that's an untapped market. The Catman
do rugby league scene. I'm not sure how healthy it is.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, if they came down to sea level, you know,
their voto capacity would just be through the roof. If
I ever told you my Edmund Hillary.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Story, No, but let's let's do that right now.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Okay, my stepmother is a chef and back in the
day she worked in restaurants in christ Church and one
day Edmund Hillary came through and she got to cook
for him. And so when she was finished cooking the meal,
she said to the you know whoever, the waiter or whatever,
I'd like to take this one out to eat if
I could. So she takes it out to him, this meal,
(05:15):
and she takes a five dollar note with her and
a pin and she gets Edmund Hillary to sign a
five dollar note. And her mother was staying with her
this weekend, so she took the five dollar note home,
showed everyone, put it on the table. She goes back
to work. Day. After she comes back, it must have
been like a Sunday or something. The five dollar note's
gone and she goes, mom, have you seen that five
(05:37):
dollar note that I left on the table. She goes, oh, yeah,
I put that into the pokes last night.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Oh wow.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So somewhere in circulation there is a probably at the
christ Church Casino, there is a five dollars signed Edmund
Hillary note.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I guess. Yeah, there's not too many other people that
can sign the notes. I mean, obviously Queen Elizabeth could
have at the time, but everyone else is dead. So yeah,
that's pretty rare. That is pretty rare.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
With doesn't even win either, don't even have to feature, you.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Know, look, just to slightly get back into rugby league,
no excuses. But there was a late try there to
the Tigers, which probably made the score line slightly flattering.
And the other the other thing I would say is
that back line had only two players in it that
(06:39):
are probably first choice players of position.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Were ours our Yeah, oh, speaking of that one player
that was playing at a position though, hey, Roger looks phenomenal,
didn't he did?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
He really? Did? You know? We've got two first class
fullbacks and whatever. You do with them. You can't have
two fullbacks, so someone's going to be playing out a position,
and weirdly, the combination that seemed to work best was
when Chance went into number six.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I know it's just, but it's been so weaby to
just stick with the players that he's got. He said
from the start, you know, Chance is our fullback and
he's not going to waiver from that. He doesn't waver
from any of the decisions that he makes. You know,
he sticks with them, even right down to the to
the reserves, which we'll get into it in a second.
But there's been a lot of talk this week, as
(07:32):
it has all season, Roger has to be our starting fullback.
And I've got to be honest, I'm in that camp.
I think Roger has to be our starting fullback. And
I know everyone says old than what about Chance. I
don't know. I think we need to figure that part out,
but I think Roger has to be our fullback both
defensively and offensively. He was excellent.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So here's what you do. You put Chance back into
six and Chanel Harris Devita into the fourteen. Jersy coming
off the bench. He had a vastly improved game, by
the way. Yeah, ninety eight points on super Coach, of
which he has certainly not achieved any other time this season.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
No, absolutely not. Yeah, Roger had a few great runs. Obviously,
the two try saving I don't know if they tackles
or got to the ball first sort of situation. I
just think, I don't know, particularly if we drop one
of these next few games and then our season is over,
we can't make the eight anymore. Just give us something
to cheer for, you know. And I think Roger at
fallback is that. But like I said, he sticks with
(08:30):
his decisions and he doesn't play. How many games this
season have we seen where we've only played like three
subs and one dude's just sat on the bench entire game.
Diver was in the group chat straight after the game
on Saturday morning morning, pouring over stats, and he said
that Liquor Halasima only played eight minutes and Jazz only
played seventeen.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I know Jazz is coming off a hamstring injury, which
I asked him about last week, But why, why, why
does where we stick with these They seem bizarre, don't they?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
The rotations, I mean, I think the most damaging injury
in all of sort of Warriors law. Is your broken
heart that that Jazz caused you when you asked him
about that fake injury.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
The thing is, and I've addressed it. I've addressed it
since then. I think I'll come to terms with it.
The thing is that I commentated all those fucking games
that he played like this. What it was was I
over prepared. They swapped the guests at the last minute,
and I did. I did bump into the girl that
looks after the partnerships with the Warriors, so she's our
(09:43):
contact there, and she goes, I said, oh, did you
see that video? She goes, yeah, I approved it. I said,
I sort of wish you didn't. I said, if it
makes fee any better, I've lost a lot of sleep
this week, she said, so have I.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
So look, I know we're getting on very off track.
But a few years ago I interviewed members of the
rock band Weezer, including the leitza at Rivers Como and
the keyboardist in bass player Scott someone I can't remember
his last name anyway. I said to him, so, Scott,
(10:14):
you've only been in the band for the last three
albums and he went no, And I went, oh, sorry,
four albums. He went no, and I went the other
way and went two albums and he went five albums. Oh.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Look, while we're off in the weeds, I had celebrity
shift Josh Emmitt come into the studio one day when
I was on Hodak. You had no idea who he was,
and he'd made a yogurt for skin cancer and that
was all the information I had. And he walked there
and he said and I was like, so, like, do
you put it on your skin or do you eat it?
Like what's the go And he goes, well, no, you
(10:50):
eat it. And I said, so have you what's your
experience of skincareer He's like, no, I don't. I haven't
had any. I was like, I could not figure out
in real time who this guy was or why he
had a yogurt. And it wasn't until he walked out
in someone went is a celebrity chef and it's a fundraisers.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Like, oh, okay, look, you can tell that this was
not necessarily the most exciting game in rugby league that
we've ever witnessed. Because we've covered Edmund, Hillary Weezer, and
Josh Emmont so far on this podcast. But look, just
to slightly wrap things up, Yeah, it is weird that
Web's use of the bench. He has been weird all season.
(11:27):
And look, I'm not sure who's coming back from injuries
next week, but it seems to be just an ever
increasingly difficult puzzle to solve.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, it is. It's out of control. Our injury waters
is ridiculous. So the team that they named tomorrow tomorrow
will be very interesting to check out. Just quickly before
we do go to a break, how do you think
we'll go against the Eels this weekend? It's Friday night
game again.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Well, the Eels have had a very similar season to us. Like,
you know, if you look at the Eels team on paper,
it looks incredible, and you know, at times they've played
some great football, and you know, two seasons ago they
were in the Grand Final, so they've kind of been
relatively unlucky a little bit like there are. So I
actually think it's a really good matchup. I'd love to
(12:12):
take those two points, but unfortunately I see a close
loss in our future.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Sad And so all right, we're going to take one
quick break just before we do the four and twenty
four pack price pack each month the Mad Monday team
of giving away four tickets to Warriors games and four
and twenty five vouches. If you want to enter that,
just text the monthly keyword to three two three six.
Just a couple of days left in this month, and
the text keyword is spit, So text spit to three
(12:41):
two three six to be in to win. We'll be
right back all right now it is time for the
Stonker of the ram and the Stalker of the round
ended up being a bit of a blow up, but
we're decided by halftime in this game that this was
already going to be the stonker and it was the
Broncos the Bulldogs. Over the weekend, that game was out
(13:04):
of control basically from the outset and throughout that game
forty one points to sixteen in the end in favor
of the Bulldogs, basically putting a line through the Broncos.
But being that game was just end to end, from
whistle to whistle, was it.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, So the commentary kept talking about the fact that
it was a real strategic move to move the ball
wide by the Dogs because apparently the Broncos bunch up
on defense early in the early in the tackle count
and I just love that. I love that there's that
level of strategy going into these games and it really worked.
(13:40):
And there were times there was comparisons to late nineties
canber Raiders sides and things like that, like the Dogs
were just playing fantastic looking football and yeah, they look
are there? Are they a real chance this year? That's
what we're gonna ask us about the Dogs.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Well, we do, because if you look at the table
so far, the Dogs of War, they are on twenty
six points. They are in fifth, so they're just a
shade outside of the top eight. Broncos all the way
down in thirteenth. I still thought that the Broncos were
going to win this. I think partly because of you know,
recency bias from watching them last year, partly because the
(14:25):
TB had them as favorites, partly because I didn't believe
in this Bulldogs team. But then what I watched on
the weekend was the team that was just like, fuck it,
we're going to have a crack. They sort of played
like the Fiji and Drew and Rugby Union with it.
It's like we're going to run this from everywhere, whether
it's a coach killer or not. And obviously it wasn't
because Sereraldo was, you know, saying at halftime that's exactly
(14:45):
what they wanted to do. And what it did was
it forced the Broncos into trying that shit as well.
They had to because all of the stuff was being
thrown at them. Bronson Sherry was doing chip and chases
that fell a skeleton out on the and on the
right wing was causing absolute mayhem. And then all of
a sudden, the Broncos got sucked into a game that
(15:07):
that wasn't really their game. They had that chip and
chase with Catoni Stags that was incredible where he ran
the link basically the length of the field off like
the third or fourth kick. Reece Walsh kicked the forty
twenty from about thirty meters out. It was just incredible.
But I think it just I think they hurried the
(15:27):
Broncos up a little bit, and I think that teams
sort of take on the personality of their best player,
and the Broncos' best player is Reece Walsh, and he
is prone to doing his nut every now and then.
You know, he'll lose his head from time to time,
and I think hurrying them up, they sort of showed
the blueprint there. Not that the team in thirteenth needs
a blueprint to beat them, but I just think that
(15:48):
it really dictated the way that they're going to play.
I would love to see the Warriors player a bit
more like that. Just have a crack.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Well, that's what the That's what they used to be
known for, right, the Warriors. But you know, like moving
the ball and big physical presence and yeah, I certainly
haven't seen much of that this yet. But what has
happened to the Broncos? Like, I know there's very little
sympathy amongst our mad Monday Crow for the Broncos, but
(16:16):
it's just something to be said that they're like slightly
unfairly disadvantage because of the origin period, Like it's not
only the weeks that the games are and yes they
do get by rounds because of the split rounds during
those weeks, but it's the week before and it's the
week after as well. So I don't know, is that
that they lose you know, six seven players.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Yeah, potentially you could argue that because the Cowboys have
been in the worst position of being not that great
despite being in the top eight, but also losing a
lot of players to Origin, so they've had a bit
of a dip to But then what would you do,
like not not let their players play in Origin.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I honestly don't have the solution, but it is, yeah,
it does. It's sort of it started with Origin, didn't it.
The Bronco slide and also you know, and some key
injuries as well, but they've never recovered and I think
their season's over there.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Well, I would say that they've had again a similar
season to the Warriors, who were great last year, and
then for just various minor little reasons, haven't fulfilled their
potential this year. I won't make you guess I was
going to, but I won't. Their points differential the Broncos
is exactly zero, so that, yeah, they're the only team
(17:38):
in the camp with exactly zero's the points stuff, So
it's obviously they're not actually that bad. They just haven't
been able to finish those games, very similar to the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Ours is only negative twenty two, isn't it? It is just
which is bagger all across you know, nineteen games or whatever.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
No, exactly the teams above us, the Knights minus ninety seven,
the Dragons minus ninety two, the Raiders minus seventy one.
But unfortunately it's very tough for the Warriors because of
the draw and obviously the ten losses. But we're on
twenty one competition points so far. You've got to be
on twenty four this round to be in the top eight,
(18:17):
and so the best we can do if we win
this weekend, the best we can do is leap frog
the Knights, which puts us into eleventh position. So it
is a very very steep climb to base camp for
the Wires going forward. Not really too many surprises in
the top eight as we look at it. I think
the Cowboys are probably the only one that surprises me
in there at the moment.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, they've had a couple of close wins in the
last two weeks which have kept them in there. I
mean they were I think they were unbeaten up to
four rounds and then had a massive dip and yeah,
but there were a couple of blowouts on Sunday, Whilch
just show how good Penrith is by the.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Way, Oh my god. Yeah, absolutely, the Storm still on first,
Panthers and second, but arguably the best team in the
comp at the moment. Rooster's Shark's still in top four,
which I find just because Nico has been out a
little bit. Surprising Dogs, Cowboys, Seagulls, Dolphins and a long
(19:15):
way back the Warriors in twelfth. All right, we're gonna
take one more quick break. When we come back, it's
time for another episode of Hurley's Heroes. Right now, It's
time for Hurley's Heroes.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Okay, welcome to Hurley's Heroes. And I've gone with a
French theme this week because, of course the Paris Olympics
going on at the moment. Rugby league not featured in
the Olympics. But of course France is a proud rugby
league nation. I think they've been at every single Rugby
League World Cup. They don't necessarily do that well, but
(19:59):
they do have a professional team, the Catalan Dragons, that
play in the Super League, so you know, arguably a
little similar to New Zealand, and they've got one professional team.
So what I thought i'd do today is talk about
a French player who's played in the NRL. I was
born in Nabon, France. I played over three hundred games
(20:22):
for the Catalan Dragons and twenty five tests for France,
many as captain, but also twelve games for the Sydney
Roosters in the twenty fourteen season, and I scored two tries.
I play front row or edge ford and I am
the current assistant coach for the Toulouse Olympic team. Am
(20:42):
I number one? Dimitri Pello, two Bevan French? Three Remi
Casti for Jerome Gasse or number five Lee where we
didn't Raian.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Ah three hundred games for the Catalan Dragons, that's incredible
and twenty five tests for France. It's funny when NRL
players just pop up over there there in that French competition.
I don't know. I'm all at sea. I don't think
it's Leeui We than Ryan Bevan French seems too obvious.
So now I'm down to Dimitri, Remy and Jerome. I'm
(21:23):
going to I cannot remember a man playing for the
twenty fourteen Roosters that fits that description. I will go.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Remy Gusty, Well, you've got a bang on the on
the head there, well done. Yes, there's actually a bit
of a tradition between France and the Roosters. I think
the only connection I can see is that they have
the same logo, A Rooster. But there's been a couple
of players that have played for France and for Sydney City.
(21:51):
But of those other ones on the Dmitriy Pillow played
five games I think for the Dragons and Jerome. See,
he played a handful of games for Canberra Bevan French.
I just threw that at one in there for a laugh.
He's indigenous Australian, so he's got nothing to do with
(22:13):
France whatsoever. But yeah, no, Remy Castein's one of the
greats of French rugby league.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Actually yeah, it was just an absolute out now, I
guess from me, But yeah, three hundred games of Calin
and Dragon's powerful, powerful stuff in.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Two stints, so he played like one hundred and forty games,
then came and did that one season at the Roosters
and obviously didn't play the whole season because he only
played twelve games, and then went back and played another
one hundred and sixty odd games for Catlan.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Rugby league legend in France. I guess if you were
going to come over from France, the only place you'd
want to players in BONDI to be fair, only place
you'd want to love at least just before we go.
There was a post that went out this morning that
really caught my eye that I wanted to discuss, and
that was from the Warrior's actual Instagram page, and it's
a photo of Narni Mappy with the quote I came
(23:05):
back and watched Captain's run and it definitely lit a
little fire to finish off what I started. So we'll
never know what will happen. Hopefully my agent can get
some stuff sorted. I'd like to come back now. Usually
where there's smoke this fire, but if the club itself
is posting.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
This, yeah, that's I think that's a pretty good indication
that he's on his way.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Yeah, obviously could always do with some more players. But
Narne lo MAPI, what are the all time hard done
by by the All Blacks sort of players? You know?
I think he was basically basically told you're probably not
going to be you know, you'll be in and out
of the team for the rest of your career. So
he's like, bugger, I'm going to go over to France
and make millions And now, I don't know. Do you
(23:48):
think that players are still coming back because of the
success from last year, like James Fisher Harris and the
players that we've been able to get.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I think there's something to be said for that. But
I also just think, you know, we play in front
of sold out crowds every single week, and you know what,
are we fourteenth on the table? You know? I just think,
no matter what the results are this year, we are
still riding high on that very good season, and I think, yeah,
(24:17):
the Warriors brand is still on the app despite you know,
this less than successful season so far.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And just finally before we knocked this thing on the head,
Saturday afternoon, I went down and watched our very own
notorious pants band, Joel Harrison playing for the Mount Albert
mad Dogs. They played against the Seattle two Roosters and
they won. Did you see the video of the Pantsman
getting up to score a try?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
No? But I have talked to Pantsman quite a lot
about that competition, and let's just say, there's no bunker
and so there's there's a lot of a lot of
physical stuff that goes unseen by the reef in that
comp So he's a proper hard man. Is the is
the pants Man?
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Yeah? No, he well he's about six foot seven. He
latched onto a bomb and just dotted down for a
try there ended up blowing out the Chatter two roosters
and then they're into the final next week. Pants Man's
buggering off to Europe with the family, though for a
holiday for like six weeks. He won't be there for
the game.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Oh wow, leave your team in the latch, pants Man.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
I know what a lovely leads. But anyway, shout out
to the Mad Dogs, shout out to the Pantsman, and
shout out to you being early for joining us again
on the Mad Monday Podcast. Enjoy the rest of your week, mate.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Yeah you too, and yeah, look forward to you guys
calling on Friday night.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I believe I think it's Die and Chris and I
think they may even be out there at the game
as well, so yeah, keep an eye out for that one.
We'll put the coms out later on this week. Thank
you very much, and we'll see you on Thursday for
another episode of the Mad Monday Podcast.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
And Australia without Rugby League, He's not Australia.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
That a struck
There and welcome into the Mad Monday Podcast, brought to
you as always by four and twenty PI. Is a
perfect at home snack for watching rugby league. My name
is saw Monnayowe and joined by the injured Torhu Hurley.
Get a ben here you getting on, mate.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Boneur Monsieur Stewart. I'm very French. I'm very Olympics focused
at the moment, also obviously the rugby league focus, but
I actually wanted to start out with the Olympic focused
trivia question. See if you can get it. Who's the
only current NRL player who is a former Olympian?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Oh, a former Olympian. I was going to say, Mark
Nawanga need to is over there with the Ossie seventh
Steam and then he's going to play for the Roosters.
Who is Oh well warbrockh.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well dan it out? Yes, I thought I thought I
was gonna trick you there, but yes, well wall break
Now that's the I was in the rugby union sevens
team New Zealand last last time.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, and he's got the Olympic rings on the forearm
there so you can see it whenever he's playing. I've
always wanted to get the Olympic ring tattoo, just to
show people that went to the Olympics, like, you know,
you could just get that tattoo at any point out you.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Know, anyone can get it. Yeah. Absolutely, Imagine how annoyed
annoyed they would be that you just went in and
got a cheap tattoo at the back of a bloody
bus stop or whatever.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, I know, I've got to mate. This is his
second Olympics. Now. I imagine he would be absolutely for
years if he saw me rock up to the pub
with an Olympic tattoo. That's kind of why I want
to do it. But anyway, we're not here to talk
about Olympic tatoos. Were here to talk about the wires
and they got up twenty eight sixteen over the Tigers.
You and I commentated this one being are we the
(01:55):
headlines this week? Of all the comments on social media
and that have been like, oh jeez, relaxive R and
you beat the wooden Spooners. But I actually I don't
see it that way. I'm more excited about it than
I think those commenters are.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Well, look, you know we went down by sixty points
to the Titans. Who are I think second to last.
So you know, you've got to take the wins. You've
got to enjoy the wins. And yeah, as you say,
we commentated it, and it was a pretty scrappy game
and not necessarily the prettiest win that the Warriors have
(02:28):
ever had, but we'll take the two all day.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, And I've got to be honest, despite how scrappy
it was, twenty eight to sixteen is sort of the
score line that you would have predicted for this game.
And I think it was just that there were massive
stretches where it looked really messy. Then we let in
a few sort of soft tries. But like I was
saying heading into the game, all I wanted was for
the Warriors to win this one and then just for
(02:53):
us to have a week of a Warrior's win, you
know what I mean, Like just because let's be real,
we've got to win every game now from here on
out to the end of the season to make the playoffs.
So let's just enjoy this week and knock it to
ahead of ourselves because the dark times are coming.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Oh. Look, I've had lots of great street manner in
the last couple of days from people who listen to
our commentary, and you know, people just saying, you know,
all it is is knowing more in a row, and
that's you know, let's live in hope for a week.
You're absolutely right. This is a very specific bubble of
(03:33):
hope that we're in for the next five or so days.
So just enjoy it. We're standing at the bottom of Everest.
We've taken about half a dozen steps up and there's
and there's a lot more to do, but yeah, let's
just enjoy it while it's here.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah, it's we're talking about it in the commentary. If
you didn't listen, you know that we are standing at
the bottom of Everest. As you said earlier, we need
to climb it. Ten games in a row, we need
to win, and look, that does seem unlikely, but if
it's going to happen, it has to start with a win.
And that's exactly what happened on the weekend. So we
need to really just take that one, don't we as
(04:09):
a country, and just really really basking it. And you know,
I'm not sure away from the fact that yet we're
going to need the oxygen tank very very shortly. But
as it stands right now, we're full of hope and optimism.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, can we get any Nepalese players into the side.
You know that seemed to help ed Hillary is he had, like,
you know, probably the most famous Nipalese person ever with him.
And yeah, maybe maybe that's an untapped market. The Catman
do rugby league scene. I'm not sure how healthy it is.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, if they came down to sea level, you know,
their voto capacity would just be through the roof. If
I ever told you my Edmund Hillary.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Story, No, but let's let's do that right now.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Okay, my stepmother is a chef and back in the
day she worked in restaurants in christ Church and one
day Edmund Hillary came through and she got to cook
for him. And so when she was finished cooking the meal,
she said to the you know whoever, the waiter or whatever,
I'd like to take this one out to eat if
I could. So she takes it out to him, this meal,
(05:15):
and she takes a five dollar note with her and
a pin and she gets Edmund Hillary to sign a
five dollar note. And her mother was staying with her
this weekend, so she took the five dollar note home,
showed everyone, put it on the table. She goes back
to work. Day. After she comes back, it must have
been like a Sunday or something. The five dollar note's
gone and she goes, mom, have you seen that five
(05:37):
dollar note that I left on the table. She goes, oh, yeah,
I put that into the pokes last night.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Oh wow.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So somewhere in circulation there is a probably at the
christ Church Casino, there is a five dollars signed Edmund
Hillary note.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I guess. Yeah, there's not too many other people that
can sign the notes. I mean, obviously Queen Elizabeth could
have at the time, but everyone else is dead. So yeah,
that's pretty rare. That is pretty rare.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
With doesn't even win either, don't even have to feature, you.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Know, look, just to slightly get back into rugby league,
no excuses. But there was a late try there to
the Tigers, which probably made the score line slightly flattering.
And the other the other thing I would say is
that back line had only two players in it that
(06:39):
are probably first choice players of position.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Were ours our Yeah, oh, speaking of that one player
that was playing at a position though, hey, Roger looks phenomenal,
didn't he did?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
He really? Did? You know? We've got two first class
fullbacks and whatever. You do with them. You can't have
two fullbacks, so someone's going to be playing out a position,
and weirdly, the combination that seemed to work best was
when Chance went into number six.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I know it's just, but it's been so weaby to
just stick with the players that he's got. He said
from the start, you know, Chance is our fullback and
he's not going to waiver from that. He doesn't waver
from any of the decisions that he makes. You know,
he sticks with them, even right down to the to
the reserves, which we'll get into it in a second.
But there's been a lot of talk this week, as
(07:32):
it has all season, Roger has to be our starting fullback.
And I've got to be honest, I'm in that camp.
I think Roger has to be our starting fullback. And
I know everyone says old than what about Chance. I
don't know. I think we need to figure that part out,
but I think Roger has to be our fullback both
defensively and offensively. He was excellent.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So here's what you do. You put Chance back into
six and Chanel Harris Devita into the fourteen. Jersy coming
off the bench. He had a vastly improved game, by
the way. Yeah, ninety eight points on super Coach, of
which he has certainly not achieved any other time this season.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
No, absolutely not. Yeah, Roger had a few great runs. Obviously,
the two try saving I don't know if they tackles
or got to the ball first sort of situation. I
just think, I don't know, particularly if we drop one
of these next few games and then our season is over,
we can't make the eight anymore. Just give us something
to cheer for, you know. And I think Roger at
fallback is that. But like I said, he sticks with
(08:30):
his decisions and he doesn't play. How many games this
season have we seen where we've only played like three
subs and one dude's just sat on the bench entire game.
Diver was in the group chat straight after the game
on Saturday morning morning, pouring over stats, and he said
that Liquor Halasima only played eight minutes and Jazz only
played seventeen.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I know Jazz is coming off a hamstring injury, which
I asked him about last week, But why, why, why
does where we stick with these They seem bizarre, don't they?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
The rotations, I mean, I think the most damaging injury
in all of sort of Warriors law. Is your broken
heart that that Jazz caused you when you asked him
about that fake injury.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
The thing is, and I've addressed it. I've addressed it
since then. I think I'll come to terms with it.
The thing is that I commentated all those fucking games
that he played like this. What it was was I
over prepared. They swapped the guests at the last minute,
and I did. I did bump into the girl that
looks after the partnerships with the Warriors, so she's our
(09:43):
contact there, and she goes, I said, oh, did you
see that video? She goes, yeah, I approved it. I said,
I sort of wish you didn't. I said, if it
makes fee any better, I've lost a lot of sleep
this week, she said, so have I.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
So look, I know we're getting on very off track.
But a few years ago I interviewed members of the
rock band Weezer, including the leitza at Rivers Como and
the keyboardist in bass player Scott someone I can't remember
his last name anyway. I said to him, so, Scott,
(10:14):
you've only been in the band for the last three
albums and he went no, And I went, oh, sorry,
four albums. He went no, and I went the other
way and went two albums and he went five albums. Oh.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Look, while we're off in the weeds, I had celebrity
shift Josh Emmitt come into the studio one day when
I was on Hodak. You had no idea who he was,
and he'd made a yogurt for skin cancer and that
was all the information I had. And he walked there
and he said and I was like, so, like, do
you put it on your skin or do you eat it?
Like what's the go And he goes, well, no, you
(10:50):
eat it. And I said, so have you what's your
experience of skincareer He's like, no, I don't. I haven't
had any. I was like, I could not figure out
in real time who this guy was or why he
had a yogurt. And it wasn't until he walked out
in someone went is a celebrity chef and it's a fundraisers.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Like, oh, okay, look, you can tell that this was
not necessarily the most exciting game in rugby league that
we've ever witnessed. Because we've covered Edmund, Hillary Weezer, and
Josh Emmont so far on this podcast. But look, just
to slightly wrap things up, Yeah, it is weird that
Web's use of the bench. He has been weird all season.
(11:27):
And look, I'm not sure who's coming back from injuries
next week, but it seems to be just an ever
increasingly difficult puzzle to solve.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, it is. It's out of control. Our injury waters
is ridiculous. So the team that they named tomorrow tomorrow
will be very interesting to check out. Just quickly before
we do go to a break, how do you think
we'll go against the Eels this weekend? It's Friday night
game again.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Well, the Eels have had a very similar season to us. Like,
you know, if you look at the Eels team on paper,
it looks incredible, and you know, at times they've played
some great football, and you know, two seasons ago they
were in the Grand Final, so they've kind of been
relatively unlucky a little bit like there are. So I
actually think it's a really good matchup. I'd love to
(12:12):
take those two points, but unfortunately I see a close
loss in our future.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Sad And so all right, we're going to take one
quick break just before we do the four and twenty
four pack price pack each month the Mad Monday team
of giving away four tickets to Warriors games and four
and twenty five vouches. If you want to enter that,
just text the monthly keyword to three two three six.
Just a couple of days left in this month, and
the text keyword is spit, So text spit to three
(12:41):
two three six to be in to win. We'll be
right back all right now it is time for the
Stonker of the ram and the Stalker of the round
ended up being a bit of a blow up, but
we're decided by halftime in this game that this was
already going to be the stonker and it was the
Broncos the Bulldogs. Over the weekend, that game was out
(13:04):
of control basically from the outset and throughout that game
forty one points to sixteen in the end in favor
of the Bulldogs, basically putting a line through the Broncos.
But being that game was just end to end, from
whistle to whistle, was it.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, So the commentary kept talking about the fact that
it was a real strategic move to move the ball
wide by the Dogs because apparently the Broncos bunch up
on defense early in the early in the tackle count
and I just love that. I love that there's that
level of strategy going into these games and it really worked.
(13:40):
And there were times there was comparisons to late nineties
canber Raiders sides and things like that, like the Dogs
were just playing fantastic looking football and yeah, they look
are there? Are they a real chance this year? That's
what we're gonna ask us about the Dogs.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Well, we do, because if you look at the table
so far, the Dogs of War, they are on twenty
six points. They are in fifth, so they're just a
shade outside of the top eight. Broncos all the way
down in thirteenth. I still thought that the Broncos were
going to win this. I think partly because of you know,
recency bias from watching them last year, partly because the
(14:25):
TB had them as favorites, partly because I didn't believe
in this Bulldogs team. But then what I watched on
the weekend was the team that was just like, fuck it,
we're going to have a crack. They sort of played
like the Fiji and Drew and Rugby Union with it.
It's like we're going to run this from everywhere, whether
it's a coach killer or not. And obviously it wasn't
because Sereraldo was, you know, saying at halftime that's exactly
(14:45):
what they wanted to do. And what it did was
it forced the Broncos into trying that shit as well.
They had to because all of the stuff was being
thrown at them. Bronson Sherry was doing chip and chases
that fell a skeleton out on the and on the
right wing was causing absolute mayhem. And then all of
a sudden, the Broncos got sucked into a game that
(15:07):
that wasn't really their game. They had that chip and
chase with Catoni Stags that was incredible where he ran
the link basically the length of the field off like
the third or fourth kick. Reece Walsh kicked the forty
twenty from about thirty meters out. It was just incredible.
But I think it just I think they hurried the
(15:27):
Broncos up a little bit, and I think that teams
sort of take on the personality of their best player,
and the Broncos' best player is Reece Walsh, and he
is prone to doing his nut every now and then.
You know, he'll lose his head from time to time,
and I think hurrying them up, they sort of showed
the blueprint there. Not that the team in thirteenth needs
a blueprint to beat them, but I just think that
(15:48):
it really dictated the way that they're going to play.
I would love to see the Warriors player a bit
more like that. Just have a crack.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Well, that's what the That's what they used to be
known for, right, the Warriors. But you know, like moving
the ball and big physical presence and yeah, I certainly
haven't seen much of that this yet. But what has
happened to the Broncos? Like, I know there's very little
sympathy amongst our mad Monday Crow for the Broncos, but
(16:16):
it's just something to be said that they're like slightly
unfairly disadvantage because of the origin period, Like it's not
only the weeks that the games are and yes they
do get by rounds because of the split rounds during
those weeks, but it's the week before and it's the
week after as well. So I don't know, is that
that they lose you know, six seven players.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Yeah, potentially you could argue that because the Cowboys have
been in the worst position of being not that great
despite being in the top eight, but also losing a
lot of players to Origin, so they've had a bit
of a dip to But then what would you do,
like not not let their players play in Origin.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I honestly don't have the solution, but it is, yeah,
it does. It's sort of it started with Origin, didn't it.
The Bronco slide and also you know, and some key
injuries as well, but they've never recovered and I think
their season's over there.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Well, I would say that they've had again a similar
season to the Warriors, who were great last year, and
then for just various minor little reasons, haven't fulfilled their
potential this year. I won't make you guess I was
going to, but I won't. Their points differential the Broncos
is exactly zero, so that, yeah, they're the only team
(17:38):
in the camp with exactly zero's the points stuff, So
it's obviously they're not actually that bad. They just haven't
been able to finish those games, very similar to the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Ours is only negative twenty two, isn't it? It is just
which is bagger all across you know, nineteen games or whatever.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
No, exactly the teams above us, the Knights minus ninety seven,
the Dragons minus ninety two, the Raiders minus seventy one.
But unfortunately it's very tough for the Warriors because of
the draw and obviously the ten losses. But we're on
twenty one competition points so far. You've got to be
on twenty four this round to be in the top eight,
(18:17):
and so the best we can do if we win
this weekend, the best we can do is leap frog
the Knights, which puts us into eleventh position. So it
is a very very steep climb to base camp for
the Wires going forward. Not really too many surprises in
the top eight as we look at it. I think
the Cowboys are probably the only one that surprises me
in there at the moment.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, they've had a couple of close wins in the
last two weeks which have kept them in there. I
mean they were I think they were unbeaten up to
four rounds and then had a massive dip and yeah,
but there were a couple of blowouts on Sunday, Whilch
just show how good Penrith is by the.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Way, Oh my god. Yeah, absolutely, the Storm still on first,
Panthers and second, but arguably the best team in the
comp at the moment. Rooster's Shark's still in top four,
which I find just because Nico has been out a
little bit. Surprising Dogs, Cowboys, Seagulls, Dolphins and a long
(19:15):
way back the Warriors in twelfth. All right, we're gonna
take one more quick break. When we come back, it's
time for another episode of Hurley's Heroes. Right now, It's
time for Hurley's Heroes.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Okay, welcome to Hurley's Heroes. And I've gone with a
French theme this week because, of course the Paris Olympics
going on at the moment. Rugby league not featured in
the Olympics. But of course France is a proud rugby
league nation. I think they've been at every single Rugby
League World Cup. They don't necessarily do that well, but
(19:59):
they do have a professional team, the Catalan Dragons, that
play in the Super League, so you know, arguably a
little similar to New Zealand, and they've got one professional team.
So what I thought i'd do today is talk about
a French player who's played in the NRL. I was
born in Nabon, France. I played over three hundred games
(20:22):
for the Catalan Dragons and twenty five tests for France,
many as captain, but also twelve games for the Sydney
Roosters in the twenty fourteen season, and I scored two tries.
I play front row or edge ford and I am
the current assistant coach for the Toulouse Olympic team. Am
(20:42):
I number one? Dimitri Pello, two Bevan French? Three Remi
Casti for Jerome Gasse or number five Lee where we
didn't Raian.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Ah three hundred games for the Catalan Dragons, that's incredible
and twenty five tests for France. It's funny when NRL
players just pop up over there there in that French competition.
I don't know. I'm all at sea. I don't think
it's Leeui We than Ryan Bevan French seems too obvious.
So now I'm down to Dimitri, Remy and Jerome. I'm
(21:23):
going to I cannot remember a man playing for the
twenty fourteen Roosters that fits that description. I will go.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Remy Gusty, Well, you've got a bang on the on
the head there, well done. Yes, there's actually a bit
of a tradition between France and the Roosters. I think
the only connection I can see is that they have
the same logo, A Rooster. But there's been a couple
of players that have played for France and for Sydney City.
(21:51):
But of those other ones on the Dmitriy Pillow played
five games I think for the Dragons and Jerome. See,
he played a handful of games for Canberra Bevan French.
I just threw that at one in there for a laugh.
He's indigenous Australian, so he's got nothing to do with
(22:13):
France whatsoever. But yeah, no, Remy Castein's one of the
greats of French rugby league.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Actually yeah, it was just an absolute out now, I
guess from me, But yeah, three hundred games of Calin
and Dragon's powerful, powerful stuff in.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Two stints, so he played like one hundred and forty games,
then came and did that one season at the Roosters
and obviously didn't play the whole season because he only
played twelve games, and then went back and played another
one hundred and sixty odd games for Catlan.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Rugby league legend in France. I guess if you were
going to come over from France, the only place you'd
want to players in BONDI to be fair, only place
you'd want to love at least just before we go.
There was a post that went out this morning that
really caught my eye that I wanted to discuss, and
that was from the Warrior's actual Instagram page, and it's
a photo of Narni Mappy with the quote I came
(23:05):
back and watched Captain's run and it definitely lit a
little fire to finish off what I started. So we'll
never know what will happen. Hopefully my agent can get
some stuff sorted. I'd like to come back now. Usually
where there's smoke this fire, but if the club itself
is posting.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
This, yeah, that's I think that's a pretty good indication
that he's on his way.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Yeah, obviously could always do with some more players. But
Narne lo MAPI, what are the all time hard done
by by the All Blacks sort of players? You know?
I think he was basically basically told you're probably not
going to be you know, you'll be in and out
of the team for the rest of your career. So
he's like, bugger, I'm going to go over to France
and make millions And now, I don't know. Do you
(23:48):
think that players are still coming back because of the
success from last year, like James Fisher Harris and the
players that we've been able to get.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I think there's something to be said for that. But
I also just think, you know, we play in front
of sold out crowds every single week, and you know what,
are we fourteenth on the table? You know? I just think,
no matter what the results are this year, we are
still riding high on that very good season, and I think, yeah,
(24:17):
the Warriors brand is still on the app despite you know,
this less than successful season so far.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And just finally before we knocked this thing on the head,
Saturday afternoon, I went down and watched our very own
notorious pants band, Joel Harrison playing for the Mount Albert
mad Dogs. They played against the Seattle two Roosters and
they won. Did you see the video of the Pantsman
getting up to score a try?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
No? But I have talked to Pantsman quite a lot
about that competition, and let's just say, there's no bunker
and so there's there's a lot of a lot of
physical stuff that goes unseen by the reef in that
comp So he's a proper hard man. Is the is
the pants Man?
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Yeah? No, he well he's about six foot seven. He
latched onto a bomb and just dotted down for a
try there ended up blowing out the Chatter two roosters
and then they're into the final next week. Pants Man's
buggering off to Europe with the family, though for a
holiday for like six weeks. He won't be there for
the game.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Oh wow, leave your team in the latch, pants Man.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
I know what a lovely leads. But anyway, shout out
to the Mad Dogs, shout out to the Pantsman, and
shout out to you being early for joining us again
on the Mad Monday Podcast. Enjoy the rest of your week, mate.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Yeah you too, and yeah, look forward to you guys
calling on Friday night.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I believe I think it's Die and Chris and I
think they may even be out there at the game
as well, so yeah, keep an eye out for that one.
We'll put the coms out later on this week. Thank
you very much, and we'll see you on Thursday for
another episode of the Mad Monday Podcast.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
And Australia without Rugby League, He's not Australia.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
That a struck
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