August 4, 2024 • 40 mins
Dai Henwood joins Manaia Stewart to rake over the coals of the Warriors' loss to the Eels on Friday night (0:00).
Then the guys go over what can make next year our year and the changes needed to get the Warriors back on track (15:20)...
Plus they get into the 'Stonka of the Round' between the Bulldogs and the Raiders (30:18).
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 (00:07):
Oh you know, and welcome back to the Mad Monday Podcast.
There's always brought to you by four and twenty pis
the perfect at home snack for watching the rugby League.
My name is Minia Stewart. I'm joining the studio this
fine Monday afternoon by Die Henwood. Good morning, Die, Good afternoon.
I've I did a rewatcher the game. I thought I
wasn't going to, but I did. I did my Monday
(00:29):
morning catch up on the bits and bobs I've missed
and then sort of start just put that game on
and got transfixed and it wasn't better. That it wasn't
better the second time. I was just going to say this,
I did the exact same thing this morning. I was
at the game and about twenty minutes into it, whenever
they scored their second try the Eels, I was like,
I can't do this and I turned my back on
(00:50):
the On the game, I was treated to some corporate hospitality,
so I hit the buffet pretty hard.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I have to say it was we were commentating looking
directly at I suppose the oldest school fans just under
the coach's box. Yeah, and that's the first time in
a while I've seen a straight up walk out from
that section. Yeah, it was just tough viewing because we
I was getting nervous when we had about ten to
(01:16):
fifteen minutes on their line and just couldn't score. Yeah,
then they scored three times the next three times they
got the ball, Yes, yeah they did.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And it was for me it was the way they
scored those tries as well. There was just it just
looked like they just ghosted straight through gaps out on
our each defense. And when you're at the game, I
was saying this, I think on the Agenda podcast this morning.
When you're at the game, you know, the crowd rules
for our tries, but there's no reaction when they score,
and so it's just dead silent and you're all sort
(01:44):
of sitting there with your own thoughts, like, damn, what happened.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
There that Jake Tungold try. I think the first one
that was a beautiful play, oh yeah, but then the
next two were just straight through one on one missus.
This is where we really miss Rock o'berry, who is
the best one on one tackler in the comp. Yeah. Oh,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
We talk about like the best defenders in the comp.
He's been one of them. And you know, I know,
we go on about the injuries, but it is real.
We are the most injured squad in the competition. But
even then, it's like it's just the way they were
coming through. If you didn't watch the game and you
only saw the score line at the end, you could
be tricked into thinking that it was a much closer
(02:26):
game than it was. We laid on I think about
sixteen points in the last ten minutes.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, like it was looking very grim. Then they got
sinburn and then we just ran the numbers on that side. Yeah,
And it's weird. We we played with so much urgency
towards the end. I know, but it seems so casual in.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
The first seventy four minutes.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Seventy four minutes, and when I watched other games, our
kicking game just doesn't seem on point.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Often for no one, you know what I mean. Yeah,
a little bit shapeless, like you're not packing out a
guy and just been not right, we're gonna bomb Dws's corner,
or you know, we're dribbling it into the golf of
this or that. You're right, it's like we're just kicking
because you have to kick on the last and I
think we've had that for the entire season, haven't we. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I was running some numbers again to try and get
a mathematical prediction of if we can make the eight,
and we sort of technically could. But what's hurting us
is all those teams that were around us last year
have suddenly got a lot better dogs, manly even Dragons, Titans,
(03:41):
Dragons beating Melbourne and shout out to Melbourne making the
eight fourteen times and fourteen years, that's ridiculous, and the
Warriors making the eight nine times in thirty years.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I mean, it's not a fun stant No, it's not
you watching how because you know I was doing all
the math as well before this game came in.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
You know, we got the buyer in the last round,
so it's like to add that to our telling. Now,
then if we win this one, you could conceivably convince
yourself where in the top eight it gets dire. Now,
we can still make it if we if we rattled
off four, But after watching that game, like you said
the replay, it felt even worse. That is not a
team that's about to rattle off four games in a
row to go into the finals.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Is it no, and we've got heavyweight games Dolphins, Bulldogs,
Sharks and Seagulls. Is it segs?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I think it might be.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, yeah it is. And they're all form teams. I
mean that Bulldogs team. They're having a year we had. Yes, yeah,
you're right. And it's interesting because I look at the Bulldogs.
We're very similar right where we came in to take
over from us the same time Cam Serraldo took over there.
(04:58):
He had a shocker last year, but it's because they
completely rejuvenated their squad.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Well, we got them all mont.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
And so they sacked a lot of players and they've
now got an exact squad they want. We bought thinking
this year was the year we're going to win the
premiership big time. We've got Ryan Hoffman. I was listening
to the Wars Up TV guy. He made a good point.
Sorry not Ryan Hoffman, Kirk Capewell. He made a good point.
(05:28):
He said, Kirk cap Well is a real Ryan Hoffman
type purchase. He's not doing anything wrong, but he's not
going to break the game open.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
And I just think it was like the Kirk kpe
bar thing was like anytime you got an opportunity to
sign Kirk Cape, well to your rugby league franchise. You
do it. Also, on top of that, there was the
Penrith sort of Wavy Cape situation. But I just you're right.
I don't know. I don't know if it was what
we needed, although I don't really know how the salary
cap works in.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
The NFL, whether we miss Justin Morgan, yeah, coaching like, yeah,
just I can't nothing. There's nothing I can put my
finger on. It's going to be said, see Jazz go. Yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I don't think he and I were going to become
fast friends anytime soon, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But it was like he had just got the errors
out of his game, he had just got a lot
of the penalties out of his game. Then he's been
let go. We're obviously banking on a lot of these
young guys, but they need game time. I think I
think you're right.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Seraldo's got the club that he wants over at the Bulldogs.
I think we need to give Wibe time to get
the kinds of player because there is a kind of
player he wants, and I think we need to give
him time to get them. And God knock on wood,
we can keep them on the park. We're going to
talk very shortly about how.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Have yeah, have we signed anyone for next year? Aside
from James Fish.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
We have signed James Fisher, Harris none that I've no
big names or no big names, but I do think
I reckon there's another couple of couple of shots to
be fired. But just on the weekend, I just I
can't get past the fact that they're sicking from the table.
And I know that on paper the Eels are actually
better than how this season has gone, but they're missing
(07:24):
some big players as well. You know, Mike Sivo, Mitch Moses.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, they didn't have this starting half. Why am I
forgetting the props name Junior Polo?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So like, there's all these guys out for them, but
still just to lose to the second last place team
on the latter as a real heartbreaker for me, and
I don't think that it builds the kind of confidence
that we need to win four games in a row.
And if I had to put it, like put that
(07:56):
lost down to one thing, probably the spot.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I obviously want to reach for injuries straight away, but I'm.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Like, I just feel like when we when we let
a couple of tries in, it opens the flood gates
a little bit. I don't know what it is or
who's fault it is, you know, I just wonder, like
they get behind the sticks, Are they having a yarn?
Are they pointing fingers?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
What worries me is the stat that we have won
four out of nine at Mount Smart this year. Yeah,
one was a drawing it yeah, it's well yeah one
of the so one was a draw. But so, yeah
we've won.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I suppose you could call that fifty to fifty, but you.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Know that that should be our fortress. Yeah. I also
I worried about this at the beginning of the season.
We don't maybe look quite as fit as some of
the other teams, so maybe we need one hell of
an off season. There's the elephant in the room of
(08:55):
are we going to resign Sewan Johnson?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yeah, I mean he's yeah. Asked about that ad nauseum.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
He was what's going to happen to to Harris.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Out for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
I I really don't know with Sewan Johnson. One, if
I had to guess, I would say yes he re
signs because he has been offered contracts from other clubs
and I don't think that no matter where you're out
in your career, you ever turned down guaranteed money when
it's in six figures, you know, even if you get
(09:28):
to tape yourself together.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Oh, because then the tigers throw I think the roosters
as well. The roosters, yeah, both of them. So you know,
I don't think it doesn't matter how much money you
got someone offers you three, four or five six hundred
thousand dollars a year. I think you just take it
and figure it out.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And I think what hurts is like You've got Dallen
who is daily and winner, winner of the year. You've
got Sean who what's the daisy? To be honest, you
know he got pipped at the post. They both dipped
in form. Well, our attacking structure is different. I'd have
to say Wade is maybe dipped in form, but he
(10:10):
takes so much traffic in the middle. It's an interesting
one and it's a very rude awakening for Webee because
he sort of started had the golden start.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, I think because I was talking to my dad
about it yesterday and I was like, if I had
to put my finger on one thing, there was the
difference between last year and this year. It is as
simple as we essentially lost the Dali M Player of
the Year. Shawn Johnson should have won it last year.
It was like a clerical era that he didn't. And
then he's just been injured all year. So it's through
no fold of his own. But he has been playing
(10:43):
with injury or been out with injury for this entire year.
And I think if you take the best player in
the competition off a team, I don't think it's that
ridiculous to think that'd fall out of the top four
down to fourteenth.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
You know, you have a look at the Broncos and
Adam Reynolds exactly because last year I think everyone thought
that where he's just Willy went with Will, where he
was Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory. You know that
he was just this mythical guy. But now it's like
(11:14):
always at the Grindstone.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
No, now he's Willy Wonker in that tunnel where it
just goes full acid trip oh hard, and they're certainly
not showing.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Any times that they are slowing.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
That's him right now. He's just in the middle of it.
Everyone's injured. This fucking trippy kalitoscope effects.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You got glasses glope, but you got on Timmy TV
or whatever his name is.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
All of the different players that we've lost through injuries
are the different children that died in the Wonka factory
for various different reasons.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Also, man, if I went on a chocolate factory tour
and there were that many deaths, you'd have to contact
someone after the first. After the first, you just have
to maybe reach out.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, I mean maybe I could be convince if the
first person died and I was just like, hey, I
think you kid just drowned the chocolate river back there,
and someone's like, nah, yeah, there right, we'll keep going
after the second definitely.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And a whole lot of tiny Donald Trump's just carried
them off to another room.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Do you guys seen it?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
No, no talk of so.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, the Warrior season has been Willie Walker in the
chocolate factory. We've only got like Charlie. He's the only
one left. Yeah, Charlie from the chocolate factory and his granddad.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
And I mean it's I feel for the club because
we were heading our strides. We're selling out every home game.
The game of league is popping off in New Zealand.
But this is when we need to end strong. Yes,
(12:49):
I'd love I we probably could mathematically make the ape,
but I don't think so. But I want us to
end strong, go into Vegas, get a win over there,
and reassert ourselves. Yeah, for sure, And I think we
can do that.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
And I think we neither of us wanted to come
in here today and have leave this podcast studio.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
On a negative note. So let's take a break. When
we come back.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
We don't outline exactly how we can do that, how
we can turn it around, not just for the end
of the season, but how next year. If we're going
to make next year our year, how do we do it.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Also, just before we do go to this break, I
really feel for Maila Graham Tulfaw. Well, like you're a
young guy, you have a breakout game. Oh yeah, Then
I don't put it down to his fault, you know
how sometimes you just have one of those games of
something where you can't do any every ball you drop.
(13:48):
I have it in cricket. Sometimes I'm a great catfielder, right,
but then sometimes I just cannot catch a ball. And
he just had one of those ones where he was
slightly out of position, he dropped the ball gets stood
up in a tackle and then you just keep losing
your confidence because now you're guessing yourself. Yeah, and it's
that's the thing with these younger guys. They need, you know,
(14:11):
you've got to have a good swag of games under you, yeah,
before you just feel safe and first grade ali Le
Tower's doing great, excellent. I really like how we've used
tame to a picky through the year, giving him time,
but not like going the teams on your shoulders, although
(14:32):
it did he won the magic round. No, you're right.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
And then the opposite side of that is how many
wingers have we seen come through the penwith panthers thing
and then just get signed by another team straight away
and then.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
They just bring another one up.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
It's like, well, yeah, of course, because you can't. You
don't fail when you're on the end of the.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
That's where I think Robbo wants to take the club,
which is why. And look we've got SGB oh the
owner bringing in or these yeah teams you know. Yeah,
so I think we've got the stocks and yeah, let's
talk about how we can come out of the blocks
(15:14):
and win the prem next year.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Let's take a quick breathing when we come back, We're
gonna We're going to fill you with hope for twenty
twenty five. All right, welcome back into the Mad Monday Podcasts.
If you're king to join the ACC team from Massive
Rugby League weekend in March of twenty twenty five in
Las Vegas, you can do that. Just takes Vegas to
three two three six to book your spot. You're heading
(15:37):
over to Vegas, aren't you.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yes, I'm over there with the ha ha hurly the man.
I'm going to be looking after a planeload of people.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
It's a long flight.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Yeah, I've never done a thirteen hour stand up. G're
going to playing before.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
But have you got thirteen hours? You reckon? It's hours.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
It's the type thirty. Now. I don't think they want
to see much of me at the event we do
when we land, but yeah, we're taking a crew over.
I reckon. It's going to be phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
The hardest thing is though, four games in one day
is a lot.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, it's eight hours of rugby league. It's a good
God's honest shift at the rugby League Factory. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I think as talking to some people in the know,
and I think our games the second game perfect, which
is perfect. So yeah, sort of cruise in and get
a feel for the stadium. Check the warm up game.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Catch the second half of what we'll call a curtain raiser.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Yeah, and then I'd obviously want to watch the Panthers game.
I think there's a Super League game. Yeah, miss that
Warrington Wolves, you know that it switched Telly Workers or whatever.
And then you've got the jill ARUs playing the English
women's team and then the Panthers.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah, it's accountable. Also, like, how do you approach it
if you go to burg on night one? Is that
your night one?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Hey? Where I'm where I'm intrigued is we're going the
reverse to how I think a Vegas trip should be
focused around an event. I think if you've got a
specific event in Vegas, you have to almost walk off
the plane to that event. I agree. Yes, we're landing,
(17:29):
having three days, then the game, then fly out the
next day. I'll be a husk. A husk because I
almost think, right, you've got a bit of excitement on
the plane, you sort of need to land go and
drop your bags, get into it.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Yeah, I think so too. Throw the bag at the
back wall of the hotel room. Yeah, straight into it,
go out party all day.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
That's obviously going to go into the night. Ye, go
back to your hotel reevaluate the decision you made for
about ten hours, then get back into it in a
more gentlemanly like fashion.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yes, I agree with you. I've heard the ACC trips
not going that way either. So they're going Las Vegas,
sorry La for a NBA game, then to Vegas, so
again Husk City by the time they get there.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I agree with you, you should it just go straight in there.
There is going to be some steamed hands at that game.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Oh my god. But what a way to start your season.
And what they call Round zero now over there in
Las Vegas. I reckon this after watching the first round
in Las Vegas. It's not so much about growing the
game in Las Vegas. It's more about growing the game
here in Australasia because we love it and it's a
great place for us to go.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
But I think it's just forty thousand Aussies and kiwis
in a different stadium, And I mean what I think
this is gonna as we segue into how we're going
to be awesome next year. I think this is actually
going to be a great bonding experience for the team,
(19:06):
because I think they're on the ground. One of the
one of the sort of I suppose requirements was that
they stay in Vegas the whole time. So I think
their boots on the ground in Vegas for ten days maybe,
so it'll be a great bonding experience. Yeah, hopefully we've
(19:28):
got some new signings, you know, by then, and welcome
to the club fellas. Yeah, and yeah, we'll see what
young guys they take over. And yeah, no, I think
it's going to be good for the club, and it's
going to be a great way to start. And I'm
so stoked we're playing the Raiders rather than the Panthers,
oh one.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
D because it'll be so NRL of them to be like, hey,
we're going to send you guys over to Las Vegas,
but we're going to fuck you up at the Panthers.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Play the Panthers or the Storm. Yeah that's right. I
really thought that's what they're going to do, because the
Raiders is just a team for us. We don't have
a whodo against them all for them. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I saw a comment on a Reddit through this morning
when I was scrolling around when after that loss, and
someone said they should send the Warriors to New zealand
get them out of Australia next year.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
My favorite Reddit comment I said putting our through was
imagine being a single name motherfucker trying to get into
the war we have. It's outrageous how many even the
new guys love Mawhila Graham tel for Yeah, it is.
It is outrageous.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
But no, I've said for the longest time the best
rugby league players come from broken homes and that's why
we've got such a great squad guard at the moment,
but I think yeah next year. So as we said before,
the only signing that we've got confirmed so far is
Fisher Harris, and I think that is the best signing
that we possibly could have made in the rugby league.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
We're talking a lot of levels, on many, many.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Many different levels. First of all, three time Grand Chabot,
so you know we're talking about a guy who knows
how to win competitions of rugby league. He is a
Kiwi and he's as key as they come, like he's
and also.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
He personifies mana. Yeah, like he carries so much mana.
You don't much with Fisher Harris no word is he's
a real club man as well, like he demands high training.
He'll pully not like pay out on the younger guys,
but be such a good example. Yeah, and I think
(21:40):
when you've got people like him rts tahou Cape.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Well, who would you say has been our best player
this year for the Warriors, Mitch Barnie, Mitch Barnier. And
he is a man of great mana as well, even
though he's an Australian come over here to in New Zealand.
He's resigned. He is the captain that ta who Harris
is out? But even when to who was in there,
you could tell he was the one that everyone looked to.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
So now you he's a talker. Where to who's nodded to?
Who's lead from the front?
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yeah, you know lead by example, has a great way
with talking to the reef, which I think is why
he was the captain.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I was at a arcade right with my kids and
this woman next to me goes this Steven Adams man.
I was looking Harris and then it was the first
time I went should they actually do they give off
similar vibes? And too's at all? Dude.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Yeah, he's a big basket. But yeah, no, you're right,
that was the exact same note. The only note that
I made, and how can we make next year? Our
year is high runner. This team needs to have an identity,
and I think we had that last year and I
don't quite think we've had that this year. And I
think it's about bringing in those guys like James Fisher
Harris and what he can do for because, like you say,
(22:57):
we've got this awesome crop of young fellas coming through,
and so we just need to make sure that we
have a team with a solid identity because then even
if we lose or you know, we finished next season
in fourteenth place, if we can put our hand up
so look, we had a team that had a clear
identity that didn't go our way, then we can feel
(23:17):
good about the team. And I think that that's maybe
what we're feeling right now. Coming off the high of
last year. We come into this year lost our identity
a little bit and we're like, fuck, at least if
we had to fired some shots, you know.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Oh, I know, Like the identity thing I think is
so crucial because where we succeeded so much in twenty
twenty three was grind. Yeah, we just every man played
for their other man. We tackled our asses off our
(23:49):
goal line defense was insane. Now I notice, I think
we need to HARKing back to another thing old Wars
up TV said a good analysis. Dude, he just made
a good point around. We do probably need some sort
of attacking coaching flair put in because last year we
(24:13):
had which I think was justin Morgan, we had this
big sweeping plays, so many dummy runners, shortball, long ball.
Now I noticed we just have a sweeping back line.
We don't have such an intricate flow in the offense,
and a lot of that is probably because we were
(24:36):
fresh last year and teams to video on us. So
I think we we need a lot of reinvigoration. But
why I'm excited about next year is it's not like, right,
let's burn the club down and start again there. We
just need That's what I was saying before this Eels game.
(25:00):
I was hoping the Eels game would be the game
where we clicked and we just got into form. Yeah.
So if we if Sean stays on, I just hope
he goes works on his body, does what he needs
to be to be at one hundred percent and can
(25:22):
somehow add a couple of tricks to his game or
just dust a couple off. He has got them.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
You know. Even when he went to Cronulla, he was
the leading triasis player in the competition. When he was
over there in last year, he still had them. He
was throwing no look, well not no look passes. He
was throwing passes to where he couldn't even see charms,
and he was throwing pinpoint passes to him as they
were sweeping around that they had that right side clicking,
and for whatever reason, they haven't this year, but we
know that they can.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
No, it's right there. We're slightly relying on the short
ball in the acordo a lot, so I think just
a couple of tweets, yeah, and just a little bit
of tweakage and we're going to be good to fly.
We've got Tine Turpigi, who I think is almost at
(26:12):
full first grade level, Real Ali, Leia Tower's coming right,
a lot of green shoots around Lecajalasimo Dimitrix of a
cooler even Tom Ali.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
We forget how young he is because he's been a
you know, rotation player this year.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Next year I think we'll probably see a bit maybe
of Pasacala or Settu too coming in around the wing.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
I like the guys that we've re signed and Wade
Egan you talk about obviously Minett, Yeah I believe. Oh no,
I've lost it, but yeah, just some of the guys
that we're that we're keeping on. You plug all of
those dudes in and the key with Mitch baronets and
this is no Luke.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Metcalf look at you exactly because we were he's been
gone all. He's cool when I saw him with his
glasses on when we interviewed him. Yeah, he's got a
Clark kent Via a little bit, yeah, a little bit,
great talker too. Yeah, he's just like a buff Excel
spreadsheet that scores strikes. It's exactly. He's a scouting report
on look. He had a cracking game in the New
(27:20):
South Wales Cup to Marty Martin did. Yeah, God, just
as you think he can't get hotter like a herd
out fisherman hunter dude as well.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I know I've been saying the longest time he is
whoever in New Zealand man thinks he is. When your
confidence is at its highest, we all think that we're
look metcaff You're like, you know what, if I wanted to,
I could just go out drag ah a pope, take
three a peg out of the bush, and then go
play half back for the Warriors on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
That's what he does.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
And that thing of not It's not like he's posing
in front of a ford if I'm fifty with aar
fifteen like some American punisher. He's just on like a
eu stallion, Yeah, with an old school rifle and like
a peg over the saddle.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah, he's tremendous so home around as well. I just
feel like we're definitely starting to build a character of
high mono players that I think once we can put
that together next year and have a bit of pride
in the in the country. You know, we're a one
club country, and I think that once we put more
of that money in the g.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
GY, I reckon, if we can get the manna between
ninety and one, yeah, then we drizzle a bit of
moldy order, a bit of spirit and a bit of
life force on that. Unstoppable.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
I think we are unstoppable. So look, that's that's how
I think. I think if we were to tie a
bow on that it's the monna next year. It's about
the mana, restoring the mona to the club, to the jersey.
And also it's there at the ground by the way. Sorry.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Yeah, and look, I mean look what a little bit
of mona and beliefs done for the Titans.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Also, why was Dan Carter and Tim Morrison in the
changing rooms yesterday?
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Could you come to Mount Smart? No, it's like Tim,
come on, come on, Tim, what do we doing? Could
have done with it?
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Yeah? Putting the money back in the jersey. I think
he's a bold man looking at Tino for cook me
some eggs. He's given him the full side eye.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
You were that even if you get that frying.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
But yeah, I mean we're there. I don't think we
actually need to sign a huge amount of players. We
just need to get all of our players back onto
that twenty twenty three. I think this is we might
just have to go. Let's forget about four, move into
(29:51):
the preseason, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
And it wasn't a bad year by Warriors standards. If
we hadn't had the year that we had last year,
this Warriors year, but good one, I would say we're twelve.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Yeah, we've got a mathematical chance.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Yeah, mathematical chance. All right, let's draw a line under it.
We'll take one more break. Hopefully that failed you at
the bit of confidence with twenty twenty five. When we
come back, we are going to go through the Stonker
of the Round. All right, Welcome back to the Mad
Monday Podcast. The four and twenty four pack prize pack
is still going each Monday each month the Mad Monday Team.
(30:27):
They're giving away four tickets to Warriors and four and
twenty five ouches to enter. Just text the monthly keyword
to three two three six. Listen the podcast steps to
find out the new keyword each month. This month, because
it is August, the keyword is game, So text game
two three two three six to be in to win.
But now it is time to talk about the best
game of the weekend.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
It is the.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Stonker of the Round and this weekend, die the Stonker
had to be the Dogs verse the Raiders twenty two
points to eighteen. I feel like the Dogs have found
something in the last couple of weeks. I feel like
they have clicked the way we've been waiting for the
Warriors to click. They are playing. I described it this
morning as they are playing like the Fijian drawer of
(31:11):
the NRL. They will attack you from fucking anywhere. They
will spin it wide on the first in their own twenty.
They will just have a crack at anything. They're very
exciting to watch out a car back on the weekend.
They're going from strength to strength the dogs, aren't they.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
If you'd told me the Dogs will be involved in
a Stonker of the Round last year, no way. They
are back to back Stonker of the Round. I think
Stephen Crichton is the best center in the competition. His
try where he fended then sort of bumped off Jordan
(31:50):
Rappana and then got over the line. He makes really
hard plays seem very easy.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
He gave them both the business Chris and rap on
it in the same play.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Rappin is a bit of a punisher.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
I don't know what you've had a see.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
I sort of love him and hate him at the
same time as he's hardcore grubby.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
He looks like I think we talked about it on
the podcast last year. He looks like Waluigi, you know,
the evil Luigi.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Oh yeah, if Waluigi sort of mixed up with one
of those more eastra Island stagues.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Yeah, yeah, he's got a bit of that going on.
But this game, like I said that, they've they've found
something in the Bulldogs.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
And when I was talking about the Warriors kicking game,
then you see the opposite Matt Burton when you're kicking
off your own thirty and he just lobs it down
to their ten meter. Yeah he's kicking. And also he
can kick the ball so high all the chasers have
time to get down there.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Yeah, so you can contest from anywhere. The other thing
that they were talking about in the commentary was he
kicks it higher than the lights. So the lights at
the ground they were playing it last night. When he
kicked it, it went above them. So for one mad
moment you lose track of the ball. It's just a shit.
I've seen one in the flesh and it is terrifying.
It's just pure chaos.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
And it also has that weird wobble to it.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
It can shift about ten meters on its way down
to you trying to catch it, and they know that.
So as soon as that goes up, like every player
on the field is like fucking here we go.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And I where I've got a lot of re speak
for the Dogs beginning of the season. They built themselves
on defense. Now they're just playing entertaining football, and they
forced you to play the way that they play.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
When they were the stonker of the round last week
against the Broncos, the Broncos were having to do chip
and chases out of their own end because they just
to try and compete with them, and so they drag
you into a ship fight. I think what they've figured
out they seem to me like a PlayStation team. They
traded all of the players in that they needed. You know,
they got the Fox, they got Burton, they got Kriton,
they went and got Kickout, they brought Red Mary. They
(33:56):
brought all these dudes in over the last two years.
And it was always going to be a little bit.
But you could see Carez come out of nowhere. Now
they got Bronze and Sherry back from four years of
rampant steroid abuse. And they allegedly and but.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
You're not alleged that he actually was.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Reported reportedly alleged. But you could see on paper all
of the players, you know, they had.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well it's hard out PlayStation where they recruited all the people.
Then they used all their stats points on.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
The average ones like Carrez bring him up, yes, yeah,
and then they maxed out certain things, like they took
the Fox and they're like, we'll max out his speed rating,
Matt Burton, We're just going to max out his whole
running and spiral punt and then like that's it, and
then we're going to max out Reed Marney's pissing people
off ability.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
And also how they everyone was mocking them as they
bought like ten utility players. Yeah, but it's worked out perfectly.
And ship the Liamy kick ou put a shot on, Yeah,
could can plain footy, yeah, but he does exactly what
you need and enforce her to do. He scares the
(35:09):
Beejesus out of playmakers, yeah, exactly, and not illegally, just
hits them hard on.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Offense and on defense on both sides of the ball.
And he had a really quiet year last year, but
he is still really only kicked out And there is
no substitute for just having a dude that big with
magie noodles for here. Yeah, it's just terrifying. It's frightening.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
A sheepskin vibe as well.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Yeah, like an old sheepskin, yeah, graggedy sheepskin, yeah, like
a yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
But I mean even it was the first time in
a press conference I've seen Ricky Stewart actually just be
that was a pretty cool game, yeah, because the vibe
was so hostile.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
So yes, at the ground, it was a massive crowd.
What is going on out there at Belmore?
Speaker 2 (35:54):
They so they have a traditionally very passionate They've always
had a heavy Lebanese fan base. You've had your hairs
and male masaries, those sort of players, Anthony Mundane. Yeah,
passionate fans. Yeah, you know, and outside of any country
(36:16):
that people are from, all those dogs fans are so passionate.
And it felt like I got heavy European football sort
of vibes with that crowd. And then they're shaking a
van after the after the scenes afterwards, I thought, so
they started doing the rounds of social media. The pants
Man's putting them in our group chat. I was looking
at the videos and I was like, I thought that
(36:38):
they were I thought that they were videos from back
when Willie Mason and them were winning cops. No, no, no,
this was from the weekend.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
It's going on. They're trying to flip a van over.
They just going ape.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Apparently I expected Seal Team six to come in. At
one point it had a real downtown Gander sort of
vibe about it, that anything could happen at any time.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Yeah, it was. It was out of control and it
was just like our game in round twenty two, Round
twenty three.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
I was like, this is out of out of control?
Speaker 1 (37:08):
How are you going on there?
Speaker 2 (37:09):
I would never say this before. I think the Dogs
could be you know how you pick a team you
like in the finals, The Dogs could be that team
for me.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
They are for me last week. I've seen enough. They're
my team. I'm following them.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
They just play a really enjoyable brand of football.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Yeah, they have a crack. And you know, we're talking
about what we want the Warriors to look like. This
has always been it for me. Just a team that
has a crack, win or lose heart out, Yeah, and
then play loose football, have a.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
White hot crack.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
You got Bronson Sherry, chip and chasing and Durrell Skelton
coming out of absolutely nowhere.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
That's technically how you think the Broncos would play. Yeah,
but they sort of have been in a similar state
to us. Yeah, they've just picked the bunch the Bulldogs.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
They've just picked the bunch of like footy players and
this year they finally got to the point where there
just like we trust you to go for it.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
And if anyone wants to knock Gus Gould, I was
a bit of a knocker.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
He they said, he rebuild the club. He did a
phenomenal job. Knows a bit about rugby league football, he does.
He can he can analyze that kid, yeah he can.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
I reckon.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
He's got a big future in the game, that guy. Yeah,
you know, I reckon. Even if he wasn't at the Dogs.
I reckon another club would hire I reckon. They might,
I reckon, they might remember he was it the Warriors
for two months well just before lockdown. Yeah, and then
he got the gig at the Dog Yeah, well could
have done with them.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
So that's our stoker of the round. Just before we go,
before knock this one on the head, I've got a
random NRL.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Stat to throw at you if I could.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Congratulations to Isaiah Yongie on his winning debut, more importantly,
becoming a first ever NRL player with the initials I I.
There's never been a player in the NRL with those
and he becomes the first new initials of the year
and as noted by NRL odd Stats on Instagram, it's
an alliterative name. So I I he making it the
(39:12):
twenty first letter to be completed in the NRL. Wow,
the only letter is yet to be done. Unsurprisingly, Q, Yeah, U, X,
Y and Z. He is the sixth illiterative name to
debut this year, joining Samuel stone Street, Trent Toylou, Liam LeBlanc,
Luke Lowell, Lily and Harry Hayes this year.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
So Street stone Street, it's a real honest name. Good
God's honest rugby league name. So I just wanted to
share that one with you. That is a phenomenal stat
isn't it.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Yeah, we need a QQ to get in there. I
can't see it happening anytime soon, all right? That it
does for this week on the Mad Monday podcast will
be back again on Thursday. Myself and Chris Key, who
have not commentated a one together, We are commentating the
Dolphins game this week in Sunday Sunday four pm.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
We broke the curse. We break the curse. We'll see
you then. And Australia without rugby league is not Australia, right,
Astralia right,
Oh you know, and welcome back to the Mad Monday Podcast.
There's always brought to you by four and twenty pis
the perfect at home snack for watching the rugby League.
My name is Minia Stewart. I'm joining the studio this
fine Monday afternoon by Die Henwood. Good morning, Die, Good afternoon.
I've I did a rewatcher the game. I thought I
wasn't going to, but I did. I did my Monday
(00:29):
morning catch up on the bits and bobs I've missed
and then sort of start just put that game on
and got transfixed and it wasn't better. That it wasn't
better the second time. I was just going to say this,
I did the exact same thing this morning. I was
at the game and about twenty minutes into it, whenever
they scored their second try the Eels, I was like,
I can't do this and I turned my back on
(00:50):
the On the game, I was treated to some corporate hospitality,
so I hit the buffet pretty hard.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I have to say it was we were commentating looking
directly at I suppose the oldest school fans just under
the coach's box. Yeah, and that's the first time in
a while I've seen a straight up walk out from
that section. Yeah, it was just tough viewing because we
I was getting nervous when we had about ten to
(01:16):
fifteen minutes on their line and just couldn't score. Yeah,
then they scored three times the next three times they
got the ball, Yes, yeah they did.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And it was for me it was the way they
scored those tries as well. There was just it just
looked like they just ghosted straight through gaps out on
our each defense. And when you're at the game, I
was saying this, I think on the Agenda podcast this morning.
When you're at the game, you know, the crowd rules
for our tries, but there's no reaction when they score,
and so it's just dead silent and you're all sort
(01:44):
of sitting there with your own thoughts, like, damn, what happened.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
There that Jake Tungold try. I think the first one
that was a beautiful play, oh yeah, but then the
next two were just straight through one on one missus.
This is where we really miss Rock o'berry, who is
the best one on one tackler in the comp. Yeah. Oh,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
We talk about like the best defenders in the comp.
He's been one of them. And you know, I know,
we go on about the injuries, but it is real.
We are the most injured squad in the competition. But
even then, it's like it's just the way they were
coming through. If you didn't watch the game and you
only saw the score line at the end, you could
be tricked into thinking that it was a much closer
(02:26):
game than it was. We laid on I think about
sixteen points in the last ten minutes.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, like it was looking very grim. Then they got
sinburn and then we just ran the numbers on that side. Yeah,
And it's weird. We we played with so much urgency
towards the end. I know, but it seems so casual in.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
The first seventy four minutes.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Seventy four minutes, and when I watched other games, our
kicking game just doesn't seem on point.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Often for no one, you know what I mean. Yeah,
a little bit shapeless, like you're not packing out a
guy and just been not right, we're gonna bomb Dws's corner,
or you know, we're dribbling it into the golf of
this or that. You're right, it's like we're just kicking
because you have to kick on the last and I
think we've had that for the entire season, haven't we. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I was running some numbers again to try and get
a mathematical prediction of if we can make the eight,
and we sort of technically could. But what's hurting us
is all those teams that were around us last year
have suddenly got a lot better dogs, manly even Dragons, Titans,
(03:41):
Dragons beating Melbourne and shout out to Melbourne making the
eight fourteen times and fourteen years, that's ridiculous, and the
Warriors making the eight nine times in thirty years.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I mean, it's not a fun stant No, it's not
you watching how because you know I was doing all
the math as well before this game came in.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
You know, we got the buyer in the last round,
so it's like to add that to our telling. Now,
then if we win this one, you could conceivably convince
yourself where in the top eight it gets dire. Now,
we can still make it if we if we rattled
off four, But after watching that game, like you said
the replay, it felt even worse. That is not a
team that's about to rattle off four games in a
row to go into the finals.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Is it no, and we've got heavyweight games Dolphins, Bulldogs,
Sharks and Seagulls. Is it segs?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I think it might be.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, yeah it is. And they're all form teams. I
mean that Bulldogs team. They're having a year we had. Yes, yeah,
you're right. And it's interesting because I look at the Bulldogs.
We're very similar right where we came in to take
over from us the same time Cam Serraldo took over there.
(04:58):
He had a shocker last year, but it's because they
completely rejuvenated their squad.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Well, we got them all mont.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
And so they sacked a lot of players and they've
now got an exact squad they want. We bought thinking
this year was the year we're going to win the
premiership big time. We've got Ryan Hoffman. I was listening
to the Wars Up TV guy. He made a good point.
Sorry not Ryan Hoffman, Kirk Capewell. He made a good point.
(05:28):
He said, Kirk cap Well is a real Ryan Hoffman
type purchase. He's not doing anything wrong, but he's not
going to break the game open.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
And I just think it was like the Kirk kpe
bar thing was like anytime you got an opportunity to
sign Kirk Cape, well to your rugby league franchise. You
do it. Also, on top of that, there was the
Penrith sort of Wavy Cape situation. But I just you're right.
I don't know. I don't know if it was what
we needed, although I don't really know how the salary
cap works in.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
The NFL, whether we miss Justin Morgan, yeah, coaching like, yeah,
just I can't nothing. There's nothing I can put my
finger on. It's going to be said, see Jazz go. Yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I don't think he and I were going to become
fast friends anytime soon, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But it was like he had just got the errors
out of his game, he had just got a lot
of the penalties out of his game. Then he's been
let go. We're obviously banking on a lot of these
young guys, but they need game time. I think I
think you're right.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Seraldo's got the club that he wants over at the Bulldogs.
I think we need to give Wibe time to get
the kinds of player because there is a kind of
player he wants, and I think we need to give
him time to get them. And God knock on wood,
we can keep them on the park. We're going to
talk very shortly about how.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Have yeah, have we signed anyone for next year? Aside
from James Fish.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
We have signed James Fisher, Harris none that I've no
big names or no big names, but I do think
I reckon there's another couple of couple of shots to
be fired. But just on the weekend, I just I
can't get past the fact that they're sicking from the table.
And I know that on paper the Eels are actually
better than how this season has gone, but they're missing
(07:24):
some big players as well. You know, Mike Sivo, Mitch Moses.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, they didn't have this starting half. Why am I
forgetting the props name Junior Polo?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So like, there's all these guys out for them, but
still just to lose to the second last place team
on the latter as a real heartbreaker for me, and
I don't think that it builds the kind of confidence
that we need to win four games in a row.
And if I had to put it, like put that
(07:56):
lost down to one thing, probably the spot.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I obviously want to reach for injuries straight away, but I'm.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Like, I just feel like when we when we let
a couple of tries in, it opens the flood gates
a little bit. I don't know what it is or
who's fault it is, you know, I just wonder, like
they get behind the sticks, Are they having a yarn?
Are they pointing fingers?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
What worries me is the stat that we have won
four out of nine at Mount Smart this year. Yeah,
one was a drawing it yeah, it's well yeah one
of the so one was a draw. But so, yeah
we've won.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I suppose you could call that fifty to fifty, but you.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Know that that should be our fortress. Yeah. I also
I worried about this at the beginning of the season.
We don't maybe look quite as fit as some of
the other teams, so maybe we need one hell of
an off season. There's the elephant in the room of
(08:55):
are we going to resign Sewan Johnson?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yeah, I mean he's yeah. Asked about that ad nauseum.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
He was what's going to happen to to Harris.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Out for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
I I really don't know with Sewan Johnson. One, if
I had to guess, I would say yes he re
signs because he has been offered contracts from other clubs
and I don't think that no matter where you're out
in your career, you ever turned down guaranteed money when
it's in six figures, you know, even if you get
(09:28):
to tape yourself together.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Oh, because then the tigers throw I think the roosters
as well. The roosters, yeah, both of them. So you know,
I don't think it doesn't matter how much money you
got someone offers you three, four or five six hundred
thousand dollars a year. I think you just take it
and figure it out.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And I think what hurts is like You've got Dallen
who is daily and winner, winner of the year. You've
got Sean who what's the daisy? To be honest, you
know he got pipped at the post. They both dipped
in form. Well, our attacking structure is different. I'd have
to say Wade is maybe dipped in form, but he
(10:10):
takes so much traffic in the middle. It's an interesting
one and it's a very rude awakening for Webee because
he sort of started had the golden start.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, I think because I was talking to my dad
about it yesterday and I was like, if I had
to put my finger on one thing, there was the
difference between last year and this year. It is as
simple as we essentially lost the Dali M Player of
the Year. Shawn Johnson should have won it last year.
It was like a clerical era that he didn't. And
then he's just been injured all year. So it's through
no fold of his own. But he has been playing
(10:43):
with injury or been out with injury for this entire year.
And I think if you take the best player in
the competition off a team, I don't think it's that
ridiculous to think that'd fall out of the top four
down to fourteenth.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
You know, you have a look at the Broncos and
Adam Reynolds exactly because last year I think everyone thought
that where he's just Willy went with Will, where he
was Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory. You know that
he was just this mythical guy. But now it's like
(11:14):
always at the Grindstone.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
No, now he's Willy Wonker in that tunnel where it
just goes full acid trip oh hard, and they're certainly
not showing.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Any times that they are slowing.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
That's him right now. He's just in the middle of it.
Everyone's injured. This fucking trippy kalitoscope effects.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You got glasses glope, but you got on Timmy TV
or whatever his name is.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
All of the different players that we've lost through injuries
are the different children that died in the Wonka factory
for various different reasons.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Also, man, if I went on a chocolate factory tour
and there were that many deaths, you'd have to contact
someone after the first. After the first, you just have
to maybe reach out.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, I mean maybe I could be convince if the
first person died and I was just like, hey, I
think you kid just drowned the chocolate river back there,
and someone's like, nah, yeah, there right, we'll keep going
after the second definitely.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And a whole lot of tiny Donald Trump's just carried
them off to another room.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Do you guys seen it?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
No, no talk of so.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, the Warrior season has been Willie Walker in the
chocolate factory. We've only got like Charlie. He's the only
one left. Yeah, Charlie from the chocolate factory and his granddad.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
And I mean it's I feel for the club because
we were heading our strides. We're selling out every home game.
The game of league is popping off in New Zealand.
But this is when we need to end strong. Yes,
(12:49):
I'd love I we probably could mathematically make the ape,
but I don't think so. But I want us to
end strong, go into Vegas, get a win over there,
and reassert ourselves. Yeah, for sure, And I think we
can do that.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
And I think we neither of us wanted to come
in here today and have leave this podcast studio.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
On a negative note. So let's take a break. When
we come back.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
We don't outline exactly how we can do that, how
we can turn it around, not just for the end
of the season, but how next year. If we're going
to make next year our year, how do we do it.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Also, just before we do go to this break, I
really feel for Maila Graham Tulfaw. Well, like you're a
young guy, you have a breakout game. Oh yeah, Then
I don't put it down to his fault, you know
how sometimes you just have one of those games of
something where you can't do any every ball you drop.
(13:48):
I have it in cricket. Sometimes I'm a great catfielder, right,
but then sometimes I just cannot catch a ball. And
he just had one of those ones where he was
slightly out of position, he dropped the ball gets stood
up in a tackle and then you just keep losing
your confidence because now you're guessing yourself. Yeah, and it's
that's the thing with these younger guys. They need, you know,
(14:11):
you've got to have a good swag of games under you, yeah,
before you just feel safe and first grade ali Le
Tower's doing great, excellent. I really like how we've used
tame to a picky through the year, giving him time,
but not like going the teams on your shoulders, although
(14:32):
it did he won the magic round. No, you're right.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
And then the opposite side of that is how many
wingers have we seen come through the penwith panthers thing
and then just get signed by another team straight away
and then.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
They just bring another one up.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
It's like, well, yeah, of course, because you can't. You
don't fail when you're on the end of the.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
That's where I think Robbo wants to take the club,
which is why. And look we've got SGB oh the
owner bringing in or these yeah teams you know. Yeah,
so I think we've got the stocks and yeah, let's
talk about how we can come out of the blocks
(15:14):
and win the prem next year.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Let's take a quick breathing when we come back, We're
gonna We're going to fill you with hope for twenty
twenty five. All right, welcome back into the Mad Monday Podcasts.
If you're king to join the ACC team from Massive
Rugby League weekend in March of twenty twenty five in
Las Vegas, you can do that. Just takes Vegas to
three two three six to book your spot. You're heading
(15:37):
over to Vegas, aren't you.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yes, I'm over there with the ha ha hurly the man.
I'm going to be looking after a planeload of people.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
It's a long flight.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Yeah, I've never done a thirteen hour stand up. G're
going to playing before.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
But have you got thirteen hours? You reckon? It's hours.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
It's the type thirty. Now. I don't think they want
to see much of me at the event we do
when we land, but yeah, we're taking a crew over.
I reckon. It's going to be phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
The hardest thing is though, four games in one day
is a lot.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, it's eight hours of rugby league. It's a good
God's honest shift at the rugby League Factory. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I think as talking to some people in the know,
and I think our games the second game perfect, which
is perfect. So yeah, sort of cruise in and get
a feel for the stadium. Check the warm up game.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Catch the second half of what we'll call a curtain raiser.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Yeah, and then I'd obviously want to watch the Panthers game.
I think there's a Super League game. Yeah, miss that
Warrington Wolves, you know that it switched Telly Workers or whatever.
And then you've got the jill ARUs playing the English
women's team and then the Panthers.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah, it's accountable. Also, like, how do you approach it
if you go to burg on night one? Is that
your night one?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Hey? Where I'm where I'm intrigued is we're going the
reverse to how I think a Vegas trip should be
focused around an event. I think if you've got a
specific event in Vegas, you have to almost walk off
the plane to that event. I agree. Yes, we're landing,
(17:29):
having three days, then the game, then fly out the
next day. I'll be a husk. A husk because I
almost think, right, you've got a bit of excitement on
the plane, you sort of need to land go and
drop your bags, get into it.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Yeah, I think so too. Throw the bag at the
back wall of the hotel room. Yeah, straight into it,
go out party all day.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
That's obviously going to go into the night. Ye, go
back to your hotel reevaluate the decision you made for
about ten hours, then get back into it in a
more gentlemanly like fashion.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yes, I agree with you. I've heard the ACC trips
not going that way either. So they're going Las Vegas,
sorry La for a NBA game, then to Vegas, so
again Husk City by the time they get there.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I agree with you, you should it just go straight in there.
There is going to be some steamed hands at that game.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Oh my god. But what a way to start your season.
And what they call Round zero now over there in
Las Vegas. I reckon this after watching the first round
in Las Vegas. It's not so much about growing the
game in Las Vegas. It's more about growing the game
here in Australasia because we love it and it's a
great place for us to go.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
But I think it's just forty thousand Aussies and kiwis
in a different stadium, And I mean what I think
this is gonna as we segue into how we're going
to be awesome next year. I think this is actually
going to be a great bonding experience for the team,
(19:06):
because I think they're on the ground. One of the
one of the sort of I suppose requirements was that
they stay in Vegas the whole time. So I think
their boots on the ground in Vegas for ten days maybe,
so it'll be a great bonding experience. Yeah, hopefully we've
(19:28):
got some new signings, you know, by then, and welcome
to the club fellas. Yeah, and yeah, we'll see what
young guys they take over. And yeah, no, I think
it's going to be good for the club, and it's
going to be a great way to start. And I'm
so stoked we're playing the Raiders rather than the Panthers,
oh one.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
D because it'll be so NRL of them to be like, hey,
we're going to send you guys over to Las Vegas,
but we're going to fuck you up at the Panthers.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Play the Panthers or the Storm. Yeah that's right. I
really thought that's what they're going to do, because the
Raiders is just a team for us. We don't have
a whodo against them all for them. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I saw a comment on a Reddit through this morning
when I was scrolling around when after that loss, and
someone said they should send the Warriors to New zealand
get them out of Australia next year.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
My favorite Reddit comment I said putting our through was
imagine being a single name motherfucker trying to get into
the war we have. It's outrageous how many even the
new guys love Mawhila Graham tel for Yeah, it is.
It is outrageous.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
But no, I've said for the longest time the best
rugby league players come from broken homes and that's why
we've got such a great squad guard at the moment,
but I think yeah next year. So as we said before,
the only signing that we've got confirmed so far is
Fisher Harris, and I think that is the best signing
that we possibly could have made in the rugby league.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
We're talking a lot of levels, on many, many.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Many different levels. First of all, three time Grand Chabot,
so you know we're talking about a guy who knows
how to win competitions of rugby league. He is a
Kiwi and he's as key as they come, like he's
and also.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
He personifies mana. Yeah, like he carries so much mana.
You don't much with Fisher Harris no word is he's
a real club man as well, like he demands high training.
He'll pully not like pay out on the younger guys,
but be such a good example. Yeah, and I think
(21:40):
when you've got people like him rts tahou Cape.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Well, who would you say has been our best player
this year for the Warriors, Mitch Barnie, Mitch Barnier. And
he is a man of great mana as well, even
though he's an Australian come over here to in New Zealand.
He's resigned. He is the captain that ta who Harris
is out? But even when to who was in there,
you could tell he was the one that everyone looked to.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
So now you he's a talker. Where to who's nodded to?
Who's lead from the front?
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yeah, you know lead by example, has a great way
with talking to the reef, which I think is why
he was the captain.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I was at a arcade right with my kids and
this woman next to me goes this Steven Adams man.
I was looking Harris and then it was the first
time I went should they actually do they give off
similar vibes? And too's at all? Dude.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Yeah, he's a big basket. But yeah, no, you're right,
that was the exact same note. The only note that
I made, and how can we make next year? Our
year is high runner. This team needs to have an identity,
and I think we had that last year and I
don't quite think we've had that this year. And I
think it's about bringing in those guys like James Fisher
Harris and what he can do for because, like you say,
(22:57):
we've got this awesome crop of young fellas coming through,
and so we just need to make sure that we
have a team with a solid identity because then even
if we lose or you know, we finished next season
in fourteenth place, if we can put our hand up
so look, we had a team that had a clear
identity that didn't go our way, then we can feel
(23:17):
good about the team. And I think that that's maybe
what we're feeling right now. Coming off the high of
last year. We come into this year lost our identity
a little bit and we're like, fuck, at least if
we had to fired some shots, you know.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Oh, I know, Like the identity thing I think is
so crucial because where we succeeded so much in twenty
twenty three was grind. Yeah, we just every man played
for their other man. We tackled our asses off our
(23:49):
goal line defense was insane. Now I notice, I think
we need to HARKing back to another thing old Wars
up TV said a good analysis. Dude, he just made
a good point around. We do probably need some sort
of attacking coaching flair put in because last year we
(24:13):
had which I think was justin Morgan, we had this
big sweeping plays, so many dummy runners, shortball, long ball.
Now I noticed we just have a sweeping back line.
We don't have such an intricate flow in the offense,
and a lot of that is probably because we were
(24:36):
fresh last year and teams to video on us. So
I think we we need a lot of reinvigoration. But
why I'm excited about next year is it's not like, right,
let's burn the club down and start again there. We
just need That's what I was saying before this Eels game.
(25:00):
I was hoping the Eels game would be the game
where we clicked and we just got into form. Yeah.
So if we if Sean stays on, I just hope
he goes works on his body, does what he needs
to be to be at one hundred percent and can
(25:22):
somehow add a couple of tricks to his game or
just dust a couple off. He has got them.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
You know. Even when he went to Cronulla, he was
the leading triasis player in the competition. When he was
over there in last year, he still had them. He
was throwing no look, well not no look passes. He
was throwing passes to where he couldn't even see charms,
and he was throwing pinpoint passes to him as they
were sweeping around that they had that right side clicking,
and for whatever reason, they haven't this year, but we
know that they can.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
No, it's right there. We're slightly relying on the short
ball in the acordo a lot, so I think just
a couple of tweets, yeah, and just a little bit
of tweakage and we're going to be good to fly.
We've got Tine Turpigi, who I think is almost at
(26:12):
full first grade level, Real Ali, Leia Tower's coming right,
a lot of green shoots around Lecajalasimo Dimitrix of a
cooler even Tom Ali.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
We forget how young he is because he's been a
you know, rotation player this year.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Next year I think we'll probably see a bit maybe
of Pasacala or Settu too coming in around the wing.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
I like the guys that we've re signed and Wade
Egan you talk about obviously Minett, Yeah I believe. Oh no,
I've lost it, but yeah, just some of the guys
that we're that we're keeping on. You plug all of
those dudes in and the key with Mitch baronets and
this is no Luke.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Metcalf look at you exactly because we were he's been
gone all. He's cool when I saw him with his
glasses on when we interviewed him. Yeah, he's got a
Clark kent Via a little bit, yeah, a little bit,
great talker too. Yeah, he's just like a buff Excel
spreadsheet that scores strikes. It's exactly. He's a scouting report
on look. He had a cracking game in the New
(27:20):
South Wales Cup to Marty Martin did. Yeah, God, just
as you think he can't get hotter like a herd
out fisherman hunter dude as well.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I know I've been saying the longest time he is
whoever in New Zealand man thinks he is. When your
confidence is at its highest, we all think that we're
look metcaff You're like, you know what, if I wanted to,
I could just go out drag ah a pope, take
three a peg out of the bush, and then go
play half back for the Warriors on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
That's what he does.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
And that thing of not It's not like he's posing
in front of a ford if I'm fifty with aar
fifteen like some American punisher. He's just on like a
eu stallion, Yeah, with an old school rifle and like
a peg over the saddle.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah, he's tremendous so home around as well. I just
feel like we're definitely starting to build a character of
high mono players that I think once we can put
that together next year and have a bit of pride
in the in the country. You know, we're a one
club country, and I think that once we put more
of that money in the g.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
GY, I reckon, if we can get the manna between
ninety and one, yeah, then we drizzle a bit of
moldy order, a bit of spirit and a bit of
life force on that. Unstoppable.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
I think we are unstoppable. So look, that's that's how
I think. I think if we were to tie a
bow on that it's the monna next year. It's about
the mana, restoring the mona to the club, to the jersey.
And also it's there at the ground by the way. Sorry.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Yeah, and look, I mean look what a little bit
of mona and beliefs done for the Titans.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Also, why was Dan Carter and Tim Morrison in the
changing rooms yesterday?
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Could you come to Mount Smart? No, it's like Tim,
come on, come on, Tim, what do we doing? Could
have done with it?
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Yeah? Putting the money back in the jersey. I think
he's a bold man looking at Tino for cook me
some eggs. He's given him the full side eye.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
You were that even if you get that frying.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
But yeah, I mean we're there. I don't think we
actually need to sign a huge amount of players. We
just need to get all of our players back onto
that twenty twenty three. I think this is we might
just have to go. Let's forget about four, move into
(29:51):
the preseason, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
And it wasn't a bad year by Warriors standards. If
we hadn't had the year that we had last year,
this Warriors year, but good one, I would say we're twelve.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Yeah, we've got a mathematical chance.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Yeah, mathematical chance. All right, let's draw a line under it.
We'll take one more break. Hopefully that failed you at
the bit of confidence with twenty twenty five. When we
come back, we are going to go through the Stonker
of the Round. All right, Welcome back to the Mad
Monday Podcast. The four and twenty four pack prize pack
is still going each Monday each month the Mad Monday Team.
(30:27):
They're giving away four tickets to Warriors and four and
twenty five ouches to enter. Just text the monthly keyword
to three two three six. Listen the podcast steps to
find out the new keyword each month. This month, because
it is August, the keyword is game, So text game
two three two three six to be in to win.
But now it is time to talk about the best
game of the weekend.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
It is the.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Stonker of the Round and this weekend, die the Stonker
had to be the Dogs verse the Raiders twenty two
points to eighteen. I feel like the Dogs have found
something in the last couple of weeks. I feel like
they have clicked the way we've been waiting for the
Warriors to click. They are playing. I described it this
morning as they are playing like the Fijian drawer of
(31:11):
the NRL. They will attack you from fucking anywhere. They
will spin it wide on the first in their own twenty.
They will just have a crack at anything. They're very
exciting to watch out a car back on the weekend.
They're going from strength to strength the dogs, aren't they.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
If you'd told me the Dogs will be involved in
a Stonker of the Round last year, no way. They
are back to back Stonker of the Round. I think
Stephen Crichton is the best center in the competition. His
try where he fended then sort of bumped off Jordan
(31:50):
Rappana and then got over the line. He makes really
hard plays seem very easy.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
He gave them both the business Chris and rap on
it in the same play.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Rappin is a bit of a punisher.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
I don't know what you've had a see.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
I sort of love him and hate him at the
same time as he's hardcore grubby.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
He looks like I think we talked about it on
the podcast last year. He looks like Waluigi, you know,
the evil Luigi.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Oh yeah, if Waluigi sort of mixed up with one
of those more eastra Island stagues.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Yeah, yeah, he's got a bit of that going on.
But this game, like I said that, they've they've found
something in the Bulldogs.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
And when I was talking about the Warriors kicking game,
then you see the opposite Matt Burton when you're kicking
off your own thirty and he just lobs it down
to their ten meter. Yeah he's kicking. And also he
can kick the ball so high all the chasers have
time to get down there.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Yeah, so you can contest from anywhere. The other thing
that they were talking about in the commentary was he
kicks it higher than the lights. So the lights at
the ground they were playing it last night. When he
kicked it, it went above them. So for one mad
moment you lose track of the ball. It's just a shit.
I've seen one in the flesh and it is terrifying.
It's just pure chaos.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
And it also has that weird wobble to it.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
It can shift about ten meters on its way down
to you trying to catch it, and they know that.
So as soon as that goes up, like every player
on the field is like fucking here we go.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And I where I've got a lot of re speak
for the Dogs beginning of the season. They built themselves
on defense. Now they're just playing entertaining football, and they
forced you to play the way that they play.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
When they were the stonker of the round last week
against the Broncos, the Broncos were having to do chip
and chases out of their own end because they just
to try and compete with them, and so they drag
you into a ship fight. I think what they've figured
out they seem to me like a PlayStation team. They
traded all of the players in that they needed. You know,
they got the Fox, they got Burton, they got Kriton,
they went and got Kickout, they brought Red Mary. They
(33:56):
brought all these dudes in over the last two years.
And it was always going to be a little bit.
But you could see Carez come out of nowhere. Now
they got Bronze and Sherry back from four years of
rampant steroid abuse. And they allegedly and but.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
You're not alleged that he actually was.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Reported reportedly alleged. But you could see on paper all
of the players, you know, they had.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well it's hard out PlayStation where they recruited all the people.
Then they used all their stats points on.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
The average ones like Carrez bring him up, yes, yeah,
and then they maxed out certain things, like they took
the Fox and they're like, we'll max out his speed rating,
Matt Burton, We're just going to max out his whole
running and spiral punt and then like that's it, and
then we're going to max out Reed Marney's pissing people
off ability.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
And also how they everyone was mocking them as they
bought like ten utility players. Yeah, but it's worked out perfectly.
And ship the Liamy kick ou put a shot on, Yeah,
could can plain footy, yeah, but he does exactly what
you need and enforce her to do. He scares the
(35:09):
Beejesus out of playmakers, yeah, exactly, and not illegally, just
hits them hard on.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Offense and on defense on both sides of the ball.
And he had a really quiet year last year, but
he is still really only kicked out And there is
no substitute for just having a dude that big with
magie noodles for here. Yeah, it's just terrifying. It's frightening.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
A sheepskin vibe as well.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Yeah, like an old sheepskin, yeah, graggedy sheepskin, yeah, like
a yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
But I mean even it was the first time in
a press conference I've seen Ricky Stewart actually just be
that was a pretty cool game, yeah, because the vibe
was so hostile.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
So yes, at the ground, it was a massive crowd.
What is going on out there at Belmore?
Speaker 2 (35:54):
They so they have a traditionally very passionate They've always
had a heavy Lebanese fan base. You've had your hairs
and male masaries, those sort of players, Anthony Mundane. Yeah,
passionate fans. Yeah, you know, and outside of any country
(36:16):
that people are from, all those dogs fans are so passionate.
And it felt like I got heavy European football sort
of vibes with that crowd. And then they're shaking a
van after the after the scenes afterwards, I thought, so
they started doing the rounds of social media. The pants
Man's putting them in our group chat. I was looking
at the videos and I was like, I thought that
(36:38):
they were I thought that they were videos from back
when Willie Mason and them were winning cops. No, no, no,
this was from the weekend.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
It's going on. They're trying to flip a van over.
They just going ape.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Apparently I expected Seal Team six to come in. At
one point it had a real downtown Gander sort of
vibe about it, that anything could happen at any time.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Yeah, it was. It was out of control and it
was just like our game in round twenty two, Round
twenty three.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
I was like, this is out of out of control?
Speaker 1 (37:08):
How are you going on there?
Speaker 2 (37:09):
I would never say this before. I think the Dogs
could be you know how you pick a team you
like in the finals, The Dogs could be that team
for me.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
They are for me last week. I've seen enough. They're
my team. I'm following them.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
They just play a really enjoyable brand of football.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Yeah, they have a crack. And you know, we're talking
about what we want the Warriors to look like. This
has always been it for me. Just a team that
has a crack, win or lose heart out, Yeah, and
then play loose football, have a.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
White hot crack.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
You got Bronson Sherry, chip and chasing and Durrell Skelton
coming out of absolutely nowhere.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
That's technically how you think the Broncos would play. Yeah,
but they sort of have been in a similar state
to us. Yeah, they've just picked the bunch the Bulldogs.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
They've just picked the bunch of like footy players and
this year they finally got to the point where there
just like we trust you to go for it.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
And if anyone wants to knock Gus Gould, I was
a bit of a knocker.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
He they said, he rebuild the club. He did a
phenomenal job. Knows a bit about rugby league football, he does.
He can he can analyze that kid, yeah he can.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
I reckon.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
He's got a big future in the game, that guy. Yeah,
you know, I reckon. Even if he wasn't at the Dogs.
I reckon another club would hire I reckon. They might,
I reckon, they might remember he was it the Warriors
for two months well just before lockdown. Yeah, and then
he got the gig at the Dog Yeah, well could
have done with them.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
So that's our stoker of the round. Just before we go,
before knock this one on the head, I've got a
random NRL.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Stat to throw at you if I could.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Congratulations to Isaiah Yongie on his winning debut, more importantly,
becoming a first ever NRL player with the initials I I.
There's never been a player in the NRL with those
and he becomes the first new initials of the year
and as noted by NRL odd Stats on Instagram, it's
an alliterative name. So I I he making it the
(39:12):
twenty first letter to be completed in the NRL. Wow,
the only letter is yet to be done. Unsurprisingly, Q, Yeah, U, X,
Y and Z. He is the sixth illiterative name to
debut this year, joining Samuel stone Street, Trent Toylou, Liam LeBlanc,
Luke Lowell, Lily and Harry Hayes this year.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
So Street stone Street, it's a real honest name. Good
God's honest rugby league name. So I just wanted to
share that one with you. That is a phenomenal stat
isn't it.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Yeah, we need a QQ to get in there. I
can't see it happening anytime soon, all right? That it
does for this week on the Mad Monday podcast will
be back again on Thursday. Myself and Chris Key, who
have not commentated a one together, We are commentating the
Dolphins game this week in Sunday Sunday four pm.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
We broke the curse. We break the curse. We'll see
you then. And Australia without rugby league is not Australia, right,
Astralia right,
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