September 2, 2024 • 32 mins
Ben Hurley joins Chris Key to recap the Warriors' miracle comeback victory over the Sharks 30-28 featuring SJ putting on a show in his final game.
Then the fellas head right into the 'Stonka of the Round' featuring the Eels with a massive upset over the Dragons who are fighting for a Top 8 spot (16:45)...
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Kyoto and welcome along to the Mad Monday Podcast live
from the Export Beer Guard and Studio. Even though podcasts
can't be live because they pre recorded and then released
at later data, it is, of course all brought to
you by our mates at four and twenty piles, the
perfect at home snack for watching rugby league. And watch
some rugby league. I certainly did this weekend, So too
(00:29):
did Ben Hurley, who is joining me from beautiful Bay
of Plenty. Ben, how are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Right? Listen? I was actually down very much in your
nick of the words on Saturday before the game I
was hosting. This is true the sixty fifth anniversary of
the changing of the name from Chinese Goosebury to Kiwi
Fruit Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Is that in too poky?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
It was into pookey Wow? I mean that's not That's
not the surprising part.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Is that an actual thing? The seller? Because I knew
that it did come from Chin originally.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, but it grew particularly well. And yeah, sort of
central Bay of Plenty I would call that, even though
it's technically the West, but I would call it more
central Bay of Plenty. Yeah. And so sixty five years
ago somebody who went, let's just call it kievy fruit
because there would go grove heaps of it here.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And apparently because the green ones there now obviously being
you'd know this, they prefer the gold and the varieties
that are more immune to PSA. But the first variety
of the green one looked like a kiwi as well,
and it grew really well here.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, it looked like a fuzzy bollock, but they the
new ones aren't so fuzzy. No, no, no, they've had
a wax.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
They've definitely had a wax. Beautiful though, sweet. It's kind
of yellowy colored. But that's We'll just park kiwi fruit
chat there. Just because one of the greatest all time
Warriors played his final game for the Warriors, Ben, if
you don't mind, we just moving over to the Warriors
getting a win, getting a wind over the Sharks thirty
point to twenty eight. What do we still play commentary bits?
(02:04):
We don't? Okay? I went pause there then, Ben, this
game I got home from a mate's thirtieth sort of
halfway through it. The Warriors were down. I think we
had four points. I think the Sharks had twenty odd points,
and I was just like, oh man, don't let Shawney J.
Go out like this. We let them score a couple
of tries right before halftime. They then scored just after halftime,
(02:25):
and it was a nice little demoralizing chunk right in
the middle. After a great sort of opening twenty of
US keeping them effectively scoreless, Shawney J. Ponty Metcalf threw
to open things up. Familiar pattern. Start strong, they score
a whole heap of tries, We get sad, except for
this time we massively rallied and we came back for
one of the most exciting finishes for the Wars in
(02:46):
recent history.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah. So it's nice that another team has US as
their bogey team. And it must be the Sharks, right, yea,
because they lose in the last minute of the last
couple of minutes to US a lot of times throughout
NERL history, and it's usually Sean Johnson that that does it.
And yeah, it's incredible that he was able to turn
it on for his last game. And when I say
(03:10):
turned it on, he turned it on for about fifteen
to twenty minutes. It was good throughout the game, but
then he just turned into well he tended to Sean
Johnson from twenty twenty three for the last fifteen minutes.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
That's right, that right side really just elevated itself. I
can't help but like, and that's what was so crucial
to Sean's success last season is it wasn't just him
getting the ball in us being like, Sean, please fix
things for us. It was him getting the ball in
space with plenty of runners around him, plenty of options
around him, and that was starting to happen last night
towards the end of the game. One thing we mentioned,
(03:45):
man iron I mentioned at the end of last week
was we're be sort of reluctance to put Charms anywhere
other than fullback, But then for this final game, he
puts Charms at right center and tame to a Picky
who had an absolute blinder a full back again, and
Chars is just so good at, you know, making sure
the ball goes through the hands and slotting in that
right side just instantly came back to life again.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Yeah, I really like it. I like Chans and center,
and I think that's what should happen next year. And
we've got a couple of options at fallback, including a
Roger to be vasa shit.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Well, that's honestly chance at right center, Roger at left center,
or maybe on the wing, and we've got it. We've
got to let tur Perkey play fullback in my opinion,
because he's almost like he's almost like keano' Kenney for
the Titans. He's like a small like Defensively, he's pretty plucky,
but he can get smoked by someone massive. But he's
so small and electric that if we've got these dynamic
(04:40):
players that people are thinking twice about, like Metcalf, and
all of a sudden, you've got tur Pekey with even
an inch of space, he can make you pay.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Man.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I absolutely love this kid.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah. Look, it was just it was a wonderful win,
and I don't want to take anything away from it
because it was. It was one hell of a game
to watch, but it was frustrating that did just seem
like a game from last season where you know, backs
against the World wore the wall rather and the Warriors
come up with a clutch play and ice a game,
(05:11):
which is just the thing that's been missing all year,
just so many you know, two and four point losses
all year and this this week didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I know, right, if we could flip the switch on
all those like close games games we lost with in
about six points would have been a very different position
on the on the table. Look a lot of people.
I gotta say it was probably Delan Way Tennis Alesniak.
When we talk about the twenty twenty three season, he
had just an absolute blind to set the club record
(05:40):
for tries scored. This season, he hasn't been that level
and it hasn't just been his fault, but his form
hasn't been to that high standard. I would actually say
even though he scored a butler to tries in general,
like he's running the ball back, his contesting and stuff.
I would say Dellan saved his almost his best game
of the season until the very last game.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well yeah, another key component of what made last year
successful was was him scoring in the corner, and he
did it three times in this game.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Just mean and like he could have even had four.
Like he was chasing hard for a great grabber from
Shawn Johnson early on in the game as well. So
it's just tenacity and bringing the ball out of our
own end as well. I think Dyllan he really stepped
things up. I loved Ali Layer Tow I had one
of the most exciting runs. I've seen it a long time,
bringing it out of our own half as well, smoking
(06:27):
Niko Hines, putting him on his back and then running
and bumping off a few more dudes, eventually getting rid
of Will Kennedy as well. I think he to be honest,
I think he will be in left center next season.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
He's head and Pompey as well. And we do need
a kicker.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Remember lay Tower can kick, sorry not la taint toe pick.
You can kick. He's he's a really good kicker. I
reckon he's almost he's pretty clutch too.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Okay, well you put your chips on on tour, Picky.
I like it.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
A big fan, a two pekeasy, you know. And I'm
probably going to crow bar my name into his next
season when he's leading the Warriors in.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Adam, when he doesn't play for the Wars anymore.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Surely, well that's the thing he's going to be leaving,
so I have to crow bar my name it to
someone Else's a lot, a lot, a lot to like. Obviously.
At the end of this game, Sean Johnson just every
time anything happened, whether it was good or it was bad,
he had a giant grin on his face, and I
think one of the keys to him actually playing so
well in that final sort of twenty minutes was he
(07:30):
was actually, this is my last game. I'm just going
to have fun, and everything's fun. We're playing a game,
and it almost led to the team playing a far
more I don't know, laid back but fun style of footy,
if you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, well, we're going to talk about the Stonker of
the Round in a minute. It had a very similar
feel to that, not quite as dramatic, and it was
a successful comeback as opposed to that one. But yeah,
both those games it just looked like touch footage towards
the end.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
It did, especially the Stokers over eighty points scored. It
was absolutely ridiculous. One of the things I'm so Sean's
final pass right throws that massive pass, skips new Cordeck,
throws it right out to the wing, Dallan steps and
then scores right on the buzz are very exciting. I
swear that's the first time he's throwing that pass all season.
Why the hell haven't we been doing that more often?
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Actually, that's another player who I thought had the best
game of the season was Manada neiir Courdy, he's had
a quiet year. It hasn't been terrible, it just hasn't
been great. And I thought he had a real, real
staunch game.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well that's the thing. He's having a staunch game, and
he's there for that short ball that Shawn Johnson loves doing,
and he goes, nah, I'm gonna skip through a harbor
bridge right out to Dellan and now he's going to
retire just as he's gone. I've actually got this in
my arsenal. We could be doing this more often if
you guys want it right. So I was a bit
frustrated by that. You're right, new Cardy had a great game.
He went off for an haa, clearly got knocked out,
but he managed to dribe his way back onto the field,
(08:55):
which was great. Another thing I'm a bit sad about
is seeing how cool that the dynamic between Sean Johnson
and Luke Metcalf. With Metcalf's running game on the left,
he's got a great passing game. Skip pass out to
Marcella to score a try. Very exciting. I just wish
that both of them hadn't been so injury played. That
could have been just such a dynamic halves pairing for
(09:15):
two seasons.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Now. Yeah, A really good point actually, because as much
as I love to Mardy Martin and you know, let's
be fair, he probably had a better game a year
at seven than J did. Yeah, but him and ESJ
just didn't seem to gel but as a as a
halves pairing, so they had to split them up. And
(09:37):
it was so nice to see him and Metcalfe together
that first try, the first wards try the lovely little
inside boarded Luke metcalf and he's got some gas.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
He's super fast man. His support play is excellent. I
love how dangerous he is going to be next year
out on the left side. It's just going to be
about who we've got at half back to pair with
him with mighty right to do we give the keys
to seven year old Jet Cleary. I mean, like I've
been saying it on the Thursday Pod for a while now,
(10:06):
just give them the keys, man, Like these young players
are stepping up, they aren't afraid, they are gutsy and
we need a half. His last name is Clary. What
more do I need to I don't want to sit
see his CV. I just need to see his last
name on paper.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
You're very focused on the young players coming through, Chris,
There's some there's some great experienced heads that need that
need to play the proper positions. Yeah, need to play.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I think it's been a whole season of we'll be
like holding the experienced heads and letting them hold their positions,
and we've just been losing and it's not their fault
at all. But I think I'm just like I need
to see these young people. And every time a young
player comes through, they always have a blinder for us,
like Zyomo who comes on and like you know, smashes
people and runs it off the back fence and things
like that and taint too a picky. For example, it
(10:56):
was it roach Ow Hooker that came on for one
or two games. Was excellent, Like, these young guys are
so talented, exactly DEMITRICSI for Cooler when he had a shocker,
but he also had a couple of really good games
for us and Laban Laban, Oh yeah, see these guys he.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Went, they didn't give him another run. I thought he
had two great games.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
He was the guy that got punched in the face
a couple of weeks ago from old mate from the Raiders.
That's right, and then he's kind of horse Horsebury.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, so maybe he's got facial issues. I don't think so,
maybe it's Yeah, it sounds like.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
That, sounds like someone spoiling for a fight. Have you
got facial issues? Bro?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And if someone does, it's definitely Corey Hawsebrough.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Mitcalf snapped off a droppy late in the game, a
two point attempt. He's got a great kick on him.
So that's good to keep in mind because we need
to clutch player. We've been giving it to c HT
Harris Tavina and he's just not that clutch guy. He's
a great player, solid defensively, but he just can't see
all those clutch moments. I reckon, Mitcalf's the guy. And
as as mentioned earlier by me, tay to a Picky
(12:02):
is also gutsy enough to you know, one of those
two being our go drop goal kickers moving forward, I
think would be smart.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Have you heard my plan for Cht by the way?
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Oh no, what was this?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think he needs to put on ten kgs of
muscle and play a ball playing thirteen because he's such
a good defensive player, and I reckon he could go
into the back row and if.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
He bomped up a bit, that's a that's a great
shout actually, like a Dylan Walker type role because he
loves going to the dark places. Can we lose Walker
or he's going Well, there was rumors around him leaving
because we haven't resigned for next year and he was
one part of the crew of people who are leaving.
But it hasn't been announced where he's going yet.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I don't think in same with Jazz, we don't know
where he's going yet. Talk about Jams. By the way,
j Jas had a great game.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Yeah, it was nice for him to finish on a
high as well. Saw Johnson's last game ever. But also like,
let's not forget Jazz Tevanga, who's just been at the
club for over a decade, through various teams and come
up to the ranks. I am going to miss him,
Like there's things about him I'm not going to miss.
But you can't, you know, you can't deny the fact
that he's always come off the bench and really added
some spark for us.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Well, ironically, he's been much more disciplined this year, so
that was the thing that always got in the way.
But he's been way out this year.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Yeah, but it's too late. Like it's when you're in trouble.
You know, you've got detention at lunchtime. You're trying to
be a good boy now to make up for it.
You know, it's like, unfortunately, it's just yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Doing all your homework for the first time ever of
the year and it's parent teacher night.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Exactly exactly, so you've got to do it for the
whole year a couple of let me know what you
think about this. For some reason, right, Shawn Johnson last
season pretty much the dali m this season. Injury issues,
you know, plaguing him the whole season, worries not clicking.
Something in my brain is saying, Sean Johnson isn't done
(13:52):
playing NRL yet?
Speaker 2 (13:54):
What is that? Weird?
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Do do you get that vibe?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Like what would he do?
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Stacy Jones? Did he or did he not return to
the Warriors?
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah? Horribly, Yeah, this is the way he needs to
go out. If he takes a short term, one year
contract with the Titans or something like that, I will
absolutely lose my shit.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
But I could just see like next season, right picture
of this, we rebuild. Things are looking really great. He
spends that year like just chill and recover and doing
podcasts that out as good as this one. And then
a year lad he goes you know what stuff it
They could really use me to come back because he won't.
How old is how old was Shawn John's He won't
be that old. Let me just google here or thirty four?
(14:39):
Has he thirty four? He's thirty three? Yes, he's in
our flag that that's not happening.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
I mean he's not Karen Forrence having quite a good year.
By the way, he's in his early forties.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Well exactly, he's got some of the best ball playing
in the in the entire competition. Still old old fozz.
So I mean something that tells me that how good
he was last year, the injury nigols this year. If
he spends a year like getting into great shape and
the Warriors really like look like they're going to do something,
something tells me he might come back. I don't know why,
like not straight into the starting side, but just something.
(15:13):
I don't know what it is. It's just a little hunch.
And before we move on, one of my favorite things
about this game, obviously Seawn Johnson final game, where's winning
all that was great. Very start of the game. The
whistle hasn't even gone yet. There's a big guard of
honor for Cam McInnis. It's playing his two hundredth game,
and it like it zooms in and it's like he's
adorable little children, and then it pans up to his
(15:33):
beautiful wife and then it comes across to him and
he's got teeth missing, kid tape on, a cutover his
eye already in the game hasn't even started. I was like, yes,
that's a footy player, that kid right there, and I
just absolutely loved it.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And speaking of wives, shout out to Kayla Collen, Seawan
Johnson's wife with the best crowd sign of the year,
saying I still get to play with Sean Johnson. If
you've ever met Kayla, she's a delightful, quite funny in
her own right.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah, she's very very bubbly. Indeed, do you reckon? She
sort of stopped herself from saying I still get to
play with his Seawn Johnson.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
I think there was probably there was definitely a discussion
about that.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Yeah, yeah, she found the right spot, so she did
bloody well. But huge shout to Sean Johnson. Thank you
so much for you know, he's almost of that BEINGI
Marshal Mold where kids are going to be looking at
highlights of hers for years to come. And if you
ever need to show someone the game of NRL and
whit's excellent, you look up Seann johnson highlights and you
show them and you go, this is the best game
in the world. So big shout to Sean Johnson, shout
(16:34):
to the Warriors for ending the season on a big win.
We're just going to go to an ad. When we
come back, though, we will take a look at the
stonker of the round, which, believe it or not, was
between the Eels and the Dragons. Welcome back to the
Mad Monday Podcast from the Export Beer Garden Studio. Got
a four and twenty pie in one hand, a pint
of water on the other hand. That it's time to
(16:55):
rip into the Stalker of the Round. It was the
Eels getting a surprise victory over the Dragons forty four
points to forty been. This was the Stalker of the round,
which is, you know, the most exciting game of the
round non Warriors of course. However, it was also if
you lined up all the games and I had to
(17:15):
point at one that I was going to not watch
it would have been this one.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, they're two teams that I don't necessarily click with.
I know you're a bit of an Eels fan. Yeah,
but the Eels have had a very similar season to
the Warriors, I mean even worse. But you know, they've
got talent across the park. They had, you know, the
Grand finalists two years ago. They should really, they should
really been doing a lot better than they are, but
(17:41):
they've just they've lost a lot of games, by not
a lot they they've they've they've had some wins against
some pretty good teams as well, but just haven't seemed
to win the easy ones.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
And yeah, yeah, they're annoying the Eels because they've been
shocking all season and like Mitch Moses hasn't been there
for a large portion of the season as well. They're
like Jermaine Hopgood for example, there's a few players like
this who they've been lacking. Mike a. Cibo has been
out of the team. But as you say, across the park,
they are still on paper a freaking excellent team and
for some reason they've decided to start winning games late
(18:16):
in the season now that it doesn't actually matter, which
is quite interesting. But I will put them in a
group of four teams and I want to see if
you agree with me. Here you've got the Eels, the Titans,
You're oh sorry, you're Titans, the Cowboys, and the Roosters
are the fourth team. Teams that rely on outscoring their opponents,
(18:37):
but a terrible on defense. What do you reckon?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, no, I think that's a pretty good assessment. My Cowboys,
thank you very much. Definitely did that against the Storm
B team. I know, right in this in this round,
but we should probably recap the game. So it was
it was forty four points to forty in the end,
but with ten minutes to go it was forty four
(19:00):
points to twelve.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
So they scored. The Dragons scored twenty eight points in
the final ten, so twenty eight and ten minutes, it
was essentially and they just started doing stuff like running
it on the fifth and try and Ben putting in
these great kicks and things like that, and just playing
with absolute disregard. Tyrrel Sloane actually had a really good game.
And I don't like him really as a bloke.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I don't know him neither to be fair well as
well as you would by the sound of things. But
he is one of those players that looks incredible and
he's running in full flight. Yeah, you know, like like
Billy Slater did or something like that. You know he
I mean his name sounds like a female porn star.
We all know that Tyrrell Sloane. Like you, if you're
(19:47):
missus the knowing him at rugby League and saw Tyrrel
Sloan was in your history, you'd be in trouble.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
You'd be in huge trouble.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
But no, you're right. They just they came alive. And
I'm never seen a game. I don't think I've ever
seen a game this high, scoring eighty four points unless
it's a blowout. I've never seen that many tries in
a game.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Well, how about like the Dragons, for example, Shane Flanagan,
Who's they've really stepped up their defense right. They are
a bit more of a gutsy, gritty team this season.
And this is a team who are in eighth position.
We're in eighth position on the ladder and we're fighting
to be back in the finals again for the first
time in bloody ages. And they led in forty four
points to one of the worst teams in the entire competition.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
So I don't know, having watched that game, I don't
know if the Dragons do make the eight, if they
will be absolutely embarrassed now you know, blow it away
the top teams in the in the first week, or
because of that comeback. Does that mean that there's something there,
There's a spark, there's if they can harness that.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yeah, there's I always noticed this that there are teams
in the top eight, right Melbourne Penrith, those are probably
the only two after the Roosters lost to the Raiders.
There are teams in the top eight. When they play
a bad team, you know they are going to put
forty or fifty on them. You know it's going to
be an ass kicking. Then there are teams in the
(21:12):
top eight, like the Sharks and the Dragons, who if
they play a bottom team, you're not that confident that
they are actually going to win it. They just they
drop their level down to match whatever team they're playing.
And I feel that the Dragons are like that.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, that's a really good point. Let's actually look at
that ladder now. Now, even though the Warriors are done,
there is another round, so.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
You're gonna say there's a chance we can get in.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
No, No, there is a chance. We just need about
six teams to have massive salary cap breaches and lose
all their points by the Bulldogs did that year and
then and then we might sneak under the eighth.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Well, because you've got the Dolphins, the Knights, the Dragons
and the Raiders are all on twenty eight right now. Yes,
so they're on twenty eight points and they're all vying
for that eighth position. How we're but this weekend you've
got two of those teams going head to head, the
Knights and the Dolphins. Two of those four are playing
one another, right, so one of them is going to
(22:09):
go to thirty and the other one's going to go
to I was going to stay on twenty eight unless
there's a draw and then they're both on twenty nine,
and which case the Raiders could win and jump up
or the Dragons could win and jump up.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
But the Dolphins, if there is a you know, a
tie of points. The Dolphins have easily the best.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Points differential, that's right.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yeah, they are positive seven and the next best is
the Knights currently at negative forty eight miles away.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Yeah, they've all just had horrific defeats throughout the season,
which is when it comes back to bite you. But
if you had to pick one of those four sides Dolphins, Knights,
Dragons or Raiders to actually do damage in the postseason,
who would be.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Well based on the other game this round that was
really interesting, which was Dolphins Broncos, I'd say the Dollies.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
How like Wayne Bennett leaving the Dolphins, comes in, has
two great seasons, punching above average and then above what
we were expecting of them, and then goes to Sun Court.
The Broncos, who were playing to try and keep some
sort of glimmer of hope alive this year, goes there
and puts forty on them, where the Dolphins side was
so many intes, like it's just it's just ridiculous. So
(23:30):
you go Dolphins. I'd probably go nights just because of
the Klan Pong effector that's the only reason. And last
season how they went on that hot run.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Yeah, I just remember who ended that hot run, and
you know it was the Warriors by thirty odd points.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I feel like if they sneak in the same thing's
going to happen this year.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yeah, and to be honest, any of those four teams,
it's likely going to be one and done in terms
of going into the next round. They'll play a top two,
they'll get knocked out, likely, but still exciting to get
up there, and I wish we're in the same position.
Let's just have a quick look at a few other
things that happened in the Nral' just quickly been Melbourne.
(24:14):
They gave your Queensland Cowboys a bit of trouble with
eleven of their players out and you guys had to
square I think thirty eight to thirty was it in
order to beat a Melbourne B side.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah. Look, I mean the Cowboys have been running very
hot and cold. They had a wonderful start of the
season and I think that's the only reason they're kind
of still in the eighth after I think they won
their first five or six games and then you know,
having a hot start loa that really helps. Then you
can kind of cruise along at fifty to fifty after
(24:49):
that and still end up with the eight. So look,
Vale Holmes is leaving the Cows at the end of
this at the end of this season, so maybe there's
some sense of there.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Yeah, he's he's been a gun for them for for
a few years. Now he's going to the Dragons. Of course,
your guys, team is just once again, it's like the Eels,
like full of guns, and on any given day they
could go on a ten game losing streak or they
could go on a ten game, teen game blow every
and out of the water streak. It's so bizarre. But
do you know what the concerning thing is. I think
(25:21):
if the Warriors played the Cowboys this week we would
have lost as well. And that's fielding like a healthy team,
whereas Melbourne gets sort of eleven of them starters and
they still like that. They're guys like Tyrone Wishart, who
is a genuine superstar. You know, he's like the almost
the Nico Heines of a couple of years ago. There's
this diamond they've unearthed from off the bench of the
Melbourne Storm of who was in any other team he'd
(25:43):
be starting and one of their best players, you know,
and these guys are balling me brings through. They're just ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
What's the who's the other fullback that played well? Peppinhouse
far long, far long o.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Now so, where the hell did he come from exactly
as a.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Backup full back that you have the luxury of not
playing well.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
That's the thing. He wouldn't even be there if Nicko
Hines was still the backup pheelback.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
It's just ridiculous. It's just the Yeah, the the convey
about of talent through Melbourne. Another big talking point. Manly
absolutely put the cleaners through the Dogs. I was actually
picking the Dogs their defense to out muscle Manly because
the offense focused and the Dogs are defense focused. But
they didn't.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
He might be peaking at the right time. This don't
look like a pretty good football team.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
But but you give the news a huge but Tom Traboyevich,
a Grade three AC joint injury, won't play next round,
but apparently is aiming to return and Week one of
the finals. Unfortunately, for Manly, so much of their offense
a lot it just runs through him, not as much
as it used to, like over the last few years,
(26:50):
because they've got so many new guns like Lehipo Hopowarti
and like Cooler Tommy to low these guys, but it's
still pivots around Tom Turbo and also Daily Cherry Evans.
That's a huge loss I think going into these finals,
if he can't come back in time.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yeah, I don't think many are a chance without him.
To be honest, he's been the difference. He came back
and they started winning games. I mean, that's that's right.
It's one plus one eres two.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Really yeah, it really is. So Unfortunately, unless he can
pull up and you don't want to rush tom back
just because of injury history, and if he can't pull up, Manly,
I'm putting a line through them as well. Huge news
for the Roosters. So not as impactful as Tommy to Manly,
but Sam Walker he's done his acl and he is
expected to miss six to nine months and probably won't
(27:35):
be back till about round ten of next season. After
having a season I'd say second to only Jerome Hughes.
He's probably been the next best halfback, the most consistent,
and the Roosters are very potent and they've got a
lot of talent around him. But that is huge for
the Roosters going into the finals. I think that takes
a big chunk out of their chances too.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
So here's my real question, and I've sort of been
mentioning this every time I've been on the pod, but
are there really only two teams that can win this?
Like an actuality, Let's just be honest. Are there two teams?
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Look, I don't want to at the start of the season,
I'm going, nah man, this thing's wide open. Halfway through
the season, nah man. As soon as the worries are
out of contention, that's when I come to grips with
the reality and say, no one is beating I think
Melbourne's going to win it. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
I've been saying that for weeks. It's been really, really
even and Melbourn's been hiad and shoulders above really the
rest of the pack other than Penrith, you know, even
Penlanths had some weird losses, including to us.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Well exactly, and Melbourne beat Penrith in that matchup a
few weeks back. They just, you know, they showed they
could go there, not only win, but go to Penrith
and win as well, which is gutsy. They also are
the Roosters also have lost Brandon Smith who's ruptured his
acl as well, so he's the same as he is
the same as Sam Walker, and they also lost Victor
Radley four to eight weeks with a shelter to shoulder
(28:59):
direct contact mechanism. He fractured his scapula, which is a
shoulder blade hang on.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
So Victor Radley is out of the team and it's
not a suspension.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
That's right. Usually he's the one causing the injury. He's
out four to eight weeks with a fractioned shoulder, So
losing him in thirty or I think he's been playing
on the in the back row, but him, Sam Walker
and Brandon Smith, that is a huge chunky or almost
almost just buying in your engine room of how the
Roosters attack as well.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Yeah, they've been They've been nice team to watch this year. Actually,
I thought I fell out of love with the Roosters
a few years ago because I thought they've been going
quite a grubby team. Yeah, they seem to have cleaned
a lot of that up and just playing quite nice football.
And I think i'd rate seam Walker massively.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Same, he's a gun. I think they've cleaned it up.
They particularly clean this week because Jared Way Hargreaves is
serving a band Oh yeah, and it.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Doesn't it doesn't help when he's Jared Hargraves and Victor
Radley in you.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
So that's right. You just need Heatherington on your side,
and you've got the Big Three of giving away massive
penalties for head highs.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yeah, and Kane Evans coming off the bench.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Kan Evans. Oh, he I'd kill to him back. All right,
let's wrap things up for the final Mad Monday Monday
episode for twenty twenty four. And what an eventful season
it has been. It has been a roller coaster. It's
something we need to really now, like we've got to
buy this week the Warriors do we can just watch
some footy with no stakes on the line. Obviously Hurley
(30:28):
will be watching the Titans pretty closely still and still
getting pretty rived up for them. But what we're going
to do, Ben, I see if you know, actually, I'm
not even gonna lie. This was your idea and I'm
now pretending like I'm just pitching it to you. We
should all get in one room and just talk out
the season at some stage soon.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Yeah, I'd like to do our Teams of the Year
compete from anywhere. If there's any you know, any Warriors
on that side, it's probably Mitch Bonnett and that's it.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
But I'll picking of course, Oh yeah, of course, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah, So we'll get room and sort of wrap up
the season now that the Warriors done. I believe we
are commentating the Grand Final. That's rightday in October.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
The first Sunday in October, which is bloody exciting, the
Panthers taking on the Store, I mean the winner. Who
it could be anyone. It could still be the Knights
or the Dragons or the Raiders. We just don't know.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Bulldogs Dragons final.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
What an absolute vintage slog is that would be be
massively into that though. So we are doing the Grand Final.
Keep an ear out a little likely beyond Skysport nine,
but we will be commentating that one and we will
over the next couple of weeks figure out a day
to all get together in one room myself, Mania, Diehindred
and Ben Hurley as well and just talk over the season.
I love the idea of your favorite team of the
(31:44):
year with all your best players and a few other
things like that's keep an eye out on socials for that. Otherwise,
thanks heeps for listening to the Mad Monday Podcast for
another year, and we will be back ready to go
next season as well. Thank you very much, Ben Hurley.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
God bless Jay and God bless you Kiz.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Thanks mate, and jazz and jazz.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Australia without league and Australia without rugby league is not Australia.
Kyoto and welcome along to the Mad Monday Podcast live
from the Export Beer Guard and Studio. Even though podcasts
can't be live because they pre recorded and then released
at later data, it is, of course all brought to
you by our mates at four and twenty piles, the
perfect at home snack for watching rugby league. And watch
some rugby league. I certainly did this weekend, So too
(00:29):
did Ben Hurley, who is joining me from beautiful Bay
of Plenty. Ben, how are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Right? Listen? I was actually down very much in your
nick of the words on Saturday before the game I
was hosting. This is true the sixty fifth anniversary of
the changing of the name from Chinese Goosebury to Kiwi
Fruit Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Is that in too poky?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
It was into pookey Wow? I mean that's not That's
not the surprising part.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Is that an actual thing? The seller? Because I knew
that it did come from Chin originally.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, but it grew particularly well. And yeah, sort of
central Bay of Plenty I would call that, even though
it's technically the West, but I would call it more
central Bay of Plenty. Yeah. And so sixty five years
ago somebody who went, let's just call it kievy fruit
because there would go grove heaps of it here.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And apparently because the green ones there now obviously being
you'd know this, they prefer the gold and the varieties
that are more immune to PSA. But the first variety
of the green one looked like a kiwi as well,
and it grew really well here.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, it looked like a fuzzy bollock, but they the
new ones aren't so fuzzy. No, no, no, they've had
a wax.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
They've definitely had a wax. Beautiful though, sweet. It's kind
of yellowy colored. But that's We'll just park kiwi fruit
chat there. Just because one of the greatest all time
Warriors played his final game for the Warriors, Ben, if
you don't mind, we just moving over to the Warriors
getting a win, getting a wind over the Sharks thirty
point to twenty eight. What do we still play commentary bits?
(02:04):
We don't? Okay? I went pause there then, Ben, this
game I got home from a mate's thirtieth sort of
halfway through it. The Warriors were down. I think we
had four points. I think the Sharks had twenty odd points,
and I was just like, oh man, don't let Shawney J.
Go out like this. We let them score a couple
of tries right before halftime. They then scored just after halftime,
(02:25):
and it was a nice little demoralizing chunk right in
the middle. After a great sort of opening twenty of
US keeping them effectively scoreless, Shawney J. Ponty Metcalf threw
to open things up. Familiar pattern. Start strong, they score
a whole heap of tries, We get sad, except for
this time we massively rallied and we came back for
one of the most exciting finishes for the Wars in
(02:46):
recent history.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah. So it's nice that another team has US as
their bogey team. And it must be the Sharks, right, yea,
because they lose in the last minute of the last
couple of minutes to US a lot of times throughout
NERL history, and it's usually Sean Johnson that that does it.
And yeah, it's incredible that he was able to turn
it on for his last game. And when I say
(03:10):
turned it on, he turned it on for about fifteen
to twenty minutes. It was good throughout the game, but
then he just turned into well he tended to Sean
Johnson from twenty twenty three for the last fifteen minutes.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
That's right, that right side really just elevated itself. I
can't help but like, and that's what was so crucial
to Sean's success last season is it wasn't just him
getting the ball in us being like, Sean, please fix
things for us. It was him getting the ball in
space with plenty of runners around him, plenty of options
around him, and that was starting to happen last night
towards the end of the game. One thing we mentioned,
(03:45):
man iron I mentioned at the end of last week
was we're be sort of reluctance to put Charms anywhere
other than fullback, But then for this final game, he
puts Charms at right center and tame to a Picky
who had an absolute blinder a full back again, and
Chars is just so good at, you know, making sure
the ball goes through the hands and slotting in that
right side just instantly came back to life again.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Yeah, I really like it. I like Chans and center,
and I think that's what should happen next year. And
we've got a couple of options at fallback, including a
Roger to be vasa shit.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Well, that's honestly chance at right center, Roger at left center,
or maybe on the wing, and we've got it. We've
got to let tur Perkey play fullback in my opinion,
because he's almost like he's almost like keano' Kenney for
the Titans. He's like a small like Defensively, he's pretty plucky,
but he can get smoked by someone massive. But he's
so small and electric that if we've got these dynamic
(04:40):
players that people are thinking twice about, like Metcalf, and
all of a sudden, you've got tur Pekey with even
an inch of space, he can make you pay.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Man.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I absolutely love this kid.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah. Look, it was just it was a wonderful win,
and I don't want to take anything away from it
because it was. It was one hell of a game
to watch, but it was frustrating that did just seem
like a game from last season where you know, backs
against the World wore the wall rather and the Warriors
come up with a clutch play and ice a game,
(05:11):
which is just the thing that's been missing all year,
just so many you know, two and four point losses
all year and this this week didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I know, right, if we could flip the switch on
all those like close games games we lost with in
about six points would have been a very different position
on the on the table. Look a lot of people.
I gotta say it was probably Delan Way Tennis Alesniak.
When we talk about the twenty twenty three season, he
had just an absolute blind to set the club record
(05:40):
for tries scored. This season, he hasn't been that level
and it hasn't just been his fault, but his form
hasn't been to that high standard. I would actually say
even though he scored a butler to tries in general,
like he's running the ball back, his contesting and stuff.
I would say Dellan saved his almost his best game
of the season until the very last game.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well yeah, another key component of what made last year
successful was was him scoring in the corner, and he
did it three times in this game.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Just mean and like he could have even had four.
Like he was chasing hard for a great grabber from
Shawn Johnson early on in the game as well. So
it's just tenacity and bringing the ball out of our
own end as well. I think Dyllan he really stepped
things up. I loved Ali Layer Tow I had one
of the most exciting runs. I've seen it a long time,
bringing it out of our own half as well, smoking
(06:27):
Niko Hines, putting him on his back and then running
and bumping off a few more dudes, eventually getting rid
of Will Kennedy as well. I think he to be honest,
I think he will be in left center next season.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
He's head and Pompey as well. And we do need
a kicker.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Remember lay Tower can kick, sorry not la taint toe pick.
You can kick. He's he's a really good kicker. I
reckon he's almost he's pretty clutch too.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Okay, well you put your chips on on tour, Picky.
I like it.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
A big fan, a two pekeasy, you know. And I'm
probably going to crow bar my name into his next
season when he's leading the Warriors in.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Adam, when he doesn't play for the Wars anymore.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Surely, well that's the thing he's going to be leaving,
so I have to crow bar my name it to
someone Else's a lot, a lot, a lot to like. Obviously.
At the end of this game, Sean Johnson just every
time anything happened, whether it was good or it was bad,
he had a giant grin on his face, and I
think one of the keys to him actually playing so
well in that final sort of twenty minutes was he
(07:30):
was actually, this is my last game. I'm just going
to have fun, and everything's fun. We're playing a game,
and it almost led to the team playing a far
more I don't know, laid back but fun style of footy,
if you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, well, we're going to talk about the Stonker of
the Round in a minute. It had a very similar
feel to that, not quite as dramatic, and it was
a successful comeback as opposed to that one. But yeah,
both those games it just looked like touch footage towards
the end.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
It did, especially the Stokers over eighty points scored. It
was absolutely ridiculous. One of the things I'm so Sean's
final pass right throws that massive pass, skips new Cordeck,
throws it right out to the wing, Dallan steps and
then scores right on the buzz are very exciting. I
swear that's the first time he's throwing that pass all season.
Why the hell haven't we been doing that more often?
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Actually, that's another player who I thought had the best
game of the season was Manada neiir Courdy, he's had
a quiet year. It hasn't been terrible, it just hasn't
been great. And I thought he had a real, real
staunch game.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well that's the thing. He's having a staunch game, and
he's there for that short ball that Shawn Johnson loves doing,
and he goes, nah, I'm gonna skip through a harbor
bridge right out to Dellan and now he's going to
retire just as he's gone. I've actually got this in
my arsenal. We could be doing this more often if
you guys want it right. So I was a bit
frustrated by that. You're right, new Cardy had a great game.
He went off for an haa, clearly got knocked out,
but he managed to dribe his way back onto the field,
(08:55):
which was great. Another thing I'm a bit sad about
is seeing how cool that the dynamic between Sean Johnson
and Luke Metcalf. With Metcalf's running game on the left,
he's got a great passing game. Skip pass out to
Marcella to score a try. Very exciting. I just wish
that both of them hadn't been so injury played. That
could have been just such a dynamic halves pairing for
(09:15):
two seasons.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Now. Yeah, A really good point actually, because as much
as I love to Mardy Martin and you know, let's
be fair, he probably had a better game a year
at seven than J did. Yeah, but him and ESJ
just didn't seem to gel but as a as a
halves pairing, so they had to split them up. And
(09:37):
it was so nice to see him and Metcalfe together
that first try, the first wards try the lovely little
inside boarded Luke metcalf and he's got some gas.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
He's super fast man. His support play is excellent. I
love how dangerous he is going to be next year
out on the left side. It's just going to be
about who we've got at half back to pair with
him with mighty right to do we give the keys
to seven year old Jet Cleary. I mean, like I've
been saying it on the Thursday Pod for a while now,
(10:06):
just give them the keys, man, Like these young players
are stepping up, they aren't afraid, they are gutsy and
we need a half. His last name is Clary. What
more do I need to I don't want to sit
see his CV. I just need to see his last
name on paper.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
You're very focused on the young players coming through, Chris,
There's some there's some great experienced heads that need that
need to play the proper positions. Yeah, need to play.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I think it's been a whole season of we'll be
like holding the experienced heads and letting them hold their positions,
and we've just been losing and it's not their fault
at all. But I think I'm just like I need
to see these young people. And every time a young
player comes through, they always have a blinder for us,
like Zyomo who comes on and like you know, smashes
people and runs it off the back fence and things
like that and taint too a picky. For example, it
(10:56):
was it roach Ow Hooker that came on for one
or two games. Was excellent, Like, these young guys are
so talented, exactly DEMITRICSI for Cooler when he had a shocker,
but he also had a couple of really good games
for us and Laban Laban, Oh yeah, see these guys he.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Went, they didn't give him another run. I thought he
had two great games.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
He was the guy that got punched in the face
a couple of weeks ago from old mate from the Raiders.
That's right, and then he's kind of horse Horsebury.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, so maybe he's got facial issues. I don't think so,
maybe it's Yeah, it sounds like.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
That, sounds like someone spoiling for a fight. Have you
got facial issues? Bro?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And if someone does, it's definitely Corey Hawsebrough.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Mitcalf snapped off a droppy late in the game, a
two point attempt. He's got a great kick on him.
So that's good to keep in mind because we need
to clutch player. We've been giving it to c HT
Harris Tavina and he's just not that clutch guy. He's
a great player, solid defensively, but he just can't see
all those clutch moments. I reckon, Mitcalf's the guy. And
as as mentioned earlier by me, tay to a Picky
(12:02):
is also gutsy enough to you know, one of those
two being our go drop goal kickers moving forward, I
think would be smart.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Have you heard my plan for Cht by the way?
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Oh no, what was this?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think he needs to put on ten kgs of
muscle and play a ball playing thirteen because he's such
a good defensive player, and I reckon he could go
into the back row and if.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
He bomped up a bit, that's a that's a great
shout actually, like a Dylan Walker type role because he
loves going to the dark places. Can we lose Walker
or he's going Well, there was rumors around him leaving
because we haven't resigned for next year and he was
one part of the crew of people who are leaving.
But it hasn't been announced where he's going yet.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I don't think in same with Jazz, we don't know
where he's going yet. Talk about Jams. By the way,
j Jas had a great game.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Yeah, it was nice for him to finish on a
high as well. Saw Johnson's last game ever. But also like,
let's not forget Jazz Tevanga, who's just been at the
club for over a decade, through various teams and come
up to the ranks. I am going to miss him,
Like there's things about him I'm not going to miss.
But you can't, you know, you can't deny the fact
that he's always come off the bench and really added
some spark for us.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Well, ironically, he's been much more disciplined this year, so
that was the thing that always got in the way.
But he's been way out this year.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Yeah, but it's too late. Like it's when you're in trouble.
You know, you've got detention at lunchtime. You're trying to
be a good boy now to make up for it.
You know, it's like, unfortunately, it's just yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Doing all your homework for the first time ever of
the year and it's parent teacher night.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Exactly exactly, so you've got to do it for the
whole year a couple of let me know what you
think about this. For some reason, right, Shawn Johnson last
season pretty much the dali m this season. Injury issues,
you know, plaguing him the whole season, worries not clicking.
Something in my brain is saying, Sean Johnson isn't done
(13:52):
playing NRL yet?
Speaker 2 (13:54):
What is that? Weird?
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Do do you get that vibe?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Like what would he do?
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Stacy Jones? Did he or did he not return to
the Warriors?
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah? Horribly, Yeah, this is the way he needs to
go out. If he takes a short term, one year
contract with the Titans or something like that, I will
absolutely lose my shit.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
But I could just see like next season, right picture
of this, we rebuild. Things are looking really great. He
spends that year like just chill and recover and doing
podcasts that out as good as this one. And then
a year lad he goes you know what stuff it
They could really use me to come back because he won't.
How old is how old was Shawn John's He won't
be that old. Let me just google here or thirty four?
(14:39):
Has he thirty four? He's thirty three? Yes, he's in
our flag that that's not happening.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
I mean he's not Karen Forrence having quite a good year.
By the way, he's in his early forties.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Well exactly, he's got some of the best ball playing
in the in the entire competition. Still old old fozz.
So I mean something that tells me that how good
he was last year, the injury nigols this year. If
he spends a year like getting into great shape and
the Warriors really like look like they're going to do something,
something tells me he might come back. I don't know why,
like not straight into the starting side, but just something.
(15:13):
I don't know what it is. It's just a little hunch.
And before we move on, one of my favorite things
about this game, obviously Seawn Johnson final game, where's winning
all that was great. Very start of the game. The
whistle hasn't even gone yet. There's a big guard of
honor for Cam McInnis. It's playing his two hundredth game,
and it like it zooms in and it's like he's
adorable little children, and then it pans up to his
(15:33):
beautiful wife and then it comes across to him and
he's got teeth missing, kid tape on, a cutover his
eye already in the game hasn't even started. I was like, yes,
that's a footy player, that kid right there, and I
just absolutely loved it.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And speaking of wives, shout out to Kayla Collen, Seawan
Johnson's wife with the best crowd sign of the year,
saying I still get to play with Sean Johnson. If
you've ever met Kayla, she's a delightful, quite funny in
her own right.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah, she's very very bubbly. Indeed, do you reckon? She
sort of stopped herself from saying I still get to
play with his Seawn Johnson.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
I think there was probably there was definitely a discussion
about that.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Yeah, yeah, she found the right spot, so she did
bloody well. But huge shout to Sean Johnson. Thank you
so much for you know, he's almost of that BEINGI
Marshal Mold where kids are going to be looking at
highlights of hers for years to come. And if you
ever need to show someone the game of NRL and
whit's excellent, you look up Seann johnson highlights and you
show them and you go, this is the best game
in the world. So big shout to Sean Johnson, shout
(16:34):
to the Warriors for ending the season on a big win.
We're just going to go to an ad. When we
come back, though, we will take a look at the
stonker of the round, which, believe it or not, was
between the Eels and the Dragons. Welcome back to the
Mad Monday Podcast from the Export Beer Garden Studio. Got
a four and twenty pie in one hand, a pint
of water on the other hand. That it's time to
(16:55):
rip into the Stalker of the Round. It was the
Eels getting a surprise victory over the Dragons forty four
points to forty been. This was the Stalker of the round,
which is, you know, the most exciting game of the
round non Warriors of course. However, it was also if
you lined up all the games and I had to
(17:15):
point at one that I was going to not watch
it would have been this one.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, they're two teams that I don't necessarily click with.
I know you're a bit of an Eels fan. Yeah,
but the Eels have had a very similar season to
the Warriors, I mean even worse. But you know, they've
got talent across the park. They had, you know, the
Grand finalists two years ago. They should really, they should
really been doing a lot better than they are, but
(17:41):
they've just they've lost a lot of games, by not
a lot they they've they've they've had some wins against
some pretty good teams as well, but just haven't seemed
to win the easy ones.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
And yeah, yeah, they're annoying the Eels because they've been
shocking all season and like Mitch Moses hasn't been there
for a large portion of the season as well. They're
like Jermaine Hopgood for example, there's a few players like
this who they've been lacking. Mike a. Cibo has been
out of the team. But as you say, across the park,
they are still on paper a freaking excellent team and
for some reason they've decided to start winning games late
(18:16):
in the season now that it doesn't actually matter, which
is quite interesting. But I will put them in a
group of four teams and I want to see if
you agree with me. Here you've got the Eels, the Titans,
You're oh sorry, you're Titans, the Cowboys, and the Roosters
are the fourth team. Teams that rely on outscoring their opponents,
(18:37):
but a terrible on defense. What do you reckon?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, no, I think that's a pretty good assessment. My Cowboys,
thank you very much. Definitely did that against the Storm
B team. I know, right in this in this round,
but we should probably recap the game. So it was
it was forty four points to forty in the end,
but with ten minutes to go it was forty four
(19:00):
points to twelve.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
So they scored. The Dragons scored twenty eight points in
the final ten, so twenty eight and ten minutes, it
was essentially and they just started doing stuff like running
it on the fifth and try and Ben putting in
these great kicks and things like that, and just playing
with absolute disregard. Tyrrel Sloane actually had a really good game.
And I don't like him really as a bloke.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I don't know him neither to be fair well as
well as you would by the sound of things. But
he is one of those players that looks incredible and
he's running in full flight. Yeah, you know, like like
Billy Slater did or something like that. You know he
I mean his name sounds like a female porn star.
We all know that Tyrrell Sloane. Like you, if you're
(19:47):
missus the knowing him at rugby League and saw Tyrrel
Sloan was in your history, you'd be in trouble.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
You'd be in huge trouble.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
But no, you're right. They just they came alive. And
I'm never seen a game. I don't think I've ever
seen a game this high, scoring eighty four points unless
it's a blowout. I've never seen that many tries in
a game.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Well, how about like the Dragons, for example, Shane Flanagan,
Who's they've really stepped up their defense right. They are
a bit more of a gutsy, gritty team this season.
And this is a team who are in eighth position.
We're in eighth position on the ladder and we're fighting
to be back in the finals again for the first
time in bloody ages. And they led in forty four
points to one of the worst teams in the entire competition.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
So I don't know, having watched that game, I don't
know if the Dragons do make the eight, if they
will be absolutely embarrassed now you know, blow it away
the top teams in the in the first week, or
because of that comeback. Does that mean that there's something there,
There's a spark, there's if they can harness that.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yeah, there's I always noticed this that there are teams
in the top eight, right Melbourne Penrith, those are probably
the only two after the Roosters lost to the Raiders.
There are teams in the top eight. When they play
a bad team, you know they are going to put
forty or fifty on them. You know it's going to
be an ass kicking. Then there are teams in the
(21:12):
top eight, like the Sharks and the Dragons, who if
they play a bottom team, you're not that confident that
they are actually going to win it. They just they
drop their level down to match whatever team they're playing.
And I feel that the Dragons are like that.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, that's a really good point. Let's actually look at
that ladder now. Now, even though the Warriors are done,
there is another round, so.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
You're gonna say there's a chance we can get in.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
No, No, there is a chance. We just need about
six teams to have massive salary cap breaches and lose
all their points by the Bulldogs did that year and
then and then we might sneak under the eighth.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Well, because you've got the Dolphins, the Knights, the Dragons
and the Raiders are all on twenty eight right now. Yes,
so they're on twenty eight points and they're all vying
for that eighth position. How we're but this weekend you've
got two of those teams going head to head, the
Knights and the Dolphins. Two of those four are playing
one another, right, so one of them is going to
(22:09):
go to thirty and the other one's going to go
to I was going to stay on twenty eight unless
there's a draw and then they're both on twenty nine,
and which case the Raiders could win and jump up
or the Dragons could win and jump up.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
But the Dolphins, if there is a you know, a
tie of points. The Dolphins have easily the best.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Points differential, that's right.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yeah, they are positive seven and the next best is
the Knights currently at negative forty eight miles away.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Yeah, they've all just had horrific defeats throughout the season,
which is when it comes back to bite you. But
if you had to pick one of those four sides Dolphins, Knights,
Dragons or Raiders to actually do damage in the postseason,
who would be.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Well based on the other game this round that was
really interesting, which was Dolphins Broncos, I'd say the Dollies.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
How like Wayne Bennett leaving the Dolphins, comes in, has
two great seasons, punching above average and then above what
we were expecting of them, and then goes to Sun Court.
The Broncos, who were playing to try and keep some
sort of glimmer of hope alive this year, goes there
and puts forty on them, where the Dolphins side was
so many intes, like it's just it's just ridiculous. So
(23:30):
you go Dolphins. I'd probably go nights just because of
the Klan Pong effector that's the only reason. And last
season how they went on that hot run.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Yeah, I just remember who ended that hot run, and
you know it was the Warriors by thirty odd points.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I feel like if they sneak in the same thing's
going to happen this year.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yeah, and to be honest, any of those four teams,
it's likely going to be one and done in terms
of going into the next round. They'll play a top two,
they'll get knocked out, likely, but still exciting to get
up there, and I wish we're in the same position.
Let's just have a quick look at a few other
things that happened in the Nral' just quickly been Melbourne.
(24:14):
They gave your Queensland Cowboys a bit of trouble with
eleven of their players out and you guys had to
square I think thirty eight to thirty was it in
order to beat a Melbourne B side.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah. Look, I mean the Cowboys have been running very
hot and cold. They had a wonderful start of the
season and I think that's the only reason they're kind
of still in the eighth after I think they won
their first five or six games and then you know,
having a hot start loa that really helps. Then you
can kind of cruise along at fifty to fifty after
(24:49):
that and still end up with the eight. So look,
Vale Holmes is leaving the Cows at the end of
this at the end of this season, so maybe there's
some sense of there.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Yeah, he's he's been a gun for them for for
a few years. Now he's going to the Dragons. Of course,
your guys, team is just once again, it's like the Eels,
like full of guns, and on any given day they
could go on a ten game losing streak or they
could go on a ten game, teen game blow every
and out of the water streak. It's so bizarre. But
do you know what the concerning thing is. I think
(25:21):
if the Warriors played the Cowboys this week we would
have lost as well. And that's fielding like a healthy team,
whereas Melbourne gets sort of eleven of them starters and
they still like that. They're guys like Tyrone Wishart, who
is a genuine superstar. You know, he's like the almost
the Nico Heines of a couple of years ago. There's
this diamond they've unearthed from off the bench of the
Melbourne Storm of who was in any other team he'd
(25:43):
be starting and one of their best players, you know,
and these guys are balling me brings through. They're just ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
What's the who's the other fullback that played well? Peppinhouse
far long, far long o.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Now so, where the hell did he come from exactly
as a.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Backup full back that you have the luxury of not
playing well.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
That's the thing. He wouldn't even be there if Nicko
Hines was still the backup pheelback.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
It's just ridiculous. It's just the Yeah, the the convey
about of talent through Melbourne. Another big talking point. Manly
absolutely put the cleaners through the Dogs. I was actually
picking the Dogs their defense to out muscle Manly because
the offense focused and the Dogs are defense focused. But
they didn't.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
He might be peaking at the right time. This don't
look like a pretty good football team.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
But but you give the news a huge but Tom Traboyevich,
a Grade three AC joint injury, won't play next round,
but apparently is aiming to return and Week one of
the finals. Unfortunately, for Manly, so much of their offense
a lot it just runs through him, not as much
as it used to, like over the last few years,
(26:50):
because they've got so many new guns like Lehipo Hopowarti
and like Cooler Tommy to low these guys, but it's
still pivots around Tom Turbo and also Daily Cherry Evans.
That's a huge loss I think going into these finals,
if he can't come back in time.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yeah, I don't think many are a chance without him.
To be honest, he's been the difference. He came back
and they started winning games. I mean, that's that's right.
It's one plus one eres two.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Really yeah, it really is. So Unfortunately, unless he can
pull up and you don't want to rush tom back
just because of injury history, and if he can't pull up, Manly,
I'm putting a line through them as well. Huge news
for the Roosters. So not as impactful as Tommy to Manly,
but Sam Walker he's done his acl and he is
expected to miss six to nine months and probably won't
(27:35):
be back till about round ten of next season. After
having a season I'd say second to only Jerome Hughes.
He's probably been the next best halfback, the most consistent,
and the Roosters are very potent and they've got a
lot of talent around him. But that is huge for
the Roosters going into the finals. I think that takes
a big chunk out of their chances too.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
So here's my real question, and I've sort of been
mentioning this every time I've been on the pod, but
are there really only two teams that can win this?
Like an actuality, Let's just be honest. Are there two teams?
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Look, I don't want to at the start of the season,
I'm going, nah man, this thing's wide open. Halfway through
the season, nah man. As soon as the worries are
out of contention, that's when I come to grips with
the reality and say, no one is beating I think
Melbourne's going to win it. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
I've been saying that for weeks. It's been really, really
even and Melbourn's been hiad and shoulders above really the
rest of the pack other than Penrith, you know, even
Penlanths had some weird losses, including to us.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Well exactly, and Melbourne beat Penrith in that matchup a
few weeks back. They just, you know, they showed they
could go there, not only win, but go to Penrith
and win as well, which is gutsy. They also are
the Roosters also have lost Brandon Smith who's ruptured his
acl as well, so he's the same as he is
the same as Sam Walker, and they also lost Victor
Radley four to eight weeks with a shelter to shoulder
(28:59):
direct contact mechanism. He fractured his scapula, which is a
shoulder blade hang on.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
So Victor Radley is out of the team and it's
not a suspension.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
That's right. Usually he's the one causing the injury. He's
out four to eight weeks with a fractioned shoulder, So
losing him in thirty or I think he's been playing
on the in the back row, but him, Sam Walker
and Brandon Smith, that is a huge chunky or almost
almost just buying in your engine room of how the
Roosters attack as well.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Yeah, they've been They've been nice team to watch this year. Actually,
I thought I fell out of love with the Roosters
a few years ago because I thought they've been going
quite a grubby team. Yeah, they seem to have cleaned
a lot of that up and just playing quite nice football.
And I think i'd rate seam Walker massively.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Same, he's a gun. I think they've cleaned it up.
They particularly clean this week because Jared Way Hargreaves is
serving a band Oh yeah, and it.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Doesn't it doesn't help when he's Jared Hargraves and Victor
Radley in you.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
So that's right. You just need Heatherington on your side,
and you've got the Big Three of giving away massive
penalties for head highs.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yeah, and Kane Evans coming off the bench.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Kan Evans. Oh, he I'd kill to him back. All right,
let's wrap things up for the final Mad Monday Monday
episode for twenty twenty four. And what an eventful season
it has been. It has been a roller coaster. It's
something we need to really now, like we've got to
buy this week the Warriors do we can just watch
some footy with no stakes on the line. Obviously Hurley
(30:28):
will be watching the Titans pretty closely still and still
getting pretty rived up for them. But what we're going
to do, Ben, I see if you know, actually, I'm
not even gonna lie. This was your idea and I'm
now pretending like I'm just pitching it to you. We
should all get in one room and just talk out
the season at some stage soon.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Yeah, I'd like to do our Teams of the Year
compete from anywhere. If there's any you know, any Warriors
on that side, it's probably Mitch Bonnett and that's it.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
But I'll picking of course, Oh yeah, of course, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah, So we'll get room and sort of wrap up
the season now that the Warriors done. I believe we
are commentating the Grand Final. That's rightday in October.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
The first Sunday in October, which is bloody exciting, the
Panthers taking on the Store, I mean the winner. Who
it could be anyone. It could still be the Knights
or the Dragons or the Raiders. We just don't know.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Bulldogs Dragons final.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
What an absolute vintage slog is that would be be
massively into that though. So we are doing the Grand Final.
Keep an ear out a little likely beyond Skysport nine,
but we will be commentating that one and we will
over the next couple of weeks figure out a day
to all get together in one room myself, Mania, Diehindred
and Ben Hurley as well and just talk over the season.
I love the idea of your favorite team of the
(31:44):
year with all your best players and a few other
things like that's keep an eye out on socials for that. Otherwise,
thanks heeps for listening to the Mad Monday Podcast for
another year, and we will be back ready to go
next season as well. Thank you very much, Ben Hurley.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
God bless Jay and God bless you Kiz.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Thanks mate, and jazz and jazz.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Australia without league and Australia without rugby league is not Australia.
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