March 5, 2026 • 10 mins
Tomorrow, the Warriors finally get their 2026 NRL campaign underway against the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart Stadium.
Slade Griffin is an assistant coach of the Warriors, and he joined D'Arcy to discuss how the squad is looking heading into their season opener.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Z'd be tomorrow, say roughly twenty four hours and you know,
fifteen minutes away the Warriors get there twenty twenty six
n our old campaign underweight against Sydney Roosters. It's at
Go Media Stadium. Slat Griffin and joins us. Now just
and coach to the Warriors and we're going to discuss
slave if you don't mind, how the team's tracking ahead
of their opening match, and I expect slade buzzing excitement levels.
(00:35):
Where are they right now?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Thanks having me very excited. It's obviously been a long preseason.
The boys have been tested each other, you know, tackling
each other all preseason, so I think they're finally excited
to play someone else. And it's just we're very lucky
we get to kick the season off at home as well,
so obviously very hard team the Roosters, you know what
we're in for. But with the fans behind us, we're
(01:00):
really looking forward to get them back out there.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
How do you keep this team come? And you see
you're excited, they're excited. They're being tackling each other, running
against it they're really going to explode. But you can't
have them in that state. Surely when the game starts
or is this your cunning plan.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I think the game naturally humbles them, you know, the
old lactic acid starts kicking in, you know, first game
of the year, they'll be a bit tired. But now
that's something we've talked about, like we want to obviously
move fast, but be calm. So yeah, there's different ways
that can happen, just being clear minded, being present. So
looked very excited. Yeah, it's just something they'll have to
(01:36):
be able to manage. I'm sure they'll have a lot
of emotion going so have to be able to manage
a call level.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
There, pretty strong looking team like playing that you haven't
got Metcuffle Bunnett, but or to Mighty Martin for that matter.
You look across the thirteen plus the bench, you'd be
pretty satisfied what you see there.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, Jacob Aavin gets his first opportunity to start this year,
and obviously, you know, we've had some really good continuity
over the last couple of years with our full pack
and our back line. So yeah, a few guys getting
an opportunity like Ali, this to start the year off.
So yeah, really looking forward to seeing those guys out there.
(02:13):
They've trained really well over the preseason. Obviously, you've heard,
you know a few guys talk about the young kids
coming through, and they're definitely two of them that have
really shines over preseason.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
So excited to see them get their opportunity.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
It's been a while, hasn't it since Tour has actually
played a game of NRL. It's all busted up, so
talk about bouncing out of his skin. He will be.
He'd be desperate to make.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
His mark exactly like we all know the potential he has.
He just had one of those frustrating years last year
of injury. He come back, kind of get injured again.
So look, he's not the first player it's happened too.
But he's had a really solid preseason, been really drillable,
got for a lot of sessions. I actually can't remember
him not training. He's pretty much done every session. So yeah,
(02:58):
I think his body's ready to go now.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Out of the character's picked, the athletes picked, was there
a heavily debatable position. I don't know if they let
you engage in these debates, Slade, but where were the
spots where it was six to one half dozen the other.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, that's where he's pay grade that decision.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
We give our input, but look, there is a bit
of competition in a few spots, but you know where
he's picked the team, and yeah, we're all behind the
boys that he's given the nod to. So it's a
club it's always a club performance. Like you know, everyone
will get their opportunity at some point. A lot of
injuries throughout the season of NROL, so we've got a
(03:41):
few guys out for you guys get an opportunity, and then.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
When we're fully healthy, we might have a few more headaches.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Explain the bench situation to us again, because it's changed
somewhat in the NROL, the way the bench is selected
and utilized.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Yeah, so six players, but you can only activate four,
so you can obviously have a bit of specialist cover there.
You might have an outside back, you might have a
half back or a full back, but you can still
only activate four. So a lot of teams usually use
three forwards. So if you activate, say you get an
(04:14):
injury and you use one of like you inject to
fall back into the game. Yeah, other forwards might have
to play a bit more minutes, so there'll be a
bit of a strategic element to it. It does kind
of help with those real specialist positions. So yeah, that's
something we've been racking our heads over. We've had a
lot of meetings about it, a lot of different situations
and scenarios, and we've even given a guy a full
(04:35):
time role doing it on game day, so it's going
to be pretty important.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
He makes sure you don't run out with far too
meaning they're all in the park at the same time.
Not good. One name out here that what makes everybody
smile is Leak of the Wrecker, Hella Seema. A lot
of talks about him in the shape that he isn't
as well because he was well. There were a number
of plays last year that really still out. But I
think you'd say that the Wrecker really had a huge
effect on the fan base in the club.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Yeah, we all know what liquor is capable of. Yeah,
just a special talent still blows on mind.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Young years.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
So yeah, he had surgery at the end of the
season last year and I missed a little bit of
the start of preseason. But he's ready to go now.
He's had a really solid preseason after Christmas. Yeah, get
to inject him off the bench and yeah, really excited
to see him go.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
What did you learn out of preseason? The main tips
have picked up about the structure, about the season, about
what you guys should or shouldn't be doing. What did
you Because you don't do preseason for fun, right, you
do it to learn stuff.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah, yeah, Like, obviously you want to improve on last year,
so we had a review and picked a few areas
on both sides of the ball, attack and defense we
want to be better or add a few strings to
our bow.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
And then obviously how do we then train that?
Speaker 4 (05:49):
So and then there's still an element of just getting
the boys ready with conditioning, tackling all that stuff, just
getting them ready to go. So you know, the game's
so fast now you got to train with a lot
of intensity and then be able to execute under pressure
or under fatigs.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
So yeah, preseason played a big part in that.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Hopefully, you know, we still want to be a really
solid defensive team and then play a bit of footy
in attack. So hopefully the fans might be able to
see what we've been working on over pre season.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
How the new guys enjoying what they're experiencing at Mount Smart.
They like surf. Dan Morgan and cahn M. We use
their full names, Praira. Are they they're happy there?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Yeah, No, they've been great. Honestly, I think, you know,
it's quite refreshing. They might just be making us feel good.
But they said they've both learned a lot since they've
come here, so you know, it's always cool.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
To hear that.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
But they've worked really hard trying to catch up on
the systems and the principles and processes and values and
all that sort of stuff. But yeah, they've they've worked
really hard on their roles and I know they'll get
their opportunity at some point.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So yeah, excited to see them go.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, we're excited to see everyone get up and get
busy as well. The coaching staff and the players are keing.
It's been so long between drinks. I did you read
anything out of the games last week? And I find
it really odd to watch that over in Vegas, but
it is what it is. What did you learn about
the season from those four teams?
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Anything?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Just how tight the competition is. It's so hard to
win an ROL each week. Like you know, I think
a few people took the Bulldogs to comfully win that game,
and like the Dragons just showed so much hard and
just scrapped with them.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, like there was a few early in the season.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
It's always a little bit scrappy, you know, But like
there was a few kick tries on last so that's
always important making sure you finish your seats elier than
the year. But yeah, the Bulldogs obviously another good defensive
team of like, they just played the whole game down
the Dragon's end and took them eighty nine minutes and
fifty seconds to get it done. But they were definitely
in control of the game just through their defense and
(08:01):
their effort.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
They got it done. That's the main thing. One last things,
like Griffin thinks for much for your time of course,
as always are the captain and Metcalf for still roughly
what three weeks away for match maybe seven weeks for
met Car yep.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Yeah, so they've both been jumping into team training now.
I think luky Met is getting his pink shirt off soon,
so the boys, Yeah, he won't be the quarterback that
no one's allowed to touch anymore.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
But yeah, they've been progressing really well.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I was actually thinking about this today, Like you kind
of don't see a lot of the work they do.
Like sometimes it's just like yep, Mett's jumping in the
training to that and he looks.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
You know, crisp.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
So it's just a testament to them individually, you know,
the work they have to do behind the scenes with
the physios and the rehab guys and by themselves when
the team's not actually around to get themselves ready just
to jump back into team training, because unfortunately, you get
a bit cought, you get a bit busy with just
trying to manage your guys who are on the field.
You don't get a bunch of time off them because
(09:05):
they're off on the side doing their thing when user training.
But it's been awesome to get them into the duels
we are doing and they both look like themselves. So yeah,
it's just amount of time making sure they took all
the boxes they need to and not rushing it, making
sure that are ready to go because it's a long
rehab as it is, so skipping one week isn't worth
(09:25):
it when you're coming back from a nine to twelve
month injury.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
The worst things for those guys is they can't indulge
in any form of comfort eating they've got.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Yeah, well, oh man, Actually Barney jumped into a bit.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Of contact the other day and you leave it out
of a bit of steam, so I think you had
nine months bottled up. But it was good practice for us.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Good stuff. Hey Slade, thanks very much as always for
your time. Looking forward to a regular catch ups throughout
the season. Don't say yes, then you'll be forced to
do it. Cheers mate, No.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I appreciate it. Thanks having me.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
For more from Sports Talk. Listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on I Radio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Z'd be tomorrow, say roughly twenty four hours and you know,
fifteen minutes away the Warriors get there twenty twenty six
n our old campaign underweight against Sydney Roosters. It's at
Go Media Stadium. Slat Griffin and joins us. Now just
and coach to the Warriors and we're going to discuss
slave if you don't mind, how the team's tracking ahead
of their opening match, and I expect slade buzzing excitement levels.
(00:35):
Where are they right now?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Thanks having me very excited. It's obviously been a long preseason.
The boys have been tested each other, you know, tackling
each other all preseason, so I think they're finally excited
to play someone else. And it's just we're very lucky
we get to kick the season off at home as well,
so obviously very hard team the Roosters, you know what
we're in for. But with the fans behind us, we're
(01:00):
really looking forward to get them back out there.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
How do you keep this team come? And you see
you're excited, they're excited. They're being tackling each other, running
against it they're really going to explode. But you can't
have them in that state. Surely when the game starts
or is this your cunning plan.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I think the game naturally humbles them, you know, the
old lactic acid starts kicking in, you know, first game
of the year, they'll be a bit tired. But now
that's something we've talked about, like we want to obviously
move fast, but be calm. So yeah, there's different ways
that can happen, just being clear minded, being present. So
looked very excited. Yeah, it's just something they'll have to
(01:36):
be able to manage. I'm sure they'll have a lot
of emotion going so have to be able to manage
a call level.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
There, pretty strong looking team like playing that you haven't
got Metcuffle Bunnett, but or to Mighty Martin for that matter.
You look across the thirteen plus the bench, you'd be
pretty satisfied what you see there.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, Jacob Aavin gets his first opportunity to start this year,
and obviously, you know, we've had some really good continuity
over the last couple of years with our full pack
and our back line. So yeah, a few guys getting
an opportunity like Ali, this to start the year off.
So yeah, really looking forward to seeing those guys out there.
(02:13):
They've trained really well over the preseason. Obviously, you've heard,
you know a few guys talk about the young kids
coming through, and they're definitely two of them that have
really shines over preseason.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
So excited to see them get their opportunity.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
It's been a while, hasn't it since Tour has actually
played a game of NRL. It's all busted up, so
talk about bouncing out of his skin. He will be.
He'd be desperate to make.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
His mark exactly like we all know the potential he has.
He just had one of those frustrating years last year
of injury. He come back, kind of get injured again.
So look, he's not the first player it's happened too.
But he's had a really solid preseason, been really drillable,
got for a lot of sessions. I actually can't remember
him not training. He's pretty much done every session. So yeah,
(02:58):
I think his body's ready to go now.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Out of the character's picked, the athletes picked, was there
a heavily debatable position. I don't know if they let
you engage in these debates, Slade, but where were the
spots where it was six to one half dozen the other.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, that's where he's pay grade that decision.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
We give our input, but look, there is a bit
of competition in a few spots, but you know where
he's picked the team, and yeah, we're all behind the
boys that he's given the nod to. So it's a
club it's always a club performance. Like you know, everyone
will get their opportunity at some point. A lot of
injuries throughout the season of NROL, so we've got a
(03:41):
few guys out for you guys get an opportunity, and then.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
When we're fully healthy, we might have a few more headaches.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Explain the bench situation to us again, because it's changed
somewhat in the NROL, the way the bench is selected
and utilized.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Yeah, so six players, but you can only activate four,
so you can obviously have a bit of specialist cover there.
You might have an outside back, you might have a
half back or a full back, but you can still
only activate four. So a lot of teams usually use
three forwards. So if you activate, say you get an
(04:14):
injury and you use one of like you inject to
fall back into the game. Yeah, other forwards might have
to play a bit more minutes, so there'll be a
bit of a strategic element to it. It does kind
of help with those real specialist positions. So yeah, that's
something we've been racking our heads over. We've had a
lot of meetings about it, a lot of different situations
and scenarios, and we've even given a guy a full
(04:35):
time role doing it on game day, so it's going
to be pretty important.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
He makes sure you don't run out with far too
meaning they're all in the park at the same time.
Not good. One name out here that what makes everybody
smile is Leak of the Wrecker, Hella Seema. A lot
of talks about him in the shape that he isn't
as well because he was well. There were a number
of plays last year that really still out. But I
think you'd say that the Wrecker really had a huge
effect on the fan base in the club.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Yeah, we all know what liquor is capable of. Yeah,
just a special talent still blows on mind.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Young years.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
So yeah, he had surgery at the end of the
season last year and I missed a little bit of
the start of preseason. But he's ready to go now.
He's had a really solid preseason after Christmas. Yeah, get
to inject him off the bench and yeah, really excited
to see him go.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
What did you learn out of preseason? The main tips
have picked up about the structure, about the season, about
what you guys should or shouldn't be doing. What did
you Because you don't do preseason for fun, right, you
do it to learn stuff.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah, yeah, Like, obviously you want to improve on last year,
so we had a review and picked a few areas
on both sides of the ball, attack and defense we
want to be better or add a few strings to
our bow.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
And then obviously how do we then train that?
Speaker 4 (05:49):
So and then there's still an element of just getting
the boys ready with conditioning, tackling all that stuff, just
getting them ready to go. So you know, the game's
so fast now you got to train with a lot
of intensity and then be able to execute under pressure
or under fatigs.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
So yeah, preseason played a big part in that.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Hopefully, you know, we still want to be a really
solid defensive team and then play a bit of footy
in attack. So hopefully the fans might be able to
see what we've been working on over pre season.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
How the new guys enjoying what they're experiencing at Mount Smart.
They like surf. Dan Morgan and cahn M. We use
their full names, Praira. Are they they're happy there?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Yeah, No, they've been great. Honestly, I think, you know,
it's quite refreshing. They might just be making us feel good.
But they said they've both learned a lot since they've
come here, so you know, it's always cool.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
To hear that.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
But they've worked really hard trying to catch up on
the systems and the principles and processes and values and
all that sort of stuff. But yeah, they've they've worked
really hard on their roles and I know they'll get
their opportunity at some point.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So yeah, excited to see them go.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, we're excited to see everyone get up and get
busy as well. The coaching staff and the players are keing.
It's been so long between drinks. I did you read
anything out of the games last week? And I find
it really odd to watch that over in Vegas, but
it is what it is. What did you learn about
the season from those four teams?
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Anything?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Just how tight the competition is. It's so hard to
win an ROL each week. Like you know, I think
a few people took the Bulldogs to comfully win that game,
and like the Dragons just showed so much hard and
just scrapped with them.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, like there was a few early in the season.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
It's always a little bit scrappy, you know, But like
there was a few kick tries on last so that's
always important making sure you finish your seats elier than
the year. But yeah, the Bulldogs obviously another good defensive
team of like, they just played the whole game down
the Dragon's end and took them eighty nine minutes and
fifty seconds to get it done. But they were definitely
in control of the game just through their defense and
(08:01):
their effort.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
They got it done. That's the main thing. One last things,
like Griffin thinks for much for your time of course,
as always are the captain and Metcalf for still roughly
what three weeks away for match maybe seven weeks for
met Car yep.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Yeah, so they've both been jumping into team training now.
I think luky Met is getting his pink shirt off soon,
so the boys, Yeah, he won't be the quarterback that
no one's allowed to touch anymore.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
But yeah, they've been progressing really well.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I was actually thinking about this today, Like you kind
of don't see a lot of the work they do.
Like sometimes it's just like yep, Mett's jumping in the
training to that and he looks.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
You know, crisp.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
So it's just a testament to them individually, you know,
the work they have to do behind the scenes with
the physios and the rehab guys and by themselves when
the team's not actually around to get themselves ready just
to jump back into team training, because unfortunately, you get
a bit cought, you get a bit busy with just
trying to manage your guys who are on the field.
You don't get a bunch of time off them because
(09:05):
they're off on the side doing their thing when user training.
But it's been awesome to get them into the duels
we are doing and they both look like themselves. So yeah,
it's just amount of time making sure they took all
the boxes they need to and not rushing it, making
sure that are ready to go because it's a long
rehab as it is, so skipping one week isn't worth
(09:25):
it when you're coming back from a nine to twelve
month injury.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
The worst things for those guys is they can't indulge
in any form of comfort eating they've got.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Yeah, well, oh man, Actually Barney jumped into a bit.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Of contact the other day and you leave it out
of a bit of steam, so I think you had
nine months bottled up. But it was good practice for us.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Good stuff. Hey Slade, thanks very much as always for
your time. Looking forward to a regular catch ups throughout
the season. Don't say yes, then you'll be forced to
do it. Cheers mate, No.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I appreciate it. Thanks having me.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
For more from Sports Talk. Listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on I Radio.
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