Slade Griffin: Warriors Assistant Coach previews the clash against the Dolphins

The Warriors strong start to the season has continued. 

Despite some defensive struggles at the end of the second half, they claimed a victory over the Gold Coast Titans last week. 

They’re taking on the Dolphins this weekend, travelling to Wellington to play at a sold out Hnry Stadium. 

Assistant Coach Slade Griffin joined D’Arcy to preview the clash. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Last weekend, the Warriors carried on there a strong start
to the season. They beat the Titans twenty eight to twenty.
There were some defensive struggles towards the end, but it
didn't matter. They got the points. They traveled to Wellington
this weekend. In fact, they're there now. They are to
take on the Dolphins in front of us sold out
Henry Stadium. Slade Griffin assistant coach of the Warriors and

(00:33):
he joined us now. Good morning Slade, more than how
are you mate, I'm very good. Looking forward to tonight
as I'm sure you all are. Five past eight Henry
Stadium and Wellington the Wires take the party to the Capitol,
sold out to Slade. Are you feeling that energy in
the capital yourselves and the team. You've got that vibration going.

Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (00:56):
Even at the airport when we flew in, a lot
of fans, boys doing signatures and selfies. Captain John yesterday,
we're some members there and the boys did some signing sessions.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
So it's just awesome.

Speaker 4 (01:09):
Like I'm from Graymouth, so whenever you have the Warriors
come to town.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
It's an awesome feeling for the town.

Speaker 4 (01:15):
So we feel a love down here and you can
obviously tell all the games sold out a couple of
weeks ago. So yeah, just really excited for what's going
to be a very memorable night, especially on Anzac Day
with the last post, so it's going to be a
very special night.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Well, a part of your job is to calm the farms, lade.
You've got to keep these guys with their feet on
the ground. Surely they can't get too carried away emotionally
with Anzac Day, with being in Wellington with the full
crowd where you're sitting on the table. Is that part
of your remit or do you just leave that to
the boss man?

Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, I think emotion's good to get you up for
the game. Gonna have to match what the Dolphins are
going to bring, but you still got to play calm
and still there's this game of regular league to be
played at the end of the day.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
So look, it's gonna be an amazing night.

Speaker 4 (01:57):
Getting the power respects to the serviceman and then take
the field. I know the boys are min itching, So yeah,
just really excited to get out there.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
What do you see in the Dolphins that might scare you,
frighten you jump up and bite you on the neck,
because they're sitting twelfth at the moment, so they're hardly
on top of the world. There are a bit of
a skid right now too, but writing that off is insane.
Where's the danger do you see in this team?

Speaker 3 (02:22):
Oh? On the defense, coach, I'm always nervous about the
other team.

Speaker 4 (02:25):
But now, look, their outside backs carry the ball really well.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
Get them out of trouble.

Speaker 4 (02:30):
We're going to have to tackle well because if you
give the likes of Carta and the Hammer too much
room and space, they can crucify you. So yeah, we've
got to tackle well, hopefully getting the arm wrestles so
they don't get too much opportunities down our end. And
then like Herbie's playing unbelievable. So look, it's a crazy
comp at the moment. Like they beat the Sharks, and

(02:51):
the Sharks beat us, so they should have beaten Pinrith.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
Last week, who were top of.

Speaker 4 (02:58):
It was a really intense game in tough conditions, so
we know their motivation, Like they're going to be really
up for this game because they'll be desperate, so we're
going to have to match that.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
How much time you spent addressing what happened in the
last kind of fifteen minutes of last week, Because as
a defense coach, you'd be crying, aren't you guys listening
to me? You'd be saying, what did you pull out
of that that last I mean, the game was as
good and done as dusted, But you give us a
right fright, didn't you? Toward the end?

Speaker 3 (03:26):
Oh? Yeah, just the game may like that wind.

Speaker 4 (03:29):
We got kind of jammed up in our end and
couldn't get any field positions. So, yeah, it was obviously
hard going into that win last week. We just had
a few moments there that boys went proud of, so
we reviewed that. They were pretty honest with each other
and hopefully they're willing to make those adjustments this week.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
And what are we looking like on the park? You've
got Mitch back, which is fantastic, but you're not going
to start with him, are you? What he does off
the bench? His weapons great? Isn't he coming off the
bench and you're trying to tell Jackson, Ford or Fish
that they're not starting right now?

Speaker 4 (04:01):
Yeah, Look, we're very fortunate to have that headache for Webby.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
But I think Mitchell do a good job wherever he plays,
that's off the bench or starting.

Speaker 4 (04:10):
So look for Mitchell is just great that he's just
come back from that knee injury and.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
Then having a little bit of time off again.

Speaker 4 (04:18):
So bring him off the bench on the stings out,
just lets him get his minutes, and he was awesome
last week. I just can't believe how while he's playing
come back on that knee injury. So yeah, just can't
wait to get him out of there.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
So I can believe how good he is coming mate,
he'd been watching him playing guys a freak. Hey, how
Joe picky. He'll be pretty pleased getting that number one
jumping back again.

Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, Thane's done great for us.

Speaker 4 (04:44):
He's very well like in the trains, really well, always
on the reserve team, so he provides a different kind
of aspect for us. He's got great footwork around the ruck,
good ball players, so yeah, if we can obviously win
some field position, give him opportunities to do what he does.

Speaker 3 (04:59):
He's got a really good relationship with the backfield as well.

Speaker 4 (05:02):
So one thing people probably don't know is how much
he takes pride in his defense. Getting our number and
that sort of stuff. So yeah, excited for him to
get his opportunity.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
One of those annoying small blokes that will not say no,
and it's almost like you catch them in your legs
while you're running and that's how he brings you down.
Any method, right, as long as he takes his man down.

Speaker 4 (05:23):
Yeah, the game's that fast now that those little nippy
guys are a headache for the big tie forwards, especially
when they get a bit of space.

Speaker 3 (05:30):
Like Count O'Kenny and that.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, it's going to be a huge game. It's third
place twelfth coming up tonight. Should be a good and
kicks off a five past eight. Slayed Griffin the Man
from Graymouth. We thank you very much for your time.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
I appreciate support. Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave.
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