July 28, 2024 • 27 mins
This week on The Big League Podcast - winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak reflects on the outstanding performance of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback in the vital win over the Wests Tigers at Mt Smart and also gives his thoughts on Moala Graham-Taufa's showing at centre.
New Zealand writer Alex Powell gets on his knees and begs Andrew Webster to leave RTS at fullback.
And is former All Black Ngani Laumape returning to the Warriors?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio The.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Big League Podcast podcast by News Talks HEB.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, winger Dulan Wattenis
Alesniak reflects on the outstanding performance of Roger tooy Varsa
Sheck and fullback in the Vital Wind over the Wests
Tigers at Mount Smart, and also gives his thoughts on
Mowla Graham Tolfer's showing at Center. New Zealand's Herald writer
Alex Powell is back to get on his knees and
beg Andrew webs to leave arts at fullback, and his
(00:46):
former All Black Nanni lal Marpi coming back to the Warriors.
My name is Nathan Limb. Let's go god b l B.
He's not going to play fullback. It's not gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Shosh shosh, the voices.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Roger tooy Vasa Sheck is superman once again, stepping up
at fullback and once again dominating from the back two
hundred and ninety three run meters. He saved two tries
with outstanding scrambling defense and beat Tigers attackers to their
kicks on the Warriors line. Look, I can't deny the
(01:21):
Warriors look fantastic when he is there, but Chance Nickel,
Cookstar and tained To Opeki have never let the side
down and they will remain the first and second choice
number ones. We have long since passed the point where
Warriors coach Andrew Webster cringes and laughs when asked about
whether Tui Vasishek should play fullback. Honestly, I'm sick of
(01:44):
the topic, but the reality is it won't go away.
New Zealand Herald writer Alex Powell last week, you're adamant
that he should play fullback. I imagine you've now changed yourself
to that opinion. I'm sure you can tell. I'm conflicted.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
Good a mate, Thanks for having me. Look, I've said
it for two weeks now. I'm a very late member
on board the trained But the Warriors just look a
bitter team when Roger too Aschek is there because they're
getting the best out of one of their best players.
I mean, this whole idea of Roger's not a fullback,
he's a center now appears to just be so we
(02:24):
don't upset or so Andrew Webster sorry does an upset
Chance on two o'clock's ad, which I get. You know,
Chances has had to work very hard to be the
warriors number one fullback, all right. He started out at
the Warriors as a center in the juniors. Then he
made his first grade debut as a winger. Couldn't get
in the team over Roger in the first place, along
with Kenamalo and David Fastur on the wings, went to Canberra,
(02:45):
did really well, went to a Grand Final, came back.
You know, let's not forget when the Warriors lost Reese Walt,
they got Chance back, and I don't think enough is
made of that. If you asked Warriors fans now who
they'd rather have out of Chance or Reese Walt, I
think most of them would say change.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
I'd say Chance as a character.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Thing, never mind just doing his player.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
For the culture and his effort on defeat. I think
he matches the Warriors game plan better than Reese Wall,
who's obviously just He is an outstanding individual, but overall
Chance is better for their team makerup.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Admittedly, we didn't see Reese walh under Andrew Webster. I
would like to see how that went, but we have
to live in the reality we have, not the one
we want. Chancellcloxad's a great guy. I honestly love him
being part of this team. He lives down the road
from me. The number if I had a dollar for
every time I saw him at St. Luke's Moore getting
a curry, I'd have about three dollars.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
Great. I'm sure he knows he lives up the road
from you too.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
He won't have a clue who I am. But no,
I think if we ultimately come down to it, the
Warriors are better getting the best out of Roger at fullback.
Chancell Cloxad has played in a Rugby League World Cup
as a center. Right. If it's a straight swap between
the two, I don't think much changes apart from you
are now freeing Roger to do what he wants to do.
(03:59):
See you're calling for a straight swap, Just a straight swap. Admittedly,
you know. I don't think they will. I think Webster
is going to stick to his guns here. It's too
late now, it's too late now. That's not me saying
Roger will never make it as a center, because he
absolutely has the skill to. I think if he has
another pre season at center, we'll see obvious improvements and
if the Warriors get all their cattle at the same time,
(04:20):
it'll obviously be a better team.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
So I'll put this to you then, because the Warriors
are down on stocks at center and we're going to
talk about Ali laud Taa and Wila Graam Tulfa, who
performed very well. But if Tayne comes back, do you
keep like if you're the coat, you keep Tane out
of the squad entirely and you just stick with the
two youngsters at center when you've got two fullbacks.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
If I was tained to a picky, I would really
consider my future at the Warriors. You can't be a
first grader knowing that your job is to be a backup.
That's not fair on a professional rugby league footballer. And
in saying that, also another quick point I'd like to make.
We are yet to see Roger playing at fullback and
a team with Chance. You know, Roger's best performances at
fullback or sorry, best perumans of the year against you know,
(04:59):
you look at the Tigers game, you look at against
the Knights and believe round four, both at fullback and
Chance's absence, we are yet to see them do that together,
and that's I think what what needs to come next.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
It's a really interesting point.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Here is Warrior's coach Andrew Webster talking about Roger after
the game. It wasn't perfect from Roger in terms of
what webs they had to say, some.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Big says, some good carries. I think I think he
was awesome that in that area.
Speaker 6 (05:24):
He's still like learning the defensive numbers, Roger like he
hasn't done it for a while, balancing up our defensive
line on our trial line. But he's finding a way
through effort and he's finding a way to come up
with something.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
He hasn't even done it for a while. If he's
that good having not done it for a while, what's
it going to be like if he's doing it every week?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Oh yeah, yeah, we're gonna hear from Dulan wattis a
lisnik in just a moment. But first, here are the
highlights Warriors twenty eight Tigers sixteen. Shout out to gold
Sports Abeve and there are for his outstanding commentary.
Speaker 7 (06:04):
We're underway, Harris Tabita, move quickly, take out tight well
tight dusks coming across the Harris Tobata, Fuck the t
I stopped man like Tolsa starts at the tone.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Na coming across Chapaul Warriors t head skull.
Speaker 7 (06:22):
Only a tach kotos how he's a dane job. There's
a try right Papa Laggi fight holds the post to
the stand and Kumaka deflington.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Here's a trolley by the corner. Stein skulls four meters
out the Warriors.
Speaker 7 (06:35):
They come a right headside Harris know a bike.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Hay starts under the sticks.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
You Stephen grubber cut glorious head position. Here's toy Nasa
shick staffing away Rice hit Awai. Here's Roger toys a
shiks don't going Tut's hen on the thun.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
He returns the vote of the hard way.
Speaker 7 (06:53):
That's what happens when he plays at moo back. Why
Tennis a lazy it tumming across field, jogging to the fence.
Pays coming in Tellton crying in telphon turn us in
the line. There's why Tenny's a head drink. Pay starts
under the sticks. The Warriors keep these season alive. There's
a massive mountain.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Audio courtesy of sky Sport The Big League Podcast Now
in the absence of Michael Burgess. New Zealand Herald writer
Christopher Reeve was at the game and managed to get
a quick chat with dulan Wa Tini Zealisniak, who had
a try and a game high eight tackle breaks.
Speaker 8 (07:32):
Just how did it feel out there tonight, John, some
new boys and beside you, particularly Malalasid.
Speaker 9 (07:37):
Yeah, yeah, Mahala, he played an awesome games helped me
out a lot defensively, it was awesome, and an attack
as well. Just communication and talking to each other helped
us be on the same page.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
And yeah, I really enjoyed playing alongside.
Speaker 8 (07:50):
And you're getting probably getting a few guys back in
the coming weeks. You know, from what you've seen of
the Boys in the last couple of weeks, how well
placed other team to make a run in the coming weeks.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Yeah, we got the confidence.
Speaker 9 (08:01):
We know when we're on we can match any team
in the comp And and yeah, that's just the biggest
focus is focusing on us.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
And there's stages.
Speaker 9 (08:11):
Tonight where we showed some really good resilience and some
patches that we're going to obviously focus on. And there's
some patches there that we'll get. We're going to get
some good lessons out of so it's good to come
with the win with lessons still learn.
Speaker 8 (08:23):
In terms of tonight, you got a lot more space
with the ball off the kicks just for yourself.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
How much of a difference is that?
Speaker 8 (08:30):
And I guess how nice was it that the forwards
were having that sort of impact that the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Were having to kick. Yeah, it's always nice to be
in space.
Speaker 9 (08:36):
Love space, seat of having to carry the ball out
of yard it to get some national time, it's quite
nice to get.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Some room and have some fun.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
It's nice Roger had a good game at the back.
Do you notice anything different with a guy like that
as opposed to maybe slightly different style from Charms and Tame.
Speaker 9 (08:53):
I think he's got a next round up mentality and.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Roger's been there before and Roger's good, He's.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
He'll play anywhere for the team and he does a
really solid job and any position who plays. So I
think Roger created a lot of space for me. Obviously
he made that break early which gave us space out
why to come away at that try? So yeah, there
they played, they both played differently and they both suit
(09:20):
our system.
Speaker 8 (09:20):
All the work I guess was Lastly, how nice after
that first twenty minutes following the RESTA was it to
see the boys, you know, get back into gear and
can really pick on with things after the Tigers threw
back into the game.
Speaker 10 (09:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (09:33):
I think that's why I touched on the resilience side.
There's there's somewhere we had a lot of resilience and
then some of them we didn't have so much. So
I think I said it before as well as that
we become away of two points with lessons to learn,
which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
This is the Big League Podcast.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
This is our yeah, the big League podcast on the
Warriors bad Wagons since day one, Right.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Alex Powell, Let's go through this game in a little
bit more detail. First of all, the players standouts for me?
How good We talked about Roger Twivasis Sheik obviously he
was a but how good is Ari l'ataua. I want
to talk about him because every time he has been
called up to first grade, every time he has delivered
two line breaks, so powerful with ball in hand, great
(10:22):
running lines. He scored a try off a short ball
from to Martin. He is a credit to the Warriors
development system, isn't he?
Speaker 5 (10:29):
He is Ali La Tao is probably the player I
was most looking forward to seeing this season. He only
got the one game last year, and that was a
very impressive performance against the Raiders away. But you're right,
every time he gets on the field, you just think, Wow,
this kid has everything.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
You know.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
I really hope he's in this team for ten years,
you know, ten years plus, because I don't see him
losing his spot now.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Yeah, and it just I mean, you've got obviously Adam pompeiout,
Roccoberry at Rogers moved to fullback. The talent that they
have down the pipeline at center specifically seems to be really,
really strong. So I suppose also that ties into our
earlier discussion about moving players.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
He gives Andrews.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
I suppose these players like Maila Graham Tolfer and Ali
Lata so much security and confidence knowing that actually you
can move Roger and you're not going to have a
hole at center or someone who's defensively not up to it.
I thought both of them. Milea Graham Tolfer a bit
quieter than Layatawa, but he was solid.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
I thought his combination with Dallen was excellent. You know,
they looked just looked natural the two of them. Center
is quite a hard position to quantify. Obviously, with wingers
and fullbacks, you're going off run meters and you know,
line breaks and tries. Center, you don't really get that.
They're not as on the ball as often as your
back three might be. But those two I thought were excellent.
(11:47):
I think if you look at every metric they had,
they would have outperformed their opposition.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Yeah, and I suppose Dylan wy Tennis a Leslie had
a great game on attack and defense. But specifically talking
about attack, you talk about his combination with Leo tol Im, sorry,
with Graham Tulfer. Do you think that what Graham Tulfer
was able to do during that game actually helped give
Dullan a bit more space, especially down that right edge
(12:12):
of the second half. We saw that fantastic try back
end of the second half that sort of sealed the
game for the Warriors.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I think the way the whole back line played just
left the Tigers with, you know, not a lot they
could do. There was just so much space for all
of them. It felt like even you know, look at
the other edge, lad Tower and Course heat together, and.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I suppose there was so much positive to come out
of this game. Actually, we just touched on Infantil Blake too.
Game high eighty six post contact meters. The top Tigers
player had forty six, So he's done four more, forty
more meters than the top Tigers player. So he was
outstanding and so important to the Warriors go forward through
the middle during that game, and while there was plenty
to talk about in terms of positives, the Warriors left
(12:50):
a hell of a lot of points out there, and
I was feeling very nervous around the half hour mug
when they only had four on the board, and they'd
been controlling possession and territory for so much of that
first half, forcing repeat sets but not capitalizing on them.
Ed course, he dropped the ball and tackle won when
they had a scrum inside the Tigers twenty. They were
(13:11):
forcing repeat sets but just not finishing them. But then
in the second half it started to click a little
bit more and they were a lot more clinical with
the basics the catch pass.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Just to briefly touch on Adam, that was a big
contest up against stefanou To Kamando, who is definitely the
big up and coming prop in the n L I
didn't notice Stefano doing anything there for Noil Blake showed
who the big dog really is. It's sad to think
these are his last, you know, going to be his
last few games with the Warriors. Probably leaves next year
because I think what he's given to this club. And
(13:42):
obviously this will be looked at it closer to the
time of the end. But geez, he'd been in the
conversation as one of the great Warriors props.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
You'd probably be right actually one hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
And to touch on your original question before I derailed it, Yeah, look,
we said this last week, didn't we. There is a
worry with the Warriors not taking advantage of the opportunities
they're getting. The best NRAL teams do that. If you
look at Melbourne at Penrith, they get a chance, they
score it. You know you cannot be wasteful in there.
If there's two rules of playing in our l football,
(14:17):
make no mistakes, take your chances. The Warriors need to
get better at him.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Both Well, it's really easy for us to sit here
in a studio and say that on a podcast, but
I suppose you're right in terms of just about it
was just little errors offloads maybe didn't need to be given,
you know, drop balls that normally would go to hand.
This is we know that the Warriors are should be
a top eight side. They can play at that level.
(14:41):
They can foot it with every team in the NRL.
But I suppose we are seeing this trend where it
just takes them a little while to get into the game.
And that's really hard for Andrew Webster to address. It's like,
it's not something I don't know how you drill that
at training, and you and I are not qualified to
speak on that, you know, So it is something that
we can observe and we can ask the question. But yeah,
(15:03):
it is, I guess a concern, I suppose, but in
this scenario, they were able to get it right and
they can came away with the win. Sanell Harris Devita,
who was under so much pressure this week obviously after
last week, and I really felt for him, obviously came
out in defense of him, and he missed the first
two kicks in that game as well, and everyone could
sort of you could feel the tension whenever he stepped
(15:25):
up to the tee. But when he did get that one,
that third kick, it was really nice that just the
smile on his face, he looked relaxed before the kick,
the little laugh afterwards, and the crowd got into it
as well.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I do like that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Something I guess so negative that sort of resulted in
a lost last week has kind of become something pozzitive,
something he could smile about.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
I'd argue he wasn't under pressure. We heard in the
week how well supported he was, not just by the staff,
by his teammates, but by other players and alder number
of gold Kickers that reached out to him during the week.
But you're right, you know, Chanelle's a bit of a character.
You know, if someone makes a mistake, he'll always give
them a bit of stick from the opposition that is.
And when that happens, you do if prepared to take it.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
And he is here is Andrew webs on that moment
talking about sell Harris Tavita.
Speaker 10 (16:12):
Sometimes footy he can just be too serious. Can we
all had his back?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Last week?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
We loved him.
Speaker 10 (16:17):
I thought he struck the first one from the sign
really well, was going over'd be sure, so I was like, Okay,
I think he's on there, And then when he got
that one, I think the whole new Zealand was pretty
happy for him.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Now, Waite Egan, we'll just touch on him really quickly.
I was thinking at the start of the game when
I was watching us, Jesus, it's been a while since
Waye Egan got it, did all these injuries and actually
Wade Egan's do it all right, and then he took
a massive knock to the head head on someone's hip.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Did he go off for that?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
He did.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
He came off after that head knock and Freddie Losk
finished the game. I mean, we'll see when the team
is named if he's and the concussion protocols are not.
There's not been that many comms out about it.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
No, no, we haven't had.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
There was a Warriors and media session today at one
point thirty. We're recording this on Monday morning, so we
will find out about this. But I guess just a
little bit concerning given his history and we kept talking
about it. He has had such a good run without injury,
so hopefully he is okay.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
The big League pod.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The Warriors bad day one.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Right, Narni Lao Marpi, do you remember him?
Speaker 8 (17:26):
He's going to run out him blades and day come
back in clap.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
I just stuck him. Of course you do.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
He debuted in twenty thirteen before switching to union ahead
of the twenty sixteen Super Rugby season. He helped the
Hurricanes win their maiden titled before daybooing for the All
Blacks in twenty seventeen, going on to win thirteen Test camps.
He's gone overseas. He's been playing in Japan, which caused
quite the stir here and a lot of people wanted
to hold onto him for the All Blacks jersey, but
(18:00):
he left Insidar didn't want him. On Friday, he was
at Mount Smart with the Warriors before the game. On
Monday morning, the Warriors posted this quote on Instagram. I
came back and watched the captain's run and it definitely
lit a fire to finish off what I started. So
we'll never know what will happen. Hopefully my agent can
(18:22):
get some stuff sorted. I'd like to come back, Alex Powell.
Am I dreaming.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
I don't know what to make of this, to be honest,
I mean like I'd like to go and play for
I'd like to go as well, Narni, But that doesn't
mean it's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Yeah, but you're not an All Black in a formal What, yeah,
are you going to bust through four tackles forty meters
out and.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Make the line?
Speaker 5 (18:41):
I mean probably not.
Speaker 8 (18:42):
No, You're not.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
I'm going to tell you right now, you're not.
Speaker 8 (18:44):
No.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
I mean my big question here is salary cap. Like
those Japanese rugby contracts are quite lucrative. You know, you
look at Jilley Marnin, who's leaving the Roosters because he's
going to go and make a lot more playing in Japan.
I don't know the value of Narni's contract, but I
imagine he's probably well off, given that he was prepared
to leave a big French deal to go there. But
as a player, of course, what are you walk into?
(19:07):
The proced been quite similar to Latawa and what he does,
And obviously Lataha is many years younger.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I think I think, I think if he wants to
come back to the Warriors, I think they should take him.
He's a human wrecking ball.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
And you're right.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
When he played for the Warriors in his very early career,
like from twenty four thirteen to twenty fifteen, he played
on the wing, he played in the number two jersey.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
If he were to come back.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
You think you throw him in at center given a
skill set defensively, would he be up to it? We
know his power with the ball in hand, who's seen
it so many times? Or would you put him on
the wing?
Speaker 5 (19:41):
I knowed I'd move him into the centers. Obviously you
want a guy like that, you know, basically as close
to the middle of the field as possible so he
can sort of get a bit of go forward from him.
But you're right, it would It would be amazing to see,
wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Salary cap You're right, would be an issue because they're
also obviously getting James Fisher Harris. The money's freed up
from Edwin fan nor Blake, and we obviously don't know
the numbers, but I mean who they'd have to say
goodbye to someone? If they're bringing nine in, I might
be back at least one.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
And you do also have to remember that they've also
re signed Wade Eggan and Mitch Barnett this year, and
you'd think they would be on bigger money than what
they're originally on. But I mean, this is just the
life of an NFL club. It is a balancing act.
You know, you do have to try and get the
reports out of James Fisher Harris's that he's on considerably
less than what Afanel Blake was getting, which has freed
them up to spend that money elsewhere. So like these
(20:31):
things are always moving.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
So, like I said before, we do have the Warriors
met decision today, So things are going to come out
over the week about this and we'll find out a
little bit more information that maybe we can talk about
next week.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
As well Big League Podcast.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Right on Friday, to keep their top eight hopes in
their hands, the Warriors host the Eels at Mount Smart.
It is their second to last home game of the season.
And let me make no mistake when I tell you this,
the Eels are rubbish. They sit second to last on
the ladder, four wins, fourteen losses. They've lost six in
a row. He'd coach a Brad Arthur midway through the season.
(21:11):
They are without half back Mitchell Moses who's undergone surgery
on a bicep rupture. He is out for the season.
They have a harvest combination which is familiar names to
New Zealand this day, John Rci former Warrior and Dylan Brown,
who was obviously a key we Alex Powell. Can we
say okay, we're going to get this one and there
still still in the top a conversation.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
The Eels are the Warriors. The Warriors.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
I was gonna say, Els definitely are. Oh look, I mean,
you don't want to throw anything out there this season
because there's just been one of those seasons. But you're
right one to thirteen they should have too much for
the Els. The Eels are a very good like they
do have a very good squad. You look at some
of those.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Guys, you know, Clint Gatherson at fullback.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Blaze to Lungey looks like it
looks like he's going to be a great play. They're
talking about sacking Clint Gunson to play him at fallback
next year. But those losses of not having Mitchell Moses,
who is a State of Origin winning half back now,
but Jermaine Hopgood as well, who's one of the best
up and coming lockforwards in the comp those are two
big losses you talk about Dayjohn, I see there's a
lot on him now, but you're you're right, the Warriors
(22:10):
should have too much.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
They should and you.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Think, I guess with like sacking a coach midway through
the season. We see it sometimes when we see a
bounce back and performance from teams when they get a
coach out of there that maybe I don't know if
something was going on with the culture, but there's obviously
so much turmoil going on off the pitch for this club,
and I get the feeling the officials kind of sorry
(22:34):
the club. The heads of the club sort of wrote
the season off midway through when they sacked Brad Arthur
and things were starting to go downhill because they started
off the season so strongly.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
Will they have a point at Jason Ryles as head
coach for next year? And it looks like a lot
of the work is already going on. So, like you say,
if they've written off this season, that's this is a
free pass for the Warriors. They have to come out
and just you know, put a big, big, you know,
thirty point winner. Has Mount Smart sold out, it would
be close. I don't think it's sold out yet, but
(23:04):
these last two home.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Games surely surely sell it out because the Warriors a
odds on here to sell every seat this season, which
would be unheard of the occasion of spectacular when you
go there on your weekend evening.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
So let's see if we can sell it out again.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans, Big Hits,
Big Moments, The Big League Podcast.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Okay, Alex Palces quickfire predictions ahead of a bumper Round
twenty two, crucial Game four the Warriors. But we start
off with the Tigers and the Cowboys. Tigers obviously coming
off the loss of the Warriors. The Cowboys still sitting
in that top eight there in sixth position at the
moment Tiger's at home.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
How you're feeling Cowboys?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Surely you look at that top eight and you think,
how are the Cowboys there? Like they haven't done much
where you've think they're definitely top bit side, but they've
got the results on the board.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
They're sort of they've flown under the radar they this season,
they really have, and we've never talked about them.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
No, but you look at them and they were I mean,
the table doesn't lie and they're comfortably in there. Yeah,
not comfortably, but they're in there.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
There's setting sixth on the latter eleven wins, eight losses
there on twenty six points, just heat of Manly on
twenty five and then there's a backlog of teams on
twenty four to twenty two to twenty one, just outside
the eight. But I'm going to agree with you there
and go for the Cowboys. Pretty straightforward.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
Warriors Eels. It mounts, Matt.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
I mean, I'm not thinking I'm allowed back on this
podcast if I don't say Warriors.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
I agree Warriors to beat the Eels. Dolphins versus the Roosters.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Dolphins unexpectedly losing on the wee Ken to the Titans
have coused a fair few upsets this season. The rooster
is getting it done unconvincingly, thirty four to thirty over Manly.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
I'm going to go to the Dolphins. I don't think
the Roosters look very good against Manley, even in the.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Victory, really, but the Dolphins don't look great either.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
No I know, but they're they're at home and they
hope that they get some sort of advantage from that.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Going to back the Brewsters here, Titans Broncos, Titans at
home on the Gold Coast Titans, I'm going to have
I agree with you as well there. Actually, Broncos have
been so up and down the seat, I don't think
they're going to make the eight Storm versus the Dragons Storm.
Speaker 5 (25:15):
I think Melbourne will probably win the comp this year.
To be honest, they just look a little bit better
than everyone else.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
They cool, but hard to argue with you on the
Dragons game. Sharks, Bunnies, Bunnies. They lost on the weekend
as well. A little bit of an upset there, the
Raiders getting it done by twenty points thirty two to twelve.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
Yeah, look, I mean I think the Sharks will get
up surely the Bunnies don't. Red then basically out of
it now, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Well, we talked about the Cowboys and how they haven't
you know, we haven't really talked about them at all
this season, but they beat the Sharks thirty to twenty two.
The Sharks just haven't looked so good in the second
half of the season. They were coming off the bye,
but just I don't know, they seemed to be a
bit up and down having been so dominant in the
first half of the season.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Who'd you go with the Sharks?
Speaker 5 (25:59):
I went with the Sharks.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Yeah, I'm gonna agree with you there and pick them
to get it done over the Bunnies and Panthers versus.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
The Knights Panthers. Nathan Clary's back. He ripped up last
week and I like to think he's peaking at the
right time of the season.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
And Bulldogs versus the Raiders, which weirdly is quite a
big game because the Bulldogs are in the top eight
in the Raiders vying for that spot. They're in a
ninth at the moment. But even on points with the
Dolphins on twenty four, who are eighth, can the Bulldogs
go fourth or the win here they are on twenty
six points, they go level with the Sharks. It would
(26:34):
depend on the points differential.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
Yeah, I mean I think the Bulldogs will do it,
which I mean just another step and what's been a
pretty incredible season for them.
Speaker 4 (26:41):
I will agree with you to finish there.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
Thank you Alex Powell for your time, your wisdom, you're
insight on the Big League Podcast this week. My name
is Nathan Limb. Please follow and rate the podcast. We
will be back next Monday. Can the Warriors keep this
run going and make your charge for the eight?
Speaker 4 (26:55):
It is not over. Have a great week.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
For more from News Talks, there'd be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go. With Up podcasts on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio The.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Big League Podcast podcast by News Talks HEB.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, winger Dulan Wattenis
Alesniak reflects on the outstanding performance of Roger tooy Varsa
Sheck and fullback in the Vital Wind over the Wests
Tigers at Mount Smart, and also gives his thoughts on
Mowla Graham Tolfer's showing at Center. New Zealand's Herald writer
Alex Powell is back to get on his knees and
beg Andrew webs to leave arts at fullback, and his
(00:46):
former All Black Nanni lal Marpi coming back to the Warriors.
My name is Nathan Limb. Let's go god b l B.
He's not going to play fullback. It's not gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Shosh shosh, the voices.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Roger tooy Vasa Sheck is superman once again, stepping up
at fullback and once again dominating from the back two
hundred and ninety three run meters. He saved two tries
with outstanding scrambling defense and beat Tigers attackers to their
kicks on the Warriors line. Look, I can't deny the
(01:21):
Warriors look fantastic when he is there, but Chance Nickel,
Cookstar and tained To Opeki have never let the side
down and they will remain the first and second choice
number ones. We have long since passed the point where
Warriors coach Andrew Webster cringes and laughs when asked about
whether Tui Vasishek should play fullback. Honestly, I'm sick of
(01:44):
the topic, but the reality is it won't go away.
New Zealand Herald writer Alex Powell last week, you're adamant
that he should play fullback. I imagine you've now changed yourself
to that opinion. I'm sure you can tell. I'm conflicted.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
Good a mate, Thanks for having me. Look, I've said
it for two weeks now. I'm a very late member
on board the trained But the Warriors just look a
bitter team when Roger too Aschek is there because they're
getting the best out of one of their best players.
I mean, this whole idea of Roger's not a fullback,
he's a center now appears to just be so we
(02:24):
don't upset or so Andrew Webster sorry does an upset
Chance on two o'clock's ad, which I get. You know,
Chances has had to work very hard to be the
warriors number one fullback, all right. He started out at
the Warriors as a center in the juniors. Then he
made his first grade debut as a winger. Couldn't get
in the team over Roger in the first place, along
with Kenamalo and David Fastur on the wings, went to Canberra,
(02:45):
did really well, went to a Grand Final, came back.
You know, let's not forget when the Warriors lost Reese Walt,
they got Chance back, and I don't think enough is
made of that. If you asked Warriors fans now who
they'd rather have out of Chance or Reese Walt, I
think most of them would say change.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
I'd say Chance as a character.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Thing, never mind just doing his player.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
For the culture and his effort on defeat. I think
he matches the Warriors game plan better than Reese Wall,
who's obviously just He is an outstanding individual, but overall
Chance is better for their team makerup.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Admittedly, we didn't see Reese walh under Andrew Webster. I
would like to see how that went, but we have
to live in the reality we have, not the one
we want. Chancellcloxad's a great guy. I honestly love him
being part of this team. He lives down the road
from me. The number if I had a dollar for
every time I saw him at St. Luke's Moore getting
a curry, I'd have about three dollars.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
Great. I'm sure he knows he lives up the road
from you too.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
He won't have a clue who I am. But no,
I think if we ultimately come down to it, the
Warriors are better getting the best out of Roger at fullback.
Chancell Cloxad has played in a Rugby League World Cup
as a center. Right. If it's a straight swap between
the two, I don't think much changes apart from you
are now freeing Roger to do what he wants to do.
(03:59):
See you're calling for a straight swap, Just a straight swap. Admittedly,
you know. I don't think they will. I think Webster
is going to stick to his guns here. It's too
late now, it's too late now. That's not me saying
Roger will never make it as a center, because he
absolutely has the skill to. I think if he has
another pre season at center, we'll see obvious improvements and
if the Warriors get all their cattle at the same time,
(04:20):
it'll obviously be a better team.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
So I'll put this to you then, because the Warriors
are down on stocks at center and we're going to
talk about Ali laud Taa and Wila Graam Tulfa, who
performed very well. But if Tayne comes back, do you
keep like if you're the coat, you keep Tane out
of the squad entirely and you just stick with the
two youngsters at center when you've got two fullbacks.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
If I was tained to a picky, I would really
consider my future at the Warriors. You can't be a
first grader knowing that your job is to be a backup.
That's not fair on a professional rugby league footballer. And
in saying that, also another quick point I'd like to make.
We are yet to see Roger playing at fullback and
a team with Chance. You know, Roger's best performances at
fullback or sorry, best perumans of the year against you know,
(04:59):
you look at the Tigers game, you look at against
the Knights and believe round four, both at fullback and
Chance's absence, we are yet to see them do that together,
and that's I think what what needs to come next.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
It's a really interesting point.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Here is Warrior's coach Andrew Webster talking about Roger after
the game. It wasn't perfect from Roger in terms of
what webs they had to say, some.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Big says, some good carries. I think I think he
was awesome that in that area.
Speaker 6 (05:24):
He's still like learning the defensive numbers, Roger like he
hasn't done it for a while, balancing up our defensive
line on our trial line. But he's finding a way
through effort and he's finding a way to come up
with something.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
He hasn't even done it for a while. If he's
that good having not done it for a while, what's
it going to be like if he's doing it every week?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Oh yeah, yeah, we're gonna hear from Dulan wattis a
lisnik in just a moment. But first, here are the
highlights Warriors twenty eight Tigers sixteen. Shout out to gold
Sports Abeve and there are for his outstanding commentary.
Speaker 7 (06:04):
We're underway, Harris Tabita, move quickly, take out tight well
tight dusks coming across the Harris Tobata, Fuck the t
I stopped man like Tolsa starts at the tone.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Na coming across Chapaul Warriors t head skull.
Speaker 7 (06:22):
Only a tach kotos how he's a dane job. There's
a try right Papa Laggi fight holds the post to
the stand and Kumaka deflington.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Here's a trolley by the corner. Stein skulls four meters
out the Warriors.
Speaker 7 (06:35):
They come a right headside Harris know a bike.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Hay starts under the sticks.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
You Stephen grubber cut glorious head position. Here's toy Nasa
shick staffing away Rice hit Awai. Here's Roger toys a
shiks don't going Tut's hen on the thun.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
He returns the vote of the hard way.
Speaker 7 (06:53):
That's what happens when he plays at moo back. Why
Tennis a lazy it tumming across field, jogging to the fence.
Pays coming in Tellton crying in telphon turn us in
the line. There's why Tenny's a head drink. Pay starts
under the sticks. The Warriors keep these season alive. There's
a massive mountain.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Audio courtesy of sky Sport The Big League Podcast Now
in the absence of Michael Burgess. New Zealand Herald writer
Christopher Reeve was at the game and managed to get
a quick chat with dulan Wa Tini Zealisniak, who had
a try and a game high eight tackle breaks.
Speaker 8 (07:32):
Just how did it feel out there tonight, John, some
new boys and beside you, particularly Malalasid.
Speaker 9 (07:37):
Yeah, yeah, Mahala, he played an awesome games helped me
out a lot defensively, it was awesome, and an attack
as well. Just communication and talking to each other helped
us be on the same page.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
And yeah, I really enjoyed playing alongside.
Speaker 8 (07:50):
And you're getting probably getting a few guys back in
the coming weeks. You know, from what you've seen of
the Boys in the last couple of weeks, how well
placed other team to make a run in the coming weeks.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Yeah, we got the confidence.
Speaker 9 (08:01):
We know when we're on we can match any team
in the comp And and yeah, that's just the biggest
focus is focusing on us.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
And there's stages.
Speaker 9 (08:11):
Tonight where we showed some really good resilience and some
patches that we're going to obviously focus on. And there's
some patches there that we'll get. We're going to get
some good lessons out of so it's good to come
with the win with lessons still learn.
Speaker 8 (08:23):
In terms of tonight, you got a lot more space
with the ball off the kicks just for yourself.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
How much of a difference is that?
Speaker 8 (08:30):
And I guess how nice was it that the forwards
were having that sort of impact that the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Were having to kick. Yeah, it's always nice to be
in space.
Speaker 9 (08:36):
Love space, seat of having to carry the ball out
of yard it to get some national time, it's quite
nice to get.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Some room and have some fun.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
It's nice Roger had a good game at the back.
Do you notice anything different with a guy like that
as opposed to maybe slightly different style from Charms and Tame.
Speaker 9 (08:53):
I think he's got a next round up mentality and.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Roger's been there before and Roger's good, He's.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
He'll play anywhere for the team and he does a
really solid job and any position who plays. So I
think Roger created a lot of space for me. Obviously
he made that break early which gave us space out
why to come away at that try? So yeah, there
they played, they both played differently and they both suit
(09:20):
our system.
Speaker 8 (09:20):
All the work I guess was Lastly, how nice after
that first twenty minutes following the RESTA was it to
see the boys, you know, get back into gear and
can really pick on with things after the Tigers threw
back into the game.
Speaker 10 (09:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (09:33):
I think that's why I touched on the resilience side.
There's there's somewhere we had a lot of resilience and
then some of them we didn't have so much. So
I think I said it before as well as that
we become away of two points with lessons to learn,
which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
This is the Big League Podcast.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
This is our yeah, the big League podcast on the
Warriors bad Wagons since day one, Right.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Alex Powell, Let's go through this game in a little
bit more detail. First of all, the players standouts for me?
How good We talked about Roger Twivasis Sheik obviously he
was a but how good is Ari l'ataua. I want
to talk about him because every time he has been
called up to first grade, every time he has delivered
two line breaks, so powerful with ball in hand, great
(10:22):
running lines. He scored a try off a short ball
from to Martin. He is a credit to the Warriors
development system, isn't he?
Speaker 5 (10:29):
He is Ali La Tao is probably the player I
was most looking forward to seeing this season. He only
got the one game last year, and that was a
very impressive performance against the Raiders away. But you're right,
every time he gets on the field, you just think, Wow,
this kid has everything.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
You know.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
I really hope he's in this team for ten years,
you know, ten years plus, because I don't see him
losing his spot now.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Yeah, and it just I mean, you've got obviously Adam pompeiout,
Roccoberry at Rogers moved to fullback. The talent that they
have down the pipeline at center specifically seems to be really,
really strong. So I suppose also that ties into our
earlier discussion about moving players.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
He gives Andrews.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
I suppose these players like Maila Graham Tolfer and Ali
Lata so much security and confidence knowing that actually you
can move Roger and you're not going to have a
hole at center or someone who's defensively not up to it.
I thought both of them. Milea Graham Tolfer a bit
quieter than Layatawa, but he was solid.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
I thought his combination with Dallen was excellent. You know,
they looked just looked natural the two of them. Center
is quite a hard position to quantify. Obviously, with wingers
and fullbacks, you're going off run meters and you know,
line breaks and tries. Center, you don't really get that.
They're not as on the ball as often as your
back three might be. But those two I thought were excellent.
(11:47):
I think if you look at every metric they had,
they would have outperformed their opposition.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Yeah, and I suppose Dylan wy Tennis a Leslie had
a great game on attack and defense. But specifically talking
about attack, you talk about his combination with Leo tol Im, sorry,
with Graham Tulfer. Do you think that what Graham Tulfer
was able to do during that game actually helped give
Dullan a bit more space, especially down that right edge
(12:12):
of the second half. We saw that fantastic try back
end of the second half that sort of sealed the
game for the Warriors.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I think the way the whole back line played just
left the Tigers with, you know, not a lot they
could do. There was just so much space for all
of them. It felt like even you know, look at
the other edge, lad Tower and Course heat together, and.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I suppose there was so much positive to come out
of this game. Actually, we just touched on Infantil Blake too.
Game high eighty six post contact meters. The top Tigers
player had forty six, So he's done four more, forty
more meters than the top Tigers player. So he was
outstanding and so important to the Warriors go forward through
the middle during that game, and while there was plenty
to talk about in terms of positives, the Warriors left
(12:50):
a hell of a lot of points out there, and
I was feeling very nervous around the half hour mug
when they only had four on the board, and they'd
been controlling possession and territory for so much of that
first half, forcing repeat sets but not capitalizing on them.
Ed course, he dropped the ball and tackle won when
they had a scrum inside the Tigers twenty. They were
(13:11):
forcing repeat sets but just not finishing them. But then
in the second half it started to click a little
bit more and they were a lot more clinical with
the basics the catch pass.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Just to briefly touch on Adam, that was a big
contest up against stefanou To Kamando, who is definitely the
big up and coming prop in the n L I
didn't notice Stefano doing anything there for Noil Blake showed
who the big dog really is. It's sad to think
these are his last, you know, going to be his
last few games with the Warriors. Probably leaves next year
because I think what he's given to this club. And
(13:42):
obviously this will be looked at it closer to the
time of the end. But geez, he'd been in the
conversation as one of the great Warriors props.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
You'd probably be right actually one hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
And to touch on your original question before I derailed it, Yeah, look,
we said this last week, didn't we. There is a
worry with the Warriors not taking advantage of the opportunities
they're getting. The best NRAL teams do that. If you
look at Melbourne at Penrith, they get a chance, they
score it. You know you cannot be wasteful in there.
If there's two rules of playing in our l football,
(14:17):
make no mistakes, take your chances. The Warriors need to
get better at him.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Both Well, it's really easy for us to sit here
in a studio and say that on a podcast, but
I suppose you're right in terms of just about it
was just little errors offloads maybe didn't need to be given,
you know, drop balls that normally would go to hand.
This is we know that the Warriors are should be
a top eight side. They can play at that level.
(14:41):
They can foot it with every team in the NRL.
But I suppose we are seeing this trend where it
just takes them a little while to get into the game.
And that's really hard for Andrew Webster to address. It's like,
it's not something I don't know how you drill that
at training, and you and I are not qualified to
speak on that, you know, So it is something that
we can observe and we can ask the question. But yeah,
(15:03):
it is, I guess a concern, I suppose, but in
this scenario, they were able to get it right and
they can came away with the win. Sanell Harris Devita,
who was under so much pressure this week obviously after
last week, and I really felt for him, obviously came
out in defense of him, and he missed the first
two kicks in that game as well, and everyone could
sort of you could feel the tension whenever he stepped
(15:25):
up to the tee. But when he did get that one,
that third kick, it was really nice that just the
smile on his face, he looked relaxed before the kick,
the little laugh afterwards, and the crowd got into it
as well.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I do like that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Something I guess so negative that sort of resulted in
a lost last week has kind of become something pozzitive,
something he could smile about.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
I'd argue he wasn't under pressure. We heard in the
week how well supported he was, not just by the staff,
by his teammates, but by other players and alder number
of gold Kickers that reached out to him during the week.
But you're right, you know, Chanelle's a bit of a character.
You know, if someone makes a mistake, he'll always give
them a bit of stick from the opposition that is.
And when that happens, you do if prepared to take it.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
And he is here is Andrew webs on that moment
talking about sell Harris Tavita.
Speaker 10 (16:12):
Sometimes footy he can just be too serious. Can we
all had his back?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Last week?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
We loved him.
Speaker 10 (16:17):
I thought he struck the first one from the sign
really well, was going over'd be sure, so I was like, Okay,
I think he's on there, And then when he got
that one, I think the whole new Zealand was pretty
happy for him.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Now, Waite Egan, we'll just touch on him really quickly.
I was thinking at the start of the game when
I was watching us, Jesus, it's been a while since
Waye Egan got it, did all these injuries and actually
Wade Egan's do it all right, and then he took
a massive knock to the head head on someone's hip.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Did he go off for that?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
He did.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
He came off after that head knock and Freddie Losk
finished the game. I mean, we'll see when the team
is named if he's and the concussion protocols are not.
There's not been that many comms out about it.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
No, no, we haven't had.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
There was a Warriors and media session today at one
point thirty. We're recording this on Monday morning, so we
will find out about this. But I guess just a
little bit concerning given his history and we kept talking
about it. He has had such a good run without injury,
so hopefully he is okay.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
The big League pod.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The Warriors bad day one.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Right, Narni Lao Marpi, do you remember him?
Speaker 8 (17:26):
He's going to run out him blades and day come
back in clap.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
I just stuck him. Of course you do.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
He debuted in twenty thirteen before switching to union ahead
of the twenty sixteen Super Rugby season. He helped the
Hurricanes win their maiden titled before daybooing for the All
Blacks in twenty seventeen, going on to win thirteen Test camps.
He's gone overseas. He's been playing in Japan, which caused
quite the stir here and a lot of people wanted
to hold onto him for the All Blacks jersey, but
(18:00):
he left Insidar didn't want him. On Friday, he was
at Mount Smart with the Warriors before the game. On
Monday morning, the Warriors posted this quote on Instagram. I
came back and watched the captain's run and it definitely
lit a fire to finish off what I started. So
we'll never know what will happen. Hopefully my agent can
(18:22):
get some stuff sorted. I'd like to come back, Alex Powell.
Am I dreaming.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
I don't know what to make of this, to be honest,
I mean like I'd like to go and play for
I'd like to go as well, Narni, But that doesn't
mean it's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Yeah, but you're not an All Black in a formal What, yeah,
are you going to bust through four tackles forty meters
out and.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Make the line?
Speaker 5 (18:41):
I mean probably not.
Speaker 8 (18:42):
No, You're not.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
I'm going to tell you right now, you're not.
Speaker 8 (18:44):
No.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
I mean my big question here is salary cap. Like
those Japanese rugby contracts are quite lucrative. You know, you
look at Jilley Marnin, who's leaving the Roosters because he's
going to go and make a lot more playing in Japan.
I don't know the value of Narni's contract, but I
imagine he's probably well off, given that he was prepared
to leave a big French deal to go there. But
as a player, of course, what are you walk into?
(19:07):
The proced been quite similar to Latawa and what he does,
And obviously Lataha is many years younger.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I think I think, I think if he wants to
come back to the Warriors, I think they should take him.
He's a human wrecking ball.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
And you're right.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
When he played for the Warriors in his very early career,
like from twenty four thirteen to twenty fifteen, he played
on the wing, he played in the number two jersey.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
If he were to come back.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
You think you throw him in at center given a
skill set defensively, would he be up to it? We
know his power with the ball in hand, who's seen
it so many times? Or would you put him on
the wing?
Speaker 5 (19:41):
I knowed I'd move him into the centers. Obviously you
want a guy like that, you know, basically as close
to the middle of the field as possible so he
can sort of get a bit of go forward from him.
But you're right, it would It would be amazing to see,
wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Salary cap You're right, would be an issue because they're
also obviously getting James Fisher Harris. The money's freed up
from Edwin fan nor Blake, and we obviously don't know
the numbers, but I mean who they'd have to say
goodbye to someone? If they're bringing nine in, I might
be back at least one.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
And you do also have to remember that they've also
re signed Wade Eggan and Mitch Barnett this year, and
you'd think they would be on bigger money than what
they're originally on. But I mean, this is just the
life of an NFL club. It is a balancing act.
You know, you do have to try and get the
reports out of James Fisher Harris's that he's on considerably
less than what Afanel Blake was getting, which has freed
them up to spend that money elsewhere. So like these
(20:31):
things are always moving.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
So, like I said before, we do have the Warriors
met decision today, So things are going to come out
over the week about this and we'll find out a
little bit more information that maybe we can talk about
next week.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
As well Big League Podcast.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Right on Friday, to keep their top eight hopes in
their hands, the Warriors host the Eels at Mount Smart.
It is their second to last home game of the season.
And let me make no mistake when I tell you this,
the Eels are rubbish. They sit second to last on
the ladder, four wins, fourteen losses. They've lost six in
a row. He'd coach a Brad Arthur midway through the season.
(21:11):
They are without half back Mitchell Moses who's undergone surgery
on a bicep rupture. He is out for the season.
They have a harvest combination which is familiar names to
New Zealand this day, John Rci former Warrior and Dylan Brown,
who was obviously a key we Alex Powell. Can we
say okay, we're going to get this one and there
still still in the top a conversation.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
The Eels are the Warriors. The Warriors.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
I was gonna say, Els definitely are. Oh look, I mean,
you don't want to throw anything out there this season
because there's just been one of those seasons. But you're
right one to thirteen they should have too much for
the Els. The Eels are a very good like they
do have a very good squad. You look at some
of those.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Guys, you know, Clint Gatherson at fullback.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Blaze to Lungey looks like it
looks like he's going to be a great play. They're
talking about sacking Clint Gunson to play him at fallback
next year. But those losses of not having Mitchell Moses,
who is a State of Origin winning half back now,
but Jermaine Hopgood as well, who's one of the best
up and coming lockforwards in the comp those are two
big losses you talk about Dayjohn, I see there's a
lot on him now, but you're you're right, the Warriors
(22:10):
should have too much.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
They should and you.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Think, I guess with like sacking a coach midway through
the season. We see it sometimes when we see a
bounce back and performance from teams when they get a
coach out of there that maybe I don't know if
something was going on with the culture, but there's obviously
so much turmoil going on off the pitch for this club,
and I get the feeling the officials kind of sorry
(22:34):
the club. The heads of the club sort of wrote
the season off midway through when they sacked Brad Arthur
and things were starting to go downhill because they started
off the season so strongly.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
Will they have a point at Jason Ryles as head
coach for next year? And it looks like a lot
of the work is already going on. So, like you say,
if they've written off this season, that's this is a
free pass for the Warriors. They have to come out
and just you know, put a big, big, you know,
thirty point winner. Has Mount Smart sold out, it would
be close. I don't think it's sold out yet, but
(23:04):
these last two home.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Games surely surely sell it out because the Warriors a
odds on here to sell every seat this season, which
would be unheard of the occasion of spectacular when you
go there on your weekend evening.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
So let's see if we can sell it out again.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans, Big Hits,
Big Moments, The Big League Podcast.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Okay, Alex Palces quickfire predictions ahead of a bumper Round
twenty two, crucial Game four the Warriors. But we start
off with the Tigers and the Cowboys. Tigers obviously coming
off the loss of the Warriors. The Cowboys still sitting
in that top eight there in sixth position at the
moment Tiger's at home.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
How you're feeling Cowboys?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Surely you look at that top eight and you think,
how are the Cowboys there? Like they haven't done much
where you've think they're definitely top bit side, but they've
got the results on the board.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
They're sort of they've flown under the radar they this season,
they really have, and we've never talked about them.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
No, but you look at them and they were I mean,
the table doesn't lie and they're comfortably in there. Yeah,
not comfortably, but they're in there.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
There's setting sixth on the latter eleven wins, eight losses
there on twenty six points, just heat of Manly on
twenty five and then there's a backlog of teams on
twenty four to twenty two to twenty one, just outside
the eight. But I'm going to agree with you there
and go for the Cowboys. Pretty straightforward.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
Warriors Eels. It mounts, Matt.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
I mean, I'm not thinking I'm allowed back on this
podcast if I don't say Warriors.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
I agree Warriors to beat the Eels. Dolphins versus the Roosters.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Dolphins unexpectedly losing on the wee Ken to the Titans
have coused a fair few upsets this season. The rooster
is getting it done unconvincingly, thirty four to thirty over Manly.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
I'm going to go to the Dolphins. I don't think
the Roosters look very good against Manley, even in the.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Victory, really, but the Dolphins don't look great either.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
No I know, but they're they're at home and they
hope that they get some sort of advantage from that.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Going to back the Brewsters here, Titans Broncos, Titans at
home on the Gold Coast Titans, I'm going to have
I agree with you as well there. Actually, Broncos have
been so up and down the seat, I don't think
they're going to make the eight Storm versus the Dragons Storm.
Speaker 5 (25:15):
I think Melbourne will probably win the comp this year.
To be honest, they just look a little bit better
than everyone else.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
They cool, but hard to argue with you on the
Dragons game. Sharks, Bunnies, Bunnies. They lost on the weekend
as well. A little bit of an upset there, the
Raiders getting it done by twenty points thirty two to twelve.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
Yeah, look, I mean I think the Sharks will get
up surely the Bunnies don't. Red then basically out of
it now, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Well, we talked about the Cowboys and how they haven't
you know, we haven't really talked about them at all
this season, but they beat the Sharks thirty to twenty two.
The Sharks just haven't looked so good in the second
half of the season. They were coming off the bye,
but just I don't know, they seemed to be a
bit up and down having been so dominant in the
first half of the season.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Who'd you go with the Sharks?
Speaker 5 (25:59):
I went with the Sharks.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Yeah, I'm gonna agree with you there and pick them
to get it done over the Bunnies and Panthers versus.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
The Knights Panthers. Nathan Clary's back. He ripped up last
week and I like to think he's peaking at the
right time of the season.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
And Bulldogs versus the Raiders, which weirdly is quite a
big game because the Bulldogs are in the top eight
in the Raiders vying for that spot. They're in a
ninth at the moment. But even on points with the
Dolphins on twenty four, who are eighth, can the Bulldogs
go fourth or the win here they are on twenty
six points, they go level with the Sharks. It would
(26:34):
depend on the points differential.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
Yeah, I mean I think the Bulldogs will do it,
which I mean just another step and what's been a
pretty incredible season for them.
Speaker 4 (26:41):
I will agree with you to finish there.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
Thank you Alex Powell for your time, your wisdom, you're
insight on the Big League Podcast this week. My name
is Nathan Limb. Please follow and rate the podcast. We
will be back next Monday. Can the Warriors keep this
run going and make your charge for the eight?
Speaker 4 (26:55):
It is not over. Have a great week.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
For more from News Talks, there'd be listen live on
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you go. With Up podcasts on iHeartRadio,
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