Kickoff is looming for the Warriors, as the team gears up for their next clash in Brisbane.
The Warriors are hoping to keep the streak alive after beating the Parramatta Eels 36-14 in their last match.
Warriors CEO Cameron George joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB or.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are your CEO, Cam George is with us? How good
seeing so many Warriors shirts around Brisbane?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Cam?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Have the last few days been for you?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Yeah? Very busy mate, but yeah it's great to be
in Southeast Queensland obviously Brisbane and see so much support
for our footy club. Makes you really proud to be
a part of it and I know the boys are
really feed off it today, so looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
The Warriors have built such a strong connection with your
fan base over several seasons now, but how much does
a weekend like this reinforce that the club has become
a team for all Keywies, not just Auckland based fans.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah. We represent everyone anyone that's connected to New Zealand
in particular and live over here and have done so
for many years. We want them to feel part of
our jumper and I genuinely believe that that's grown and
grow on here on year and we do a great
job as a club, players and staff across the board
(01:13):
to really engage and doesn't matter you know whether you
live or where you live. If you know you are
connected to New Zealand, this is your team and we
want to make you proud.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
A real festival atmosphere around Brisbane all weekend. As someone
involved deeply in the game, how much value is there
in the NRL taking the game out of the traditional
weekly format and creating this kind of spectacle across a
weekend and doing it year on year on year.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It's important. I'm just standing here outside our hotel and
the thing that is what the NRL are looking at
and should be looking at. Mustle's clubs are looking at
is the amount of families and kids that are here
celebrating rugby league for the weekend. Now I'm looking at
three very young kids in front of me. One's got
a Broncos jumper on, a Storm jumper on, and a
(02:02):
Saint George jumper on. They're all part of the same family. Like,
how awesome is that that they're all come to one
location to watch their teams play. And you know that
that's the generational shift our games making and you know
winning at the moment and the Warriors are playing a massive,
massive part in that, and you know we're very proud
to be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Game day aside what sort of opportunities does Magic Ground
create for the likes of yourself and the other CEOs
to get together and and have a yarn about a
few things.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Well during the course of the week, it's built up
where the CEO conferences and marketing and commercial and all
of the different departments if you like, you know, come
together and talk about the challenges and as a team,
as a as a game, how do we how to
improve across the board and so there's a lot of
(02:54):
benefits in that way. And look, it's just really I
feel like it's it's just a really good theme for
the game in general because everyone connects, everyone promotes it,
and everyone really joins it. And yes, we're here to win.
That's the most important part for our footay club. But
at the same time, you know, the likes are putting
up a pop up store in Queenstown more Queen Street
(03:16):
Mall and stuff like that is innovative and great. So
the club does benefit and we benefit across across the week.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
How's the general feel at the moment about the expansion
with the Perth Bears coming on board next year, then
the P and G side everything on track, and how's
the general feel around the next break out of expansion
for the NRL.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Well, it was discussed at length during the course of
the week, and look, there's clearly some challenges around the
I suppose a depth or the quality that we're going
from seventeen teams to eighteen teams to nineteen teams in
the next two years and the reality is that's another
one hundred odd players being spread across two new clubs.
(04:00):
So the integrity the competition, we've got to try and
maintain it at such a high level. And you know,
Perth only got a very short runway into the competition
that we've only had twelve months and now down within
six months and they've got eighteen players signed, so they
need probably another twenty players to get there, and it's
(04:21):
just not easy to do. You know, there's only so
many players who can play so many positions. So I
think everyone's starting to think we've got to step in
and help where we can, to try and make sure
that when they start the competition they're going to be
as strong and as competitive as possible. I'm not just
talking about perfect any new team, and as a game
we're responsible for that. So it's easier said than done.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Mate, interesting week for the Warriors as well. We've got
Andrew Whipster on the radio after one o'clock and I'll
chat to him about this. But the Loop Metcalf situation,
how do you reflect on how that's played out across
the week.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I think it's played out as we wanted it to,
very efficient, very quick. We didn't want to be a
circus and a media story for days, days and days.
Luke knew that, you know, when he sat down and
spoke to us, and you know, asked the question about
exploring other options. You know, my job as part of
(05:18):
the club is to find a solution and protect our
club as quick as we can. And after talking to Webb,
it was like, okay, we'll grant you permission. We're not
going to be here for weeks and weeks reading about it.
Go and get the job done. Get back and you know,
it's all been done very quickly, which we appreciate and
were drawing a lot and moved on. We respect Luke,
We love Luke at the club for the rest of
the year, and he'll play his part at some stage,
(05:41):
no doubt, and he knows that. And yeah, I'm just
glad that for everyone's sake, we're not here for two
three four weeks reading about it, it said and done.
Now we move on.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, and that is the quickest way of moving on
is to grant the release. But was there any temptation
to say, you know what your contracted to us, we
want you to honor that contract. Was that part of
the discussion too, Not not.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
In those exact words, but you know, we would have
liked to have seen that and heard that. But at
the end of the day, that's not what was requested. So,
as I said, you can sit there and bashing ahead
against a brick wall. You can try and swim people's
feelings around, You can try and change things however, or
you can just get on with it and put solutions
(06:31):
in place. And that's what we've done, and that's in
the message about Footay Club. You know it's on our
first rate DAO on these circumstances. But at the end
of the day, my experience is the quickie you you
draw a line, move on one way or the other,
whether they stay or go. That's the best thing for
the club, not let it just go on for weeks
and weeks and try and have that. You know that
(06:53):
that argument if you like or debate to try and
swing their feelings around.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And thanks for the clarity there. Just before you go,
what are we about three and three and about hours
away from from kickoff? So what are the next three
hourshold for you? Are you and where do you watch from?
Do you able to get down on the fans or
do you have to stay up in the everywhere?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I'll be everywhere. I've just been down on the wall,
have at the shop and and then I'll head up
to Catson Streets soon and just stroll through and have
it beer with a few people. And Mat, I'll get
to the ground and yeah, I'll try and find some
quiet spots where I can, but it'll be pretty loud
there today. And man, I'm like to cat the hot
(07:33):
ten roof today, let me tell you.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
I just want to win so badly for our fans,
and it's going to be a big day, big game,
and yeah, hopefully you hopefully I'll just find a good
little spot I can watch.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Fantastic tax for here. Please tell Cam that even and
even and in the cargo we feel connected to the Warriors.
So there you go, mate, enjoy your afternoon. Good to
chat as always.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Thanks fining Take It Easy by Bike.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That's Cam George joining us on the show ahead of
this massive for the club and massive weekend for the
sport of rugby league.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB or.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are your CEO, Cam George is with us? How good
seeing so many Warriors shirts around Brisbane?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Cam?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Have the last few days been for you?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Yeah? Very busy mate, but yeah it's great to be
in Southeast Queensland obviously Brisbane and see so much support
for our footy club. Makes you really proud to be
a part of it and I know the boys are
really feed off it today, so looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
The Warriors have built such a strong connection with your
fan base over several seasons now, but how much does
a weekend like this reinforce that the club has become
a team for all Keywies, not just Auckland based fans.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah. We represent everyone anyone that's connected to New Zealand
in particular and live over here and have done so
for many years. We want them to feel part of
our jumper and I genuinely believe that that's grown and
grow on here on year and we do a great
job as a club, players and staff across the board
(01:13):
to really engage and doesn't matter you know whether you
live or where you live. If you know you are
connected to New Zealand, this is your team and we
want to make you proud.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
A real festival atmosphere around Brisbane all weekend. As someone
involved deeply in the game, how much value is there
in the NRL taking the game out of the traditional
weekly format and creating this kind of spectacle across a
weekend and doing it year on year on year.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It's important. I'm just standing here outside our hotel and
the thing that is what the NRL are looking at
and should be looking at. Mustle's clubs are looking at
is the amount of families and kids that are here
celebrating rugby league for the weekend. Now I'm looking at
three very young kids in front of me. One's got
a Broncos jumper on, a Storm jumper on, and a
(02:02):
Saint George jumper on. They're all part of the same family. Like,
how awesome is that that they're all come to one
location to watch their teams play. And you know that
that's the generational shift our games making and you know
winning at the moment and the Warriors are playing a massive,
massive part in that, and you know we're very proud
to be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Game day aside what sort of opportunities does Magic Ground
create for the likes of yourself and the other CEOs
to get together and and have a yarn about a
few things.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Well during the course of the week, it's built up
where the CEO conferences and marketing and commercial and all
of the different departments if you like, you know, come
together and talk about the challenges and as a team,
as a as a game, how do we how to
improve across the board and so there's a lot of
(02:54):
benefits in that way. And look, it's just really I
feel like it's it's just a really good theme for
the game in general because everyone connects, everyone promotes it,
and everyone really joins it. And yes, we're here to win.
That's the most important part for our footay club. But
at the same time, you know, the likes are putting
up a pop up store in Queenstown more Queen Street
(03:16):
Mall and stuff like that is innovative and great. So
the club does benefit and we benefit across across the week.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
How's the general feel at the moment about the expansion
with the Perth Bears coming on board next year, then
the P and G side everything on track, and how's
the general feel around the next break out of expansion
for the NRL.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Well, it was discussed at length during the course of
the week, and look, there's clearly some challenges around the
I suppose a depth or the quality that we're going
from seventeen teams to eighteen teams to nineteen teams in
the next two years and the reality is that's another
one hundred odd players being spread across two new clubs.
(04:00):
So the integrity the competition, we've got to try and
maintain it at such a high level. And you know,
Perth only got a very short runway into the competition
that we've only had twelve months and now down within
six months and they've got eighteen players signed, so they
need probably another twenty players to get there, and it's
(04:21):
just not easy to do. You know, there's only so
many players who can play so many positions. So I
think everyone's starting to think we've got to step in
and help where we can, to try and make sure
that when they start the competition they're going to be
as strong and as competitive as possible. I'm not just
talking about perfect any new team, and as a game
we're responsible for that. So it's easier said than done.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Mate, interesting week for the Warriors as well. We've got
Andrew Whipster on the radio after one o'clock and I'll
chat to him about this. But the Loop Metcalf situation,
how do you reflect on how that's played out across
the week.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I think it's played out as we wanted it to,
very efficient, very quick. We didn't want to be a
circus and a media story for days, days and days.
Luke knew that, you know, when he sat down and
spoke to us, and you know, asked the question about
exploring other options. You know, my job as part of
(05:18):
the club is to find a solution and protect our
club as quick as we can. And after talking to Webb,
it was like, okay, we'll grant you permission. We're not
going to be here for weeks and weeks reading about it.
Go and get the job done. Get back and you know,
it's all been done very quickly, which we appreciate and
were drawing a lot and moved on. We respect Luke,
We love Luke at the club for the rest of
the year, and he'll play his part at some stage,
(05:41):
no doubt, and he knows that. And yeah, I'm just
glad that for everyone's sake, we're not here for two
three four weeks reading about it, it said and done.
Now we move on.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, and that is the quickest way of moving on
is to grant the release. But was there any temptation
to say, you know what your contracted to us, we
want you to honor that contract. Was that part of
the discussion too, Not not.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
In those exact words, but you know, we would have
liked to have seen that and heard that. But at
the end of the day, that's not what was requested. So,
as I said, you can sit there and bashing ahead
against a brick wall. You can try and swim people's
feelings around, You can try and change things however, or
you can just get on with it and put solutions
(06:31):
in place. And that's what we've done, and that's in
the message about Footay Club. You know it's on our
first rate DAO on these circumstances. But at the end
of the day, my experience is the quickie you you
draw a line, move on one way or the other,
whether they stay or go. That's the best thing for
the club, not let it just go on for weeks
and weeks and try and have that. You know that
(06:53):
that argument if you like or debate to try and
swing their feelings around.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And thanks for the clarity there. Just before you go,
what are we about three and three and about hours
away from from kickoff? So what are the next three
hourshold for you? Are you and where do you watch from?
Do you able to get down on the fans or
do you have to stay up in the everywhere?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I'll be everywhere. I've just been down on the wall,
have at the shop and and then I'll head up
to Catson Streets soon and just stroll through and have
it beer with a few people. And Mat, I'll get
to the ground and yeah, I'll try and find some
quiet spots where I can, but it'll be pretty loud
there today. And man, I'm like to cat the hot
(07:33):
ten roof today, let me tell you.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
I just want to win so badly for our fans,
and it's going to be a big day, big game,
and yeah, hopefully you hopefully I'll just find a good
little spot I can watch.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Fantastic tax for here. Please tell Cam that even and
even and in the cargo we feel connected to the Warriors.
So there you go, mate, enjoy your afternoon. Good to
chat as always.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Thanks fining Take It Easy by Bike.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That's Cam George joining us on the show ahead of
this massive for the club and massive weekend for the
sport of rugby league.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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