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January 10, 2025 8 mins

A massive blow for the Warriors this week as their captain Tohu Harris retires due to injury. 

Harris ends his career with 117 appearances since he joined the Warriors in 2018.

What will his Warriors legacy be and what does this mean for his team? 

Former Warriors player Monty Betham talks to piney about the shock decision. 

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb massive blow for the Warriors this week, Captain Tohoo
Harris announcing on Thursday he is ending his playing career
with immediate effect. Why hot test match for timer on
this ground seven days ago?

Speaker 3 (00:25):
As we see Harris, Takoho Harris the kicking.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Just caught, good tackle Clark last play Aga to Harris
to clutch over for his first train the year.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yea man, I'm marked outside him. Look Metcalf warries your Kidnick,
compose your heir.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
It's Harris.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Harrass Harrass.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thursday equalizer here. Taho Harris set for his thirteenth NURL
campaign this year, but says ongoing problems following off season
surgery on a wrist injury have forced him to step
aside prematurely. Tahoe Harris ends his career with one hundred
and seventeen appearances since he joined the Warriors in twenty eighteen,

(01:12):
exactly the same number of games he played in his
five seasons with Melbourne between twenty thirteen and twenty seventeen,
two hundred and thirty four NRL games all up. Let's
bring in another Warriors legend Monty Betham, Monty, when you
heard this news, was it a surprise?

Speaker 3 (01:31):
I was probably a surprised for me. I didn't realize
how he was tracking after his operation. I knew he
was going in and I knew it was a big
problem for Hi and he was paid through a lot
of pain last year, the risk being the main cause
of a few problems that he had. But to hear that,
Mikey bronnounced from the email, came out in house first
before became public, and it just broke the internet, didn't it.

(01:52):
He was just everywhere as he should be because he's
a man that's been revered in Unfortunately it's the sad
way to infahr man for the game.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Indeed, what will Toho Harris's Warriors legacy be?

Speaker 3 (02:04):
Well and great? I think he's changed the way he's
changed the narrative of how I Loose forward's played. Over
the years, We've had some absolutely great ones, and you know,
Kevin Camping comes to mind, Simon Mannory, Michael Luck and
all these guys, the guys that are war horses, guys
that are sort of I wouldn't say one dimensional. I
want to give them more the respect that they deserve.
But in terms of having the all around ball playing ability,

(02:26):
the engine, the finesse that Tory Harris has and the
way he goes to the line. Him and Dinni Walker
of late and the way they been playing really has
been a key point of attack for the s Wuarreor side.
So Tory Harris for me, is one of the greats
to put on the jumper. He's played one hundred and
seventeen odd games for the clubs to shame that he
finishes prematurely, but like I know, he's loved and respected

(02:47):
within the organization as well. So it's huge.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
From it goes without saying Monty, this is a big
blow to the Warriors, but how big I.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Think it's huge. You think about the experience because you
lose Adam for will Break, you lose Shawn Johnson, you
lose Jack de Vung and then you also lose someone
I saw who which is something you didn't count. So
that's close to eight hundred and nine hundred games. I've
experienced a guy that's loved in the club. His wife
Naden Harley, comes in their family. You know, just the
way he plays, He's a big body, he's like six

(03:17):
foot five. He plays him at the park. He's got
the biggest engine, can play with the ball. He defends
very well and just the way he needs his side.
I think it's mess by actions, but he also has
the great words that you need every now and again.
It doesn't say much, but when he does holds our rumors.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, let's talk about the leadership void that will be
left with his departure. Already. You know a lot of
comments around about who will will lead the Warriors in
twenty twenty five. Is James Fisher Harris, even though he's
just coming in the best candidate for.

Speaker 3 (03:50):
You, I think he is. I think he's come over here.
It's good back to the game. This is where has
come from. He's a fine leader. I've read Ivan Clarire's
book and he speaks about James Forshair Harris hugely throughout
MS BEN and the last five Grand five was winning
four of them, and heeds away on the field. And
I've seen the way commands the respect and attention as

(04:12):
a leader in the Qui camp and I think you
can get the same for us here already in the
in the short week that I've seen him in camp
and doing what he doesn't have these little chats. I
believe he's a wonderful leader. But in saying that, you've
still got miss Baronet, You've still got Roger tv vashis check,
You've you've got a number of leaders in there around
around him and whoever gets that seat, And I'm thinking
dans Forsha Harris is the right candidate. I think he'll

(04:35):
be well a supporter in terms of lieutenants.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, I just want to talk about that. And you
often hear about leadership groups, Monty, don't you within any
sporting team, how important are those lieutenants to the guy
who actually, you know, where's the armband?

Speaker 3 (04:48):
I think is going to have a number of people
pulling in the right direction. And although you have your
your main leader, you've got to have other leaders in
and around them. That e goes the fame sentiments, the
same things and thoughts. It's in their own ways and
what they do, and it's you know, it's just not
one man. It's a number of people in around just
boarding you and killing the thoughts of the coach and

(05:08):
that as well. So there's some still some good leaders left,
although we've lost a few. Until we've been the most
recent which is a shock and he would be very
much from miss But you know, James Fisher Harris is
a wonderful letter and looking for its coming through and
then the other young guys coming through as well, just
showing their ways and understanding there is a year on
their journey and how they can grow under the leadership
of themselves and Mitch Barnett and others.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
How important is the off field role of the captain.
I'm not just talking around the playing group, but around
the club in general.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
Oh, I think it's huge, more so for me for
the playing group because it's about Dementric by Mango. It's
about Lettahale and that coming through and learning the right
way to do things, how to apply yourself to the
sport and and you know, and be in a situation
where you need the way and if you see things
not happen the way they should, you put a stop

(05:58):
to a straight away. And you know, he's the leader
of men, Fish and other men like Mitch Barnett and
having those guys around and these young guys coming through
which are the new crop, were really really exciting and
I think they are nucleus of a good side that
can really do some good things in this jumper. They
need their leadership in front of them, and I think
there's a good crew different him.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
Aside from the captaincy. Obviously, the Warriors now need to
replace till who Harris in the lock position, don't they?
Is Dylan Walker the obvious choice.

Speaker 3 (06:25):
There's a wonderful job last year in terms of when
he came in the game, he's pen and other games
as well, you know when we've had the be team
so to speak, out there and really pulled some numbers
over the position and get some results. But you know
there's also Aaron Clark who's loving being home, who's played
for the Keys for the first time and he's been
training very very well. Demitric Wamonga, You've got a lot

(06:46):
of boys, but it comes down to the engine. The
inter change is what you want to do with your
forward back. So there are some choices there for Wibi.
But you think that Dylan Walker, who's just a wonderful
part and has the same sort of attributes as so
who did last year like going to the line that
he should be a better vasion and just said that

(07:06):
run threat as well as past threat. But I think
which makes a difference.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
And just back to Tahoo Harris to finish, Monty. You know,
we only see him, you know, on television playing matches,
you know, in media situations. He looks humble, committed, team man,
family man. Is that the Taho Harris that you know?

Speaker 3 (07:25):
That is the authentic Tory Harris without a doubt. He
is the most humble, most polite guy to be around,
who really cares for people. He is selfless. He just
wants to work hard. He is this big human and
I think when you see him on the field, you
don't get a real gauge to how big he is
in person. But he's always there to do things for people.
And you know, people don't know, but both himself and

(07:48):
his wife they do a lot for the local community
and the local school down here. It's up a butt
and they are really wonderful human beings. So I hope
he sticks around because he is a good man, a
good human, and who'd be much needed around the place.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
Fantastic great to chet has always Monty. Thanks for taking
the time, Thanks Fanny, Thanks Monty. Monty beat them there.
Legend still part of the club and obviously part of
Sky Sports coverage of the NRL as well. And you
can watch the twenty twenty five NRAL season live on
Sky Sport and stream it on Sky Sport now from
the second of March. That's going to roll around pretty quickly,

(08:22):
isn't nothing. The Warriors start in Vegas, don't they? The
Warriors start off and in Vegas. Isn't that the first
place they go? I think it might be.

Speaker 1 (08:30):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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