April 27, 2025 • 34 mins
This week on The Big League Podcast - We hear from Warriors lock Erin Clark on his return to the Mt Smart club, his standout performances and what he's learning from the coaches.
Newstalk ZB's Nathan Limm and Nick Bewley talk the Warriors' top eight hopes, review the emphatic win over the Knights in Christchurch and look ahead to Magic Round.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio The
Big League Podcast League podcast pet by.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, we hear from
Warriors locke Aaron Clark on his return to the Mount
Smart club, his standout performances and what he's learning from
the coaches. Nick Bewley comes steaming off the interchange to
review the emphatic win over the Knights in christ Church
and we look ahead to magic rounds.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
My name is Nathan Limb.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Let's go god b LB five wins in six games.
The Warriors unlikely march up. The Nrral Ladder has them
fourth after eight rounds and just two points off the lead.
I say unlikely because this is not a polished team,
this is a rebuild. No one is really expecting them
to win the title. At the start of the season,
(01:04):
it was simply a debate over whether they had enough
to sneak into the eight. Have those expectations changed No,
not yet. The season is long and most sides are
yet to fully hit their stride. But if you want
to make the eight, you need to win games you're
expected to win. That's historically been a struggle for this club.
(01:26):
But in the Webster era, consistency and calm has been
a central focus and that is translating in the results.
Nick Bewley New Stalks, Heb's Voice of Sport in christ Church,
another one, this time over the nights. What were your
expectations of the club this year and have they changed
given this hot start?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Gay Nathan.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Yeah, Look, my expectations going into the year weren't certainly
as high as they were going into twenty twenty four.
Off the backer, you know, being one went away from
the Grand Final in twenty twenty three. We of course
knew that Shawn Johnson was retiring, We knew that Adam
Fanola Blake wasn't going to be at the club. We
eventually learned that Harris was medically retire. We had a
(02:12):
new halves peering and of course James Toshahara's coming in.
But there was a lot of uncertainty, as you say,
a bit of a rebuild phase or a bit of
a stock take as to where this club is at.
Some young players coming through, what sort of opportunities were
they going to be allowed? So look, I was sort
of probably in the similar sort of park to you
(02:33):
in terms of around the fringes of that top eight
if everything really went well and look then obviously they
had the loss to the Camber Raiders in Las Vegas,
and I was starting to think, I think that was
the last time I was on this podcast, and I
was starting to think, gee, WHEREZ It might be.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Quite a long year.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
The recovery since then, albeit the big loss to the
Melbourne Storm has been superb. As you say, it hasn't
been fully polished, but they're just doing enough. And it's cliched,
but you got to win ugly in this competition.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
It is so hard week to week.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
There is not much between teams in the top four
and teams even in the bottom four. So just a
bank those two competition points and be in the position
there and at the moment as a real testament to
the work that's been done behind the scenes, my expectations still,
you know, we're just a little under a third of
the way through the season. The Warriors also have had
one buy so I heard Andrew Websters say they're ladder
(03:23):
positions perhaps slightly inflated too by getting the two extra
competition points.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
So there's a long way to go to marathon, not.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
A sprint, but you can't argue with the five and
two records so far, they ought to be pleased.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Now, Bulls, I understand you were at the game, and Christius,
can you tell us a bit about the atmosphere what
a game, an NRL game is like down there in
comparison to Super rugby, because obviously there's so many leagues
in christ Church.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
This certainly is.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
And look, this is the second time I've been to
an NRL home game that the Warriors have hosted down here.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Was that the last year's win over the Canberra Raiders.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Again a sellout at Apollo Project Stadium out in Addington
for Friday's ans that day contest against the Newcastle Knights.
And it's going to be the last time the Warriors
do play out there. Of course from next year onwards
we're in our fantastic new Central City Stadium to Kaha,
really looking forward to that. But it is quite a
unique atmosphere in the sense the temporary stadium in grist
(04:21):
It's has been there since twenty twelve, since those devastating
earthquakes the year prior, and I think Andrew Webster's that
have said it best in the pre match media last week.
You can create quite a unique noise or atmosphere ambience
through the old scaffolding, You stamp your feet and you
really sort of create this sort of cauldron like feeling
(04:42):
and that was evident again on Friday night. Basically every
time you know, the Warriors were charging off the back
fence or a hot on attack in Newcastle's red zone,
that the crowd really got in and around it.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
And yeah, look it is quite different to Super rugby.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Was there a couple of weeks earlier for the Crusaders
Blues and it's not quite as loud and boisterous, so yeah,
the league dynamic is quite different to union. But no,
it was a fantastic occasion. Fortunate enough actually I was
hosted by the Warriors, so that was quite nice to
not have to be on the tools and the media
benches and just enjoying the game from a different perspective.
(05:18):
And look, it was a fantastic night out and great
news to see they announcing the club on Thursday that
they're going to come back right through to twenty twenty
eight with at least one game a year, so there's
definitely an appetite for rugby league down here and particularly
the Warriors and g They do a great job, not
only obviously the on field product, but everything wrapping and
(05:40):
around it. Obviously, it was Anzac day the New Zealand
Defense Force Army Band. They had Savage playing with the
New Zealand Defense Force Army Band.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah it was a cool day. Yeah, fantastic. And we're
going to hear from Aaron Clark shortly. But first here
are the highlights Warriors twenty six Nights twelve.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So we're underway in christ Church.
Speaker 6 (06:04):
Just a shoulder going in there from New Courty.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
It's direct contact, straight to head with Mono fourth and
game shoulder on report he's in the bin.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Fourth, I'm in the gas and non report in the room.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
So last player for Warriors Cake, Well, here's Top Team.
Top Team came off the side of his boot a.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Little bit but it's awkward. Oh what a past sept toppy.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
That's a try. Jackson four and fifty.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Rot speed again is really good.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Here's mccarf clock it's gone again.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
What's he driving tonight? Jackson for here's Gang I.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Almost getting through the gate. The Gang guy's got the pass.
Brilliance and it is James.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Siller going over a score for Newcastle.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
There's a good ball and senting. He is look, mcclf,
what are you too much?
Speaker 7 (06:56):
Gas?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Stocks tricking him and he can scores.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
The trive is looking for the killer blow. That's meccalf.
How un cup there to who I didn't learn something
from nothing? It's good three to the Warriors for the
first time on Antick Days since twenty fourteen.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
The Big League Podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
New Zealand Herald reporter Mike Thorpe was in christ Church
and had a chat to Aaron Clark. Let's take a listen, Aaron.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
It's be pretty good. Start with how things are going
with the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah I am.
Speaker 8 (07:38):
I'm happy here, Bro, I'm valued here and I'm learning
heaps under this coachy stuff and the players.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
So yeah, I'm jus.
Speaker 8 (07:46):
String a couple of wins off after that Melbourne gave hapful.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Is this some of the best.
Speaker 9 (07:51):
Football you've played in your career? I mean even it's
probably the two games you've lost. You've been considered the
best player than the Warriors team every week, yet.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
You're turning out sort of one. I want to be honest, Brad,
I don't see it like that.
Speaker 8 (08:05):
I just want to be a teammate that the voice
want to look to and I'm everything and everything's going
well and it's not going well, and I'll be just
a good teammate. And whether they're happy with that, at
the end of the day, as long as they got
my respect, I don't care what everyone has to say,
you know, Like, as long as I'm doing my job
up there, whatever comes with it comes with it.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
I'm just happier and things have changed the fear.
Speaker 9 (08:26):
But in the third department since you arrived from the
off season too, retiring Dyl and walk heating office, you
know that obviously gives you a lot more responsible than
the spot.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 8 (08:37):
And the good thing about that, we're just just telling
me to be myself, like they're try and be this person,
to be that person.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Just do what doing what you bring to the team, and.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Feel feel happy with that.
Speaker 9 (08:48):
Adding a little bits to your game sort of, you know,
trying to up your passing sort of thing.
Speaker 8 (08:53):
I think I I've still of learning Bro's That's a
cool thing, Like, I still have lots of learning getting
that balance. I went to pass mental run getting momentum.
I meant to just carrying.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I'm slowly getting that. Yeah, it'll take a while, but
you know, I'm still trying to learn this stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And I know you've talked about this football.
Speaker 9 (09:11):
But the one game in twenty seventeen and then sort
of bound defeated of the Titans a few years later.
How much does it mean to you have been, you know,
eight years later back as an integral part of the Warriors.
Speaker 8 (09:21):
But it's a messive ba and it's just the thing
to my kids love not to give up, and you know,
I just want them to them will come to me
in that sense that if I didn't.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Given a long ago, I won't be happy, and I will.
Speaker 8 (09:32):
Yeah, So I'm just happy I muckle down and give
it a cracking Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Separate God to take.
Speaker 8 (09:39):
I don't know if you heard, but when the team
was announced and the start of the game, your name's mentioned.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
When the crowd went up, probably louder than anyone else.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Oh, I don't know. It's short of following the team.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
I just do my job.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
I'm happy.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
How encourage you get two wins back back out change
the sham Harris.
Speaker 8 (09:58):
Yeah, and it just shows the depth we got at
the club, Like the next man up tottally it's throwing
around a lot. But we got that here, and let's
credit to Grebby and Andrew McFadden with the depths they
got at the club and if one person goes down,
someone's ready to go and we'll move up to our
standards and our top of footy.
Speaker 9 (10:18):
So so coming coming back, you know this year, have
you noticed a change in the sort of minds at
the club in the year message?
Speaker 8 (10:26):
But I've said that in a few interviews, like the
culture has changed. Everything that the club's got in place.
It's probably the best I've been under in my short
little career. So yeah, like I said, credits at the club,
not just the players and the staff, but the whole organization. Yeah,
it just makes makes pretty easier.
Speaker 9 (10:45):
You're used to going just an hour up the road
from for the Titans the Magic round there you're getting
off from Morepen for a Queensland trip.
Speaker 8 (10:53):
Looking forward to it, bro we could to catch up
with a few metes over there. Still close to all
the titles. Boys, it's not relevant after the game and
I just get over to get the two points.
Speaker 10 (11:01):
At the moment.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
They is the big league past.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
This is owing.
Speaker 10 (11:09):
Yeah, the Big League Podcast on the Warriors bandwagon since.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Da one great to hear from Aaron Clark there made
a team high forty five tackles. He's been a revelation
at the Warriors this year. Has any neck in terms
of what he's brought. He's been obviously a very different
player to tour Who Harris, but he's been so powerful
for them.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
He's been huge, and I think more broadly, if we
look at the entire NRL, other than Terrell May going
from the Roosters to the Tigers and his impact, iying
Aaron Clark could be the buyer of the Year in
the NRL given his impact on this team. As I
mentioned at the top, so much uncertainty around nottaur Who Harris,
Anapanel Blake leaving the middle rotation, Dylan Walker of course
(11:51):
getting the immediate release after a couple of rounds this season.
That lock position is just so critical in terms of
linking the middle of the park to the edges. And
he obviously comes from that sort of ball playing background.
Through the juniors he was a halfback. Obviously he's put
on a fair amount of size since, but his ability
to ball, as well as his strength and ball carrying.
(12:12):
You know what was it in the end, one hundred
and fifty five meters from seventeen runs, the four offloads
as well, that ability to create that second phase and
link with Wade Egan and manipulate the defensive line and
he had that perfect last pass a triasis for Jackson
Ford's second try. I think he's been massive for the club.
And you know, long mate, continue listening to that back
(12:34):
that interview that Thorpe he did there and he just
feels right at home and look he's you know, the
sky's the limit very much.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
I feel like he's just scratching the surface.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, it's incredible thinking that he was a half back
because obviously he's not super tall, but he's just a
ball of muscle. But let's go through this game in
a little bit more detail. It felt like the Warriors,
if we go from the start, we're all over them early.
And I don't want to take anything away from the
Warriors performance, but the Knights were poor. They had some
really average defense. Warriors obviously had to try ruled out
(13:09):
and they were just hampered as they have been throughout
this season, with lots of really basic errors on attack
drop balls, passes going awry.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
This is their fifth loss. I mean they're in a spiral,
aren't they.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Yeah, they're not in a great place. I did feel
for them as well.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
While the Warriors had there too disallowed tries, Newcastle had
had two disallowed as well, and then they had their
right winger James Shiller basically you know, dropping the ball
with the try line wide open. So they're just they're
unable to get anything really going on attack. A little
bit of that is through defensive pressure on the Warriors side.
I thought it was a pretty clunky first half in general,
(13:46):
and it must have meit when it around that sort
of twenty seven twenty eight minute mark looked up, Warriors
are only leading six now and as you say, for
all their dominance, it felt like they were you know,
it wasn't being reflected on the score line. So you know,
that second try eventually what was it to Addam Pompey
sorry Jackson Ford in the corner off a kick you know,
just helps it to stimy that.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
To reflect the Warrior's dominance.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
So yeah, still a lot of room for improvement for
the Warriors, but you know they were finding ways to
score try.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Still some clunky efforts on attack.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
I thought maybe by and large there was an improvement
there in terms of the kicking to get a couple
of tries off kicks basically through that middle dominance Shanelle
Harris Davita's kicks in particular, we're able to be a
bit more contestable, bit more pressure put on down that
left edge, and that led to the Adam Pompe try
on the first Jackson Ford tries. So that's an encouraging sign.
(14:39):
But still, yeah, it's not the finished product by any means.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
You're not the finished product.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
But I was actually really encouraged by what I saw
in terms of especially the kicking game. And it is
really nice to see because we're so used to watching
the Warriors and Sean Johnson basically does everything, pops up
on both sides of the ruck, does all the kicking,
and I'm really liking the sort of dual playmaker. Sanel
Harris DeVito's is more than capable of running the side.
I think from you know, he could play half back
(15:06):
if we needed him to. He and Metcalf just works
so well together and they've got Metcalf talked about this
a few weeks ago in terms of their similar age,
they view the game in a similar way and they
just bounce off each other. They work really well together.
Luke Metcalf had had a clean break early on, I think,
probably taking advantage of the fact that there were two
(15:28):
less players off the field. Marat in your quarter obviously
sent off Leo Thompson following. I didn't really have a
problem with either of those sin beinnings, but just in
terms of their kicking game, I was really pleased. Coach
Andrew Websters is again, they're not the finished product, but
it's getting there.
Speaker 11 (15:43):
I generally feel like they've improved every week and they're
starting to see they're better footing. But I think every
teams like that. This timer like they're starting to really
clear the time understand what works.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Let's talk about Jackson forty. You mentioned just before Bill
scored two tries off the interchange as a front rower,
which is just about unheard of, and you'd be forgiven
for thinking he wasn't coming off for the interchange because
he had that number eight on his back was officially
named to stay up but then move to the interchange.
He's a player who I feel like he's easy to
miss during the game because of a lot of his
(16:15):
work goes unnoticed.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
He does the hard jets.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
He had one hundred and forty seven run meter, sixty
two post contact meters twenty six tackles. He's just a
workhorse for the side and Webster's has stoked from had
a bit of a joke in the press conference about
him scoring those two tries.
Speaker 11 (16:30):
He doesn't brag a lot because he's pretty mon a
sky jacko, but follows Hi might be bragging two tries
in the front row. He's scored one end of the
corner post two. So he's just that guy is fit
and he's there all the time and he makes his
own luck.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Jack Ohan, your thoughts on his performance.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Well, I thought just to take a step back.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
It was a really smart move one hour before kickoff,
when you can make those adjustments and around you're seventeen.
As you say, Jackson Ford was initially listed to start
at prop. They drop him back to the interchange. That
allows Lekahalisima, who's just been you know, such a thrilling
prospect out there on the edge in terms of his
X factor and youthful exuberance, to start near quarter into
(17:09):
the middle. We probably didn't see the full impact of
how that interchange was going to flow, because in near
Corter's sinbinning then he had a head injury assessment.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
But I very much view that as the way forward.
And there's no ego with Jackson Ford.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
You know, stardom put him on the interchange, He'll come on,
do whatever the team requires. And you know he's getting
a bit of stick by all accounts by being there
in the left corner as a prop to score that
first try. But that again is a reflection of his
efforts and his willingness to put himself in the right
place at the right time. He's an absolute work course.
I remember a couple of years ago when he was
(17:42):
starting to come through or came across from the Dragons
to the Warriors, and Andrew Webster said, you know, at
that point in time, though basically playing him eighty minutes
on an edge because he just felt he just got
better and better and he's just got such a massive engine.
He never fatigues and again he's just yeah, like you say,
he does a lot of that dirty work unseen. But
he's a big reason why the Warriors are in the
(18:03):
position they're in as well, and I think they've just
simplified his role. He doesn't have to be on the
edge where he's hitting those short balls where occasionally had
come up with a handling era or two. He's just
buy and large in the middle doing the dirty work,
and that makes a big difference in the NRAL.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Yeah, and let's talk about the defense for a second
for the Warriors, which for me has been one of
the highlights of the season so far. It's been the
area that they've been probably most consistent, and the more
worrying areas has been the attack, the fifth tackle plays
which are slowly coming right. But they had a period
of defending their own line to start the second half.
(18:38):
I don't know how many tackles in a row it was,
but just generally they looked settled and calm.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Webster wasn't entirely sold on it though we defended.
Speaker 11 (18:46):
Okay, we didn't kind of go after a moment we
normally do. I just thought we'd got our kick chase
wrong on the second half a little bit, but really happy.
I thought our attack improved a lot, be us a
lot more questions, very clear on what we wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I mean, Webster would know better than me, but I
thought generally it was really solid. A few big like
one off hits. We're seeing this quite a lot. I
think Shanew Harrisdavida had a great one last week, but
there were a few more of those. He was an
instance of pushing the Knights towards the sideline and into
the end goal as well. Lots of little sort of
individual players were a couple of players really get the
crowd into it with some standout just individual tackles.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Yeah, there's some big hitters in that team.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
And Chanelle Harris Savera a couple of weeks in a
row now has come up in a really sound defensive
read and one on one hit.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
I'm just trying to think of the top of my head.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Outside of the when Dane Gaguy kind of got around
Lea Tala, got around Pompy and put his winger away,
there wasn't much of a defensive disconnect.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Perhaps outside of that, you know, sort of.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Garbage time tried late from Brady Jones when the game
was well and truly in the bag. But you're right,
I think by and large, there's been a conscious effort
to put so much into the defense and being connected.
I saw, I heard Andrew Webster's whe I'll highlight the
efforts of Kirk Capele, basically saying it was one of
his best ever performances.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
In a Warriors jersey.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
And he's another one a bit like Jackson Ford's sort
of no frills, you know, gone from playing center last
week back into the back row and he helps you
know that connect between you know, quite often you see
attacks running at the halfback, being the smaller blow, trying
to isolate them one on one. Kate will a couple
of times, you know, coming to Chanelle's aid or the
ali Leta's aide. And he's a key piece too, So yeah,
(20:27):
you can't. While the Newcastle Knights attack is a little
bit shoddy at the minute, I think the Warriors can
be relatively pleased with their defense. It'll be tested again
magic round the Cowboys having put fifty points on the Titans.
But look, I think they're in a good place defensively,
and I'd agree it's probably the attack where some fine
tuning remains.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Yeah, you make a good point there. Capeble was fantastic
on both sides of the ball. Just lastly, if we
just jump back to Luke Metcaffey, we talked about you know,
we talk about all the time on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
He's half back. Is the half is the nature of it,
isn't it?
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Obviously had a great intercept to change the momentum just
when the Knights were starting to get back into it.
I suppose sort of in that second half of score
sixteen six lead to the Eagan tribe, he missed a
couple of fairly straightforward conversions. And it feels weird talking
about this because of that fifty penalty last week to
(21:23):
win the game. But again, you know a couple Do
you have any concerns about him kicking off the tea.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
Not at this point in time.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
And I think it's a real confidence thing for a
half back and a game driver to be given that
responsibility of being the first choice goal kicker. And they're
putting a lot of faith in Luke and he's obviously
repaid that faith last week with his effort. Of course,
he was one from five against against the Broncos before
(21:53):
kicking that halfway.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Penalty to win the game.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Look, I'm sure they'll be the first think he acknowledges
it's not quite there.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
He's quite a sweet striker off the tea.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
He's just not quite accurate at times, but just to
take a step back back to his more his gameplay
and game control, I thought it was unfortunate in many ways.
His nicest play of the night was that little deft
left foot grubber through that that did sit up pretty
nicely for Ali Lea made a meal of it and
(22:24):
the end go and then kuld Of got it down.
You know, that's the sort of variety I've been looking
for in terms of the Warriors attack, because you know
a lot of us have been quite critical of those
fifth tackle plays and variety, you know, rather than just
going hoisting it and hoping. So that was nice to see,
and and you mentioned it a bit early on too
ate about fifth or sixth minute, Luke Metcalff backed his
(22:47):
running game, which has just been such a critical part
of his play when he was the five eighth alongside Johnson,
made that line break almost got Liqua hall Asima free
to score the Warriors first, So I think, you know,
it's easy to forget as well.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
That's game seven as a seven for Luke Mtcalf.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
He's still very much finding his feet, but I think
it was a step in the right direction. The goalkicking
will come. My preference would be they continue with him.
You know, yes, there's Adam Pompey there. I guess it
will depend on whether Adam Pompy keeps his place when
guys like Dalamatini's les now can Roger two vasis yet
come back into the team, but there are other options there.
(23:26):
But I think for for a half back it is
important that if they're trusted with the responsibility, that faith
is fully restored in them.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
Big.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
What I'm next is the Cowboys and Magic Round, and
we have good memories of Magic Round in Brisbane.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Do you remember what happened last year?
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Tomato just comes to a picky right bird w a Hey.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Shivers down the spine taine to Opeaky, scoring the winning
try and converting it out wide for the victory over
the Penrith Panthers last year.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
It's amazing to think how far Tanan's come since.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Then, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Yeah, it's fantastic seeing him in the obviously through opportunity
with the wingers, just mentioning before dwzrts being out. But
he's such a live wire and you know there's some
sort of crazy record attained to a picky when he's
in the team, the Warrior is their winning record just
shoots up, so I personally hope they find a place
(24:36):
in the seventeen.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
But yeah, he's making a fist of it out on
the wing. It's really impressive.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
I think that was his debut too, wasn't it last
last year Magic ran or his first start at fullback.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
First start at fullback.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
Yeah. Yeah, he's very able to just step in it
relatively late notice and get a job done. And obviously
that was probably one of, if not the highlights of
that twenty twenty four season.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Now the Warriors are up against the Cowboys on Saturday night.
North Queensland are coming off of fifty to eighteen hiding
of the Titans, in which they trailed sixteen six after
nine ten minutes and then put on forty four unanswered points.
In other words, the Titans really blew that. They are
six on the ladder with four wins three losses. And
the two players who stood out most probably from that
(25:20):
game second row jermyne I and the captain in five
eighth of course Tommy Dead and their standouts so dead
and set up four tries, provided five line break assists.
None I had actually been dropped before this to the
queens Had Cup due to a couple defensive issues, but
returned to State of origin form he scored a double.
Nick how much have you seen of the Cowboys this
(25:43):
year and what are the Warriors really need to look
out for do you think?
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Yeah, it's been a great deal of the cow was
just the odd highlights here and there, but did catch
a few of those tries that they ripped through the
Gold Coast at the weekend.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Look, they're a team that like to shift the ball.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
They've got multiple playmaking threat Scott Drinkwater, you know, regularly
popping up as that sort of third playmaker. He's obviously
from a background of being more of five eighth now
as a fullback for the cow So they've got multiple
ballplay threats there and threats on the edges. So look,
they're going to be tricky. They always tend to be
in Queensland as well. Seven thirty kickoff New Zealand Times,
(26:19):
so it's that five thirty local time magic round. I'm
sure there'll be a lot of fandom for the Warriors,
but I think if Andrew Webs's side particularly control the middle,
where they have done in the last couple of weeks
in particular, guys like Mitch Barnett Aaron Clark really getting
into their work. That'll allow the Warriors the opportunity to
(26:40):
get over the top of the Cowboys and limit their
opportunities in terms of where they attack. You know, that
was probably one of the real noticeable things out the
ground last week is where Newcastle were having to kick
from that.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
They're very rarely down inside the Warriors half.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
So if the Warriors can get that momentum ascendancy in
the middle, waighte e can come into the four.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
I think I think they'll get the job done.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah, well, it'll be a similar lineup.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Dell and my Tenday's Leslie at Jameson has some Roger
to ev Us Sick will still be out way Tennis
Lesnia because the next due back in round ten. How
good will it be to have them back. Do you
think they'll tinker with the line? I mean Web's has
been making a few adjustments every week, and you know
he sort of names the team and then changes the
how the interchange works.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
He's he's pretty crafty.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
With Daddy, likes to have a bit of fun with
everyone in terms of naming a team that's not necessarily
what runs out. But are there any big changes that
you think will stick out from the site.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
And going back to Andrew Webs's post match comments on
Friday night talking about Lekahalasima coming in to starting near
Cordo through the middle forward on the interchange, he said
that's a good option going forward for them. And again
because we didn't really see the full fruits of that
with near cords, Sinbinning and the Hia, I think they
(28:00):
will want to go down that route again. I thought
Jacob Laban as well was really impressive of the interchange,
so I think he's done enough to hold onto his spot.
It might just be whether Wade Egan's workload is a
question mark going into the next few rounds of mine.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
He's going He's getting through a lot.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
Of football obviously last year would usually have a Freddie
Lassick type on the interchange. You know, Wades his influence
on the game. He's up there with the most important
warrior on the field. But I do wonder at some
stage we saw was against Brisbane the Mighty Martin was
on the interchange. Now went into hooker for a little
bit of course, you've got Sam Harley there waiting in
(28:37):
the wings for a Warrior's NRL debuts, so that might
be a subtle tweak with it. A buntie our follow
could could drop away for a utility forward. But by
and large, I think the reward the performance of last
week and the week prime.
Speaker 10 (28:54):
The Big League Podcast on the Warriors Bad Wagon since
day one, The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Write some quick five predictions to this episode of The
Big League Podcast. Nick Billy will start with the Sharks
and the Eels.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
How you feeling?
Speaker 5 (29:17):
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed in the Sharks and like hard,
Oval is a tough place to win against the Tigers,
but just couldn't ice the big moments there in Golden
Point on Sunday night. But yeah, I don't really know
what to make a paramount a just yet. Mitch Moses
has just had the one game back. Of course they won.
I'm going to say the Sharks bounce back.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Yeah, I'm going to agree with you there the Eels
coming off the bibe, but they've just been not great
this year. Roosters Dolphins, Yeah, this will be an interesting
one too, Like the Dolphins, you know, they got run
over by a camera at home. And the Roosters, you know,
they're sort of a little bit Jekyll and High.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
They don't quite know what you're going to get. I
quite like the look of their new halfback. Here go Savala,
no more Chad Townsend in first grade at East. So
I'm going to go the Roosters, but you know it
is in Brisbanes who knows roosters.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
For me, I'm going to go with the Dolphins. I
was actually really surprised to see them loose to the Raiders.
Of course, a couple of weeks ago they ran over
the top of the storm put forty two points on them,
and they bet the Panthers the week before that. So
I've been really impressed with the Dolphins this year. I'm
going to back them. Rabbit Os versus the Knights. Two
teams struggling a wee bit, Yeah they are.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
I think Newcastle struggles are a bit more significant though
than the rabbit O's and they love Wayne Bennett up
in Brisbane.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
So Bunnies for me.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Warriors versus the Cowboys Saturday Night.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Yeah, look, head and heart is saying Warriors.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
It's not going to be easier this is a Cowboys team,
as we mentioned, that have got threats across the park.
But if the Warriors can win the middle, which I
think they will, if Midge Barnett, Aaron Clark and co
play at the level they have been playing so far
this season, that's going to allow the Warriors to get
on top and really limit the Cowboys opportunities in terms
(31:08):
field position. So I'm going to say the Warriors are
going to keep rolling.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah, and I'm going to agree with you. I'm going
to agree with you.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Then Gowboys on a bit of a winning streak, but
the Warriors are informed.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Tiger's Dragons Tigers Dragons.
Speaker 5 (31:26):
Yeah, another really tough one and usually the kind of
game that you know if it was at like hard
over Campbelltown, there's no home advantage really is there?
Speaker 4 (31:34):
With Magic Round.
Speaker 5 (31:36):
I'm going to say that the Tigers might have found
something after the Fortnight from Hell with this lockey Galvin saga.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Maybe it's that game on Sunday night the Golden Point
went over.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Cronulla's sort of a harmonious moment for the club to
kind of piece things together and Galvin and Leui and
Taruva can all be friends and yeah, they get the
job done over.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
The Dragons, Titans, Bulldogs. This should be easy.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
I was disappointed with the Bulldogs and that was probably
always the concern for them, whether they were able to
be so effective defensively against a big pack, and the
short answer there was no, you know, paying Harsen Pat
Harrigan in particularly just rolling through the middle against those
utility forwards that the Bulldogs have.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
But yeah, I think they'll find a way.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Cameron's through out a bit of an opportunity to you know,
just you know, sometimes winning just papers over a few cracks.
They'll have a real good look at themselves this week.
And yeah, that Gold Coast team without Jaden Campbell, they're
not that flash.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
Yeah, Bulldogs losing their first of the season to the Broncos,
but I'm backing them to bounce back.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Panthers versus the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Yeah, that's probably outside the Warriors Cowboys is probably the
most intriguing one for mine. Who would have thought the
Penrith Panthers seventeenth, right at the bottom of the ladder
as they go for five straight NRL premierships against the
Broncos side who were very impressive against the Bulldogs previous unbeaten. Jeez,
when is it going to clerk? It kind of has
(33:09):
to happen soon for Ivan Cleary's side bottom of the ladder.
I know, it's unbelievable, wasn't it. You had got great
value for that at the beginning of the year. But
they're at a real rut and I think perhaps they're
finally finding that you can't just continually lose top tier
talent like Fisher Harris, like Leui Taruva and just plug
(33:29):
these gaps with you know, Melbourne have been the catalysts
for that for the best part of twenty years. But
it's proving tricky this year for Penrith and Magic Round
in Brisbane, even though it's a Penrith home game, I
just had to go.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
I have to go with the Broncos.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
That's ridiculous that it's that it's not a home I'm
sorry that something has to be done about that. I'm
backing because they're playing in Brisbane. They're playing in Brisbane
and it's an away. It's not fair Storm versus the
Raiders to finish that.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
This is actually a cracking contest too, and the Storm,
you know, they're okay and did enough against the Rabbit O's.
But as you mentioned a bit earlier, and they sort
of exposed against the Dolphins and that Camera team all
of a sudden and that Warrior is loss in Vegas
is starting to look a little bit less, how shall
we say, a little bit not as bad as it
(34:17):
did at the time because they have just been running
through teams. I think they're a top four team this year.
I'm going to go with a bit of a bit
of an upset here. I'm going to say that the
Camera Raiders beat the Melbourne Storm. Couple of old teammates,
Ricky Stewart Craig Balamy, the Battle of the coaches. Yeah,
I'm going to go with Ricky stewarts man.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Well back the Storm, tried and true method just picked
the Storm. Hey Nick, thank you so much for taking
the time to be on the podcast. I really appreciate
your time, your wisdom, your insight. Please follow and rate
the podcast. Thank you for listening. We'll be back next
Monday to review Magic Round. My name is Nathan Limb.
Have a fantastic week.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
For more from News Talks at b listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio The
Big League Podcast League podcast pet by.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, we hear from
Warriors locke Aaron Clark on his return to the Mount
Smart club, his standout performances and what he's learning from
the coaches. Nick Bewley comes steaming off the interchange to
review the emphatic win over the Knights in christ Church
and we look ahead to magic rounds.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
My name is Nathan Limb.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Let's go god b LB five wins in six games.
The Warriors unlikely march up. The Nrral Ladder has them
fourth after eight rounds and just two points off the lead.
I say unlikely because this is not a polished team,
this is a rebuild. No one is really expecting them
to win the title. At the start of the season,
(01:04):
it was simply a debate over whether they had enough
to sneak into the eight. Have those expectations changed No,
not yet. The season is long and most sides are
yet to fully hit their stride. But if you want
to make the eight, you need to win games you're
expected to win. That's historically been a struggle for this club.
(01:26):
But in the Webster era, consistency and calm has been
a central focus and that is translating in the results.
Nick Bewley New Stalks, Heb's Voice of Sport in christ Church,
another one, this time over the nights. What were your
expectations of the club this year and have they changed
given this hot start?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Gay Nathan.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Yeah, Look, my expectations going into the year weren't certainly
as high as they were going into twenty twenty four.
Off the backer, you know, being one went away from
the Grand Final in twenty twenty three. We of course
knew that Shawn Johnson was retiring, We knew that Adam
Fanola Blake wasn't going to be at the club. We
eventually learned that Harris was medically retire. We had a
(02:12):
new halves peering and of course James Toshahara's coming in.
But there was a lot of uncertainty, as you say,
a bit of a rebuild phase or a bit of
a stock take as to where this club is at.
Some young players coming through, what sort of opportunities were
they going to be allowed? So look, I was sort
of probably in the similar sort of park to you
(02:33):
in terms of around the fringes of that top eight
if everything really went well and look then obviously they
had the loss to the Camber Raiders in Las Vegas,
and I was starting to think, I think that was
the last time I was on this podcast, and I
was starting to think, gee, WHEREZ It might be.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Quite a long year.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
The recovery since then, albeit the big loss to the
Melbourne Storm has been superb. As you say, it hasn't
been fully polished, but they're just doing enough. And it's cliched,
but you got to win ugly in this competition.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
It is so hard week to week.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
There is not much between teams in the top four
and teams even in the bottom four. So just a
bank those two competition points and be in the position
there and at the moment as a real testament to
the work that's been done behind the scenes, my expectations still,
you know, we're just a little under a third of
the way through the season. The Warriors also have had
one buy so I heard Andrew Websters say they're ladder
(03:23):
positions perhaps slightly inflated too by getting the two extra
competition points.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
So there's a long way to go to marathon, not.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
A sprint, but you can't argue with the five and
two records so far, they ought to be pleased.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Now, Bulls, I understand you were at the game, and Christius,
can you tell us a bit about the atmosphere what
a game, an NRL game is like down there in
comparison to Super rugby, because obviously there's so many leagues
in christ Church.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
This certainly is.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
And look, this is the second time I've been to
an NRL home game that the Warriors have hosted down here.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Was that the last year's win over the Canberra Raiders.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Again a sellout at Apollo Project Stadium out in Addington
for Friday's ans that day contest against the Newcastle Knights.
And it's going to be the last time the Warriors
do play out there. Of course from next year onwards
we're in our fantastic new Central City Stadium to Kaha,
really looking forward to that. But it is quite a
unique atmosphere in the sense the temporary stadium in grist
(04:21):
It's has been there since twenty twelve, since those devastating
earthquakes the year prior, and I think Andrew Webster's that
have said it best in the pre match media last week.
You can create quite a unique noise or atmosphere ambience
through the old scaffolding, You stamp your feet and you
really sort of create this sort of cauldron like feeling
(04:42):
and that was evident again on Friday night. Basically every
time you know, the Warriors were charging off the back
fence or a hot on attack in Newcastle's red zone,
that the crowd really got in and around it.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
And yeah, look it is quite different to Super rugby.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Was there a couple of weeks earlier for the Crusaders
Blues and it's not quite as loud and boisterous, so yeah,
the league dynamic is quite different to union. But no,
it was a fantastic occasion. Fortunate enough actually I was
hosted by the Warriors, so that was quite nice to
not have to be on the tools and the media
benches and just enjoying the game from a different perspective.
(05:18):
And look, it was a fantastic night out and great
news to see they announcing the club on Thursday that
they're going to come back right through to twenty twenty
eight with at least one game a year, so there's
definitely an appetite for rugby league down here and particularly
the Warriors and g They do a great job, not
only obviously the on field product, but everything wrapping and
(05:40):
around it. Obviously, it was Anzac day the New Zealand
Defense Force Army Band. They had Savage playing with the
New Zealand Defense Force Army Band.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah it was a cool day. Yeah, fantastic. And we're
going to hear from Aaron Clark shortly. But first here
are the highlights Warriors twenty six Nights twelve.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So we're underway in christ Church.
Speaker 6 (06:04):
Just a shoulder going in there from New Courty.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
It's direct contact, straight to head with Mono fourth and
game shoulder on report he's in the bin.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Fourth, I'm in the gas and non report in the room.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
So last player for Warriors Cake, Well, here's Top Team.
Top Team came off the side of his boot a.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Little bit but it's awkward. Oh what a past sept toppy.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
That's a try. Jackson four and fifty.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Rot speed again is really good.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Here's mccarf clock it's gone again.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
What's he driving tonight? Jackson for here's Gang I.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Almost getting through the gate. The Gang guy's got the pass.
Brilliance and it is James.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Siller going over a score for Newcastle.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
There's a good ball and senting. He is look, mcclf,
what are you too much?
Speaker 7 (06:56):
Gas?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Stocks tricking him and he can scores.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
The trive is looking for the killer blow. That's meccalf.
How un cup there to who I didn't learn something
from nothing? It's good three to the Warriors for the
first time on Antick Days since twenty fourteen.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
The Big League Podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
New Zealand Herald reporter Mike Thorpe was in christ Church
and had a chat to Aaron Clark. Let's take a listen, Aaron.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
It's be pretty good. Start with how things are going
with the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah I am.
Speaker 8 (07:38):
I'm happy here, Bro, I'm valued here and I'm learning
heaps under this coachy stuff and the players.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
So yeah, I'm jus.
Speaker 8 (07:46):
String a couple of wins off after that Melbourne gave hapful.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Is this some of the best.
Speaker 9 (07:51):
Football you've played in your career? I mean even it's
probably the two games you've lost. You've been considered the
best player than the Warriors team every week, yet.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
You're turning out sort of one. I want to be honest, Brad,
I don't see it like that.
Speaker 8 (08:05):
I just want to be a teammate that the voice
want to look to and I'm everything and everything's going
well and it's not going well, and I'll be just
a good teammate. And whether they're happy with that, at
the end of the day, as long as they got
my respect, I don't care what everyone has to say,
you know, Like, as long as I'm doing my job
up there, whatever comes with it comes with it.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
I'm just happier and things have changed the fear.
Speaker 9 (08:26):
But in the third department since you arrived from the
off season too, retiring Dyl and walk heating office, you
know that obviously gives you a lot more responsible than
the spot.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 8 (08:37):
And the good thing about that, we're just just telling
me to be myself, like they're try and be this person,
to be that person.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Just do what doing what you bring to the team, and.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Feel feel happy with that.
Speaker 9 (08:48):
Adding a little bits to your game sort of, you know,
trying to up your passing sort of thing.
Speaker 8 (08:53):
I think I I've still of learning Bro's That's a
cool thing, Like, I still have lots of learning getting
that balance. I went to pass mental run getting momentum.
I meant to just carrying.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I'm slowly getting that. Yeah, it'll take a while, but
you know, I'm still trying to learn this stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And I know you've talked about this football.
Speaker 9 (09:11):
But the one game in twenty seventeen and then sort
of bound defeated of the Titans a few years later.
How much does it mean to you have been, you know,
eight years later back as an integral part of the Warriors.
Speaker 8 (09:21):
But it's a messive ba and it's just the thing
to my kids love not to give up, and you know,
I just want them to them will come to me
in that sense that if I didn't.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Given a long ago, I won't be happy, and I will.
Speaker 8 (09:32):
Yeah, So I'm just happy I muckle down and give
it a cracking Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Separate God to take.
Speaker 8 (09:39):
I don't know if you heard, but when the team
was announced and the start of the game, your name's mentioned.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
When the crowd went up, probably louder than anyone else.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Oh, I don't know. It's short of following the team.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
I just do my job.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
I'm happy.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
How encourage you get two wins back back out change
the sham Harris.
Speaker 8 (09:58):
Yeah, and it just shows the depth we got at
the club, Like the next man up tottally it's throwing
around a lot. But we got that here, and let's
credit to Grebby and Andrew McFadden with the depths they
got at the club and if one person goes down,
someone's ready to go and we'll move up to our
standards and our top of footy.
Speaker 9 (10:18):
So so coming coming back, you know this year, have
you noticed a change in the sort of minds at
the club in the year message?
Speaker 8 (10:26):
But I've said that in a few interviews, like the
culture has changed. Everything that the club's got in place.
It's probably the best I've been under in my short
little career. So yeah, like I said, credits at the club,
not just the players and the staff, but the whole organization. Yeah,
it just makes makes pretty easier.
Speaker 9 (10:45):
You're used to going just an hour up the road
from for the Titans the Magic round there you're getting
off from Morepen for a Queensland trip.
Speaker 8 (10:53):
Looking forward to it, bro we could to catch up
with a few metes over there. Still close to all
the titles. Boys, it's not relevant after the game and
I just get over to get the two points.
Speaker 10 (11:01):
At the moment.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
They is the big league past.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
This is owing.
Speaker 10 (11:09):
Yeah, the Big League Podcast on the Warriors bandwagon since.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Da one great to hear from Aaron Clark there made
a team high forty five tackles. He's been a revelation
at the Warriors this year. Has any neck in terms
of what he's brought. He's been obviously a very different
player to tour Who Harris, but he's been so powerful
for them.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
He's been huge, and I think more broadly, if we
look at the entire NRL, other than Terrell May going
from the Roosters to the Tigers and his impact, iying
Aaron Clark could be the buyer of the Year in
the NRL given his impact on this team. As I
mentioned at the top, so much uncertainty around nottaur Who Harris,
Anapanel Blake leaving the middle rotation, Dylan Walker of course
(11:51):
getting the immediate release after a couple of rounds this season.
That lock position is just so critical in terms of
linking the middle of the park to the edges. And
he obviously comes from that sort of ball playing background.
Through the juniors he was a halfback. Obviously he's put
on a fair amount of size since, but his ability
to ball, as well as his strength and ball carrying.
(12:12):
You know what was it in the end, one hundred
and fifty five meters from seventeen runs, the four offloads
as well, that ability to create that second phase and
link with Wade Egan and manipulate the defensive line and
he had that perfect last pass a triasis for Jackson
Ford's second try. I think he's been massive for the club.
And you know, long mate, continue listening to that back
(12:34):
that interview that Thorpe he did there and he just
feels right at home and look he's you know, the
sky's the limit very much.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
I feel like he's just scratching the surface.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, it's incredible thinking that he was a half back
because obviously he's not super tall, but he's just a
ball of muscle. But let's go through this game in
a little bit more detail. It felt like the Warriors,
if we go from the start, we're all over them early.
And I don't want to take anything away from the
Warriors performance, but the Knights were poor. They had some
really average defense. Warriors obviously had to try ruled out
(13:09):
and they were just hampered as they have been throughout
this season, with lots of really basic errors on attack
drop balls, passes going awry.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
This is their fifth loss. I mean they're in a spiral,
aren't they.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Yeah, they're not in a great place. I did feel
for them as well.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
While the Warriors had there too disallowed tries, Newcastle had
had two disallowed as well, and then they had their
right winger James Shiller basically you know, dropping the ball
with the try line wide open. So they're just they're
unable to get anything really going on attack. A little
bit of that is through defensive pressure on the Warriors side.
I thought it was a pretty clunky first half in general,
(13:46):
and it must have meit when it around that sort
of twenty seven twenty eight minute mark looked up, Warriors
are only leading six now and as you say, for
all their dominance, it felt like they were you know,
it wasn't being reflected on the score line. So you know,
that second try eventually what was it to Addam Pompey
sorry Jackson Ford in the corner off a kick you know,
just helps it to stimy that.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
To reflect the Warrior's dominance.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
So yeah, still a lot of room for improvement for
the Warriors, but you know they were finding ways to
score try.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Still some clunky efforts on attack.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
I thought maybe by and large there was an improvement
there in terms of the kicking to get a couple
of tries off kicks basically through that middle dominance Shanelle
Harris Davita's kicks in particular, we're able to be a
bit more contestable, bit more pressure put on down that
left edge, and that led to the Adam Pompe try
on the first Jackson Ford tries. So that's an encouraging sign.
(14:39):
But still, yeah, it's not the finished product by any means.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
You're not the finished product.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
But I was actually really encouraged by what I saw
in terms of especially the kicking game. And it is
really nice to see because we're so used to watching
the Warriors and Sean Johnson basically does everything, pops up
on both sides of the ruck, does all the kicking,
and I'm really liking the sort of dual playmaker. Sanel
Harris DeVito's is more than capable of running the side.
I think from you know, he could play half back
(15:06):
if we needed him to. He and Metcalf just works
so well together and they've got Metcalf talked about this
a few weeks ago in terms of their similar age,
they view the game in a similar way and they
just bounce off each other. They work really well together.
Luke Metcalf had had a clean break early on, I think,
probably taking advantage of the fact that there were two
(15:28):
less players off the field. Marat in your quarter obviously
sent off Leo Thompson following. I didn't really have a
problem with either of those sin beinnings, but just in
terms of their kicking game, I was really pleased. Coach
Andrew Websters is again, they're not the finished product, but
it's getting there.
Speaker 11 (15:43):
I generally feel like they've improved every week and they're
starting to see they're better footing. But I think every
teams like that. This timer like they're starting to really
clear the time understand what works.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Let's talk about Jackson forty. You mentioned just before Bill
scored two tries off the interchange as a front rower,
which is just about unheard of, and you'd be forgiven
for thinking he wasn't coming off for the interchange because
he had that number eight on his back was officially
named to stay up but then move to the interchange.
He's a player who I feel like he's easy to
miss during the game because of a lot of his
(16:15):
work goes unnoticed.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
He does the hard jets.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
He had one hundred and forty seven run meter, sixty
two post contact meters twenty six tackles. He's just a
workhorse for the side and Webster's has stoked from had
a bit of a joke in the press conference about
him scoring those two tries.
Speaker 11 (16:30):
He doesn't brag a lot because he's pretty mon a
sky jacko, but follows Hi might be bragging two tries
in the front row. He's scored one end of the
corner post two. So he's just that guy is fit
and he's there all the time and he makes his
own luck.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Jack Ohan, your thoughts on his performance.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Well, I thought just to take a step back.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
It was a really smart move one hour before kickoff,
when you can make those adjustments and around you're seventeen.
As you say, Jackson Ford was initially listed to start
at prop. They drop him back to the interchange. That
allows Lekahalisima, who's just been you know, such a thrilling
prospect out there on the edge in terms of his
X factor and youthful exuberance, to start near quarter into
(17:09):
the middle. We probably didn't see the full impact of
how that interchange was going to flow, because in near
Corter's sinbinning then he had a head injury assessment.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
But I very much view that as the way forward.
And there's no ego with Jackson Ford.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
You know, stardom put him on the interchange, He'll come on,
do whatever the team requires. And you know he's getting
a bit of stick by all accounts by being there
in the left corner as a prop to score that
first try. But that again is a reflection of his
efforts and his willingness to put himself in the right
place at the right time. He's an absolute work course.
I remember a couple of years ago when he was
(17:42):
starting to come through or came across from the Dragons
to the Warriors, and Andrew Webster said, you know, at
that point in time, though basically playing him eighty minutes
on an edge because he just felt he just got
better and better and he's just got such a massive engine.
He never fatigues and again he's just yeah, like you say,
he does a lot of that dirty work unseen. But
he's a big reason why the Warriors are in the
(18:03):
position they're in as well, and I think they've just
simplified his role. He doesn't have to be on the
edge where he's hitting those short balls where occasionally had
come up with a handling era or two. He's just
buy and large in the middle doing the dirty work,
and that makes a big difference in the NRAL.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Yeah, and let's talk about the defense for a second
for the Warriors, which for me has been one of
the highlights of the season so far. It's been the
area that they've been probably most consistent, and the more
worrying areas has been the attack, the fifth tackle plays
which are slowly coming right. But they had a period
of defending their own line to start the second half.
(18:38):
I don't know how many tackles in a row it was,
but just generally they looked settled and calm.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Webster wasn't entirely sold on it though we defended.
Speaker 11 (18:46):
Okay, we didn't kind of go after a moment we
normally do. I just thought we'd got our kick chase
wrong on the second half a little bit, but really happy.
I thought our attack improved a lot, be us a
lot more questions, very clear on what we wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I mean, Webster would know better than me, but I
thought generally it was really solid. A few big like
one off hits. We're seeing this quite a lot. I
think Shanew Harrisdavida had a great one last week, but
there were a few more of those. He was an
instance of pushing the Knights towards the sideline and into
the end goal as well. Lots of little sort of
individual players were a couple of players really get the
crowd into it with some standout just individual tackles.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Yeah, there's some big hitters in that team.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
And Chanelle Harris Savera a couple of weeks in a
row now has come up in a really sound defensive
read and one on one hit.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
I'm just trying to think of the top of my head.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Outside of the when Dane Gaguy kind of got around
Lea Tala, got around Pompy and put his winger away,
there wasn't much of a defensive disconnect.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Perhaps outside of that, you know, sort of.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Garbage time tried late from Brady Jones when the game
was well and truly in the bag. But you're right,
I think by and large, there's been a conscious effort
to put so much into the defense and being connected.
I saw, I heard Andrew Webster's whe I'll highlight the
efforts of Kirk Capele, basically saying it was one of
his best ever performances.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
In a Warriors jersey.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
And he's another one a bit like Jackson Ford's sort
of no frills, you know, gone from playing center last
week back into the back row and he helps you
know that connect between you know, quite often you see
attacks running at the halfback, being the smaller blow, trying
to isolate them one on one. Kate will a couple
of times, you know, coming to Chanelle's aid or the
ali Leta's aide. And he's a key piece too, So yeah,
(20:27):
you can't. While the Newcastle Knights attack is a little
bit shoddy at the minute, I think the Warriors can
be relatively pleased with their defense. It'll be tested again
magic round the Cowboys having put fifty points on the Titans.
But look, I think they're in a good place defensively,
and I'd agree it's probably the attack where some fine
tuning remains.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Yeah, you make a good point there. Capeble was fantastic
on both sides of the ball. Just lastly, if we
just jump back to Luke Metcaffey, we talked about you know,
we talk about all the time on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
He's half back. Is the half is the nature of it,
isn't it?
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Obviously had a great intercept to change the momentum just
when the Knights were starting to get back into it.
I suppose sort of in that second half of score
sixteen six lead to the Eagan tribe, he missed a
couple of fairly straightforward conversions. And it feels weird talking
about this because of that fifty penalty last week to
(21:23):
win the game. But again, you know a couple Do
you have any concerns about him kicking off the tea.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
Not at this point in time.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
And I think it's a real confidence thing for a
half back and a game driver to be given that
responsibility of being the first choice goal kicker. And they're
putting a lot of faith in Luke and he's obviously
repaid that faith last week with his effort. Of course,
he was one from five against against the Broncos before
(21:53):
kicking that halfway.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Penalty to win the game.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Look, I'm sure they'll be the first think he acknowledges
it's not quite there.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
He's quite a sweet striker off the tea.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
He's just not quite accurate at times, but just to
take a step back back to his more his gameplay
and game control, I thought it was unfortunate in many ways.
His nicest play of the night was that little deft
left foot grubber through that that did sit up pretty
nicely for Ali Lea made a meal of it and
(22:24):
the end go and then kuld Of got it down.
You know, that's the sort of variety I've been looking
for in terms of the Warriors attack, because you know
a lot of us have been quite critical of those
fifth tackle plays and variety, you know, rather than just
going hoisting it and hoping. So that was nice to see,
and and you mentioned it a bit early on too
ate about fifth or sixth minute, Luke Metcalff backed his
(22:47):
running game, which has just been such a critical part
of his play when he was the five eighth alongside Johnson,
made that line break almost got Liqua hall Asima free
to score the Warriors first, So I think, you know,
it's easy to forget as well.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
That's game seven as a seven for Luke Mtcalf.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
He's still very much finding his feet, but I think
it was a step in the right direction. The goalkicking
will come. My preference would be they continue with him.
You know, yes, there's Adam Pompey there. I guess it
will depend on whether Adam Pompy keeps his place when
guys like Dalamatini's les now can Roger two vasis yet
come back into the team, but there are other options there.
(23:26):
But I think for for a half back it is
important that if they're trusted with the responsibility, that faith
is fully restored in them.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
Big.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
What I'm next is the Cowboys and Magic Round, and
we have good memories of Magic Round in Brisbane.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Do you remember what happened last year?
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Tomato just comes to a picky right bird w a Hey.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Shivers down the spine taine to Opeaky, scoring the winning
try and converting it out wide for the victory over
the Penrith Panthers last year.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
It's amazing to think how far Tanan's come since.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Then, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Yeah, it's fantastic seeing him in the obviously through opportunity
with the wingers, just mentioning before dwzrts being out. But
he's such a live wire and you know there's some
sort of crazy record attained to a picky when he's
in the team, the Warrior is their winning record just
shoots up, so I personally hope they find a place
(24:36):
in the seventeen.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
But yeah, he's making a fist of it out on
the wing. It's really impressive.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
I think that was his debut too, wasn't it last
last year Magic ran or his first start at fullback.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
First start at fullback.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
Yeah. Yeah, he's very able to just step in it
relatively late notice and get a job done. And obviously
that was probably one of, if not the highlights of
that twenty twenty four season.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Now the Warriors are up against the Cowboys on Saturday night.
North Queensland are coming off of fifty to eighteen hiding
of the Titans, in which they trailed sixteen six after
nine ten minutes and then put on forty four unanswered points.
In other words, the Titans really blew that. They are
six on the ladder with four wins three losses. And
the two players who stood out most probably from that
(25:20):
game second row jermyne I and the captain in five
eighth of course Tommy Dead and their standouts so dead
and set up four tries, provided five line break assists.
None I had actually been dropped before this to the
queens Had Cup due to a couple defensive issues, but
returned to State of origin form he scored a double.
Nick how much have you seen of the Cowboys this
(25:43):
year and what are the Warriors really need to look
out for do you think?
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Yeah, it's been a great deal of the cow was
just the odd highlights here and there, but did catch
a few of those tries that they ripped through the
Gold Coast at the weekend.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Look, they're a team that like to shift the ball.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
They've got multiple playmaking threat Scott Drinkwater, you know, regularly
popping up as that sort of third playmaker. He's obviously
from a background of being more of five eighth now
as a fullback for the cow So they've got multiple
ballplay threats there and threats on the edges. So look,
they're going to be tricky. They always tend to be
in Queensland as well. Seven thirty kickoff New Zealand Times,
(26:19):
so it's that five thirty local time magic round. I'm
sure there'll be a lot of fandom for the Warriors,
but I think if Andrew Webs's side particularly control the middle,
where they have done in the last couple of weeks
in particular, guys like Mitch Barnett Aaron Clark really getting
into their work. That'll allow the Warriors the opportunity to
(26:40):
get over the top of the Cowboys and limit their
opportunities in terms of where they attack. You know, that
was probably one of the real noticeable things out the
ground last week is where Newcastle were having to kick
from that.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
They're very rarely down inside the Warriors half.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
So if the Warriors can get that momentum ascendancy in
the middle, waighte e can come into the four.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
I think I think they'll get the job done.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah, well, it'll be a similar lineup.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Dell and my Tenday's Leslie at Jameson has some Roger
to ev Us Sick will still be out way Tennis
Lesnia because the next due back in round ten. How
good will it be to have them back. Do you
think they'll tinker with the line? I mean Web's has
been making a few adjustments every week, and you know
he sort of names the team and then changes the
how the interchange works.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
He's he's pretty crafty.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
With Daddy, likes to have a bit of fun with
everyone in terms of naming a team that's not necessarily
what runs out. But are there any big changes that
you think will stick out from the site.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
And going back to Andrew Webs's post match comments on
Friday night talking about Lekahalasima coming in to starting near
Cordo through the middle forward on the interchange, he said
that's a good option going forward for them. And again
because we didn't really see the full fruits of that
with near cords, Sinbinning and the Hia, I think they
(28:00):
will want to go down that route again. I thought
Jacob Laban as well was really impressive of the interchange,
so I think he's done enough to hold onto his spot.
It might just be whether Wade Egan's workload is a
question mark going into the next few rounds of mine.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
He's going He's getting through a lot.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
Of football obviously last year would usually have a Freddie
Lassick type on the interchange. You know, Wades his influence
on the game. He's up there with the most important
warrior on the field. But I do wonder at some
stage we saw was against Brisbane the Mighty Martin was
on the interchange. Now went into hooker for a little
bit of course, you've got Sam Harley there waiting in
(28:37):
the wings for a Warrior's NRL debuts, so that might
be a subtle tweak with it. A buntie our follow
could could drop away for a utility forward. But by
and large, I think the reward the performance of last
week and the week prime.
Speaker 10 (28:54):
The Big League Podcast on the Warriors Bad Wagon since
day one, The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Write some quick five predictions to this episode of The
Big League Podcast. Nick Billy will start with the Sharks
and the Eels.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
How you feeling?
Speaker 5 (29:17):
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed in the Sharks and like hard,
Oval is a tough place to win against the Tigers,
but just couldn't ice the big moments there in Golden
Point on Sunday night. But yeah, I don't really know
what to make a paramount a just yet. Mitch Moses
has just had the one game back. Of course they won.
I'm going to say the Sharks bounce back.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Yeah, I'm going to agree with you there the Eels
coming off the bibe, but they've just been not great
this year. Roosters Dolphins, Yeah, this will be an interesting
one too, Like the Dolphins, you know, they got run
over by a camera at home. And the Roosters, you know,
they're sort of a little bit Jekyll and High.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
They don't quite know what you're going to get. I
quite like the look of their new halfback. Here go Savala,
no more Chad Townsend in first grade at East. So
I'm going to go the Roosters, but you know it
is in Brisbanes who knows roosters.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
For me, I'm going to go with the Dolphins. I
was actually really surprised to see them loose to the Raiders.
Of course, a couple of weeks ago they ran over
the top of the storm put forty two points on them,
and they bet the Panthers the week before that. So
I've been really impressed with the Dolphins this year. I'm
going to back them. Rabbit Os versus the Knights. Two
teams struggling a wee bit, Yeah they are.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
I think Newcastle struggles are a bit more significant though
than the rabbit O's and they love Wayne Bennett up
in Brisbane.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
So Bunnies for me.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Warriors versus the Cowboys Saturday Night.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Yeah, look, head and heart is saying Warriors.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
It's not going to be easier this is a Cowboys team,
as we mentioned, that have got threats across the park.
But if the Warriors can win the middle, which I
think they will, if Midge Barnett, Aaron Clark and co
play at the level they have been playing so far
this season, that's going to allow the Warriors to get
on top and really limit the Cowboys opportunities in terms
(31:08):
field position. So I'm going to say the Warriors are
going to keep rolling.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah, and I'm going to agree with you. I'm going
to agree with you.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Then Gowboys on a bit of a winning streak, but
the Warriors are informed.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Tiger's Dragons Tigers Dragons.
Speaker 5 (31:26):
Yeah, another really tough one and usually the kind of
game that you know if it was at like hard
over Campbelltown, there's no home advantage really is there?
Speaker 4 (31:34):
With Magic Round.
Speaker 5 (31:36):
I'm going to say that the Tigers might have found
something after the Fortnight from Hell with this lockey Galvin saga.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Maybe it's that game on Sunday night the Golden Point
went over.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Cronulla's sort of a harmonious moment for the club to
kind of piece things together and Galvin and Leui and
Taruva can all be friends and yeah, they get the
job done over.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
The Dragons, Titans, Bulldogs. This should be easy.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
I was disappointed with the Bulldogs and that was probably
always the concern for them, whether they were able to
be so effective defensively against a big pack, and the
short answer there was no, you know, paying Harsen Pat
Harrigan in particularly just rolling through the middle against those
utility forwards that the Bulldogs have.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
But yeah, I think they'll find a way.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Cameron's through out a bit of an opportunity to you know,
just you know, sometimes winning just papers over a few cracks.
They'll have a real good look at themselves this week.
And yeah, that Gold Coast team without Jaden Campbell, they're
not that flash.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
Yeah, Bulldogs losing their first of the season to the Broncos,
but I'm backing them to bounce back.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Panthers versus the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Yeah, that's probably outside the Warriors Cowboys is probably the
most intriguing one for mine. Who would have thought the
Penrith Panthers seventeenth, right at the bottom of the ladder
as they go for five straight NRL premierships against the
Broncos side who were very impressive against the Bulldogs previous unbeaten. Jeez,
when is it going to clerk? It kind of has
(33:09):
to happen soon for Ivan Cleary's side bottom of the ladder.
I know, it's unbelievable, wasn't it. You had got great
value for that at the beginning of the year. But
they're at a real rut and I think perhaps they're
finally finding that you can't just continually lose top tier
talent like Fisher Harris, like Leui Taruva and just plug
(33:29):
these gaps with you know, Melbourne have been the catalysts
for that for the best part of twenty years. But
it's proving tricky this year for Penrith and Magic Round
in Brisbane, even though it's a Penrith home game, I
just had to go.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
I have to go with the Broncos.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
That's ridiculous that it's that it's not a home I'm
sorry that something has to be done about that. I'm
backing because they're playing in Brisbane. They're playing in Brisbane
and it's an away. It's not fair Storm versus the
Raiders to finish that.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
This is actually a cracking contest too, and the Storm,
you know, they're okay and did enough against the Rabbit O's.
But as you mentioned a bit earlier, and they sort
of exposed against the Dolphins and that Camera team all
of a sudden and that Warrior is loss in Vegas
is starting to look a little bit less, how shall
we say, a little bit not as bad as it
(34:17):
did at the time because they have just been running
through teams. I think they're a top four team this year.
I'm going to go with a bit of a bit
of an upset here. I'm going to say that the
Camera Raiders beat the Melbourne Storm. Couple of old teammates,
Ricky Stewart Craig Balamy, the Battle of the coaches. Yeah,
I'm going to go with Ricky stewarts man.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Well back the Storm, tried and true method just picked
the Storm. Hey Nick, thank you so much for taking
the time to be on the podcast. I really appreciate
your time, your wisdom, your insight. Please follow and rate
the podcast. Thank you for listening. We'll be back next
Monday to review Magic Round. My name is Nathan Limb.
Have a fantastic week.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
For more from News Talks at b listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio,
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