Episode 88: Hooker Sam Healey on Panthers finals fixture + Warriors scheduling clash with All Blacks
September 7, 2025 • 31 mins
This week on The Big League Podcast - Warriors hooker Sam Healey opens up on the daunting challenge of do-or-die finals footy against the Penrith Panthers at Mt Smart, debriefs the loss to Manly and how he's found his first season in Auckland.
Newstalk ZB's Nathan Limm and NZ Herald's Chris Reive tackle the hot topic of the NRL's scheduling - are you going to watch the Warriors or the All Blacks?? Stupid question.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio the
Big League podcast News TALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, Warriors hooker Sam
Healy opens up on the daunting challenge of do or
die Finals footy against the Penrith Panthers at Mount Smart,
debriefs the loss to Manly and how he's found his
first season in Auckland. Chris Reeve has sent off the
interchange for Michael Burgess to tackle the hot topic of
the NRL scheduling. But you're going to watch the Warriors
(00:46):
of the All Blacks. Stupid question. My name is Nathan Limb.
Let's go b LV. The NRL taking the pass, They've
got to be having a laugh, right. The Warriors have
a home finals fixture against the four time defending premieres,
the Penrith Panthers on Saturday night at Mount Smart. It's
a rare feat which should be relished and celebrated. However,
(01:09):
believe it or not, there is another New Zealand sports
team which also dominates headlines and television screens in the
minds of the Kebi sporting public. You might have heard
of them, they're known as the All Blacks. The All
Blacks play the spring Box from five past seven on
Saturday evening. So if you're the NRL and you have
one New Zealand team playing at home, all you need
to do is schedule the game for literally any time
(01:31):
outside of seven to eight thirty on Saturday night. As
you've probably heard, the NRAL have hit the nail on
the head, or rather missed it completely and scheduled the
Warriors to play the Panthers at six point five pm
New Zealand time at Mount Smart on Saturday, meaning if
you want to watch the first half of the All Blacks,
you'll miss the second half of the Warriors. New Zealand
(01:52):
Herald Rider Chris Reeve literally any other slot would have worked.
To me, this is like having an empty car park
and still choosing to park in the disabled spot.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
What a way to put it.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Yeah, it seems like they're just set up to make
KIWI fans angry, right, Like, of all the times you
could have put this on, I mean, you've got plenty
of days to work with over the week, plenty to
work with on the weekend.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
What like?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I get that they like to do things in a
certain order, But why not change it for for it
benefits everyone, right, Like you're going to get more eyes
on the product if people aren't gonna have to choose
between the All Blacks and the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Is this a show that actually the numbers that New
Zealand puts up in terms of n r OL viewership
are negligible and therefore we're not a big enough market
to actually make these decisions around.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Yeah, quite possibly. It's very much tailored for the Australian market, right,
And I guess with the All Blacks being in Wellington,
they're still going to get the people show up here, right,
They're still going to get a sold out crowd at
Mount Smart Stadium for finals games. Are still going to
tune in in Australia. Yes, that's probably what they are.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Well, they're worried about the Australian audience, right, they're not
so worried about us, and that I guess that's just
the reality they're making a financial decision. I still don't
understand why you wouldn't have the Raiders the minor premieres
on your Saturday night primetime slot and then let the
Warriors be on Sunday afternoon, Like, are they getting bullied
by Ricky Stewart? Is this what it is?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah? Pretty?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You're wanting them to play on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, potentially.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
See the way I say it is these games that
actually have jeopardy to them, they should be the ones
that are played later in the weekend. Give the people
something to look forward to, an elimination game, get it
later in the week.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I actually had a friend someone messaged me who said
that she had bought tickets to fly the Canberra to
watch what she presumed would be the raiatest playing on
the Saturday night Prime plot primetime slot and if fly
backs on the Sunday afternoon before the game.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Wow, that's pretty poorly planned.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Well well you can see that the method of thinking
though there you'd assume that they'd be playing and the
Saturday night primetime slot. But there we go. The other
part of this, Chris Reeve is Cameron George. We understand now.
I put in a call to him this morning. He
didn't pick up, unfortunately, so we will get clarity on this.
But we understand that the Cameron George was in talks
with the NRL about making sure that this game wasn't
(04:26):
on that Saturday evening timeslot was pushing for either a
Friday night or Sunday afternoon fixture, and it's just apparently
it's come to North but they the Warriors have a specifically,
as we understand it, the Warriors are asked for this
and the NRL have effectively just said no.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
So I saw Michael Burgess's story on this over the
weekend basically said how you just summed it up. And
of course the Warriors will be aware of this. They
are going to want as many eyes on their product
as possible. And you know, for the New Zealand market,
if you're contending with an all backs game, you're losing
that fight every time.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Maybe okay, maybe if.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
It was a Grand Final, Yeah, any other situation, you're
losing that fight.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
We're going to hear from Warriors hooker Sam Healey next,
but first, here are the highlights. As we look back
on the Seagules twenty seven Warriors twenty six final regular
season game.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Around twenty seven underway on Fox League.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
How would bounce it?
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Absolutely? Oh, Paul's tid. I don't believe this, You are
kidding me. With Cherry Evans, he hold it up nicely
for Peter Traverevitch, it's too easy still pitfering the Warriors.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Line out of Tommy Hart says Simon yas over.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
You ain't got a death Travoyvitch, Tommy Turmo. At that
time that was Dalen Matanny's alesia to me, he was
caught in no man's land.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Now it is chance again.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Telling Matanny's alesia Freshard Ros has gone through the front
door with the Warriors. He's hit in the backyard and
say started.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Guys, poor the boy cut as well.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
They start through now only we'll have a crack.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Just roll over.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
I think he's got this is Oh, he's gonna go
film do laugh, He's kid Martin the boid over the top.
Tell him what tennis last day out with the time
for the quarter, it's a full time siren sounds.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Audio courtesy of Fox Sports.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
The Big League Podcast podcast.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Senior New Zealand Herald writer Michael Burr just got a
quick chat with Sam Healey after the game. Let's take
a listen.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
What did you think of the performance?
Speaker 6 (06:51):
Yeah, obviously not the way we wanted to perform. We
hold in there towards the end, but I think we
just we just beat ourselves in the end, and that's
probably been the story of the last couple of weeks,
just being ourselves are theirs and poor discipline.
Speaker 8 (07:03):
So certainly made it hard when the pretty tough in
the first quarter and then again after halftime conceding those
those two tries. That that makes things really tough.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Doesn't it.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
Yeah, sure, you're always against the back foot and trying
to chase points, so makes it a bit tougher. But
we know we've got to be better, and we'll be better.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
What did you think of the the attack tonight.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
I think we're good in some instances and obviously things
we need to work on.
Speaker 8 (07:32):
And in terms of these these I guess lapses concentrational mistakes.
There has been talk about that the last few weeks.
But what do you what do you put.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That down to.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
I'm not too sure, to be honest. I think it's
just like the efforts always there and we can have
a question that, but there's just different lapses in time,
and yeah, I think I think we're just getting beaten
to the punch a bit.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Now. I've got to ask you about this, James F.
Speaker 8 (07:55):
Shaharis scoring after nine seconds absolutely remarkable.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
What was your view of how they're unfolded.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Yeah, I couldn't believe it. I just I just started
cracking up.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I could.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
I didn't actually know how to react, to be honest,
because I actually was standing there going that just happened.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
So it was pretty funny because you.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Were pretty close to the action, were you from memory? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (08:19):
Yeah, I think I just saw the ball bounce back
and I don't know, we've all got a bit jumbling.
And then I've seen fish put it down and I
thought he scored.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (08:31):
In all your years of playing footy I'm talking about
as a kid and juniors and all that, have you
seen anything like that?
Speaker 6 (08:38):
Never, never, in my life iviting anything like that. It's
probably have to be the quickest trying in our old history, I'd.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
Say, But how nice is it that a prop forward
has got the quickest try and in our history?
Speaker 6 (08:51):
It's pretty funny. You wouldn't really, you wouldn't think that's gonna.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That's gonna happen.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
But yeah, he put himself in the right spot and
he got the he got the try, So that's good.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
It's funny. And for you, how did you feel about
your performance?
Speaker 8 (09:03):
You certainly look really live a dummy half some some
good runs.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
How do you feel?
Speaker 6 (09:09):
Yeah, I felt pretty good. I thought I did some
good things, and I have a couple of things I
need to work on, but yeah, I'll have a look
at it, chat to the coaches and see where I
can improve and go under trying to get better each
each time I play and just trying to progress. So yeah,
I'll have a look at it and see a bit
closer what I need to work on.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Just to look ahead.
Speaker 8 (09:27):
How do you feel about what's coming next week? Will
you be be facing four time premiers in an elimination
in the final.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
We're really optimistic. We just spoke before and we're looking
forward to the challenge. I think like we know that
tonight obviously, while it's a disappointing performance, we beat ourselves
and if we don't beat ourselves, we know we can
go with anyone. We've done it in the past and
done it this year, So we're really optimistic about about
next week. We're just going to bump it down at
training and block out all the outside noise and just
(10:00):
get stuck in and hopefully get the job done.
Speaker 8 (10:02):
Is it a bit intimidating to be facing a team
like the Panthers?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
In the first week of the finals.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
No, I don't think so. I think you've got to
beat any team to win the camp, every team to
win the camp. So no, I don't think it's daunting
at all. I think she's got to do it to
get the job done.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
So yeah, And.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
If I can just actually saying about your year, I mean,
we spoke to you early on, and I spoke to
you a couple of times since. How do you feel
about about your season, because you know, from watching on
it feels like it's been quite a remarkable campaign I.
Speaker 6 (10:36):
Have mentioned, Yeah, it's been.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
It's been good.
Speaker 6 (10:38):
I would like to string a few more games together,
but I need a timing cup and stuff like that.
And I think when I've come in, I've just tried
to bring something to the team, and it's been It's
been really good for me. I've something I've drempt about
my whole life, playing a NROL, and it's it's really
cool to be in and around that sort of seventeen
each week, so and just to sort of being there
in the sanct thing that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And no, I'm loving it. And what are you most
happy with?
Speaker 8 (11:02):
And also where do you think you've you've improved your game.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
I think a lot of my defensive stuff I've I
still got to get better, but I've improved a lot.
I've worked pretty closely with our defense coach Slade and
just the way we defend. And I'm also defending in
the middle of different ways to wrestle and try and
slow the rouckdown. So I think that's something I've really
tried to really sort of hone in on in the
preseason and try to try to bring it through the game.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
So yeah, and what about your running game, because you're
still teams have seen you quite a bit now, but
you're still catching out defenses from dummy half quite often.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
I think I've got a pretty good forward pack to
play behind that get me those opportunities and outside backs
that get me those opportunities. And i just got to
have eyes up and take them when I get the
when I get the look that I like.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
So yeah, that's.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
Always been sort of a strength of mind, is my
running game, so and Webby encourages me to use it.
So just trying to back myself.
Speaker 8 (11:58):
And how do you know when to run, Sam, because
like all Dummy House tried to do it, but you
seem to have a knack of catching them out.
Speaker 6 (12:06):
I don't want to give too any secrets, I think. Yeah, No,
I don't know. I played a lot of touch when
I was younger, so being in the middle and stuff
like that, I just learned. And I'm not too actually
too sure how I learned it. It's probably just something
that comes natural to me. Is just sensing that and
knowing when I should run. And yeah, I get it
(12:26):
wrong sometimes, but you're not going to get everything right
all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
So yeah, the.
Speaker 8 (12:30):
Touch footy would be important though, because the big part
of that game, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Yeah, for sure, that's pretty much what the game's based around,
is rock speed and manipulating the ruck and all that
sort of thing, and they're running and playing off the
back of that, which is when I moved into Orca.
It was something that I really enjoyed about the position,
was having that element of freedom and time around the
ruck when you get a quick quick play the ball
and stuff like that.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
So and just finally saying thanks for your time made
I really appreciate it. How's life been an Awkland for you?
Because I imagine you hadn't been here much to New Zealand.
Suddenly you're living here. How's that side of things all going.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
I've got a good little crew that I live with
a few of the boys, so yeah, we have fun
and we're just really enjoying playing our footy and going
home and hanging out with each other and.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
On days off doing stuff.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
So it's been really good living over there, and all
the boys have made it really welcoming for me and
the club too, So yeah, I really love my time.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Is it pretty cool when you get recognized on the street.
Speaker 6 (13:29):
Yeah, it's pretty cool, but I think it just comes
with it. I guess I don't know, it doesn't. It
doesn't happen too much to me. I'm I haven't played
that any games, and not many people know me.
Speaker 7 (13:39):
This is the Big League podcast. This is going yeah,
the Big League Podcast on the Warriors bandwagon since day one.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Great to hear from Sam Healey there. He echoed I
suppose what Webster said after the game about beating themselves
those concentration lapses which we keep hearing about coming into
the game. It's good to hear though, that they're walking
towards the challenge of Penrith, because, let's face it, everyone's
written them off.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, myself included. You look at come on, really, I
just throw that out there straight. I mean, you look
at the Penrith Panthers. You look at who they have,
what they've got, How good that team can be. I
don't know if this Warriors team is going to be
good enough to beat them.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Okay, we'll go through the Panthers game shortly, but let's
let's go through this game in a bit more detail.
First of all, Coach Andrew reaps the Seeds after the
game that it was it was just chaotic.
Speaker 9 (14:35):
I can't throwing punches all the way through. But they
just won the role ones at Tom's like you'd see.
We wanted them probably overplaying and making it really hard
for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Right, manly win due to that effectively that daily cheer
Even's field goal, And you've got to think back to
the Tanner Boyd missed conversion earlier on in the game
from just to the right of the upright just sends
it directly into the posts. If he gets that, do
the Warriors well, I mean, you can never know how
the game would have played out, right, but you think
back to a little moment like that. They lose by
(15:04):
one point, I mean that's frustrating, right.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Oh, absolutely, And like you said that, that kick was
very makeable, Like for an NRL goalkicker, you'd expect him
to knock that one through and unfortunately he didn't. Dally
Jerry Evans kicks that field goal soon after, and yeah,
unfortunately the kind of end of the game. Yeah, the
Warriors scored a try at the end, but it didn't
(15:29):
didn't really count for anything and the end really did it.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Yeah, when you look back on those moments, I suppose
and tannaboid in fairness, he's been really, really good off
the tea. Was last week of the week before he
kicked six from six off the tea. So you just
got to hope though that come Finals footy, you know,
in this game on Saturday night, that those moments they
just have to be ice. They're non negotiable if they're
(15:51):
worries want to have any chance. Let's talk about that try,
Charlie James Fisher Harris outrageous opening try, the fastest in
NRL history. Nine seconds. It took them, I mean mainly
just absolutely stuffed that kickoff. You and I were sitting
in the newsroom on that Friday night and I was
pissing myself. I thought it was hilarious. They can and
(16:12):
it was Daily Cherry Evans who was right under the
ball and then just let it go and it bounce
it in his last game. I don't know, I thought
that was really really funny.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
The bounce of the rugby league football is it can
go one of two ways. Right, it'll go yes, here
it'll go for you. And yeah, when I saw that
at the start of the game, I thought, oh, Daly
Cherry Evans is on for just an absolute shambles of
a game and his last for Manley. But it didn't
end up that way. But what a hilarious way to
start a game. And having James Fisher Harris.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
The prop of all people I know coming up with it.
The fastest try every in NR history goes to a prop.
There is some some sort of comic element to that. However,
the Warriors sort of set after the game that they
think that that tritually hampered them in the long run,
because coach Andrew Webster said it. Basically, they got excited
about the lead, but they hadn't earned anything.
Speaker 9 (17:05):
I reckon we'd all get rid of that record and
maybe look fondly upon it when you retire, mate, But.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
But tonight it just sent us down the path we
didn't want to go. Now, Rockerberry cannot catch a break.
He cannot catch a break, Reeve mate ac caught out
a position sort of early on in the contest. The
Seagulls score the try in that right hand corner of
right hand right edge defense from a warrior's perspective. Rocket
(17:33):
Berry falls to the ground and goes off injured again
with a dislocated shoulder. He ended up going to hospital.
So that's the season done. I mean, he needs to
start taking magnesium or going to the physio like. I'm
sure he's doing all these things and it's not his fault,
but it must be. It's so incredibly frustrating as a
fan to see him repeatedly get injured. I can only
(17:55):
imagine what he's feeling. Oh absolutely.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
I mean, he's got so much potential right like you
see little glimpses of it, but he's never really been
fit enough to put so many games together that you
can say this guy's like the center for the future.
He's got that potential, but the injuries are just they
just set them back every every time, and this one
I had to watch like four or five times over
(18:20):
to see what he actually did because it looked pretty innocuous.
If anything, I thought he had injured the other arm
just from an awkward landing. But yeah, dislocated shoulder. It's
his season done and it's rough to see.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
And obviously it forced the Warriors reshuffle elector halla Seema
going into center. Coach Andrew Repster says he did a
good job.
Speaker 9 (18:40):
Thought he was like a bit of a shining white
letter in that role. Gave us some Noll versatility. Yeah,
real shameful. Rocco just can't build any string any games together.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Now we've got to get into, I suppose the stuff
that is not so good about this game because it
was a loss. We are heading into finals off the
back of the Warriors of a loss. It's kind of
I feel kind of frustrated because it feels like we're
saying the same thing every week. It was just the
issue where they were they were sloppy on attack, they
would drop balls, they were wayward part and again it's
(19:09):
sort of put down to concentration lapses and there's no
like obviously they're putting in one hundred percent. You can't
question the effort, but it's like, how do you fix
something that just keeps coming back and it's not just
like an easy well you think it would be easy, right, Like,
how do you address.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
This good question? I mean you can you can only
imagine that week after a week, they're sitting down and
they are addressing it, talking about it, pointing things out.
I guess, coming up with a plan to eliminate it.
But it doesn't seem to be working right.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Dala Martin's a Lesniak scores a double. I thought he
looked really good with ball in hand, had had a
great breakdown the right edge sort of late in the game.
He obviously scored that final try, but I think we
heard a part of it in the commentary clip, the
two tries that Manly scored early on in the game
down that right edge, Dolon motenez Alesni caught out of position,
sort of caught in no man's land, And you know,
(20:06):
I feel from I don't think it at this point
in the season. Obviously they're not going to bring anyone else,
But do you think there would have been merit in
giving him a week or two in reserve grow do
you think they would have made a difference, bring someone
else up, swap the background to see what happened. Do
you think that they should have experimented more with this
ride edge this year or too much disruption already with
(20:28):
the number of centers that they'd had on that right
eage and this wouldn't have helped.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Yeah, I think there's been too much disruption to try
and do too much different if you don't have to,
if you had the luxury of I guess, a fully
healthy team for an extended period of time, then maybe
they could have tried something like that. But I overheard
someone talking about this the other day that Delan Watson
isil isne It can be both the best and worst
(20:52):
player on the field at the same time. He gives
you so much on attack, the way he finishes in
the corner. I mean, you lose a lot by not
having him there. But defensively he's a liability at times.
And like you said on commentary, they even said I
think it was the second try that they leaped in
(21:13):
on that side of the field. They're like, Dullan, what's
in his a Lesnik, what are you doing? And that
was kind of your response as well when we were
watching it.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, well, it's just same old's story, I guess is
the issue. And you know, we had Dyllan on the
podcast the first or second episode this year, I think,
and I talked to him in studio. Great, awesome blow.
He's fantastic to talk to. He was really honest, and
I guess from a media perspective, we really appreciate people
being honest and talking about things that they're working on.
And he spoke about this, you know, he spoke about
(21:42):
that sort of defensive positioning being something that he was
working on. And obviously it's still is sort of in
the work on Camp and I understand that it's frustrating
for fans. It is frustrating to watch it. I'm sure
Down is frustrated by it as well. Just lastly, on
the game, what do you make of jas Devanger pulling
the finger at Roger two? I vasas because he went on.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
I loved it.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Yeah, I love a bit of Nigel in any sport
really just just a little bit and niggle here in there,
never goes a miss And what a way to sign
off your NRUR career right, just walk off the field
pulling a finger.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
To a mate and I just I just love it,
Like I was trying to. I was talking to Chance
to could cook start at the airport in the media
conference last week obviously before before the game, and I
asked him, sort of, you know, do you lean into
playing the villain this week daily Cherry Evans's last game
at brook Vale? Do you lean into trying to ruin it?
(22:36):
Do you lean into someone rushing out of the line
and try to put a head on him, you know
that sort of thing. And he's too nice of a guy. Chance,
he wouldn't be drawn into my my bait to try
and get some biff going. He's too good of a bloke.
And he said, no, of course not. We wanted to
have a good game, but obviously we want the win.
And the sad nature of Sporters that that would mean
he loses his last game. But just lean into it.
(22:57):
Someone give the finger back to Jenstavanger.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
I would love to know what Roger said as he
was walking past to get Actually it.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Was undoubtedly a great game, mate, James would have pulled
the finger a gallisor and he's two up for the
fight and I love a big past. The Panthers are
four time defending premieres. They finished the regular season seventh
on the ladder, with thirteen wins, a draw and ten losses.
(23:25):
They're coming off a forty to twenty hiding of the Dragons,
but they lost three in a row before that. Let's
not forget that they lost three in a row before
that last game. How much do we read into these results,
Chris Reeve, given that the Bulldogs game two eas ago,
they put out a B side.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yeah, good question. Remember when they lost five in a
row to start the season and people were riding them off.
Seems like a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Now, it seems like a very long time ago.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
I do, Yes, yeah, they so they do have losses
in them. We've seen that even with the quality of
side they have, they've clearly lost something this year compared
to the last what three or four seasons. They are
still a very good side. They're still a very good side,
and finals football, the good sides do tend to show
up and play at their best. So, I mean, I'm
(24:14):
not reading too much into the conflicting.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Yourself here, because earlier on the podcast you're saying, no,
I don't give them any chance. I don't give the
Warriors any chance.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
I don't give the Warriors much of a chance.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
You just said they have some losses in them of
course the Panthers. Yeah, but I don't think the Warriors
have no chance.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Well, I don't think the Panthers are going to lose
to the Warriors. I think they're a better team. I
think they're a better finals team. I think they'll lose
potentially to like a Melbourne maybe or a Brisbane. But
I don't I don't think they've lost the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Okay, well, sorry, Penrith Sport. The talents of you know
the deal. Nathan Cleary plays Talangi in the have still
on edwards fall back in the class of Moses Leota,
Scott Sorenson and Isaiah Yo in the forwards. Reeve work
with me here. If the Warriors are to clinch a
victory in what areas do they have to be clinical?
(25:05):
How do you expose this Panthers team.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
I mean you have to shut down the playmakers and
that's not just the halves, but you have to shut
down Isaiaho as well. He's a very good ball playing
middle And you have to be clinical. You can't have
those defensive lapses. You can't be giving them extra possessions.
You have to get through your sets, pin them in
the corners and take your opportunities when they come.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Now, Wade Egan should be back for this contest. He
was rested from the last one Webster. When I asked
him about it, he said that it was one of
those ones, an issue with his hip. He believed that
if he gave Wade Egan the week off this week,
he would definitely be available this week. So he will
be playing, Thank goodness Wade Egan. Although Sam he leads
a fantastically well I thought at Hooker, if they sought
(25:51):
the concentration lapses, they are in the fight. If the
concentration lapes continue, I think they're going to get killed
because Penrith will be ruthless. However, a player who will
undoubtedly be up for this is Kipper James Fisher Harris,
who was asked in the press conference about the prospect
of facing his former so he said, the finals are
a whole new competition.
Speaker 8 (26:11):
No one really respects us, no one gives us anything,
any hope or anything like that, and I actually loved it.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
How good is that to hear Chris reeve they know
that nearly everyone's written them off and James saying he
likes it, he likes the challenge. They're embracing the underdog's tag.
And you know, we always talk about this is where
the Warriors thrive. They're walking towards this.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
That's the right attitude, right, absolutely, absolutely, the Warriors love
being an underdog and they are at home. We can't
forget that. That has to count for something. A booming,
mount smart crowd, that'll definitely get them up for the challenge.
I mean, I was in Penrith year before last, I
think it was when they played the Panthers round one
of the playoffs and they just didn't show up. They
(26:55):
got beat him pretty soundly and it was a pretty disappointing,
pretty disappointing loss. This time around there at home, and
I mean, if they're going to get up, they're gonna
do it at Huh.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
This is a fexture that should be relished, It should
be cherished, and it should be celebrated in correct Warriors fashion.
Which was a box of Cody.
Speaker 7 (27:15):
The Big League podcast, The Bad Wagons Since Day one,
the Big League podcast for the biggest league fans.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Okay, really quick. Five predictions were into NRL Finals footy.
Can you believe it? We've got four bumper contests this weekend.
We're going to start off with the Storm and the
Bronx and the Bulldogs pardon me in Melbourne. Storm have
been out of sorts man, Yeah, spy the Broncos, Yeah,
(27:51):
the last of the Roosters got kecked by the Roosters
the week before that.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Once they lost their own who Hughes last week, it
kind of just fell apart for them. So I hope
they turn it around. But yeah, I don't know. The
Bulldogs are good.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Well, Bulldogs. The Bulldogs coming off a twenty four to
six lost the Sharks, So what's happened? These are two
teams that have been good throughout the season, and it
does feel like for the Storm the Wheels might have
come off right at the end, but then the Bulldogs.
You've got several teams go into these finals not off
the back of good results. Can I get your prediction,
(28:24):
Chris Reeve?
Speaker 4 (28:26):
Yeah, Storm, Storm, Yeah, throw a Storm in there.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
I'm going to go for the Bulldogs to pick off
the Storm, who do not have Jerome Hughes. I think
that is massive. Here we go, Warriors, Panthers, mount Smart Panthers.
You know, I'm picking the Warriors. Just because you're so
confident the Warriors are going to lose. And I want
to stick it to you, Chris Reeve.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
So if this is at this point out there, not
long ago, you just said, if they don't play perfectly,
they're going to get killed.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
And I think I think they will. I'm back in
they'll get killed. I think they'll. I think they'll they'll
tune up. Okay. I think Tanner Boyd is going to
kick all his kicks, and I think we're going to
see you apologizing to me later. I think it'll be competitive.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
I think it'll be close, but I think the Banders
get up.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Are you watching the Warriors of the All Blacks? Double screening?
Double screening? Fantastic, that's the editor of Chris Reeve. Sharks, Roosters, Roosters.
I'm going to agree with you there. Sharks. Obviously with
a good win over the Bulldogs, the Roosters are in
some form. The Roosters coming off a thirty six and
a thirty six six hiding of the Bunnies and obviously
(29:34):
forty to ten over the storm the week before, so
Roosters to get it done at Shark Park. Raiders Broncos,
which for me is probably the most interesting of these
games on the Sunday afternoon when the Warriors could have
been playing What do you think, Reeve?
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Yeah, that one's tough. I think I'm gonna go with
the Broncos just based on recent performances. They've been very good.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
They've turned out that toilet water for Reese Walsh. He
should go back to that toilet because he played absolutely
superbly in their last win over the Storm engineered that
that victory pad one of his best games ever. I
think so the Broncos are firing right at the pointy
end of the season. And I'll point out Chris Reeve
in this very first episode of the podcast this year,
(30:20):
I picked the Broncos as my minor premiers and that
has not happened. But they are right in the fight here,
so I will still take some I'll still take some
credit for that prediction.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
I think.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Yeah, I mean they're suck into the top four. You
got to tell you that. Okay, So I'm still like
like three off. Still close enough, We'll go with it. Hey,
thank you Chris ree for your time. You wisten your
insight this week.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You have a fantastic week Warriors versus the Panthers this
Saturday night n RL Finals for the app mound Smart
if you go into the game, have a safe night,
enjoy it, drink the Cody's. Please follow and rate the podcast.
My name is Nathan lemb Have a fantastic week.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
For more from News talks'd be listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio the
Big League podcast News TALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
This week on The Big League Podcast, Warriors hooker Sam
Healy opens up on the daunting challenge of do or
die Finals footy against the Penrith Panthers at Mount Smart,
debriefs the loss to Manly and how he's found his
first season in Auckland. Chris Reeve has sent off the
interchange for Michael Burgess to tackle the hot topic of
the NRL scheduling. But you're going to watch the Warriors
(00:46):
of the All Blacks. Stupid question. My name is Nathan Limb.
Let's go b LV. The NRL taking the pass, They've
got to be having a laugh, right. The Warriors have
a home finals fixture against the four time defending premieres,
the Penrith Panthers on Saturday night at Mount Smart. It's
a rare feat which should be relished and celebrated. However,
(01:09):
believe it or not, there is another New Zealand sports
team which also dominates headlines and television screens in the
minds of the Kebi sporting public. You might have heard
of them, they're known as the All Blacks. The All
Blacks play the spring Box from five past seven on
Saturday evening. So if you're the NRL and you have
one New Zealand team playing at home, all you need
to do is schedule the game for literally any time
(01:31):
outside of seven to eight thirty on Saturday night. As
you've probably heard, the NRAL have hit the nail on
the head, or rather missed it completely and scheduled the
Warriors to play the Panthers at six point five pm
New Zealand time at Mount Smart on Saturday, meaning if
you want to watch the first half of the All Blacks,
you'll miss the second half of the Warriors. New Zealand
(01:52):
Herald Rider Chris Reeve literally any other slot would have worked.
To me, this is like having an empty car park
and still choosing to park in the disabled spot.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
What a way to put it.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Yeah, it seems like they're just set up to make
KIWI fans angry, right, Like, of all the times you
could have put this on, I mean, you've got plenty
of days to work with over the week, plenty to
work with on the weekend.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
What like?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I get that they like to do things in a
certain order, But why not change it for for it
benefits everyone, right, Like you're going to get more eyes
on the product if people aren't gonna have to choose
between the All Blacks and the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Is this a show that actually the numbers that New
Zealand puts up in terms of n r OL viewership
are negligible and therefore we're not a big enough market
to actually make these decisions around.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Yeah, quite possibly. It's very much tailored for the Australian market, right,
And I guess with the All Blacks being in Wellington,
they're still going to get the people show up here, right,
They're still going to get a sold out crowd at
Mount Smart Stadium for finals games. Are still going to
tune in in Australia. Yes, that's probably what they are.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Well, they're worried about the Australian audience, right, they're not
so worried about us, and that I guess that's just
the reality they're making a financial decision. I still don't
understand why you wouldn't have the Raiders the minor premieres
on your Saturday night primetime slot and then let the
Warriors be on Sunday afternoon, Like, are they getting bullied
by Ricky Stewart? Is this what it is?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah? Pretty?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You're wanting them to play on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, potentially.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
See the way I say it is these games that
actually have jeopardy to them, they should be the ones
that are played later in the weekend. Give the people
something to look forward to, an elimination game, get it
later in the week.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I actually had a friend someone messaged me who said
that she had bought tickets to fly the Canberra to
watch what she presumed would be the raiatest playing on
the Saturday night Prime plot primetime slot and if fly
backs on the Sunday afternoon before the game.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Wow, that's pretty poorly planned.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Well well you can see that the method of thinking
though there you'd assume that they'd be playing and the
Saturday night primetime slot. But there we go. The other
part of this, Chris Reeve is Cameron George. We understand now.
I put in a call to him this morning. He
didn't pick up, unfortunately, so we will get clarity on this.
But we understand that the Cameron George was in talks
with the NRL about making sure that this game wasn't
(04:26):
on that Saturday evening timeslot was pushing for either a
Friday night or Sunday afternoon fixture, and it's just apparently
it's come to North but they the Warriors have a specifically,
as we understand it, the Warriors are asked for this
and the NRL have effectively just said no.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
So I saw Michael Burgess's story on this over the
weekend basically said how you just summed it up. And
of course the Warriors will be aware of this. They
are going to want as many eyes on their product
as possible. And you know, for the New Zealand market,
if you're contending with an all backs game, you're losing
that fight every time.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Maybe okay, maybe if.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
It was a Grand Final, Yeah, any other situation, you're
losing that fight.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
We're going to hear from Warriors hooker Sam Healey next,
but first, here are the highlights. As we look back
on the Seagules twenty seven Warriors twenty six final regular
season game.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Around twenty seven underway on Fox League.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
How would bounce it?
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Absolutely? Oh, Paul's tid. I don't believe this, You are
kidding me. With Cherry Evans, he hold it up nicely
for Peter Traverevitch, it's too easy still pitfering the Warriors.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Line out of Tommy Hart says Simon yas over.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
You ain't got a death Travoyvitch, Tommy Turmo. At that
time that was Dalen Matanny's alesia to me, he was
caught in no man's land.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Now it is chance again.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Telling Matanny's alesia Freshard Ros has gone through the front
door with the Warriors. He's hit in the backyard and
say started.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Guys, poor the boy cut as well.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
They start through now only we'll have a crack.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Just roll over.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
I think he's got this is Oh, he's gonna go
film do laugh, He's kid Martin the boid over the top.
Tell him what tennis last day out with the time
for the quarter, it's a full time siren sounds.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Audio courtesy of Fox Sports.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
The Big League Podcast podcast.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Senior New Zealand Herald writer Michael Burr just got a
quick chat with Sam Healey after the game. Let's take
a listen.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
What did you think of the performance?
Speaker 6 (06:51):
Yeah, obviously not the way we wanted to perform. We
hold in there towards the end, but I think we
just we just beat ourselves in the end, and that's
probably been the story of the last couple of weeks,
just being ourselves are theirs and poor discipline.
Speaker 8 (07:03):
So certainly made it hard when the pretty tough in
the first quarter and then again after halftime conceding those
those two tries. That that makes things really tough.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Doesn't it.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
Yeah, sure, you're always against the back foot and trying
to chase points, so makes it a bit tougher. But
we know we've got to be better, and we'll be better.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
What did you think of the the attack tonight.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
I think we're good in some instances and obviously things
we need to work on.
Speaker 8 (07:32):
And in terms of these these I guess lapses concentrational mistakes.
There has been talk about that the last few weeks.
But what do you what do you put.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That down to.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
I'm not too sure, to be honest. I think it's
just like the efforts always there and we can have
a question that, but there's just different lapses in time,
and yeah, I think I think we're just getting beaten
to the punch a bit.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Now. I've got to ask you about this, James F.
Speaker 8 (07:55):
Shaharis scoring after nine seconds absolutely remarkable.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
What was your view of how they're unfolded.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Yeah, I couldn't believe it. I just I just started
cracking up.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I could.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
I didn't actually know how to react, to be honest,
because I actually was standing there going that just happened.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
So it was pretty funny because you.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Were pretty close to the action, were you from memory? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (08:19):
Yeah, I think I just saw the ball bounce back
and I don't know, we've all got a bit jumbling.
And then I've seen fish put it down and I
thought he scored.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (08:31):
In all your years of playing footy I'm talking about
as a kid and juniors and all that, have you
seen anything like that?
Speaker 6 (08:38):
Never, never, in my life iviting anything like that. It's
probably have to be the quickest trying in our old history, I'd.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
Say, But how nice is it that a prop forward
has got the quickest try and in our history?
Speaker 6 (08:51):
It's pretty funny. You wouldn't really, you wouldn't think that's gonna.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That's gonna happen.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
But yeah, he put himself in the right spot and
he got the he got the try, So that's good.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
It's funny. And for you, how did you feel about
your performance?
Speaker 8 (09:03):
You certainly look really live a dummy half some some
good runs.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
How do you feel?
Speaker 6 (09:09):
Yeah, I felt pretty good. I thought I did some
good things, and I have a couple of things I
need to work on, but yeah, I'll have a look
at it, chat to the coaches and see where I
can improve and go under trying to get better each
each time I play and just trying to progress. So yeah,
I'll have a look at it and see a bit
closer what I need to work on.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Just to look ahead.
Speaker 8 (09:27):
How do you feel about what's coming next week? Will
you be be facing four time premiers in an elimination
in the final.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
We're really optimistic. We just spoke before and we're looking
forward to the challenge. I think like we know that
tonight obviously, while it's a disappointing performance, we beat ourselves
and if we don't beat ourselves, we know we can
go with anyone. We've done it in the past and
done it this year, So we're really optimistic about about
next week. We're just going to bump it down at
training and block out all the outside noise and just
(10:00):
get stuck in and hopefully get the job done.
Speaker 8 (10:02):
Is it a bit intimidating to be facing a team
like the Panthers?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
In the first week of the finals.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
No, I don't think so. I think you've got to
beat any team to win the camp, every team to
win the camp. So no, I don't think it's daunting
at all. I think she's got to do it to
get the job done.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
So yeah, And.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
If I can just actually saying about your year, I mean,
we spoke to you early on, and I spoke to
you a couple of times since. How do you feel
about about your season, because you know, from watching on
it feels like it's been quite a remarkable campaign I.
Speaker 6 (10:36):
Have mentioned, Yeah, it's been.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
It's been good.
Speaker 6 (10:38):
I would like to string a few more games together,
but I need a timing cup and stuff like that.
And I think when I've come in, I've just tried
to bring something to the team, and it's been It's
been really good for me. I've something I've drempt about
my whole life, playing a NROL, and it's it's really
cool to be in and around that sort of seventeen
each week, so and just to sort of being there
in the sanct thing that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And no, I'm loving it. And what are you most
happy with?
Speaker 8 (11:02):
And also where do you think you've you've improved your game.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
I think a lot of my defensive stuff I've I
still got to get better, but I've improved a lot.
I've worked pretty closely with our defense coach Slade and
just the way we defend. And I'm also defending in
the middle of different ways to wrestle and try and
slow the rouckdown. So I think that's something I've really
tried to really sort of hone in on in the
preseason and try to try to bring it through the game.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
So yeah, and what about your running game, because you're
still teams have seen you quite a bit now, but
you're still catching out defenses from dummy half quite often.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
I think I've got a pretty good forward pack to
play behind that get me those opportunities and outside backs
that get me those opportunities. And i just got to
have eyes up and take them when I get the
when I get the look that I like.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
So yeah, that's.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
Always been sort of a strength of mind, is my
running game, so and Webby encourages me to use it.
So just trying to back myself.
Speaker 8 (11:58):
And how do you know when to run, Sam, because
like all Dummy House tried to do it, but you
seem to have a knack of catching them out.
Speaker 6 (12:06):
I don't want to give too any secrets, I think. Yeah, No,
I don't know. I played a lot of touch when
I was younger, so being in the middle and stuff
like that, I just learned. And I'm not too actually
too sure how I learned it. It's probably just something
that comes natural to me. Is just sensing that and
knowing when I should run. And yeah, I get it
(12:26):
wrong sometimes, but you're not going to get everything right
all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
So yeah, the.
Speaker 8 (12:30):
Touch footy would be important though, because the big part
of that game, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Yeah, for sure, that's pretty much what the game's based around,
is rock speed and manipulating the ruck and all that
sort of thing, and they're running and playing off the
back of that, which is when I moved into Orca.
It was something that I really enjoyed about the position,
was having that element of freedom and time around the
ruck when you get a quick quick play the ball
and stuff like that.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
So and just finally saying thanks for your time made
I really appreciate it. How's life been an Awkland for you?
Because I imagine you hadn't been here much to New Zealand.
Suddenly you're living here. How's that side of things all going.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
I've got a good little crew that I live with
a few of the boys, so yeah, we have fun
and we're just really enjoying playing our footy and going
home and hanging out with each other and.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
On days off doing stuff.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
So it's been really good living over there, and all
the boys have made it really welcoming for me and
the club too, So yeah, I really love my time.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Is it pretty cool when you get recognized on the street.
Speaker 6 (13:29):
Yeah, it's pretty cool, but I think it just comes
with it. I guess I don't know, it doesn't. It
doesn't happen too much to me. I'm I haven't played
that any games, and not many people know me.
Speaker 7 (13:39):
This is the Big League podcast. This is going yeah,
the Big League Podcast on the Warriors bandwagon since day one.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Great to hear from Sam Healey there. He echoed I
suppose what Webster said after the game about beating themselves
those concentration lapses which we keep hearing about coming into
the game. It's good to hear though, that they're walking
towards the challenge of Penrith, because, let's face it, everyone's
written them off.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, myself included. You look at come on, really, I
just throw that out there straight. I mean, you look
at the Penrith Panthers. You look at who they have,
what they've got, How good that team can be. I
don't know if this Warriors team is going to be
good enough to beat them.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Okay, we'll go through the Panthers game shortly, but let's
let's go through this game in a bit more detail.
First of all, Coach Andrew reaps the Seeds after the
game that it was it was just chaotic.
Speaker 9 (14:35):
I can't throwing punches all the way through. But they
just won the role ones at Tom's like you'd see.
We wanted them probably overplaying and making it really hard
for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Right, manly win due to that effectively that daily cheer
Even's field goal, And you've got to think back to
the Tanner Boyd missed conversion earlier on in the game
from just to the right of the upright just sends
it directly into the posts. If he gets that, do
the Warriors well, I mean, you can never know how
the game would have played out, right, but you think
back to a little moment like that. They lose by
(15:04):
one point, I mean that's frustrating, right.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Oh, absolutely, And like you said that, that kick was
very makeable, Like for an NRL goalkicker, you'd expect him
to knock that one through and unfortunately he didn't. Dally
Jerry Evans kicks that field goal soon after, and yeah,
unfortunately the kind of end of the game. Yeah, the
Warriors scored a try at the end, but it didn't
(15:29):
didn't really count for anything and the end really did it.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Yeah, when you look back on those moments, I suppose
and tannaboid in fairness, he's been really, really good off
the tea. Was last week of the week before he
kicked six from six off the tea. So you just
got to hope though that come Finals footy, you know,
in this game on Saturday night, that those moments they
just have to be ice. They're non negotiable if they're
(15:51):
worries want to have any chance. Let's talk about that try,
Charlie James Fisher Harris outrageous opening try, the fastest in
NRL history. Nine seconds. It took them, I mean mainly
just absolutely stuffed that kickoff. You and I were sitting
in the newsroom on that Friday night and I was
pissing myself. I thought it was hilarious. They can and
(16:12):
it was Daily Cherry Evans who was right under the
ball and then just let it go and it bounce
it in his last game. I don't know, I thought
that was really really funny.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
The bounce of the rugby league football is it can
go one of two ways. Right, it'll go yes, here
it'll go for you. And yeah, when I saw that
at the start of the game, I thought, oh, Daly
Cherry Evans is on for just an absolute shambles of
a game and his last for Manley. But it didn't
end up that way. But what a hilarious way to
start a game. And having James Fisher Harris.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
The prop of all people I know coming up with it.
The fastest try every in NR history goes to a prop.
There is some some sort of comic element to that. However,
the Warriors sort of set after the game that they
think that that tritually hampered them in the long run,
because coach Andrew Webster said it. Basically, they got excited
about the lead, but they hadn't earned anything.
Speaker 9 (17:05):
I reckon we'd all get rid of that record and
maybe look fondly upon it when you retire, mate, But.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
But tonight it just sent us down the path we
didn't want to go. Now, Rockerberry cannot catch a break.
He cannot catch a break, Reeve mate ac caught out
a position sort of early on in the contest. The
Seagulls score the try in that right hand corner of
right hand right edge defense from a warrior's perspective. Rocket
(17:33):
Berry falls to the ground and goes off injured again
with a dislocated shoulder. He ended up going to hospital.
So that's the season done. I mean, he needs to
start taking magnesium or going to the physio like. I'm
sure he's doing all these things and it's not his fault,
but it must be. It's so incredibly frustrating as a
fan to see him repeatedly get injured. I can only
(17:55):
imagine what he's feeling. Oh absolutely.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
I mean, he's got so much potential right like you
see little glimpses of it, but he's never really been
fit enough to put so many games together that you
can say this guy's like the center for the future.
He's got that potential, but the injuries are just they
just set them back every every time, and this one
I had to watch like four or five times over
(18:20):
to see what he actually did because it looked pretty innocuous.
If anything, I thought he had injured the other arm
just from an awkward landing. But yeah, dislocated shoulder. It's
his season done and it's rough to see.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
And obviously it forced the Warriors reshuffle elector halla Seema
going into center. Coach Andrew Repster says he did a
good job.
Speaker 9 (18:40):
Thought he was like a bit of a shining white
letter in that role. Gave us some Noll versatility. Yeah,
real shameful. Rocco just can't build any string any games together.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Now we've got to get into, I suppose the stuff
that is not so good about this game because it
was a loss. We are heading into finals off the
back of the Warriors of a loss. It's kind of
I feel kind of frustrated because it feels like we're
saying the same thing every week. It was just the
issue where they were they were sloppy on attack, they
would drop balls, they were wayward part and again it's
(19:09):
sort of put down to concentration lapses and there's no
like obviously they're putting in one hundred percent. You can't
question the effort, but it's like, how do you fix
something that just keeps coming back and it's not just
like an easy well you think it would be easy, right, Like,
how do you address.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
This good question? I mean you can you can only
imagine that week after a week, they're sitting down and
they are addressing it, talking about it, pointing things out.
I guess, coming up with a plan to eliminate it.
But it doesn't seem to be working right.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Dala Martin's a Lesniak scores a double. I thought he
looked really good with ball in hand, had had a
great breakdown the right edge sort of late in the game.
He obviously scored that final try, but I think we
heard a part of it in the commentary clip, the
two tries that Manly scored early on in the game
down that right edge, Dolon motenez Alesni caught out of position,
sort of caught in no man's land, And you know,
(20:06):
I feel from I don't think it at this point
in the season. Obviously they're not going to bring anyone else,
But do you think there would have been merit in
giving him a week or two in reserve grow do
you think they would have made a difference, bring someone
else up, swap the background to see what happened. Do
you think that they should have experimented more with this
ride edge this year or too much disruption already with
(20:28):
the number of centers that they'd had on that right
eage and this wouldn't have helped.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Yeah, I think there's been too much disruption to try
and do too much different if you don't have to,
if you had the luxury of I guess, a fully
healthy team for an extended period of time, then maybe
they could have tried something like that. But I overheard
someone talking about this the other day that Delan Watson
isil isne It can be both the best and worst
(20:52):
player on the field at the same time. He gives
you so much on attack, the way he finishes in
the corner. I mean, you lose a lot by not
having him there. But defensively he's a liability at times.
And like you said on commentary, they even said I
think it was the second try that they leaped in
(21:13):
on that side of the field. They're like, Dullan, what's
in his a Lesnik, what are you doing? And that
was kind of your response as well when we were
watching it.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, well, it's just same old's story, I guess is
the issue. And you know, we had Dyllan on the
podcast the first or second episode this year, I think,
and I talked to him in studio. Great, awesome blow.
He's fantastic to talk to. He was really honest, and
I guess from a media perspective, we really appreciate people
being honest and talking about things that they're working on.
And he spoke about this, you know, he spoke about
(21:42):
that sort of defensive positioning being something that he was
working on. And obviously it's still is sort of in
the work on Camp and I understand that it's frustrating
for fans. It is frustrating to watch it. I'm sure
Down is frustrated by it as well. Just lastly, on
the game, what do you make of jas Devanger pulling
the finger at Roger two? I vasas because he went on.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
I loved it.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Yeah, I love a bit of Nigel in any sport
really just just a little bit and niggle here in there,
never goes a miss And what a way to sign
off your NRUR career right, just walk off the field
pulling a finger.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
To a mate and I just I just love it,
Like I was trying to. I was talking to Chance
to could cook start at the airport in the media
conference last week obviously before before the game, and I
asked him, sort of, you know, do you lean into
playing the villain this week daily Cherry Evans's last game
at brook Vale? Do you lean into trying to ruin it?
(22:36):
Do you lean into someone rushing out of the line
and try to put a head on him, you know
that sort of thing. And he's too nice of a guy. Chance,
he wouldn't be drawn into my my bait to try
and get some biff going. He's too good of a bloke.
And he said, no, of course not. We wanted to
have a good game, but obviously we want the win.
And the sad nature of Sporters that that would mean
he loses his last game. But just lean into it.
(22:57):
Someone give the finger back to Jenstavanger.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
I would love to know what Roger said as he
was walking past to get Actually it.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Was undoubtedly a great game, mate, James would have pulled
the finger a gallisor and he's two up for the
fight and I love a big past. The Panthers are
four time defending premieres. They finished the regular season seventh
on the ladder, with thirteen wins, a draw and ten losses.
(23:25):
They're coming off a forty to twenty hiding of the Dragons,
but they lost three in a row before that. Let's
not forget that they lost three in a row before
that last game. How much do we read into these results,
Chris Reeve, given that the Bulldogs game two eas ago,
they put out a B side.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yeah, good question. Remember when they lost five in a
row to start the season and people were riding them off.
Seems like a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Now, it seems like a very long time ago.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
I do, Yes, yeah, they so they do have losses
in them. We've seen that even with the quality of
side they have, they've clearly lost something this year compared
to the last what three or four seasons. They are
still a very good side. They're still a very good side,
and finals football, the good sides do tend to show
up and play at their best. So, I mean, I'm
(24:14):
not reading too much into the conflicting.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Yourself here, because earlier on the podcast you're saying, no,
I don't give them any chance. I don't give the
Warriors any chance.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
I don't give the Warriors much of a chance.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
You just said they have some losses in them of
course the Panthers. Yeah, but I don't think the Warriors
have no chance.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Well, I don't think the Panthers are going to lose
to the Warriors. I think they're a better team. I
think they're a better finals team. I think they'll lose
potentially to like a Melbourne maybe or a Brisbane. But
I don't I don't think they've lost the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Okay, well, sorry, Penrith Sport. The talents of you know
the deal. Nathan Cleary plays Talangi in the have still
on edwards fall back in the class of Moses Leota,
Scott Sorenson and Isaiah Yo in the forwards. Reeve work
with me here. If the Warriors are to clinch a
victory in what areas do they have to be clinical?
(25:05):
How do you expose this Panthers team.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
I mean you have to shut down the playmakers and
that's not just the halves, but you have to shut
down Isaiaho as well. He's a very good ball playing
middle And you have to be clinical. You can't have
those defensive lapses. You can't be giving them extra possessions.
You have to get through your sets, pin them in
the corners and take your opportunities when they come.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Now, Wade Egan should be back for this contest. He
was rested from the last one Webster. When I asked
him about it, he said that it was one of
those ones, an issue with his hip. He believed that
if he gave Wade Egan the week off this week,
he would definitely be available this week. So he will
be playing, Thank goodness Wade Egan. Although Sam he leads
a fantastically well I thought at Hooker, if they sought
(25:51):
the concentration lapses, they are in the fight. If the
concentration lapes continue, I think they're going to get killed
because Penrith will be ruthless. However, a player who will
undoubtedly be up for this is Kipper James Fisher Harris,
who was asked in the press conference about the prospect
of facing his former so he said, the finals are
a whole new competition.
Speaker 8 (26:11):
No one really respects us, no one gives us anything,
any hope or anything like that, and I actually loved it.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
How good is that to hear Chris reeve they know
that nearly everyone's written them off and James saying he
likes it, he likes the challenge. They're embracing the underdog's tag.
And you know, we always talk about this is where
the Warriors thrive. They're walking towards this.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
That's the right attitude, right, absolutely, absolutely, the Warriors love
being an underdog and they are at home. We can't
forget that. That has to count for something. A booming,
mount smart crowd, that'll definitely get them up for the challenge.
I mean, I was in Penrith year before last, I
think it was when they played the Panthers round one
of the playoffs and they just didn't show up. They
(26:55):
got beat him pretty soundly and it was a pretty disappointing,
pretty disappointing loss. This time around there at home, and
I mean, if they're going to get up, they're gonna
do it at Huh.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
This is a fexture that should be relished, It should
be cherished, and it should be celebrated in correct Warriors fashion.
Which was a box of Cody.
Speaker 7 (27:15):
The Big League podcast, The Bad Wagons Since Day one,
the Big League podcast for the biggest league fans.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Okay, really quick. Five predictions were into NRL Finals footy.
Can you believe it? We've got four bumper contests this weekend.
We're going to start off with the Storm and the
Bronx and the Bulldogs pardon me in Melbourne. Storm have
been out of sorts man, Yeah, spy the Broncos, Yeah,
(27:51):
the last of the Roosters got kecked by the Roosters
the week before that.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Once they lost their own who Hughes last week, it
kind of just fell apart for them. So I hope
they turn it around. But yeah, I don't know. The
Bulldogs are good.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Well, Bulldogs. The Bulldogs coming off a twenty four to
six lost the Sharks, So what's happened? These are two
teams that have been good throughout the season, and it
does feel like for the Storm the Wheels might have
come off right at the end, but then the Bulldogs.
You've got several teams go into these finals not off
the back of good results. Can I get your prediction,
(28:24):
Chris Reeve?
Speaker 4 (28:26):
Yeah, Storm, Storm, Yeah, throw a Storm in there.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
I'm going to go for the Bulldogs to pick off
the Storm, who do not have Jerome Hughes. I think
that is massive. Here we go, Warriors, Panthers, mount Smart Panthers.
You know, I'm picking the Warriors. Just because you're so
confident the Warriors are going to lose. And I want
to stick it to you, Chris Reeve.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
So if this is at this point out there, not
long ago, you just said, if they don't play perfectly,
they're going to get killed.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
And I think I think they will. I'm back in
they'll get killed. I think they'll. I think they'll they'll
tune up. Okay. I think Tanner Boyd is going to
kick all his kicks, and I think we're going to
see you apologizing to me later. I think it'll be competitive.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
I think it'll be close, but I think the Banders
get up.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Are you watching the Warriors of the All Blacks? Double screening?
Double screening? Fantastic, that's the editor of Chris Reeve. Sharks, Roosters, Roosters.
I'm going to agree with you there. Sharks. Obviously with
a good win over the Bulldogs, the Roosters are in
some form. The Roosters coming off a thirty six and
a thirty six six hiding of the Bunnies and obviously
(29:34):
forty to ten over the storm the week before, so
Roosters to get it done at Shark Park. Raiders Broncos,
which for me is probably the most interesting of these
games on the Sunday afternoon when the Warriors could have
been playing What do you think, Reeve?
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Yeah, that one's tough. I think I'm gonna go with
the Broncos just based on recent performances. They've been very good.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
They've turned out that toilet water for Reese Walsh. He
should go back to that toilet because he played absolutely
superbly in their last win over the Storm engineered that
that victory pad one of his best games ever. I
think so the Broncos are firing right at the pointy
end of the season. And I'll point out Chris Reeve
in this very first episode of the podcast this year,
(30:20):
I picked the Broncos as my minor premiers and that
has not happened. But they are right in the fight here,
so I will still take some I'll still take some
credit for that prediction.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
I think.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Yeah, I mean they're suck into the top four. You
got to tell you that. Okay, So I'm still like
like three off. Still close enough, We'll go with it. Hey,
thank you Chris ree for your time. You wisten your
insight this week.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You have a fantastic week Warriors versus the Panthers this
Saturday night n RL Finals for the app mound Smart
if you go into the game, have a safe night,
enjoy it, drink the Cody's. Please follow and rate the podcast.
My name is Nathan lemb Have a fantastic week.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
For more from News talks'd be listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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