October 7, 2024 • 28 mins
The NRL season is done and dusted as Penrith Panthers continued their dynasty - perhaps the greatest the modern game will ever see. Today on the show, all the fallout from the NRL Grand Final, including a biting allegation and that controversial decision from the bunker. Laura Spurway is back with Abbey to wrap it all up for you, plus a special message from our dear Georgie.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Here at Two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast. There were innerie people.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This land was never seated.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Always was always will be.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello and welcome to Two Good Sports. It's sports news
told differently. I'm Abby Jelmy and Laura Sperway is joining
us again this week and I must admit you are
the sportiest of all sports this week because I turned
on my TV on the Saturday night and saw you
doing Boundary for the AFLW and thought that's strange. She's
got to be in Sydney tomorrow for the NRL Grand Finals,
(00:36):
so you've had a very sporty weekend. I love it.
I love it apart from sitting on the side of
an oval in the rain, the glamorous side of it all,
but it was still a good game, you know, to
be a part of it. I love doing the AFLW
and the NRL Grand Final. It's a different spectacle. It
is a different beast. And I use the term beast
(00:56):
because you had to go out and find super fans.
Oh look, and they were in the pubs of Western
Sydney with a vengeance and I was able to chat
to a few of them.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Look, they're very passionate and it's good to get.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
A lot of purple wigs involved there are it's good
to get them before the game. That's when you strike,
because after the game it can be a very different story.
It can be very messy and guards are needed. But
it was an incredible Grand Final and we're going to
break that down in our deep dive with Penrith, going
back to back to back to back, something that we
may never see in the modern era because they just
(01:28):
are an incredible team. And of course for Storm fans
we're going to get into the bunker as well. But
we're going to start off with our good sport and
bad sport and my good sport, Laura like, there's some
things in sport that just hit you in the solar
plexus and you go, how special is this? And to
watch Jerome Hughes, just after he was announced as a
Dalian winner, be serenaded by the Harka, which was led
(01:51):
by Will Warbrick, It's one of those things in sport
that just can't be replicated. It's so special.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
We'll have a listen now, and that concludes our coverage
of the twenty twenty four Dallian Medal.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
I wan.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Unreal, so good, unreal, And of course we know about
the hart Os. It's spontaneous and it's led by the
Maori players in the room, and they're all from different teams,
they all come together. But my favorite quote quote was
from Justin Rodski, who's the CEO of Melbourne Storm. He said,
I absolutely shit myself because this call came from nowhere
and no one was expecting it. You can hear the
(02:59):
presenter they're just wrapping up the night being like, look,
we're done. And also you can imagine from our perspective
in a TV control room, I hope they didn't have
a hard hit because they're probably going, hang on, we're
meant to be done. And there's a two minute song
in there that we didn't factor in. But it's just
the feeling. And again, if you haven't seen the footage,
please go online and have a look. Because Jerome Hughes
(03:19):
welling up as these players dance in front of him.
It's just so special. It's absolute chills. Yeah, I've been
in a room where they've done this, where we were siting. Yep.
So I hosted a Storm function and will Warwbrick did
the same thing, and poor Justin Rodsky was at the
front table again. So Justin Rodsky got another shock because
someone roaring next to you when you're not expecting it.
(03:41):
I feel like, is the place on fire? What's happening? Yeah?
And it's just the intensity, the look in their eyes.
It is electric. Yeah, it's electric, and it just gives
you these goose bumps. And it's hard to get that
feeling on a TV broadcast, I think, but it's it's
how I audio. So thank you for playing along with
(04:03):
Well it's powerful enough that I think you still get
a sense and I love that they do that, and
I think everyone gets wrapped up in those moments, so
they're really special to be a part of. Absolutely, And
what's yours? What's your good sport for the week. I'm
going to indulge you in Georgie because I'd like to
say you are both my good sports for your Australian
(04:24):
Podcast Award nominations, so well deserved to both of you.
I know this is your passion project. Yeah, I know
you don't do it to get the accolades. I don't
even know if you knew that you could get nominated
for your podcast, but you have, and I just want
to say huge congrats to both of you.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
It's great to listen to.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
It's nice to be able to sit here for a
little while and have some fun myself.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
But well done to you both.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
You do so much. It's really kind and yeah, it's
certainly not something that you set out to achieve. And
Georgie and I thought this, this whole concept up of
two good sports. It's the better part of a decade
ago when we were both sports interns going there's no
sort of listened to sport the way that we talk
about sport, and it took us a decade and finding
iHeart to get it off the ground. Yeah, but to
be nominated, I think we're the best new podcast, best
(05:15):
sports podcast, and also best hosts. Lol. Will take that,
the best, will take that. Whoever's the judges. Your check
is in the mail, I promised, but no, it's yeah,
it's just a joy. And as you well know, you
get into sport because you want to talk about the
moments that move you alat the hakka. So it is
really really nice to be acknowledged in any way or
(05:35):
more the point that people are listening and enjoying it,
so thank you so much, but you actually had a bads.
I'm going to I'm gonna circle back to the sport
because you had a bad sport from last night because
I heard it in the broadcast and thought surely not.
And it's back to Jerome Hughes and he was booed
after losing in the Grand Final. So this week, or
(05:56):
I should say now last week, he's the competition's best player.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
He won the Dali m Medal. He's been stocked.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Six points because he was suspended, which is a whole
different system from the AFL. But he must have won
by a landslide yep. So he's been recognized as the
NRL's best player.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Everybody knows this. Leading up to the Grand Final.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
He's in the Melbourne Storm side that are minor premieer
is for the year yep. And doing those post match
interviews when you've just lost a Grand Final is crap.
Oh I'm being asked to do them as a journal
is crap. It's the shortest straw that you can ever pull.
When they're like can you go get the losing captain,
You're like, oh did you say winning? Sorry, my headphone's
(06:35):
breaking up, did you say winning? But the booing? I
just thought it was unnecessary. So he's doing this interview
on the field. Obviously it's still very fresh. It's on
the broadcast, but it gets put on the big screen
in the stadium so all the fans can see him
being asked about being disappointed and losing.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
And then you just hear this booing, and I thought,
is that what it is?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yes? Is that what they're doing? Is that what they're doing?
And I feel like in my mind that's what I heard.
And I just thought, you know what, you don't need
to rub it in. No, the result's not going to change.
And this guy who is the stand up player of
the competition, I mean, no one really deserves it, but
this is the guy dislikes him. Yeah, anyway, I thought booing.
(07:18):
I just think of all the good things that you
can learn from sport. I think booing can get in
the bin. I just don't think it's necessary. But my goodness,
me did Panthers fans have a lot not to boo
about last night because it was an unbelievable formance and
we're going to break it all down next well. The
(07:47):
Penrith Panthers, all the pink Panthers, as we shall call them,
with their beautiful guernsey last night in the NURL decider
for twenty twenty four have put themselves in rare air
by winning four consecutive premierships. You actually have to think,
Laura when you say back to back to back to back,
to count them on your fingers for just how ridiculous
(08:08):
this dominance is. And it's something that you have to
think back to Saint George in the sixties for this
level of dominance that we've seen in the National League
for the NRL, and then since the inclusion of the
salary cap in nineteen ninety, they said it would never
be done. The Roosters managed to go back to back
in a couple of years, but no one thought that
(08:29):
we would see a team with this level of dominance.
And that was what was on display last night in
the Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm because they just
and in the words of Ryan Pappenhausen, suffocated them. Their
defense was a pink wall and you were just watching
a team where you think this dynasty could continue to
(08:50):
roll on and all of it at the helm is
the Clearies, Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary. How would you
go being coached by your dad? Look, if he was
that good as Ivan Cleary appears to be, and I
was that good you went with Ivan Cleary? Well, what
I was saying is they're both obviously very good at
what they do. Yes, And that makes it easier to
(09:11):
put up with, don't you think if you're like, well,
I accept that you know you're good at your job,
and hey, I'm pretty good at my job. So let's
just meet in the middle. Show we It's pretty remarkable.
But what is remarkable is that the Storm had such
a prolific season and such a strong finals campaign that
they actually went into the game favorites. Yeah, and I think,
(09:32):
I mean, I think that's warranted. They'd beaten the Panthers
twice in the home and away season. The last one
was a very narrow wind, but they had beaten them twice,
and both sides had some sort of slight injury concerns
going in. I think ultimately though, you know the Grand
Final is played in Sydney, Yes, and that is to
Penrith or if they were a new South Wales side
(09:54):
and it it is to their advantage. Yes, And I
think that does make a difference. Did you notice that
with the fans and the ratio heading in. I was
surprised by the amount of Melbourne Storm fans I saw.
I thought it would be more skewed, but you know,
I was told it was a pretty even split. I
think there was probably slightly more Penrith fans, but there
were more Storm fans than I thought there would be.
(10:16):
But I also think that, you know, you can look
at it from either way. There are either people in
Sydney that are anti Melbourne so they just go, we're
supporting the Sydney team, yes, or there are people that
are just anti Panthers over. We're Australians and we don't
like people that do well for too long. We don't
like it well. Bizarrely, I think the reason why there
are so many Storm fans is because Storm have done
(10:39):
so well, yeah, for so long. So Craig Bellamy has
been at the Helm for twenty two years, which is
just unbelievable when you think about that as a coaching record,
and his legacy is one that will live on for
so long because he's been offered ridiculous money to coach elsewhere,
but his loyalty to the Storm and the fact that
he keeps getting these players from different teams that aren't
(11:00):
getting an opportunity of playing in the seconds and then
turns them into these Grand Final players in a star team.
Is remarkable. It was his tenth Grand Final appearance and
it was the last time that the Panthers played the
Storm in twenty twenty. That was the last time they
lost a Grand Final twenty twenty. Think to where you were.
It's just such a long time of dominance. And there's
(11:23):
a quote from Nathan Cleary where he essentially says they
were men and we were boys in that Grand Final,
and I just thought, I'm never having that happen to
me again. And it hasn't. It hasn't since. But the
big question after the discussion we had there is the attendance. Now,
it would be remissive me as someone who on this podcast,
(11:43):
Let's be honest, is not usually the NRL expert not
to bring in a bit of AFL flavor. So Dan
Gorange just had a bit to say yesterday afternoon where
I went, surely, not, Laura, this can't be true. Let's
take a listen.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
I'm really just struggling to wrap my head around and
how the NRL Grand Final is tonight and it's not
sold out. How am I supposed to get behind it
when your own fans can't even get behind it. Look
at all the seats. If this was the afl'd be
sold out in ten minutes. We would sell that bitch out.
There are seats galore. Can't even give the tickets away
in the NRL. Don't compare the codes anymore because you
(12:20):
can't even sell out a Grand Final. And I'm trying
to do my best to get behind it, but you
can't sell out the Grand Final. Got a problem.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Firstly, I love what that man is doing for AFL media,
but it's a really valid point. So yesterday afternoon you
could buy yourself a ticket to the NRL Grand Final
and as we know, with the AFL Grand Final at
a stadium with an extra twenty thousand capacity, it sells
out in ten minutes. And they are like hen's teeth.
So what is you got Peter Blandy's who's the head
(12:50):
of the NFL saying it's the most popular sport in
the nation. Can that be true? I don't think so.
I don't know. I just I mean, obviously the Grand
finalists were only decided a week out that's not new though.
Interstate side going into Sydney. I mean, we just had
to interstate teams play the AFL Grand Final here in
(13:12):
Melbourne sellout. But yeah, I think there's a couple of factors.
I think the interstate side was one. You mentioned Penrith fatigue, Yeah,
that would be there. That would be there. Like I said,
we don't like people to do too long for too well.
I think we too well for too long. Yeah, exactly.
We spoke last week about the prestige of the MCG.
(13:34):
I think that Homebush has the opposite. Yeah, I don't
want to go out to a core stadium like it's
just granted, it looked spectacular on the broadcast last night.
It did, and that atmosphere looked amazing. But I also
think what perhaps could be a bit of a hold
up for the NRL is that the Origin is actually
a bigger, better spectacle. So for us, the Grand Finals
(13:55):
the pinnacle of the AFL, whereas State of Origin seems
to have a different level of that tribalism and that prestige.
Well you can maybe, yeah, you can just get more
people on board with the State of Origin because it's
a whole state against a whole state totally, so you're
not alienating anyone there. If they're NRL team's not in it,
you're going, Okay, I'm from this state, so I can
(14:16):
get behind this team.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
But I mean, it was still a very good game.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Oh it was amazing, like the quality of the foot
like it was amazing to watch. And again Penrith's defense,
the Storm just kept crashing against this wall and there
was nothing they could do about it. And that final
score of six to fourteen actually doesn't give you an
indication of just how good the Storm were. They were
leading early in the game, but against anyone else that
(14:40):
Penrith's side would have embarrassed them, which wasn't the case.
But there was a controversial moment that has awoken a
good sport from wherever she is in Milan because Georgie
sent me a voicemail to play on this show, Laura,
because she went, I just cannot believe this, and of
course it involves the Bunkers. So here is our resident
(15:02):
other good sport. George on jorn.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Not bonjour, dear listeners, I've still got my accent game
going strong. Jelmy, I hope you're laughing, but greetings from Milan,
Jelmy and Laura. Firstly, Laura, you have done such a
brilliant job in my absence. Thank you so much for
filling in for me. But of course it would not
be NRL Grand Final week without my two cents. And
let me tell you, I have a bank worth of
(15:28):
thoughts about the bunker.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Oh what a system, What a flawed system.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
That's a bit of a spoiler. How on earth was
that try given a no try? Melbourne barging over at
a key time in the game early in the second half.
If that try was awarded, it could have leveled if
not put the storm in front on the scoreboard. Now,
the on ground referee said that the player Howarth was
(15:55):
held up.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I definitely saw ball on grass.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
But I have also seen a new released by the
NRL because they had so much pressure and criticism, being like,
what the hell how could you award that a no try?
And that vision that new angle does actually appear to
see how hold held up over the line. But you
know what, that doesn't fit my narrative, so down with
the bunker.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
The system needs an overhaul anyway.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
This is just further proof of that once again things
need to be fixed. In the third official game in
the NRL. But look, nothing was actually going to stop Penrith.
They are just too good. And Mary Fowler's boyfriend continues
to prove that he's an immortal and waiting Lea Martin
was amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
It pains me to say this, but this.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Team, this Panthers team is unlike anything I've actually seen
in my lifetime. I've watched a lot of NRL. They
are incredible.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well done Panthers, there go, I didn't choke on it.
Well done, well done, And anyway, see you next week,
two good sports.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
I'll be back.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
I've missed you.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Wow, your favorite Italian correspondent. And just for the few
that don't know Mary Power's boyfriend, Nathan Cleary, that is
the only way that George refers. But you can see
the enthusiasm hasn't been dampened by the kilometers of distance,
and you just knew that she was going to find
a screen. But it is a really interesting question that
she poses there because we have the same again with
(17:17):
the AFL with the ARC that there are apparently forty
different cameras that they get access to and they make decisions,
as was the argument last night, based on footage that
isn't showed to the public. So if you're the public
and you're seeing a shot and it looks like the
ball hits the turf in a downward motion over the line,
you're like that for my very basic knowledge is a
(17:39):
try And then they quickly find this different footage, which
supposedly is what the decision was made on. Why are
we just not seeing what the decisions based on to
eradicate all of this controversy. Maybe they just can't get
it on the broadcast, like you never know where they're
fishing this thing from. Well, they're watching it in real time,
(18:01):
but maybe they just can't roll it out, or maybe
they don't want to. Maybe they just go, we just
need to make our decision. We don't care about letting
all of you see it. We're just going to make
the call. We sit in our call and we're happy
with it. And then is it you know the uproar,
and then they go, Okay.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Here it is.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
You can see it and you can see that we
were right. And I think most people have acknowledged that
that was the case, but at the time it confused
the commentators.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
The commentators were saying Andrew.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
John's was adamant. And when you've got Animaltol saying that's
a try all of a sudden, I'm like, yeah, that
is a try. I agree, Joey, I agree. But something
I found really interesting was that the head of the
NRL referees was really on the front foot by getting
access to that footage and showing it to all the
senior journalists, so before they got to the press conferences,
(18:49):
before they went that was certainly a try. They got
to see this footage and go, oh, well, actually no,
it wasn't. So it was really strategic from them and
clever from them because they obviously just saw the fire
or the storm, if you will, coming their way. But
it is such a disappointment when you feel like there
is a turning point and it comes down to technology
(19:10):
and not sport, isn't it. Well, I think that was
a turning point in the game because had that been
a try, and it wasn't, so we know now that
the result is what it is, But had it been
a try, then that's a big momentum shift, and momentum
shifts are so crucial in these big games. Full the
side that has the momentum and that can be what
wins you the game or in this case, the Grand Final.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
But that's the way it went.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I mean, these two teams, these were always going to
be the calls that separated things, I think on the night,
because they're both so good that there has to be
these other things that prop up in the game, these
little spitfires, these little controversies that become these moments that
shift things either way. And that wasn't the only one. Yeah, Well,
everyone expected low scoring, as you mentioned, and everyone expected
(19:57):
a close game, and you mentioned that it wasn't the
only controversy. Do we call that a bite? Is that
a bite if someone shoves their arm in your mouth
camera monster? I don't know. I don't know. Also the
fact that we're talking about biting again. Every time we
talk about NRL on this podcast, biting seems to come up.
What I mean, it's if you're in a position where
(20:17):
you've got to you know, someone's telling you you've bitten them.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
You think, well, why am I in this position?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I'm playing a sport that doesn't involve my mouth being
anywhere on someone, so I don't claim defamation. Well, yeah,
this is the most watched game of the year. And
you said you bit me. It gives pre school to
me stamps foot Yeah, don't you think like I didn't
bite you? And ideally if you could retract that, because
there are people watching tonight that never watch NRL that
just believe I bit you, sir, and that stays like
(20:46):
it does it lingers people.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Remember bitis Yeah, So I.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Think just like you remember that kid that bit your
kids right kindergarten, because I'm coming after I'm coming after you.
But the NRL has since said there's nothing to answer here,
and it hasn't been pushed by either side, so it
has dissipated. And again with all the controversy and even
with the bunker call, Craig Bellamin his infinite wisdom, came
out immediately after the game and said, look, the best
(21:12):
team just won. They choked us, They suffocated us. I
believe on it. When we played our best, we could
have challenged them more. But they are the dominance in
the competition. And I find this so interesting because I
just think with you know, in the last five years,
since twenty twenty, we'ves had all these different premieres in
the AFL because the system is so different. Of course,
(21:34):
we also have a salary cap, but we have a
draft which scatters the cards. It shuffles the deck even more.
Whereas with the NRL, because that isn't their system. The
salary cap in some way hinders those lower clubs from
being able to attract and go, you know what, We're
going to pay you this whopping contract, but come play
for us West Tigers because I know it's been a
(21:55):
rough time. It's hard to attract those players when they
want to be part of a winning dynasty that just
keeps going. Well. Penrith has seen the consequence of that
with one of their players leaving for the West Tigers. Yeah,
Leui because he was offered a huge contract there which
Penrith couldn't pay him because they are the side that
they are.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
They've got this salary cap and they just they don't
have the money.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Yeah. So, and we also see that in the AFL,
where there are destination clubs ala Geelong, where people notably
accept less than what they can get off it to
go to the Gold Coast because of the lifestyle and
also wanting to be part of that culture. But he
was also saying it is this team and that's what
LUA was sort of alluding to last night. Because everybody
knew it was his final game with the Penrith Panthers
(22:39):
before he shifts clubs. They've embraced it. There's a changing
of the guard, isn't there. Yeah, So I actually find
it interesting how they've handled it. They've all embraced it.
They've gone, let's send him off in the way that
he deserves. He's been a great player for this club.
There was no animosity there, there was no one which
is not what you see in all the roads. No,
it's not. But what will happen is you know, it's
(23:00):
been this team that's been able to stick together and
win these four premierships in a row. The team agers, yes,
personnel move on, so it will change because you can't
have this group stay together forever. And it appears to
be this group that has managed this success. But it
will change and I think that'll probably start to be
(23:21):
the case. Now you've got one player moving out, but
others are aging, so there will be a change. But
to see four in a row, I don't know if
that will happen again. No, and something that we certainly
didn't expect to see, and our die hard George said
that she never thought she'd see in her lifetime either.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
And she said well done Panthers, and I salute her.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I was about to say, I was expecting her to
gag or swear an Italian, of which there was neither.
But we do have a fun fact that links into
all of this, and that's coming up. Laura. It's time
(24:07):
for our fun fact or I'm going to go fun facts,
because I've got two little ones here. And something that
we love about Grand Final Week, amongst any code is
you start to find out little tidbits about how clubs operate.
Don't you hear these great stories in the media. Yes,
you do. And I love what you're about to tell
us because I think that this explains so much about
(24:28):
the Melbourne Storm and why they have been able to
be so successful for so long. So I found an
article about Craig Bellamy. Of course, as we mentioned, the
master Coach or belly Acres is called twenty two years
at the Helm, and I think this used to be
a secret, but now it's in printed in the Telegraph,
so you know it's not going to be a secret anymore.
But basically, when he was potentially going to sign a
(24:48):
contract with a new player to come to the Storm,
we just take the player out to a cafe. And
the player didn't realize that their mannerisms, how they treated
the staff, whether they said please or thank you you
was about to define whether or not they were even
offered a contract. It didn't matter if you were the
Jerome Hues of that general like if you were the
best player at the time. It was about your attitude,
(25:11):
your lack of ego, and how you treated people. And
I just went that is incredible. I love that. And
then on the flip side, when you were watching the
Grand Final last night, I just kept thinking and I
actually said to Kane, I was like, they the Storm
looked really tired. The Storm looked a lot more exhausted
than the Panthers. And now it comes out in the
wash that there's a rule at the Panthers. It doesn't
(25:33):
matter how tired you are. You're not allowed to put
your hands on your hips, and you're not allowed to
arch over like you're tired. You're not allowed to physically
show exhaustion. And there's all these different little fun facts
that come out. And also apparently I love this. To
build their concentration or their ability to keep concentration, they
were given a bowl of rice and told to count
(25:55):
the grains at Penrith.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
It's worked.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Can't you imagine boss going here, you go and you
can't get distracted? No, I mean no, no. I'm trying
to think what the equivalent to that would be in
our profession. Maybe waiting at scans, which I do have
to do, waiting for someone to come out limping with
that scenario currently. Also at the Giants of GWS, they
(26:20):
were given brown rice and white rice that was mixed
and they had to separate it. So this, I reckon,
this is something that's come from the nf NFL and
trickled down like it's probably going to be in a
ted Lasso episode at some point. But I just love
those little stories and those little things where you go,
well that actually, that's what builds success, that's what gets
people to come along.
Speaker 4 (26:41):
It makes sense the tide sign, so, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Because if you're looking at the other team and you're
battling and they look like they're not tied, even if
they are, and both sides would have been tied with
the way the game started, both sides would have been
tied very few stoppages, people coming on and off. But
if they're not hands on here, head down, stuck in
the big ones and.
Speaker 4 (27:02):
All of you are. You're looking at them, going.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
How are they They're not going to stop here? Yeah,
it's a mental thing. It's that mental game where you're like,
how much more have they got in the tank? I'm cooked?
So I can see I can see the strategy behind
that one. You know, I'm going to put this on
you because I just thought about it. Now, which of
those two would you either want to separate a bowl
of rice at the start of the season and be
(27:25):
allowed to show that you're tired, or would you go,
you know what, stuff the rice and I'll learn how
to not because when I'm tired, it's all over my face.
I was going to say the same thing there is.
I am terrible, Give me the rice, give me the rice.
Fly a stairs. I'm over. I'm over. So yeah, I
(27:47):
don't see how. I mean, clearly there's a different base
level of fitness here, but I don't see how I
would be able to disguise that. And you know what,
like where details people here we are? I could maybe
hack the rice for a bit, you know what, Maybe
we can do it as some sort of two good
sports bonding day and we'll see how we go, but
(28:08):
that remains to be seen. But thank you so much
once again, Laura for joining us. You have had a
gargantuan a couple of days of sport and you have been,
as Georgie said, absolutely sensational. We've loved having you and yeah,
you're just a joy. So thank you so much for
joining us. It's been fun. Thank you, you're the best.
And now we're both about to drive to work and
talk about more sports, so that works. Thanks for listening
to too Good Sports and iHeart production. You can follow
(28:30):
us on Instagram at two Good Sports Podcasts. We'll catch
you next week when our favorite Italian George returns, but
until then, be a good sport.
Here at Two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast. There were innerie people.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This land was never seated.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Always was always will be.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello and welcome to Two Good Sports. It's sports news
told differently. I'm Abby Jelmy and Laura Sperway is joining
us again this week and I must admit you are
the sportiest of all sports this week because I turned
on my TV on the Saturday night and saw you
doing Boundary for the AFLW and thought that's strange. She's
got to be in Sydney tomorrow for the NRL Grand Finals,
(00:36):
so you've had a very sporty weekend. I love it.
I love it apart from sitting on the side of
an oval in the rain, the glamorous side of it all,
but it was still a good game, you know, to
be a part of it. I love doing the AFLW
and the NRL Grand Final. It's a different spectacle. It
is a different beast. And I use the term beast
(00:56):
because you had to go out and find super fans.
Oh look, and they were in the pubs of Western
Sydney with a vengeance and I was able to chat
to a few of them.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Look, they're very passionate and it's good to get.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
A lot of purple wigs involved there are it's good
to get them before the game. That's when you strike,
because after the game it can be a very different story.
It can be very messy and guards are needed. But
it was an incredible Grand Final and we're going to
break that down in our deep dive with Penrith, going
back to back to back to back, something that we
may never see in the modern era because they just
(01:28):
are an incredible team. And of course for Storm fans
we're going to get into the bunker as well. But
we're going to start off with our good sport and
bad sport and my good sport, Laura like, there's some
things in sport that just hit you in the solar
plexus and you go, how special is this? And to
watch Jerome Hughes, just after he was announced as a
Dalian winner, be serenaded by the Harka, which was led
(01:51):
by Will Warbrick, It's one of those things in sport
that just can't be replicated. It's so special.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
We'll have a listen now, and that concludes our coverage
of the twenty twenty four Dallian Medal.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
I wan.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Unreal, so good, unreal, And of course we know about
the hart Os. It's spontaneous and it's led by the
Maori players in the room, and they're all from different teams,
they all come together. But my favorite quote quote was
from Justin Rodski, who's the CEO of Melbourne Storm. He said,
I absolutely shit myself because this call came from nowhere
and no one was expecting it. You can hear the
(02:59):
presenter they're just wrapping up the night being like, look,
we're done. And also you can imagine from our perspective
in a TV control room, I hope they didn't have
a hard hit because they're probably going, hang on, we're
meant to be done. And there's a two minute song
in there that we didn't factor in. But it's just
the feeling. And again, if you haven't seen the footage,
please go online and have a look. Because Jerome Hughes
(03:19):
welling up as these players dance in front of him.
It's just so special. It's absolute chills. Yeah, I've been
in a room where they've done this, where we were siting. Yep.
So I hosted a Storm function and will Warwbrick did
the same thing, and poor Justin Rodsky was at the
front table again. So Justin Rodsky got another shock because
someone roaring next to you when you're not expecting it.
(03:41):
I feel like, is the place on fire? What's happening? Yeah?
And it's just the intensity, the look in their eyes.
It is electric. Yeah, it's electric, and it just gives
you these goose bumps. And it's hard to get that
feeling on a TV broadcast, I think, but it's it's
how I audio. So thank you for playing along with
(04:03):
Well it's powerful enough that I think you still get
a sense and I love that they do that, and
I think everyone gets wrapped up in those moments, so
they're really special to be a part of. Absolutely, And
what's yours? What's your good sport for the week. I'm
going to indulge you in Georgie because I'd like to
say you are both my good sports for your Australian
(04:24):
Podcast Award nominations, so well deserved to both of you.
I know this is your passion project. Yeah, I know
you don't do it to get the accolades. I don't
even know if you knew that you could get nominated
for your podcast, but you have, and I just want
to say huge congrats to both of you.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
It's great to listen to.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
It's nice to be able to sit here for a
little while and have some fun myself.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
But well done to you both.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
You do so much. It's really kind and yeah, it's
certainly not something that you set out to achieve. And
Georgie and I thought this, this whole concept up of
two good sports. It's the better part of a decade
ago when we were both sports interns going there's no
sort of listened to sport the way that we talk
about sport, and it took us a decade and finding
iHeart to get it off the ground. Yeah, but to
be nominated, I think we're the best new podcast, best
(05:15):
sports podcast, and also best hosts. Lol. Will take that,
the best, will take that. Whoever's the judges. Your check
is in the mail, I promised, but no, it's yeah,
it's just a joy. And as you well know, you
get into sport because you want to talk about the
moments that move you alat the hakka. So it is
really really nice to be acknowledged in any way or
(05:35):
more the point that people are listening and enjoying it,
so thank you so much, but you actually had a bads.
I'm going to I'm gonna circle back to the sport
because you had a bad sport from last night because
I heard it in the broadcast and thought surely not.
And it's back to Jerome Hughes and he was booed
after losing in the Grand Final. So this week, or
(05:56):
I should say now last week, he's the competition's best player.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
He won the Dali m Medal. He's been stocked.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Six points because he was suspended, which is a whole
different system from the AFL. But he must have won
by a landslide yep. So he's been recognized as the
NRL's best player.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Everybody knows this. Leading up to the Grand Final.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
He's in the Melbourne Storm side that are minor premieer
is for the year yep. And doing those post match
interviews when you've just lost a Grand Final is crap.
Oh I'm being asked to do them as a journal
is crap. It's the shortest straw that you can ever pull.
When they're like can you go get the losing captain,
You're like, oh did you say winning? Sorry, my headphone's
(06:35):
breaking up, did you say winning? But the booing? I
just thought it was unnecessary. So he's doing this interview
on the field. Obviously it's still very fresh. It's on
the broadcast, but it gets put on the big screen
in the stadium so all the fans can see him
being asked about being disappointed and losing.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
And then you just hear this booing, and I thought,
is that what it is?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yes? Is that what they're doing? Is that what they're doing?
And I feel like in my mind that's what I heard.
And I just thought, you know what, you don't need
to rub it in. No, the result's not going to change.
And this guy who is the stand up player of
the competition, I mean, no one really deserves it, but
this is the guy dislikes him. Yeah, anyway, I thought booing.
(07:18):
I just think of all the good things that you
can learn from sport. I think booing can get in
the bin. I just don't think it's necessary. But my goodness,
me did Panthers fans have a lot not to boo
about last night because it was an unbelievable formance and
we're going to break it all down next well. The
(07:47):
Penrith Panthers, all the pink Panthers, as we shall call them,
with their beautiful guernsey last night in the NURL decider
for twenty twenty four have put themselves in rare air
by winning four consecutive premierships. You actually have to think,
Laura when you say back to back to back to back,
to count them on your fingers for just how ridiculous
(08:08):
this dominance is. And it's something that you have to
think back to Saint George in the sixties for this
level of dominance that we've seen in the National League
for the NRL, and then since the inclusion of the
salary cap in nineteen ninety, they said it would never
be done. The Roosters managed to go back to back
in a couple of years, but no one thought that
(08:29):
we would see a team with this level of dominance.
And that was what was on display last night in
the Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm because they just
and in the words of Ryan Pappenhausen, suffocated them. Their
defense was a pink wall and you were just watching
a team where you think this dynasty could continue to
(08:50):
roll on and all of it at the helm is
the Clearies, Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary. How would you
go being coached by your dad? Look, if he was
that good as Ivan Cleary appears to be, and I
was that good you went with Ivan Cleary? Well, what
I was saying is they're both obviously very good at
what they do. Yes, And that makes it easier to
(09:11):
put up with, don't you think if you're like, well,
I accept that you know you're good at your job,
and hey, I'm pretty good at my job. So let's
just meet in the middle. Show we It's pretty remarkable.
But what is remarkable is that the Storm had such
a prolific season and such a strong finals campaign that
they actually went into the game favorites. Yeah, and I think,
(09:32):
I mean, I think that's warranted. They'd beaten the Panthers
twice in the home and away season. The last one
was a very narrow wind, but they had beaten them twice,
and both sides had some sort of slight injury concerns
going in. I think ultimately though, you know the Grand
Final is played in Sydney, Yes, and that is to
Penrith or if they were a new South Wales side
(09:54):
and it it is to their advantage. Yes, And I
think that does make a difference. Did you notice that
with the fans and the ratio heading in. I was
surprised by the amount of Melbourne Storm fans I saw.
I thought it would be more skewed, but you know,
I was told it was a pretty even split. I
think there was probably slightly more Penrith fans, but there
were more Storm fans than I thought there would be.
(10:16):
But I also think that, you know, you can look
at it from either way. There are either people in
Sydney that are anti Melbourne so they just go, we're
supporting the Sydney team, yes, or there are people that
are just anti Panthers over. We're Australians and we don't
like people that do well for too long. We don't
like it well. Bizarrely, I think the reason why there
are so many Storm fans is because Storm have done
(10:39):
so well, yeah, for so long. So Craig Bellamy has
been at the Helm for twenty two years, which is
just unbelievable when you think about that as a coaching record,
and his legacy is one that will live on for
so long because he's been offered ridiculous money to coach elsewhere,
but his loyalty to the Storm and the fact that
he keeps getting these players from different teams that aren't
(11:00):
getting an opportunity of playing in the seconds and then
turns them into these Grand Final players in a star team.
Is remarkable. It was his tenth Grand Final appearance and
it was the last time that the Panthers played the
Storm in twenty twenty. That was the last time they
lost a Grand Final twenty twenty. Think to where you were.
It's just such a long time of dominance. And there's
(11:23):
a quote from Nathan Cleary where he essentially says they
were men and we were boys in that Grand Final,
and I just thought, I'm never having that happen to
me again. And it hasn't. It hasn't since. But the
big question after the discussion we had there is the attendance. Now,
it would be remissive me as someone who on this podcast,
(11:43):
Let's be honest, is not usually the NRL expert not
to bring in a bit of AFL flavor. So Dan
Gorange just had a bit to say yesterday afternoon where
I went, surely, not, Laura, this can't be true. Let's
take a listen.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
I'm really just struggling to wrap my head around and
how the NRL Grand Final is tonight and it's not
sold out. How am I supposed to get behind it
when your own fans can't even get behind it. Look
at all the seats. If this was the afl'd be
sold out in ten minutes. We would sell that bitch out.
There are seats galore. Can't even give the tickets away
in the NRL. Don't compare the codes anymore because you
(12:20):
can't even sell out a Grand Final. And I'm trying
to do my best to get behind it, but you
can't sell out the Grand Final. Got a problem.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Firstly, I love what that man is doing for AFL media,
but it's a really valid point. So yesterday afternoon you
could buy yourself a ticket to the NRL Grand Final
and as we know, with the AFL Grand Final at
a stadium with an extra twenty thousand capacity, it sells
out in ten minutes. And they are like hen's teeth.
So what is you got Peter Blandy's who's the head
(12:50):
of the NFL saying it's the most popular sport in
the nation. Can that be true? I don't think so.
I don't know. I just I mean, obviously the Grand
finalists were only decided a week out that's not new though.
Interstate side going into Sydney. I mean, we just had
to interstate teams play the AFL Grand Final here in
(13:12):
Melbourne sellout. But yeah, I think there's a couple of factors.
I think the interstate side was one. You mentioned Penrith fatigue, Yeah,
that would be there. That would be there. Like I said,
we don't like people to do too long for too well.
I think we too well for too long. Yeah, exactly.
We spoke last week about the prestige of the MCG.
(13:34):
I think that Homebush has the opposite. Yeah, I don't
want to go out to a core stadium like it's
just granted, it looked spectacular on the broadcast last night.
It did, and that atmosphere looked amazing. But I also
think what perhaps could be a bit of a hold
up for the NRL is that the Origin is actually
a bigger, better spectacle. So for us, the Grand Finals
(13:55):
the pinnacle of the AFL, whereas State of Origin seems
to have a different level of that tribalism and that prestige.
Well you can maybe, yeah, you can just get more
people on board with the State of Origin because it's
a whole state against a whole state totally, so you're
not alienating anyone there. If they're NRL team's not in it,
you're going, Okay, I'm from this state, so I can
(14:16):
get behind this team.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
But I mean, it was still a very good game.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Oh it was amazing, like the quality of the foot
like it was amazing to watch. And again Penrith's defense,
the Storm just kept crashing against this wall and there
was nothing they could do about it. And that final
score of six to fourteen actually doesn't give you an
indication of just how good the Storm were. They were
leading early in the game, but against anyone else that
(14:40):
Penrith's side would have embarrassed them, which wasn't the case.
But there was a controversial moment that has awoken a
good sport from wherever she is in Milan because Georgie
sent me a voicemail to play on this show, Laura,
because she went, I just cannot believe this, and of
course it involves the Bunkers. So here is our resident
(15:02):
other good sport. George on jorn.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Not bonjour, dear listeners, I've still got my accent game
going strong. Jelmy, I hope you're laughing, but greetings from Milan,
Jelmy and Laura. Firstly, Laura, you have done such a
brilliant job in my absence. Thank you so much for
filling in for me. But of course it would not
be NRL Grand Final week without my two cents. And
let me tell you, I have a bank worth of
(15:28):
thoughts about the bunker.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Oh what a system, What a flawed system.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
That's a bit of a spoiler. How on earth was
that try given a no try? Melbourne barging over at
a key time in the game early in the second half.
If that try was awarded, it could have leveled if
not put the storm in front on the scoreboard. Now,
the on ground referee said that the player Howarth was
(15:55):
held up.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I definitely saw ball on grass.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
But I have also seen a new released by the
NRL because they had so much pressure and criticism, being like,
what the hell how could you award that a no try?
And that vision that new angle does actually appear to
see how hold held up over the line. But you
know what, that doesn't fit my narrative, so down with
the bunker.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
The system needs an overhaul anyway.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
This is just further proof of that once again things
need to be fixed. In the third official game in
the NRL. But look, nothing was actually going to stop Penrith.
They are just too good. And Mary Fowler's boyfriend continues
to prove that he's an immortal and waiting Lea Martin
was amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
It pains me to say this, but this.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Team, this Panthers team is unlike anything I've actually seen
in my lifetime. I've watched a lot of NRL. They
are incredible.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well done Panthers, there go, I didn't choke on it.
Well done, well done, And anyway, see you next week,
two good sports.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
I'll be back.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
I've missed you.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Wow, your favorite Italian correspondent. And just for the few
that don't know Mary Power's boyfriend, Nathan Cleary, that is
the only way that George refers. But you can see
the enthusiasm hasn't been dampened by the kilometers of distance,
and you just knew that she was going to find
a screen. But it is a really interesting question that
she poses there because we have the same again with
(17:17):
the AFL with the ARC that there are apparently forty
different cameras that they get access to and they make decisions,
as was the argument last night, based on footage that
isn't showed to the public. So if you're the public
and you're seeing a shot and it looks like the
ball hits the turf in a downward motion over the line,
you're like that for my very basic knowledge is a
(17:39):
try And then they quickly find this different footage, which
supposedly is what the decision was made on. Why are
we just not seeing what the decisions based on to
eradicate all of this controversy. Maybe they just can't get
it on the broadcast, like you never know where they're
fishing this thing from. Well, they're watching it in real time,
(18:01):
but maybe they just can't roll it out, or maybe
they don't want to. Maybe they just go, we just
need to make our decision. We don't care about letting
all of you see it. We're just going to make
the call. We sit in our call and we're happy
with it. And then is it you know the uproar,
and then they go, Okay.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Here it is.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
You can see it and you can see that we
were right. And I think most people have acknowledged that
that was the case, but at the time it confused
the commentators.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
The commentators were saying Andrew.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
John's was adamant. And when you've got Animaltol saying that's
a try all of a sudden, I'm like, yeah, that
is a try. I agree, Joey, I agree. But something
I found really interesting was that the head of the
NRL referees was really on the front foot by getting
access to that footage and showing it to all the
senior journalists, so before they got to the press conferences,
(18:49):
before they went that was certainly a try. They got
to see this footage and go, oh, well, actually no,
it wasn't. So it was really strategic from them and
clever from them because they obviously just saw the fire
or the storm, if you will, coming their way. But
it is such a disappointment when you feel like there
is a turning point and it comes down to technology
(19:10):
and not sport, isn't it. Well, I think that was
a turning point in the game because had that been
a try, and it wasn't, so we know now that
the result is what it is, But had it been
a try, then that's a big momentum shift, and momentum
shifts are so crucial in these big games. Full the
side that has the momentum and that can be what
wins you the game or in this case, the Grand Final.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
But that's the way it went.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I mean, these two teams, these were always going to
be the calls that separated things, I think on the night,
because they're both so good that there has to be
these other things that prop up in the game, these
little spitfires, these little controversies that become these moments that
shift things either way. And that wasn't the only one. Yeah, Well,
everyone expected low scoring, as you mentioned, and everyone expected
(19:57):
a close game, and you mentioned that it wasn't the
only controversy. Do we call that a bite? Is that
a bite if someone shoves their arm in your mouth
camera monster? I don't know. I don't know. Also the
fact that we're talking about biting again. Every time we
talk about NRL on this podcast, biting seems to come up.
What I mean, it's if you're in a position where
(20:17):
you've got to you know, someone's telling you you've bitten them.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
You think, well, why am I in this position?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I'm playing a sport that doesn't involve my mouth being
anywhere on someone, so I don't claim defamation. Well, yeah,
this is the most watched game of the year. And
you said you bit me. It gives pre school to
me stamps foot Yeah, don't you think like I didn't
bite you? And ideally if you could retract that, because
there are people watching tonight that never watch NRL that
just believe I bit you, sir, and that stays like
(20:46):
it does it lingers people.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Remember bitis Yeah, So I.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Think just like you remember that kid that bit your
kids right kindergarten, because I'm coming after I'm coming after you.
But the NRL has since said there's nothing to answer here,
and it hasn't been pushed by either side, so it
has dissipated. And again with all the controversy and even
with the bunker call, Craig Bellamin his infinite wisdom, came
out immediately after the game and said, look, the best
(21:12):
team just won. They choked us, They suffocated us. I
believe on it. When we played our best, we could
have challenged them more. But they are the dominance in
the competition. And I find this so interesting because I
just think with you know, in the last five years,
since twenty twenty, we'ves had all these different premieres in
the AFL because the system is so different. Of course,
(21:34):
we also have a salary cap, but we have a
draft which scatters the cards. It shuffles the deck even more.
Whereas with the NRL, because that isn't their system. The
salary cap in some way hinders those lower clubs from
being able to attract and go, you know what, We're
going to pay you this whopping contract, but come play
for us West Tigers because I know it's been a
(21:55):
rough time. It's hard to attract those players when they
want to be part of a winning dynasty that just
keeps going. Well. Penrith has seen the consequence of that
with one of their players leaving for the West Tigers. Yeah,
Leui because he was offered a huge contract there which
Penrith couldn't pay him because they are the side that
they are.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
They've got this salary cap and they just they don't
have the money.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Yeah. So, and we also see that in the AFL,
where there are destination clubs ala Geelong, where people notably
accept less than what they can get off it to
go to the Gold Coast because of the lifestyle and
also wanting to be part of that culture. But he
was also saying it is this team and that's what
LUA was sort of alluding to last night. Because everybody
knew it was his final game with the Penrith Panthers
(22:39):
before he shifts clubs. They've embraced it. There's a changing
of the guard, isn't there. Yeah, So I actually find
it interesting how they've handled it. They've all embraced it.
They've gone, let's send him off in the way that
he deserves. He's been a great player for this club.
There was no animosity there, there was no one which
is not what you see in all the roads. No,
it's not. But what will happen is you know, it's
(23:00):
been this team that's been able to stick together and
win these four premierships in a row. The team agers, yes,
personnel move on, so it will change because you can't
have this group stay together forever. And it appears to
be this group that has managed this success. But it
will change and I think that'll probably start to be
(23:21):
the case. Now you've got one player moving out, but
others are aging, so there will be a change. But
to see four in a row, I don't know if
that will happen again. No, and something that we certainly
didn't expect to see, and our die hard George said
that she never thought she'd see in her lifetime either.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
And she said well done Panthers, and I salute her.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I was about to say, I was expecting her to
gag or swear an Italian, of which there was neither.
But we do have a fun fact that links into
all of this, and that's coming up. Laura. It's time
(24:07):
for our fun fact or I'm going to go fun facts,
because I've got two little ones here. And something that
we love about Grand Final Week, amongst any code is
you start to find out little tidbits about how clubs operate.
Don't you hear these great stories in the media. Yes,
you do. And I love what you're about to tell
us because I think that this explains so much about
(24:28):
the Melbourne Storm and why they have been able to
be so successful for so long. So I found an
article about Craig Bellamy. Of course, as we mentioned, the
master Coach or belly Acres is called twenty two years
at the Helm, and I think this used to be
a secret, but now it's in printed in the Telegraph,
so you know it's not going to be a secret anymore.
But basically, when he was potentially going to sign a
(24:48):
contract with a new player to come to the Storm,
we just take the player out to a cafe. And
the player didn't realize that their mannerisms, how they treated
the staff, whether they said please or thank you you
was about to define whether or not they were even
offered a contract. It didn't matter if you were the
Jerome Hues of that general like if you were the
best player at the time. It was about your attitude,
(25:11):
your lack of ego, and how you treated people. And
I just went that is incredible. I love that. And
then on the flip side, when you were watching the
Grand Final last night, I just kept thinking and I
actually said to Kane, I was like, they the Storm
looked really tired. The Storm looked a lot more exhausted
than the Panthers. And now it comes out in the
wash that there's a rule at the Panthers. It doesn't
(25:33):
matter how tired you are. You're not allowed to put
your hands on your hips, and you're not allowed to
arch over like you're tired. You're not allowed to physically
show exhaustion. And there's all these different little fun facts
that come out. And also apparently I love this. To
build their concentration or their ability to keep concentration, they
were given a bowl of rice and told to count
(25:55):
the grains at Penrith.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
It's worked.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Can't you imagine boss going here, you go and you
can't get distracted? No, I mean no, no. I'm trying
to think what the equivalent to that would be in
our profession. Maybe waiting at scans, which I do have
to do, waiting for someone to come out limping with
that scenario currently. Also at the Giants of GWS, they
(26:20):
were given brown rice and white rice that was mixed
and they had to separate it. So this, I reckon,
this is something that's come from the nf NFL and
trickled down like it's probably going to be in a
ted Lasso episode at some point. But I just love
those little stories and those little things where you go,
well that actually, that's what builds success, that's what gets
people to come along.
Speaker 4 (26:41):
It makes sense the tide sign, so, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Because if you're looking at the other team and you're
battling and they look like they're not tied, even if
they are, and both sides would have been tied with
the way the game started, both sides would have been
tied very few stoppages, people coming on and off. But
if they're not hands on here, head down, stuck in
the big ones and.
Speaker 4 (27:02):
All of you are. You're looking at them, going.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
How are they They're not going to stop here? Yeah,
it's a mental thing. It's that mental game where you're like,
how much more have they got in the tank? I'm cooked?
So I can see I can see the strategy behind
that one. You know, I'm going to put this on
you because I just thought about it. Now, which of
those two would you either want to separate a bowl
of rice at the start of the season and be
(27:25):
allowed to show that you're tired, or would you go,
you know what, stuff the rice and I'll learn how
to not because when I'm tired, it's all over my face.
I was going to say the same thing there is.
I am terrible, Give me the rice, give me the rice.
Fly a stairs. I'm over. I'm over. So yeah, I
(27:47):
don't see how. I mean, clearly there's a different base
level of fitness here, but I don't see how I
would be able to disguise that. And you know what,
like where details people here we are? I could maybe
hack the rice for a bit, you know what, Maybe
we can do it as some sort of two good
sports bonding day and we'll see how we go, but
(28:08):
that remains to be seen. But thank you so much
once again, Laura for joining us. You have had a
gargantuan a couple of days of sport and you have been,
as Georgie said, absolutely sensational. We've loved having you and yeah,
you're just a joy. So thank you so much for
joining us. It's been fun. Thank you, you're the best.
And now we're both about to drive to work and
talk about more sports, so that works. Thanks for listening
to too Good Sports and iHeart production. You can follow
(28:30):
us on Instagram at two Good Sports Podcasts. We'll catch
you next week when our favorite Italian George returns, but
until then, be a good sport.
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