August 3, 2025 • 43 mins
Is Kurt Gidley actually Cooper’s dad? The boys kick off with a live in-studio paternity test before diving into Gidley’s career, from debuting at Newcastle to captaining NSW. Plenty of laughs, old stories, and a surprising family twist.
Subscribe, Watch, and Follow
Catch the full episode on YouTube and stay updated by following us on social media:
Linktree: Backstage with Cooper & Matty
Contact Us
For any enquiries, email us at:
contact@johnsmedia.com.au
0:00-Leadership & Hard Times
4:00-Wayne Bennett
6:00-Alex Mckinnon
8:30-Private Ownership
10:15-Characters
13:30-State of Origin
15:00-Craig Bellamy
16:30-Captain from Bench
19:45-The Fight
24:00-Australia
27:00-Kiwis
28:20-Gidley Flick
30:00-Mark Hughes Trek
39:00-Lone Survivor
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
At Kurt getting the captaincy, like, and we just spoke
about before, how did you to go from being playing
alongside a bloke like Joey to then all of a
sudden you're the skipper?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
How how was that transition?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Yeah, it was again in the challenge, Maddie, I was
super proud number one, but I had like I had
Joey as my long term captain. Billy Pedon was sort
of co captain during that phase as well, like another legend,
super super great blow can play our bill as you know.
And then Joey retired and Beusy was captain and both
those boys were captain of New South Wales, so Bezzy
(00:36):
went to the UK and then I sort of stepped
into the captaincy role under Brian Smith and held it
until twenty fifteen until I retired at the night Sense.
So yeah, I had Steve Simpson Simpson as my offside
I Simo was older than me and more experienced than me,
and he was a wonderful clubman. Cimo was one wonderful
player and good, good, strong leader as well, so I
(00:58):
know I want to check him with sim out to
make or he was okay with that because I was
kind of looking up the simer at that stage, but
I enjoyed, Yeah, the responsibility of being the captain of
my hometown number one in the community. I understood that,
you know, I played an important role in the community
and given back to the town that supported us as
(01:18):
a term and you know, obviously at its challenging moments
through tough times as well being the front the frontman
for challenging times.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Was it Wayne the major captain?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
It was Brian Smith.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Brian Smith, Wayne or right? That the period where your captain.
What an amazing time to be captain too, where you've
got all of a sudden, there's Bonaire coming into the
club and they're getting and they've they've got Wayne Bennett.
And I remember at the time people were saying, I
think Wayne was there for three years or whatever it was.
(01:48):
And someone was asked once in the media, how many
Grand Finals do you think the Knights are going to
win in the next five years, And these people were saying,
legitimately anything from three. Someone was saying, I reckon, we'll
win five in a row. That was the expectation that
must have That must have been a heavy weight, Yeah,
it was, and it wasn't realistic.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
You know, we still had to bring new players in
like Block, Bo Scott and Jeremy Smith at the stage, Yeah,
Darren so and like I was, I was fallback for
long term at that stage. And you know, I probably
played my best footage during that year from Bryan Smith
O seven to twenty twelve and was playing for New
South Wales and Australia. So Wayne was coming and Wayne
(02:27):
had taken Darius to Saints from Brizzie and from He's
obviously going to bring him to Newcastle. So I wasn't
sure where I was going to fit into the team.
I thought, you know, it's probably going to get pushed
to five eight and or half, which half wasn't my position,
but Jared Mullum was was five eight, so I kind
of I've got mixed feelings around that time, Like from
(02:48):
twenty twelve thirteen fourteen, I just didn't feel super confident
in my position of the team. Daris was playing fullback.
I thought I was playing my best footy there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I had some.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Major injuries too. I had recall on my shoulder. I've
done liszt Frank in both feet. Oh yeah, on my
right foot rehabbit it came back, got tackled up at
Brisbane at sun Corps and rupture them a list. Frank
completely was out for the years, so I had two.
There were major injuries physically but psychologically. To come back
(03:21):
from the foot one was hard, and just having confidence
back on my left shoulder after Rico was hard because
I'd sort of missed you two pretty big chunks of
those seasons. It was probably the biggest challenge during my
free crew of those those few years.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Funny, I was noting our talking to Johnny Lewis about
an hour ago, you know, the old boxing Chraine just so,
and we're talking about he was talking about, you know
who's going to who I think is going to coach
the Gold Coast next and Newcastle just loves his robil
league Johnny, And then we're chatting about different stuff and
he said, you know, Maddie, you know they oftentimes they
(03:58):
go for the super coaches, but mate, you know that
even Jae Gibson got sacked once. I mean Jack got
sacked from South's end up going on to playing coaching
PARAMOUNTA and winning three in a row and you know,
like the greatest coach of all time with Balliak and Wayne.
But sometimes the greatest coaches go to clubs and it
just for whatever reason doesn't work. Why Like with Wayne,
(04:21):
why didn't it work? Wayne left when he still had
a year to go, but he put his hands up
and just said, I can't make this work.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I don't know. I felt the first introduction to Wayne
in his team like it was a big shift in
staff number one sort of. Wayne came to Newcastle, brought
all his staff and I remember the first meeting it
was like everything he's had done previously, he's fucking not
working and rubbish now. Kind of that. I didn't think
that was very respectful for the town and the team
because there were certain staff members in the club doctors
(04:53):
for example, and team managers and that type of thing
that were well respected in our club and our community,
and I didn't think they got off to a great
start Sharan respect to the to the history of the
club and that that shifted over over that first year.
The second year actually was was a pretty pretty good year.
(05:13):
We beat Melbourne at Melbourne first semi and then went
to Sydney Foe Stadium bes He's last every game got
knocked out by hard Graves. That so that that was
kind of the dagger of the heart, like our spiritual
leader ko in the first few minutes and got beaten
that that second round of semi finals. So the second
year was I would say a successful one. The last
(05:37):
one fucking really hard, like Tinks was going under. Wayne
had already announced he's not sticking around for his last
year of his girl and Alex McKinnon broke his neck
again And as your brother, I'm captain, and I just
felt like emotionally, Argon was the hardest year for me.
Is our team, our town, Alex you out on the
(06:00):
field when the Alex McKinnon incident happened. No, I was.
I was playing hooker and and I was off on
the sideline at that stage, and like it was, it
broke our heart that year because there was just a
lot of shit going on off the field and then
and then Alex's injury happened.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And side never a cavert off that.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
No, no, we I don't know if that was yeah,
I think I don't know if that Yeah, that was
the year we beat Melbourne after the bell and that
was a game where you kicked the goal from the sideline. Yeah,
but I just that was that was the end moment.
But like that was a game where I just thought,
like our fiends were really supporting us. They understood how
(06:40):
tough we're going through that year Alex's injury, and that's
the best times when the Knights fans are super loyal,
Like during the tough times five we got Wooden Spoon,
We'll get my twenty twenty two thousand of the game.
And that year they understood and they recognized that we
need to support and that Melbourne game we we we
(07:00):
had to give him something back and it.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Was a good, good comeback.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
That's like, like Alex talks openly about.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
It about the injury. I can't remember where I was,
but I remember words starting to filter through during that
game that hey, this is bad. When did when did
the club you're sorry? When did the players become aware
of hanging on like with Alex, Alex, this is really
(07:30):
really serious, life threatening.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
We went on that was in Melbourne, and we got
the bus past the hospital and kind of we knew
at that stage that was that was looking bad and
he hadn't had any feeling in his arms or his legs,
And then the aftermath of that was we'll just I
don't know, I just I lost sort of feelings really
(07:53):
around just we're lost, will be broken at that stage
and it yeah, yeah, it was really hard on whe
from because way Alex, he still has a great relationship
with with Alex and his mom and dad. He brought
him to Newcastle and it was it was tough on Wayne,
it was tough on Matt the CEO chief was chairming.
(08:13):
I think at that stage and you think about like
getting yourself up to games physically and mentally, that's a
that's a rollercoaster ride in itself. So just trying to
get yourself up to play foota again and compete for
the rest of the year, that was that was a
real challenge.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I can only imagine private ownership is private ownership can
be fantastic for a club most point. Most time it
is they bring they bring money and they're very smart.
People don't bring know how, et cetera, et cetera. But
it just fraught with danger in the fact that you know,
a person can take a club and all of a
sudden make it their own kingdom or try attempt to
(08:50):
make it their own kingdom. Where with Nathan Tankler like
how there must have been some really difficult periods where
even I hear that he and Wayne were button heads.
He wanted the side to play a certain way. It
was at the first game his play where he came
in the sheds, yeah and talk about it.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yeah. I think he tried to come on the sheds
a couple of times in our free manager of Warren
smiles that had to pull them Mark because he'd been
on the piece and that sort of thing too. So
like he had huge success financially in mining and doubled
down on it twice and become a billionaire, like very
quickly over a billionaire. It was valued at that stage
when he owned the club. So he wanted instant success
(09:29):
with his footy team as well, and so he wasn't
very patient with any of that. Look at the horse
racing as well. He was paying millions and millions of
dollars for horses that weren't worth that some.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Races, and his horses in the races of the country
country meetings.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah. Yeah, So he wanted instant success in his Patnak
farm and horses and race cars and footy team, and
he bought the jets as well. So he was very
passionate and meant well because he wanted to support the
town and the teams that he he loved, but he
wanted success instantly and he got frustrated with that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Did he dress aside much?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
No, I didn't address a side much. I wouldn't say
he came in during those. He didn't come in and
address the team before the game. During the game, he'd
be a round. But yeah, the occasional text message got
flattered out there.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Like a pump up text message, probably a pumped down.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Let's let's go over to some of the There's someone
you mentioned before, Jared Mullen, some of the characters in
those Newcastle sides, because I actually played with Mullow's Ye
Turning Point he played. I think he debuted with Joey
and then in his last really ever game he played
after the band he come played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
We played together. Mullows. He's playing lock then he was
(10:48):
quite he was quite large and in charge, quite strong.
But some of the characters in those Newi sides, because
you had a hell of a lot of them. Adam McDougall, Oh, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Is there at one stage Jeremy Smith, like Booze, Mark Hughes, Yeah,
Buk even Joey Beds beds on his beds at his best,
you know, when he's when he's got the blubber on. Yeah,
unreal from from like two thousand and one, you know,
until I played twenty fifteen at the Knights, like super
(11:21):
diverse character, our coup legend great. I see him dancing
around the shed's big smileing face, always happy and and
and you know, super great for Tim Brah. But then
like to that early two thousands era, Madi Passons, even
the pass that was like our dad, you don't know,
I used to stir pass up all the time and
he did. He give us a clip if we were if
(11:43):
we're pushing pushing it too hard. But it was an
awesome era, that's for sure, those early two thousands, because
it was that old school train hard, play hard, straight
at the board, big night. I mean sometimes we'll be
getting cabs straight to the unit university pool out of
the cab to do a pool session, recovery, recovery. Daniel
Abraham look Quigley pretty pretty well.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
It's the kind of Newcaster is the kind of town
where if if the side's going good, like it's, it
would be the most fun of your life. Right, like
going around for a beer. But imagine if the size
is not going good, you're probably you're probably keeping your
head down.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Right.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
They're great support, they're great supporters, but yeah, but probably
a way more away from the from the game. They'll
let you know about it, Yeah, for sure. And it's
a very Newcastle thing. Good you know, good working class towns.
It's a little bit like you know, if Coop you're
if you you've won ten in a row and your
fire and Elvis, You've got to walk past a building
site and now go fucking John.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Who do you think you are? Mate, You're strutting around.
It's all lost around the corner.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
But even they yeah they pull out mate, Jeezu, you
are real good on the weekend mate. Sorry, we're trying
to prove next week. My pop was the best mate.
Like my pop, he worked at b HP for his
whole life and I talked from my teenage years right
through till I retired. Pop was just super honest. Nobody
got on the weekend there, mate, You need to work
(13:09):
in your defense. You missed a couple of tackles.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Just blame it.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yeah, I think it can come like your parents are
always well. I don't know. Parents are always super supportive
and probably try to protect you a bit, but I
think my pop and certainly your grandparents they could probably
be a little bit more honest than brutal.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Well, because they're older, Like it's almost like they just
cut through the bullshit. It's like they're sick of small talk.
They've had enough small talk in their life, so they're
happy to to tell you exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
How it is. State of Origin, great memories there. Who
was the coach in the first Origin series?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I had? Graham Murray debuted me. Oh muz, it's not
longer with us, but yeah, again, super proud of making
my debut. And again I didn't think that was realistic
when I first started playing you certainly for junior days
and the nights, but you know, I got picked for Country,
picked me for Country vers City. Imagine was assistant coach,
(14:04):
had Sticky as well during that, and then yeah, Graham
Murray providing a sky Blue debut seven, and then I
was with Bellie.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
How old you are there when you met your debut?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Like mid twenties, Oh yeah, mid twenties and twenty four
maybe something like that. And then yeah, the following year,
so I'd only been captain for half a year at Newcastle,
Bedsy gone to the UK and then Craig Bellamy made
me captain of New South al What was that? I was, Yeah,
I got like, yeah, really proud of representing sky Blue
(14:38):
sort of twelve times and was captain five times. And
you know Belly was the one who selected me amongst
all the players that we were playing with on those
games to be captain. So but you know, I got
mixed emotions around my time at Origin. We come through
obviously a pretty dominant coins end era. Most of the
Australian team was the coins end. There was me utility
(15:01):
on the bench, there was Gail Birdie and Louis as
the back rollers in the Australian team, and the rest
of the team mc cooincy. So that's a fair indication.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
That that first two thousand and seven series. And I'd
worked with Billy eight before, so I knew sort of about
Billy A's intensity and I'd dealt with it and seen
how we worked with the players. But I'd also seen
how people like Cameron Smith and Billy Slater could diffuse
a bit of that and how they took it. Whereas
he goes into a team no one's barely been coached
by Craig Bellyman before. And I remember before the game
(15:34):
running into Joey, and Joey was one of the assistants
and he was ashen faced, like he was terrified at
Billy A And I think as no one really understood him,
and everyone took his intensity at face value.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
So I liked that many like I sort of thrive
on that. I love him as my coach, Sticky, those
guys super passionate and like called it as it is,
and that was sometimes harsh and very high discipline and aggressive.
But I like that. I like that played on a
Joey kind of who's like that as a player, very direct.
(16:07):
So yeah, but you know I did. I did love
my time under belly that's for sure. But I can understand,
like we have blokes like Hainesy, and Haines is off
with the fairies. You know, he doesn't train at high
intensity like unbelievable player, one of the most talented I've
played with and against. But wrestling sessions and fitness and
discipline and those video sessions, you know, some guys it's
(16:30):
just snaky and they can't they can't stay focused for
those sessions which frustrated Belly. I know it probably me
as well, but I enjoyed that type of coaching style.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
So when you're because the most famous part of probably
your captaincy right is your Belly puts you to the bench,
but you stayed as captain. And I remember at the
time it was it was quite a big thing going.
So they've put Kurt on the bench, but you, Skipper,
what what were the conversations you and Bell around?
Speaker 3 (16:59):
I remember pretty clearly, really, I mean the captain from
the bench. It was a scene next to my name
on the team sheet when I was on the bench.
Hainsey was on fire that year nine, I think it was,
and like he was, he was unbelievable. So I was
fullback for game one, I think it was just Game
one and Haines. We were bringing Hainsey off the wing
for these black sets because we wanted to get him involved,
(17:21):
and Joey said, we need more involvement from Hainsey. We
can't just leave him out on the wings, so we
needed to bring him into the middle and that was
working well because it was dangerous, but it never I
knew and Belly knew, and the pressure from the outside
was probably Hainesy need to play a full needs to
play fullback, and I was all, we want to win
the game one, we need the best player and the
best position. So yeah, for game I don't know whether
(17:42):
it was two or three, Belly come and spoke to
me about pushing me to the bench and bringing Haines
to the full back and I'm like, yeah, sweet, let's
let's get the best team out there. And he said, well, man,
I still want years captain because you're only going to
start fifteen to twenty minutes on the bench, then you're
coming on for the rest of the game. And I'm like, yeah,
I don't know, is it going to bring a bit
of pressure and just be another headline? But he was
(18:04):
pretty firm and didn't want to take the captain captaincy
off me and wanted my leadership, you know, in two
meetings and training sessions in during the game for that
sixty minutes. So it become more of a headline than
probably what we what we needed at the stage, and
in tisight, it just it just become a distraction, I guess.
(18:25):
But again, I'm not going to challenge one of the
best coaches in the game again I'm very honored to
be captain and for Craig to keep me as captain.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah, well, and he's right, you're on there after fifteen minutes.
It's just the nature of state of origin. Yeah, is
that anything that happens that could happen at club level?
Your nice captain begin to start from the bench. It
might be a byline, yeah, but when you were headline
New Southwest, state of origin captain and staff from the
bench just explodes.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And like we had Bas Trent Barrett in camp for
that one, and Bas was a great leader and you know,
five or so years older than me, he plays State
of Origin play for Australia, so you know his leadership
was awesome in camp team meetings. So yeah, Bads lead
the team out and we didn't make too much of
a fuss of it internally, but obviously you know they're
drawing it.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
It's almost one of the things though similar to like
similar to Aaron Woods come out and calling Billy say
to a grub, you you give you give the Queensland
to something that they can kind of run with as motivate.
You know what it's like inside a team you can
sit there and they could cameras with could get up
and go right, They've dropped their captain to the bench
like you know, they're they're scared of us. Yeah, they're scared.
(19:35):
They're turning on each other. What I've taken from that is,
and I've just written it down, is Craig Bellam He's
got no fucking idea.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
It's not going to work. He will never be in
an elite cach.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I love my time with Billy.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Now the other big moment, Coop, you want to talk about?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
Oh yes, okay, so another big one in State of Origin? Right,
I can't remember exactly what happened in the game. Remember
it was quite a fiery State of Origin game. A
couple of blokes got sent off and White had hit.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah but what knocked out Steve Price in Prices Last
of Origin.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
That's right, that's right, yeah yeah, And it was yeah,
yeah yeah, And did someone get tackled or something?
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Well, they won the first two games, so we would
going to sun Court and we you know, we wanted
to play well, we wanted to kind of ruin their
party win the game. And obviously he's still a bit
of pride still in New South Wales, so that was
kind of our game plan. We we It was obviously
a big crowd up there, and and and yeah it
was Stephen Price's Last of Origin game, which I think
ha Burne announced and one on one's think we dominated
(20:35):
to that game and beat them pretty convincingly. And one
on one's think broke it out between Whitey and Pricey
and it was all one on one thrashing. And then
Whitey gets one straight on his chin, completely cooding. But
just as he's hitting, Trent Waterhouse come flying in and
it looked like that House might have been third and
in coot him as well. Fucking kicked off big time
(20:58):
because Whitey was licking his lips on the big screen
and had blood come and smile licking his lips. We
had he was justin Paul did he like grab him
by the jumper and drop him. So yeah, that was
all on the big screw. And the crowd has gone bananas,
and so are the coins and blogs. So Hodges died
a milesy so kicked off big time. House got ten
(21:20):
in the bin. And then I'm at full back, probably
thirty meters away from the We're an attack about twenty
meters away, and I'm seeing the penalty is going to
go to them chat how sin bind. I'm like, fuck,
this is on again now. So I thought they're getting
the penalty, and I can see Smithy talking and Locky
and Locky back, and I'm like, they're going to give
(21:40):
us the paw here, which is probably fair enough. And
then I've since heard it was a miscommunication. Smithy has
tapped it. I'm forty meters away. I've had nothing to
do with the scrap.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
You're also like the nic like the nicest guy.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
I eight nine tops and had a fair relationship with
the coins and blokes in this camp. And I'm like, fuck,
they're going to kick the fucking bomb of me here,
all right, right here, fuck youse, let's go. So I
thought number one, I need to catch the bomb like
the big crowd. I don't want to embarrass myself. I've
got to just think my technique as I'm hearing like
(22:13):
thirteen queens and it's just screaming like stamped coming down
at me, and it's going to kick off again. And
I remember my old being used to always say before
I used to play elbows up what you're breathing, basically,
get your fucking elbows up and protect your head, and
I thought, that's that's what I need to do here,
and they're coming hard. So I caught the ball, returned
it and there was just head highs and I'm at
(22:35):
the bottom of the pack. I think I had hold
of first and or someone just to keep everyone closed,
and it was just a chaos on top of me
and then just all kick off again, more scraps and
more sin bins and that was the end of the game.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
My favorite thing is that I remember so all the
Blues boys came in to help you, help you, and
poor Benny Craye probably the biggest moment.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
We really appreciate you bringing this up again. He's not dead.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
That look at the sky was dead to me. He
runs over and gives Justin Hodges a shove and then
just just comes after him and many Craig must have
just been on instinct starts running backwards and runs behind
the post. But the footage of it, Mate, he got
poor bloke, he got hammerd for it. So what so
(23:19):
what was the miscommunication?
Speaker 3 (23:23):
I'll play kangaroos with those boys at the back end
of that year and they come up and apologize and said, mate,
Lockie was telling me to give the ball back to
you is like tap tap it Smithy and just roll
it to him and then let them play the ball
and then we'll kick off on him now and Smith's going, sweet,
I'll get the ball that tapped it bombed to me.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
No, they come up, yeah you said, and I've.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Seen I think if someone sent me a podcast maybe
locket again Thurst and Rong and like they were like
it wasn't meant to go to kids. The kids. We
got on with the kids and he's the smallest guy
and the team and anyway we we sorted it out.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Amazing it. Your memory is playing for Australia all those yeah,
great memories.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
I just again, I didn't think it was realistic, you know,
as a younger fellow, even when I first started playing
first grade to play for Australia and used to wait
me and my brother's up when kangaroo tools were on,
which you would have been planning, so we'd be up
at three or four am in the family land room
watching you know Sticky and those and Freddie and Mail
during that era. Like a great memory as a kid.
(24:27):
So I remember singing the national anthem. So we debuted.
There was like six of us. I think like all
day bood in Wellington against New Zealand, like me Israel
Birdie that's right, Cooper.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Kronk, that's right. So one where Gas gets knocked out
really bad.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Yep, yep, yeah, so I come on and play center
like early. So I was a utility for all but
one game for Australia and the only time I get
on was if someone get injured. Early Tati Dunne his
knee once Gas got ko, so I had to be
on first half sometimes, which is so I've got good
game time, but unfortunately was at the cost of someone else.
(25:04):
So we had five bogus, five or six pokes day Billin.
Ronnie Palmer's head trainer, Ronnie Legend for team Rale and
just far and enjoyment. So Ronnie goes, no, we got
five blots day Bill. And so in the team room
after dinner one night, we're going to make sure we
know the national anthem and like, yeah, we sung it
as a kid at school, but it wasn't the coolest
thing to do. So we all stood around and sung
(25:25):
the national anthem like half a dozen times to make
sure we all knew it and sung it passionately and
I'll never forget that Ronnie. Ronnie got us doing that
and you know, to sing the national anthem before the game,
arm in arm wearing the green and gold like it
was amazing.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
And should be still the pinnacle of the game. It's
just it's just a fact at the moment the state
of origin is so big that it has become the pinnacle.
But still I maintained international football, representing your country should
be the pinna.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
I think emotionally it definitely definitely is the intensity of origin.
The biggest stage is definitely Origin, but representing your country
for all those guys who are now playing for Pacific Nations,
super proud. It's good.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
It's good to see that, like because obviously back when
you guys played, particularly against New Zealand and England, those
tests were brutal and it was competitive. It's probably less
competitive these days as much as it was back then.
But I have a theory that I think they're going
to do it with the NRLW actually, but I'd like
to see it with the guys that you don't If
you don't get picked in Australia, it doesn't matter if
(26:30):
you're you know, half Kei. We if you're half English,
like Victor Radley had to basically say, well, okay, I
won't play Origin to go play for England if you're
not picked in the squad of twenty five whatever they
take over. I reckon, you should just be able to
play for whoever, because in those in the in the series,
in the Try Series or World Cup at the end
of the year. That way you've got the best players
in the NRL and the Super League all playing, rather
(26:51):
than you might have blokes like you know, Victor Radley
who weren't able to play when they could have been.
They can play at that elite level. Yeah, you think
it's a possible, but little.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Do I reckon, I think it is cook it's a
mess at the moment. Tier one, tier two we've got
it where I actually believe that countries like Tong at
the moment, with the way the rules are with Origin,
in the fact that Origin players can play for Tier
two nations, I don't want Summer and Tong are hopping
out of Tier two.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
I want them to stay at the moment.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Because players should be able to play like it, should
be able to play for those for their for their nations,
like that their Pacific Nations and I think it's really
really important. And it's funny about in the national football
Kurk Kok anyway, mix your brothers up all the time,
father son anyway, interesting to see what you think.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Mate.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You can play State of Origin right, But I'm telling
you the hardest game you will ever play is when
you turn up to play New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
And they're one.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
When they are made, I'm telling you there's no The
physicality is unbelievable. And I played the Try Nations in
ninety nine Try Nations.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Final in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
It was, without doubt, by far, the hardest game we've
ever played in my life.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
It was so fucking brutal.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Tough and aggressive, that's for sure. You knew you had
to hold your gloves up for sure, tough.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Can I ask you before we go off foot you
we're going to talk about Everest. You guys, you and
dad walked to Markhughes Foundation Everest to got some good
touris on that. But lastly, playing with your brother back
to your brother, Matt Gidley, I've always thought this, didn't know,
Maybe it's a stupid question. Probably is following Matthew and
Andrew the John's brothers, right, because you're and the Rudders
(28:30):
and the Kamalia and the Rudders and the Kamali. Sure,
but following you guys, because it's a rare thing to
play with your brother anyway in first grade is rare
thing to play against your brother, rare thing to have
brothers in the NRL, for you guys to play for
your hometown Newcastle. But to follow you know, Matthew and
Andrew is that is that a high pressure sort of thing?
Like is that something that you parayed on you guys a.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Little bit or do you junior? Fully? I guess there
was some comparisons with you know, you're playing lot Matt,
and did you only get a start because your brother?
That type of thing? But we would different players like
Matt was. Matt was a five eight to start with
then pushed the center and I was a different player
to Matt. Matt was more naturally skillful for sure than me.
Like his footwork and that that flick pass he had
(29:12):
a great combination with all his winning his carnee.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
You know, dous, you know you've had an impact when
they named something else. Still to this day, if someone
does that reverse.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Flick, they always go to Gidley ma.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
He just he had the wingers being boozled, you know,
they do the stay out and you go himself or
they bought in and he just flickered. Had great wingers
that could just finish.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
The one we.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Played, we beat some George George, that's out at the
moment that footage off the scrum.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
You threw the ball off the to Darren Albert.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
But he went, he went, He done me. He went
around the back of the winger, flicked it. Now we
just pinned him.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
They got named number one game of the nineties.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
That's a Frost Sports did it and last play the game,
last player of the game.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
And just excuse my ignorance, but was he the first
obviously named the Gidla flick because it was so iconic
and he was so good at it, But were many
centers doing it before. Maddie or.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Matt was probably doing it first. Gas was the next
best best at Mark Gas now yep, and they probably
come through similar time. But I never seen my brother practice.
They'll stick around after train and doing that practice. I've
never seen any practice that ever, And that's why it
came really naturally to him. Footwork. He try and get
on the outside of his center. If the winger stayed out,
he'd hold hold in.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
That because it's every center has to put Miles would
do it.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
But Gene Miles was more of a basketball over the top.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
Reverse you know who was Erican Mary McGregor was probably
before Matt, but he was again, probably was bigger, so
he was probably able to wrestle his way through those
and offload te Kurt.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
In season ninety nine, we played a trial game. I
don't know for again, I don't know it was paramatter
or someone else, but we played a trial game and
we're just because it was trial game. Well, loosey, goosey,
were just playing sideline the sideline. Your brother set up
two tries to fellow called Lenny Beckett on the sideline
mate and went bang, we're throwing it from a fast side.
He just went bang held and I'm not kidding. He
(30:59):
was throwing those about twenty twenty five meters and hitting
Lanny right on the chest. It was just it was incredible, and.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
I think Matt Matt comes through as a half like
that year ninety seven, I think you when Joey were
out for a while, it was Matt and who picked
up through the middle part of the year, so we.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Don't we don't win a comp without those guys. And
unfairly to your to your brother, I think it might
have been one of the first semi finals. He went
and broke his ankle.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, yep, you did too, Yeah, sosed mister GF. But
he was only pretty young that stage. We've got the
one in the final.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Hey Mark used track because we had boozy on a
few weeks back. But he dad and him were telling
yarns about it because you were pretty freshly retired that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Yeah, I'd flown from the UK, flowing my family back
to Newcastle, bought them a car, packed my bags again,
flew straight to every space camp. The first time I've
seen all these boys in two years. So my brother
Hughesy Russell Richardson got yourself, Maddie chief. So I was
a pete fitness, I guess.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
And how did you hand it? Because you would have been
a better nick than these blokes.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
How did you have it? It was hard. You had
lots of self doubt because they do that oxygen reading
every night. Your oxygen levels are going down plays with
your head psychologically, and then your short of breath, getting
a few headaches and like I'm struggling here, and so
played a little bit on your head. But then your
body adapts to it. Then you're good for the next day,
(32:25):
next couple of days. But our preparation wasn't as professional.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Tip top was it?
Speaker 4 (32:31):
What a lot of drinking.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
Our first day in Catman do. We sat around a
pool just necking beers and we had a bit of
a circle type ceremony where we spoke about the y
and the passion and the goal I suppose. Then we
went for a feed.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
And then the guy was like, who's run?
Speaker 1 (32:49):
It goes right our boys, I probably think you've had
too much already, you.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Know, it's trying to go back. And I was like,
fuck that, mate, not Catman do every day.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
So we went.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
So we went found a carry out enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
I ducked off it, you know. I thought there's got
to be a karaoke joyt somewhere around here, and found
someone to take me around and it was upstairs, this
little shifty area, and found a karaoke race back and said, boys,
let's let's go. It's on And yeah, we had twenty
eight likes. Something that we knew something we didn't played
folly with and yeah karaoke you were up first thing.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Maddie, Yeah, yeah, I remember.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
What you so, yeah, shuffle that's what you always was
that the first time?
Speaker 4 (33:33):
But would they know? Would they have known that song?
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Well?
Speaker 1 (33:36):
I remember your brother saying that as you kind of
he heard the song and I fucking fucking where's that?
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Where's that song coming from? And he said, oh mate,
how bad is that Blake's voice?
Speaker 3 (33:47):
So I put my name for a song. I get
up there thinking ass song. I ducked behind the curtain.
I come back out. I'm topped up at this day.
I come back out nude, totally nude.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
The Memberlieves didn't know quite what to make of it.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
What did they made? The trek still locked up and
capt me.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Just totally naked?
Speaker 5 (34:11):
And what that?
Speaker 4 (34:11):
What was the response from the Nepalese Like did they just.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Yeah, he was a hero, he was up on shoulders, dude?
Speaker 4 (34:20):
What right? So then so you have that big night
and then do you guys track the next day?
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Mate? The flight was the scariest flight in moment of
my life. How bad was.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
It going in to look?
Speaker 3 (34:32):
Is it locally? Airport? They've now closed the airport, you
can only chopper in and chopper out. We flew in.
The runway is built in the side of the mountain.
When you leave, you just fly off there a cliff.
It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
So when you leave, do you essentially do you go
down before you.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Go goes downhill? And then it just drops off and
the plane just completely off a cliff. It's the most
dangerous take off and in the warning place in the world.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Do they have they had any crashes there before?
Speaker 3 (34:58):
You know who sent me your photo. Breezey went there
and done it, and he'd done a few years before us,
and then he sent a fight out to his flight.
The flight when they landed, they didn't make the air
strip and just crustright on the side of the cliff.
It was the same plane that breathe went on, fuck it.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
But Jenna, Kurt, what about because we were just saying
we'll finished. There been certain circumstances we will come back
to about how quick everyone was, and we just want
to get out of there and get back to Catman
Do and have a few beers and just relax and
then go home. And there was a massive fog on
and they're like, oh, we don't know we can flight.
We're in the choppers and they didn't have the monitoring devices.
(35:36):
It was pretty like pretty basic. And they're like, oh,
we don't think we can do it. And then one
of them said, oh, how bad do you want to
get back? We really want to he said, okay, And
I'm standing in the watchers. The first helicopter goes off
into a cloud and literally another chopper came out of
a cloud.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
I remember that.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Oh it was nearly a head on first because we'd
all got the base camp, we'd hit the goal and
gone to that next little spiked.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
We just we're getting the chopper back down through the
through the valley to then fly off the edge of
the cliff one and we just wanted to get back
and just be safe by then A get back to
cap and a.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Lot of blakes. We're in a bit of trouble.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah, three boys got flying straight to the hospital. You've
been one And I remember that chopper that near miss,
and we got in. We were the last chopper at
the second stop, Me and Hughsey plus god O and
a few of the boys. They stack heaps of stuff
in the choppers, just throw all this equipment in to
get it back down, and we're sitting there. I'm in
the front seat next to Hughsey the choppers going you
(36:34):
get you feel the revs going up and all the
gauges are going up and we're not moving. It keeps
going up, keeps going up, and then the pilot of
the crossed us goes very heavy, very heavy, husay, and
I going get us off. We'll get the next one. Anyway.
It takes off and gets us back there.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
But it was unbelievab.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
We were all watching the first one go going beauty
were away, and as it goes into one cloud, another
one comes out, probably twenty meters.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
But Kurt, I remember with you. We were we did.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
That the last track after we hit base camp and
we went too much and we did too much. And
I was telling Cooper before I said, we were walking
back and you just retired right, and you're known as
one of the fittest players ever played. And I'm walking
alongside you and I'm going, mate, I'm feeling fucking really,
(37:24):
I'm feeling really weirdy, really bad. And there was all
of a sudden, this horse is brought across the salt
plane and it's just like it's like a ghost horse,
and I going, am I fucking hallucinating? And I looked
to you and you're fucked. And then behind us a
couple of boys started to pissing themselves, and that's where
we went back and went, mate.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
Yes, I remember that foot. We didn't know whether the
horse was real, like we were damn, we're flat. Well,
altitude was hitting us and we'd hit the goal, so
you know, we're just emotionally we're starting to drop and
it was just barren area and this white horse was
just sort of walking next to us, just cruise and
we're like, is that real?
Speaker 4 (37:59):
So they have wildhorse was up there?
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Yeah. And then then we went into the teahouse and
we're sort of relaxing and having a beer or two.
Then all of a sudden, one of the boys drops, yeah,
starts vomiting, and then he just collapses and Crowey passes.
They actually go, shit, I haven't seen crow for a
little bit. I run back to the room. Crowy sound asleep,
but you go now you've got to get him up.
Dragged him up, they took him into the teahouse, put
(38:22):
him on oxygen because he was so.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Low all night.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
So we started in Kaptan and do without oxygen. Oxygen
gentlemen or whatever it.
Speaker 4 (38:29):
Is that they prick your blood.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
No, no, no, put the reading on your hand. You
go to the hospital. It was a ninety eight ninety nine.
Krow was down to fifty on that final night. Yeah,
so he was in big trouble. Remember our final hurrah
back at Kaptan were our chicken wings beers Crow. He's
in the hospital. We're bringing him.
Speaker 4 (38:48):
Oh that's that salt in the winter. So when you
finally got back, did you have a massive night? Did
you just rip in?
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Yeah? Yeah, sure did.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
And I imagine the food would have been good, right.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Food was good at that area, wasn't it?
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Mate? Cap Man Do is an amazing city.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
You're going along and it's just like it's it's like
it's unlike any city I've ever been to in my life.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
Remember the super third world butcher Butcher's blocks on the
edge of the streets and flies and that people everywhere,
and then the other area just super pretty markets and
clean food.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
But you know, it's and I've said this for one
of the on Tuesdays podcasts, was before I went There's
a bloke. There was a bloke he's an American guy.
Did a show on ABC and Channel seven called body Hack.
I'm trying to give his name.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
He's a terrific fella, he told me.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
When I was about to go, he goes, he guys,
I'll give you. I'll just tee you this now. He said,
when you fly to Catman do the first time, you'll go,
oh wow, this is this is a bit too much.
You know, it's a third world city, he said, which it is,
he said, But when you go and do the track
and then you come back to Catman, do it'll feel
like Monica fucking true. Yeah, wow, Yeah, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
The tiny mate, they're like sixty kegs and they carry
three bags, strap them all together, put a piece of
blanket over their head, lift them up and maybe a flying.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
One way going up like some of the toughest climbs
in the mountain, and you you're struggling, then all of
a sudden, a shirple will go past you. Taking greg
from one tea house to the next. They'll have a
dozen cartons of beer on their back, tied with a
piece of rope.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Blobs walking up there with fridges on a fridge, strapped
their back.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Are they so strong they used to it?
Speaker 3 (40:30):
They're not physically built big, but just lungs and endurance wise. Yep,
they're adapted to high altitude.
Speaker 4 (40:37):
And when you're up at these teahouses, like are they
selling you don't drink too much?
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Or yeah they were?
Speaker 4 (40:44):
And was that advice taken on board? Because hearing you guys,
you said, yeah, I wrap the tea house, having a
couple of beers and then one of the boys passes
out starts spewing everywhere, probably think like, is that a
mix between the altitude, the oxygen, and the amount of
grog you're drinking?
Speaker 3 (40:57):
CrowI coming on the back of like a three day
bender as well. He's no hydration. Then got the ships
and didn't have any of the tablets that you put
in for like to purefoy water. So he's just burning
the king at all. In Yeah, he was.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Getting whacked from every angle.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
Yeah, he's not exactly an epitome of health.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Now he's not.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Now is there anything or do moved? Do we conclude
now with Loan Survivor?
Speaker 4 (41:20):
Yeah, go Loan Survivor.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
To finish with we do a think called Loan Survivor.
I'm not a good very good at explaining it. So yeah,
he made an excellent hard So the one is to
best party animals play with her against Okay.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
So basically what's going to happen here is Kurt Dad's
going to start you off with two players. For example,
it might be Wendell Saylor and Lodi da Kiri. You
have to pick one of them, and then we go
down until there's one left and they will win the
category of best party animals you've ever played with.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Okay, you've got you've got the names, the name. Okay,
let's go lock in for this.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Red strap In, Ben Kennedy, Andrew Johnson, Joey. That's it.
Thanks for good I thought I'll start at the Apex.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Well, that's the first time he's done that. Is there
no one else out there? Is there any other shout
out for someone?
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Is anyone?
Speaker 4 (42:11):
Does anyone come close to Joey? That's what we'd like
to know.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Willie Masonwcastle. I've got a great relationship with Mace. We
sort of come through. He was a bit older than me,
but we played by my first year Hna Marinas in
the junior team and we always had good fun together.
Mace in all those camps that we played together, and
then when he come to Newcastle. It's good to see
him finish off some of his foot back at Newcastle
(42:35):
where he kind of missed out and all that pathways.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
Really yeah, yeah, of course.
Speaker 4 (42:40):
I love that video of him where I think Fox
League make him up at the newer game and he's
just putting on a show.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
You know, he was off contract, that's why he talking
to himself for his next girl. But it was funny.
Speaker 4 (42:53):
He was just like he knew the camera's running the
whole time. He's on the sideline going, get Wayne to
get me back out of here, get Cold, get Waye
to get back out.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Then he's entertainment. Plus he and Scope are doing really
well testes Scopes and impressive gone yeah really really just
dad or his uncle?
Speaker 3 (43:09):
Yeah, I just.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Got it wrong. Bradman gets du occasionally.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
Fellas last word. Do you you've got the test results?
Speaker 3 (43:17):
Yeah? Test results here. So they do a cross check
with like.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Generally they do it with the system that has people's
DNA in general, so a lot of the people are
people that have been locked up before. Here it is
here we go, Oh who's Matt.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
Hoy That form of drug taking surfer. I was talking
about the surfing, Appreciate it mate, loved her brother great
on
At Kurt getting the captaincy, like, and we just spoke
about before, how did you to go from being playing
alongside a bloke like Joey to then all of a
sudden you're the skipper?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
How how was that transition?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Yeah, it was again in the challenge, Maddie, I was
super proud number one, but I had like I had
Joey as my long term captain. Billy Pedon was sort
of co captain during that phase as well, like another legend,
super super great blow can play our bill as you know.
And then Joey retired and Beusy was captain and both
those boys were captain of New South Wales, so Bezzy
(00:36):
went to the UK and then I sort of stepped
into the captaincy role under Brian Smith and held it
until twenty fifteen until I retired at the night Sense.
So yeah, I had Steve Simpson Simpson as my offside
I Simo was older than me and more experienced than me,
and he was a wonderful clubman. Cimo was one wonderful
player and good, good, strong leader as well, so I
(00:58):
know I want to check him with sim out to
make or he was okay with that because I was
kind of looking up the simer at that stage, but
I enjoyed, Yeah, the responsibility of being the captain of
my hometown number one in the community. I understood that,
you know, I played an important role in the community
and given back to the town that supported us as
(01:18):
a term and you know, obviously at its challenging moments
through tough times as well being the front the frontman
for challenging times.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Was it Wayne the major captain?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
It was Brian Smith.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Brian Smith, Wayne or right? That the period where your captain.
What an amazing time to be captain too, where you've
got all of a sudden, there's Bonaire coming into the
club and they're getting and they've they've got Wayne Bennett.
And I remember at the time people were saying, I
think Wayne was there for three years or whatever it was.
(01:48):
And someone was asked once in the media, how many
Grand Finals do you think the Knights are going to
win in the next five years, And these people were saying,
legitimately anything from three. Someone was saying, I reckon, we'll
win five in a row. That was the expectation that
must have That must have been a heavy weight, Yeah,
it was, and it wasn't realistic.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
You know, we still had to bring new players in
like Block, Bo Scott and Jeremy Smith at the stage, Yeah,
Darren so and like I was, I was fallback for
long term at that stage. And you know, I probably
played my best footage during that year from Bryan Smith
O seven to twenty twelve and was playing for New
South Wales and Australia. So Wayne was coming and Wayne
(02:27):
had taken Darius to Saints from Brizzie and from He's
obviously going to bring him to Newcastle. So I wasn't
sure where I was going to fit into the team.
I thought, you know, it's probably going to get pushed
to five eight and or half, which half wasn't my position,
but Jared Mullum was was five eight, so I kind
of I've got mixed feelings around that time, Like from
(02:48):
twenty twelve thirteen fourteen, I just didn't feel super confident
in my position of the team. Daris was playing fullback.
I thought I was playing my best footy there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I had some.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Major injuries too. I had recall on my shoulder. I've
done liszt Frank in both feet. Oh yeah, on my
right foot rehabbit it came back, got tackled up at
Brisbane at sun Corps and rupture them a list. Frank
completely was out for the years, so I had two.
There were major injuries physically but psychologically. To come back
(03:21):
from the foot one was hard, and just having confidence
back on my left shoulder after Rico was hard because
I'd sort of missed you two pretty big chunks of
those seasons. It was probably the biggest challenge during my
free crew of those those few years.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Funny, I was noting our talking to Johnny Lewis about
an hour ago, you know, the old boxing Chraine just so,
and we're talking about he was talking about, you know
who's going to who I think is going to coach
the Gold Coast next and Newcastle just loves his robil
league Johnny, And then we're chatting about different stuff and
he said, you know, Maddie, you know they oftentimes they
(03:58):
go for the super coaches, but mate, you know that
even Jae Gibson got sacked once. I mean Jack got
sacked from South's end up going on to playing coaching
PARAMOUNTA and winning three in a row and you know,
like the greatest coach of all time with Balliak and Wayne.
But sometimes the greatest coaches go to clubs and it
just for whatever reason doesn't work. Why Like with Wayne,
(04:21):
why didn't it work? Wayne left when he still had
a year to go, but he put his hands up
and just said, I can't make this work.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I don't know. I felt the first introduction to Wayne
in his team like it was a big shift in
staff number one sort of. Wayne came to Newcastle, brought
all his staff and I remember the first meeting it
was like everything he's had done previously, he's fucking not
working and rubbish now. Kind of that. I didn't think
that was very respectful for the town and the team
because there were certain staff members in the club doctors
(04:53):
for example, and team managers and that type of thing
that were well respected in our club and our community,
and I didn't think they got off to a great
start Sharan respect to the to the history of the
club and that that shifted over over that first year.
The second year actually was was a pretty pretty good year.
(05:13):
We beat Melbourne at Melbourne first semi and then went
to Sydney Foe Stadium bes He's last every game got
knocked out by hard Graves. That so that that was
kind of the dagger of the heart, like our spiritual
leader ko in the first few minutes and got beaten
that that second round of semi finals. So the second
year was I would say a successful one. The last
(05:37):
one fucking really hard, like Tinks was going under. Wayne
had already announced he's not sticking around for his last
year of his girl and Alex McKinnon broke his neck
again And as your brother, I'm captain, and I just
felt like emotionally, Argon was the hardest year for me.
Is our team, our town, Alex you out on the
(06:00):
field when the Alex McKinnon incident happened. No, I was.
I was playing hooker and and I was off on
the sideline at that stage, and like it was, it
broke our heart that year because there was just a
lot of shit going on off the field and then
and then Alex's injury happened.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And side never a cavert off that.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
No, no, we I don't know if that was yeah,
I think I don't know if that Yeah, that was
the year we beat Melbourne after the bell and that
was a game where you kicked the goal from the sideline. Yeah,
but I just that was that was the end moment.
But like that was a game where I just thought,
like our fiends were really supporting us. They understood how
(06:40):
tough we're going through that year Alex's injury, and that's
the best times when the Knights fans are super loyal,
Like during the tough times five we got Wooden Spoon,
We'll get my twenty twenty two thousand of the game.
And that year they understood and they recognized that we
need to support and that Melbourne game we we we
(07:00):
had to give him something back and it.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Was a good, good comeback.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
That's like, like Alex talks openly about.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
It about the injury. I can't remember where I was,
but I remember words starting to filter through during that
game that hey, this is bad. When did when did
the club you're sorry? When did the players become aware
of hanging on like with Alex, Alex, this is really
(07:30):
really serious, life threatening.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
We went on that was in Melbourne, and we got
the bus past the hospital and kind of we knew
at that stage that was that was looking bad and
he hadn't had any feeling in his arms or his legs,
And then the aftermath of that was we'll just I
don't know, I just I lost sort of feelings really
(07:53):
around just we're lost, will be broken at that stage
and it yeah, yeah, it was really hard on whe
from because way Alex, he still has a great relationship
with with Alex and his mom and dad. He brought
him to Newcastle and it was it was tough on Wayne,
it was tough on Matt the CEO chief was chairming.
(08:13):
I think at that stage and you think about like
getting yourself up to games physically and mentally, that's a
that's a rollercoaster ride in itself. So just trying to
get yourself up to play foota again and compete for
the rest of the year, that was that was a
real challenge.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I can only imagine private ownership is private ownership can
be fantastic for a club most point. Most time it
is they bring they bring money and they're very smart.
People don't bring know how, et cetera, et cetera. But
it just fraught with danger in the fact that you know,
a person can take a club and all of a
sudden make it their own kingdom or try attempt to
(08:50):
make it their own kingdom. Where with Nathan Tankler like
how there must have been some really difficult periods where
even I hear that he and Wayne were button heads.
He wanted the side to play a certain way. It
was at the first game his play where he came
in the sheds, yeah and talk about it.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yeah. I think he tried to come on the sheds
a couple of times in our free manager of Warren
smiles that had to pull them Mark because he'd been
on the piece and that sort of thing too. So
like he had huge success financially in mining and doubled
down on it twice and become a billionaire, like very
quickly over a billionaire. It was valued at that stage
when he owned the club. So he wanted instant success
(09:29):
with his footy team as well, and so he wasn't
very patient with any of that. Look at the horse
racing as well. He was paying millions and millions of
dollars for horses that weren't worth that some.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Races, and his horses in the races of the country
country meetings.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah. Yeah, So he wanted instant success in his Patnak
farm and horses and race cars and footy team, and
he bought the jets as well. So he was very
passionate and meant well because he wanted to support the
town and the teams that he he loved, but he
wanted success instantly and he got frustrated with that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Did he dress aside much?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
No, I didn't address a side much. I wouldn't say
he came in during those. He didn't come in and
address the team before the game. During the game, he'd
be a round. But yeah, the occasional text message got
flattered out there.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Like a pump up text message, probably a pumped down.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Let's let's go over to some of the There's someone
you mentioned before, Jared Mullen, some of the characters in
those Newcastle sides, because I actually played with Mullow's Ye
Turning Point he played. I think he debuted with Joey
and then in his last really ever game he played
after the band he come played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
We played together. Mullows. He's playing lock then he was
(10:48):
quite he was quite large and in charge, quite strong.
But some of the characters in those Newi sides, because
you had a hell of a lot of them. Adam McDougall, Oh, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Is there at one stage Jeremy Smith, like Booze, Mark Hughes, Yeah,
Buk even Joey Beds beds on his beds at his best,
you know, when he's when he's got the blubber on. Yeah,
unreal from from like two thousand and one, you know,
until I played twenty fifteen at the Knights, like super
(11:21):
diverse character, our coup legend great. I see him dancing
around the shed's big smileing face, always happy and and
and you know, super great for Tim Brah. But then
like to that early two thousands era, Madi Passons, even
the pass that was like our dad, you don't know,
I used to stir pass up all the time and
he did. He give us a clip if we were if
(11:43):
we're pushing pushing it too hard. But it was an
awesome era, that's for sure, those early two thousands, because
it was that old school train hard, play hard, straight
at the board, big night. I mean sometimes we'll be
getting cabs straight to the unit university pool out of
the cab to do a pool session, recovery, recovery. Daniel
Abraham look Quigley pretty pretty well.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
It's the kind of Newcaster is the kind of town
where if if the side's going good, like it's, it
would be the most fun of your life. Right, like
going around for a beer. But imagine if the size
is not going good, you're probably you're probably keeping your
head down.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Right.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
They're great support, they're great supporters, but yeah, but probably
a way more away from the from the game. They'll
let you know about it, Yeah, for sure. And it's
a very Newcastle thing. Good you know, good working class towns.
It's a little bit like you know, if Coop you're
if you you've won ten in a row and your
fire and Elvis, You've got to walk past a building
site and now go fucking John.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Who do you think you are? Mate, You're strutting around.
It's all lost around the corner.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
But even they yeah they pull out mate, Jeezu, you
are real good on the weekend mate. Sorry, we're trying
to prove next week. My pop was the best mate.
Like my pop, he worked at b HP for his
whole life and I talked from my teenage years right
through till I retired. Pop was just super honest. Nobody
got on the weekend there, mate, You need to work
(13:09):
in your defense. You missed a couple of tackles.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Just blame it.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yeah, I think it can come like your parents are
always well. I don't know. Parents are always super supportive
and probably try to protect you a bit, but I
think my pop and certainly your grandparents they could probably
be a little bit more honest than brutal.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Well, because they're older, Like it's almost like they just
cut through the bullshit. It's like they're sick of small talk.
They've had enough small talk in their life, so they're
happy to to tell you exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
How it is. State of Origin, great memories there. Who
was the coach in the first Origin series?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I had? Graham Murray debuted me. Oh muz, it's not
longer with us, but yeah, again, super proud of making
my debut. And again I didn't think that was realistic
when I first started playing you certainly for junior days
and the nights, but you know, I got picked for Country,
picked me for Country vers City. Imagine was assistant coach,
(14:04):
had Sticky as well during that, and then yeah, Graham
Murray providing a sky Blue debut seven, and then I
was with Bellie.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
How old you are there when you met your debut?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Like mid twenties, Oh yeah, mid twenties and twenty four
maybe something like that. And then yeah, the following year,
so I'd only been captain for half a year at Newcastle,
Bedsy gone to the UK and then Craig Bellamy made
me captain of New South al What was that? I was, Yeah,
I got like, yeah, really proud of representing sky Blue
(14:38):
sort of twelve times and was captain five times. And
you know Belly was the one who selected me amongst
all the players that we were playing with on those
games to be captain. So but you know, I got
mixed emotions around my time at Origin. We come through
obviously a pretty dominant coins end era. Most of the
Australian team was the coins end. There was me utility
(15:01):
on the bench, there was Gail Birdie and Louis as
the back rollers in the Australian team, and the rest
of the team mc cooincy. So that's a fair indication.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
That that first two thousand and seven series. And I'd
worked with Billy eight before, so I knew sort of about
Billy A's intensity and I'd dealt with it and seen
how we worked with the players. But I'd also seen
how people like Cameron Smith and Billy Slater could diffuse
a bit of that and how they took it. Whereas
he goes into a team no one's barely been coached
by Craig Bellyman before. And I remember before the game
(15:34):
running into Joey, and Joey was one of the assistants
and he was ashen faced, like he was terrified at
Billy A And I think as no one really understood him,
and everyone took his intensity at face value.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
So I liked that many like I sort of thrive
on that. I love him as my coach, Sticky, those
guys super passionate and like called it as it is,
and that was sometimes harsh and very high discipline and aggressive.
But I like that. I like that played on a
Joey kind of who's like that as a player, very direct.
(16:07):
So yeah, but you know I did. I did love
my time under belly that's for sure. But I can understand,
like we have blokes like Hainesy, and Haines is off
with the fairies. You know, he doesn't train at high
intensity like unbelievable player, one of the most talented I've
played with and against. But wrestling sessions and fitness and
discipline and those video sessions, you know, some guys it's
(16:30):
just snaky and they can't they can't stay focused for
those sessions which frustrated Belly. I know it probably me
as well, but I enjoyed that type of coaching style.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
So when you're because the most famous part of probably
your captaincy right is your Belly puts you to the bench,
but you stayed as captain. And I remember at the
time it was it was quite a big thing going.
So they've put Kurt on the bench, but you, Skipper,
what what were the conversations you and Bell around?
Speaker 3 (16:59):
I remember pretty clearly, really, I mean the captain from
the bench. It was a scene next to my name
on the team sheet when I was on the bench.
Hainsey was on fire that year nine, I think it was,
and like he was, he was unbelievable. So I was
fullback for game one, I think it was just Game
one and Haines. We were bringing Hainsey off the wing
for these black sets because we wanted to get him involved,
(17:21):
and Joey said, we need more involvement from Hainsey. We
can't just leave him out on the wings, so we
needed to bring him into the middle and that was
working well because it was dangerous, but it never I
knew and Belly knew, and the pressure from the outside
was probably Hainesy need to play a full needs to
play fullback, and I was all, we want to win
the game one, we need the best player and the
best position. So yeah, for game I don't know whether
(17:42):
it was two or three, Belly come and spoke to
me about pushing me to the bench and bringing Haines
to the full back and I'm like, yeah, sweet, let's
let's get the best team out there. And he said, well, man,
I still want years captain because you're only going to
start fifteen to twenty minutes on the bench, then you're
coming on for the rest of the game. And I'm like, yeah,
I don't know, is it going to bring a bit
of pressure and just be another headline? But he was
(18:04):
pretty firm and didn't want to take the captain captaincy
off me and wanted my leadership, you know, in two
meetings and training sessions in during the game for that
sixty minutes. So it become more of a headline than
probably what we what we needed at the stage, and
in tisight, it just it just become a distraction, I guess.
(18:25):
But again, I'm not going to challenge one of the
best coaches in the game again I'm very honored to
be captain and for Craig to keep me as captain.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah, well, and he's right, you're on there after fifteen minutes.
It's just the nature of state of origin. Yeah, is
that anything that happens that could happen at club level?
Your nice captain begin to start from the bench. It
might be a byline, yeah, but when you were headline
New Southwest, state of origin captain and staff from the
bench just explodes.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And like we had Bas Trent Barrett in camp for
that one, and Bas was a great leader and you know,
five or so years older than me, he plays State
of Origin play for Australia, so you know his leadership
was awesome in camp team meetings. So yeah, Bads lead
the team out and we didn't make too much of
a fuss of it internally, but obviously you know they're
drawing it.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
It's almost one of the things though similar to like
similar to Aaron Woods come out and calling Billy say
to a grub, you you give you give the Queensland
to something that they can kind of run with as motivate.
You know what it's like inside a team you can
sit there and they could cameras with could get up
and go right, They've dropped their captain to the bench
like you know, they're they're scared of us. Yeah, they're scared.
(19:35):
They're turning on each other. What I've taken from that is,
and I've just written it down, is Craig Bellam He's
got no fucking idea.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
It's not going to work. He will never be in
an elite cach.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I love my time with Billy.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Now the other big moment, Coop, you want to talk about?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
Oh yes, okay, so another big one in State of Origin? Right,
I can't remember exactly what happened in the game. Remember
it was quite a fiery State of Origin game. A
couple of blokes got sent off and White had hit.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah but what knocked out Steve Price in Prices Last
of Origin.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
That's right, that's right, yeah yeah, And it was yeah,
yeah yeah, And did someone get tackled or something?
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Well, they won the first two games, so we would
going to sun Court and we you know, we wanted
to play well, we wanted to kind of ruin their
party win the game. And obviously he's still a bit
of pride still in New South Wales, so that was
kind of our game plan. We we It was obviously
a big crowd up there, and and and yeah it
was Stephen Price's Last of Origin game, which I think
ha Burne announced and one on one's think we dominated
(20:35):
to that game and beat them pretty convincingly. And one
on one's think broke it out between Whitey and Pricey
and it was all one on one thrashing. And then
Whitey gets one straight on his chin, completely cooding. But
just as he's hitting, Trent Waterhouse come flying in and
it looked like that House might have been third and
in coot him as well. Fucking kicked off big time
(20:58):
because Whitey was licking his lips on the big screen
and had blood come and smile licking his lips. We
had he was justin Paul did he like grab him
by the jumper and drop him. So yeah, that was
all on the big screw. And the crowd has gone bananas,
and so are the coins and blogs. So Hodges died
a milesy so kicked off big time. House got ten
(21:20):
in the bin. And then I'm at full back, probably
thirty meters away from the We're an attack about twenty
meters away, and I'm seeing the penalty is going to
go to them chat how sin bind. I'm like, fuck,
this is on again now. So I thought they're getting
the penalty, and I can see Smithy talking and Locky
and Locky back, and I'm like, they're going to give
(21:40):
us the paw here, which is probably fair enough. And
then I've since heard it was a miscommunication. Smithy has
tapped it. I'm forty meters away. I've had nothing to
do with the scrap.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
You're also like the nic like the nicest guy.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
I eight nine tops and had a fair relationship with
the coins and blokes in this camp. And I'm like, fuck,
they're going to kick the fucking bomb of me here,
all right, right here, fuck youse, let's go. So I
thought number one, I need to catch the bomb like
the big crowd. I don't want to embarrass myself. I've
got to just think my technique as I'm hearing like
(22:13):
thirteen queens and it's just screaming like stamped coming down
at me, and it's going to kick off again. And
I remember my old being used to always say before
I used to play elbows up what you're breathing, basically,
get your fucking elbows up and protect your head, and
I thought, that's that's what I need to do here,
and they're coming hard. So I caught the ball, returned
it and there was just head highs and I'm at
(22:35):
the bottom of the pack. I think I had hold
of first and or someone just to keep everyone closed,
and it was just a chaos on top of me
and then just all kick off again, more scraps and
more sin bins and that was the end of the game.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
My favorite thing is that I remember so all the
Blues boys came in to help you, help you, and
poor Benny Craye probably the biggest moment.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
We really appreciate you bringing this up again. He's not dead.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
That look at the sky was dead to me. He
runs over and gives Justin Hodges a shove and then
just just comes after him and many Craig must have
just been on instinct starts running backwards and runs behind
the post. But the footage of it, Mate, he got
poor bloke, he got hammerd for it. So what so
(23:19):
what was the miscommunication?
Speaker 3 (23:23):
I'll play kangaroos with those boys at the back end
of that year and they come up and apologize and said, mate,
Lockie was telling me to give the ball back to
you is like tap tap it Smithy and just roll
it to him and then let them play the ball
and then we'll kick off on him now and Smith's going, sweet,
I'll get the ball that tapped it bombed to me.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
No, they come up, yeah you said, and I've.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Seen I think if someone sent me a podcast maybe
locket again Thurst and Rong and like they were like
it wasn't meant to go to kids. The kids. We
got on with the kids and he's the smallest guy
and the team and anyway we we sorted it out.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Amazing it. Your memory is playing for Australia all those yeah,
great memories.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
I just again, I didn't think it was realistic, you know,
as a younger fellow, even when I first started playing
first grade to play for Australia and used to wait
me and my brother's up when kangaroo tools were on,
which you would have been planning, so we'd be up
at three or four am in the family land room
watching you know Sticky and those and Freddie and Mail
during that era. Like a great memory as a kid.
(24:27):
So I remember singing the national anthem. So we debuted.
There was like six of us. I think like all
day bood in Wellington against New Zealand, like me Israel
Birdie that's right, Cooper.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Kronk, that's right. So one where Gas gets knocked out
really bad.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Yep, yep, yeah, so I come on and play center
like early. So I was a utility for all but
one game for Australia and the only time I get
on was if someone get injured. Early Tati Dunne his
knee once Gas got ko, so I had to be
on first half sometimes, which is so I've got good
game time, but unfortunately was at the cost of someone else.
(25:04):
So we had five bogus, five or six pokes day Billin.
Ronnie Palmer's head trainer, Ronnie Legend for team Rale and
just far and enjoyment. So Ronnie goes, no, we got
five blots day Bill. And so in the team room
after dinner one night, we're going to make sure we
know the national anthem and like, yeah, we sung it
as a kid at school, but it wasn't the coolest
thing to do. So we all stood around and sung
(25:25):
the national anthem like half a dozen times to make
sure we all knew it and sung it passionately and
I'll never forget that Ronnie. Ronnie got us doing that
and you know, to sing the national anthem before the game,
arm in arm wearing the green and gold like it
was amazing.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
And should be still the pinnacle of the game. It's
just it's just a fact at the moment the state
of origin is so big that it has become the pinnacle.
But still I maintained international football, representing your country should
be the pinna.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
I think emotionally it definitely definitely is the intensity of origin.
The biggest stage is definitely Origin, but representing your country
for all those guys who are now playing for Pacific Nations,
super proud. It's good.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
It's good to see that, like because obviously back when
you guys played, particularly against New Zealand and England, those
tests were brutal and it was competitive. It's probably less
competitive these days as much as it was back then.
But I have a theory that I think they're going
to do it with the NRLW actually, but I'd like
to see it with the guys that you don't If
you don't get picked in Australia, it doesn't matter if
(26:30):
you're you know, half Kei. We if you're half English,
like Victor Radley had to basically say, well, okay, I
won't play Origin to go play for England if you're
not picked in the squad of twenty five whatever they
take over. I reckon, you should just be able to
play for whoever, because in those in the in the series,
in the Try Series or World Cup at the end
of the year. That way you've got the best players
in the NRL and the Super League all playing, rather
(26:51):
than you might have blokes like you know, Victor Radley
who weren't able to play when they could have been.
They can play at that elite level. Yeah, you think
it's a possible, but little.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Do I reckon, I think it is cook it's a
mess at the moment. Tier one, tier two we've got
it where I actually believe that countries like Tong at
the moment, with the way the rules are with Origin,
in the fact that Origin players can play for Tier
two nations, I don't want Summer and Tong are hopping
out of Tier two.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
I want them to stay at the moment.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Because players should be able to play like it, should
be able to play for those for their for their nations,
like that their Pacific Nations and I think it's really
really important. And it's funny about in the national football
Kurk Kok anyway, mix your brothers up all the time,
father son anyway, interesting to see what you think.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Mate.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You can play State of Origin right, But I'm telling
you the hardest game you will ever play is when
you turn up to play New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
And they're one.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
When they are made, I'm telling you there's no The
physicality is unbelievable. And I played the Try Nations in
ninety nine Try Nations.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Final in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
It was, without doubt, by far, the hardest game we've
ever played in my life.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
It was so fucking brutal.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Tough and aggressive, that's for sure. You knew you had
to hold your gloves up for sure, tough.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Can I ask you before we go off foot you
we're going to talk about Everest. You guys, you and
dad walked to Markhughes Foundation Everest to got some good
touris on that. But lastly, playing with your brother back
to your brother, Matt Gidley, I've always thought this, didn't know,
Maybe it's a stupid question. Probably is following Matthew and
Andrew the John's brothers, right, because you're and the Rudders
(28:30):
and the Kamalia and the Rudders and the Kamali. Sure,
but following you guys, because it's a rare thing to
play with your brother anyway in first grade is rare
thing to play against your brother, rare thing to have
brothers in the NRL, for you guys to play for
your hometown Newcastle. But to follow you know, Matthew and
Andrew is that is that a high pressure sort of thing?
Like is that something that you parayed on you guys a.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Little bit or do you junior? Fully? I guess there
was some comparisons with you know, you're playing lot Matt,
and did you only get a start because your brother?
That type of thing? But we would different players like
Matt was. Matt was a five eight to start with
then pushed the center and I was a different player
to Matt. Matt was more naturally skillful for sure than me.
Like his footwork and that that flick pass he had
(29:12):
a great combination with all his winning his carnee.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
You know, dous, you know you've had an impact when
they named something else. Still to this day, if someone
does that reverse.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Flick, they always go to Gidley ma.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
He just he had the wingers being boozled, you know,
they do the stay out and you go himself or
they bought in and he just flickered. Had great wingers
that could just finish.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
The one we.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Played, we beat some George George, that's out at the
moment that footage off the scrum.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
You threw the ball off the to Darren Albert.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
But he went, he went, He done me. He went
around the back of the winger, flicked it. Now we
just pinned him.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
They got named number one game of the nineties.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
That's a Frost Sports did it and last play the game,
last player of the game.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
And just excuse my ignorance, but was he the first
obviously named the Gidla flick because it was so iconic
and he was so good at it, But were many
centers doing it before. Maddie or.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Matt was probably doing it first. Gas was the next
best best at Mark Gas now yep, and they probably
come through similar time. But I never seen my brother practice.
They'll stick around after train and doing that practice. I've
never seen any practice that ever, And that's why it
came really naturally to him. Footwork. He try and get
on the outside of his center. If the winger stayed out,
he'd hold hold in.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
That because it's every center has to put Miles would
do it.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
But Gene Miles was more of a basketball over the top.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
Reverse you know who was Erican Mary McGregor was probably
before Matt, but he was again, probably was bigger, so
he was probably able to wrestle his way through those
and offload te Kurt.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
In season ninety nine, we played a trial game. I
don't know for again, I don't know it was paramatter
or someone else, but we played a trial game and
we're just because it was trial game. Well, loosey, goosey,
were just playing sideline the sideline. Your brother set up
two tries to fellow called Lenny Beckett on the sideline
mate and went bang, we're throwing it from a fast side.
He just went bang held and I'm not kidding. He
(30:59):
was throwing those about twenty twenty five meters and hitting
Lanny right on the chest. It was just it was incredible, and.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
I think Matt Matt comes through as a half like
that year ninety seven, I think you when Joey were
out for a while, it was Matt and who picked
up through the middle part of the year, so we.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Don't we don't win a comp without those guys. And
unfairly to your to your brother, I think it might
have been one of the first semi finals. He went
and broke his ankle.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, yep, you did too, Yeah, sosed mister GF. But
he was only pretty young that stage. We've got the
one in the final.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Hey Mark used track because we had boozy on a
few weeks back. But he dad and him were telling
yarns about it because you were pretty freshly retired that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Yeah, I'd flown from the UK, flowing my family back
to Newcastle, bought them a car, packed my bags again,
flew straight to every space camp. The first time I've
seen all these boys in two years. So my brother
Hughesy Russell Richardson got yourself, Maddie chief. So I was
a pete fitness, I guess.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
And how did you hand it? Because you would have been
a better nick than these blokes.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
How did you have it? It was hard. You had
lots of self doubt because they do that oxygen reading
every night. Your oxygen levels are going down plays with
your head psychologically, and then your short of breath, getting
a few headaches and like I'm struggling here, and so
played a little bit on your head. But then your
body adapts to it. Then you're good for the next day,
(32:25):
next couple of days. But our preparation wasn't as professional.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Tip top was it?
Speaker 4 (32:31):
What a lot of drinking.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
Our first day in Catman do. We sat around a
pool just necking beers and we had a bit of
a circle type ceremony where we spoke about the y
and the passion and the goal I suppose. Then we
went for a feed.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
And then the guy was like, who's run?
Speaker 1 (32:49):
It goes right our boys, I probably think you've had
too much already, you.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Know, it's trying to go back. And I was like,
fuck that, mate, not Catman do every day.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
So we went.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
So we went found a carry out enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
I ducked off it, you know. I thought there's got
to be a karaoke joyt somewhere around here, and found
someone to take me around and it was upstairs, this
little shifty area, and found a karaoke race back and said, boys,
let's let's go. It's on And yeah, we had twenty
eight likes. Something that we knew something we didn't played
folly with and yeah karaoke you were up first thing.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Maddie, Yeah, yeah, I remember.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
What you so, yeah, shuffle that's what you always was
that the first time?
Speaker 4 (33:33):
But would they know? Would they have known that song?
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Well?
Speaker 1 (33:36):
I remember your brother saying that as you kind of
he heard the song and I fucking fucking where's that?
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Where's that song coming from? And he said, oh mate,
how bad is that Blake's voice?
Speaker 3 (33:47):
So I put my name for a song. I get
up there thinking ass song. I ducked behind the curtain.
I come back out. I'm topped up at this day.
I come back out nude, totally nude.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
The Memberlieves didn't know quite what to make of it.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
What did they made? The trek still locked up and
capt me.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Just totally naked?
Speaker 5 (34:11):
And what that?
Speaker 4 (34:11):
What was the response from the Nepalese Like did they just.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Yeah, he was a hero, he was up on shoulders, dude?
Speaker 4 (34:20):
What right? So then so you have that big night
and then do you guys track the next day?
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Mate? The flight was the scariest flight in moment of
my life. How bad was.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
It going in to look?
Speaker 3 (34:32):
Is it locally? Airport? They've now closed the airport, you
can only chopper in and chopper out. We flew in.
The runway is built in the side of the mountain.
When you leave, you just fly off there a cliff.
It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
So when you leave, do you essentially do you go
down before you.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Go goes downhill? And then it just drops off and
the plane just completely off a cliff. It's the most
dangerous take off and in the warning place in the world.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Do they have they had any crashes there before?
Speaker 3 (34:58):
You know who sent me your photo. Breezey went there
and done it, and he'd done a few years before us,
and then he sent a fight out to his flight.
The flight when they landed, they didn't make the air
strip and just crustright on the side of the cliff.
It was the same plane that breathe went on, fuck it.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
But Jenna, Kurt, what about because we were just saying
we'll finished. There been certain circumstances we will come back
to about how quick everyone was, and we just want
to get out of there and get back to Catman
Do and have a few beers and just relax and
then go home. And there was a massive fog on
and they're like, oh, we don't know we can flight.
We're in the choppers and they didn't have the monitoring devices.
(35:36):
It was pretty like pretty basic. And they're like, oh,
we don't think we can do it. And then one
of them said, oh, how bad do you want to
get back? We really want to he said, okay, And
I'm standing in the watchers. The first helicopter goes off
into a cloud and literally another chopper came out of
a cloud.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
I remember that.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Oh it was nearly a head on first because we'd
all got the base camp, we'd hit the goal and
gone to that next little spiked.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
We just we're getting the chopper back down through the
through the valley to then fly off the edge of
the cliff one and we just wanted to get back
and just be safe by then A get back to
cap and a.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Lot of blakes. We're in a bit of trouble.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah, three boys got flying straight to the hospital. You've
been one And I remember that chopper that near miss,
and we got in. We were the last chopper at
the second stop, Me and Hughsey plus god O and
a few of the boys. They stack heaps of stuff
in the choppers, just throw all this equipment in to
get it back down, and we're sitting there. I'm in
the front seat next to Hughsey the choppers going you
(36:34):
get you feel the revs going up and all the
gauges are going up and we're not moving. It keeps
going up, keeps going up, and then the pilot of
the crossed us goes very heavy, very heavy, husay, and
I going get us off. We'll get the next one. Anyway.
It takes off and gets us back there.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
But it was unbelievab.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
We were all watching the first one go going beauty
were away, and as it goes into one cloud, another
one comes out, probably twenty meters.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
But Kurt, I remember with you. We were we did.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
That the last track after we hit base camp and
we went too much and we did too much. And
I was telling Cooper before I said, we were walking
back and you just retired right, and you're known as
one of the fittest players ever played. And I'm walking
alongside you and I'm going, mate, I'm feeling fucking really,
(37:24):
I'm feeling really weirdy, really bad. And there was all
of a sudden, this horse is brought across the salt
plane and it's just like it's like a ghost horse,
and I going, am I fucking hallucinating? And I looked
to you and you're fucked. And then behind us a
couple of boys started to pissing themselves, and that's where
we went back and went, mate.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
Yes, I remember that foot. We didn't know whether the
horse was real, like we were damn, we're flat. Well,
altitude was hitting us and we'd hit the goal, so
you know, we're just emotionally we're starting to drop and
it was just barren area and this white horse was
just sort of walking next to us, just cruise and
we're like, is that real?
Speaker 4 (37:59):
So they have wildhorse was up there?
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Yeah. And then then we went into the teahouse and
we're sort of relaxing and having a beer or two.
Then all of a sudden, one of the boys drops, yeah,
starts vomiting, and then he just collapses and Crowey passes.
They actually go, shit, I haven't seen crow for a
little bit. I run back to the room. Crowy sound asleep,
but you go now you've got to get him up.
Dragged him up, they took him into the teahouse, put
(38:22):
him on oxygen because he was so.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Low all night.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
So we started in Kaptan and do without oxygen. Oxygen
gentlemen or whatever it.
Speaker 4 (38:29):
Is that they prick your blood.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
No, no, no, put the reading on your hand. You
go to the hospital. It was a ninety eight ninety nine.
Krow was down to fifty on that final night. Yeah,
so he was in big trouble. Remember our final hurrah
back at Kaptan were our chicken wings beers Crow. He's
in the hospital. We're bringing him.
Speaker 4 (38:48):
Oh that's that salt in the winter. So when you
finally got back, did you have a massive night? Did
you just rip in?
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Yeah? Yeah, sure did.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
And I imagine the food would have been good, right.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Food was good at that area, wasn't it?
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Mate? Cap Man Do is an amazing city.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
You're going along and it's just like it's it's like
it's unlike any city I've ever been to in my life.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
Remember the super third world butcher Butcher's blocks on the
edge of the streets and flies and that people everywhere,
and then the other area just super pretty markets and
clean food.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
But you know, it's and I've said this for one
of the on Tuesdays podcasts, was before I went There's
a bloke. There was a bloke he's an American guy.
Did a show on ABC and Channel seven called body Hack.
I'm trying to give his name.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
He's a terrific fella, he told me.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
When I was about to go, he goes, he guys,
I'll give you. I'll just tee you this now. He said,
when you fly to Catman do the first time, you'll go,
oh wow, this is this is a bit too much.
You know, it's a third world city, he said, which it is,
he said, But when you go and do the track
and then you come back to Catman, do it'll feel
like Monica fucking true. Yeah, wow, Yeah, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
The tiny mate, they're like sixty kegs and they carry
three bags, strap them all together, put a piece of
blanket over their head, lift them up and maybe a flying.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
One way going up like some of the toughest climbs
in the mountain, and you you're struggling, then all of
a sudden, a shirple will go past you. Taking greg
from one tea house to the next. They'll have a
dozen cartons of beer on their back, tied with a
piece of rope.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Blobs walking up there with fridges on a fridge, strapped
their back.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Are they so strong they used to it?
Speaker 3 (40:30):
They're not physically built big, but just lungs and endurance wise. Yep,
they're adapted to high altitude.
Speaker 4 (40:37):
And when you're up at these teahouses, like are they
selling you don't drink too much?
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Or yeah they were?
Speaker 4 (40:44):
And was that advice taken on board? Because hearing you guys,
you said, yeah, I wrap the tea house, having a
couple of beers and then one of the boys passes
out starts spewing everywhere, probably think like, is that a
mix between the altitude, the oxygen, and the amount of
grog you're drinking?
Speaker 3 (40:57):
CrowI coming on the back of like a three day
bender as well. He's no hydration. Then got the ships
and didn't have any of the tablets that you put
in for like to purefoy water. So he's just burning
the king at all. In Yeah, he was.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Getting whacked from every angle.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
Yeah, he's not exactly an epitome of health.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Now he's not.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Now is there anything or do moved? Do we conclude
now with Loan Survivor?
Speaker 4 (41:20):
Yeah, go Loan Survivor.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
To finish with we do a think called Loan Survivor.
I'm not a good very good at explaining it. So yeah,
he made an excellent hard So the one is to
best party animals play with her against Okay.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
So basically what's going to happen here is Kurt Dad's
going to start you off with two players. For example,
it might be Wendell Saylor and Lodi da Kiri. You
have to pick one of them, and then we go
down until there's one left and they will win the
category of best party animals you've ever played with.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Okay, you've got you've got the names, the name. Okay,
let's go lock in for this.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Red strap In, Ben Kennedy, Andrew Johnson, Joey. That's it.
Thanks for good I thought I'll start at the Apex.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Well, that's the first time he's done that. Is there
no one else out there? Is there any other shout
out for someone?
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Is anyone?
Speaker 4 (42:11):
Does anyone come close to Joey? That's what we'd like
to know.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Willie Masonwcastle. I've got a great relationship with Mace. We
sort of come through. He was a bit older than me,
but we played by my first year Hna Marinas in
the junior team and we always had good fun together.
Mace in all those camps that we played together, and
then when he come to Newcastle. It's good to see
him finish off some of his foot back at Newcastle
(42:35):
where he kind of missed out and all that pathways.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
Really yeah, yeah, of course.
Speaker 4 (42:40):
I love that video of him where I think Fox
League make him up at the newer game and he's
just putting on a show.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
You know, he was off contract, that's why he talking
to himself for his next girl. But it was funny.
Speaker 4 (42:53):
He was just like he knew the camera's running the
whole time. He's on the sideline going, get Wayne to
get me back out of here, get Cold, get Waye
to get back out.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Then he's entertainment. Plus he and Scope are doing really
well testes Scopes and impressive gone yeah really really just
dad or his uncle?
Speaker 3 (43:09):
Yeah, I just.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Got it wrong. Bradman gets du occasionally.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
Fellas last word. Do you you've got the test results?
Speaker 3 (43:17):
Yeah? Test results here. So they do a cross check
with like.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Generally they do it with the system that has people's
DNA in general, so a lot of the people are
people that have been locked up before. Here it is
here we go, Oh who's Matt.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
Hoy That form of drug taking surfer. I was talking
about the surfing, Appreciate it mate, loved her brother great
on
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.