July 26, 2024 • 46 mins
Raider Nick and Mal Meninga
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I've always been relaxed back in the Green, you know.
But you know, workers work, isn't it, you know so,
But you know it doesn't mean it doesn't mean I
don't I don't you know. I'm not passion not passionate
camera raiders, you know man. I always will be, you
know so. And everybody that's played Big Green Jersey will
We'll say that.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello, I rate an in here and look we've got
a nice episode, a bit of a reminiscent episode, if
you will. Of course, big news during the week that
Malmoninger has re signed back with the club on an
official capacity. Of course, Big mal always led Green, even
though he was wearing a Titans polo shirt for.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
A few years.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
He's back. So let's just sit back and relax and
enjoy my chat I had with Big Mau a few
weeks ago. Uncut this time and to see Malmoninger in
his full glory. Sit back and relax and listen to
this one. This is rated Nick at Night. Let's go
get it.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Now for the last time.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
At the Sydney Football Stadia. Malmaninger in the sixty six
games for can rap forty one test for Australia and
around him some superstars out for Probamunta.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Pushed on for Jason Smith and.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Decepted HOIMERINGA mc cragon pursers MC Dragon's.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
After the HAPs the drud rose.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
The crowd rus thead delight as the stadium captain score
was a try of the cran final not big Fella
against his own pleas of the Cap of Exile said
it all Canbra Rota.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Champion, Hello, Rating in here. Great to have your company
to this special occasion, this special edition of Rating Nick.
At night as we chat the thirteenth of Mortal malmoning
thirty years where were you back then? Were you even born?
And if you were, do you remember these moments? I
(01:52):
certainly do. What an outstanding afternoon it was at the
Sydney Football Stadium. There was a day to remember, Sid
I can enjoy part one of my chat with Malcolm
Norman BENNINGA.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Hey mal Yeah, good Nick, I'm fine mate.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Travel was good.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, travel is always good when you get there, mate,
that's it. Yeah, So it's ah, I thought, as bad
as everyone was making that to be, it must confess.
I got off the plane and it was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
You brought the weather from Camber because we've had a
good down here.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah, I know it's been great down Cambra.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Outstanding Malcolm Norman, Meniga. Great to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Now, Oh thanks mate, Thanks introduction. And I was never
part of the spine, but anyway we got the victory,
which was great.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Let's just say that you probably put a lot of
feed down spines of opposition with.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Well the bear Spine gave me a nice little pass
that I gave me a try, so I was pretty
happy with that.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
How does it feel to go back now it's been
three decades. I still remember it like it was yesterday.
A young kid growing up in Queen Ben. I had
signs and posters posted all over my house. I had
Mum cooking the green snow aksent all the family. Here
was a day Grand Final. I remember it like it
was yesterday.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah. What's it like for you now? Well it was.
It was a special day, you know, obviously my last
game in the New so Wels Rogby League Cup. Obviously
for the Raiders as well. So it was a special
day and for every thankful you know, the way the
team played, we're very good on the day, we trained
well all week. Everyone played their potential. I felt that
(03:26):
enabled me to go out of winter. So you know,
it was extremely primallegus and honored and I thank the
team and nearly every day mate, because that's the way
you want to retire from from our great game.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Do you believe in a higher power, a higher source?
After that weekend?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Well, I believe in the fact that when you put
the work and effort in, you get the reward. And
I felt that particularly, you know, I mean it's tough
to win the win a competition in the NRL, you know,
so it's really it's a tough game to play and survive,
you know, to the mid thirties is for me. I
(04:04):
was blessed and yeah, it's just just a you get
reward for the effort you put in. And I felt
that we were rewarded that day because of the effort.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
You mentioned about it's tough to just get to the
Grand final day and played in an era where we
played in many grand finals when a couple of premierships already.
We have that drama in ninety one with the salary
cap stuff. Now we lose a lot of play with
the league, have bleed a lot of players from the club.
All that coverage we had the Nigel Gaffies of the
World of David Barne because they all left as well.
We lose Lazo and Toddy, They Marki Bell, Paul Martin
(04:36):
huge and then ninety two was a bit of a rebuild,
but also suffered lots of injuries too. We didn't make
we didn't make the finals. It was a bit of
a rebuild. Sheensy and Lancey go to the Polynesian capital
and bring back a bunch of Pacific players no names
like Ruben Wiki and Johnny Lomax and Noah and the
late q pong Ea filled those gaps and then we
(04:57):
start ninety three with the bang. We're within the Challenge
up and it wasn't just winning that. She wasn't pre
season football. The Raiders were playing that. You were playing
some outstanding magic. In February, he's winning the preseason Challenge
and then by September you're beating the top four, the Broncos,
Manly St.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Georgie.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
You're putting thirty on these teams. Momentum was suggesting, now
we're going to win in ninety three.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, until Ricky unfortunately break his ankle. Just to card
and break his ankle. You know, it was it was
certainly it was a turning point and we struggled. Obviously
you fill that void. You know. It was the back
end of the year, you know, going to the finals
and no, you know, no sort of no, no captain
of the middle, you know, no captain, but I guess
(05:43):
off the off the back foot onto the front for
his great kicking game, great vision, you know. So we
did struggle, you know, off the back of that in
ya She's he tried mid fire five, that wasn't that
wasn't successful with it ended up getting beaten. I think
it was against the Bronx. I feel like just from memory.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And Dragons in week one, just yeah, I think Badge
even played seven and it was just one of those yeah,
a mix that we missed Ricky and then obviously the Broncos.
We fought hard against the Bronx, but it was we've bounds.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Gets right, you know. So you know, just one of
those one of those times where we didn't adjust and
adapt as quick as we could have, you know. But
you know, rick it was a huge miss, you know,
being out around that time of the year.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Something tells me that Cheanes he would have went away thinking, OK,
I need to learn how to win without rick if
that happens again, because by then he was suffering some injuries.
Had he had the stern, he had the sort of
the growing problems in ninety one, ninety two, and then
obviously ninety four roles around, and there was a point
in time in ninety four. Obviously we start the season
where we're winning games, and it clicked in a game
(06:47):
and you would have known yourself mainly for some reason, mainly,
for some reason, had the Wood on us, they could
beat us. Bruce that Clifford Lions would pully socks up
against us and just play wizardry performances ever since eighty seven.
There was a game in ninety four Laurie was out,
Ricky was out, so that was first time sheens. He
put Jason Croker at six, put Toots at six, and
(07:09):
then STEVEE Stone was playing, so we had our regular
origin halves out. Toots get sent off with the football
accidentally your bowing too. So we're down to twelve men
against Manly with no Ricky, with no Lorry, and we
put thirty on that day. Now we all walked away thinking, okay,
gi Lei's we're going to be hard to beat this
year because we've done that obviously without without Lorry, but
(07:32):
without Ricky as well.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, that game, well, yeah, I do, well, I do vividly,
you know, because you know lessons, don't you you know,
from the previous year years, and I think as opposed
to ninety three ninety four, you know, we're a year
older as well, you know. So you mentioned that the
Kiwi boys, now obviously they were starting to find their feet.
And then we had Allinson Croaker, well, you know, David Boyle,
(07:59):
all those good kids. Now, Dave Ferner obviously Toots was
he was sent off, but you know he we had
those players of another year older who were obviously trying.
I mean, they were better players, no doubt. So we're
a better foota team for sure. In ninety four we
could handle handle all that, you know. So yeah, and
we're supremely confident. And I think, you know, the other
(08:22):
motivating factor I talk I remember talking to the team
about it is that they were motivated because you know,
thankfully enough, they wanted to send me off a winner,
you know. So this this is the thing I talk about.
I'm always you know, fell honored and privileged and thankful
that you know, they they felt that, you know, they
needed to play well, you know for me and and
(08:46):
it proved that way. But you know we're much more
experienced footy team in ninety four.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
We'll touch on that week building up to the Grand
Final where the senior boys or box and Sticky and
laws all behind your back, got everyone ready to play
for you to send you out on a note. But
it really clicked in ninety four member a game against
the Sharks, who were you know, Johnny Lang led Sharks
team with any houses in there and young Matt Rodgers
and a decent football team that was pushing for finals.
(09:12):
You put fifty on them at home. And then not
long after that you got a Newcastle at Marathon Stadium,
which is always a tough place to win. You put
fifty on Newcastle at home. That was a big game
where Mulows went malos. You had a black grog, Gary
Belcher who was an international, and then I retis and
then you put Muloy's back at full back and where
you'd spent the next level.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah, well that's what I'm saying. Like you know, obviously
Badgs retired in ninety three. Unfortunately we couldn't send him
out a winner. But you know we had the Brett
Mullins and either Kenny Nagass no One and drukhu was
just not forget about no we had a great player.
He was They're just coming into their own and you know,
it was just one of those those years where you
(09:56):
know the team clicked. You know, we had great players
in all positions. Really, we had representative players in all positions.
You know, I often say I often say that, you know,
when you look at the team itself and you look
at the careers that all those players had, you know,
that was probably the best. What it is, it was
the best footing team I played in, club team I
(10:17):
played in my career. You know, I went sixteen years.
So there's no doubt that was the best side. And
it's kind of and it was sorry Nick, it was ruthless.
That's the other thing. It was so competitive and ruthles
because we learned lessons, you know, lessons in ninety ninety
three and obviously you know from the what happened in
ninety one. Yeah, we often talked about us and them
(10:39):
mentality us I mean out of Sydney, of course, you know,
so there was all that us and them mentality and
you know, they're doing things to prevent us from from
being successful. So you know, we knuck all down and
we built. We built a sort of a fortress and
we're very hard to beat at home. And you know,
(11:00):
we knew it had been confident enough that we could
win competitions.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
We we just pretty much the momentum was there. And
I mentioned that, you know, winning games without plays. You know,
Laurie was out, so Jason, so Tott Senior went into
six for a long back and back run of that year,
and we were just belting teams, just racking up big
scores that the machine was firing. We get into it,
We get into the finals and we played Norse in
Week one and we handled Norse pretty well, and Norse
(11:25):
were a fair football team. We found it really hard
to win the Norse in the Oval. Going to Stee
and play Norse, they were striving for their first Grand
Final and they were very entitled to be in the mix.
We beat them well and then we bounced into the
game the prelim against the Bulldogs and when you look
at look at it now, it's a it's a great
game to watch, but at the time it was the
(11:45):
loss that we maybe needed to reset.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
From memory. I don't believe in resetting, but you know, yeah,
I mean we had to do it the hard way
after that, you know, and we didn't lose it by much.
We didn't lose much in confidence. But you know, it
would have been good because like you said, you know, yeah,
carrying some more injuries for the from the the year
(12:11):
year year that's gone basically, so it would have been
good to have a rest. But just the way it
is in the toughest up footy teams. I remember the
prelim final, you know, we struggle to get through that.
We're we I think we started really well, but you know,
we struggled to be consistent and play out the eighty
minutes so and I think that was probably the the
(12:34):
awakening we wanted, you know, leading into the Grand Final
that week, you know that well, I think it was
against Norse again, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, played Noise again.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
So yeah, we played Noise again. So yeah it was
so yeah exactly, so we're very clunky, and I think
that was the awakening we needed, you know, to get
through that that final week.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
It was good end. I mean it was a clunky game.
I think Noise were up at some stage with obviously
that gorgeous backlim that you had put some late points
on to get that score back out the week leading
up to it, of course I mentioned Johnny. Of course
it was late. I had Ossie on here last week
and obviously they were trying to appeal the suspension and
they thought they were going to get off, but he
didn't get off. And then you get your coach, who
(13:18):
is probably one of the best coaches that ever ever
come to a regular league clipboard, and he says to you,
I want to start Paul Osborne, who hadn't played first
grade for a long long time. What was your thoughts
when he was going to start with Ossie?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Well, plenty of experience, I mean with Ossie. Obviously we
had a pretty young bench Dave Wesley, but Heatherington, those
type of guys are pretty pretty young. And I remember
talking a Enzy about it all and he thought it
was a good ployer, remembering that Cheesey stopped him England.
He could have went to England, you know, a few
(13:54):
weeks earlier, because he wasn't really part of the plans
leading him through the finals, so as he didn't any
foot of at all. But he just needed someone to
to obviously start the game with that experience, but you know,
would never have never predicted you know what he did
in that that first twenty odd minutes of the game,
and it was it was you know, it was super
(14:17):
and it got us to a lead that you know,
we couldn't be run down after that.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Well, that was the most diplomatic answer all the other
four guys they asked, so they were dirty on on
Sheen's He's saying, what are you thinking of you? On drugs?
Did you knock that on the way to the stairs
up here? Like all of them are off?
Speaker 1 (14:32):
And then I'm add to that, Well I can add
to that. Nick. So after about twenty one minutes of Seawan,
Bob and m cray come on to the field, obviously
his carriers the tray head trainer at the time, and
and he had the ward and I said to Bomber,
I said, listen, you need to get Ozsie off now.
He's making too many airs. He thinks he's he thinks
he's the wizard. He's playing Ricky Spot at the moment
(14:53):
he's making it. I said, may get him off please,
And thankfully Sheen's he did that, and he played his role.
And obviously, you know, like I said, before he set up,
you know all those points beginning the game. We never
never got run.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Down sins He. I've been fortunate enough to have spent
time with Sines over the years to talk football with him,
especially about the Raiders days. He strikes me as obviously
it's quite transparent on what he did, how he was
so innovative with his football, especially at the Raiders in
the nineties. We'd bring in technology in him and Bomber
the science have they brought the science to rugby league
(15:31):
and it showed with us and then even and Bomba
McRae was telling me that after nineteen ninety you had
opposition teams coming to training taking notes almost.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I can't remember that position team. Imagine that now, I think,
I think, I think, I don't think that's well, I
can't remember that, to be honest with it. Who can't
spend the yard Bomber, But he loves that.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
But my point is, I think I.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Think the thing I say about that is that they
were very innovative and they did bring new things to us,
and but and the players were very open to that.
You know, we actually love love that innovation. And She's
he used to take us through some stuff with Bomber
and then then I asked this question, what do you
think about this? And we say no, and he stops it.
(16:13):
You know. So it listened to us about about some
lend invative stuff and then you know things that we liked. Well,
we just kept it in. So he kept on trying
to think about new ways for us to engage us
in training. And you know, we were part of all
those decisions, which was great.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
And even to fill those spots as we mentioned with
the Polynesian Boys. But one of the one I was
what I was getting out there was he's very calculated
about his moves. And we saw what he did in
eighty nine, how he played Steve Jackson as a bit
of a wild card. You know, the bound main defense
weren't really too familiar with him. It was almost like
with Ozzie as well. And Ozzie mentioned last week two goes.
She's's exact words was him, if we're going to play
the Broncos, he wouldn't have started because I was just
(16:49):
too quick, whereas the Bulldogs are a bit more had
like Bella and Broken Shyer and Darren brit His biggest
sized rotation and he just fit that. Especially he was
good on those short sides as well and deceptive short sides. Yeah,
it was it was a great It was a great
play and it's just you got to handle the sheens.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
He just yeah, coach, not only attack, but if not
only attack. What I say is that we had a
lot more experiences of the two young fellows you know,
who become really good players for the club. And you know,
Dave Wesley actually he played for Queensland and things off
the back and all that and obviously you know played
for the PG coun will soon you know, so he
(17:26):
had these young kids that are exciting young kids that
because Dave West was an explosive player, very hard to
tackle and you know, and off the back of him
and Ricky is kicking game. We will always get film disition.
And then Heathery was was a totally different player to
come on and he was a great offloader of the football.
You know, it's very hard to contain work r high
(17:47):
work rate, and defensively you know he was he was
very good too. But it's just that the way things
panned out, you know, was he was great on short
sides and that's the way he played. But but he's
experience was I think was the was a catalyst to obviously,
you know, our starts.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Talking to some of the boys, especially Fernsy of course,
Club Church and Maylis that day speaks about there was
an eeriness in the sheds before what are all positive
eariness and Laurie he.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Had a great week. Nick. Honestly, there was. It was
one of those one of those games that you dream
about where every player the Preppers was spot was, you know,
faultless honestly and leading into the game and then you know,
I tell the story with the with the toss of
the coin with you know, Junior Peers and how nervous
I thought he was. And I went and told she that,
(18:35):
and but we're calm, you know, we're ready to go.
We're our prep was good, you know, we left no
stone unturned and when we played accordingly, but I think
they were nervous, you know, so uh so that's alday nine.
But but it's like it's bar bar lamb as well,
you know, so similar similar things were very nervous, where yeah,
(18:57):
we're we're very obviously, you know, Bargain knocked out early
in the game.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
As well, I wonder who did that didn't help help.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Accidentally, but you know you could tell that there was
there's a nervous energy a got them as opposed to
our composed one.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Yeah, obviously Bar was the only one that had Grand
Final experience. And there's actually a snippet on YouTube of
the whole introduction to the ninety four Grand Farm. I
just watched it just before now and it had the
coin toss there with the great Greg McCallen. Of course
that was his last game as a referee in Australia,
and there was you could tell Barr was nervous. It
was nervous because he's up against this team full of
internationals and yourself without embarrassing that there was a sense
(19:34):
of jeez, I want this and there was a sense
of ruthlessness in your eyes.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah. Well yeah, well you know that's what that's what happens,
you know when I mean I said goals at the
beginning of the year around around all that, you know,
I wanted to know it's not many people get the
opportunity to leave what they're passionate about, you know, on
their own terms. And you know that was a golden mine.
We made a decision early in the year that was
(19:58):
going to be my last year, and it was obviously recorded,
and my goals were to play in a Grand final
and and to score a try on a grand follow
because you know I played him plenty but never really
scored in a Grand final. And you know, then I
want to go on the Kangaroo Tour. That was was
my goals. You know. So when you set those sort
(20:20):
of goals and you know you're trying to reach read
for the reach for them, you know, sometimes that paired out,
particularly if you if your football mates put the effort in.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
I love when Ray Warren commentated the game when you
ran out and said he wants to be on the
Kangaroo Tour before that he wants this real bad see said.
We talked about the regular league gods. Now they've shone
on the Raiders. That day you had, you had, you
had the Bulldogs beaten from the kick of poor old
Marty Beller.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Yeah we did. Yeah, you know again you know it
was the foot of gods. You know, we don't we
don't set out we set it out. We set out
in our prep that we're going to play out of
minutes and we're going to take the game into extra
time if need be. That's that's the way. That was
our attitude. You know, so we wanted to we come
out and in a way it was sort of any
(21:09):
climactic in a way you know where we where we
ended up ended up in the game. But you know,
we were prepared to be like eighty nine, were prepared
to go the distance. And you know that's what that's
all we were thinking about. We were thinking about the
way we won the game. We're thinking about you know,
we're going to grind and we're going to we're going
to just hang in there and just keep playing footy
and never give up.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Could you feel a sense of an out of body
experience when they took me into that intercept to put
on Jason Smith, Like that's where we talk about the
Rugula League. Gods you in that way that way it
was just outstanding and again without embarrassing you there the
big fist pump that you did at the end immortalized
in stone.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
That was a goal that was a goal in the mine.
It's not not the way it was was scored, but
you know, like I said, it was a goal that
I wanted to score. A try on the Grand followers
really determined to do that, and you know, Jason obviously
gave me the best parts I probably had all year,
and just enough distance just to get just to get
to the try line and hope for me, you know. So,
(22:13):
But again I go back to, you know, putting that
effort in and we're in that space in the game
where they had to do things, They had to make
big plays all the time just to get back into
the game, and those sort of things happen when you
have to do that.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
I remember talking to a interviewing Jonathan Thurston when he retired,
and he was a very very passionate Raider supporter growing up.
And Jenny, without embarrassing now, like we all loved you, maw.
You were all our our idol and hero running out
that we all loved you, especially Anne here in Queenland, Canberra,
and obviously Thurston did. And I said, what's your favorite
memory with the Raiders and he goes mouth scoring in
(22:55):
the ninety four Grand finally, big fist pump.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Yeah, well it wasn't. It wasn't orchestrated that way, but
like I said, I wondered it. I wanted to score
a try and you know, I mean you couldn't they
couldn't fit. Well, it was the last try on my
last try of my career, the last try of the
game as well. And it's funny, it's ironic because you
know when we played on the Kangaroo too, France, France
(23:18):
and Bezier and I scored the last try there, you know,
so you know, the footy gods were on my side.
But it had a bit of a bad patch with
it with the arm. But you know, I had a
pretty blessed career as well that you know, played with
some great players and team and great some great teams
and under some great coaches. So I was pretty blessed.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Now when it was all over, obviously you were fortunate
enough to give pick to captain and take the Kangaroos
over for ninety ninety four, which talking to Box earlier,
he was said that he's proud of that because that
was the last one. And then you mentioned need to
score at the end there. What was it like taking
going on the plane but running out with in that
in the first test there was seven Raiders players in
(23:59):
that game, Marlow's full back obviously Ricky and well we
had Alfie in game run but Ricky was still on
the in the side and he came off and started
at seven of the last two games in there. Clyde. Yeah,
how how how key? How key was that having those
established combinations in those important positions, especially back then. O.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Well, the first game it didn't work too good because
it got done at Wembley. But you know again, you
know we it makes a lot of hell of it easier.
And there was a lot of a lot of us
and a lot of broncos, really, wasn't it, you know.
So so those combinations were great, We had great rapport,
were all great mate still, you know, I remember we
(24:38):
had the ninety four Kangaroo remni there well back and
everyone turned up as well, like it is it will
be on Saturday, you know, so you know we'll you know,
it's it's it's funny how sport bombs people. And you
know we don't see each other all that often, but
you know, when you get back together again, it seems
like you had seen each other and talk to each
(24:59):
other yesterday. So that's that's the beauty of it, and
and it brings back some great memories and you know,
we're all.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Mates when it was all over and obviously you had
a Kangaroo tour to organize, and obviously you're the leader there.
But can you remember a period where au when all
the celebrations were over and you're just had your moment
to yourself where you could reflect because it was your
last game, where you know, you stared at the ceiling
in bed and just totally processed it all and realized, jeeweys,
(25:28):
how well did that go for me?
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Yeah? I know. I was one of those one of
those guys that could put aside things, you know. So
it was one of those guys that could, you know,
like you might have a bit of trauma happening over
here and talents over there and would be your personal
life or with footy, and I was one of those
guys that could just you know, bottle that up and
just put it to a side and go out and
(25:50):
play it. And that was the same with the Kangaroo tour.
I remember we had to go down and obviously I
selected in the in the Kangaroos on the on the
Sunday and found out and we had to go down
to Sydney to to do our our medical ben medicals
and get all our passports and all those sort of
things organized and bese Beseil who was a coach, and
(26:13):
you learn plenty of things off those. It was fantastic
and you just had an nescie there for for us,
full of full of cans and ice and you know,
so we got through our medicals and it was having
a few beers with it with the rest of the players,
you know. So that's what you do. You know, you've
got to celebrate, and we did celebrate, and then there's
a time you finished celebrating and you get on with
(26:35):
playing footing, you know, so you get on play with
life in general. So that's what happened. And we had
a job to do because we're playing for our country
and and I obviously I'm the I was the coach,
and the more at them at the moment. And the
thing I say to him is that you know, it's
the highest greatest personal honor you can you can have.
You know, anything anything you do is represent your country
(26:58):
and put those colors.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
On the mate. It's as Ricky said, it's really good
that you're there, really rejuveniling the passion in the Aussie jersey.
We've got a quick set of six y A couple
of questions here for your mound that the fans have
sent in a couple from overseas as well. Firstly, we'll
ask you this one from Mary from Canberra asked, Okay,
this is going to be a tough one, and we
say this respectfully, if you could your favorite teammate in
(27:21):
that ninety four period. And why.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
In ninety four? I mean because you know, I come down.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
With Gary Belcher and the Queenslanders.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Gary l the Queenslanders, so you know, we got on
really really well. And but yeah, through through that era
they're all mates. I mean, we're still still all connect
you know. I catch with Ricky all the time. Even
Lasso is back in town, you know, so I catch
up with him. You know. So it's hard to say,
you know, your best mate, but you know, get I
(27:52):
get on well with all of them. You know. Steve
Wallers obviously kind to have Boxy as well. We got
on really well and played footy at Reputy together as well,
so you know, well.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
He he just sorry, he just mentioned that. Of course,
in all his REP programs he played with you. He
was your he was the only captain that he ever
had was you, and he was just You're like the
big brother for him and without getting.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
To a few times, Nick, I must confess, what's that
I've got him out in trouble a few times.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Well. He also mentioned said to kick him in the
ass a few times as well to keep him there.
But he looks back there in life and appreciates that though.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I guess, you know, yeah, well you know, I said
that to my wife the other day that you know,
when we look at the team, you know, like and
I was probably looked a lot older than that a
lot of them with the big brother. Yeah, I sort
of the big brother in a way, and I used
to I used to love that role, being the big
brother and looking after him, and you know, still enjoy
(28:48):
it obviously, you know. So yeah, I mean that's the
role I had in the team, and and you know
I felt comfortable doing that, you know, I was. They're
all all good people, which you know, like I said before,
I'm always always grateful the fact that you know, the
teams I played in, those players that I played with,
you let me do what I achieved in the game, So,
(29:11):
you know, forever grateful again.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
And Ricky Sticky quite publicly a sion used to write
him hard, but he's grateful and he and he used
to just feel there used to be a confidence just
running out with you on the sharing this memory.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
I remember him asking that much. But you know, I
love him, you know, I love the players because I
just wanted to be the best they can be. That's
that's the reason why you're right write them all. And
you know, because I was sort of that that brotherly figure,
you know, So you know, like I said, I felt
it was my duty. I was the leader of the team.
I was the captain of the team. And and now
(29:47):
I hold him accountable, you know, for their actions, and
you know, and I hold myself accountable. So one thing
I learned learned playing foot is that you're going to
lead by example before you can actually talk about it.
And you know, chatty players for what they what they don't,
you know what they're not achieved, because you just know
(30:07):
how much potential they've got and you just keep writing them.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Maybe I want to ask you this, and Sheens said
said this said a few years ago, goes, don't ask
him that because he'll come out and deck me. Jeenze
said once that you will be apprehensive getting the captaincy
of Dean Lance, but you're a little bit apprehensive becoming
the captain. Yeah, for me looking back at that now,
what I want to add to that is, for me,
(30:30):
that's that's crazy because you just don't want to embarrass
you Again, you're just a natural leader, not just in
your stature, just your humility and how you like you
just said how you wanted to bring the best out
of everyone. And I love that story. You talk about
how Wayne Bennett got your set and your goals early,
and you're obviously a gold driven man and you probably
still do that. So all that wrapped up for someone
(30:52):
to be hesitant to be a leader like for me,
I find that really interesting and I'd love to hear
your answer now about all that.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Now, Well, Wayne underwigh in at the house here in Brisbane,
he put me the captain of the footy team and
I struggled, you know, So I struggled to understand that
because I was worried about everybody else, you know, So
I did. I played my best foot he you know,
obviously wanted to help everyone, but I didn't have that
(31:18):
responsibility of leading, so I just led by example that way,
you know, so without having it. I'm not an overly
big speaker, you know, talker, you know, So I like
to lead by actions, That's that's the thing. But you know,
but in eighty nine, when Seansy asked me to do it,
I was ready to go. I reckon because I was
off the back of those four broken arms. So I
(31:40):
had to work my butt off to get back, you know,
fit again and and confident again that I could I
could be the player I wanted to be, you know.
And I felt they had more in me as well.
So I felt that the leadership was going to bring
that out of me as well. So yeah, ironically I
didn't go ask Stanzy for it. Cheesy approached me about it.
(32:03):
And if she didn't approach me about it, I wouldn't
have you know, I wouldn't. I wouldn't have chased it.
But when we talked about it, I think I thought
it was time, you know, I thought I was right
to go.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Yeah, because you were just such a natural born leader.
How much have has the goal setting impacted? And every
time people have asked you, well, I asked you a
few times when we've when I've been around you in
regards to those arms, like you had four arms, like
to come back and start again in your rehab that's
not easy to do.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yeah, but yeah, I was at a time in my
life though that through goal setting, there was this I
had like a growth mindset, Nick, So I was always
looking to improve myself. And again because because I couldn't play,
it's the hardest I've a trained in my whole life,
(32:54):
are you actually? I mean Brent Tyed and those guys
that were injured the same time, I used to grab
and we used to go training all the time, and
we'll get training to when I was trained nearly three
hours a day because because I wasn't going to I
wanted to play footy again. You know, I was going
to give meself some time. But if I come back
and played footy, I was going to do it the
way I wanted to do it. And I wanted to
be the best player I possibly could be. So you know,
(33:17):
I made that commitment. I did it for eighteen months
and and it proved successful for me. You know, So
off the back of you know, I learned how to
set goals and be an effort driven by Wayne. You
know that they sort of principles rose and allowed me
to finish how I wanted to finish.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Awesome. Let's on a question to Gym from New Zealand
wants to ask, Okay, your toughest opponent, And that's an
interesting question because a lot of opposition would have seen
you as a tougher ponent to handle, seeing one on
one sit opposing if you.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Will, Yeah, I just think, I just think, you know
how I answer this because I get that question all
the time, and I feel that to be tough to
play the game, you know, I mean, you've got to
be in that that headspace where you know, you've got
to be confident and you've got to share character and
you know. So the thing that I was challenged mostly
(34:16):
by was you know, my own thinking, you know, my
own confidence. So I always answer that question now by
saying that my toughest of patent was me. Wow, and
if I got myself right and I got my mindset
right and I wanted to play, you know, play footy,
you know, I rise above that and said no, no
opposition could beat me. Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Did you feel that you would have noticed being where.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
It worked for me? Neck? Honestly, yeah, I mean I didn't.
I didn't fear anyone. The only person I feared most
was myself and not playing the way I should play.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
No one would have known that within you if you
look back at it now in hindsight and even.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Well, well, the thing about what I found out, you
know in life is that you got to fell across
the across the pitch, want on the beach. You knows
anything in life. You know. So whatever business or you know,
whatever you're doing with radio, I mean, you want to
be the best you can be at it. You don't
want to someone you know, look opposed and you've beating you,
(35:20):
running around you, running over top of you, tackling you
every time.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
So that's that's the challenge of you know, you know,
leaving a bit of a legacy or playing the plan
how you want to play and feel comfortable, how you
leave the game. It's it's what you want to do.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
That's the best answer for the toughest point I've ever heard.
That's outstanding.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I love it that well, that's that's that's how that's
how I live my life. You know.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
So you still do the goal setting today? Oh absolutely, Wow,
that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
And I make sure what the teams I'm involved with
we do goals all the time, you know, But how
we want to how we want to play and we've
got goals off field and on field, you know, so
we make sure that all those sort of things I met.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
I'm inspired now. Question three plan against Ricky, Laury and Clytie.
This was Billy from queen and wants to know what
was it like at origin level because you're so close
in one team? Yeah, how was it like having to play?
I mean in ninety one you had to oppose against
Sheensy he was coached, but also against Ricky and Laurie.
How you would just you're with them, are part of
(36:24):
the town plane all the time.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Regret My only regret in my life is that I
never kept in a successful Queensland team. You know, so
and again you learn your lessons. But you know, I struggled, honestly.
I honestly struggled against Lorry, Ricky and Clytie, you know.
But it's not in saying that. You know, you still try,
(36:49):
but not like I didn't. I didn't hate them put
them that way. Yeah, that's I just played. That's that's
where That's where I come to the other point that
you know, when I was coaching queens and it's not
about it's not about your teammates. You played the weekend
with it's about the jersey, you know, So if I
would have if what I've done that I've learned that
I learned that over time, it's not the person in
(37:11):
the jersey that you're playing against, it's the jersey the
other person's playing with because they're on the opposition and
that jersey wants to beat it. Yeah, so that's the way.
That's the way I look at look at things, you know.
So you know, the Rays are wearing the lime green,
you know, and they're going to play the Bulldogs, you know,
on Friday night, and you know it's they might have
mates playing in the Bulldog side, but you're playing against
(37:33):
the jersey and that's that that jersey wants to beat you.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
But also you mentioned doing that emotional speech up to
eighty nine saying it's a great playing for Australia and
the Queensland but winning a game final with your with
your mates. So you work with the every day exactly.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, yeah, you're with them, you know, eleven months of
the year. Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, so it's not
only trainer, but you're playing for you, but that's you're
socializing as well, you know. So in the trenches in
the trenches and every day of every week and every month,
you know, the year. So that's it goes great satisfaction.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
In the cold of camera, wearing shopping bags over your socks.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
I learn that very on the piece.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
That's amazing, birely from Queen being great question there as
we move on, a question for now of our set
of six training from Townsville wants to know. This could
be a couple of questions here part of it. How
close were you leaving Canberra? I asked box Head today
in eighty eight when when Wayne left to establish himself
as Broncos and Broncos were starting up and they were
(38:36):
already stacked the likes of the King and Jeane Miles
and young Alfi Langer and obviously Kevy went back there
and later on, and there's also the Gold Coast Giants.
There was a huge array of Queensland as obviously yourself
and Boxhead and Gary Coyne and Badge and those kind
of guys and the late Peter Jackson and whatnot. But
that would you would have got so much interest to
(38:58):
come back and it would have been very you're you
all you guys left the brisk of the vr L
to make it in the big leagues. You did, You'd
set some great goals and achieved some great things, and
then going back home would have been such a such
a great finish to the story. Why why what was
it about Camber that you wanted to stay now in
all those times because you would have been hunted by
(39:19):
those guys.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Well, I send success, you know, I told Jacko go
because I smelt success. You know, we made the final
in eighty seven underway and obviously won't had to go.
But we're assembling a pretty special footy team. You know,
Ricky came in eighty eight, Laurie is already there, Lazo
was there. You know, no one knew Steve Wolds had
(39:43):
he come to the Raiders, and you ended up being
one of the best hookers ever played. The game I
played played with. Gary was there, Gary Coyne was there,
De Lance was there. You know, Sammy Bacco at the
time I told him not to leave, you know, because
a sense a sense victory not too far away. And
and to be in part of a team, you know,
I was part of the community. Then being part of
(40:04):
a team outside of New South Wales, that chance of
winning the premiership was a big attraction. So that's the
reason I stayed is because I felt we're going to
be successful. That's and that's that the reason I stayed,
you know, it was because that's success. And now I'm
still living here. It's a great place, the great community
to be involved in.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
There's a question about that after in you stead of
six great one from Tournia, from Townsville. But there's also
that time where before you resigned ninety four you teammate
going back to Saint Helen's.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Right, Yeah, well that was that that was after ninety
ninety one. The salary cap that to be. You know,
I was interested because what they wanted to do, they
wanted to sign me a four or five year contract
and coach afterwards. I had office from South South Queensland Side,
you know South these Queensland Side had all these crushes
(40:56):
that had all these offers, but I wanted to win premierships.
That's and I felt and I felt that by staying
home that was the best for me from opportunity wise
after footy as well. And I think that proved pretty
correct as well.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Great question there from Chaney. This one was from Ian
from camera. Now this is an interesting question. I'd love
to talk to about this one. How many times have
you watched the ninety four Grand Final? Now, are you
a guy that would sit down on a rainy afternoon
and put on a Grand Final and watch.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
No, No, I don't. I mean I watched it a
couple of times because it might be on on TV
basically in the off season, you know, so it comes
up that today time I watch it, I probably should
watch it more because of reunion, so I can remember
a bit more about things.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
It's interesting because Kenny nagus Kenny, and he says, I've
never watched it before because I don't want to distort
my memory of the actual moment.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Of the day.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Yeah, that's a really good answer, as he says he
doesn't remember because he's watched it so much. All he knows,
all you know, all your members is seeing red after
lay On that first try because of the old Winnifield Cup.
In lay of the says he's watched it a million times.
But when ferns, he says he's watched it heaps of times,
but his memory is still of the day of the
pre he recognized like it was yesterday. Laurie's the same Rick,
(42:19):
he's the same. Everyone's got different relationships with watching it
and it's it's interesting to see that. Yeah, you've seen
it a few times. But that was a great question.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
There.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
So not a guy that will sit down and put
eighty nine on just show the kids or something.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Or no, not really popcorn. They're not interested anyway.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
I'll tell you what. Ninety four grand Fine one of
my favorite movies of all time, not Mayre on mal Street.
Last question of that said A six George from Camber.
Now my questions to a lot of the other guys
that have left Camber obviously not many. He's still local.
What you The question has always been what do you
what do you miss about camera? But for you, you're
still based in the act. What is it about camera?
(42:56):
Now you've come back, You've had more returns to the
camera than Jaws.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Well, I went back. I went back to Queensland while
I was coach to the Queensland team. But soon as
I got the Asie GID, I come back. I come
back home again, you know, back to all, back to
to camera again, and obviously married a camera girl. You know,
so which is you know which obviously helps? But I
honestly love the lifestyle in camera. I've got nothing to
(43:24):
do down camera step because I've obviously involved with Great League.
But I just love the lifestyle. I just like how
easy it is to get around. Everything's available to your
schooling's great. It's a ten minute trip to the airport
for me without much traffic, you know. And if you're
going to go play about the cold, well you shouldn't
be living there anyway, you know. So I'm happy with
(43:46):
the place. And when people talk about the cold, I
mean I've spent time playing over you know, in England
in particular, and you know, I played the winter months
over there. It's Camera's not cold.
Speaker 2 (43:58):
The camera is actually great.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
It's what you're of it exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
There's worse.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
Now.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
There's one thing I always wanted to ask, and I
spoke to JR and If Cheenzy about this. The most
disappointment to come out of the whole ninety four program,
and unfortunately the whole Super League thing got in the
way of this. We were meant to play Wigan in
the World Club Challenge. That was meant that was supposed
to happen in nineteen ninety five. It was scheduled to
play at Bruce Stadium and obviously Wigan had beat Brisbane
(44:25):
the year before in Brisbane and they and you talk
about that Raiders team that you're involved in now that
your captain off was stacked. That Wigan side was amazing
as well. They nearly you know, they took you to
the war in the ninety four Kangaroo and blocks like
Gary Connolly at off here and Robinson and the late Vaga,
Twigamala and Edwards and Phil Clark and Dennis Spitz. They
(44:45):
were stacked and their bench was amazing. That would have
been the ultimate show raided Canberra v. Wigan. Unfortunately Ken
Arthurson canceled it because of the whole Super League thing.
But there was rumors that you were going to come
back and play in that game in ninety five.
Speaker 1 (44:59):
Was that's true, Yeah, No, that's true.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
You were training to get ready for it.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
Yeah. I would have loved to have played. I mean,
the thing that they got one of the things that
we played in the World Club at the back end
of eighty nine. How ridiculous it was that we played
in the Sunday We jumped on the plane on Thursday
and the play a Saturday night over to be in
Manchester against Witness and we just blew out of steam,
you know, we you know, we were winning at half time,
(45:25):
but doing run out of steam basically. So it would
have been good to play against Wigan with better prep
time basically. So yeah, no, I I was keen on it,
but this was never to be.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
Unfortunately it didn't go down, and unfortunately that was never
to be. That would have been such a that would
have been thing for the history books.
Speaker 1 (45:47):
I'm happy to that well.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
Dean Lance coined the phrase after eighty nine, saying that
camera has a soul. By ninety four, Camber became the
creator and the creative well being for all us fans.
And there was always this therapy therapeuticness of Malamninger leading
out the Canvaiders on a Friday night. You could have
had you could have just been through the worst part
of your life, but then you think you know what
(46:08):
things are going to be, okay. You kind of oozed enthusiasm, Mal,
and to talk to you always.
Speaker 1 (46:14):
Yeah, thanks, appreciate it. Time on
I've always been relaxed back in the Green, you know.
But you know, workers work, isn't it, you know so,
But you know it doesn't mean it doesn't mean I
don't I don't you know. I'm not passion not passionate
camera raiders, you know man. I always will be, you
know so. And everybody that's played Big Green Jersey will
We'll say that.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello, I rate an in here and look we've got
a nice episode, a bit of a reminiscent episode, if
you will. Of course, big news during the week that
Malmoninger has re signed back with the club on an
official capacity. Of course, Big mal always led Green, even
though he was wearing a Titans polo shirt for.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
A few years.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
He's back. So let's just sit back and relax and
enjoy my chat I had with Big Mau a few
weeks ago. Uncut this time and to see Malmoninger in
his full glory. Sit back and relax and listen to
this one. This is rated Nick at Night. Let's go
get it.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Now for the last time.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
At the Sydney Football Stadia. Malmaninger in the sixty six
games for can rap forty one test for Australia and
around him some superstars out for Probamunta.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Pushed on for Jason Smith and.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Decepted HOIMERINGA mc cragon pursers MC Dragon's.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
After the HAPs the drud rose.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
The crowd rus thead delight as the stadium captain score
was a try of the cran final not big Fella
against his own pleas of the Cap of Exile said
it all Canbra Rota.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Champion, Hello, Rating in here. Great to have your company
to this special occasion, this special edition of Rating Nick.
At night as we chat the thirteenth of Mortal malmoning
thirty years where were you back then? Were you even born?
And if you were, do you remember these moments? I
(01:52):
certainly do. What an outstanding afternoon it was at the
Sydney Football Stadium. There was a day to remember, Sid
I can enjoy part one of my chat with Malcolm
Norman BENNINGA.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Hey mal Yeah, good Nick, I'm fine mate.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Travel was good.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, travel is always good when you get there, mate,
that's it. Yeah, So it's ah, I thought, as bad
as everyone was making that to be, it must confess.
I got off the plane and it was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
You brought the weather from Camber because we've had a
good down here.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah, I know it's been great down Cambra.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Outstanding Malcolm Norman, Meniga. Great to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Now, Oh thanks mate, Thanks introduction. And I was never
part of the spine, but anyway we got the victory,
which was great.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Let's just say that you probably put a lot of
feed down spines of opposition with.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Well the bear Spine gave me a nice little pass
that I gave me a try, so I was pretty
happy with that.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
How does it feel to go back now it's been
three decades. I still remember it like it was yesterday.
A young kid growing up in Queen Ben. I had
signs and posters posted all over my house. I had
Mum cooking the green snow aksent all the family. Here
was a day Grand Final. I remember it like it
was yesterday.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah. What's it like for you now? Well it was.
It was a special day, you know, obviously my last
game in the New so Wels Rogby League Cup. Obviously
for the Raiders as well. So it was a special
day and for every thankful you know, the way the
team played, we're very good on the day, we trained
well all week. Everyone played their potential. I felt that
(03:26):
enabled me to go out of winter. So you know,
it was extremely primallegus and honored and I thank the
team and nearly every day mate, because that's the way
you want to retire from from our great game.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Do you believe in a higher power, a higher source?
After that weekend?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Well, I believe in the fact that when you put
the work and effort in, you get the reward. And
I felt that particularly, you know, I mean it's tough
to win the win a competition in the NRL, you know,
so it's really it's a tough game to play and survive,
you know, to the mid thirties is for me. I
(04:04):
was blessed and yeah, it's just just a you get
reward for the effort you put in. And I felt
that we were rewarded that day because of the effort.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
You mentioned about it's tough to just get to the
Grand final day and played in an era where we
played in many grand finals when a couple of premierships already.
We have that drama in ninety one with the salary
cap stuff. Now we lose a lot of play with
the league, have bleed a lot of players from the club.
All that coverage we had the Nigel Gaffies of the
World of David Barne because they all left as well.
We lose Lazo and Toddy, They Marki Bell, Paul Martin
(04:36):
huge and then ninety two was a bit of a rebuild,
but also suffered lots of injuries too. We didn't make
we didn't make the finals. It was a bit of
a rebuild. Sheensy and Lancey go to the Polynesian capital
and bring back a bunch of Pacific players no names
like Ruben Wiki and Johnny Lomax and Noah and the
late q pong Ea filled those gaps and then we
(04:57):
start ninety three with the bang. We're within the Challenge
up and it wasn't just winning that. She wasn't pre
season football. The Raiders were playing that. You were playing
some outstanding magic. In February, he's winning the preseason Challenge
and then by September you're beating the top four, the Broncos,
Manly St.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Georgie.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
You're putting thirty on these teams. Momentum was suggesting, now
we're going to win in ninety three.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, until Ricky unfortunately break his ankle. Just to card
and break his ankle. You know, it was it was
certainly it was a turning point and we struggled. Obviously
you fill that void. You know. It was the back
end of the year, you know, going to the finals
and no, you know, no sort of no, no captain
of the middle, you know, no captain, but I guess
(05:43):
off the off the back foot onto the front for
his great kicking game, great vision, you know. So we
did struggle, you know, off the back of that in
ya She's he tried mid fire five, that wasn't that
wasn't successful with it ended up getting beaten. I think
it was against the Bronx. I feel like just from memory.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And Dragons in week one, just yeah, I think Badge
even played seven and it was just one of those yeah,
a mix that we missed Ricky and then obviously the Broncos.
We fought hard against the Bronx, but it was we've bounds.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Gets right, you know. So you know, just one of
those one of those times where we didn't adjust and
adapt as quick as we could have, you know. But
you know, rick it was a huge miss, you know,
being out around that time of the year.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Something tells me that Cheanes he would have went away thinking, OK,
I need to learn how to win without rick if
that happens again, because by then he was suffering some injuries.
Had he had the stern, he had the sort of
the growing problems in ninety one, ninety two, and then
obviously ninety four roles around, and there was a point
in time in ninety four. Obviously we start the season
where we're winning games, and it clicked in a game
(06:47):
and you would have known yourself mainly for some reason, mainly,
for some reason, had the Wood on us, they could
beat us. Bruce that Clifford Lions would pully socks up
against us and just play wizardry performances ever since eighty seven.
There was a game in ninety four Laurie was out,
Ricky was out, so that was first time sheens. He
put Jason Croker at six, put Toots at six, and
(07:09):
then STEVEE Stone was playing, so we had our regular
origin halves out. Toots get sent off with the football
accidentally your bowing too. So we're down to twelve men
against Manly with no Ricky, with no Lorry, and we
put thirty on that day. Now we all walked away thinking, okay,
gi Lei's we're going to be hard to beat this
year because we've done that obviously without without Lorry, but
(07:32):
without Ricky as well.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, that game, well, yeah, I do, well, I do vividly,
you know, because you know lessons, don't you you know,
from the previous year years, and I think as opposed
to ninety three ninety four, you know, we're a year
older as well, you know. So you mentioned that the
Kiwi boys, now obviously they were starting to find their feet.
And then we had Allinson Croaker, well, you know, David Boyle,
(07:59):
all those good kids. Now, Dave Ferner obviously Toots was
he was sent off, but you know he we had
those players of another year older who were obviously trying.
I mean, they were better players, no doubt. So we're
a better foota team for sure. In ninety four we
could handle handle all that, you know. So yeah, and
we're supremely confident. And I think, you know, the other
(08:22):
motivating factor I talk I remember talking to the team
about it is that they were motivated because you know,
thankfully enough, they wanted to send me off a winner,
you know. So this this is the thing I talk about.
I'm always you know, fell honored and privileged and thankful
that you know, they they felt that, you know, they
needed to play well, you know for me and and
(08:46):
it proved that way. But you know we're much more
experienced footy team in ninety four.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
We'll touch on that week building up to the Grand
Final where the senior boys or box and Sticky and
laws all behind your back, got everyone ready to play
for you to send you out on a note. But
it really clicked in ninety four member a game against
the Sharks, who were you know, Johnny Lang led Sharks
team with any houses in there and young Matt Rodgers
and a decent football team that was pushing for finals.
(09:12):
You put fifty on them at home. And then not
long after that you got a Newcastle at Marathon Stadium,
which is always a tough place to win. You put
fifty on Newcastle at home. That was a big game
where Mulows went malos. You had a black grog, Gary
Belcher who was an international, and then I retis and
then you put Muloy's back at full back and where
you'd spent the next level.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah, well that's what I'm saying. Like you know, obviously
Badgs retired in ninety three. Unfortunately we couldn't send him
out a winner. But you know we had the Brett
Mullins and either Kenny Nagass no One and drukhu was
just not forget about no we had a great player.
He was They're just coming into their own and you know,
it was just one of those those years where you
(09:56):
know the team clicked. You know, we had great players
in all positions. Really, we had representative players in all positions.
You know, I often say I often say that, you know,
when you look at the team itself and you look
at the careers that all those players had, you know,
that was probably the best. What it is, it was
the best footing team I played in, club team I
(10:17):
played in my career. You know, I went sixteen years.
So there's no doubt that was the best side. And
it's kind of and it was sorry Nick, it was ruthless.
That's the other thing. It was so competitive and ruthles
because we learned lessons, you know, lessons in ninety ninety
three and obviously you know from the what happened in
ninety one. Yeah, we often talked about us and them
(10:39):
mentality us I mean out of Sydney, of course, you know,
so there was all that us and them mentality and
you know, they're doing things to prevent us from from
being successful. So you know, we knuck all down and
we built. We built a sort of a fortress and
we're very hard to beat at home. And you know,
(11:00):
we knew it had been confident enough that we could
win competitions.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
We we just pretty much the momentum was there. And
I mentioned that, you know, winning games without plays. You know,
Laurie was out, so Jason, so Tott Senior went into
six for a long back and back run of that year,
and we were just belting teams, just racking up big
scores that the machine was firing. We get into it,
We get into the finals and we played Norse in
Week one and we handled Norse pretty well, and Norse
(11:25):
were a fair football team. We found it really hard
to win the Norse in the Oval. Going to Stee
and play Norse, they were striving for their first Grand
Final and they were very entitled to be in the mix.
We beat them well and then we bounced into the
game the prelim against the Bulldogs and when you look
at look at it now, it's a it's a great
game to watch, but at the time it was the
(11:45):
loss that we maybe needed to reset.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
From memory. I don't believe in resetting, but you know, yeah,
I mean we had to do it the hard way
after that, you know, and we didn't lose it by much.
We didn't lose much in confidence. But you know, it
would have been good because like you said, you know, yeah,
carrying some more injuries for the from the the year
(12:11):
year year that's gone basically, so it would have been
good to have a rest. But just the way it
is in the toughest up footy teams. I remember the
prelim final, you know, we struggle to get through that.
We're we I think we started really well, but you know,
we struggled to be consistent and play out the eighty
minutes so and I think that was probably the the
(12:34):
awakening we wanted, you know, leading into the Grand Final
that week, you know that well, I think it was
against Norse again, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, played Noise again.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
So yeah, we played Noise again. So yeah it was
so yeah exactly, so we're very clunky, and I think
that was the awakening we needed, you know, to get
through that that final week.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
It was good end. I mean it was a clunky game.
I think Noise were up at some stage with obviously
that gorgeous backlim that you had put some late points
on to get that score back out the week leading
up to it, of course I mentioned Johnny. Of course
it was late. I had Ossie on here last week
and obviously they were trying to appeal the suspension and
they thought they were going to get off, but he
didn't get off. And then you get your coach, who
(13:18):
is probably one of the best coaches that ever ever
come to a regular league clipboard, and he says to you,
I want to start Paul Osborne, who hadn't played first
grade for a long long time. What was your thoughts
when he was going to start with Ossie?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Well, plenty of experience, I mean with Ossie. Obviously we
had a pretty young bench Dave Wesley, but Heatherington, those
type of guys are pretty pretty young. And I remember
talking a Enzy about it all and he thought it
was a good ployer, remembering that Cheesey stopped him England.
He could have went to England, you know, a few
(13:54):
weeks earlier, because he wasn't really part of the plans
leading him through the finals, so as he didn't any
foot of at all. But he just needed someone to
to obviously start the game with that experience, but you know,
would never have never predicted you know what he did
in that that first twenty odd minutes of the game,
and it was it was you know, it was super
(14:17):
and it got us to a lead that you know,
we couldn't be run down after that.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Well, that was the most diplomatic answer all the other
four guys they asked, so they were dirty on on
Sheen's He's saying, what are you thinking of you? On drugs?
Did you knock that on the way to the stairs
up here? Like all of them are off?
Speaker 1 (14:32):
And then I'm add to that, Well I can add
to that. Nick. So after about twenty one minutes of Seawan,
Bob and m cray come on to the field, obviously
his carriers the tray head trainer at the time, and
and he had the ward and I said to Bomber,
I said, listen, you need to get Ozsie off now.
He's making too many airs. He thinks he's he thinks
he's the wizard. He's playing Ricky Spot at the moment
(14:53):
he's making it. I said, may get him off please,
And thankfully Sheen's he did that, and he played his role.
And obviously, you know, like I said, before he set up,
you know all those points beginning the game. We never
never got run.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Down sins He. I've been fortunate enough to have spent
time with Sines over the years to talk football with him,
especially about the Raiders days. He strikes me as obviously
it's quite transparent on what he did, how he was
so innovative with his football, especially at the Raiders in
the nineties. We'd bring in technology in him and Bomber
the science have they brought the science to rugby league
(15:31):
and it showed with us and then even and Bomba
McRae was telling me that after nineteen ninety you had
opposition teams coming to training taking notes almost.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I can't remember that position team. Imagine that now, I think,
I think, I think, I don't think that's well, I
can't remember that, to be honest with it. Who can't
spend the yard Bomber, But he loves that.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
But my point is, I think I.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Think the thing I say about that is that they
were very innovative and they did bring new things to us,
and but and the players were very open to that.
You know, we actually love love that innovation. And She's
he used to take us through some stuff with Bomber
and then then I asked this question, what do you
think about this? And we say no, and he stops it.
(16:13):
You know. So it listened to us about about some
lend invative stuff and then you know things that we liked. Well,
we just kept it in. So he kept on trying
to think about new ways for us to engage us
in training. And you know, we were part of all
those decisions, which was great.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
And even to fill those spots as we mentioned with
the Polynesian Boys. But one of the one I was
what I was getting out there was he's very calculated
about his moves. And we saw what he did in
eighty nine, how he played Steve Jackson as a bit
of a wild card. You know, the bound main defense
weren't really too familiar with him. It was almost like
with Ozzie as well. And Ozzie mentioned last week two goes.
She's's exact words was him, if we're going to play
the Broncos, he wouldn't have started because I was just
(16:49):
too quick, whereas the Bulldogs are a bit more had
like Bella and Broken Shyer and Darren brit His biggest
sized rotation and he just fit that. Especially he was
good on those short sides as well and deceptive short sides. Yeah,
it was it was a great It was a great
play and it's just you got to handle the sheens.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
He just yeah, coach, not only attack, but if not
only attack. What I say is that we had a
lot more experiences of the two young fellows you know,
who become really good players for the club. And you know,
Dave Wesley actually he played for Queensland and things off
the back and all that and obviously you know played
for the PG coun will soon you know, so he
(17:26):
had these young kids that are exciting young kids that
because Dave West was an explosive player, very hard to
tackle and you know, and off the back of him
and Ricky is kicking game. We will always get film disition.
And then Heathery was was a totally different player to
come on and he was a great offloader of the football.
You know, it's very hard to contain work r high
(17:47):
work rate, and defensively you know he was he was
very good too. But it's just that the way things
panned out, you know, was he was great on short
sides and that's the way he played. But but he's
experience was I think was the was a catalyst to obviously,
you know, our starts.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Talking to some of the boys, especially Fernsy of course,
Club Church and Maylis that day speaks about there was
an eeriness in the sheds before what are all positive
eariness and Laurie he.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Had a great week. Nick. Honestly, there was. It was
one of those one of those games that you dream
about where every player the Preppers was spot was, you know,
faultless honestly and leading into the game and then you know,
I tell the story with the with the toss of
the coin with you know, Junior Peers and how nervous
I thought he was. And I went and told she that,
(18:35):
and but we're calm, you know, we're ready to go.
We're our prep was good, you know, we left no
stone unturned and when we played accordingly, but I think
they were nervous, you know, so uh so that's alday nine.
But but it's like it's bar bar lamb as well,
you know, so similar similar things were very nervous, where yeah,
(18:57):
we're we're very obviously, you know, Bargain knocked out early
in the game.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
As well, I wonder who did that didn't help help.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Accidentally, but you know you could tell that there was
there's a nervous energy a got them as opposed to
our composed one.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Yeah, obviously Bar was the only one that had Grand
Final experience. And there's actually a snippet on YouTube of
the whole introduction to the ninety four Grand Farm. I
just watched it just before now and it had the
coin toss there with the great Greg McCallen. Of course
that was his last game as a referee in Australia,
and there was you could tell Barr was nervous. It
was nervous because he's up against this team full of
internationals and yourself without embarrassing that there was a sense
(19:34):
of jeez, I want this and there was a sense
of ruthlessness in your eyes.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah. Well yeah, well you know that's what that's what happens,
you know when I mean I said goals at the
beginning of the year around around all that, you know,
I wanted to know it's not many people get the
opportunity to leave what they're passionate about, you know, on
their own terms. And you know that was a golden mine.
We made a decision early in the year that was
(19:58):
going to be my last year, and it was obviously recorded,
and my goals were to play in a Grand final
and and to score a try on a grand follow
because you know I played him plenty but never really
scored in a Grand final. And you know, then I
want to go on the Kangaroo Tour. That was was
my goals. You know. So when you set those sort
(20:20):
of goals and you know you're trying to reach read
for the reach for them, you know, sometimes that paired out,
particularly if you if your football mates put the effort in.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
I love when Ray Warren commentated the game when you
ran out and said he wants to be on the
Kangaroo Tour before that he wants this real bad see said.
We talked about the regular league gods. Now they've shone
on the Raiders. That day you had, you had, you
had the Bulldogs beaten from the kick of poor old
Marty Beller.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Yeah we did. Yeah, you know again you know it
was the foot of gods. You know, we don't we
don't set out we set it out. We set out
in our prep that we're going to play out of
minutes and we're going to take the game into extra
time if need be. That's that's the way. That was
our attitude. You know, so we wanted to we come
out and in a way it was sort of any
(21:09):
climactic in a way you know where we where we
ended up ended up in the game. But you know,
we were prepared to be like eighty nine, were prepared
to go the distance. And you know that's what that's
all we were thinking about. We were thinking about the
way we won the game. We're thinking about you know,
we're going to grind and we're going to we're going
to just hang in there and just keep playing footy
and never give up.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Could you feel a sense of an out of body
experience when they took me into that intercept to put
on Jason Smith, Like that's where we talk about the
Rugula League. Gods you in that way that way it
was just outstanding and again without embarrassing you there the
big fist pump that you did at the end immortalized
in stone.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
That was a goal that was a goal in the mine.
It's not not the way it was was scored, but
you know, like I said, it was a goal that
I wanted to score. A try on the Grand followers
really determined to do that, and you know, Jason obviously
gave me the best parts I probably had all year,
and just enough distance just to get just to get
to the try line and hope for me, you know. So,
(22:13):
But again I go back to, you know, putting that
effort in and we're in that space in the game
where they had to do things, They had to make
big plays all the time just to get back into
the game, and those sort of things happen when you
have to do that.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
I remember talking to a interviewing Jonathan Thurston when he retired,
and he was a very very passionate Raider supporter growing up.
And Jenny, without embarrassing now, like we all loved you, maw.
You were all our our idol and hero running out
that we all loved you, especially Anne here in Queenland, Canberra,
and obviously Thurston did. And I said, what's your favorite
memory with the Raiders and he goes mouth scoring in
(22:55):
the ninety four Grand finally, big fist pump.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Yeah, well it wasn't. It wasn't orchestrated that way, but
like I said, I wondered it. I wanted to score
a try and you know, I mean you couldn't they
couldn't fit. Well, it was the last try on my
last try of my career, the last try of the
game as well. And it's funny, it's ironic because you
know when we played on the Kangaroo too, France, France
(23:18):
and Bezier and I scored the last try there, you know,
so you know, the footy gods were on my side.
But it had a bit of a bad patch with
it with the arm. But you know, I had a
pretty blessed career as well that you know, played with
some great players and team and great some great teams
and under some great coaches. So I was pretty blessed.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Now when it was all over, obviously you were fortunate
enough to give pick to captain and take the Kangaroos
over for ninety ninety four, which talking to Box earlier,
he was said that he's proud of that because that
was the last one. And then you mentioned need to
score at the end there. What was it like taking
going on the plane but running out with in that
in the first test there was seven Raiders players in
(23:59):
that game, Marlow's full back obviously Ricky and well we
had Alfie in game run but Ricky was still on
the in the side and he came off and started
at seven of the last two games in there. Clyde. Yeah,
how how how key? How key was that having those
established combinations in those important positions, especially back then. O.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Well, the first game it didn't work too good because
it got done at Wembley. But you know again, you
know we it makes a lot of hell of it easier.
And there was a lot of a lot of us
and a lot of broncos, really, wasn't it, you know.
So so those combinations were great, We had great rapport,
were all great mate still, you know, I remember we
(24:38):
had the ninety four Kangaroo remni there well back and
everyone turned up as well, like it is it will
be on Saturday, you know, so you know we'll you know,
it's it's it's funny how sport bombs people. And you
know we don't see each other all that often, but
you know, when you get back together again, it seems
like you had seen each other and talk to each
(24:59):
other yesterday. So that's that's the beauty of it, and
and it brings back some great memories and you know,
we're all.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Mates when it was all over and obviously you had
a Kangaroo tour to organize, and obviously you're the leader there.
But can you remember a period where au when all
the celebrations were over and you're just had your moment
to yourself where you could reflect because it was your
last game, where you know, you stared at the ceiling
in bed and just totally processed it all and realized, jeeweys,
(25:28):
how well did that go for me?
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Yeah? I know. I was one of those one of
those guys that could put aside things, you know. So
it was one of those guys that could, you know,
like you might have a bit of trauma happening over
here and talents over there and would be your personal
life or with footy, and I was one of those
guys that could just you know, bottle that up and
just put it to a side and go out and
(25:50):
play it. And that was the same with the Kangaroo tour.
I remember we had to go down and obviously I
selected in the in the Kangaroos on the on the
Sunday and found out and we had to go down
to Sydney to to do our our medical ben medicals
and get all our passports and all those sort of
things organized and bese Beseil who was a coach, and
(26:13):
you learn plenty of things off those. It was fantastic
and you just had an nescie there for for us,
full of full of cans and ice and you know,
so we got through our medicals and it was having
a few beers with it with the rest of the players,
you know. So that's what you do. You know, you've
got to celebrate, and we did celebrate, and then there's
a time you finished celebrating and you get on with
(26:35):
playing footing, you know, so you get on play with
life in general. So that's what happened. And we had
a job to do because we're playing for our country
and and I obviously I'm the I was the coach,
and the more at them at the moment. And the
thing I say to him is that you know, it's
the highest greatest personal honor you can you can have.
You know, anything anything you do is represent your country
(26:58):
and put those colors.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
On the mate. It's as Ricky said, it's really good
that you're there, really rejuveniling the passion in the Aussie jersey.
We've got a quick set of six y A couple
of questions here for your mound that the fans have
sent in a couple from overseas as well. Firstly, we'll
ask you this one from Mary from Canberra asked, Okay,
this is going to be a tough one, and we
say this respectfully, if you could your favorite teammate in
(27:21):
that ninety four period. And why.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
In ninety four? I mean because you know, I come down.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
With Gary Belcher and the Queenslanders.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Gary l the Queenslanders, so you know, we got on
really really well. And but yeah, through through that era
they're all mates. I mean, we're still still all connect
you know. I catch with Ricky all the time. Even
Lasso is back in town, you know, so I catch
up with him. You know. So it's hard to say,
you know, your best mate, but you know, get I
(27:52):
get on well with all of them. You know. Steve
Wallers obviously kind to have Boxy as well. We got
on really well and played footy at Reputy together as well,
so you know, well.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
He he just sorry, he just mentioned that. Of course,
in all his REP programs he played with you. He
was your he was the only captain that he ever
had was you, and he was just You're like the
big brother for him and without getting.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
To a few times, Nick, I must confess, what's that
I've got him out in trouble a few times.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Well. He also mentioned said to kick him in the
ass a few times as well to keep him there.
But he looks back there in life and appreciates that though.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I guess, you know, yeah, well you know, I said
that to my wife the other day that you know,
when we look at the team, you know, like and
I was probably looked a lot older than that a
lot of them with the big brother. Yeah, I sort
of the big brother in a way, and I used
to I used to love that role, being the big
brother and looking after him, and you know, still enjoy
(28:48):
it obviously, you know. So yeah, I mean that's the
role I had in the team, and and you know
I felt comfortable doing that, you know, I was. They're
all all good people, which you know, like I said before,
I'm always always grateful the fact that you know, the
teams I played in, those players that I played with,
you let me do what I achieved in the game, So,
(29:11):
you know, forever grateful again.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
And Ricky Sticky quite publicly a sion used to write
him hard, but he's grateful and he and he used
to just feel there used to be a confidence just
running out with you on the sharing this memory.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
I remember him asking that much. But you know, I
love him, you know, I love the players because I
just wanted to be the best they can be. That's
that's the reason why you're right write them all. And
you know, because I was sort of that that brotherly figure,
you know, So you know, like I said, I felt
it was my duty. I was the leader of the team.
I was the captain of the team. And and now
(29:47):
I hold him accountable, you know, for their actions, and
you know, and I hold myself accountable. So one thing
I learned learned playing foot is that you're going to
lead by example before you can actually talk about it.
And you know, chatty players for what they what they don't,
you know what they're not achieved, because you just know
(30:07):
how much potential they've got and you just keep writing them.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Maybe I want to ask you this, and Sheens said
said this said a few years ago, goes, don't ask
him that because he'll come out and deck me. Jeenze
said once that you will be apprehensive getting the captaincy
of Dean Lance, but you're a little bit apprehensive becoming
the captain. Yeah, for me looking back at that now,
what I want to add to that is, for me,
(30:30):
that's that's crazy because you just don't want to embarrass
you Again, you're just a natural leader, not just in
your stature, just your humility and how you like you
just said how you wanted to bring the best out
of everyone. And I love that story. You talk about
how Wayne Bennett got your set and your goals early,
and you're obviously a gold driven man and you probably
still do that. So all that wrapped up for someone
(30:52):
to be hesitant to be a leader like for me,
I find that really interesting and I'd love to hear
your answer now about all that.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Now, Well, Wayne underwigh in at the house here in Brisbane,
he put me the captain of the footy team and
I struggled, you know, So I struggled to understand that
because I was worried about everybody else, you know, So
I did. I played my best foot he you know,
obviously wanted to help everyone, but I didn't have that
(31:18):
responsibility of leading, so I just led by example that way,
you know, so without having it. I'm not an overly
big speaker, you know, talker, you know, So I like
to lead by actions, That's that's the thing. But you know,
but in eighty nine, when Seansy asked me to do it,
I was ready to go. I reckon because I was
off the back of those four broken arms. So I
(31:40):
had to work my butt off to get back, you know,
fit again and and confident again that I could I
could be the player I wanted to be, you know.
And I felt they had more in me as well.
So I felt that the leadership was going to bring
that out of me as well. So yeah, ironically I
didn't go ask Stanzy for it. Cheesy approached me about it.
(32:03):
And if she didn't approach me about it, I wouldn't
have you know, I wouldn't. I wouldn't have chased it.
But when we talked about it, I think I thought
it was time, you know, I thought I was right
to go.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Yeah, because you were just such a natural born leader.
How much have has the goal setting impacted? And every
time people have asked you, well, I asked you a
few times when we've when I've been around you in
regards to those arms, like you had four arms, like
to come back and start again in your rehab that's
not easy to do.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yeah, but yeah, I was at a time in my
life though that through goal setting, there was this I
had like a growth mindset, Nick, So I was always
looking to improve myself. And again because because I couldn't play,
it's the hardest I've a trained in my whole life,
(32:54):
are you actually? I mean Brent Tyed and those guys
that were injured the same time, I used to grab
and we used to go training all the time, and
we'll get training to when I was trained nearly three
hours a day because because I wasn't going to I
wanted to play footy again. You know, I was going
to give meself some time. But if I come back
and played footy, I was going to do it the
way I wanted to do it. And I wanted to
be the best player I possibly could be. So you know,
(33:17):
I made that commitment. I did it for eighteen months
and and it proved successful for me. You know, So
off the back of you know, I learned how to
set goals and be an effort driven by Wayne. You
know that they sort of principles rose and allowed me
to finish how I wanted to finish.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Awesome. Let's on a question to Gym from New Zealand
wants to ask, Okay, your toughest opponent, And that's an
interesting question because a lot of opposition would have seen
you as a tougher ponent to handle, seeing one on
one sit opposing if you.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Will, Yeah, I just think, I just think, you know
how I answer this because I get that question all
the time, and I feel that to be tough to
play the game, you know, I mean, you've got to
be in that that headspace where you know, you've got
to be confident and you've got to share character and
you know. So the thing that I was challenged mostly
(34:16):
by was you know, my own thinking, you know, my
own confidence. So I always answer that question now by
saying that my toughest of patent was me. Wow, and
if I got myself right and I got my mindset
right and I wanted to play, you know, play footy,
you know, I rise above that and said no, no
opposition could beat me. Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Did you feel that you would have noticed being where.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
It worked for me? Neck? Honestly, yeah, I mean I didn't.
I didn't fear anyone. The only person I feared most
was myself and not playing the way I should play.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
No one would have known that within you if you
look back at it now in hindsight and even.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Well, well, the thing about what I found out, you
know in life is that you got to fell across
the across the pitch, want on the beach. You knows
anything in life. You know. So whatever business or you know,
whatever you're doing with radio, I mean, you want to
be the best you can be at it. You don't
want to someone you know, look opposed and you've beating you,
(35:20):
running around you, running over top of you, tackling you
every time.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
So that's that's the challenge of you know, you know,
leaving a bit of a legacy or playing the plan
how you want to play and feel comfortable, how you
leave the game. It's it's what you want to do.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
That's the best answer for the toughest point I've ever heard.
That's outstanding.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I love it that well, that's that's that's how that's
how I live my life. You know.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
So you still do the goal setting today? Oh absolutely, Wow,
that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
And I make sure what the teams I'm involved with
we do goals all the time, you know, But how
we want to how we want to play and we've
got goals off field and on field, you know, so
we make sure that all those sort of things I met.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
I'm inspired now. Question three plan against Ricky, Laury and Clytie.
This was Billy from queen and wants to know what
was it like at origin level because you're so close
in one team? Yeah, how was it like having to play?
I mean in ninety one you had to oppose against
Sheensy he was coached, but also against Ricky and Laurie.
How you would just you're with them, are part of
(36:24):
the town plane all the time.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Regret My only regret in my life is that I
never kept in a successful Queensland team. You know, so
and again you learn your lessons. But you know, I struggled, honestly.
I honestly struggled against Lorry, Ricky and Clytie, you know.
But it's not in saying that. You know, you still try,
(36:49):
but not like I didn't. I didn't hate them put
them that way. Yeah, that's I just played. That's that's
where That's where I come to the other point that
you know, when I was coaching queens and it's not
about it's not about your teammates. You played the weekend
with it's about the jersey, you know, So if I
would have if what I've done that I've learned that
I learned that over time, it's not the person in
(37:11):
the jersey that you're playing against, it's the jersey the
other person's playing with because they're on the opposition and
that jersey wants to beat it. Yeah, so that's the way.
That's the way I look at look at things, you know.
So you know, the Rays are wearing the lime green,
you know, and they're going to play the Bulldogs, you know,
on Friday night, and you know it's they might have
mates playing in the Bulldog side, but you're playing against
(37:33):
the jersey and that's that that jersey wants to beat you.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
But also you mentioned doing that emotional speech up to
eighty nine saying it's a great playing for Australia and
the Queensland but winning a game final with your with
your mates. So you work with the every day exactly.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, yeah, you're with them, you know, eleven months of
the year. Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, so it's not
only trainer, but you're playing for you, but that's you're
socializing as well, you know. So in the trenches in
the trenches and every day of every week and every month,
you know, the year. So that's it goes great satisfaction.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
In the cold of camera, wearing shopping bags over your socks.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
I learn that very on the piece.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
That's amazing, birely from Queen being great question there as
we move on, a question for now of our set
of six training from Townsville wants to know. This could
be a couple of questions here part of it. How
close were you leaving Canberra? I asked box Head today
in eighty eight when when Wayne left to establish himself
as Broncos and Broncos were starting up and they were
(38:36):
already stacked the likes of the King and Jeane Miles
and young Alfi Langer and obviously Kevy went back there
and later on, and there's also the Gold Coast Giants.
There was a huge array of Queensland as obviously yourself
and Boxhead and Gary Coyne and Badge and those kind
of guys and the late Peter Jackson and whatnot. But
that would you would have got so much interest to
(38:58):
come back and it would have been very you're you
all you guys left the brisk of the vr L
to make it in the big leagues. You did, You'd
set some great goals and achieved some great things, and
then going back home would have been such a such
a great finish to the story. Why why what was
it about Camber that you wanted to stay now in
all those times because you would have been hunted by
(39:19):
those guys.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Well, I send success, you know, I told Jacko go
because I smelt success. You know, we made the final
in eighty seven underway and obviously won't had to go.
But we're assembling a pretty special footy team. You know,
Ricky came in eighty eight, Laurie is already there, Lazo
was there. You know, no one knew Steve Wolds had
(39:43):
he come to the Raiders, and you ended up being
one of the best hookers ever played. The game I
played played with. Gary was there, Gary Coyne was there,
De Lance was there. You know, Sammy Bacco at the
time I told him not to leave, you know, because
a sense a sense victory not too far away. And
and to be in part of a team, you know,
I was part of the community. Then being part of
(40:04):
a team outside of New South Wales, that chance of
winning the premiership was a big attraction. So that's the
reason I stayed is because I felt we're going to
be successful. That's and that's that the reason I stayed,
you know, it was because that's success. And now I'm
still living here. It's a great place, the great community
to be involved in.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
There's a question about that after in you stead of
six great one from Tournia, from Townsville. But there's also
that time where before you resigned ninety four you teammate
going back to Saint Helen's.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Right, Yeah, well that was that that was after ninety
ninety one. The salary cap that to be. You know,
I was interested because what they wanted to do, they
wanted to sign me a four or five year contract
and coach afterwards. I had office from South South Queensland Side,
you know South these Queensland Side had all these crushes
(40:56):
that had all these offers, but I wanted to win premierships.
That's and I felt and I felt that by staying
home that was the best for me from opportunity wise
after footy as well. And I think that proved pretty
correct as well.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Great question there from Chaney. This one was from Ian
from camera. Now this is an interesting question. I'd love
to talk to about this one. How many times have
you watched the ninety four Grand Final? Now, are you
a guy that would sit down on a rainy afternoon
and put on a Grand Final and watch.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
No, No, I don't. I mean I watched it a
couple of times because it might be on on TV
basically in the off season, you know, so it comes
up that today time I watch it, I probably should
watch it more because of reunion, so I can remember
a bit more about things.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
It's interesting because Kenny nagus Kenny, and he says, I've
never watched it before because I don't want to distort
my memory of the actual moment.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Of the day.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
Yeah, that's a really good answer, as he says he
doesn't remember because he's watched it so much. All he knows,
all you know, all your members is seeing red after
lay On that first try because of the old Winnifield Cup.
In lay of the says he's watched it a million times.
But when ferns, he says he's watched it heaps of times,
but his memory is still of the day of the
pre he recognized like it was yesterday. Laurie's the same Rick,
(42:19):
he's the same. Everyone's got different relationships with watching it
and it's it's interesting to see that. Yeah, you've seen
it a few times. But that was a great question.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
There.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
So not a guy that will sit down and put
eighty nine on just show the kids or something.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Or no, not really popcorn. They're not interested anyway.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
I'll tell you what. Ninety four grand Fine one of
my favorite movies of all time, not Mayre on mal Street.
Last question of that said A six George from Camber.
Now my questions to a lot of the other guys
that have left Camber obviously not many. He's still local.
What you The question has always been what do you
what do you miss about camera? But for you, you're
still based in the act. What is it about camera?
(42:56):
Now you've come back, You've had more returns to the
camera than Jaws.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Well, I went back. I went back to Queensland while
I was coach to the Queensland team. But soon as
I got the Asie GID, I come back. I come
back home again, you know, back to all, back to
to camera again, and obviously married a camera girl. You know,
so which is you know which obviously helps? But I
honestly love the lifestyle in camera. I've got nothing to
(43:24):
do down camera step because I've obviously involved with Great League.
But I just love the lifestyle. I just like how
easy it is to get around. Everything's available to your
schooling's great. It's a ten minute trip to the airport
for me without much traffic, you know. And if you're
going to go play about the cold, well you shouldn't
be living there anyway, you know. So I'm happy with
(43:46):
the place. And when people talk about the cold, I
mean I've spent time playing over you know, in England
in particular, and you know, I played the winter months
over there. It's Camera's not cold.
Speaker 2 (43:58):
The camera is actually great.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
It's what you're of it exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
There's worse.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
Now.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
There's one thing I always wanted to ask, and I
spoke to JR and If Cheenzy about this. The most
disappointment to come out of the whole ninety four program,
and unfortunately the whole Super League thing got in the
way of this. We were meant to play Wigan in
the World Club Challenge. That was meant that was supposed
to happen in nineteen ninety five. It was scheduled to
play at Bruce Stadium and obviously Wigan had beat Brisbane
(44:25):
the year before in Brisbane and they and you talk
about that Raiders team that you're involved in now that
your captain off was stacked. That Wigan side was amazing
as well. They nearly you know, they took you to
the war in the ninety four Kangaroo and blocks like
Gary Connolly at off here and Robinson and the late Vaga,
Twigamala and Edwards and Phil Clark and Dennis Spitz. They
(44:45):
were stacked and their bench was amazing. That would have
been the ultimate show raided Canberra v. Wigan. Unfortunately Ken
Arthurson canceled it because of the whole Super League thing.
But there was rumors that you were going to come
back and play in that game in ninety five.
Speaker 1 (44:59):
Was that's true, Yeah, No, that's true.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
You were training to get ready for it.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
Yeah. I would have loved to have played. I mean,
the thing that they got one of the things that
we played in the World Club at the back end
of eighty nine. How ridiculous it was that we played
in the Sunday We jumped on the plane on Thursday
and the play a Saturday night over to be in
Manchester against Witness and we just blew out of steam,
you know, we you know, we were winning at half time,
(45:25):
but doing run out of steam basically. So it would
have been good to play against Wigan with better prep
time basically. So yeah, no, I I was keen on it,
but this was never to be.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
Unfortunately it didn't go down, and unfortunately that was never
to be. That would have been such a that would
have been thing for the history books.
Speaker 1 (45:47):
I'm happy to that well.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
Dean Lance coined the phrase after eighty nine, saying that
camera has a soul. By ninety four, Camber became the
creator and the creative well being for all us fans.
And there was always this therapy therapeuticness of Malamninger leading
out the Canvaiders on a Friday night. You could have
had you could have just been through the worst part
of your life, but then you think you know what
(46:08):
things are going to be, okay. You kind of oozed enthusiasm, Mal,
and to talk to you always.
Speaker 1 (46:14):
Yeah, thanks, appreciate it. Time on
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