July 1, 2025 • 31 mins
The Grass isn't always Greener....
In this exclusive episode, Raiders CEO Don Furner breaks down where the club stands at the halfway mark of the season. We talk player retention, the role of agents, club operations, and some honest truths from ex-Raiders players and the value in being a one team town.
A must-listen for any Raiders fan or league lover who wants the real story behind the scenes.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's not here for the clickbait all the couchside critics.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's raw, real and full of.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Deep and meaningfuls with the Raiders in a circle from
laughs to hard truth, still tell you and.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Ditch the negative noise and get.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Behind the boys.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
This is Raider Nick, Well, Johnny, time for our half
really catch up.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
It's it's been an extraordinary year.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
But first of all, congratulations for the retention of save
to Marlowe this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, no, we've been talking to for a while. He's
been a revelation this year, had bad injury, which we're
hoping he'll be right, come to me. He's been fantastic
young man and really really good on the field. So
we're trying to get through and sign most of the
young guys up. We're still working on some mothers today
(00:57):
and like Zack Coskins for a week and some of
the other young guys like Adam Mariotta.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
We're working through those.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Now is a critical time with a couple of buys
coming up, so it's a good time to speak to
the players and their agents. But yeah, trying to keep
the batch of them together.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
How does it work in the RGUA league? Weld done
is just a matter of the human element of just
trying to get managers and people available to have those
conversations and just trying to get it on the same
table at the same time.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Absolutely, and it can take a week or it can
take a month, you know, so thankfully, the best gauge
is that the players come to us and say they
want to stay. They want to say they want to extend,
and that's what we are getting.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
You've still got to get to the terms.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, you still got to get to the terms and
reach agreement. But the fact is they're not leaving. They
want to stay. Their first off, their first priority is
to stay at the club. So that's always, you know,
that's always a great indicator. That hasn't always happened in
the past. Players have left that we didn't want to leave,
and it's never always you don't always get what you want,
(02:01):
but buying large all of them at the moment saying
they want to stay, which is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
So that might look like that would just come to
you directly. I'm a knock on your doorstep and just say.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, I hang out, yeah, king like normally because I
chat to them and says mother, really keen to lock
you down. You know, I see you as a part
of the future. We'd like you to stay for a
couple of years. How about I get Donnie or Joel
to get get everything moving with your agent and start
discussions and then obviously you kind of trying to find
common ground. But yeah, as I said, the first and
(02:32):
most important part is that they do want to stay.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Yeah, that's pleasing to know. And it's great how we're
in our cycle now with success and you know, I
like to get to the human element of it all.
And before we get into the more business core discussions,
how are you feeling in regards to you know, when
you go home at bed at night for another win,
another win that we've chalked up many wins, how are
you feeling? Donnie was sitting top of the table mate
(02:57):
halfway for a year.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
You're definitely slip better, and you're losing, there's no question
about that. You're not staring at the ceiling as much.
And you know, when you lose players and all that
sort of stuff you run through. These things run through
your heads a lot late at night. But you know,
our flag's going really well at the top of the
competition as well. Our ESG ball had a really good
year this year. We have got a good Dutch coming through.
(03:18):
We always have done well with with with talent, but
getting them winning on the field and playing as a
team that seems to have come through the junior systems
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So you know we're in a good spot.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
As I said, players want to stay here so and
play for the club and that's that's that's the hardest part.
You know, some other clubs at the moment bickering and
not going well and players looking to leave. That can
happen too, but thankfully for us, it's service.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
It it's kind of what you see is what you get.
And the great thing about it is and you know,
I think it's it's all crap anyway, you know, the
kind of canbra perception out there. And always say I
say this to our people always. I always say this
to the other people as well. I do a lot
working a triple m in Sydney and whatnot. The camberrad
is like, we're like we're the toughest, most tenacious team
(04:11):
in the competition because we just get the short end
of the stick everywhere. You know a lot of areas
and you know it's hard for us, And look, I
know that you've got a recruitment guy that's moving on
and moving on to a place where it's probably a
little bit easier for them because they've got like the
geographical aspect to kind of sell, whereas we've kind of
got core football to sell. But I'll tell you what,
(04:33):
when the core football is going well, they're a team.
They're the most harmonious in the competition.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Look, there are disadvantages, but we have got some massive
advantages Nick. We we've got a big area to draw
from rugby leagues strong out in the New southlaest Country area.
The players do form a bond. I think better in
a one team town. You know, you may move away
from home. I said this before. So like going to
boarding school, you have to rely on each other because
(04:59):
you don't necessarily knowing anyone there. So you know, a
lot of the clubs in Sydney it's busy. They finished
training at four o'clock. They've got to get in their
car and beat the traffic and head home, you know,
and they're all living in different suburbs, and so we
don't have that here. You know, they're going to have
a coffee, they're going to have a game of golf.
So I feel that one team towns like ours have
that advantage and do form better bonds, and so we
(05:26):
do trade on that a lot. The guys get closer together.
You can't manufacture that. That has to be within them
making friends with each other, spending time with each other.
They love traveling away, they've done a lot of travel
this year. All those things can go pair shapers. They're
not getting on.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
But I think I.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Think we do it well because we've been doing it
for forty years. You know, we've had to relocate people
for a long time. So take the Broncos for example,
most of the guys that from southeast Queensland or Brisbane area,
you don't really have to do too much to ingrade
them into the city because they've been there all their lives.
Was four hours. Eighty percent of them from somewhere else.
(06:05):
And you know, we've got to work hard with their
families and themselves to settle them into a job and
study and training. And I think, you know, we've come
across a lot of homesickness and I think we're good
at dealing with it and you know, building relationships with
the players, and they do it themselves that we've got
to give them the tools and the opportunities to do that.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Well, I'll share this with you. I won't mention the names.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
I share this on air in our call a few
weeks ago because I caught up with some of the boys,
ex players of the Raiders that over there for Pappa's
Up in the Sheds postgame Papa's three nineteen, and I've
made a little bit of a tally and I mentioned
all the names on air.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I won't repeat it here. I'll tell you. I'll tell
you I ran a.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Coffee one day, but it's about six or seven now
that I can count former players that have left on
their own a court, so we know the regular league.
You know, you'll let people go, which you have to,
but then you'll get you'll lose people that you don't
want to And the ones that we didn't want to
lose have all said to me, and I think they
don't mind me repeating them because I mentioned on here
(07:07):
before and I won't repeat the names, but they mentioned
to me I shouldn't have left the Raiders, and that's
and and that that doesn't necessarily mean whether they might
have gone to a club that you know, played finals
and went well and pushed for premierships. But the family
and the brotherhood and without embarrassing you, like Donnie's really caring,
you know, like just and then and they've gone to
(07:28):
another place whereas all of a sudden, like it's a
big smoke and it's not it's not as comfortable and
it's not as nurturing whereas like a like a one
team town can be. But especially the Raiders and these
are a couple of players actually went to a one
team town, whether it's up north and whatnot. But they
always missed it.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
And that's why when you put on an old Boy's
day you get everyone back.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
You're right, And I know a couple of the players
because we know a couple of I bumped bumped two
up at Newcastle.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
On the weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Two guys came to our sheds, former players, you know,
and said something similar. So it's you know, it is
nice to hear. They don't just say it to make
you feel good. You can tell if you put on
an old boys reunion and no one comes back, that's
that's that's you can tell that they didn't like the club.
But most of ours always make an effort to come
back because they had great memories of their time together.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
And as I said, they even going back to the
early days.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You talk to the old old boys that came in
the eighties, they only had each other from all over Australia.
They didn't know each other, so they had to align
each other and that those guys there, they enjoyed the
reunions the most, the guys you know from the early
days of the eighties, because.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
They had full time jobs.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
They went in a lot of money, but they sort
of started off the club and their wives became close
and are still good friends now, so Craig Bellamy and
actually Gil but recently together you know after a game
or you know like that. They only met through the
Raiders in the early days. So yeah, it is pleasing
to hear. And again it does to mate. If you're
(09:01):
not having a good season on the field, if you're
losing games or whatever, and that's still there, that's pleasing too.
It doesn't all go down the girl. It's still there.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, So you're not going to win everything, but if
you still got that good core group and the good values,
you can still get through a tough period on the
field and and it not all go pair shaped.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Yeah, It's just one of those things, and it's all
probably coming to the surface now because we're you know,
we're out there again. We're kind of on top of
everyone's lips at the moment. But there was just quite
intriguing and to hear that. I've heard that time and
time again, and a lot of players have probably come
have left home to get a shot at the Raiders
(09:46):
and have kind of gone back to their home. A
lot of it's the fun off guys, and they've even
mentioned it too, so and I think in hindsight when
they kind of reflect on their career, it's just one
of those things, go, I I was in a good
spot there at the Raiders, and you know, there's always
an opportunity, and we're in that opportunity now where the
cycles come around.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
We're on an.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Upheaval now with all these young juniors coming through and
a lot of them even just talking to Ricky saying
that there might have been an expectation in regards to
where development would be, but it looks like these some
of these kids are kind of exceeding that and they're
kind of well well, well well prematurely really really like
performing well that we're probably we're going to give him
some more patients and more time to get there. It's
(10:28):
like Ethan Strange, Kyle works is, like I keep saying,
he's one of the best fullbacks in the cop He's
definitely the top five.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, and they've come on in leaps and bounds.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And the thing is, you really don't know until you
put them into first grade. You know, you have a
fair idea. You've been watching the coaching staff and coaching,
but you know, some of those people that have left
that we didn't want. We didn't want Jack Widerlief. We'd
love to still have Jack Baker. But it did bring
on Kyo Quicker. You know, sorry, brought on Ethan Quicker
because to have to step up at a quicker pace.
(10:58):
And you know, they're exceeding our expectations long way to go,
and Rick reminds them of that in the sheds every game.
You know, we're not we haven't done anything yet.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
One thing I'll share with you, Donnie. Knowing the boys
at all different levels, what I'm seeing is the continuity
of their temperament. Like when I go and talk to
one of the players, it's like I'm talking to them
last year. They haven't changed at all. And I'll get
a little bit Yahoo with them and go, oh, you
boys are flying, how that's this And they go, yeah,
we're doing well this part of the season, being the
(11:29):
operative word there.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
So I think Rick strilled that into them to say,
it's all beautiful to get you know, I think you
said it the other day in the press coments that
some of the media that wrote us off at the
start of the year that said that we'd come last
and bottom four of the same media they're saying, oh,
you can win the company now, so take that with
a grain of salt. It's hard work. Every game is hard.
Every team can beat you. On the day, Newcastle will
(11:52):
come on home strong. The other day we just held on.
You know, it's a very very hard, long competition. We're
going to stay healthy and get through this last Origin
game and then ext script through again a few weeks.
But yeah, I mean, you'd rather be where we are
than where we were last year.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Were really fighting hard to make the ape. We lost
the close.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Game in the middle of the year that really hurt us,
and we lost a couple of close games, so we
just missed out last year. So it wasn't much in it,
but you'd certainly rather be where we are.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
And it's great that they take that on the playing
group and you can say that, but do you really
mean that? And what I'm seeing in the guys, I
can really feel into it that it's actually genuine and
you and you can tell, and you can even Ricky.
You think Ricky is such an emotional guy. You can
even tell like he's very calm and for a nice
good win in the presser is still quite calm, and
he still gets it because he's been there as a
(12:44):
player coach, so he knows exactly how to steer it.
And it's just great to see in your leadership with
like you know, with taps this year and an horse
sorry big Big Red going really well and.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Everyone's just everyone's just playing their part.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, and all different stories.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
You know, he was very quiet when he first came
down here and you wouldn't have picked him to be
a future captain and leader. He's done unbelievably well. One
self improvement and the way he speaks and just the
leadership that he's shown, you know, read turned things around.
You know, he wasn't in a good space. A couple
of years ago. And again that's all up to the
players to turn that round. So as he said, than done.
(13:22):
But they did and showing some real leadership qualities now.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Absolutely, and even Hostco.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I think Hostco is a great guy for the club
and such a great guy. Fortunate enough to catch up
with him outside of here and and he's just a
great guy. And he's buying into the community as well.
And you know, and he bought a house he punched
out eighty minutes. I was fortunate enough to meet his
old man in the sheds after a game, and it's
just there's such that that's a raider, and I know
(13:53):
the guy that you look for, and I know that
you what you want as a raider and what that
picture is. And he tacks all the boxes.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Doesn't he. He's definitely got straight into being one of us.
He's exactly the top of it. He's like Elliot White,
it was too and we're lucky with those players. So
he settled in a waterhouse pretty quickly. We're working through
with his agent now on trying to his contract. He
does and it said, well, funnily enough, I talked to
(14:22):
his dad too and said, you know, we tried to
get him before he went to Penrith and when he
left the Broncos and it was touch and go who's
picking between us and Penrith. So when when he came
up again, we went back at him and thankfully he
came this time.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
He had had a good game. I think he was
with the Panthers that day and they put a big
score on a couple of tries and he did.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
And as you remember when he first came down to
us too, he was fantastic and he got that bad injury,
but he slipped straight in in you a field of
bloaks anyway. Again, a lot of them were from Newcastle
one team town, so yeah, yeah, you know our types.
You know most of our players, so you know what
our types players are, and he's definitely one of them.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Absolutely, He's one of my favorites already, Tony. I got
to ask, so get bailed up everywhere I go, whether
it's a supermarket or the survey, anywhere, they ask who's
going to replace what's the plan for post Jammer, for
past post Jamal? You know, we've got Ethan Sanders there
who's ready to go to an extent. Had a great
(15:24):
game against the Roosters, has kind of called up and
stead the team to victory as well in that important position,
the week to week grind of er off for young block,
it's a different story. You can do it for a month,
but can you do it for you for thirty weeks?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
What's the plan?
Speaker 4 (15:37):
I know, I know you've thrown thrown the right out there,
that the net's been cast pretty wide and there's not
much available when it comes to good, good halves.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Where are we with that?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
You think, look, there are some there are some options
out there. We're looking at them all.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Also got a good, good player in Adam Cook in
State Cup. I think Ethan Sanders answered a lot of
things that day against Roosters, a very high place to win,
a very good team. He's been in good systems and
he's been a junior red player for a long time.
But yes, steering the team around the park for twenty
six rounds will be difficult.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
We definitely wanted to keep Jamal, but.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
He got he got an offer that he couldn't refuse
in terms of the longevity for his career. That's why
it always makes it hard, and it's like we never
want to lose Jack White neither. But you know, we'll
we'll just keep our eye out. Something will pop up
as well, because you definitely need three. You need three hookers,
which will have next year. You need three half backs,
which were for four even with Cookie. There are a
(16:38):
couple of names that Shann's some interest and we'll just
work through that process, particularly in the next couple of
weeks with with the buyers coming up, is a good
time to go through that. So we've probably got two
spots left and another experienced half would be ideal for
one of those spots.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
So two spots that has been an other half and
maybe another.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
For being out side back or a front rower and
outside back, you know, or a front row we showed
this year.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
You know, we're in there with with injuries and you know,
hopefully we keep pop a lad, but he'd been injured
since round one or two and early earlier the year,
so we are a bitin there. But you know, we
just see what's out there and I'll fill those two
spots in the next probably a month or so.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
But our junior system obviously mentioned at the start at
the top of the show, there our flegs on top
of the table, So yeah, we've got.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Some good young boys.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Yeah, some very good young boys in there too, So
we've got to show them and you know asked about
Ethan Sawners. We've got to show them a pathway too,
because young guys want to play in the NRL. We've
got to show our flag guys that we do develop
and push guys through, and we do show them a pathway.
Otherwise they get frustrated and leave. So we we do
(17:51):
have to walk the walk because we we do say
that as part of our pitch to them when they
come here.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
If you're going well enough, you'll get a shot.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
And that's it too.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
There's that always thing that if we don't use them,
we tend to lose them, right.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Correct, And all young players they want to play first
grade and they want to be in the NRL.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
So you've got to.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Show them that pathways.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
There's going to be good enough to take it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And thankfully we're making the right decisions when we have
the BOO players, none of them have let us down.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
John.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Is there a certain and I say this, I just
kind of think about this a lot. I'll probably think
about it too much, but is there a certain perception
where you think that sometimes keeping some of these young
kids are going to it's going to be an ongoing
battle because obviously agents, it's such an agent driven game.
You've told me that they're kind of your words, agent driven,
and they're always snooping around. And I just kind of
(18:40):
have that concern that we're getting some success now and
some of these players are starting to really come out
and a lot of some of the boys have come
from Sydney. I just kind of feel, gee, was I
hope it's not a long time battle and a long
time stress to keep the two Ethans and to keep
some of these young kids.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
You know, yeah, definitely will be a battle. The battle
every week, every so it is a long term battle.
It just is a battle the whole time to retain
your roster and keep the Wolves at bay. It just is,
you know, even see it West Tigers. You can have
a player signed up. You know, you can reach an
agreement for three years, and you know within the year's
(19:17):
time that player's agent might agitate for change, might advitate
for agitate for more money, and so it's constant and ongoing.
People sometimes don't see that, but you know, as you said,
you signed up someone.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
For three years.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
You know, the way that in our world works, it
doesn't necessarily guarantee you'll be there for three years.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
So it is a constant battle.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
And that's why I think we work hard at making
sure the players are happy because we have to, you know,
we don't want to take the risks that they're not
happy and asking their agent to look around.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
So every club has that battle. Some have it harder
than others.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
See West Tigers, you know, they they've got yeah, tough
period at the moment to retain people and they're losing
them and it's really difficult.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
But yeah, it is constant and every week.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Do you think it's part of evolution and it's a
generation thing now it just plays a little bit harder
to keep.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Definitely, you speak to any young person today and like
years and years ago, someone started at Westpact, they stayed
at West because they stayed in their company. You know,
they didn't go chop and changing every t or three years.
But the modern day employee does stop and change everych
or three years or it's not a It used to
be a bad thing if you were changing all the time,
but it seems to be that generational thing where it's
(20:42):
you know, the Josh Papali's and Jared Croakers and even
Jacko and those guys that do two hundred and fifty
three hundred games at the one club very very rare
and probably will be rarer going forward. But to do
the whole career at one club is it's very rare
these days.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Yeah, And sometimes the salary cap it has to it
doesn't allow for you to keep those players now because
you just got to think of the future. And I
know I've had conversations with you and you have been
quite transparent saying that it's better to let a player
kind of like move on to their next chapter before
then later than having them maybe one or two too.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Long and they might have another year left.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
But you just kind of got to get there beforehand
because someone's coming through and we've got agents always agitating
for more money, for more money, and sometimes if you
really want to keep someone who's really part of the
crust of your success and you've built the team around,
you kind of almost got to meet them and meet
them at the front door with them, right you do.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
And that's why I said you got the one team town.
The closeness that that's an intangible that we've got to
trade on, you know, do you move for one hundred grand,
fifty of which goes in tax, you know, maybe not
to be winning and not to be as happy as
you are playing with your mates, So you know that
intangible helps us. Particularly players are getting on well, they're
(22:06):
enjoying each other's company. You still prefer to play with
your mates, and when with your mates that there is
something still in that that's the grassroots side of footy.
There's still nothing better than going into battle and winning
a game of footy with your mates. So that does
have an intangible value, not much more than one hundred
or fifty grand, but there's still something there that does
(22:29):
help us in the long run.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
So I think we definitely have got that.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Year you moved to Sydney, you have a lot more
money to buy a house than been in Canberra.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So the cost of living sort of helps us a bit.
I feel.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Young players can buy a house pretty quickly in Canberra
now it's a lot harder in certain areas of Sydney.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
So that all helps us.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
And like we said in that documentary, ifew years back
during COVID, what might take you a week in Sydney,
it will just take your day in camera.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, correct, literally it goes through there on the way
that newcast on the weekend. It's yeah, it's not as easy.
It can be thick. So we're lucky we have we
can have the best of both walls here in Canberra.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Business wise, downy things seem to be booming. That's great.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
This year we've had to sell out pretty much sell
out crowds for the first time in a long long
time for the mid season games. Of course the Bulldogs game,
and probably on paper well sold out for Puppers, but
the conditions probably kept a couple away. But that must
be pleasing. And I tell you what, that atmosphere against
the Bulldog. I was down there on the sideline doing
a call there and I thought it was nineteen ninety
five down there.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It was fantastic.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
You said about our fans and our supporters, they're unbelievable.
Very very cold weather that day against sous and to
get that crowd out there, it was miserable, wet, coming
insideways and cold. We definitely would have had twenty four there,
had a nice sunny day, but great supporters, the ones
that are even going back to the start of the
(24:02):
year at Vegas or so many people I saw at Vegas.
It's an expensive place to go to support your team,
and so many traveled over.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Just got our season off.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
To a great start and just showed you how our
fans are.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
We haven't looked back since that Vegas performance, and that's
kind of been the kind of the nucleus of the
whole year. That's the kind of standard that we've set.
And I've asked the players and I've had a few
different responses, which has been really pleasing to hear that
different reasons what they're feeling from different years. And I
asked you that, don what are you feeling and noticing
in the environment compared to previous years. I'm only measuring
(24:41):
it because we're sitting on top of the table.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
It's a good question. Look, you do have to win
the close games. You know, we're winning some close games,
which talks to the grid of the team that want
to be there and do it for each other.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
That that is not game.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Plans, and that is just hard work in defense when
you're defend in your line and doing it for your mate.
All those cliches I know, but that is probably the
resolve is the resolve is there more probably than the
last couple of years. And as I said, those younger guys,
now I've got twenty thirty forty eighty games under their belt.
(25:19):
You know, when a young guy comes into first grade,
they're just trying to get through the game without making
a mistake. You know, they're not thinking about grabbing the
ball and winning the game. They just want to make
sure that they get through their boo and the first
five games and get picked next week. But after twenty
fifty games, you see, it's some strange no worries. It
all over calling the ball and running the ball or
(25:41):
trying something because he's got the support of his teammates
and they've got faith in him to do it.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
You know. I when Patty can grab the ball.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Out of dmbing off and try something, you know, and
not get blasted by the senior players, that all helps.
But it is it comes with fifty thirty eighty games,
you know, Red horsebos now one hundred.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
A lot of those forwards over one hundred games. That
really helps.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Even and he's one hundred and a few weeks ago
as well, so you've been around for a while and
correct starting become big games. And I love it, though
I love I know we always got to keep a
cap on it. But I love just putting on you know,
the Sydney magazine shows and you know, on Fox and
whether it's Fox or nine and having the Raiders now
back up then it just feels so good to be
(26:29):
you know when they talk about well these teams are
going to play well if they're going to compete with
the Storms and the Raiders of the world, you.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Know, yeah, yeah, starting to get a bit of that crudos.
But but yeah, there's still an element there that would
be thinking, oh, all the Raiders have just had a
good year, but come to the Semis. We've got big
name stars and they're lift and we're happy that they
keep thinking that because you know, we can surprise them
in the Semis as well as during the.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I love having the pressure of that, and obviously Ricky
does as well. It's just perfect thing out of the radar,
no punting intended, and you.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Get to do that in a one team town outside
of Sydney too a little bit, so that helps.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Well, you just saw just a you know, for example,
do Dom Young. He's a player that I kind of
follow and just see how he goes. He goes to
the Rooster is a big city kind of just didn't
really fit. You know, he's a bit more of an
introvert personally. Maybe he's I'm just speculating and just you know,
it's all perception. But he goes back to Newcastle one
team town with some old mates and he just fits
straight back in.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
And he's had a couple of good weeks he has.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
He played well against us, and you're right, it's.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Not for every blinder against the Dolphins on his first game.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
But yep, and then good against us, So it's not
for everybody that part of the world. So yeah, So,
as I said, we do have some natural advantages that
aren't sort of seen until you get down here and
you move down here and you settle in, and that's
when once they do that, they're fine. It's just the
first thought of moving away from family a home that
(27:56):
they can't get.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Through their head. But once they do, they all love it.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
And when you have that brotherhood and that heart, that
harmony that the guys have, and you know the no
d H policy here, everyone's good. Everyone's good, good and
so nurturing. And you've heard these crazy you know, the
great stories of like Papa in the past and so
warming and just naturally unsolicited or just text and like
tune in and that's that's what you want, and it's
(28:20):
just it's just great to see that. Hopefully this generation
they're a little bit more aware and they can probably
see what's real or what's just an agent's cell, which
could we just be s you know, move the Sydney
or gay here because of this this the lights and
the beaches and stuff, whereas you probably get you those
performances here. And I've always said, you know, like you
walk into those you walk into Geo Stadium and you
(28:42):
see mal you know, immortalized in a statue, and you
see Lorr there and obviously mausback to leave us again.
But you can you can pretty much just say you
could spend your whole living career, your working career, in
your Agua league career, which could be short, and you
could spend it in Canberra. You know, retire at thirty
three and you know yourself life starts at forty, right.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
That's true.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Yeah, And look, males come and gone a couple of times,
and he's he's more than welcome back and he'll always
been a raider. But he's got a wonderful opportunity to
go over there. But you expects me all about the
era that he was down here with the Queenslanders and
Belcher and Coin and jack O and the waters Boys,
and it's the best time of his life and greatest
mates of his life. So that's what I meant when
I said about a one team town, that you know
(29:25):
they male's era. They all had to move down from Queensland,
didn't know anyone down here, so that's why they've got
a special bond. So I think we've got that bond
with this group. They're a mixture of Queenslander's country boys,
some Sydney boys and some local kids. So what you
said before about it's not scripted, it's just unscripted.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
The fact that you walk through the door.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
And josph Paley walks up to you and introduces himself
and welcomes you to the club when you're nine chained
like that, that's not something that.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Said. It's not something that's scripted. It it's unscripted. It's
it's real and I think they can feel through that.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
So and you mentioned that the diverse culture cultureism with
the Raiders, and you mentioned it forgot to mention the
two English boys, and I saw Morgues and Maddie Nichols
on all weekend and they were just at the local
department store buying a television or doing a radio promo there,
and they just they just got amongst it because whether
they felt they needed to, but they just kind of
(30:23):
got amongst it and you could just see the genuinism
there and they were just going in to buy a
new TV and nearly one one in the raffle.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
But it's just good to.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
See and they've made the cameras their home and I
just think the theme of this story and this conversation
they can really find a home and a heart here.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
And then whether they.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Continue to just stay in Canberra like post career, or
whether they do leave, or they leave on their own
accord where they feel it's an opportunity to go elsewhere.
They just they missed Camera canbra always and the Raiders
and the Green always sticks with them.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
It does.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
And we've been lucky with We've had a great englishmen here,
Elliot Whitet and Hodgoe. And like Elliot's moving back to
Canberra he wants He's when he finished his career, He's
moving back here. You Hojo loved the place to speak
see when we go and play away at Newcastle.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
He was great and I think they gave the place a.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Rap when they went back to England and talked about
talked to Morgan and talked to Maddie Nicholson and talked about.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
How good the place was. So that all helps. They
are our best salesman for us.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Let's see, they're better salesman than these some of these agents.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
All right, Donny, that's sure, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
That right?
Speaker 1 (31:32):
And Nick all the best mate, good like you said
He's not here for the clickbait all the couchside critics.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's raw, real and full of.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Deep and meaningfuls with the Raiders in a circle from
laughs to hard truth, still tell you and.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Ditch the negative noise and get.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Behind the boys.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
This is Raider Nick, Well, Johnny, time for our half
really catch up.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
It's it's been an extraordinary year.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
But first of all, congratulations for the retention of save
to Marlowe this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, no, we've been talking to for a while. He's
been a revelation this year, had bad injury, which we're
hoping he'll be right, come to me. He's been fantastic
young man and really really good on the field. So
we're trying to get through and sign most of the
young guys up. We're still working on some mothers today
(00:57):
and like Zack Coskins for a week and some of
the other young guys like Adam Mariotta.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
We're working through those.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Now is a critical time with a couple of buys
coming up, so it's a good time to speak to
the players and their agents. But yeah, trying to keep
the batch of them together.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
How does it work in the RGUA league? Weld done
is just a matter of the human element of just
trying to get managers and people available to have those
conversations and just trying to get it on the same
table at the same time.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Absolutely, and it can take a week or it can
take a month, you know, so thankfully, the best gauge
is that the players come to us and say they
want to stay. They want to say they want to extend,
and that's what we are getting.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
You've still got to get to the terms.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, you still got to get to the terms and
reach agreement. But the fact is they're not leaving. They
want to stay. Their first off, their first priority is
to stay at the club. So that's always, you know,
that's always a great indicator. That hasn't always happened in
the past. Players have left that we didn't want to leave,
and it's never always you don't always get what you want,
(02:01):
but buying large all of them at the moment saying
they want to stay, which is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
So that might look like that would just come to
you directly. I'm a knock on your doorstep and just say.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, I hang out, yeah, king like normally because I
chat to them and says mother, really keen to lock
you down. You know, I see you as a part
of the future. We'd like you to stay for a
couple of years. How about I get Donnie or Joel
to get get everything moving with your agent and start
discussions and then obviously you kind of trying to find
common ground. But yeah, as I said, the first and
(02:32):
most important part is that they do want to stay.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Yeah, that's pleasing to know. And it's great how we're
in our cycle now with success and you know, I
like to get to the human element of it all.
And before we get into the more business core discussions,
how are you feeling in regards to you know, when
you go home at bed at night for another win,
another win that we've chalked up many wins, how are
you feeling? Donnie was sitting top of the table mate
(02:57):
halfway for a year.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
You're definitely slip better, and you're losing, there's no question
about that. You're not staring at the ceiling as much.
And you know, when you lose players and all that
sort of stuff you run through. These things run through
your heads a lot late at night. But you know,
our flag's going really well at the top of the
competition as well. Our ESG ball had a really good
year this year. We have got a good Dutch coming through.
(03:18):
We always have done well with with with talent, but
getting them winning on the field and playing as a
team that seems to have come through the junior systems
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So you know we're in a good spot.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
As I said, players want to stay here so and
play for the club and that's that's that's the hardest part.
You know, some other clubs at the moment bickering and
not going well and players looking to leave. That can
happen too, but thankfully for us, it's service.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
It it's kind of what you see is what you get.
And the great thing about it is and you know,
I think it's it's all crap anyway, you know, the
kind of canbra perception out there. And always say I
say this to our people always. I always say this
to the other people as well. I do a lot
working a triple m in Sydney and whatnot. The camberrad
is like, we're like we're the toughest, most tenacious team
(04:11):
in the competition because we just get the short end
of the stick everywhere. You know a lot of areas
and you know it's hard for us, And look, I
know that you've got a recruitment guy that's moving on
and moving on to a place where it's probably a
little bit easier for them because they've got like the
geographical aspect to kind of sell, whereas we've kind of
got core football to sell. But I'll tell you what,
(04:33):
when the core football is going well, they're a team.
They're the most harmonious in the competition.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Look, there are disadvantages, but we have got some massive
advantages Nick. We we've got a big area to draw
from rugby leagues strong out in the New southlaest Country area.
The players do form a bond. I think better in
a one team town. You know, you may move away
from home. I said this before. So like going to
boarding school, you have to rely on each other because
(04:59):
you don't necessarily knowing anyone there. So you know, a
lot of the clubs in Sydney it's busy. They finished
training at four o'clock. They've got to get in their
car and beat the traffic and head home, you know,
and they're all living in different suburbs, and so we
don't have that here. You know, they're going to have
a coffee, they're going to have a game of golf.
So I feel that one team towns like ours have
that advantage and do form better bonds, and so we
(05:26):
do trade on that a lot. The guys get closer together.
You can't manufacture that. That has to be within them
making friends with each other, spending time with each other.
They love traveling away, they've done a lot of travel
this year. All those things can go pair shapers. They're
not getting on.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
But I think I.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Think we do it well because we've been doing it
for forty years. You know, we've had to relocate people
for a long time. So take the Broncos for example,
most of the guys that from southeast Queensland or Brisbane area,
you don't really have to do too much to ingrade
them into the city because they've been there all their lives.
Was four hours. Eighty percent of them from somewhere else.
(06:05):
And you know, we've got to work hard with their
families and themselves to settle them into a job and
study and training. And I think, you know, we've come
across a lot of homesickness and I think we're good
at dealing with it and you know, building relationships with
the players, and they do it themselves that we've got
to give them the tools and the opportunities to do that.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Well, I'll share this with you. I won't mention the names.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
I share this on air in our call a few
weeks ago because I caught up with some of the boys,
ex players of the Raiders that over there for Pappa's
Up in the Sheds postgame Papa's three nineteen, and I've
made a little bit of a tally and I mentioned
all the names on air.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I won't repeat it here. I'll tell you. I'll tell
you I ran a.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Coffee one day, but it's about six or seven now
that I can count former players that have left on
their own a court, so we know the regular league.
You know, you'll let people go, which you have to,
but then you'll get you'll lose people that you don't
want to And the ones that we didn't want to
lose have all said to me, and I think they
don't mind me repeating them because I mentioned on here
(07:07):
before and I won't repeat the names, but they mentioned
to me I shouldn't have left the Raiders, and that's
and and that that doesn't necessarily mean whether they might
have gone to a club that you know, played finals
and went well and pushed for premierships. But the family
and the brotherhood and without embarrassing you, like Donnie's really caring,
you know, like just and then and they've gone to
(07:28):
another place whereas all of a sudden, like it's a
big smoke and it's not it's not as comfortable and
it's not as nurturing whereas like a like a one
team town can be. But especially the Raiders and these
are a couple of players actually went to a one
team town, whether it's up north and whatnot. But they
always missed it.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
And that's why when you put on an old Boy's
day you get everyone back.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
You're right, And I know a couple of the players
because we know a couple of I bumped bumped two
up at Newcastle.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
On the weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Two guys came to our sheds, former players, you know,
and said something similar. So it's you know, it is
nice to hear. They don't just say it to make
you feel good. You can tell if you put on
an old boys reunion and no one comes back, that's
that's that's you can tell that they didn't like the club.
But most of ours always make an effort to come
back because they had great memories of their time together.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
And as I said, they even going back to the
early days.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You talk to the old old boys that came in
the eighties, they only had each other from all over Australia.
They didn't know each other, so they had to align
each other and that those guys there, they enjoyed the
reunions the most, the guys you know from the early
days of the eighties, because.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
They had full time jobs.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
They went in a lot of money, but they sort
of started off the club and their wives became close
and are still good friends now, so Craig Bellamy and
actually Gil but recently together you know after a game
or you know like that. They only met through the
Raiders in the early days. So yeah, it is pleasing
to hear. And again it does to mate. If you're
(09:01):
not having a good season on the field, if you're
losing games or whatever, and that's still there, that's pleasing too.
It doesn't all go down the girl. It's still there.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, So you're not going to win everything, but if
you still got that good core group and the good values,
you can still get through a tough period on the
field and and it not all go pair shaped.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Yeah, It's just one of those things, and it's all
probably coming to the surface now because we're you know,
we're out there again. We're kind of on top of
everyone's lips at the moment. But there was just quite
intriguing and to hear that. I've heard that time and
time again, and a lot of players have probably come
have left home to get a shot at the Raiders
(09:46):
and have kind of gone back to their home. A
lot of it's the fun off guys, and they've even
mentioned it too, so and I think in hindsight when
they kind of reflect on their career, it's just one
of those things, go, I I was in a good
spot there at the Raiders, and you know, there's always
an opportunity, and we're in that opportunity now where the
cycles come around.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
We're on an.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Upheaval now with all these young juniors coming through and
a lot of them even just talking to Ricky saying
that there might have been an expectation in regards to
where development would be, but it looks like these some
of these kids are kind of exceeding that and they're
kind of well well, well well prematurely really really like
performing well that we're probably we're going to give him
some more patients and more time to get there. It's
(10:28):
like Ethan Strange, Kyle works is, like I keep saying,
he's one of the best fullbacks in the cop He's
definitely the top five.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, and they've come on in leaps and bounds.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And the thing is, you really don't know until you
put them into first grade. You know, you have a
fair idea. You've been watching the coaching staff and coaching,
but you know, some of those people that have left
that we didn't want. We didn't want Jack Widerlief. We'd
love to still have Jack Baker. But it did bring
on Kyo Quicker. You know, sorry, brought on Ethan Quicker
because to have to step up at a quicker pace.
(10:58):
And you know, they're exceeding our expectations long way to go,
and Rick reminds them of that in the sheds every game.
You know, we're not we haven't done anything yet.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
One thing I'll share with you, Donnie. Knowing the boys
at all different levels, what I'm seeing is the continuity
of their temperament. Like when I go and talk to
one of the players, it's like I'm talking to them
last year. They haven't changed at all. And I'll get
a little bit Yahoo with them and go, oh, you
boys are flying, how that's this And they go, yeah,
we're doing well this part of the season, being the
(11:29):
operative word there.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
So I think Rick strilled that into them to say,
it's all beautiful to get you know, I think you
said it the other day in the press coments that
some of the media that wrote us off at the
start of the year that said that we'd come last
and bottom four of the same media they're saying, oh,
you can win the company now, so take that with
a grain of salt. It's hard work. Every game is hard.
Every team can beat you. On the day, Newcastle will
(11:52):
come on home strong. The other day we just held on.
You know, it's a very very hard, long competition. We're
going to stay healthy and get through this last Origin
game and then ext script through again a few weeks.
But yeah, I mean, you'd rather be where we are
than where we were last year.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Were really fighting hard to make the ape. We lost
the close.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Game in the middle of the year that really hurt us,
and we lost a couple of close games, so we
just missed out last year. So it wasn't much in it,
but you'd certainly rather be where we are.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
And it's great that they take that on the playing
group and you can say that, but do you really
mean that? And what I'm seeing in the guys, I
can really feel into it that it's actually genuine and
you and you can tell, and you can even Ricky.
You think Ricky is such an emotional guy. You can
even tell like he's very calm and for a nice
good win in the presser is still quite calm, and
he still gets it because he's been there as a
(12:44):
player coach, so he knows exactly how to steer it.
And it's just great to see in your leadership with
like you know, with taps this year and an horse
sorry big Big Red going really well and.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Everyone's just everyone's just playing their part.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, and all different stories.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
You know, he was very quiet when he first came
down here and you wouldn't have picked him to be
a future captain and leader. He's done unbelievably well. One
self improvement and the way he speaks and just the
leadership that he's shown, you know, read turned things around.
You know, he wasn't in a good space. A couple
of years ago. And again that's all up to the
players to turn that round. So as he said, than done.
(13:22):
But they did and showing some real leadership qualities now.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Absolutely, and even Hostco.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I think Hostco is a great guy for the club
and such a great guy. Fortunate enough to catch up
with him outside of here and and he's just a
great guy. And he's buying into the community as well.
And you know, and he bought a house he punched
out eighty minutes. I was fortunate enough to meet his
old man in the sheds after a game, and it's
just there's such that that's a raider, and I know
(13:53):
the guy that you look for, and I know that
you what you want as a raider and what that
picture is. And he tacks all the boxes.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Doesn't he. He's definitely got straight into being one of us.
He's exactly the top of it. He's like Elliot White,
it was too and we're lucky with those players. So
he settled in a waterhouse pretty quickly. We're working through
with his agent now on trying to his contract. He
does and it said, well, funnily enough, I talked to
(14:22):
his dad too and said, you know, we tried to
get him before he went to Penrith and when he
left the Broncos and it was touch and go who's
picking between us and Penrith. So when when he came
up again, we went back at him and thankfully he
came this time.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
He had had a good game. I think he was
with the Panthers that day and they put a big
score on a couple of tries and he did.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
And as you remember when he first came down to
us too, he was fantastic and he got that bad injury,
but he slipped straight in in you a field of
bloaks anyway. Again, a lot of them were from Newcastle
one team town, so yeah, yeah, you know our types.
You know most of our players, so you know what
our types players are, and he's definitely one of them.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Absolutely, He's one of my favorites already, Tony. I got
to ask, so get bailed up everywhere I go, whether
it's a supermarket or the survey, anywhere, they ask who's
going to replace what's the plan for post Jammer, for
past post Jamal? You know, we've got Ethan Sanders there
who's ready to go to an extent. Had a great
(15:24):
game against the Roosters, has kind of called up and
stead the team to victory as well in that important position,
the week to week grind of er off for young block,
it's a different story. You can do it for a month,
but can you do it for you for thirty weeks?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
What's the plan?
Speaker 4 (15:37):
I know, I know you've thrown thrown the right out there,
that the net's been cast pretty wide and there's not
much available when it comes to good, good halves.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Where are we with that?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
You think, look, there are some there are some options
out there. We're looking at them all.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Also got a good, good player in Adam Cook in
State Cup. I think Ethan Sanders answered a lot of
things that day against Roosters, a very high place to win,
a very good team. He's been in good systems and
he's been a junior red player for a long time.
But yes, steering the team around the park for twenty
six rounds will be difficult.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
We definitely wanted to keep Jamal, but.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
He got he got an offer that he couldn't refuse
in terms of the longevity for his career. That's why
it always makes it hard, and it's like we never
want to lose Jack White neither. But you know, we'll
we'll just keep our eye out. Something will pop up
as well, because you definitely need three. You need three hookers,
which will have next year. You need three half backs,
which were for four even with Cookie. There are a
(16:38):
couple of names that Shann's some interest and we'll just
work through that process, particularly in the next couple of
weeks with with the buyers coming up, is a good
time to go through that. So we've probably got two
spots left and another experienced half would be ideal for
one of those spots.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
So two spots that has been an other half and
maybe another.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
For being out side back or a front rower and
outside back, you know, or a front row we showed
this year.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
You know, we're in there with with injuries and you know,
hopefully we keep pop a lad, but he'd been injured
since round one or two and early earlier the year,
so we are a bitin there. But you know, we
just see what's out there and I'll fill those two
spots in the next probably a month or so.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
But our junior system obviously mentioned at the start at
the top of the show, there our flegs on top
of the table, So yeah, we've got.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Some good young boys.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Yeah, some very good young boys in there too, So
we've got to show them and you know asked about
Ethan Sawners. We've got to show them a pathway too,
because young guys want to play in the NRL. We've
got to show our flag guys that we do develop
and push guys through, and we do show them a pathway.
Otherwise they get frustrated and leave. So we we do
(17:51):
have to walk the walk because we we do say
that as part of our pitch to them when they
come here.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
If you're going well enough, you'll get a shot.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
And that's it too.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
There's that always thing that if we don't use them,
we tend to lose them, right.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Correct, And all young players they want to play first
grade and they want to be in the NRL.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
So you've got to.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Show them that pathways.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
There's going to be good enough to take it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And thankfully we're making the right decisions when we have
the BOO players, none of them have let us down.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
John.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Is there a certain and I say this, I just
kind of think about this a lot. I'll probably think
about it too much, but is there a certain perception
where you think that sometimes keeping some of these young
kids are going to it's going to be an ongoing
battle because obviously agents, it's such an agent driven game.
You've told me that they're kind of your words, agent driven,
and they're always snooping around. And I just kind of
(18:40):
have that concern that we're getting some success now and
some of these players are starting to really come out
and a lot of some of the boys have come
from Sydney. I just kind of feel, gee, was I
hope it's not a long time battle and a long
time stress to keep the two Ethans and to keep
some of these young kids.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
You know, yeah, definitely will be a battle. The battle
every week, every so it is a long term battle.
It just is a battle the whole time to retain
your roster and keep the Wolves at bay. It just is,
you know, even see it West Tigers. You can have
a player signed up. You know, you can reach an
agreement for three years, and you know within the year's
(19:17):
time that player's agent might agitate for change, might advitate
for agitate for more money, and so it's constant and ongoing.
People sometimes don't see that, but you know, as you said,
you signed up someone.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
For three years.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
You know, the way that in our world works, it
doesn't necessarily guarantee you'll be there for three years.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
So it is a constant battle.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
And that's why I think we work hard at making
sure the players are happy because we have to, you know,
we don't want to take the risks that they're not
happy and asking their agent to look around.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
So every club has that battle. Some have it harder
than others.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
See West Tigers, you know, they they've got yeah, tough
period at the moment to retain people and they're losing
them and it's really difficult.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
But yeah, it is constant and every week.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Do you think it's part of evolution and it's a
generation thing now it just plays a little bit harder
to keep.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Definitely, you speak to any young person today and like
years and years ago, someone started at Westpact, they stayed
at West because they stayed in their company. You know,
they didn't go chop and changing every t or three years.
But the modern day employee does stop and change everych
or three years or it's not a It used to
be a bad thing if you were changing all the time,
but it seems to be that generational thing where it's
(20:42):
you know, the Josh Papali's and Jared Croakers and even
Jacko and those guys that do two hundred and fifty
three hundred games at the one club very very rare
and probably will be rarer going forward. But to do
the whole career at one club is it's very rare
these days.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Yeah, And sometimes the salary cap it has to it
doesn't allow for you to keep those players now because
you just got to think of the future. And I
know I've had conversations with you and you have been
quite transparent saying that it's better to let a player
kind of like move on to their next chapter before
then later than having them maybe one or two too.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Long and they might have another year left.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
But you just kind of got to get there beforehand
because someone's coming through and we've got agents always agitating
for more money, for more money, and sometimes if you
really want to keep someone who's really part of the
crust of your success and you've built the team around,
you kind of almost got to meet them and meet
them at the front door with them, right you do.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
And that's why I said you got the one team town.
The closeness that that's an intangible that we've got to
trade on, you know, do you move for one hundred grand,
fifty of which goes in tax, you know, maybe not
to be winning and not to be as happy as
you are playing with your mates, So you know that
intangible helps us. Particularly players are getting on well, they're
(22:06):
enjoying each other's company. You still prefer to play with
your mates, and when with your mates that there is
something still in that that's the grassroots side of footy.
There's still nothing better than going into battle and winning
a game of footy with your mates. So that does
have an intangible value, not much more than one hundred
or fifty grand, but there's still something there that does
(22:29):
help us in the long run.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
So I think we definitely have got that.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Year you moved to Sydney, you have a lot more
money to buy a house than been in Canberra.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So the cost of living sort of helps us a bit.
I feel.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Young players can buy a house pretty quickly in Canberra
now it's a lot harder in certain areas of Sydney.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
So that all helps us.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
And like we said in that documentary, ifew years back
during COVID, what might take you a week in Sydney,
it will just take your day in camera.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, correct, literally it goes through there on the way
that newcast on the weekend. It's yeah, it's not as easy.
It can be thick. So we're lucky we have we
can have the best of both walls here in Canberra.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Business wise, downy things seem to be booming. That's great.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
This year we've had to sell out pretty much sell
out crowds for the first time in a long long
time for the mid season games. Of course the Bulldogs game,
and probably on paper well sold out for Puppers, but
the conditions probably kept a couple away. But that must
be pleasing. And I tell you what, that atmosphere against
the Bulldog. I was down there on the sideline doing
a call there and I thought it was nineteen ninety
five down there.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It was fantastic.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
You said about our fans and our supporters, they're unbelievable.
Very very cold weather that day against sous and to
get that crowd out there, it was miserable, wet, coming
insideways and cold. We definitely would have had twenty four there,
had a nice sunny day, but great supporters, the ones
that are even going back to the start of the
(24:02):
year at Vegas or so many people I saw at Vegas.
It's an expensive place to go to support your team,
and so many traveled over.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Just got our season off.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
To a great start and just showed you how our
fans are.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
We haven't looked back since that Vegas performance, and that's
kind of been the kind of the nucleus of the
whole year. That's the kind of standard that we've set.
And I've asked the players and I've had a few
different responses, which has been really pleasing to hear that
different reasons what they're feeling from different years. And I
asked you that, don what are you feeling and noticing
in the environment compared to previous years. I'm only measuring
(24:41):
it because we're sitting on top of the table.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
It's a good question. Look, you do have to win
the close games. You know, we're winning some close games,
which talks to the grid of the team that want
to be there and do it for each other.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
That that is not game.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Plans, and that is just hard work in defense when
you're defend in your line and doing it for your mate.
All those cliches I know, but that is probably the
resolve is the resolve is there more probably than the
last couple of years. And as I said, those younger guys,
now I've got twenty thirty forty eighty games under their belt.
(25:19):
You know, when a young guy comes into first grade,
they're just trying to get through the game without making
a mistake. You know, they're not thinking about grabbing the
ball and winning the game. They just want to make
sure that they get through their boo and the first
five games and get picked next week. But after twenty
fifty games, you see, it's some strange no worries. It
all over calling the ball and running the ball or
(25:41):
trying something because he's got the support of his teammates
and they've got faith in him to do it.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
You know. I when Patty can grab the ball.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Out of dmbing off and try something, you know, and
not get blasted by the senior players, that all helps.
But it is it comes with fifty thirty eighty games,
you know, Red horsebos now one hundred.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
A lot of those forwards over one hundred games. That
really helps.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Even and he's one hundred and a few weeks ago
as well, so you've been around for a while and
correct starting become big games. And I love it, though
I love I know we always got to keep a
cap on it. But I love just putting on you know,
the Sydney magazine shows and you know, on Fox and
whether it's Fox or nine and having the Raiders now
back up then it just feels so good to be
(26:29):
you know when they talk about well these teams are
going to play well if they're going to compete with
the Storms and the Raiders of the world, you.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Know, yeah, yeah, starting to get a bit of that crudos.
But but yeah, there's still an element there that would
be thinking, oh, all the Raiders have just had a
good year, but come to the Semis. We've got big
name stars and they're lift and we're happy that they
keep thinking that because you know, we can surprise them
in the Semis as well as during the.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I love having the pressure of that, and obviously Ricky
does as well. It's just perfect thing out of the radar,
no punting intended, and you.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Get to do that in a one team town outside
of Sydney too a little bit, so that helps.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Well, you just saw just a you know, for example,
do Dom Young. He's a player that I kind of
follow and just see how he goes. He goes to
the Rooster is a big city kind of just didn't
really fit. You know, he's a bit more of an
introvert personally. Maybe he's I'm just speculating and just you know,
it's all perception. But he goes back to Newcastle one
team town with some old mates and he just fits
straight back in.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
And he's had a couple of good weeks he has.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
He played well against us, and you're right, it's.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Not for every blinder against the Dolphins on his first game.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
But yep, and then good against us, So it's not
for everybody that part of the world. So yeah, So,
as I said, we do have some natural advantages that
aren't sort of seen until you get down here and
you move down here and you settle in, and that's
when once they do that, they're fine. It's just the
first thought of moving away from family a home that
(27:56):
they can't get.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Through their head. But once they do, they all love it.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
And when you have that brotherhood and that heart, that
harmony that the guys have, and you know the no
d H policy here, everyone's good. Everyone's good, good and
so nurturing. And you've heard these crazy you know, the
great stories of like Papa in the past and so
warming and just naturally unsolicited or just text and like
tune in and that's that's what you want, and it's
(28:20):
just it's just great to see that. Hopefully this generation
they're a little bit more aware and they can probably
see what's real or what's just an agent's cell, which
could we just be s you know, move the Sydney
or gay here because of this this the lights and
the beaches and stuff, whereas you probably get you those
performances here. And I've always said, you know, like you
walk into those you walk into Geo Stadium and you
(28:42):
see mal you know, immortalized in a statue, and you
see Lorr there and obviously mausback to leave us again.
But you can you can pretty much just say you
could spend your whole living career, your working career, in
your Agua league career, which could be short, and you
could spend it in Canberra. You know, retire at thirty
three and you know yourself life starts at forty, right.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
That's true.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Yeah, And look, males come and gone a couple of times,
and he's he's more than welcome back and he'll always
been a raider. But he's got a wonderful opportunity to
go over there. But you expects me all about the
era that he was down here with the Queenslanders and
Belcher and Coin and jack O and the waters Boys,
and it's the best time of his life and greatest
mates of his life. So that's what I meant when
I said about a one team town, that you know
(29:25):
they male's era. They all had to move down from Queensland,
didn't know anyone down here, so that's why they've got
a special bond. So I think we've got that bond
with this group. They're a mixture of Queenslander's country boys,
some Sydney boys and some local kids. So what you
said before about it's not scripted, it's just unscripted.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
The fact that you walk through the door.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
And josph Paley walks up to you and introduces himself
and welcomes you to the club when you're nine chained
like that, that's not something that.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Said. It's not something that's scripted. It it's unscripted. It's
it's real and I think they can feel through that.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
So and you mentioned that the diverse culture cultureism with
the Raiders, and you mentioned it forgot to mention the
two English boys, and I saw Morgues and Maddie Nichols
on all weekend and they were just at the local
department store buying a television or doing a radio promo there,
and they just they just got amongst it because whether
they felt they needed to, but they just kind of
(30:23):
got amongst it and you could just see the genuinism
there and they were just going in to buy a
new TV and nearly one one in the raffle.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
But it's just good to.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
See and they've made the cameras their home and I
just think the theme of this story and this conversation
they can really find a home and a heart here.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
And then whether they.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Continue to just stay in Canberra like post career, or
whether they do leave, or they leave on their own
accord where they feel it's an opportunity to go elsewhere.
They just they missed Camera canbra always and the Raiders
and the Green always sticks with them.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
It does.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
And we've been lucky with We've had a great englishmen here,
Elliot Whitet and Hodgoe. And like Elliot's moving back to
Canberra he wants He's when he finished his career, He's
moving back here. You Hojo loved the place to speak
see when we go and play away at Newcastle.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
He was great and I think they gave the place a.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Rap when they went back to England and talked about
talked to Morgan and talked to Maddie Nicholson and talked about.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
How good the place was. So that all helps. They
are our best salesman for us.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Let's see, they're better salesman than these some of these agents.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
All right, Donny, that's sure, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
That right?
Speaker 1 (31:32):
And Nick all the best mate, good like you said
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