May 16, 2024 • 26 mins
Raider Nick catches up with legend Steve Walters on the eve of the 1994 Grand Final reunion!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, big episode this one as we get excited about
Magic Ground in the NRL, and we kick off on
Friday with the Raiders of via the Bulldogs and a
special night that one, not just the game, but it's
going to be an acknowledgments last celebration of the nineteen
ninety four Grand Final and the old team is going
to be there before kickoff, doing their lap of honor
once again as they did thirty years ago. And a
(00:22):
man that was part of the spine in modern day
terms and really integral part of that rate of success
in the early nineties, especially in that day in nineteen
ninety four, is a guy I have on the line.
They call him Boxy, Steve Walters on a mate, Good
to talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
How are you get a neck?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Year? Really going great, mate, Nice to chat and really
looking forward to the weekends.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Thirty years Boxy? Can you can you believe that since
that that that game in ninety four.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
No, it does get away, mate. When you're a young fellow,
it seems to go awful fast. You know, I'm fifteen
nine this year, but wow, it's hard to get your
head around it was thirty years ago. I mean, put
on have a look at some of the highlights, it
looks like a long time ago. But yeah, it was
a great day, but a long time ago, but really
looking forward to seeing everyone.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Oh mate, I'll tell you what that season though, ninety
four I had big Paul Paul Ossi I wasborn on
last week talking about his experience. We spoke for two hours.
I won't keep you for that long. But we had
that success. Of course, eighty nine to ninety you know
the ground finally ninety one where the salary cap dramas
that just shook the club up. In ninety two we
lost a lot of players. We lost Lazo, Toddy Blake,
(01:29):
so Paul Martin, a lot of players were to get
rid of. Plus all our backup in those lower grades
who were quite successful. So ninety two was a year
full of injuries, but was a bit of a rebuild.
We get back to ninety three because it was almost
the ninety four premiership was a build up from ninety three.
A great year we have there. Unfortunately Ricky goes down
and we bounce out of the We bounce out of
(01:50):
the you know, we bounced out of ninety three unsuccessful.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
What was it?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Can you remember what was a feeling like in that
off season going into ninety four.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I can't really remember, to be honest, but there was
a pretty good summation of what you just said about
what happened at that time. After the salary cap. We
lost a lot of players in particularly, I think it
was ninety one. We were in the team the three
Grand finals that day in first graders, every grade and
twenty threes or whatever it was that day, So lost
a lot of the younger fellas in particular.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
And then changed the club did really well, because that's
not of course.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
They went over and recruited the guys from New Zealand
and a couple of Fijians with naurah and stuff, and you.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Know, they would never dreamed about what they would have got.
Say lucky, they'll tell it.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Was good, good scouting, but oh, you wouldn't even think
you'd get such good players. And they filled all those holes,
you know, relatively cheap if you like, in Italy, with
the likes of Johnny Lomax and Quentin Pongeir and rerubnd
Wookie and all those guys.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
You know, great players talk about filling holes, Why lan't
fill a hole there? Ninety four and then I mean
because ninety four the season was a strong season. I
remember I mentioned this to Machines. You know that long
ago you missed Ricky in those Ricky quite humbly says,
wait in a minute. But a lot of you guys
have seen in the past in past interviews that you
know we lost Ricky in that in such dramatic circumstances
(03:08):
in that paramounta game, and then we didn't win a
game since then. And you guys was such ahead of everyone.
Think you beat Broncos twice that year. He was so
far ahead of everyone destined to win the premiership that year.
That's where the momentum was suggesting. And then it was
almost like Sheen's he had to come out and go, okay,
we need to win without Ricky. And there was a
game that you've played. You probably won't remember this, but
there was a game we played against Many and you
(03:29):
always knew that Manly always had the wood over us,
especially at home at Bruce. They knew the only team
that could beat us at Bruce was at Manly side
led by Cliffy Lyons and twos. We're playing a big
game against Many. It was a Sunday afternoon Laurie was out,
Ricky was out. So that was the first time we
had tutz Kroker playing six and we had Steve Stone
playing seven. TUTSI gets sent off in possession with the
(03:50):
ball for un accidental elbow on two, so we're down
to twelve men again without Sticky, without Lorry. We bot
thirty on Manly that afternoon. I remember everyone walked away
out of Bruce Stadium thinking, Okay, we've learned how to
win without Ricky? Was that the feel as well known
that we can't rely on Ricky in ninety four so much.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I think everyone's just another year older too. That certainly
had his bearing. And the thing with Ricky's injury, I
remember he broke his ankle that day. I was standing
right behind him, my phone coming out the side of
his sock.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Was at home. I'm pretty I think it was paramatter
at home. But the problem there was one week before
the finals.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You know, I reckon if he got if it would
have been a couple more weeks, so someone had a
chance to get in there and sort of settle.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
In a little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Might have been a little bit more helpful for us,
But you know, your things have got to go away
with footy and you lose momentum and get a little
bit short on confidence and then you know it's hard
to get it back. But I think ninety four all
those other guys, the ones that had come in and
played a few games, had a lot more games under
their belt too, And as you say that, we certainly
had a couple of good wins during the year. It
(04:51):
was a really good season for us. So yeah, that's
that's probably how I remember. It was a long time ago,
but that's what I can thigure it off the top
of my head.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
It was fair to years ago. So the tough, the box,
it all, it all went up. It all went up.
Another year when he's played Kronulla, a Johnny Lang lead
Cronulla team that were still recently okay, that had the
likes of Enning Housen and in that team of young
Matt Rodgers, I put fifty on them down here and
a lot of those tries are still replayed today. And
then obviously he's got to Newcastle, which was a hard
(05:19):
place to win. He put fifty on the Knights away
from home up there, and the Green machine was really
starting to click. And that was also without Lorry So
learning to win without Ricky. We also learned how to
ruin out Lorry and Tultz Crokers Sr. Had a great
role there playing six back and up sticky, but so
much momentum going through. Can you remember that time he's
just flying and you know what it takes to win
(05:41):
a premiership because you've been in four Grand finals before,
you've won two flags? Could you feel rocking up thing
in gee gee? Always we could win this year?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah? Well we had a good team and the stuff
you said right. The other thing which you haven't mentioned
is Brett Mulin's Tatters season. Never to beat repeating Peter,
you know what I mean, in ninety fall from the
start of it till the end. But he just settled
into that fullback role and he was awesome. And that
night's game you were referring to there, I think that's
the one where he scored a couple of doors from
one hundred meters and scored four tries or something, and
(06:11):
there wasn't that much between the team, but he was
the one that sort of split split it open.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
You know. So he was with the other one I
had mentioned there as well as the other guys.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yeah, I think that's that's how it was, and you're
just a little bit better and then things sort.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Of went out way.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yes, the season progressed that year, That's how it sort
of felt. And to endo the finals in the Grand Final.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And then you bounce into there was a really important game.
You'll be beat manly towards the end of the season
there to get that third position spot. And then you
play Norse in week one, which you handled pretty well
Box and then you move into that game against Cannery,
which was such a great game from a fan perspective,
and unfortunately Dogs beat us there an extra extra time
(06:52):
back then nineteen eighteen. Of course that field goal from
Daryl Halligan, but of course we did that try towards
the end there Dave Wesley a squad on the post
to square it up to eight in order to take
it to injury time. Was that a bit? Was that
the loss that we needed though, considering was flying so high?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, honestly I could tell you that to say, yeah,
but I honestly don't remember, but I met that game.
We came back at the ending, I remember. My memories
are we sort of fought back to get back into it,
as you say, and they sloted the field goal and
extra time.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
So I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
With grand finals, I think the hardest parts get there,
you know, firstly, and obviously you know it's fifty to
fifty send and some days you have a good day
and things go you away.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
In other days you don't.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So you know, from my point of view, if you
want to what you want to do is you want
to try and position your club, you know, to be
in that top four East you if you can, that's
what the good clubs do. And then and then you can,
and then you have those years where everything things go
your way and injuries good and this and that. That's
when you get a chance to play in the Grand
final and win them, you know. So I think more
so that everyone, I think a combination of those things
(07:56):
what you've said, with a little bit more versatile and
probably not a few I was playing a few more
games when when Ricky missed a couple of games, and
Mullin's coming and been really dominant, and those Kiweed boys
all had really good seasons, Lomax and Pongea, you know,
those sort of guys. Jason Croke is a year older.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Everybody's getting a little bit better, if you like. I
think most guys.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I would say that most guys in your career was
on the way up at that stage. You know what
I mean, they're getting improving all the time. I think
that in general across the team was probably the thing
that I would say.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
And the fact he is too. You's played at North
Sydney again and they are really desperate because they haven't
played in the Grand Final and they had us, they
had us on the rapes. It was a tough, tough win.
It was only just the raidst team of that beautiful
back line that you played with that put a couple
of late points on to make that score a little bit,
a little bit bigger than what it was. But and
you know now and all that have said that we
probably didn't play our best against Norse. The fact that
(08:46):
you probably didn't play the best against Norse, and you
knew that canna be beat you being the minor premiers
that they were. You really had to get that Sunday right,
which was the GF and you had a really really
good week. Now I'm going to ask and like I
had all the on Lae week and we took the
piece out of him that poor oh Johnny got suspended,
so he was going to miss the GF. What was
your first feeling like when you first got wind that
(09:09):
sines he was going to play Aussie.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Oh he asked us about it, and I'll have to
be honest, he spoke about it.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I picked out the other option.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Was he talking with Headro It might have been I
kn't even remember that, but yeah, and I didn't go Forsie.
But he came out and had the game of his life,
you know, so I certainly thought he could make a difference,
but from the start it's sort of one of the
other guys out there. But yeah, he got his chance,
mate and had the best game of his life, as.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
We all know. And he'll tell you in case you
missed it too.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yeah, he told us many times. And I actually mentioned
the little stuff without sounding weird box. I'm a guy
that kind of noticed some of the subtleties, the more
human subtleties of a football game as well. And I
noticed after he laid on that first try through the
dummy put Fernsi way in that first minute, he's all
run to Fernsy to congratulate him. But then he's all
run to Ossie and you were you were the first
one their box to just really fire him up and
(10:00):
pat him on the back saying good job man, like
gee whiz. You guys were so close knit and fine
up for that game. And then there's there's the stuff
talking about how he's all got behind Mao's back. Because
now I didn't want to make him about himself because
that was the leader that he was. But you especially
being the Queensland teammate, there he's all got behind him,
he's all got behind his back to let's do this
(10:22):
for maw. Was that that was that true?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I think part of it. That's certainly part of it. Mate.
You want to win the game because you want to
compete and you want to win a Grand Final.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
But he was very popular populous is not the wrong word,
very well respected. You know everyone every team I was in,
he was my captain, you know, whether it was Queen
bronk Raiders, Queensland or Australia. So I didn't play a
game where pretty well just about so. And he was
always a very selfless sort of a captain too, you know,
it was never about him.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
So that just makes people respect you more. And as
I said, he was.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
An icon of the game, so everyone was keen you
know obviously, but that that was another part of for
him to go out on a good note there, that
it was a big part of the week and there's
a lot of media attention on that.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
I remember, you know, you talk about Mao.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Ricky has been quite emotional publicly talking about what Mao
did for him just gave him confidence. Even though he
wrote him early in his career, he gave him so
much confidence when he ran out to the football field
with him. You mentioned that in all your formations were
playing while you're at Canberra, through your rap program as
well playing with Mal. What did Mal bring to you?
What did Mal mean to you as a player, and
(11:26):
how did he make you feel sharing a football field
with him?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Yeah, and I would agree with Ricky, you know, Nick,
because well I remember when I was first going. I
played a couple of seasons in Brisbane for Nors and
and when.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I signed initially got me a chance to come down
and play for the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
It was probably one of the most exciting things was
that I was going well hopefully you know, I was
guarantee anything that I was going to play with Melvin Inger,
you know, because if you're a queen's name boy him
and while he lewis sort of the biggest names in
the game up here, you know, holy hell, I'm not
being the team with Melviniinger and that then you start
to play a few games, you know, and it's just
and from my I was lucky, Like I was in
(12:04):
five Green Finals with him, you know, as I said,
every one of them, he's captain them out there.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
And because he was it's not that much old in
he's five.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Years, but he had so much experience at a younger age,
like he was playing for Australia in Queensland when he's
twenty or something like that. You know, so when he's
like if on twenty and he's twenty five, he's done.
He's really the world ahead of me football wise. And
it was just so good to have someone there, you know,
give him your kickup. He was very toleran on me,
actually glad to take the step the mark. I mean,
(12:32):
give me a little ticket in the ars and they
pull your head in a bit.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
And just a really good role model as much as
anything else about how to.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Get how to go about your life, you know, with footy,
as well as just being good humans. You know, I
would say that as much as anything else in which
is part of being a captain.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I suppose he was like a big brother figured to
the ten because he was about five or six years
older than everyone else.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Right, Yeah, it's not in the age man, but when
they achieved so much so young. So when you're.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Twenty five and you already played whatever fifteen origins and
twenty test, it's different to someone who's coming and played
a few games.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
You know, he was mature ahead of his years with
that because it had.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
So much experience, and you know he's been on two
Kangaroo tours by nineteen eighty six, you know, and all that.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So, yeah, Fernsi mentioned I spoke to Fernsi week ago.
Of course got the club ch burst on ground that day.
He mentioned that the game there was a bit of
an eerie feeling, a positive eerie feeling, and we looked
around a bit of a moment in silence where he
looked around the dressing room for the game and it
was almost like a little bit of a bit of
a twilight field thing and cheer whez. If any one
(13:34):
of us today brings our a game, no one's going
to beat us. Did you have that? Laurie said that
as well. Did you have that kind of internal confidence
as well.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
You always looked around you think you're going to be
If you can have a good day and people play well,
you've got a good chance of winning, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
I don't know, I don't remember that specifically.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Always, you know, you're always confident in your team, and
you know you've got good players around you.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
And the dressing room was never house machines. He never
sort of encourage a.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Lot of rain and raving or people really talking and
things up before the game, you know, So it was
always pretty quiet and just just get your head clear.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And get ready to go out and play your game,
you know. So I probably remember that's about usmuch.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I remember again putting in that thirty year factor mate.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
That it was a great day thirty six to twelve
when they talk about that that ninety fourteen and I
say this without embarrassing you their box, that was one
of the best teams ever assembled. It's going to be
hard to beat in regards to what we had on
that team. We had first grade players playing was a
grade back in those days. And you mentioned about fielding
spots if someone went down. He had a bloke like
(14:38):
Jason Croker that could play six. You had a bloke
like Albert full of Wie that could play on the wing.
You had a bloke like Mullins that could cover any spot,
and we just had these young kids coming through and
it was just a fantastic time for the club. And
recently Ricky came out and spoke about I think. I
think it was a situation about how he was very
close to you and he's actually lived together back in
the day, and he was disappointed for you that you
(15:00):
missed out on the nineteen ninety Kangaroo tour, but you
got to go in ninety four. What was it like
being read out and being on the plane for that
Kangaroo tour box.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, that's the icing on the cake at the end
of that season, wasn't it. I've seen one of my
favorite seasons ever. Then we went away on the tour
and because so many of my teammates from Canberra were there.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Too, you know, so and I did.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I didn't probably didn't deserve it too, but I would
have been in the talk at least in ninety but Karen.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
And many allives were over there then and ninety.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Four was myself and Scenaris from memory, yeahs from mainly,
so it was just awesome. You know, we end up
winning the series. And actually a journalist guy rung me
last year or the year before and he said, did
you know that you had how many? He said, how
many Raiders plays? You think we're in the starting team
for the Austraining team the last test in ninety four
(15:48):
And I said, oh, there was a few that would
have been at least five.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
And he said there were.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Seven of the starting for seven of the starting thirteen
were from Canberra. I said, no, that wasn't and he
went through, you know it was Mullins and Daily and
Clyde Steward and Meninga and Ferner and Walst you know,
so of.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
The starting third in the Australian team. So you know
that puts a bit of a perspective on it.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Well, that's the way he became so successful. Obviously some
to already established combinations. Just I love asking how this
at origin level? What was it like Obviously being a
dummy half, you're distributing to your left or right and
you're always you've got Ricky just barking at your winning
the ball, and you got Lory and I remember having
those conversations between those two saying who had right away
(16:32):
and it was like I'd go off at Ricky and
Ricky go for Lorri and then Boxer go off at
both views and stuff like that. What was it like
having to distribute to them but then at origin level
playing against them but knowing their games so well? Was
it a weird feeling? Now has been open and said
it was actually pretty weird actually playing with them against
them because he's also brother you know, the brotherhood at
the Raiders at the time, What was your experience playing
(16:54):
against Laurie and Ricky and like Clydie and even Mullow's
back then.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Well, it was really awkward from the point of view
that because there was a much you know, much have
you know.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
In those days, you know, we hate East South Wales
and all that sort of stuff as part of all
build up a state of origin. And you'd be sitting talking,
you know, in the dressing room and before the game
or during the training we know we hate these blakes
and blah blah blah and sounds so and I'm sitting
there thinking I felt a.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Bit uncomfortable, a bit bad, because I'm thinking I want
to beat them. I don't hate them.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
I actually lived with him. It was my flatmate, you know,
or live with Ricky for instance, And I made a
point of never making about that when I worked with
the Queensland team then, about having to hate them to.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Sort of because you don't have to be like that
to want to compete, you know. And it was awkward.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
It was a bit funny because you're such good friends
and you spend so much time together and you look
up the other side and make it worse. They're all
such a good player. You're took Ricky and they're the
key men for him. So and Ricky, of course he'd
be gobnos. So the other two were quieter.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Just concentrate the game. I remember it was the first
I played on the other side. He was ripping into me.
What did he say, Yeah, because Karen I got in
because Karen was injured, I think it was. And he's
you have.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
A good game, fat He said, you're over here next
week when your brothers fit anyway, so make the most
of it.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
He fledged me. He just can't help himself, you know.
He was into it there. Yeah, but it was much
more comfortable playing with him. Yeah, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I know what It's like when all the other clubs
had to go through a plan against Ricky that are
probably still getting still getting therapy, mental therapy after him
getting in their skin with his with his nature box.
I've got a quick set of six sent him by
the fans. I'll go through really quickly for I've been
doing with the ninety four team. This one a nice
question sent Melanie from Queen And wants to ask this
(18:46):
kind of basic question, but who was your favorite team
teammate and why in that team? In the ninety four team.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Oh, I can't. I can't naminate one teammate. Too many
good players here and close friends.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Mate, If you just pick one though?
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Men an alien?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Yeah, one out left field, Ruben Ruben Wikie was just
he was a tough young kid, mate, you know, he
was like a bit of grant at that fellow.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Wasn't there a great kid coming through? And then obviously
front rower New Zealand. Great question there from Melanie. Bob
from Brisbane wants to know the toughest opponent. Maybe you're
just in your whole career, yeah, or just saying that
ninety four period too. You know you mentioned.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Life.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Life is a wonderful player you know, I'd give him
a bit of stick about this and that, but he
was he was.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
He was certainly the opponent and Caared my brother.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
You know, those two I would say were the ones
that give the biggest challenge for the best players.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
You know, perfect segue. Jackie from Newcastle mentioned what was
it like playing against your brothers? We had that rivalry
against the Broncos through all those years and there'll be
so many times and so many fatal opportunities of you
tackling your brothers. It was just one of those things.
What was it like running out against your brothers, but
especially marking up against Carrod who was also nine, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
It wasn't It was a bit awkward again in all
to be honest, because you want to do well.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
But we were close brothers too. Yeah, you know, I've.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Never had a fight of dispaut with me brothers my
whole life, and you want them to do well. We
obviously all grew up playing footage, so I always look
at it, you know that we were. It worked out
pretty good. They won a couple of premierships and we
won a couple of premierships, so there was it worked.
I think it would have been worse if someone sort
of missed out all together. So I'm really plased for
him there, and I would say I'd always tell people
(20:34):
the thing that I'm proud of so now anything to
do for my football careers that in the history of
the NRL one hundred and ten years, I think it's
been quite a few two.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Brothers, but we're the only ones ever to have three
brothers played for Australia. So I think that's really cool,
you know. So I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
We said when Kevy left the Raiders to go to
the Broncos, Oh.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I wouldn't say I sad, I could I obviously he
would have stayed, you know, but I could see, well
he wanted to go home. He was a little bit lonely.
And Kim, his wife and partner, was down there at
that stage, and you know, they were a little bit
homesick there, and Wayne was in his ear.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
You know, Wayne could be very persuasive, as we all know.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And and we had a we did have a lot
of depth in those positions at that stage.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
You know, he had found a little bit difficult to
get us.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
He played a lot of games, versatile, but you know,
I can't remember now, but you know, Ricky and Chris
O'Sullivan and I have.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
A Henjack and differently was coming coming through so.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
And I think I think that yeah, so I was
hoping he'd say but yeah, you know, and it worked.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Was a really good decision for him obviously then too
worked out.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Great, absolutely good questions so far, We've got a question
for their box besides the Grand Final, besides the GF
what stands out to you, What's what's the good highlight
for you for that year of ninety fours a premiership?
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Yeah, well, let's be the Kangaroo tour Maners we touched
on before the first end up being the last.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Kangaroo tour ever, you know for a full scale so
well that on ever since.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
So he didn't know that at the time and it
was one all and and the decider it was at
Ellen right at Leeds and we won the series, which
is the first best thing. And I got the player
in the Match thing for that one. So that's one,
I mean, good days to be proud once.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Jake, you from Canberra asked that question question number number five,
this one from Tony. What do you miss the most
about camera? Let's just say the club, but also the
town Canbra.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Cambra gets a bad rap, mate, you know. I love
living in Canberra. I lived there eleven years. She's a
little bit fresh at time, just we all know, a
little bit chilly.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
But it's a really good place. You know.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
There's a lot of things going for it too. Obviously
when I was there, where you were in the footy team,
and the majority of the time the team's gone pretty good,
so that certainly helps. But it was a really good place.
I enjoyed just living in Canberra in general. You know,
it's we all know, it's really played out well and
there's plenty.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Of things to do.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
So I don't know, I just I just enjoyed living there,
you know, I think it gets a bad rap sometimes.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
I did think about shifting back a.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Few years ago there, but my wife, she doesn't like
the Cols, so she did want to go espirsonally.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
When I grew up there, Yeah, I loved it, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
That's quite I admire the Queenslanders that have come to
the club through the years, and especially back in that
time when the Broncos were starting to really launch, and
of course they were you know, already stacked with some
big names, you know, like the King and Jean Miles
and your brothers and some you know, all these guys
coming through alphae and that whatnot. So it would have
been really attractive for yourself and Badge and Coiny and
(23:35):
Maw to go over there, and I'm sure that you
would have got so much interest and even the Gold
Coast at the time. And the fact that you guys
wanted to stay in Canberra like that was huge. And
the fact that you speak so highly where it's blocks
like Mao's you know, he's come back so many times.
If he's back, he's living here. And you've got so
much fun memories, which is a perfect segue to asked
the last question Frans out of sixty, This one from
Kerry from Queen Bean asks, you left the Raiders, you
(23:57):
went to the Cowboys in ninety seven, ended up and
then also had that year Newcastle. What was it like
playing against the Raiders? What was it like playing against
you know, your mates like that that you were so
close with.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah, well, I've.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Said it before. That was a bit weird too.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
It's even worse because we got flogged and they beat
I think one of them furns your jobbing the nose
and broke me nose.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
So it was.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
It wasn't a good experience, and there were a nice
people in North Queens and I've always regretted leaving Canbra.
You know, I should have stayed or I was, but yeah,
it was. It was very unusual as time goes by,
you you know, but I remember.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
The first time I went there. It was really weird.
Down to brush stadium and.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Getting dressed on getting dressed on the other side and
all that sort of stuff, and you run out.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
And they're all, you know, of course they're all looking
over at me.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Give me a bit of lip, you know, because the
thing you do and I mentioned with Ozzie, I had
a whole show about it there with a great feel
small and obviously I still do the Football Call down
here with Smally, but that show lead that show League
Ground Up that you's had and between you and Sticky
Es were panelists on that show quite a bit. But
you also did the League Report with Chapo for Channel ten.
(25:03):
So you were very out in the media, especially in
the one team town kind of vibe. So you you
were very Raiders, you were very Canberra. It was also
it was always sad to see you going on that
level as well.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Yeah, I really enjoyed living there, and it was a
different era nicked in those days, and you are quite
friendly with all the you know, a.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Small pill and Chapo. We used to play doubles.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Me and that male used to play tennis against Chapo
and Greg Robson and Robbo used to look like Bill
and Borg in the warm up, But as soon as
the pressure was.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
On it, it melt like an iceberg. You know, we used
to be then, but you know, you never see that
stuff now.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
That was good, you know I said it was a
bit of a different time in regards to that sort
of thing.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Then all the journalists, you know, because it was one
team town, you know, you sort of got to know
him pretty well. No good fellas, Mone.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
What a time box, what a near all the best
for Friday. Really enjoy that time seeing your old mates
and that team, because by Jingo, you guys deserved it.
You made so many people smle in that era and
they speak about Canbra didn't have much of a soul
and when Lancey coined the phrase of Camber now has
a soul from eighty seven, geeheiz by ninety four you
gave it more than a soul. You gave people a
(26:12):
purpose to get up in the morning and to follow
a team like you did. And you guys were just
doing your thing, playing your passionate favorite sport. And he's lucky,
you know, he's very grateful to be up there. But
gee whiz, you made so many you put so many
smiles on people's faces, especially with the brand of football
that he's played with. Those guys all the best box.
Joy the time there, and we'll talk again soon.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Good on you, and thank you for your kind words, mate,
and your listeners.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
And let's hope the Green Boys Friday night have a
good game and a good winning at the Dogs.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
It's the same score that'll do it, mate, all right,
thank you mate,
Yeah, big episode this one as we get excited about
Magic Ground in the NRL, and we kick off on
Friday with the Raiders of via the Bulldogs and a
special night that one, not just the game, but it's
going to be an acknowledgments last celebration of the nineteen
ninety four Grand Final and the old team is going
to be there before kickoff, doing their lap of honor
once again as they did thirty years ago. And a
(00:22):
man that was part of the spine in modern day
terms and really integral part of that rate of success
in the early nineties, especially in that day in nineteen
ninety four, is a guy I have on the line.
They call him Boxy, Steve Walters on a mate, Good
to talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
How are you get a neck?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Year? Really going great, mate, Nice to chat and really
looking forward to the weekends.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Thirty years Boxy? Can you can you believe that since
that that that game in ninety four.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
No, it does get away, mate. When you're a young fellow,
it seems to go awful fast. You know, I'm fifteen
nine this year, but wow, it's hard to get your
head around it was thirty years ago. I mean, put
on have a look at some of the highlights, it
looks like a long time ago. But yeah, it was
a great day, but a long time ago, but really
looking forward to seeing everyone.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Oh mate, I'll tell you what that season though, ninety
four I had big Paul Paul Ossi I wasborn on
last week talking about his experience. We spoke for two hours.
I won't keep you for that long. But we had
that success. Of course, eighty nine to ninety you know
the ground finally ninety one where the salary cap dramas
that just shook the club up. In ninety two we
lost a lot of players. We lost Lazo, Toddy Blake,
(01:29):
so Paul Martin, a lot of players were to get
rid of. Plus all our backup in those lower grades
who were quite successful. So ninety two was a year
full of injuries, but was a bit of a rebuild.
We get back to ninety three because it was almost
the ninety four premiership was a build up from ninety three.
A great year we have there. Unfortunately Ricky goes down
and we bounce out of the We bounce out of
(01:50):
the you know, we bounced out of ninety three unsuccessful.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
What was it?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Can you remember what was a feeling like in that
off season going into ninety four.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I can't really remember, to be honest, but there was
a pretty good summation of what you just said about
what happened at that time. After the salary cap. We
lost a lot of players in particularly, I think it
was ninety one. We were in the team the three
Grand finals that day in first graders, every grade and
twenty threes or whatever it was that day, So lost
a lot of the younger fellas in particular.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
And then changed the club did really well, because that's
not of course.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
They went over and recruited the guys from New Zealand
and a couple of Fijians with naurah and stuff, and you.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Know, they would never dreamed about what they would have got.
Say lucky, they'll tell it.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Was good, good scouting, but oh, you wouldn't even think
you'd get such good players. And they filled all those holes,
you know, relatively cheap if you like, in Italy, with
the likes of Johnny Lomax and Quentin Pongeir and rerubnd
Wookie and all those guys.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
You know, great players talk about filling holes, Why lan't
fill a hole there? Ninety four and then I mean
because ninety four the season was a strong season. I
remember I mentioned this to Machines. You know that long
ago you missed Ricky in those Ricky quite humbly says,
wait in a minute. But a lot of you guys
have seen in the past in past interviews that you
know we lost Ricky in that in such dramatic circumstances
(03:08):
in that paramounta game, and then we didn't win a
game since then. And you guys was such ahead of everyone.
Think you beat Broncos twice that year. He was so
far ahead of everyone destined to win the premiership that year.
That's where the momentum was suggesting. And then it was
almost like Sheen's he had to come out and go, okay,
we need to win without Ricky. And there was a
game that you've played. You probably won't remember this, but
there was a game we played against Many and you
(03:29):
always knew that Manly always had the wood over us,
especially at home at Bruce. They knew the only team
that could beat us at Bruce was at Manly side
led by Cliffy Lyons and twos. We're playing a big
game against Many. It was a Sunday afternoon Laurie was out,
Ricky was out. So that was the first time we
had tutz Kroker playing six and we had Steve Stone
playing seven. TUTSI gets sent off in possession with the
(03:50):
ball for un accidental elbow on two, so we're down
to twelve men again without Sticky, without Lorry. We bot
thirty on Manly that afternoon. I remember everyone walked away
out of Bruce Stadium thinking, Okay, we've learned how to
win without Ricky? Was that the feel as well known
that we can't rely on Ricky in ninety four so much.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I think everyone's just another year older too. That certainly
had his bearing. And the thing with Ricky's injury, I
remember he broke his ankle that day. I was standing
right behind him, my phone coming out the side of
his sock.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Was at home. I'm pretty I think it was paramatter
at home. But the problem there was one week before
the finals.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
You know, I reckon if he got if it would
have been a couple more weeks, so someone had a
chance to get in there and sort of settle.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
In a little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Might have been a little bit more helpful for us,
But you know, your things have got to go away
with footy and you lose momentum and get a little
bit short on confidence and then you know it's hard
to get it back. But I think ninety four all
those other guys, the ones that had come in and
played a few games, had a lot more games under
their belt too, And as you say that, we certainly
had a couple of good wins during the year. It
(04:51):
was a really good season for us. So yeah, that's
that's probably how I remember. It was a long time ago,
but that's what I can thigure it off the top
of my head.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
It was fair to years ago. So the tough, the box,
it all, it all went up. It all went up.
Another year when he's played Kronulla, a Johnny Lang lead
Cronulla team that were still recently okay, that had the
likes of Enning Housen and in that team of young
Matt Rodgers, I put fifty on them down here and
a lot of those tries are still replayed today. And
then obviously he's got to Newcastle, which was a hard
(05:19):
place to win. He put fifty on the Knights away
from home up there, and the Green machine was really
starting to click. And that was also without Lorry So
learning to win without Ricky. We also learned how to
ruin out Lorry and Tultz Crokers Sr. Had a great
role there playing six back and up sticky, but so
much momentum going through. Can you remember that time he's
just flying and you know what it takes to win
(05:41):
a premiership because you've been in four Grand finals before,
you've won two flags? Could you feel rocking up thing
in gee gee? Always we could win this year?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah? Well we had a good team and the stuff
you said right. The other thing which you haven't mentioned
is Brett Mulin's Tatters season. Never to beat repeating Peter,
you know what I mean, in ninety fall from the
start of it till the end. But he just settled
into that fullback role and he was awesome. And that
night's game you were referring to there, I think that's
the one where he scored a couple of doors from
one hundred meters and scored four tries or something, and
(06:11):
there wasn't that much between the team, but he was
the one that sort of split split it open.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
You know. So he was with the other one I
had mentioned there as well as the other guys.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yeah, I think that's that's how it was, and you're
just a little bit better and then things sort.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Of went out way.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yes, the season progressed that year, That's how it sort
of felt. And to endo the finals in the Grand Final.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And then you bounce into there was a really important game.
You'll be beat manly towards the end of the season
there to get that third position spot. And then you
play Norse in week one, which you handled pretty well
Box and then you move into that game against Cannery,
which was such a great game from a fan perspective,
and unfortunately Dogs beat us there an extra extra time
(06:52):
back then nineteen eighteen. Of course that field goal from
Daryl Halligan, but of course we did that try towards
the end there Dave Wesley a squad on the post
to square it up to eight in order to take
it to injury time. Was that a bit? Was that
the loss that we needed though, considering was flying so high?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, honestly I could tell you that to say, yeah,
but I honestly don't remember, but I met that game.
We came back at the ending, I remember. My memories
are we sort of fought back to get back into it,
as you say, and they sloted the field goal and
extra time.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
So I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
With grand finals, I think the hardest parts get there,
you know, firstly, and obviously you know it's fifty to
fifty send and some days you have a good day
and things go you away.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
In other days you don't.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So you know, from my point of view, if you
want to what you want to do is you want
to try and position your club, you know, to be
in that top four East you if you can, that's
what the good clubs do. And then and then you can,
and then you have those years where everything things go
your way and injuries good and this and that. That's
when you get a chance to play in the Grand
final and win them, you know. So I think more
so that everyone, I think a combination of those things
(07:56):
what you've said, with a little bit more versatile and
probably not a few I was playing a few more
games when when Ricky missed a couple of games, and
Mullin's coming and been really dominant, and those Kiweed boys
all had really good seasons, Lomax and Pongea, you know,
those sort of guys. Jason Croke is a year older.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Everybody's getting a little bit better, if you like. I
think most guys.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I would say that most guys in your career was
on the way up at that stage. You know what
I mean, they're getting improving all the time. I think
that in general across the team was probably the thing
that I would say.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
And the fact he is too. You's played at North
Sydney again and they are really desperate because they haven't
played in the Grand Final and they had us, they
had us on the rapes. It was a tough, tough win.
It was only just the raidst team of that beautiful
back line that you played with that put a couple
of late points on to make that score a little bit,
a little bit bigger than what it was. But and
you know now and all that have said that we
probably didn't play our best against Norse. The fact that
(08:46):
you probably didn't play the best against Norse, and you
knew that canna be beat you being the minor premiers
that they were. You really had to get that Sunday right,
which was the GF and you had a really really
good week. Now I'm going to ask and like I
had all the on Lae week and we took the
piece out of him that poor oh Johnny got suspended,
so he was going to miss the GF. What was
your first feeling like when you first got wind that
(09:09):
sines he was going to play Aussie.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Oh he asked us about it, and I'll have to
be honest, he spoke about it.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I picked out the other option.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Was he talking with Headro It might have been I
kn't even remember that, but yeah, and I didn't go Forsie.
But he came out and had the game of his life,
you know, so I certainly thought he could make a difference,
but from the start it's sort of one of the
other guys out there. But yeah, he got his chance,
mate and had the best game of his life, as.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
We all know. And he'll tell you in case you
missed it too.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yeah, he told us many times. And I actually mentioned
the little stuff without sounding weird box. I'm a guy
that kind of noticed some of the subtleties, the more
human subtleties of a football game as well. And I
noticed after he laid on that first try through the
dummy put Fernsi way in that first minute, he's all
run to Fernsy to congratulate him. But then he's all
run to Ossie and you were you were the first
one their box to just really fire him up and
(10:00):
pat him on the back saying good job man, like
gee whiz. You guys were so close knit and fine
up for that game. And then there's there's the stuff
talking about how he's all got behind Mao's back. Because
now I didn't want to make him about himself because
that was the leader that he was. But you especially
being the Queensland teammate, there he's all got behind him,
he's all got behind his back to let's do this
(10:22):
for maw. Was that that was that true?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I think part of it. That's certainly part of it. Mate.
You want to win the game because you want to
compete and you want to win a Grand Final.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
But he was very popular populous is not the wrong word,
very well respected. You know everyone every team I was in,
he was my captain, you know, whether it was Queen
bronk Raiders, Queensland or Australia. So I didn't play a
game where pretty well just about so. And he was
always a very selfless sort of a captain too, you know,
it was never about him.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
So that just makes people respect you more. And as
I said, he was.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
An icon of the game, so everyone was keen you
know obviously, but that that was another part of for
him to go out on a good note there, that
it was a big part of the week and there's
a lot of media attention on that.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
I remember, you know, you talk about Mao.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Ricky has been quite emotional publicly talking about what Mao
did for him just gave him confidence. Even though he
wrote him early in his career, he gave him so
much confidence when he ran out to the football field
with him. You mentioned that in all your formations were
playing while you're at Canberra, through your rap program as
well playing with Mal. What did Mal bring to you?
What did Mal mean to you as a player, and
(11:26):
how did he make you feel sharing a football field
with him?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Yeah, and I would agree with Ricky, you know, Nick,
because well I remember when I was first going. I
played a couple of seasons in Brisbane for Nors and
and when.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I signed initially got me a chance to come down
and play for the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
It was probably one of the most exciting things was
that I was going well hopefully you know, I was
guarantee anything that I was going to play with Melvin Inger,
you know, because if you're a queen's name boy him
and while he lewis sort of the biggest names in
the game up here, you know, holy hell, I'm not
being the team with Melviniinger and that then you start
to play a few games, you know, and it's just
and from my I was lucky, Like I was in
(12:04):
five Green Finals with him, you know, as I said,
every one of them, he's captain them out there.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
And because he was it's not that much old in
he's five.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Years, but he had so much experience at a younger age,
like he was playing for Australia in Queensland when he's
twenty or something like that. You know, so when he's
like if on twenty and he's twenty five, he's done.
He's really the world ahead of me football wise. And
it was just so good to have someone there, you know,
give him your kickup. He was very toleran on me,
actually glad to take the step the mark. I mean,
(12:32):
give me a little ticket in the ars and they
pull your head in a bit.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
And just a really good role model as much as
anything else about how to.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Get how to go about your life, you know, with footy,
as well as just being good humans. You know, I
would say that as much as anything else in which
is part of being a captain.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I suppose he was like a big brother figured to
the ten because he was about five or six years
older than everyone else.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Right, Yeah, it's not in the age man, but when
they achieved so much so young. So when you're.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Twenty five and you already played whatever fifteen origins and
twenty test, it's different to someone who's coming and played
a few games.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
You know, he was mature ahead of his years with
that because it had.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
So much experience, and you know he's been on two
Kangaroo tours by nineteen eighty six, you know, and all that.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So, yeah, Fernsi mentioned I spoke to Fernsi week ago.
Of course got the club ch burst on ground that day.
He mentioned that the game there was a bit of
an eerie feeling, a positive eerie feeling, and we looked
around a bit of a moment in silence where he
looked around the dressing room for the game and it
was almost like a little bit of a bit of
a twilight field thing and cheer whez. If any one
(13:34):
of us today brings our a game, no one's going
to beat us. Did you have that? Laurie said that
as well. Did you have that kind of internal confidence
as well.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
You always looked around you think you're going to be
If you can have a good day and people play well,
you've got a good chance of winning, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
I don't know, I don't remember that specifically.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Always, you know, you're always confident in your team, and
you know you've got good players around you.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
And the dressing room was never house machines. He never
sort of encourage a.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Lot of rain and raving or people really talking and
things up before the game, you know, So it was
always pretty quiet and just just get your head clear.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And get ready to go out and play your game,
you know. So I probably remember that's about usmuch.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I remember again putting in that thirty year factor mate.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
That it was a great day thirty six to twelve
when they talk about that that ninety fourteen and I
say this without embarrassing you their box, that was one
of the best teams ever assembled. It's going to be
hard to beat in regards to what we had on
that team. We had first grade players playing was a
grade back in those days. And you mentioned about fielding
spots if someone went down. He had a bloke like
(14:38):
Jason Croker that could play six. You had a bloke
like Albert full of Wie that could play on the wing.
You had a bloke like Mullins that could cover any spot,
and we just had these young kids coming through and
it was just a fantastic time for the club. And
recently Ricky came out and spoke about I think. I
think it was a situation about how he was very
close to you and he's actually lived together back in
the day, and he was disappointed for you that you
(15:00):
missed out on the nineteen ninety Kangaroo tour, but you
got to go in ninety four. What was it like
being read out and being on the plane for that
Kangaroo tour box.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, that's the icing on the cake at the end
of that season, wasn't it. I've seen one of my
favorite seasons ever. Then we went away on the tour
and because so many of my teammates from Canberra were there.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Too, you know, so and I did.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I didn't probably didn't deserve it too, but I would
have been in the talk at least in ninety but Karen.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
And many allives were over there then and ninety.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Four was myself and Scenaris from memory, yeahs from mainly,
so it was just awesome. You know, we end up
winning the series. And actually a journalist guy rung me
last year or the year before and he said, did
you know that you had how many? He said, how
many Raiders plays? You think we're in the starting team
for the Austraining team the last test in ninety four
(15:48):
And I said, oh, there was a few that would
have been at least five.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
And he said there were.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Seven of the starting for seven of the starting thirteen
were from Canberra. I said, no, that wasn't and he
went through, you know it was Mullins and Daily and
Clyde Steward and Meninga and Ferner and Walst you know,
so of.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
The starting third in the Australian team. So you know
that puts a bit of a perspective on it.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Well, that's the way he became so successful. Obviously some
to already established combinations. Just I love asking how this
at origin level? What was it like Obviously being a
dummy half, you're distributing to your left or right and
you're always you've got Ricky just barking at your winning
the ball, and you got Lory and I remember having
those conversations between those two saying who had right away
(16:32):
and it was like I'd go off at Ricky and
Ricky go for Lorri and then Boxer go off at
both views and stuff like that. What was it like
having to distribute to them but then at origin level
playing against them but knowing their games so well? Was
it a weird feeling? Now has been open and said
it was actually pretty weird actually playing with them against
them because he's also brother you know, the brotherhood at
the Raiders at the time, What was your experience playing
(16:54):
against Laurie and Ricky and like Clydie and even Mullow's
back then.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Well, it was really awkward from the point of view
that because there was a much you know, much have
you know.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
In those days, you know, we hate East South Wales
and all that sort of stuff as part of all
build up a state of origin. And you'd be sitting talking,
you know, in the dressing room and before the game
or during the training we know we hate these blakes
and blah blah blah and sounds so and I'm sitting
there thinking I felt a.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Bit uncomfortable, a bit bad, because I'm thinking I want
to beat them. I don't hate them.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
I actually lived with him. It was my flatmate, you know,
or live with Ricky for instance, And I made a
point of never making about that when I worked with
the Queensland team then, about having to hate them to.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Sort of because you don't have to be like that
to want to compete, you know. And it was awkward.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
It was a bit funny because you're such good friends
and you spend so much time together and you look
up the other side and make it worse. They're all
such a good player. You're took Ricky and they're the
key men for him. So and Ricky, of course he'd
be gobnos. So the other two were quieter.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Just concentrate the game. I remember it was the first
I played on the other side. He was ripping into me.
What did he say, Yeah, because Karen I got in
because Karen was injured, I think it was. And he's
you have.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
A good game, fat He said, you're over here next
week when your brothers fit anyway, so make the most
of it.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
He fledged me. He just can't help himself, you know.
He was into it there. Yeah, but it was much
more comfortable playing with him. Yeah, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I know what It's like when all the other clubs
had to go through a plan against Ricky that are
probably still getting still getting therapy, mental therapy after him
getting in their skin with his with his nature box.
I've got a quick set of six sent him by
the fans. I'll go through really quickly for I've been
doing with the ninety four team. This one a nice
question sent Melanie from Queen And wants to ask this
(18:46):
kind of basic question, but who was your favorite team
teammate and why in that team? In the ninety four team.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Oh, I can't. I can't naminate one teammate. Too many
good players here and close friends.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Mate, If you just pick one though?
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Men an alien?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Yeah, one out left field, Ruben Ruben Wikie was just
he was a tough young kid, mate, you know, he
was like a bit of grant at that fellow.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Wasn't there a great kid coming through? And then obviously
front rower New Zealand. Great question there from Melanie. Bob
from Brisbane wants to know the toughest opponent. Maybe you're
just in your whole career, yeah, or just saying that
ninety four period too. You know you mentioned.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Life.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Life is a wonderful player you know, I'd give him
a bit of stick about this and that, but he
was he was.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
He was certainly the opponent and Caared my brother.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
You know, those two I would say were the ones
that give the biggest challenge for the best players.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
You know, perfect segue. Jackie from Newcastle mentioned what was
it like playing against your brothers? We had that rivalry
against the Broncos through all those years and there'll be
so many times and so many fatal opportunities of you
tackling your brothers. It was just one of those things.
What was it like running out against your brothers, but
especially marking up against Carrod who was also nine, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
It wasn't It was a bit awkward again in all
to be honest, because you want to do well.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
But we were close brothers too. Yeah, you know, I've.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Never had a fight of dispaut with me brothers my
whole life, and you want them to do well. We
obviously all grew up playing footage, so I always look
at it, you know that we were. It worked out
pretty good. They won a couple of premierships and we
won a couple of premierships, so there was it worked.
I think it would have been worse if someone sort
of missed out all together. So I'm really plased for
him there, and I would say I'd always tell people
(20:34):
the thing that I'm proud of so now anything to
do for my football careers that in the history of
the NRL one hundred and ten years, I think it's
been quite a few two.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Brothers, but we're the only ones ever to have three
brothers played for Australia. So I think that's really cool,
you know. So I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
We said when Kevy left the Raiders to go to
the Broncos, Oh.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I wouldn't say I sad, I could I obviously he
would have stayed, you know, but I could see, well
he wanted to go home. He was a little bit lonely.
And Kim, his wife and partner, was down there at
that stage, and you know, they were a little bit
homesick there, and Wayne was in his ear.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
You know, Wayne could be very persuasive, as we all know.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And and we had a we did have a lot
of depth in those positions at that stage.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
You know, he had found a little bit difficult to
get us.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
He played a lot of games, versatile, but you know,
I can't remember now, but you know, Ricky and Chris
O'Sullivan and I have.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
A Henjack and differently was coming coming through so.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
And I think I think that yeah, so I was
hoping he'd say but yeah, you know, and it worked.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Was a really good decision for him obviously then too
worked out.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Great, absolutely good questions so far, We've got a question
for their box besides the Grand Final, besides the GF
what stands out to you, What's what's the good highlight
for you for that year of ninety fours a premiership?
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Yeah, well, let's be the Kangaroo tour Maners we touched
on before the first end up being the last.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Kangaroo tour ever, you know for a full scale so
well that on ever since.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
So he didn't know that at the time and it
was one all and and the decider it was at
Ellen right at Leeds and we won the series, which
is the first best thing. And I got the player
in the Match thing for that one. So that's one,
I mean, good days to be proud once.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Jake, you from Canberra asked that question question number number five,
this one from Tony. What do you miss the most
about camera? Let's just say the club, but also the
town Canbra.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Cambra gets a bad rap, mate, you know. I love
living in Canberra. I lived there eleven years. She's a
little bit fresh at time, just we all know, a
little bit chilly.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
But it's a really good place. You know.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
There's a lot of things going for it too. Obviously
when I was there, where you were in the footy team,
and the majority of the time the team's gone pretty good,
so that certainly helps. But it was a really good place.
I enjoyed just living in Canberra in general. You know,
it's we all know, it's really played out well and
there's plenty.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Of things to do.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
So I don't know, I just I just enjoyed living there,
you know, I think it gets a bad rap sometimes.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
I did think about shifting back a.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Few years ago there, but my wife, she doesn't like
the Cols, so she did want to go espirsonally.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
When I grew up there, Yeah, I loved it, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
That's quite I admire the Queenslanders that have come to
the club through the years, and especially back in that
time when the Broncos were starting to really launch, and
of course they were you know, already stacked with some
big names, you know, like the King and Jean Miles
and your brothers and some you know, all these guys
coming through alphae and that whatnot. So it would have
been really attractive for yourself and Badge and Coiny and
(23:35):
Maw to go over there, and I'm sure that you
would have got so much interest and even the Gold
Coast at the time. And the fact that you guys
wanted to stay in Canberra like that was huge. And
the fact that you speak so highly where it's blocks
like Mao's you know, he's come back so many times.
If he's back, he's living here. And you've got so
much fun memories, which is a perfect segue to asked
the last question Frans out of sixty, This one from
Kerry from Queen Bean asks, you left the Raiders, you
(23:57):
went to the Cowboys in ninety seven, ended up and
then also had that year Newcastle. What was it like
playing against the Raiders? What was it like playing against
you know, your mates like that that you were so
close with.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah, well, I've.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Said it before. That was a bit weird too.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
It's even worse because we got flogged and they beat
I think one of them furns your jobbing the nose
and broke me nose.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
So it was.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
It wasn't a good experience, and there were a nice
people in North Queens and I've always regretted leaving Canbra.
You know, I should have stayed or I was, but yeah,
it was. It was very unusual as time goes by,
you you know, but I remember.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
The first time I went there. It was really weird.
Down to brush stadium and.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Getting dressed on getting dressed on the other side and
all that sort of stuff, and you run out.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
And they're all, you know, of course they're all looking
over at me.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Give me a bit of lip, you know, because the
thing you do and I mentioned with Ozzie, I had
a whole show about it there with a great feel
small and obviously I still do the Football Call down
here with Smally, but that show lead that show League
Ground Up that you's had and between you and Sticky
Es were panelists on that show quite a bit. But
you also did the League Report with Chapo for Channel ten.
(25:03):
So you were very out in the media, especially in
the one team town kind of vibe. So you you
were very Raiders, you were very Canberra. It was also
it was always sad to see you going on that
level as well.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Yeah, I really enjoyed living there, and it was a
different era nicked in those days, and you are quite
friendly with all the you know, a.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Small pill and Chapo. We used to play doubles.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Me and that male used to play tennis against Chapo
and Greg Robson and Robbo used to look like Bill
and Borg in the warm up, But as soon as
the pressure was.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
On it, it melt like an iceberg. You know, we used
to be then, but you know, you never see that
stuff now.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
That was good, you know I said it was a
bit of a different time in regards to that sort
of thing.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Then all the journalists, you know, because it was one
team town, you know, you sort of got to know
him pretty well. No good fellas, Mone.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
What a time box, what a near all the best
for Friday. Really enjoy that time seeing your old mates
and that team, because by Jingo, you guys deserved it.
You made so many people smle in that era and
they speak about Canbra didn't have much of a soul
and when Lancey coined the phrase of Camber now has
a soul from eighty seven, geeheiz by ninety four you
gave it more than a soul. You gave people a
(26:12):
purpose to get up in the morning and to follow
a team like you did. And you guys were just
doing your thing, playing your passionate favorite sport. And he's lucky,
you know, he's very grateful to be up there. But
gee whiz, you made so many you put so many
smiles on people's faces, especially with the brand of football
that he's played with. Those guys all the best box.
Joy the time there, and we'll talk again soon.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Good on you, and thank you for your kind words, mate,
and your listeners.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
And let's hope the Green Boys Friday night have a
good game and a good winning at the Dogs.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
It's the same score that'll do it, mate, all right,
thank you mate,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!