September 10, 2026 • 5 mins
So a huge weekend coming up for Warriors fans around the country.
But imagine being someone who puts $10 on them each year - at the start of the season - to win the Grand Final.
And imagine doing that for the last 26 years!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's a huge weekend coming up for the Warriors fans
around the country. Like me, for example, here.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Wearing my merch on the outside.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
And on the inside.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
For the first time ever.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, it's funny you say that because Bex, Matt had
made a text in just before. She said, Jez, I
saw you on Instagram in a Warriors shirt and I agree,
it looks weird on you. Effing weird on you.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Thank you very much, Bex.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Not sure it's your age though. I think it's just
a subset of one. I love your work team. You
wear the merch.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Simples. So, yeah, huge weekend coming up. But imagine if
you were someone who puts $ 10 on them each year
at the start of the season to win the grand final.
Because obviously the odds at the beginning of the season
to win the grand final, much longer than now when
(00:43):
they've narrowed down quite a bit. And imagine if you
were a person who had done that for the last
26 years.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I can't, Gerry. I'd need to talk to someone.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, luckily, Manai, our next guest has done just that.
We can talk to him. His name is Mark Thomas.
Good morning, Mark. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
G'day, how are you? And you're talking like this is
something strange. I don't get it.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, does everyone not put $ 10 on the Warriors to
win every year?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, well, it's been something that's been a tradition for
me for, I don't know, at least 20 years. So
one day it's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
And I guess that the closest you've been is 2002
and 2011. What are your memories of those years?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Oh, 2002, it was the same sort of vibe as
it is now. Everyone was talking about it. There were
lots of fans wearing the merch. But back then, I
had a record shop, Real Groovy, in Wellington, and I
was encouraging all the staff to get behind the team.
And we were actually faxing, in those days, the team
over in Sydney, just with messages of support, you know.
(01:44):
And that was a great game, man. We had a
party at our house, and it was a good night,
apart from the result. Didn't matter, though.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Mark, obviously 26 years, $ 10 a year, you're down $ 260
at this stage. What were the odds at the beginning
of the season this year?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
I actually checked that last night because I hadn't even
looked at that, but I think I stand to win
$ 230 if they do it, so that means pretty much
all my money back.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You're just going to end up square if they win
this whole thing.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, yeah, that's no problem. No problem for me.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Well, yeah, not only are you square, but you're also right,
and I think that's a big part of betting. Mark,
what's the biggest odds that you remember going into a season?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Oh, I honestly can't remember, but as we all know,
there's been some seasons where it hasn't ended well, and,
you know, the odds are pretty good at the start
of the next year honestly this has just been a
tradition I'll do it at the start of the year
without fail and it doesn't matter what the odds are
and I never bet against the Warriors so it doesn't
matter whether I'm in a tipping comp or whatever so
(02:47):
obviously occasionally I don't end up at the top of
the tipping.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Table We're talking to Mark Thomas he's put $ 10 on
the Warriors to win the grand final every year for
26 years are you confident this year Mark how are
you feeling?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Look, I'm confident every year, but yes, there's something about
this team, the way that the coaching staff talk about
and the way the team are talking in their interviews.
When the team was named on Tuesday, I think everyone
was anticipating who that was going to be and who
was going to make the side. As soon as I
saw that, I was like, wow, you don't get much
(03:26):
stronger than that. I mean, there's a lot of talk
about how good the Dolphins are and we've got to
get through them, but I am confident, although slightly nervous too.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
We're in our Warriors finery, our Warriors regalia this morning.
We're wearing it for the Waz. Mark, I've got a
couple of jerseys on. Jerry's got his scarf that he's
been looking for for a while. But I understand you've
got quite a wide range of Warriors memorabilia. Outside of jerseys,
what kind of stuff do you have?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Oh, man, you know, I've been picking up little things
over the years, as most fans will be, but, you know,
everything from, I guess, I've got some signed jerseys of
Jandals drink wear. I've even got a Warriors fridge I
won in a Woodstock promo a while ago. But I
think my prize position, I found a commemorative mini-framed jersey
(04:13):
that came out at the start of the 95 season,
and it's framed and it's signed by all the original
players and staff, and it I've never seen another one,
and I found it in one of my favorite shops,
the David White Gallery in Wellington.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I'm just having a look here, Mark, and it says
that you own Warrior Sheets.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah, well, they came out, I think they were about,
I don't know, 2010 or something. They issued some sheets,
so they're out in the garage somewhere.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
You might be bringing them out of the garage and
soiling those for a.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I don't think so. But hey, if we have the
grand final party here at home, everything's going to be
on display.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Mark Thomas has put $ 10 on the Warriors to win
every year. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
Best of luck with everything, Mark.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Cheers, man. Thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I see here that someone's spent $ 5, 000 at the beginning
of the season. Oh no, when the odds were $ 11,
that's the biggest bet that the TAB's got.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
$ 55, 000.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yep.
It's a huge weekend coming up for the Warriors fans
around the country. Like me, for example, here.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Wearing my merch on the outside.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
And on the inside.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
For the first time ever.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, it's funny you say that because Bex, Matt had
made a text in just before. She said, Jez, I
saw you on Instagram in a Warriors shirt and I agree,
it looks weird on you. Effing weird on you.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Thank you very much, Bex.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Not sure it's your age though. I think it's just
a subset of one. I love your work team. You
wear the merch.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Simples. So, yeah, huge weekend coming up. But imagine if
you were someone who puts $ 10 on them each year
at the start of the season to win the grand final.
Because obviously the odds at the beginning of the season
to win the grand final, much longer than now when
(00:43):
they've narrowed down quite a bit. And imagine if you
were a person who had done that for the last
26 years.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I can't, Gerry. I'd need to talk to someone.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, luckily, Manai, our next guest has done just that.
We can talk to him. His name is Mark Thomas.
Good morning, Mark. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
G'day, how are you? And you're talking like this is
something strange. I don't get it.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, does everyone not put $ 10 on the Warriors to
win every year?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, well, it's been something that's been a tradition for
me for, I don't know, at least 20 years. So
one day it's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
And I guess that the closest you've been is 2002
and 2011. What are your memories of those years?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Oh, 2002, it was the same sort of vibe as
it is now. Everyone was talking about it. There were
lots of fans wearing the merch. But back then, I
had a record shop, Real Groovy, in Wellington, and I
was encouraging all the staff to get behind the team.
And we were actually faxing, in those days, the team
over in Sydney, just with messages of support, you know.
(01:44):
And that was a great game, man. We had a
party at our house, and it was a good night,
apart from the result. Didn't matter, though.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Mark, obviously 26 years, $ 10 a year, you're down $ 260
at this stage. What were the odds at the beginning
of the season this year?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
I actually checked that last night because I hadn't even
looked at that, but I think I stand to win
$ 230 if they do it, so that means pretty much
all my money back.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
You're just going to end up square if they win
this whole thing.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, yeah, that's no problem. No problem for me.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Well, yeah, not only are you square, but you're also right,
and I think that's a big part of betting. Mark,
what's the biggest odds that you remember going into a season?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Oh, I honestly can't remember, but as we all know,
there's been some seasons where it hasn't ended well, and,
you know, the odds are pretty good at the start
of the next year honestly this has just been a
tradition I'll do it at the start of the year
without fail and it doesn't matter what the odds are
and I never bet against the Warriors so it doesn't
matter whether I'm in a tipping comp or whatever so
(02:47):
obviously occasionally I don't end up at the top of
the tipping.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Table We're talking to Mark Thomas he's put $ 10 on
the Warriors to win the grand final every year for
26 years are you confident this year Mark how are
you feeling?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Look, I'm confident every year, but yes, there's something about
this team, the way that the coaching staff talk about
and the way the team are talking in their interviews.
When the team was named on Tuesday, I think everyone
was anticipating who that was going to be and who
was going to make the side. As soon as I
saw that, I was like, wow, you don't get much
(03:26):
stronger than that. I mean, there's a lot of talk
about how good the Dolphins are and we've got to
get through them, but I am confident, although slightly nervous too.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
We're in our Warriors finery, our Warriors regalia this morning.
We're wearing it for the Waz. Mark, I've got a
couple of jerseys on. Jerry's got his scarf that he's
been looking for for a while. But I understand you've
got quite a wide range of Warriors memorabilia. Outside of jerseys,
what kind of stuff do you have?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Oh, man, you know, I've been picking up little things
over the years, as most fans will be, but, you know,
everything from, I guess, I've got some signed jerseys of
Jandals drink wear. I've even got a Warriors fridge I
won in a Woodstock promo a while ago. But I
think my prize position, I found a commemorative mini-framed jersey
(04:13):
that came out at the start of the 95 season,
and it's framed and it's signed by all the original
players and staff, and it I've never seen another one,
and I found it in one of my favorite shops,
the David White Gallery in Wellington.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I'm just having a look here, Mark, and it says
that you own Warrior Sheets.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah, well, they came out, I think they were about,
I don't know, 2010 or something. They issued some sheets,
so they're out in the garage somewhere.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
You might be bringing them out of the garage and
soiling those for a.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I don't think so. But hey, if we have the
grand final party here at home, everything's going to be
on display.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Mark Thomas has put $ 10 on the Warriors to win
every year. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
Best of luck with everything, Mark.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Cheers, man. Thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I see here that someone's spent $ 5, 000 at the beginning
of the season. Oh no, when the odds were $ 11,
that's the biggest bet that the TAB's got.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
$ 55, 000.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yep.
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