That Saints Pod 2024 Episode 6

Join us for  "That Saints Podcast" for July hosted by Graham Cunliffe with guests Gaz Tinsley Darren Rigby and Ste Beech. Featuring the St Helens RLFC games played in June. We look back on the St Helens Ladies Challenge cup win and discuss the finer details of the transfer prospects for next season

Episode Transcript

(00:07):
Hello, and welcome to the Julyedition of That Saints Podcast, where we
look at how the Saints are gettingon during the previous month and look forward
to the next few the next fewmatches. Big thanks to Steve Beach for
last month when I was away onan enforced unforced trip to Malta. Ask
you for a month. It wasn'tquite a nice one. I got to

(00:31):
do something to get over there.The shocker getting ammed at own by why
didn't I Thanks for thanks for lastI had a good listen to the podcast
on holiday though when you put itup. Nice tributes to Rob Borrow and
Christian Esca was it was. Itwas a tear to the eye really for
that. Some appalling Cup final tipsthough from mister mister Aidy and stay Orford

(00:55):
tipping wire to win the Cup.So I'll happy one for they're missing tonight.
Well I'll be saying something them nextsame the next time about it's not
like Stays stage isn't Here's true?That's true. So who's with us tonight?
Anyway, We've got Steve Beach obviouslyhe's with us. High Hello,
State, all right, I'm good, I'm good. Captains is with us?

(01:15):
Allo? Gent's nice to be hereoff the sick bed, indeed off
the sick bed, and Danny iswith us this this week evening. Gazz
has been away longer than ignacious pass. You do realize that, well they're
both back of this, both backin the same month and hopefully in the

(01:37):
same form. Well we'll hope so. But it was a bit of a
quiet month. Really would be thewin the cup final and international. So
let's kick off with the early gamein the month. A bit about cakewalk
Reerly London for Saints. Fifty twotries from one of like two, one
from Dodge, three from Darren Clark, one from person See and one from

(02:00):
Conrad with a late replying from Kershawfor London. But well expected. I
think it was a result that waswas was was coming because we we actually
played quite well. But I don'tthink we actually I don't think we're surprised
him one with the result is weit was it was, it was coming.

(02:22):
But what surprised me was that wedidn't play a few kids. I
don't know what we want your thoughtson that. Well, what we discussed
this that at the end of thelast last month, because I floated that
idea whether we do it, andobviously the lads said, well because other
teams have pot London through the maddalbasically, you know, and obviously our

(02:45):
issue with points difference, you know, it's killed us last year, you
know. So it was wide.So it wasn't a surprise in that respect.
From my point of view on it. It was the end bit that
the try at the end and Ithink that's when we look further on that,
we're going to talk about other gamesas well. It makes you wonder,

(03:07):
you know, is that an issuethere as they get towards the end
of the games older than that.Yeah, it was was a routine thing.
I feel sorry for London now,and that was they cut the cloth
accordingly, you know that at theend of the day. It is what
it is. It's you're just openthat other teams don't put their ringer through

(03:28):
and that's that's what you're looking forand then' say sham in that respect,
it shouldn't come to that sort ofthing. I flag that now because I've
got a couple of things saying aboutthat and then getting to get some new
kids involved, not really kids,but youngs because I think it's relevant to
discussion later with looking at squads,squads and and and people leaving. But
did you see the games? Idid? I did? I felt I

(03:52):
had mixed view, isn't it?Because then By looked like a superstar.
He put the beautiful kick through forlonger, and then he put that coot
like pass out and then he scoredhimself, and you think, wow,
is easy? Are we going tobe all right without Johnny? And is
he the you know? Is hethe answer? I think? And by
playing well? But then you gothe Soulted game and you find out no,

(04:13):
he isn't. Yeah, And Ithought you Bell played in that game.
Bell Bell was instrumental in the DavillClark Patrick when he went through twice
and popped it out to him andand so he only looked like he was
running through everybody. But I thinkit was a reflection really of just out
week London, London thought what whatwhat? Another thing that was encouraging his

(04:39):
Percival's new like three step kicking styleseems to be much more effective. You
know when he got loads that day, didn't he? So? So yeah,
I think it is a reflection ofour bad London are And in many
ways it was a shame they gotpromoted. It was. It would have
been better if it would have beenstuffy. Yeah, well, I think

(05:04):
if they're dont known from the startwhere they were going to be with regards
to the IMG thing because they gotpromoted and then to be honest, that
were stitched up were they're big starts. So if I'm sure if that was
Saints, we'd be all sort ofthinking, well, well, why should
we try because at the end ofthe next season we know we're going to

(05:25):
go, I feel, and theydon't move to plow Lane is it Wimbledon
player or whoever, So they've gota better ground in that. Yeah,
And I know they've been doing alittle bit of toes around London to try
and get that on. More peopleinvolved and think I mean considering where they
are as well, they don't getbad numbers really and which is again it's

(05:46):
it's a sham. But you know, I know the guy who's who's been
the money band behind them for along time, is it used I think
his name is. I mean,you've got to take your hat off to
him how much he's been involved forso long, because I do really feel
sady for him, because you know, it's getting nothing for his efforts.
I'ming over a long period of time, he seems to be keeping it going

(06:08):
in London his own, isn't he. I think it's important that we have
a London team in Super League justto just to spread it out. But
I think that was the highest attendancefor ten years or something they said.
But it was at the Stoop,which is interesting because it was at plow
Lane. Would you have got thesame numbers? I don't know. I
really don't know where London sit withthe grounds and they seem to move around

(06:31):
everywhere and you can't settle. Ithink he just needs to establish themselves in
one place. I think plow lamethis year is is that? Just think
they're doing that moving around him justto trying to get more people to you
know, okay this is where weare. Probably had to do that because
they couldn't play that other place.What was it called trail Trail Blade?

(06:53):
Did anyone ever go to that?Incredible when you could part your CARNIXX pitch
playing at fat so either the biggeststand Yeah, don't let's stay off of
get Onto because he has some crackingstories about it. But no, it's
just I was just going to saySaint performance. I don't either way,

(07:13):
you know, Saints fans, whetherwe be happy or not happy, I
don't know, because they couldn't wineither way, could like a high score
on it, we would have beendidn't you play the kids? Or if
you would have put a lower scorelike Wigan played them. You know last
week was thirty points, so youknow if you look at them too,
Fixtius, come the end of theseason, if it is us and Wiggan
at the top, our will gameagainst London. We played the full strength

(07:36):
team and maybe it might shit thebalance. You just don't know. I
wasn't meaning sort of playing six orseven kits or jumps. I was playing
the same. Look, let's blooda couple in the same way that Stevens
has been blooded this year, likeI think the likes of Robertson maybe or
is it Dagon or the winger orthe kid at seven? Yeah why tried?

(07:58):
Yeah, because because he's got astyle of play looking at him in
the reserves where he can keep outof trouble as well. So the bit
that I didn't like back to stagepoint, but I've got a different view
on it. The six and Ithink Sculthorpe said something like, WELLS will
be absolutely raging about the six.Why we've won fifty two six? You

(08:20):
know what I mean? It wasSaint Helen's and this obsession with D drives
me up the wall. And Iknow it's important, but you know we
was the entertainers and you get twenty. We'll get forty if if we're not
anymore with a D machine and it'slike ridiculous. You know, I'm raging

(08:41):
about the six. He did wellto get that down kursh or it.
Yeah, and you're like, whoopy, do you know what I mean?
They scored it last minute? Yeah, okay, we might have switched off
for thirty seconds when we're fifty twothat said, isn't it? It's the
switch off better and that in othergames. I mean context, you're going
to speak. You know, we'refifty two nil and it's great to get

(09:01):
the nail. I get that,and I would like to get the nil.
But if I was talking about thegame after, I wouldn't be focusing
on the six. I've been saying, well done, lads, we got
fifty two. You all great stuff. And okay, at the end this
goal we shouldn have done the boit'd be furious about the six. Thing.
The thing is, when when it'sa kick, it's it's a fifty
to fifty, So somebody's going toscore at some point, aren't even if

(09:22):
you've got the best record in theleague. You know, if somebody's kicking
into the into the track the inZoneas it were then, and some two
fellas there going for it, oneof them's got to get it. It's
like that game. What was thatgame? Didn't we win one twelve nil?
And he was like going, ohno, we won't we won one?
We won one to nil. Ican't remember, but the comment after

(09:45):
there was something like, I don'tknow. It wasn't the forty odd we
got that and it's the nail thatI'm most pleased with. And I'm like,
I was a supporter, I'm quitehappy with the forty odd. Yeah,
I'm got a question about the Londongame. But Daryl Clark, is
that the quickest ever Super League catchit? Because they asked this question on

(10:05):
Twitter and no one came back tome. And I was doing a bit
of research and I think Danny Maguirewas closest and he said under eight minutes.
I'm pretty sure Daryl Clark was withinseven minutes. I think someone need
that somewhere. I don't know whothat is. I mean Daniel Clark has

(10:26):
it's just coming and just slotted rightin there, hasn't he. What's really
interesting on Donald Clark as well issince Johnny's gone, he's playing eighteen hea.
In the early part of the season, we went to the thing pre
season at the club. They weretalking to Daryl Clark and he was saying
that, which annoyed me a littlebit. He was saying, I'm quite

(10:48):
happy playing fifty sixty minutes and isgoing to have the other twenty and all,
And somebody knew that. Ruby wouldnever have said that, but but
I thought for him enough. Idon't like it, but enough. But
of recent weeks he's had to playeighteen. He's done it no probably because
obviously I'm but he's done it noproblemly. But he's fit and he looks

(11:11):
he looks fit, so I thinkhe should stay on. There's no reason
to take him off if he's fitand firing. For me, but what's
it will come to that in aminute. It it's an interesting and interesting
conundrum. Then we had the Cupfinal. Do we want to discuss the
Wiggans winning the Cup particularly bother We'lldiscuss the will discuss the curtain rader.

(11:37):
I mean, you know what thebig game like that, you big George
Williams superstar needs to turn up andmy word he did. You know what
I mean? Is that good?He could have really made a difference and
he just didn't. Anonymous run andWiggings machine just blew him away. I
think they're going back to the SuperGrand Final last year when Wigan play Catalan.
I was expecting more from Catalan,saying with Warrington, I'm expecting more

(12:01):
from Warrington and I think both andWiggins on an easy ride in both games
where they've just done what they hadto do. There aren't many teams that
can trouble with them when they're inthat sort of no, that sort of
mindset. We can certainly, youknow what anybody else can. But because
the pack, yeah, they're justa machine. They're just a machine that
keeps on rolling and you don't getthem up the middle. They'll have the

(12:24):
side. You know, it's justbut they have got pace that they've got
pace to burn. They yeah,which is which is well we were we
when winning full pomp is we canmatch them in the pack, where we
certainly can't match them in the backs, but we can match them in the
pack. Maybe we might even bea bit better. And I don't think
anybody else does. No, Warringtoncertainly didn't. Okay, well, let's

(12:48):
deal with our next game. It'sall for twenty eighteen. This was for
meansking waiting to happen. But Ithink we took our own Banansking with us
and used it. Basically. Ithink we expected this as a result.
I think it was one of themin the calendar. I think, oh,
we never do well there, butthere's no reason we shouldn't do well

(13:13):
there. Do you know? Itwas a Sunday afternoon sun was saw Ad
before. I had a pint withAd everyone in the bar guard and it
was absolutely cracking it. No,but now that chapter he's not here to
defense. It's not fair. Butyou know, I think we've touched it
before about Salford build up, theatmosphere, the pregame, and it was

(13:37):
absolutely fantastic. There was something likefifteen hundred Saints fans there again, a
fantastic turnout, absolute shock of thatend. But then it was just one
of them games where they score,we score, they score, they score,
we score, we score. Youknow, it's back and forward.
And then you just felt all theway along that they're going to get us
here, and especially with sneak becausehe hadn't been kicking that well, you

(13:58):
just knew it will come off atone point. Well, then if they
outscored us four tries to three.But it was irritating for me because when
when I was watching, I wasthinking, we've gone back to five drives
and the kick here. Yeah,we've just scored fifty two in the last
game Dundon with some really good attackingfootball, and we've just reverted to five

(14:22):
drives and a boot up in theair. Five drives and an awful kick
that get just like a dolly inthe straight And there was no change in
it was the sneed its grass everytime. Yeah, you know there's one
those one that he puts it rightout middle. Dods are like me throwing
it to my daughter. You know, they come they go not too high,
they come down, nice for themticket to take. And what was

(14:45):
interesting as well, because he waswhat's it called Hankinson. He was proper
roping at the back. It wasa couple of a decent kick would be
dropped. Yeah, yeah, AndI think if they mixed that up,
those up and then a couple onthe ground, et cetera, or it
didn't even He was comfortable after that, wasn't he? But I think I
think injuries have got an impact onthis game. You know, I mean

(15:07):
just before kickoff laugh, I pulledout because I didn't get to go,
and I'm like, thank God forthat. I would have been worsted FLA.
I would have played. But forus, you know, we've only
just lost, and I think ifTommy plays, we possibly win. I
didn't think. I don't think Benisonhad his best game. He's come back

(15:28):
in and he didn't shine really didn't. He looked they looked ropey on that
side. And and I'm a bigBenison fan, but that's the problem of
not playing and then suddenly getting thrownand he's not a winger. Is he's
not a winger. He's a fullbackplaying or wing. And they've got two
good wings. They got to youknow, Dion Cross. I think he's
from st Yeah, and he wasgreat. You look at the and they're

(15:54):
going to talk about signings, aren'twe in a bit? But you know
that that and then made Matt Donaldhe was top draw and you think that
they we're not. We're just not. We've got problems on the wings and
the backs, haven't we when theyrecruit. It just seems like poor Rowling
knows a good player when he seesone and he signs them. I think

(16:15):
we've touched on unseen times around thistable. But when when Saints coming up
against lesser opposition, when I'm talkingless like London, like Castleford, like
you saw mate Huddersfield throw into thatmix, we seem to just play expansive
rugby and it comes off because we'vegot the players that can do it.
As soon as then we come upagainst the Salford will play against you,

(16:37):
okay? Are you know you're wigging? We seem to then just be up
the middle and we can't then defendagainst teams that want to play like Saint
used to play, like they wantto throw the ball out. We stand
there like I'm on a minute,what's going on here? And it's ironic
because well all used to play inthat team. This is what I don't
understand because he's playing some of themost entertaining, exciting attacking. Was we

(17:00):
bad for many a year and thenwe suddenly where's that gone? Where does
it go? Is it? Isit a mindset that let's not lose this?
I think I think he said somethingunfortunately after this game, like eighteen
points should be enough to win anygame. Yeah, which is not?
Is not? Is on the date? Yes again, it's not where you're
it's not where you want to hear. It's a bit of saltiscate for me.

(17:22):
Yeah, I'd rather be I'd ratherbe still one. Oh god,
I'd rather see twenty five points.If we score twenty twenty seven years it's
entertaining. But you know, goback to Millwood if you like. You
know, we got that with himall the time, didn't we, justin
or justin Yeah, yeah, youknow that was good if you if you're

(17:48):
of a mindset of, well,let's call as many points as we can,
then it doesn't matter what they score, becaus hardly unlikely they're going to
get more than we are. Andespecially with the players, I think that's
I just wonder whether the I don'tknow, it's it's a conundrum because I
think these players know that they canplay some great stuff. They scored the
most points I think, and theymight have might have conceded the least,

(18:11):
but it might be closer Wig andI'm not sure, but they can certainly
do it even even with a depletedit called because there was six missing at
Salt, but they were but itwas the same. It was the same,
essentially the same seventeen had played theweek before, the two weeks before
London, and then played some greatstuff. But the mines that again were
going for personal I think it wasten minutes left something like that, and

(18:33):
he went for the two. Andfor me, at that point of the
game, we get it in thecorner, have attack on their line.
Even if you get a repeat set, we're having another attack. And then
that as soon as we went forthe two there I thought we've lost this
game, because as soon as theygetting a sniff here they'll be in.
They were throwing it out and showenough here it comes. Unfortunately, the
one that really mattered was the onethat he missed. It was well,

(18:56):
I mean, I mean, butto be to him have been really good,
doesn't it? Let it has ithas and and but there's formed for
the ones that really matter. Ithink I think he's been training with George,
because you watched George in the reserves. That's exactly how we can.
Yeah, slowed right down, letthe ball do the work. Basically,

(19:17):
hasn't it as long as it's inthe right direction. It's it's not like
to kick the bladder out of ittype of thing. I think. And
encouraging one is that the young ladscoming in and the pack are holding their
own cadaplest no one. Stevens looksgreat, looks like you can run and
pass, and you know the onethat and by Drops would have been a
fantastic try the other week. AndGeorge delaying his on his own, so

(19:37):
and you know, and Bell Bell'slook, Bell Bell is a loose forward
who can actually passably, And soI think you know, and I don't
think you couldn't say it's the forwardsof the reason we lost at Sulford.
It's this piece of worth. They'vegot a bit of creative and it's a
bit of pace. Like Darren said, they just around us. Because as
much as good as wangera Blair weregood against London, I thought he was

(20:02):
really suspecting this. I mean therewas one the thing had a kick up
and it was Perceval's all day longerthought. And he came in and obviously
bumped down and and I think itwas Cross who went in for his second
try and then their last try.You know what I mean. He's not
the answer. There's been a fewthings I've been reading lately. People are

(20:22):
warming to him and he's getting methim And no he's not. They're not
well, he's not consistent enough enough. He's not good. But again,
you can't. You can't expect somebodycome all twelve thousand miles around around the
world and be a superstar. Inthe first season. It happened bad loads
of them. Wasn't had that manymetality wasn't great in his first season,

(20:44):
Jamie Liam wasn't Ben Barber was.They came over as superstars. They were.
They came over as damaged goods signed. That's the ideal signings. Just
come over. Find that problem.All the fights not good enough, things
go full circle of years ago.We used to send them all to anyway.

(21:11):
It was a disappointing result because wecould we could kind of will see
it coming. Put your hand up. If you didn't see that coming.
Oh, I think we mentioned itlast week that was go on, Can
I mention something else? This wasan enormous frustration of mine. And that's
Dodds kicks the touch that never gomore than five yards. They take risk

(21:32):
averse to another level. They're ridiculous. And yet when on the odd occasions
they let him by kick the touch, but like Joey Lussick, yeah,
and buys knocking them twenty thirty yards, sneez, knocking them dogs kicking him
not much farther than where he kicksthe ball is where it goes in touch,
and it's just take the easy yards. Take them kicks the touch off
him, and that's somebody else whoI'm not saying take massive risks, but

(21:56):
you can gain. Yeah. That'sbeen a noticeable problem for about three years
four years now. Yeah, Andyou think, if it's been going on
that long, why have they notchanged it, because they're not Obviously they're
not getting an advantage when when they'vegot people in there, like you said,
can't do any simple stuff the olddays, Like you know, if

(22:17):
you're playing wigging and that happened andit's in the twenty Andy foul kicks you
into yours. Yeah, you're like, oh my god, we're on our
line now. Yeah, we nearlygoing back on our own line. Yeah.
Yeah. Anyway, speaking of kicking, before we move on, you're
going to mention marks need penalty.Thank god the referee knows the rules.

(22:41):
Yes, yeah, that was aclever move that I was almost on the
part with generation edited the ball overyears ago because that was that's happened recently
as well. I was listening toanother podcast and that's happened recently because they
said also was illegal to wed theball and then suddenly said didn't say still
that back. Yeah, it wasJohn Adison think about this one was though

(23:03):
there were sneeds of victim of hisown success because he never misses that Percy
what cured us for the for theattempt and cured us to the referee for
that because he was on the ballthere. Yeah. Okay, well let's

(23:26):
if we think we're disappointed after that, we've got a bit. We've got
a bit of a heavy July himand I think a couple of months ago
we were saying that poor ones hada tough May coming up, and we
did okay in that, but inJuly, I reckon, we are six
first team regulars down now we've gotWarmsley, Whitley, Bachelor, Nobles Out

(23:51):
makingson and low Max out which iswhich is six first on the team sheets.
And we've got at home on Fridaywhich which should be Hope a home
banker. And then we've got threebiggies we're going away wire at Home Lee
Away. Now those are four gamescoming up where I think Castes we should

(24:22):
we, we should be, weshould beat cast We put sixty on with
twelve players, didn't we Although theyhave improved a little, I'm just gonna
say at the moments that you knowthat they had a little bit of they
had a good part and a littlebit of a warble and they've come back
to now were you know, ifyou if you if you don't, if
you tet your foot off the gas, or if you just don't respect them,
and it's and it's happened before withus where we've done same and the

(24:45):
bit you know, like Salford usedto do regular as clockworker one spell.
Yeah, it's it's it's actually Ithink it's our toughest month. I think
it's a tougher month. And thanmay what what are your thoughts there?
Down? We are where we aresquad wise, and those games coming up,
we've got to beat Castle. Ifwe don't beat Castle and we might

(25:07):
as well give up. So I'dexpect at least I'm going to say forty
points on Cast. At least theymight score twenty, but at least we
score forty. Happy with that,Yeah, I be happy with that.
Absolutely made up. But we'g goingaway. I just cannot see us getting

(25:27):
a result there unless it's one ofthem in Darby, isn't it Because you
can pretty much put out whatever teamyou want and it's the players step up
for it. It's a different levelin the same way Wi used to step
up. Yeah, we were sotop dogs. So we've been there before
where we've gone into underdogs. Wigginghave gone into the underdogs, and you
just never know. But the wayif you look at both teams and especially

(25:49):
the injuries we have got at theminute, I just cannot see us matching
them for pace or for power,I'm pretty sure. And none of those
sticks will be back for that game. No, and they won't. They
won't if they're not available for Friday, be very very surprised if they're available
for the Wigan game. And thenyou look at Warrington again. Warrington seems

(26:10):
well this so you do over usat the new stadium. I saying new
stadium ten ten, twelve years in, but it's it's still new and they
just seem to have that. Theywant to come here and win, and
I want to go there and win. So that's the only thing we wired
at the moment is that they've gotthe Wembley wobbles, haven't they. I

(26:30):
mean, since they've been shocking again. Yeah, they are so unpredictable.
I'd like to see us win ahome and I'd like to say, you
know, see us win by bya couple of points there and Lee away,
I just don't know, know,So it's another soult. It could
be it could be a banana skin, depends on what Lee side you get.

(26:53):
So yeah, I think you're right. It's going to be a tough
month and I can see us actuallysitting I say it's tough for them,
maybe because we're not six first teamsdown we went down in there. Yeah,
I think the key one for meis Tommy. I think Tommy is
a massive one. We just haven'tgot that. It's it's everything, it's

(27:14):
his entire game. But I dobelieve if he had played with the Beats
Alford, I think, yeah,yeah, that much the others, the
others will get, you know,the big losses, but we get,
we get by the packs. Thepack it's almost getting threadburd but it's coping.
So I think we'll have too muchfor casts wigging Fields out with a

(27:37):
hamstring injury, isn't he Yeah,it's always for He's out for a couple
of months. That's a blow andso for them that takes a bit of
the ridiculous pace out of the team. Although then again there is his full
back areas we could have relied on, but never mind. So but yeah,
it's a big ask. We're inaway, I think this time,

(27:59):
but up we might we might raiseit. Warrington's terrifying me. They always
have because of and it's even worsethan ever now of the pace Williams.
We won't know. They break theline about five of them, Ashton Williams,
and you know, yeah, we'renot catching him. Whenever you think
of him as a ball back,he's quick. If they break out a
line, put the kettleong because there'sno quite chased and we don't nobody who

(28:23):
can catch any of them, andthat's what they'll do. They'll try,
and they'll try like they did inthe Challenge Cup. They know they won't
be beats us down middle, sothey'll they'll just go out and yeah,
it's woodying. It's woodying. Yeah. And then Lee Away. I went
Lee Away last year when we wenttwelve and Noel up and then we've got

(28:45):
beats that. They're gritty, aren'tthey. That's the word for Lee.
They're nasty and gritty and they've gotold heads everywhere Lee Away as well.
It's like it's like the old noseyroad. The players see that the fans
sorry, seems to be so ontop of the players. I mean Matty
Lee if I'm correct, and hegets and not that it was the fans.

(29:06):
The fans did that and reminds meof no One's the Road when all
the fans used to get on theback of the referee. It's that sort
of I think that never happens.I think we need to try it.
We need to target winning Lee Away, yeah, you know, and we
need to target winning every game,of course we do. But there's some
big asks fixtures. Yeah. Theproblem we have is what state will be

(29:30):
in, will being by away.You know what state will be will be
after physically in the way and wegot wired at home, we will be
losing a couple more. Who knowswe've got I always find as well.
If the team's flying and you're doingany nobody gets injured, do they start
losing a few people. But we'velost lads with quite serious injuries, I

(29:55):
think, and you forget win fingeldsout again. I felt seven because he's
in the seventh team when he whenhe's fit, he's a shoulder and he
Whitney's a shoulder. Batch has gonewith an ankle warms, he's still in
a boot. Johnny's got a fractor, and then Tommy's got one of them
injuries that plants of Fashy isis there'sgo very good, very good, But

(30:18):
that's one of them that there wasnobody near him and they're often the worst
ones, aren't they. Yeah,you know it's something he suffered from in
the past, is it. Yeah? So it's you know, he's always
susceptible to it. In a fewseason, yeah, the normal month though
this one's like a six week's there'sa few, you know, and just

(30:40):
boys just going back to lee beforefullwe move on. I was watching that
and the new signing Aaron Penn.Oh yeah, he's a big boy.
He looks tired and they've got agood, good pick the come and I
thought, I know Tom and Moran'sgoing next season. But he looked very
much along that sort of and allsort of good on from you know,

(31:00):
spot it we could do is pickingup guys like that Luke. You know
the thing. He's out, He'sstill got to play a few more games.
But like we were saying about peoplecoming and I'm playing well straight from
the off, he did, buthe hasn't been. But he's been playing
in the end our hours. Yeah, yeah, he's not. He's not
one who's been. Yeah, shipchipped off to what they call it the

(31:22):
Winfield Cup or something is it theother league has been he's actually been playing
and that make that makes a hugedifference. But yeah, he's a big
lad and we'll look at that whenwe come to the confirmed transfers for next
year. The sum you think,oh wow, you're going to quite a
few surprises coming. Certainly surprise me. But okay, let's move on.

(31:45):
So we're looking forward to a tightmonth. Let's look back to Challenge Cup
Final, the real match Sat Ladiestwenty two Leeds zero. What a great
game that was for the for thegirls, super defense for once, they
were really good and then tries fromFaye asking Phoebe Hook I can't remember mccorm's

(32:07):
first name, but the Shanny Crowand three tries from Faye, three girls
from Faye asking. But it wasa great performance. It was brilliant and
really really really enjoyed it and Ilove that that talking to Herd about it
the interview after the match with like, I was getting quite emotional, to
be honest listening to and it wasgreat. They played so well. Leeds

(32:30):
never looked like getting into it didThey was just just a fantastic I don't
know if it's a coincidence, butI think since they've decided to get that
land in the pockets and start topay the ladies, I'm not don't get
me wrong. I'm not saying thatthey've you know, not put it out
there because they've not been paid.But I think they okay, Well they

(32:52):
lost, yeah, Amy hard Castle. Yeah, the other girl, the
blonde girl who's name escapes me secondrow, I can't remember. Did she
gover to York. Yeah, Ithink so that's a really good yeah,
yeah, yeah, well yeah yeah, but they picked up a cracking fallback

(33:15):
and Bicky Whickfield had a renaissance something. I tell you what. Yeah,
I know this sounds wrong, butshe looks fit, match fit. I
mean yeah, I interviewed a coupleof seasons back and just as she was
getting back from a cruciates and lookingher from then to now, you know
which obviously she's putting the effort inin the gym and and all that sort

(33:36):
of things, she looked really reallygood, really good. Jody Cunning had
a great game. Emily Rudge wassuperb. I like the young girl who
they have Wasker Tara was good butwhen had Yeah, she looks like she
could play for the Well, shejust got picked for in the England squad
for this this game they played againstFrance, but passing from only half its

(34:00):
absolutely proper skill matters. And againshe looks like a hooker. That's wrong
thing to say about. I don'tknow anyone. Anyone's seem on the socials,
but the girls are now running theI think it's an Instagram page or

(34:21):
a Twitter page or a snapchat.I don't know what it is, but
it's funny to follow them and watchthem and they look like they're having a
great time while playing some really reallygood rugby, which is refreshing to say.
I think it's Emily Rudge that thatdoes it. With Jody Coningham and
you know, they are the faceof the women's team and minute for Saints

(34:42):
and they're doing an absolute sterling joband as are all the squad. It's
just a shame that they're having toplay in a ninety thousand seater stadium and
it's empty. Yeah, I'm tryingto tell you what the kids played beforehand
and the gates aren't even normal.I know, isn't that my that's isn't
it? When we went I rememberthat with the Warrington fall. I'll never

(35:04):
forget the one Robert Hicks the kidsgame was on there, yeah, last
year, and I don't think throughCOVID and one after or just after COVID
because Parky went down to commentates onit, because that one thing we organized
on the other podcast that I do. Parky was going down to commentate on
it and we got in touch withthe skills and everything. Literally he only

(35:28):
actually got in the stadium like tento fifteen minutes before it kicks off,
and when he got in there therewas virtuinely well certainly, I think we're
the only people in were the parents, And as much as that's nice,
you would like in all sorts ofget a bit of a crowd or people
would go if the gates were open, yeah, because if it was your
club who were playing in the final, and academy or your kids were there,

(35:51):
yeah, you'd go, well,yeah, that's right. That was
an unfortunate thing about the women's,wasn't it. It's a wigging Warrington final
and a Saints leaders. We'd havemade the final. There's a lot of
Saints fans we're going to oh yeah, yeah. I think there was still
a good turnout considering though you know, that followed on them, which is
great because it shows the sports.He said at six thousand that had actually

(36:12):
gone through the turnstiles. That mighthave got that figure completely wrong, but
I remember it's seen it somewhere.But six thousand and ninety thousand is not
pin job. It's nothing, isit? So for me, I know,
the occasion of playing at Wembley isbig and it's yeah, we're going
to Wembley. But I'd love tosee him in a fifteen twenty thousand some

(36:34):
size of Langtry Park where it's fulland it's bouncing for the girls, and
get that for them because they don'tdeserve to be cheering in front of empty
seats. It's just the Specs goestoo big. Now I'm hoping it will
go the way of women's football becauseup to five years ago that was nobody
watched it. Now the Arster they'remanned and they're playing with thirty forty thousand

(36:57):
people and I think if they canget you just got to stick with it.
Yeah, it's just got to stickwith it and get the club paying
them, keep it going and itwill grow. I don't know what you
feel like at grassroots level. Ithink that's definitely you know in Haydock,
Yeah, girls, there's loads ofgirls, and there's loads of them in
each squad. You know, youwalk around the park and you seem like

(37:19):
training and you're like wow, andmy little one's thinking, she's thinking she's
not big enough. She's the one, but she's still I went to play
no. But but there is alot. I mean, I don't and
that's just me walking on my localpark and shoots the same at all the
clubs. And I tell you what, men Parky were commenting went down doing
commentary on a cross fields a coupleof weeks ago and we were really early

(37:43):
and there was a women's game onbefore and it was really really good cut
crowd there, you know, forthe for the women's game. But I
heard a sentence which I had neveraid in my life, and it was
getting into a waiting thinking that's sowrong for some but yeah, and it

(38:06):
was. It was good and exactlythe same as when the lads played.
After the community lads they come offand it was exactly the same, or
our best mates all talking to eachother. Yeah, they really really enjoyed
it and it seems to be growingalso in the schools. Yeah, so
you might be right, Graham thatthey just got to be stuck with the
grounds well at some points, andI think that the damn might have broken

(38:30):
with the payments being made. Itneeds to push on. That's that's essential,
yes, and that a lot ofthat was on the back of what
dads was saying that what the girls, not just the Saints but sat as
the example, you know, they'rearguing out on social media. They actually
see them having fun. You seethem all mates, and and that replicates

(38:52):
you know the kid kids, youknow want to do that, don't.
They exactly the same way. Andthe other thing is from day one they've
always been accessible. Right at theend of the games, they're all over
signing shirts, having ford and it'snot changed. I mean we talked about
one of the four back to backfour times now that the Challenge Cup finals.

(39:14):
Yeah yeah, yeah, but stillthey get their two kids all forward.
Apparently. I heard that Jodie Cunninghamwas out there after the game had
finished. She was out there closeto forty five minutes to an hour having
forward to taken signing and kids.Remember, I think I think that this

(39:37):
season's performance and winning that cup waswas even better because the Amy Hardcastle going
on carry Roberts was it. Well, key centers and they've replaced them and
they look even better. You've gotto say off to Matty Smith as well.
The second second season now is it? Yeah that is you know,
so two cups? Yeah, hopefullyyou get the Super League as well as

(39:59):
the Challenge Play some they played somegood attack in that first twenty minutes in
that game or they were under thepump leads absolutely hit that line and they
kept them out and I think thatyou know, that broke it back to
a certain degree, didn't they.They couldn't get us a cracking player,
and they could they just closed down. They did a number on it,

(40:20):
didn't they at the end of theday, which is I mean, that's
how you were doing it in themen's game when you do exactly. But
they had the wherewithal then to playafter that. Yeah, you do see,
there's a lot more. I thinkit's about refreshing to see a lot
more play. Yeah, it's normalabout the you know, did they did
you watch the women again? Sometimesrefreshing to watch because the balls been moving

(40:40):
around and going too hands and yeah, I think this is this is what
we used to be great. Yeah, you don't even you don't even mind
a knock on it because at leastthey're playing, they're trying to play rugby,
which is what you want to say. There's there's no rubbish in there
is in the sense of not thatthat you know, sort of cynicism you
get in the men's professional game,you know, and and will go in

(41:01):
there and somebody old I maybe onceor but it's not a consistent thing,
you know, or somebody lying onand looking around to the line to see
if everybody's back on side. It'sit's just a totally different game. Okay,
well what can you say? What? Congratulations and world? Okay,

(41:23):
let's have a quick look at themen's mid season international. All the games
were off while England went to playin France in front of bugger all.
Basically three or three or four thousand, what what is the point of this?
It's it's it's a face. It'smad to me, it's mad.
It's not a competitive game and shownwhyne it was. It didn't even go.

(41:44):
It was a hospital, a sackof bourse. He's had an ankle
operation and apparently there's there's problems.Well, I don't know it's with his
ankle or whether it's just because it'sshot. Well, I wish I wouldn't.
I wish it must be from that, but a bit of a way

(42:07):
to time. Forty points to eight, sixth nil down after five minutes and
then a cakewalk two for Wells tobe two for Hawley, two for Johnston,
Nicholson and Williams, three goals fromHarry Smith and one from Johnston strangely
at the end, but I thinkit's a pointless exercise. I think I
think it's a tick box exercise fromthe RFL. It's it's likely. Yeah.

(42:29):
John Key had made a point afterthe last World Cup about playing more
games internationally because the likes of WhalesScotland latterly they're trying to expand it,
and we're then going, okay,we'll expand it, but we're going to
have a meaningless game in the middleof the season, which has probably done
nothing for the international scene. Idon't think it has anyway, but maybe

(42:51):
the players and coaches staff will totell us differently. But I just think
it was a tick box exercise bythe RFL to say we've had a mid
season friendly. And for me,it wasn't completely a waste of time.
I didn't even know it was on. I was looking with Saints were playing
and I'm thinking, I've I missedsomething here, and I'm going when we
got a game, oh, it'sinternational. It was on TV, it
wasn't publicized, there was nothing tobuild up about it. For me,

(43:16):
easier with whatever squad that they gotthere was playing against each other, playing
against each other probably wouldn't more compassionate. But the worrying thing about it is
we're throwing like our best but arguablyour best player in Jack Wellsby into that
team and it's a friendly. It'sa pointless fixture. If it was something

(43:37):
that was going to build up tothe next World Cup and give us a
chance of beating the Aussies or NewZealand team or whatever it was, then
for player you go right, atsoff. But I just you're throwing players
in there and there's a risk ofinjury, and you think, and I'm
going a minute, it was ourbest players going over it. I think
Delaney w was broaching to the squad. I'm not sure if you played.

(43:59):
I didn't even watch it. Ididn't actually impossible to see and still is.
You know, most things have beencaptured by somebody somewhere and put on
X or you not this, notthis, You can't find anything. Wasn't
it a curtain razor for to loseand Featherston? That's correct, So they

(44:19):
couldn't pick any to lose place toplay for France, which I could not
understand because then understand that, butwe've gone international game versus France as a
curtain raiser to to lose versus FeatherstoneChampionship in the championship and absolutely bonkers.
That funny because what you're saying isnot to lose. Fans bothered to come.

(44:44):
They didn't. The only English fanswas five hundred that turned up from
what's this, what's this on thethese kids coming on now? Incredible fas
George Learning was eighteenth man and hewas wellsby Johnson, Sam Wood from Okay,

(45:07):
Harry Newman, Ashanley, George Williams, Harry Smith, Luke Thompson and
Brad and Neil, Mattie Lee's,Ben Curry, Matty Nicholson, Elliott Minchello,
mikeaey Lewis, James Harrison, TylerDupre, Oliver Wilson all on the
sub bench. I mean that's prettygoing back to what you were saying that

(45:27):
there's about injuries. I mean,I'm sure yeh got to look at Wigan
there. I think how many playersmentioned their five something like that? So
Wigan for me, it'd be going, hang on a minute, and I
were sending five players over there formeanings the game, and wasn't tirely Dupre
already injured from a Wigan. It'sbeen out learning for a couple of games,

(45:49):
so you would have thought, youknow, we're going to hold him
back with you know, we don'twant to. Yeah, that's like I
remember when they did this in thesummer, just before the World Cup they
did they did one of these gamesand then they brought all the players from
Australia over and nobody got to Yeah. That's the other party of it as
well, isn't there. Do youknow what they'll be better off doing bringing
back Yorkshire versus Lancashire And I knowthere's no teams left in Yankshire Lancashire apart

(46:14):
from probably surely Panthers under nines orwhatever there is now, but they would
have been better off bringing something likea state of origin back because East versus
West, East versus West whatever youwant to call it. But you then
got two teams battling against each otherof you know, equal stack competition,

(46:36):
it's competition. And also you've thengot feeder players into the national so at
the end of the game you cansay, right, what players stood out
from both teams. At the endof the year, you've then got your
internationals and then you can go rightthat was a meaning a meaningful game.
So you can then go right,we'll pick cherry pick our English players from
them, cherry pickard Welsh, whateveryou want to do. But when the

(47:00):
players against players of equal talent,there's mileage in that. I think over
time that that rivalry would build.Yeah, and that's significance of that game
would build. Yeah, And Ithink what it is, there's there's that
being the bonnet of the old addedyears ago, you know, the the

(47:20):
Roses match, and now you getoil. It will never work. It
will never work. I can understandbecause, like you said, dads,
the orange of Lancashire has gone infrom a rugby since because of the boundaries,
et cetera. But as I said, this side of the Pennines,
there's still a lot of team.So if they just said okay, fair
enough, it's going to be atrials for England, it's a three match

(47:44):
game and it's going to be Eastversus West's I mean you can even still
stick a Lancashire flag up, LancashireRose and the Yorkshire rolls in front of
him. Nobo did argue with that. I'm sure people are buying to that
because how many times I mean,it's do you get it? And I
would say it's every single time thatyou're playing a Yorkshire side and something kicks

(48:06):
off. And I even watch amatch now that is something like Castleford versus
whoever said Castleford versus leaves I'm someking. I'm thinking I hope something kicks off
because both sides were going. Butno, I think certainly from an iron
plant, it's okay, let's lookat this from a different angle. Because

(48:29):
you just said the players are learnon both sides. Pendines were good enough.
I reckon you could either throw ina Cumbrian team because I reckon,
I reckon there's probably a thirty tothirty coming players in the Super League.
Well, the bottom line is theUcuombrian teams would come on in the West,
wouldn't they because they're on that sideof the country, so you could,
so that's where they would fit in. And if if you said that

(48:52):
the East was your London, becauseyou know, you used the Pennines your
barometer straight up and downtown. Ourpool of players in England. No disrespect
to France, but it's far greaterthan one France, so France will be
better. As John Key said,linking up with Wales, linking up with
Scotland, Lincoln with Ireland. Theyhave like a four tests series. Then

(49:15):
it was in England because SAMO don'twant to travel in mid season. Tonga
NRL won't entertain it, so wemight as well do something in else and
then go right because playing France Franceevery years it's just meaningless. The thing
is you've got to have a competitivegame for some sort of buying. I
mean you look at the State ofOrigin for instance, for years and years

(49:37):
you got one side getting better andthen suddenly the others come into it,
and then over this last what tenfifteen years? Okay, right, and
all at the moment there's sort ofa Queensland and in the ascendant. But
we logged the first half record thirtyyou know, I think it was at

(50:00):
half time or something something like that, so you know it there is malagin
Yeah, as you say, it'sto play for that now they used it
as a like, okay, theseare these are the tests for the possible
English England squad and they need toreview that game. That game is real

(50:21):
failure, isn't. Yeah, yougot to be some meeting going on somewhere
that that's some guys, this isn'tworking and that's a viable alternative. I
would have thought that's somewhere where Iam he would be getting. Let's do
something like this. And as ifthe rebrand, it doesn't have to be
roses water, it still can bewatered the roses, but not to be
langaged in Yorkshire and under that brandtype of thing. If you just and

(50:45):
on one side of the conch againstthe other, because as I said,
you look at the teams that havebeen successful through Super League, it's it's
a balance. Also. Yeah,okay, so we're against the mid season
game. We transcend. All right, let's talk about the Saints. Over

(51:07):
the last couple of weeks, I'vebeen I've been trolling over social media and
looking at recruitment for the clubs onthe beach. You've been doing this on
the beach. The benefits of socialmedia, Steve Internet. You can look

(51:28):
at the clubs release through they're gettingand like Lee and I'll give you a
list in a minute. But Saintsnever do this, and I think it's
that it creates an irritation amongst thefans. I think what we do know
for definite is that Tommy Makinson isgoing to Cattle and Lewis Dodd's going to
Australia and there's a void. There'sa void and we ain't nothing and nobody

(51:51):
says anything. And and James Robyfinished last years. That was a small
that's that's a big figure as well. I'm just just this is this is
this is pretty I've just had aquick look on were on the internet about
who's going where and these are allconfirmed. These John Assi Art from Lee
to Hull, Tom Burgers coming backfrom Australia to Huddersfield, Ryan Hall's going

(52:13):
to back to Leeds Eastern Masters,Huddersfield to Salford. Louis Senior ol Kr
to Casterford in his senior Huddersfield toCastleford. Jared Worria Hargreaves Salford, Rooster
to ol k Are. That's abiggie. Luke Yates Huddersfield to Warrington,
Tom Davis Catlands okay a Jordan Abdullokayr to Hull. Tommy obviously it's to

(52:36):
Catalans amir Borough for Salford. TheWigan Salford hooker's going to Hull. David
Armstrong is a biggie for me,Newcastle Knights to Lee Nick Cottrick, Canberra
to Catalans, Ollie Partington, Salfordto Catalans. Now there's some there's some
big moves there that have all beenflagged and everybody knows about them and we've

(52:59):
got nothing. Is this because wearounced these signings when season tickets a season
ticket sales are coming going out?Or are we doing our business behind the
scenes and are we literally doing nothing? Well, well, I know we
had a bit of discussion, notspecifically specifically about transfers, but what it
was last last month was about Iraised a question about Paul Wellens haven't been

(53:22):
getting offered an extension to his contractbecause that's up at the end of the
season. And obviously you look atwhat Wigging have done with Matty Peter.
I know they've got the spawn duelersat the moment. But you're thinking,
you know, you know, somepeople say, oh, Wellens isn't you
know, is he the right man? Understanding if he took his name out

(53:44):
of his statistics and you look atthat, you think, what's not doing
a bad job? And it justmakes me wonder what what what is happening
though? And and they was suggestedabout that by your kid dads that he
said, saying it's basically do thestuff behind closed doors and kick keeping quiet.
So it might be that sort ofpoint to a certain degree as well.

(54:07):
They need, they need, weneed to spend some money, we
need, we need to The backneeds some significant improvement. And my worry
with Willans all along was that theclub wouldn't back him financially because he's the
local guy's ecstatic to be running theteam. Just you're just doing what you're

(54:28):
given and you know which were Wolfsand whole books wouldn't tolerate that. He
probably would tolerate that because he's justhe's just delighted to have the job,
and that that was always my worrythat ultimately it might be the fall guy
for that. But we've got toWe've got I mean, the first ones
for me is the one that leapsscreams out to me is we need to
do whatever we need to do tokeep Si Connie is a discussion, but

(54:52):
we need to keep sell. Iheard a rumor his family his family has
gone back from what I understand,whatever is going at the end of the
season. Well, he's good enoughto play down there, absolutely easy he'll
get it if he does go,and God forbid he does. But we

(55:13):
had our money. Well, it'sone of those cases where we've got the
right mentality, but we did well. Dog Dog was going. I suspect
he's going now because of because hehas to. I think if he he
daresn't wait any longer with his potentialinjury. He didn't getting himself injured just

(55:37):
before a big contract for three years. It helps. Tommy's obviously going for
a longer deal than he may wellhave got, maybe on a touch less
money. But that's a bit geta bit of a coute vibe on that.
I think we I think we didthe right thing with Couts, and
I think we're doing the right thingwith Tommy, and I think we need

(55:58):
to thank him for incredible service.But we shouldn't be giving him a two
year deal. Now. Well,we've got a lot of players thirty plus
now. Yeah, they've all comethrough at the same time to form this
wonderful time that one four in arow and all that, But at some
point they're all going to get tothirty suddenly. It's like Leads, wasn't

(56:19):
the Leads dream the forwards? Thirtyfive? Yeah, like the ones,
the one people are going mad about. I think the forwards can can do
it, but the backs, assoon as you lose that yard, you
done. Yeah, you've done.And you know, even the one that
I'm still a bit worried about wasthe Johnny three years. Yeah, Johnny's

(56:40):
thirty four. Two more years ofthat yet, I don't know. But
what it is where it is runinto that one? Yeah, I think
what Johnny needs, what it needsa good number seven. We need a
seven. And for me, Iwould look at the failures because this is
what do you Well, don't theysee somebody go down Australia when they fail

(57:01):
and they bring him back and pickthem out no problem, you know.
I think like Jake Clifford's not goneback and not set the world on fire,
but he did set the world onfantastic kicking game. Jackson ay Stings
is another one who's gone back andcan't get a game, but he was
like best player in Super League.Why don't because we need to replaced.

(57:22):
I mean, if we get luckyin my word, you know, young
Whippy might be that good, butthat's us relying again on getting lucky and
some dogs. Yeah, so that'sso we've got to because we should,
we need we need one and tobe fire one, to be fair,
that's the policy. Bring in theyouth through and we've got some good ladsters
and there's a kick called Robertson andcoming in. But there we're going to

(57:46):
have this gap where they're not quiteup to size and business. And we've
got three four or five of us. Percy's over thirty, was over thirty,
Johnny's thirty four, Tommy's thirty threegoing to there's there's well in the

(58:07):
professional game. They only replace himat some point. One thing that really
worried me, and it was Wellow'scomment. I don't know whether anyone saw
about the Sneed conversations. He basicallysat down and said that, yeah,
Sneed's you know a player that wewould like to have at Saints, and
you know a player that would liketo sign. But basically the be all

(58:30):
and end all is it was justa conversation. So I'm thinking on a
minute, his contract was up.Salford are in a bit of a with
their financial position. If we wanta player like Sneed, what's happened to
Saints that they can't go knocking onthat door and go as a contract for
two years because ultimately, if sneedcomes for two years, then you've got

(58:53):
it gives why time, It givesyou know, other players time to develop
and progress. But I've been lookingat players in over here and also in
the NRL. Chad Townsend. He'sthirty three, but again, if you
give him two years, he'll bethirty five. Yes, he's on on
the old but he's going to bringthat experience just for a year or two

(59:15):
just to guards in another one.Disagree or agree? Josh Drinkwater, his
contracts up at Warrington's never been badto anybody has gone him, has he
He's never been world really liked,but he's never been bad. But could
he be that stability over the nexttwo years? Better kicking Jake Clifford.
You mentioned Jake Clifford. His contractsup at the end of the year,

(59:37):
so you know, do you goout and get him? But again he's
thirty three? Is really I thinkhe's thirty three? Yes, he's proven
him. He was brilliant in anawful whole team. Yeah, but we
we actually haven't got the senior scrum. But then you look at that there's
a guy and he I quite likehim Jade and Sullivan only twenty two and

(01:00:00):
he's at West Tiger's now his contractsup at the end of the year.
But with someone like that, it'slike a Jackson Hastings scenario. He's coming
to get a deal in there.Or do you look at someone and who's
really impressed me? And I knowhe plays for London, but oli Leyland
now he is only twenty three andhe can play six, seven or one,

(01:00:21):
so there's some versatility and for me, every time London's played, I
think he's been the stand up player. So you know, Saints, do
you go for him and go,Okay, you might not be starting seven,
but you've got back up and that'sthat's one thing now we're talking about
with injuries, We've not got themplayers. You're relying on Ben Davis.

(01:00:42):
You're relying on these young kids comingfor Ben David's not young, but like
you've got Sam Royal And for methat the squad players that they're never gonna
win you a game. They justcome on and just do a job.
But I don't know, we needwe need an out and out seven and
there's players out there. When youlook through the list of players that's coming
up, and we just need tobe and we must have the money just

(01:01:06):
bend because of what's gone and goingwell. I do know we've significantly upgraded
well has been nos Delaineing and Lee. So whether that's could that's coming in
next year when Tommy and Doddy havegone, I don't know. They we'll
never know the truck of it.Look at the players that we've lost them

(01:01:27):
over the past couple of seasons,and you know, like you said before,
we're going back to Coot when welost in the olfage and we're replacing
them with players that I wouldn't saylike are warranted a deal as big as
some of these players on him.So there must be something left over.
When you look at Wigans squad thisseason, how they are doing that under

(01:01:51):
the cap is absolutely baffling. Soif they can do it got Warrington's accountant,
but it makes you wonder and raiseit a few months ago about Super
put like an estimated spend Saints we'redown in about fifth and we were level
with Salford and others Field. Ourspend is level with solt and Uthersfield.

(01:02:14):
What are we doing? We ownour own stadium. Apparently the books are
good, you know, for ina Row. Well with World Club,
we've won some money, where isit? Well? But on the back
of that what you're saying, themoney you're seeing the money is good.
But you look at some of thesponsorship deals we get, considering we are

(01:02:34):
for in a row and you lookat like the branding regard when no disrespect
to own barking, but surely whyhave we not got a big blue chip
company, a pretty big blue companyto be friends? I think for Rugby
Lee, you've got to be we'vegot to be a bit more realistic with
the sponsorship because we're never going toget like a big name and we brought

(01:02:57):
Home Bargains is a big name.But is that not just up here?
Is that not just yeah the country? I think for us as well,
the I just think we're not we'renot not as smart in the recruitment right
now. You know, talk aboutwigging and picking up Sam Walters for nothing,

(01:03:20):
picking up Jake Wardle, Jake Wardlebuttons drove me mad, picking up
Jake Wardle for nothing, picking upthat a bass mystery probably for nothing,
and they're all playing it first.You know, I just think they're a
bit sharper than us at the minute. And we're not picking up, we're
not doing it as well. Andyou watch, you watch like I think
he's doing it, Willie Peters,if you look at the improvements. Okay,

(01:03:44):
they've got all sorts of players comingin over the last year or two
and they're all really good and andyou're like anything, I'll come there doing
it and you know, wondering meAnd here you talk about a lot Joe
Burgess, why we didn't sign Joe. Joe Burgess and Oliver gild Are both
went to Edmund Darr Smith, youknow what I mean? The local lads,

(01:04:06):
why did we get you kind ofargue with that Adam Swift apparently presenting
himself as Saints and said, don'twant to come back, and I don't
want you. But that's what that'swhat we've heard, you know what I
mean. It's like his agents iscoming. He's coming to sing can't drive
a ball and golf dogs. Burgessand guild are. The reason they left

(01:04:30):
Wigging was because they were both goodenough to go to Australia. They subsequently
found out they wasn't quite quite butthe bloody well far good enough to play
top of Super League and they endup Okay are and and you're like,
well, what like someday. I'mnot bothered that Tom Davis chose Okay,
but the rumor was he turned hechose them over us. I'm not bothered
about that, to be honest,I don't think he's a great addition on

(01:04:54):
what we've got, especially when Tommy'sgoing the other way. There's got to
be a deal there to be doneas Tom this is the one is a
good The one for me is TomJohnston. That should be part of the
Tom Johnston be going back to Wakefield, where do we not even guaranteed the
Super League place? And he's goneback. You should be saying, look,
you can have Tommy, right,you have Art on me, We

(01:05:15):
have me cracking that week inside forWakefield. Yes, yeah, do you
think if we're losing. He's alwaysbeen quite good at that though. We
have a lot of pops at DarylPowell. But over the years he has
spotted a player like Luke Gales,and he has spotted him, you know,

(01:05:41):
I think. But I think thecertain managers, I think role is
another one that they see something andyou know, and I'm you know,
it's worrying a bit. It's worryinga bit that we're not doing it to
go back to like the key inhere and when we brought him, like
jack O Wins and every everybody himwas only going out with his daughter or
something, and the kid at ninefrom so he just got worse and worse

(01:06:05):
and worse. I just don't we'renot slipping into that because I think with
that same sort of dilemma that youwere on about that Wells falling to you
know what, I'll do it becauseit's the club, and I love the
club and all that. It's Ithink it's probably a little bit more Wellens
is a little bit more savvy inthat respect. Well, I hope there's

(01:06:26):
a danger of falling into the wedon't do recruitment. We do we bring
our own through, and there's goingto be a gap. I think you've
got they're bringing their own through.What's that kid at brad only and he's
absolutely to draw him. They bring, they still have hard, they're still
being on the back, but thenthey're buying him as well. For me,

(01:06:46):
obviously, we're seven short of nextyear and I do not want to
see him by at seven. Ido not want to see him with his
seven share a utility. You've gotto keep him that you to us say,
yeah, that's it. He cando a job, but you know
he's not your starting center. Iwas. I was looking one of us,
sort of doing a bit of prepfor this. I wrote one word

(01:07:10):
down pace. Oh god, yeah, we don't have We don't have a
lot of pace. Best will inthe world. The lads our backs were
once quick. Jack is still quickwhen he gets but I don't think anybody
else is the same. Can't getaway from players as they used to.
Would we like genuine speed? Yeah, that's absolute speed. We want Dan

(01:07:34):
and Albert in twenty twenty five.I hope I'm wrong, then I hope
suddenly in September we get announced thesetwo wonderful new signings and happy days.
We'll all be happy. But thesort of a game Deon Cross scored two
nice trys against us, it was. It was one of the hes in

(01:07:55):
that same sort of players as AdamSwell to a certain extent. They probably
worked right at the time for sayings, but they matured and they are I
think both of them could. Thegood job for those right now is better
than that where you've got. Yeah, yeah, there's a certainly. I
think we need a kicker next season. And I know Percy is doing well,

(01:08:19):
but we need another if Tommy's going, because he can kick Canny and
I think Dog can kick as well. But Percy is second in the kicking
table behind Mark's need on numbers orpercentage non numbers. Yeah, but he
will do he kicks more than anybodyelse. Will We scored the most,
right, so he gets more goals, but his percentage isn't bad. I

(01:08:41):
think's news. But I agree withDarren. I think that's why I think
about players like Jake and Clifford who'rekicking from anywhere, you can just relax.
Well, one player that is onthe market, and he is he
is over the hill if you likeis real smarting? Yeah, I like
him. What He's a good playerstill, Yeah, and he can kick
him from anywhere. So you know, do you look at that If we

(01:09:03):
are losing, I know we don'tneed many second rowers. We need more
prop forwards. To be honest withyou, how many second rouders have We've
been got one left? If we'relosing the only yeah, I think for
a season, season or two,I think he'd be. He's fit as
a fiddle. I don't think hemisses many games either. You look at

(01:09:26):
how many positions as he played,and he never that's a bad game,
which on the position you put himin, stuck out on the wing,
and yeah, he'll do your job. Boy, I must got to say,
guys there before we can run aboutCoots and Murkinston and obviously coming to
the careers and they took the money. I mean one's going to the South
of France and the wall. SoI don't know he's got the best well,

(01:09:53):
anybody who goes to cattle and Ithink there's a there's a couple of
more coming in. There's a strangesign of Catilean to pick somebody at that
age. And yeah, because thereis a chance that he will miss a
lot of games because he's he's atthat time, which is starting to happen
for us. It's you know,I thought it'd be Catialan fan thinking,

(01:10:14):
but he was in Tom Johnson bringingagain thirty four year old Tommy Maker.
I know he's had big injuries,Tom Johns, but he's fit, he's
fair. I'll tell you now.I'll tell you now. If you are
playing and training in seventy degrees,you will last longer for stop. He's
extended his career by getting a twoyear deal, there no doubt about it.

(01:10:34):
And good absolutely yeah, you know, just to endure the lifestyle Downdore
because he because you know he's putthe yards in well not at all.
He goes the best wishes. Really, he'll come back to owns at some
point. I'm sure famous put thedrop goal from half way in the Grandfather

(01:11:00):
mean that they're they're building again,and we don't seem to be building.
I don't. I don't. Idon't feel that. I might be right,
I don't feel like we're building.I think from I think this is
from the club itself, and thereneeds to be more communication with the fans
of what's happening recruitment, because usuallyby this stage in the season you're hearing

(01:11:20):
rumors of whose might be well,I think they can sign from June first
May, so you know, we'realready two months into that and we've heard
nothing. To be honest, itmight be that they actually got people they're
just not telling us. They're justwaiting such seasons over I don't. I

(01:11:40):
don't get that because I mean,if you were a player at Saints,
would that be disheartened? And seeingLewis Dogg go, seeing Tommy go.
If your contract was up and youdidn't know who was coming in, would
you be going signing I've got offresults, They've got such and such such
coming in there. They're rebuilding.And it works the same way as the

(01:12:02):
fans as well, because others fans, we pay our money, we pay
our season tickets, we you know, put money behind the bar or whatever
we want to do, buy ourshirts, but there's nothing coming the other
way. It's like, give ussomething, give us some hope for because
especially when it's not going too well, like now you know you've had a
loss at Salford and you know,give us some hope for right things are

(01:12:25):
looking up or you know, Anddo you know what, I believe from
good sources that Wellow has actually signedan extension. But whatever reason, maybe
he has, maybe hasn't, butheard from good sources at well signed the
extension and did you ask him allthe way? But do you know what

(01:12:50):
when he had that run of acouple of games, I think it was
a cracking month after May or Ape, I can't remember when it was,
but I do have an ideal time, say sat well sad for another two
years. That's that's in the bag. Let's move on. It's it's it's
it's that's the start point, andit we need that because do anything without

(01:13:11):
we do that first, and thenquickly behind it is something else positive.
And I do open as well becausehe's a he's a local guy. He's
a cracking, cracking gentleman. Andyou know, although we all want to
see more expansive rugby, I thinkyou're right before, we need to put
some money to get them sort ofplayers and get that depth to see that.

(01:13:33):
You know. I think well,with transfers not being an issue in
ugly now, I think it's it'scontracts and to be fair, when you're
negotiating contracts for the next two orthree years, you've got to have that
weather eye on the salary cap.Now. I can't get me around how
complex I sometimes, because you've gotyour home grown players don't count as issue

(01:13:56):
market players. We can have somany and then if you suddenly you go
over it, you know, butplenty of rooms of maneuver, and it
looks like we've got about half amillions and it isn't that going to change
come you know, with the IMGmodel as well. I'm not saying that
the CAP's gonna go higher as such, but i mean, you know,
with that little bit of more flexibilitywith those types of things as well,

(01:14:19):
I'm sure I'm sure there's something inthere with that as well. I think
there's other rules coming in next yearas well, which we discussed earlier in
the season about players, how manygames you can play depending on position,
all that. So we could endup in a situation where blood young,
we're adding for the playoffs, andwe've got to play these kids because all
these all these lads have played thegames right now that there's some there's there's

(01:14:42):
some complex tactical decisions to be made, and I think how many marquee players
can we have now? Is itthree? I think it's three, so
getting but there's another exception if that, if the homegrown has gown so wellsby
well, if he's a market he'sgot to be our market player. Who

(01:15:03):
else is our marquee players? Iwould think Noses knows, maybe Johnny Yeah,
Well, it's it's it's a trickyquestion. We neverould really get to
see, you know, nobody actuallyopens the books for you do need to
show it, so you're only you'reonly guessing, which frustrating. You have

(01:15:25):
to say that was your market players. Need to be market playing, you
know what I mean? Thinking theWellesby is wean knows. I mean,
you know, I love him.I think he's a cracking player. He
gives away penalties which you can takebecause he goes in hard. But is
he a marquee player. Well,it's like it's your Brett Frenches and feels

(01:15:45):
and isn't it Do we get bywithout him? Yes, we've got by
comfortably revolt. In fact, JamesBell is playing some lovely stuff out the
back, which Morgan doesn't do.He is Mark keep playing. Well it's
a proper thirteen, isn't it.Ye, Let's be honest. Yeah,
yeah, And you know, andan aging Johnny as well. I think,

(01:16:08):
well maybe he is, but shouldhe be? You know, I'd
like to see his wiggans marquee playersyou probably French probably, you know what
I mean. Yeah, it's it'sit's disturbing how we're not we're not.
We're like fifth under spending and we'redown with like you think you said sulfur

(01:16:29):
and stuff. Well, we shouldn'tbe with four winners, World Cup winners,
fantastic financial foundation. What's going wrong? You know? We should This
is not just this year is gonea year or two? Yeah, skimping
last year. We we were cryingout for another prop forward when we realized

(01:16:50):
pars He wasn't going to play thefirst six months crying out for another prop
and the Sam Essay from Wakefield wasgone to Wigan. So so as that's
going place all over Twitter, SamEssay, I say Simon for Saint Simon,
Saints Wigan signed him. I't gotin a minute what's happening here?
And Wigan have loaned him back toWakefield. They're doing what they used to

(01:17:13):
do in the nineties, signing playersand loaned them back. There's another one
that we missed the boat on Satieand I find out he's left and gone
to Catalan and where were we?Where are we? Well, he's into
the forward. I think I thinkwe've taken the view that our except that
we've got five of the amount.Just thank god we didn't go in for

(01:17:35):
Pelly from whole. Well, he'she doesn't play many games, don't Well
it is it shift shifted helped onthat fact hole. I think one too.
About three or four of players theysigned big have gone. But they're
they're a danger. They're a danger. And I'm not on about Richie Miler,

(01:17:56):
but back in and they're the bigcity club. Fantastic if we all
like mock them and have a laughat them. But under riding all that,
what they actually represent that the properthey could be really dangerous. They've
definitely brought in Art and Jordan Abdollfor next season, so he kicks an
eyeball, he will get he willget ad in the local derby or want

(01:18:20):
it like that. My point isthey're doing things. They're doing lots of
things, doing things. You're doingthings, shifting out and bringing bringing to
crackers in. David Armstrong from NewYes, that's a good one. Well,
you look at Wiggans recruitment for nextseason, there isn't any because what

(01:18:41):
they've done is they've done contracts toall the existing players, so they're keeping
older the last year, you know. So they've got a decent squad for
the next three four five years.And we brought the last the last couple
be brought in Conrad who was broughtin as as maybe a stop gaps second
row. When we brought him in, he played two seasons at tent because

(01:19:02):
we're nothing else. And Blake,who's only here for a year as far
as because to be union that weshould not renew, should be here for
a year because we're not reallynewing.Irrespective of what he wants to do,
he's going anyway. Well, doyou know what Coma almost be on a
wedge? Wasn't he as well?I don't think. I think he came

(01:19:25):
for about forty k did he initially? Initially? And then it probably went
up when he when he started playing. Well, but there's a lad who
plays for Cancerbury Bulldogs only twenty fiveDuell Skelton. And I tell you what.
He's big and he's quick, andhe's not getting many games with Canterbury,
and he can play wing or center. He's probably a better longer player.
Yeah, runs players, Well,there's certainly players. There's players and

(01:19:53):
he's off the contract. There's playersout there. There aren't players out there.
I'm sure we were getting stuff.We have contacting. They should have
agent jam I should be doing.We should be tipping us up. But
I do think we do it.We are getting hung up on these three
or four superstar kids that are comingthrough, but then I'm coming through four
five years. But they're not giventhey're not being given the chance of that.

(01:20:15):
I mean, look, Steven's onlygot it because we got injuries.
Yeah, I mean, and whenyou're looking back to the London, get
like we just went about like yousaid, one could have been especially in
a pivoscial position like seven. IfGeorge Whitby comes in at seven next year
and he's not the pressure like yousaid before Richardson, you know Dodd again,

(01:20:40):
he was thrown in. There's anotherone who's gone. Dodd was great
till the achilles. You know thatgame that remember that. I remember that
day vividly. We beat Wiggin twentyseven to I was in Spain, Yeah,
dancing around Arise, dancing around thebar. I couldn't believe that Dodd
was amazing that day. And thenlater on I find out then he hobbled
his achilles and you're like, ohmy god, remember that happening to New

(01:21:03):
Love and is a show stop.It's likely been shot from a sniper and
stand even the first season back,he wouldn't take any risks he's taking a
few more now, but he's nottaking many. He's not anything like pre
Achilles Particules DoD was was too oldgone, he was gone. He had

(01:21:25):
no fear, did he. Hewas amazing. I mean so the player
wise and injury wise in that respect. I think he's without doubt coming back
the year after there's no Warrington there, he's coming back. Yeah, he's
one. To be honest, Iwouldn't pursue bringing back you know, I'll
be chasing Jake Clifford and looking atJackson speak speaking of guys's gone over to

(01:21:53):
Australia. See you Will Price debutfor and scored and he looked he looked
good. But the part as well, you're thinking he's just at that development
stage and he's in the right placethe right time. He has another one
though, with our connections with Leonas well signed him Lee almost over there

(01:22:13):
as well, but the parties flewon to have his holidays at Blackpool because
it's better herby farm works. Anotherone. I was a lad from Willis.
Yeah, how has anybody missed himhere? How has he got over
there? It's one of thoors goinganother one who's gone over there as I
live and breathe. I never thoughtMorgan Smiths would make it, but he

(01:22:35):
looks good. Tough, he's atough that's the first criter he for me,
You've got to be hard enough.Yeah, it doesn't matter what position.
Could we'll see with Dodg whether hehas got that in his locker again
since since his injury, because ifI think they mentioned it on the last

(01:22:57):
show, if he goes over thereand play is anything like he used to
be? And the question is isthat our coaching? Yeah, yeah,
that's what that's what said. Yeah, you know, that's that's that's the
that's the question if we're not doingstupid little dolly bombs every last tackle just
likes did they want then it wasn'the? They want to accept that over

(01:23:20):
there? I'm actually not quite surewhose coach is going to be. Is
it is it? Is that confirmed? I'm not sure he's that that's the
supposed to be Ben I know,I know think he's been sniffing around into
to get him the gladiator Wolf WolfGladiator is the gladiator. Oh, Russell

(01:23:55):
Russell Maximus. All right, let'slet's let's let's wind up now. And
that's that's a bit of fantasy rugbyleague? What what what do we need?
If you if you could bub acouple of players, would you would
be having Matty Ashton and ash Hanley? Do you know Shandley? You know
he can't be I know he's captainat Leeds, but and I suppose he's

(01:24:20):
a leads lad and he just putsup with it. But he hain'te winning
anything though, but he might beif Roy goes. But I think he
was the possibly for the picking andMatty was not getting away. But he
hasn't signed yet, so we shouldbe round the knock banging his door down,
saying how did not get picked forthe England squad? He never got

(01:24:44):
pick? I think he was injured? Must he must be if he's not
been picked? And really I thinkabout like that Dardan has been saying,
Really an Australian center, who's gone? Who's actual a center? Over the
years we constantly sign see us sollyowners and and and centers that don't play

(01:25:06):
center. Let's get actually go outthere and buy a genuine no Utah Australian.
Yeah, we don't want to likeWong's playing off wing. I think
he was meant be a center.I don't know what he meant, but
like like like get like And Iwasn't an enormous fan of Kenny Dowell,
but Kenny Dowe is a center,you know. Yeah, you know,

(01:25:28):
Jamie Lyone was a center play anywhere, but it was a center, you
know. So if you're asking memy wish list to be and I don't
know who this person is, butsome superstar not like a bit like you're
some of them as you've mentioned that'splayed six games, but are fantastic because
let's face it, these guys likeyou're Jackson eight Things and Jake Clifford to
come here because they're not good enough. Then the superstars here and then they

(01:25:53):
go home because there is a golfand that there is a golf. If
you if you're playing, if you'resetting the super light, you will get
and offering deal. That's why theycome. And this is my point on
this is if they come for twoyears and they achieved that, then thanks
for the two years and really enjoyedand hopefully we have got a young kid
coming through. You've been amazing.Thanks so much, Jamie laying none of

(01:26:16):
us curse Jamie Lane when he wentback, we were like, it's inevitable.
Thank you so much. We've lovedwe've loved having you. I think
something like that. Maybe somebody whohas got some problems at the minute,
but it's really good. I meanideally for me, it's a problem anger
around some bars somewhere, an actualcenter, an actual winger and an experienced

(01:26:36):
seven before about like Chad Towns anddare I said, someone like Adam Klue
who was wasted, who's wasted underWatson for me at this field because he
can play off the cuff and andwe'll give the young lad's experience and and
perhaps they can come in for himin the old game and whatever. But
we do, please God to praywe are doing that pace and next here

(01:27:00):
and seven. To me, we'regoing to have to be because our fans
are fickle and that and if wedon't do anything, season ticket sales will
be down. There's no two waysabout that. Yeah, we're talking about
Saints to lie die and all thisstuff, but you knows Saints fans are
picking is to die and it willstill be because we went to you know,

(01:27:21):
Witness for a year. But there'sa lot, there's a lot that
wants was in the eighties I got. Yeah, exactly. Still be there
your your thoughts on what we need? Similar similar views, Yeah, similar
future we need to bring the kidsto But like you said, we need
somebody in the interim that I saidit last week and I surely you've got

(01:27:45):
to start giving these lads and alsoof dipping them in and it's all over
all over and whatever. Okay,you don't do it on block because you're
going to shoot yourself in the foot, But how are you supposed to give
them the experience? I mean,you know it's Stevens though we've seen he's
done really well, but he's onlygot that chance because of injuries. He's
also been been dripped in. Yeahyeah, But as I say, but

(01:28:11):
if what you have got that chance, if we had to have the injuries
and the props that we've got,well no we wouldn't. We wouldn't.
And I think that's got to betaking aside where you think, okay,
enough we've got to give Certainly Walmsley, you've got to start giving him a
rest. Certainly next season you lookat that. So that's what the likes
of Stephens and others like that,they only been one or two matches here
and they might just be coming offthe bench. Other than that, it's

(01:28:34):
like get your hands in the pocketsand artistic because if they're coming through inch,
center and wing, they're going tohave to be truly outstanding, you
know what I mean at playing welland winning trophies. You want we want,
we want trophy winning players. Andit sounds harsh at times, but

(01:28:54):
some of them just are you know, you mentioned Royal before Wingfield. You
know that they're not going to win. You drove Ben Davis and some were
both both contracts were up at theend of the season. For me,
I think if they get new contracts, that's our vision. Yeah, it's
a bad message, it's a bitwe I know the local lads and I

(01:29:15):
hate saying this, but for methat they're just good players, but the
good championship players. They're do ajob Witness or Wakefield. Now, you
know, is win the championship Sheffield, that there'd be a star wart for
them, an absolute fantastic player.But they just not got that Saints class

(01:29:38):
that we're used to. And youknow, maybe maybe we're going down the
road where we're not going to bethat Saints class and maybe we're going down
the road where we're going to belike, I'll just feel for the next
ten years, I don't know,but the old follow years like Leeds are
going through the moment because the samesituation, isn't it, But it's it's
that that will be a telltale signfor me were as a club were going

(01:30:00):
whether if they renew then it's Iknow what I'm looking at for the next
ten years. I've got a feelingone of those will be renewed. I've
got a feeling the will. Butit proved itself. I just don't think
our depths there because when you're lookingat them from the bench, you're thinking,
yeah, well, with nobody tocome and what have we got to

(01:30:21):
change this? And Noah Stevens wason there as well, and you're thinking
there's a lot of pressure on him. It was Parsi on the bench as
well, I think was our fault. Yeah, yeah, yeah, So
you know there's no game changes there. There's only Parsy. You can knock
a few off and you think,maybe create a bit of space. But
we're heavy, heavily reliant on Jackand he's watched yeah as near as you

(01:30:45):
can near as damn it there's alwaysone or two and he's a risk because
if we go down this path,well that's the We've got to now mold
a team around Jack Wellsby and we'vegot to give him everything. Anything he
wants. If he wants my car, he can have it. But but

(01:31:09):
you know we've got him all thatteam because he is the future the next
ten years. He signed on fortwo more years after these contracts twenty eight.
Yeah, but if if if we'renot planning for them, we're not

(01:31:30):
planning, if we're not planning nowfor them, we might as well give
him a contracts as well, saypackage bags and go you go in there,
because Price will pay. They'll payhim. They'll just pay what it
takes to take him. If thelikes of Young Price and Don Young and
these guys have got big contracts inAustralia, he's going to get one.

(01:31:51):
He's going to get one, noproblem. So we've got you know,
and he's going to get he's goingto get a better contract than they've got
their problem, a lot better thanthey would have got over here. But
he will be it will be youknow, like there big guys or that.
If you don't make a capture.If you get a three year deal
in Australia, that's life changing money. You know. James Gray went over

(01:32:11):
at twenty three. Twenty twenty threewas twenty four and he's not coming back.
He's got out by the beach inAustralia and you wouldn't come back.
And if you, if you,if you've been to man I went to
Manly and I'm like, oh mygod. And then our team went for
the World Club and my own,oh my, we're going to lose five
players here because if you go andlive see that lifestyle. O god,
it's saying Hellian's Manly and three timesthe salary. It's like it will be

(01:32:39):
done ever so well to keep himto a certain degree. That the closest
we've got here is people going toCattlean, isn't it because of the lifestyle?
Lifestyle? Yeah, the products contextswhen they goes for their age.
He also liked to go there,yeah, and all that. They like
to go there, don't they justsigned it? Is it a scrum half

(01:33:00):
who retired offering Australia. Not clearly, it sounds it's like it's like that.
But he's a top player and they'vethey're signing for. You know,
he's on the lines of the twoscrum halts that they've had in the part
from Australia. Yeah fellow, yeah, yeah, the little fellow is still
in France as well. He wentto stay like this what he went to

(01:33:21):
sign for. The No he's played. I think he's playing with believe it.
There's there's a few getting older inAustralia. It's proper nice, lovely
lowly before we go. I don'tknow you've heard about the change to the
rules for the Challenge Cup next season. It was I think we've rattled on,

(01:33:44):
but yeah. The Bedford Challenge Cupwill have a new structure in twenty
twenty five, with twelve Super Leagueclubs joining the road to Wembley at the
third round stage. The third rounddoor will be held in January, well
before the starts of the Super Leagueseason, with the aim of building more
momentum towards the show piece fire wasdown in June. It means that the
clubs from the Betford Championship League Oneand even the Community game will have more

(01:34:05):
chance to secure a glamor tie athome to Super League opposition, as the
third round draw will be seeded toguarantee each of the Super League clubs travel
away to one of the twenty secondround winners. The fourth round, comprising
of sixteen clubs, will be playedin March, the quarterfinals in April,
and the semifinals on the weekend ofMay the tenth eleventh, leaving the winners

(01:34:28):
with four weeks to prepare for theBetford Challenge Cup Final on Saturday during the
seventh So I think that's much betterthan One issue with that I think is
wouldn't it be more lucrative for themif they came to you it's to go
to Minnlet Club with the capacity ofnine hundred, then they're not They're not

(01:34:53):
going to get the earnings that theycould have had. I don't know.
I'm I'm just curious as to this. Why I get they get the home
tide. They have no chance anyway, but they've got more slightly led more
than no chance. But I'm notsure why they've done that, because if
they had come to you, thenthen I guess more money, which I

(01:35:16):
think I think I think that posthat possibly they will certainly from a community
side, that will maybe an option, But again I'm sure they would have
to pay. If it's their classas third home tired, they will still
have to fork some money out.I mean it's that catch twenty two In
that respect, I think when theidea is a great yeah, I think
I think when it gets to theLeague one and you know, the championship

(01:35:40):
side, I think that is itis good because you're looking there as well.
For when the first one the thirdround row will be held in January.
That means there will be used wellthey will now be used as friendlies
well wor they were friendlies before andyou put your player you know whoever,
right like I suppose now it's hangon. There's a bit of jeopardy on

(01:36:02):
this. If you're going to dothat, you know, you take that
risk of who do we play?Get, I don't know, Featherstone away
away, you've not finished your preseason training and so so there is a
bit more in that. And doyou is that an opportunity then to play
the youngsters that were you know wewere saying and if you if you think

(01:36:28):
your lands are good enough for youryou get but the opportunity because they go
on about all there's too many games. There's too many games and then hang
on, you've got you've got asquad and there's army from majority squad.
You've hardly played this season, youknow what I mean. You can't do
one. It's got to be balanced. It's good. It's a good thing

(01:36:50):
for the game because we remember whenit was like that. Anyway, and
you get and I know they mightget beat sixty in them, but if
you support one of them clubs andyou get a super League, yeah that's
great. Yeah yeah, yeah.And every now and then there's the big
you know what, something happens thatyou're not expecting and it's good like it
just a bit. I was abit curious as to why they've insisted on

(01:37:15):
it's a home time a bit.But do you know what like white An
the other season Saints went to whiteHaven. Didn't it take something like two
thousand fans? Yeah, so fromwhite and it was absolutely bound. Yeah,
everyone was getting on those bass flowing, cracking or was it thinking about
Barrel recently playing on the wing forthem? That was recent one, But

(01:37:39):
we have had Yeah, we wentto the white only a couple of years
ago, wasn't it. The busreported to put quarter three outside the pitch.
Our team got off the bus andwent straight on the pitch because because
it was late. Do you knowwhat it's it's the beauty of the Cup
and for me, the Challenge Cupit's lost all its identity. You only

(01:38:00):
have to look at the stadium beingsay, you know the full top tier
not even you know, it's noteven used. So you've got to do
something and reading that and looking atit and thinking, do you know what?
At least are trying it, andthey can only try it and if
it doesn't work, obviously they cango back to another plan. I think
it's a good idea and Saints againstwhat Brown but even like corn Waller in

(01:38:26):
it sat against Don't get Me,Don't get Me on cornwall They played your
ka Corn right and your k Cornturned them over. Yeah, obviously at
the end of the game people runon. But if you can imagine if
you were supporting hey, Doc Finchand was going to turn them more been
on, Oh no, there's acrowd invasion, this, that and the

(01:38:49):
other. Your k Corn got stungwith a thousand bound fire, which is
it's absolutely unbelievable. And you think, and they were coming out with this
language and that one. I wasthinking, have you ever been to a
U. I just thought, no, no, because I was sort of

(01:39:12):
talking to the coach of your candothe week after they said that, because
we'd followed them at the beginning ofthe season and they played and the next
game was against Alifax. I thinkthat both before they played with Brown,
they did Cornwall they turned them over, you know, yea. And they
were telling me all about it,and he was just shaking his head.
He said, he said, wedidn't tap many down. He said,

(01:39:33):
my dad went down. He said, he took the dog with us on
the coach, he said, andone of the things that they said was
that he had this dog was attackingyou know. I said yeah. He
said yeah, exclaiming that my dadhad left and Jeff that people he said,
you said, Dad, I said, in my life, I've never
done my dad swear ever, youknow. And I met his dad while

(01:39:58):
he's the lovely bloll, you know, and they think, oh god,
what if they do that, Theyneed to do something with it, like
sort of you know that used tofollow the winners, to pick a team,
pick one of the lowest ranked teamsand then follow them and follow and
that's our work used to do it. That's BBC used to do it,
but it shouldn't be touched away.Should be let's get okay. If BBC

(01:40:20):
can't do that on their main channel, give it to Channel four. Give
it to Channel as a project forus. Yeah, follow them through remember
raw that sort of let's what it'slike behind the scenes and get people involved
in that. See him training beforethe game and follow the game and then
switch to the club that wins.And they need to do something like that.

(01:40:44):
But yeah, I heard about something. It would be interesting and hopefully
it brings more eyes to it aswell. Hopefully there's a few more shocks
and it's not the same teams gettingtoo Wembley all the time. As long
as it's somebody and Sae we we'vewe've kept up on that. I think
he once in how many years onthat note on that bomb show. Thanks

(01:41:11):
very much to stay cheers man,Darren, no problems, thank you,
We'll see you in August. Andthanks to the Sticky We get Ruskin Drive
and Pilk's Recks for the use ofthe facilities. We'll see you in August.
Tell come on, my son beenin the corner, Tommy Boton,
thank you very much, lack Himand Stickery it's going to the screen.

(01:41:31):
What's he going for? Dam,he's trying to keep the score out