August 2, 2024 • 8 mins
Sitting 12th on the table, the Warriors are set to play the Parramatta Eels in the next round of the NRL playoffs.
The team's keen to get a second win on the trot and turn their playoff hopes into something less mathematical and more concrete.
Former Warrior Greg "Brandy" Alexander previewed the match with D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Doesci Wildergrave
from news Talk Z.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be We'll jo are now on sports Talk by
Greg Brandy Alexander as we take a look at well, Greig,
welcome to the show. Are we at must win now?
For the Warriors? I think teaching I've seen this now
for a couple of weeks between must win and mathematical chants.
Where do we sit on that scale? And welcome?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Good Ida.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
So I guess the fact that the Warriors one of
two teams on the odd point, it could either come
play into the favor of the Warriors or not or not.
So I'm guessing they don't have to differential and for
and against really doesn't matter. It's just whether they win
enough games to get themselves in the eight and I guess,
sitting on twenty one points, they need to get thirty one.
(00:50):
I know they've got the buying round that they do
have the buying round twenty seven if I remember correctly,
that would mean that I wouldn't be wasting any time.
You know, you are aligned too much on what happens
around you if you lose again, and.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
That's the last thing the team needs. But It's be
frank about this. From what you've seen so far in
the season, and we know there's been issues with the
back line, we know there's been troubled there. Have this
team got enough to actually convert those close losses to wins?
Do you think they've got it within them, the coaching
staff and the players and some of the ones that
are returning, Greg Well.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I think they do. You know, there's no reason why.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
And I know you know when you start talking about
the end of season, and you know, if a team
needs to go on a run of five or possibly
six wins, can they do that? Because it hasn't been
done all seasons, So there's that question mark, can they
do something that they haven't done all year? Their best
players need to find their best form and Sean Johnson's return,
(01:48):
we have not seen the best of Sean because of injury,
and if there's other things involved in that, you know,
I will go back to last year and the reason
the Warrior has played top four footy is because Sean
Johnson had his best season of.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
His illustrious career.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
He has had a great career, but I don't think
in all those years prior to last year he was
as good as what he was. So if he's not
that good this year, that's you know, and he's spent
a lot of time off the field.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
That's a big reason why.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
The Warriors are in the position therein I think, So
Sean Johnson, can he deliver over the last five rounds?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I hope.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
So I'd love to see Sean get back to what
he showed us even at the start of the year.
You know, and I know the Warriors lost their first couple,
but I saw enough in Sean to think, well, he's
got another year or two easy left in him. But
you know, injuries have dictated him not playing much footy.
I still think it hangs on his shoulders. I know
a lot of other things have to work. But if
Sean can find something out of the last month and
(02:48):
bit and they win the five games.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Well the Warriors are back.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
I give them a big chance to get their way
through the bottom part of the eight and maybe could
they play a Grand Final qual for that they could
if those key players find their best form.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Of key players, and you mentioned plainly Sean Johnson, there's
an entry in case where well we haven't got one
of our halves involved who's been fantastic and to Marty Martin.
But that's cool because Chanel Harris, Ta Vita and Shawn
Johnson are and that I looked good six and seven,
two of us as sick. He came back and eventually
found himself at full back, and that was of course
(03:24):
injury related, and he played the house down. I don't
have any doubt about that. He was phenomenal. But and
nickel Klik starts back now, so Roger finds himself not
at center but on the wing, juggling those two roles
and the transferred how difficult, how capable.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
We spoke about Roger extensively coming into the game against
the Raiders a couple of weeks ago, where he was
picked to play on the wing and sort of getting
your head around at I was a bit shocked when
I first saw the team when it came out on
Tuesday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Roger on the wing right, well, you know.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But then I thought about it, and I thought, well,
Roger can probably make more impact from the wing than
he can at center. There's no stopping Roger getting involved
in the game, doesn't matter where he's playing. Then he
scored that try just before halftime against the Raiders, I
said in commentary, well, he's not scoring that if he's
playing on the wing. Roger's a special player. I understand that.
You know the reasons why Chans is the fullback, and
(04:20):
you know, when you look at the two, it's not
as if Chance has played some great footy and he
did last year and he has this year. So it's
not as if you're not picking Roger because you've got
a blake that's doing a great job. But still Chance
just can't do things that Roger can do. So you
know that's why I've and I've Darcy, we've been down
this road before. I right before the season started, I said, well,
(04:42):
I've got to play with Roger at fullback, find another
spot for Chance because Roger is your best fullback.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
However, you know it hasn't been that case. You know,
He's had a couple.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Of starts at fullback played very good, but Chans has
been outstanding as well. So it's it's not like you're
you know, you're missing out because Chans is there, but
it's just Roger can do those little special things that
he probably can't do anywhere else from the field, but
playing fullback.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Under Greg Alexander excuse me, Stumble joins, the program is talking.
The Warrior is taking on the eels tonight. Look with
Roger playing on the wing and coming out of the
center position, if there's a glaring hole on the side,
and even though these guys have got potential, you've got
Alilatawa and Maila Graham Tulfer when the three and four,
(05:27):
that's a lot on relatively inexperienced players. I thought maybe
Roger might get it right in there, considering the lack
of experience, but it says a lot to me that, well,
they'd rather have Roger on the outside they can see
more from there.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
But these centers, Yeah, I don't see a huge problem there,
and I know they're inexperience, but I think Ali's been
playing some good footy and Graham Taufa looked pretty good
to me, So I don't have a big problem with that.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
That's not going to be the difference between the two sides.
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I'm comfortable with what they're going with, and if Roger
involves himself as as much as we think he needs to,
I think there won't be a huge amount.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Of problems with the outside backs. You know.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
I think we need to forward to the middle's pretty
quick and just go through how important they are.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
And Fanilla Blake found some form last week.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
If he plays like that again, well he lays the
platform for everything else to work off. The back of
Blade Egan needs to find a little bit more than
he has. He's sort of hit a couple of flat
spots through the year, Wade and God he never sees
to stay on his feet for an eighty minute purod,
so he's always down injured.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Something's going on.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
But if Mitch Barnett and Adam can lay the platform,
I think it's all set for those players that we've
just spoken about, the key men to make the most
of it.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well, there's consistency in there, and they according finally back
from injury doing what he does. Kate well so moving
into that role after an origin time, and of course
locking is Dylan Walker, ale A Tavanga Alasima up off
the bench and pretty lastic force in there as well.
So even though the back line's been torn to bits,
the packs looked pretty consistent of recent times. But can
(07:03):
they maintain that and not lose their concentration at key
moments which we've seen sadly right the way through the year.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And that is the key.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
It's key for all the sides that are sitting in
this precarious position for the final month and a half
of the premiership. They all find themselves asking the same questions.
Can we play out the eighty minutes? Can we defend
our errors? Can we maintain our focus for that period?
Can we not make silly mistakes? Can we take advantage
(07:32):
of field position when we've given it? All those questions
that have the team sitting where they are, Warriors sitting twelfth,
and you need something special. I still think they've got
the players capable of.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Doing it, Darcy.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
It's just whether all those things can fall into place
and their big their big guns play their best footy.
If they do, I'm seeing a run coming up.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Another sold out game. Home game for the Warriors kicks
off eight o'clock tonight, Warriors twelfth taking on the Eels sixteenth.
As always, mister Alexander, thanks very much of your time
and expertise. You have a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Good to Talk Gus.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
Set B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Doesci Wildergrave
from news Talk Z.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be We'll jo are now on sports Talk by
Greg Brandy Alexander as we take a look at well, Greig,
welcome to the show. Are we at must win now?
For the Warriors? I think teaching I've seen this now
for a couple of weeks between must win and mathematical chants.
Where do we sit on that scale? And welcome?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Good Ida.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
So I guess the fact that the Warriors one of
two teams on the odd point, it could either come
play into the favor of the Warriors or not or not.
So I'm guessing they don't have to differential and for
and against really doesn't matter. It's just whether they win
enough games to get themselves in the eight and I guess,
sitting on twenty one points, they need to get thirty one.
(00:50):
I know they've got the buying round that they do
have the buying round twenty seven if I remember correctly,
that would mean that I wouldn't be wasting any time.
You know, you are aligned too much on what happens
around you if you lose again, and.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
That's the last thing the team needs. But It's be
frank about this. From what you've seen so far in
the season, and we know there's been issues with the
back line, we know there's been troubled there. Have this
team got enough to actually convert those close losses to wins?
Do you think they've got it within them, the coaching
staff and the players and some of the ones that
are returning, Greg Well.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I think they do. You know, there's no reason why.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
And I know you know when you start talking about
the end of season, and you know, if a team
needs to go on a run of five or possibly
six wins, can they do that? Because it hasn't been
done all seasons, So there's that question mark, can they
do something that they haven't done all year? Their best
players need to find their best form and Sean Johnson's return,
(01:48):
we have not seen the best of Sean because of injury,
and if there's other things involved in that, you know,
I will go back to last year and the reason
the Warrior has played top four footy is because Sean
Johnson had his best season of.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
His illustrious career.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
He has had a great career, but I don't think
in all those years prior to last year he was
as good as what he was. So if he's not
that good this year, that's you know, and he's spent
a lot of time off the field.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
That's a big reason why.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
The Warriors are in the position therein I think, So
Sean Johnson, can he deliver over the last five rounds?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I hope.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
So I'd love to see Sean get back to what
he showed us even at the start of the year.
You know, and I know the Warriors lost their first couple,
but I saw enough in Sean to think, well, he's
got another year or two easy left in him. But
you know, injuries have dictated him not playing much footy.
I still think it hangs on his shoulders. I know
a lot of other things have to work. But if
Sean can find something out of the last month and
(02:48):
bit and they win the five games.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Well the Warriors are back.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
I give them a big chance to get their way
through the bottom part of the eight and maybe could
they play a Grand Final qual for that they could
if those key players find their best form.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Of key players, and you mentioned plainly Sean Johnson, there's
an entry in case where well we haven't got one
of our halves involved who's been fantastic and to Marty Martin.
But that's cool because Chanel Harris, Ta Vita and Shawn
Johnson are and that I looked good six and seven,
two of us as sick. He came back and eventually
found himself at full back, and that was of course
(03:24):
injury related, and he played the house down. I don't
have any doubt about that. He was phenomenal. But and
nickel Klik starts back now, so Roger finds himself not
at center but on the wing, juggling those two roles
and the transferred how difficult, how capable.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
We spoke about Roger extensively coming into the game against
the Raiders a couple of weeks ago, where he was
picked to play on the wing and sort of getting
your head around at I was a bit shocked when
I first saw the team when it came out on
Tuesday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Roger on the wing right, well, you know.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But then I thought about it, and I thought, well,
Roger can probably make more impact from the wing than
he can at center. There's no stopping Roger getting involved
in the game, doesn't matter where he's playing. Then he
scored that try just before halftime against the Raiders, I
said in commentary, well, he's not scoring that if he's
playing on the wing. Roger's a special player. I understand that.
You know the reasons why Chans is the fullback, and
(04:20):
you know, when you look at the two, it's not
as if Chance has played some great footy and he
did last year and he has this year. So it's
not as if you're not picking Roger because you've got
a blake that's doing a great job. But still Chance
just can't do things that Roger can do. So you
know that's why I've and I've Darcy, we've been down
this road before. I right before the season started, I said, well,
(04:42):
I've got to play with Roger at fullback, find another
spot for Chance because Roger is your best fullback.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
However, you know it hasn't been that case. You know,
He's had a couple.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Of starts at fullback played very good, but Chans has
been outstanding as well. So it's it's not like you're
you know, you're missing out because Chans is there, but
it's just Roger can do those little special things that
he probably can't do anywhere else from the field, but
playing fullback.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Under Greg Alexander excuse me, Stumble joins, the program is talking.
The Warrior is taking on the eels tonight. Look with
Roger playing on the wing and coming out of the
center position, if there's a glaring hole on the side,
and even though these guys have got potential, you've got
Alilatawa and Maila Graham Tulfer when the three and four,
(05:27):
that's a lot on relatively inexperienced players. I thought maybe
Roger might get it right in there, considering the lack
of experience, but it says a lot to me that, well,
they'd rather have Roger on the outside they can see
more from there.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
But these centers, Yeah, I don't see a huge problem there,
and I know they're inexperience, but I think Ali's been
playing some good footy and Graham Taufa looked pretty good
to me, So I don't have a big problem with that.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
That's not going to be the difference between the two sides.
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I'm comfortable with what they're going with, and if Roger
involves himself as as much as we think he needs to,
I think there won't be a huge amount.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Of problems with the outside backs. You know.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
I think we need to forward to the middle's pretty
quick and just go through how important they are.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
And Fanilla Blake found some form last week.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
If he plays like that again, well he lays the
platform for everything else to work off. The back of
Blade Egan needs to find a little bit more than
he has. He's sort of hit a couple of flat
spots through the year, Wade and God he never sees
to stay on his feet for an eighty minute purod,
so he's always down injured.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Something's going on.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
But if Mitch Barnett and Adam can lay the platform,
I think it's all set for those players that we've
just spoken about, the key men to make the most
of it.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well, there's consistency in there, and they according finally back
from injury doing what he does. Kate well so moving
into that role after an origin time, and of course
locking is Dylan Walker, ale A Tavanga Alasima up off
the bench and pretty lastic force in there as well.
So even though the back line's been torn to bits,
the packs looked pretty consistent of recent times. But can
(07:03):
they maintain that and not lose their concentration at key
moments which we've seen sadly right the way through the year.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And that is the key.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
It's key for all the sides that are sitting in
this precarious position for the final month and a half
of the premiership. They all find themselves asking the same questions.
Can we play out the eighty minutes? Can we defend
our errors? Can we maintain our focus for that period?
Can we not make silly mistakes? Can we take advantage
(07:32):
of field position when we've given it? All those questions
that have the team sitting where they are, Warriors sitting twelfth,
and you need something special. I still think they've got
the players capable of.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Doing it, Darcy.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
It's just whether all those things can fall into place
and their big their big guns play their best footy.
If they do, I'm seeing a run coming up.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Another sold out game. Home game for the Warriors kicks
off eight o'clock tonight, Warriors twelfth taking on the Eels sixteenth.
As always, mister Alexander, thanks very much of your time
and expertise. You have a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Good to Talk Gus.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
Set B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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