August 1, 2025 • 6 mins
The Warriors women are looking to shore up their defensive line in Sunday's NRLW Magic Round contest against the Cowboys in Newcastle.
They've conceded 86 points across four games, tied for the second-most in the competition.
Lock Laishon Albert-Jones joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash and talk about how they plan to pick things up again from their third loss of the season.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk sed BE.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
On the All Sport Breakfast. So I'm Darcy Waterco. Thanks
very much for joinning us.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
We're going to talk at the w n r L
now with the lock from the Wahna Warriors. Your name
is Leishan Albert Jones. Good morning, Leishan. Look looking forward
to the game. Are you Woana seeing improvements as the
competition continues?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Yeah, one hunt of percent. We're just getting better every week.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
Like any other team, There's always going to be stuff
that we're going to need to fix up, but as
long as we're improving every weekend.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
We'll start off or sometimes we'll start getting some results.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yourself, where is your room for improvement? You're going to
be looking seriously at what you bring coaching staff as well.
So message wise, what are you hearing.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
For me personally?
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Like, I probably need to put a lot more effort
on my defense. That's something that I need to work
on for myself.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
And yeah, like it comes naturally to me, So it's
not really a big focus.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
I think we're letting a few points get through, so
I think that's a big focus.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
For us at the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Is that quite challenging to hear that your defense isn't
up to scratch?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Is that a bit of a slap in the face,
le Sean, it's.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
My personal outlook on it all.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
When I speak to Ron, a lot of it has
gone to do positive stuff.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
He's never been really negative with me.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
So anything he says to me is trying to uplift
me and to be a better player myself, and he
challenges me every week to be a better plan.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
That works for you because it's very much tailored I
suppose to each individual athlete how they respond best to
either to criticism or if they need to be gently
propped along.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So this obviously works for you.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
But he's got the ability right to do all sorts
of things with the different players I'm presuming.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Yeah, I think with me, me and Ron, I've known
him for a few years now. I've got coach under
herb Matt Newei. So this year it's been a little
bit of tough love, which is fine with me. You know,
I can take the hard conversations. But yeah, so it
works for me, like I get along with them, no
bad blood at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Coming up this weekend on Sunday. What do you see
and the opposition? Is there room for you to stand.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Up whack them? What are you looking at?
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I am one hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I think there are smaller side in their forward pack,
so it's going to be challenging there, but it's also
kind of plays into our hands. I guess we're a
big forward pack, they're smaller, so surely we'll be able
to muscle them on the field.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Either that or they'll run rings around you. Because BIG's
one thing, but big and being I suppose nimbles is
another story. Do you think the footwork and the ability
to actually react to that is there?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, one hundred percent. We've work pretty hard over the
off season.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
We haven't hasn't been easy for us either, saying that
they're the same too fair enough.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
As far as the makeup of the pack and settling
into your various roles, is that set in stone to
a degree or still very much up for a fight
as to who gets what jersey?
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Yeah, every week's challenging.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
I think there's a lot of talented girls in our team,
and there's a lot of talent that sits out every weekend,
So your position is never safe.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
In our team, and I like it that way.
Speaker 5 (03:34):
It means that there's always girls challenging you to be
better every week.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Too challenging though, because consistency of selection. I suppose we've
got the fear and you're looking over your shoulder the
whole time. That isn't necessarily a good thing. Don't you
want a wee bit of comfort where you play?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
If you're comfortable, I don't think. I don't think it's
a good thing if you're comfortable too. If you're too comfortable,
you get to relax. You've become thing.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
You think that every week you're going to get selected
fair enough?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
What about the rest of some of the members of
the team that have come across from rugby union, how
do you think that's working out? Especially for the likes
of Mikayla Brak, who's quite the phenom she said her
well to thirteen a side.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, sim Minnie's done a really good job.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
She's an athlete first, professionalism is out the gate and yeah,
like just chatting to her too about stuff and forty
you know that she wants to be here. She loves
to learn and she's always asking questions about where she
can improve her game.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
It's so la shan the trick playing at lock?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
What have you got up your sleeve as far as
the best way, you know, you've got to work on
your defense and if you've mentioned that, But what else
do you think makes a good lock in the WNRL?
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
It's you're also a connection to your spine players, so
having a good relationship with them un attack really helps
our team because you've got to do a little bit
organizing in the middle, helping them out.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So yeah, you all played in that position. Is this
an area of gravitated too? Or not?
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Always?
Speaker 5 (05:13):
I've played a few different positions over the years. I
used to be half back in the day when I've
played for Qui Fans, and then when I got picked
up for Newcastle, I think get picked up as a lock,
but then the opportunity to play back rower came up,
so I put my hand up to play back row
and ended.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Up staying there for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
What about the back row do you enjoy so much?
Speaker 5 (05:37):
Like it's a complete different ball game. I think your
defensive reads have to be pretty ond. You run some
hard lines too, so it's different with the defensive reeds.
And then also running your line. You're more just listening
to your half and where your half wants.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
You've been a real pleasure talking to you at Lake Sean.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I caught up with Shakira Baker last week. She's a
right character as well. I know she's out with I
think it's a peck injury. But wishing you all the
best up against the Cowboys, get amongst in the magic round.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Yeah, cheers. Thank you for that. Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Appreciate you too, Hey, Sean, thanks very much for your time.
If you keen to have a gander at that Sky
Sport three that's the nrlwor WNRL quite geor which way
you want to praise that. It's ten to two tomorrow
(06:29):
afternoon from Newcastle in Australia, the Cowboys taking on the Wahs.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk sed BE.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
On the All Sport Breakfast. So I'm Darcy Waterco. Thanks
very much for joinning us.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
We're going to talk at the w n r L
now with the lock from the Wahna Warriors. Your name
is Leishan Albert Jones. Good morning, Leishan. Look looking forward
to the game. Are you Woana seeing improvements as the
competition continues?
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Yeah, one hunt of percent. We're just getting better every week.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
Like any other team, There's always going to be stuff
that we're going to need to fix up, but as
long as we're improving every weekend.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
We'll start off or sometimes we'll start getting some results.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yourself, where is your room for improvement? You're going to
be looking seriously at what you bring coaching staff as well.
So message wise, what are you hearing.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
For me personally?
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Like, I probably need to put a lot more effort
on my defense. That's something that I need to work
on for myself.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
And yeah, like it comes naturally to me, So it's
not really a big focus.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
I think we're letting a few points get through, so
I think that's a big focus.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
For us at the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Is that quite challenging to hear that your defense isn't
up to scratch?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Is that a bit of a slap in the face,
le Sean, it's.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
My personal outlook on it all.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
When I speak to Ron, a lot of it has
gone to do positive stuff.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
He's never been really negative with me.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
So anything he says to me is trying to uplift
me and to be a better player myself, and he
challenges me every week to be a better plan.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
That works for you because it's very much tailored I
suppose to each individual athlete how they respond best to
either to criticism or if they need to be gently
propped along.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So this obviously works for you.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
But he's got the ability right to do all sorts
of things with the different players I'm presuming.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Yeah, I think with me, me and Ron, I've known
him for a few years now. I've got coach under
herb Matt Newei. So this year it's been a little
bit of tough love, which is fine with me. You know,
I can take the hard conversations. But yeah, so it
works for me, like I get along with them, no
bad blood at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Coming up this weekend on Sunday. What do you see
and the opposition? Is there room for you to stand.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Up whack them? What are you looking at?
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I am one hundred percent.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I think there are smaller side in their forward pack,
so it's going to be challenging there, but it's also
kind of plays into our hands. I guess we're a
big forward pack, they're smaller, so surely we'll be able
to muscle them on the field.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Either that or they'll run rings around you. Because BIG's
one thing, but big and being I suppose nimbles is
another story. Do you think the footwork and the ability
to actually react to that is there?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, one hundred percent. We've work pretty hard over the
off season.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
We haven't hasn't been easy for us either, saying that
they're the same too fair enough.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
As far as the makeup of the pack and settling
into your various roles, is that set in stone to
a degree or still very much up for a fight
as to who gets what jersey?
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Yeah, every week's challenging.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
I think there's a lot of talented girls in our team,
and there's a lot of talent that sits out every weekend,
So your position is never safe.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
In our team, and I like it that way.
Speaker 5 (03:34):
It means that there's always girls challenging you to be
better every week.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Too challenging though, because consistency of selection. I suppose we've
got the fear and you're looking over your shoulder the
whole time. That isn't necessarily a good thing. Don't you
want a wee bit of comfort where you play?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
If you're comfortable, I don't think. I don't think it's
a good thing if you're comfortable too. If you're too comfortable,
you get to relax. You've become thing.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
You think that every week you're going to get selected
fair enough?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
What about the rest of some of the members of
the team that have come across from rugby union, how
do you think that's working out? Especially for the likes
of Mikayla Brak, who's quite the phenom she said her
well to thirteen a side.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, sim Minnie's done a really good job.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
She's an athlete first, professionalism is out the gate and yeah,
like just chatting to her too about stuff and forty
you know that she wants to be here. She loves
to learn and she's always asking questions about where she
can improve her game.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
It's so la shan the trick playing at lock?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
What have you got up your sleeve as far as
the best way, you know, you've got to work on
your defense and if you've mentioned that, But what else
do you think makes a good lock in the WNRL?
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
It's you're also a connection to your spine players, so
having a good relationship with them un attack really helps
our team because you've got to do a little bit
organizing in the middle, helping them out.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So yeah, you all played in that position. Is this
an area of gravitated too? Or not?
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Always?
Speaker 5 (05:13):
I've played a few different positions over the years. I
used to be half back in the day when I've
played for Qui Fans, and then when I got picked
up for Newcastle, I think get picked up as a lock,
but then the opportunity to play back rower came up,
so I put my hand up to play back row
and ended.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Up staying there for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
What about the back row do you enjoy so much?
Speaker 5 (05:37):
Like it's a complete different ball game. I think your
defensive reads have to be pretty ond. You run some
hard lines too, so it's different with the defensive reeds.
And then also running your line. You're more just listening
to your half and where your half wants.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
You've been a real pleasure talking to you at Lake Sean.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I caught up with Shakira Baker last week. She's a
right character as well. I know she's out with I
think it's a peck injury. But wishing you all the
best up against the Cowboys, get amongst in the magic round.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Yeah, cheers. Thank you for that. Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Appreciate you too, Hey, Sean, thanks very much for your time.
If you keen to have a gander at that Sky
Sport three that's the nrlwor WNRL quite geor which way
you want to praise that. It's ten to two tomorrow
(06:29):
afternoon from Newcastle in Australia, the Cowboys taking on the Wahs.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.