Sam Healey: Warriors hooker previews the clash against the Bulldogs

The Warriors are aware that a dangerous road lies ahead if they're to earn their place in the NRL's top four. 

That begins with tonight's clash against the third-placed Bulldogs in Sydney – the only top eight side from their five remaining games. 

Warriors hooker Sam Healey joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to discuss what the team needs to change after last week’s disappointing loss, the impact of injuries on the side, and how having an experienced hooker in the former of Wayde Egan has aided his development. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from news Talk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's eight minutes after eight on a Saturday A m.
Sam Helly in New York are now for new issue
for the Warriors that joins us. Nag good ay Sam?

Speaker 3 (00:24):
How are I good?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah? No, very good. I think looking forward tonight is
an absolute understatement as well. We've got this crazy battle
at the top of the table between two teams who
basically soiled their sheets last week, So this pressure from
both sides as they're.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Not Yeah, I guess from the outside looking in, there's
a lot of pressure, but we've sort of simplified our
roles during the week and whereby he's been pretty clear
on taking it a week at a time. So no,
we're feeling pretty confident in our camp.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
You must have picked apart last week because that was
an absolute poke in the eye, not only if you
hear it for the fans as well. Is there anything
key out of last week? I mean you don't want
to dwell on it, but what did you need to
pick up and simplify If you've done.

Speaker 3 (01:11):
That, I think there's just a few sort of attention
to detail things and a bit of clarity around our roles.
And I think like we've had a really good week
of training because we've had the long turnaround, so we've
been able to get a couple of sessions in and

(01:31):
really gel and mix together and work in our combinations
and not out a few things that we needed to
work out. So I think the the longer turnarounds sort
of helped us there.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Simplify your game, What does that mean for you in
your position? Sam?

Speaker 3 (01:48):
In my position, I think just doing the fundamentals right
and then obviously get my defense right. I think it's
a big key for me. Obviously, Bulldogs have a really
strong pack and a really mobile pack, and they're going
to be They're going to be coming through the front door.
So I think just getting just getting my role around

(02:09):
defense and clarity around who's getting the ball and yeah,
and then just when I when I need to make
a play or have a run, and just being clear
around when the right time is to do that.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Still early doors in your career, Sam Healey, still a
lot of water to get under the bridge. But for
the small amount of games you played so far, you
think you've made palpable improvements on what you do. Are
you feeling like you fit in the NRL?

Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, I think so. I think like there's a lot
a lot of things I can work on, and I've
learnt so much in a couple of games that I've played,
and like there's there's not really anywhere to hide out
there in the NRL, So you get picked up on
a few few things that you need to sort of
sort of work on. I think each week I'm learning,

(03:00):
which is obviously the point of it. So I think
I'm going to grow and hopefully just keep just keep improving.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
What about yourself talk? Look, this is interesting to me
psychologically when you're looking at this team. It started off
so well and you've been cut down by injuries. Now,
I mean these guys just dropping everywhere and through the spine,
which WESB knows as the key to league. A lot
of adjustments there. So how do you work your way
through this mentally? What do you say to yourself about
what you have to do and your your key position

(03:28):
within the Warrior's side.

Speaker 3 (03:30):
I think early on in preseason where you sort of
said that like things like this sort of happen, and
injuries happen, Like as much as you don't want them to,
they're going to happen. So I think we knew that
it was going to take a squad and like there
was going to be a lot of guys having to
step up, and like the way that we trained in
the preseason has sort of elevated everyone's game to a

(03:51):
standard that we're at training. It's like a it's as
close as you can get to a sort of an
NRL standard. So we're trying to build that at training
so that when guys come in and guys come out,
it's a sort of a seamless transitions. So, yeah, we're
really confident with where we're at and a lot of
guys stepping in, but also there's been a lot of

(04:13):
guys step up this year, so yeah, we're really confident. Mate.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
Got of fun watching all the young follows coming through
the inexperienced guys and what they can actually provide me.
You're one of them, and of course you've got some
of those outrageous ages playing the way they do too.
So I suppose future as you're looking good, but the
future doesn't really matter, does it. You want to get
it done here and now you've got a top four
spot to hold onto.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
I think everyone's here for everyone that's playing is there
for a reason and because they can do a job.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
Now.

Speaker 3 (04:46):
It's obviously there's a fair bit of inexperience in our team,
but as I said before, we've we've been training like
this since November, so it's not like we haven't had
the reps in and we've been training like guys in
the Cup square the main team, so they've been training
against the top four team since November, so they're pretty

(05:07):
familiar on what it takes and what needs to be
done to be up to standard of n RL.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
We'll let you get on with it shortly, Sam, Just
just one last question. He's been next time with Wade
Egan picking his brain for the information.

Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, for sure. Way obviously is a very very skilled
nine and very knowledgeable and has been around the game
a really long time. So any time that I could
sort of ask him a question or two is is
really really beneficial for me. In the last couple of weeks,
he's been around in the in all the meetings for

(05:43):
the previews and stuff. Obviously been him being out, so
it's been good to bounce a few things, bounce a
few ideas and hear his input, and he's really good
to me. He's gives me a little little cues and
things to think about. So yeah, and it's obviously a
different way of looking at the game. So we've we've
obviously got different ways of looking at the game. So

(06:05):
it's good to have another set of eyes and something
that season seas a bit different.

Speaker 1 (06:10):
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