You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio The Big League Podcast League podcast News TALKSB.
This week on The Big League Podcast, The Prince of Pinrose gets a walk off when we unpacked Sean Johnson's spellbinding final outing and the NRAL as the Warriors stunned Cronulla and it's time to pick off the scam that is the twenty twenty four season Highlights, low lights and fearless predictions for next year. My name is Nick Bewley. Let's go b LB. Never have we been more happy
to admit we were wrong. After four straight defeats and a final match against the top four side on their turf, it defied logic to see this going any other way, but Sean Johnson and his final NURL appearance, along with a cast of co stars, had other ideas. To be honest, I was just tough to see one last SJ line break in the assists for Luke Metcalf to score the
warriors first try. Little did we know then we'd get a second half master class, two more assists, including that final pass for dw Z's third, and a memorable comeback when it seems scarcely believable, but that is sewn Johnson right, he could make the ridiculous look routine. One final entry into the catalog of clutch moments, a fitting finish to
a career that's been a thrill to witness. Alex Powell from The New Zealand Herald unpacked that one for me, mate, I mean, not the fairy tale season, of course, but a fairy tale finish for Sean Johnson. How good was that?
Mate? Thanks for having me? First off? It was great. You know, it was everything that we could have wanted at this point of the year, with everything basically with nothing on the line. I thought it was great. I had. I loved that little passing the torch moment between Johnson Metcalf. I think that was basically I'm trying to even think. I'm trying to think, how are we actually say it up? Because, like you say, the season was gone, there's nothing to
play for, but we all got what we wanted. That's how I sum it up.
Yeah, I just I kept catching myself throughout the contest, especially in that second half. Obviously we're unpacking in greater detail, but you know, they're twenty two to four down. It followed a script that we've talked about so many times, where they they've started well, they've scored the first points, they've dominated all the key metrics, they haven't been able
to convert that into points. Then their opposition on this case, the Sharks get a sniff and it's just like a freight train towards the back end of that second half. At that point, Alex, how close were you to turning the TV off? I have to ask, I was very.
Close, so just to sort of peel the curtain back. This was also in between me trying to get Oasis tickets, so I was just down on more than one front. I think if you'd said you can have one of two at the moment, you can have tickets or a Warrior's win, I would have not have gone for the Warriors win. But in a way, I'm sort of glad that's the one I got.
Nice, nice, and then so obviously the Sharks have denied those last couple try a couple of tries to start the second half, which were big moments I don't disagree with either. Court was one of those sort of subjective I suppose obstruction calls with Niko Heinz denied. But then the Warriors, you know, they just started to chance their arm, which is all we've kind of wanted since the season has been over in terms of playing to get into the finals, rather the sort of conservative get to your
kick approach. We had a try on one of what's Ennis Lesnicks tries. I think the kick through was on tackle three. We had willingness to run from an urn end that it was great footy to watch and you couldn't help but feel as much as you bast and the enjoyment of the moment, you're kind of going like, where has that been?
It's a phrase that Stephen Kerney actually used when he first became coach of the Warriors, warriorball, you know, where you do stuff that's about outside the box. You'd like to chance your arm. And I'm glad that we've seen the Warriors can do it. We know that this is in their locker. We saw it, you know, on a ca last year. But this year has been a bit more methodical and we've seen that they're just up against clubs who maybe know how to do the ordinary a
bit better. But when the Warriors are playing like that they're playing with freedom and they're playing with unpredictability. I think that's when they're really going to catch teams out.
Yeah, bang on, let's go to the last minute.
Then.
Obviously Kronulla did well. They were down a man and we'll touch on that too, but they scored while having Kayle in the bench to retake the lead. After the Warriors had scored three tries on the trot Jack Williams there interchange prop drop the ball with about ninety seconds to go. Let's have a listen to Sean Johnson. I'm sure if you're listening to the Big League podcast you
all know what happened from there. But let's hear from the man himself unpack that final set, which of course culminated in DWZ going over in the corner for the match winner.
Do I see to walk slid get us in the right strip, don't deliveryone? Now I'm done, Lad, I'm done. He's going now, so pretty mu.
Which was a three play sequence where I wanted just to give my menument around the spots I knew we could walks.
He took control of the footy.
We spoke about fading and certain spots Barney got a quick play the book and then we just doubled up on it. And I think that feeling of being in the zone where you know why you're doing something and the look you want to create for me to be able to finish my career on that moment is probably what I'm so content about. There's probably actually a bit of talking to like, it wasn't just a one cutout ball. There's things that lead led into that play to create
that look, and it's just the truth. You know me and walks ahead embraced before because it was like he was like, you're crazy man, because he knows exactly what I said to him, and he went and executed it and put me in a good spot to come up about last Pass.
I just love him unpacking the game like that. I think we can all agree. He's obviously already started his own podcast, but he's going to have a big future in the game and great to hear from him to post match to say he's real keen to work with the future Spine players and the key positional areas around the halves going forward as a sort of a mental or a coach. That last pass, it's just right on the money, isn't it. And you think it's you know, it's corny, it's sort of fairy tale stuff, call it
what you like. But for thirteen seasons and then for it to come down to that game on the line, to have that clutch moment, it's just it's so hard to fathom for me that you know that the NRL gods or the Rugby League god someone was smiling down and said, you know what, for your service mate, We're going to give you this one.
I don't think Sean Johnson were remembered for that one play. It'll be you know, it'll be the line breaks, it'll be the steps, it'll be you know, some of the kickses, you know, just just all the stuff like that. It just adds into what Sean Johnson is and that's been the guy who has been the talisman of this team for most of those thirteen years. Will forget those years at the Sharks, but you're right, I'm glad that he got to end it on a way where he was the main man.
Yeah. As I said in the top, a catalog of clutch moments just before we get to the highlights, courtesy of our friends at Fox Sports. I did want to touch on a couple of other players because as I mentioned so Sean Johnson was front and center, but there was some really strong co stars, if you will. For me, the guy who jumped out and I've been a big fan of him ever since he made his first great debut last year was tamed to a picky at the
back himself. He had two tryass just super busy. You know, he's a small guy, but he puts his body on the line, you know, twenty plus runs and you know that's his sixth game this season. Unfortunately for me, he's had a couple of hia's where he's had to go off. But he's been now involved in the Penrith win earlier in the campaign, the Cronulla win at the weekend and way back in Round three when the Warriors hosted the Raiders down in my neck of the woods in christ Church.
He was the fullback then. So what did you make a taine? And I guess, more broadly speaking, has he shown how valuable he could be going forward into twenty twenty five.
I like you, I'm a huge entertained to a picky. That's such a hard job when you know you're not the main guy, and he still comes in every week and plays his hard out there, leaves nothing out there. You mentioned the games he came in full. Let's also not forget he was going to play that Dolphins game at Mount Smart as well, but then was withdrawn at the last minute because his partner went into labor. So
he could have played another one there but didn't. I don't know what I want for tain to a picky. I love the fact that the Warriors can call on a guy like that to step in when they need him, and there's so much of that of being a guy who isn't going to play every week, but he's just so safe when he does. Do you I'll put back to you, do you think he should stay.
Stay at the club? Well, I hope he stays at the club. I think he's got a big part to play next year. To be perfectly honest, I know you're probably more on the camp that going into twenty twenty
five they look at Roger at fullback. I'm sort of the view and I'm probably, you know, perhaps reaching here after one performance, but I wouldn't mind first round next year seeing to a picky at one charms in the centers and Roger on the wing, and that would then mean Montoya, as much as I love his effort and hard carries, would make way. But that's a discussion for
another day. But I get the sense that tame to a picky he is a first grader and for him to just have to settle for New South Wales Cup at his age, at twenty five, I think there'll be another club sniffling in and around if he can't get regular opportunities. Let's get to the highlights then, courtesy of Fox Sports. It was a brilliant call, I have to say from Andrew Voss. It was quite fitting. I thought
that that VOSSI got the final Seawn Johnson game. Here it is Warrior is thirty Kranulla twenty eight Saturday.
Super Saturday Night in Cranella and the Warriors first use Johnson on the flat foot john set it so back to Mecca.
That is so good.
The seven of the six r Johnson.
It's a good a passing of the bed, a.
Woman, Trindleby's shop to Ronson render for play, then number seven for Granilla last play swingle.
Women so cling round.
And a great fame in New Zealand. Let be leading scores against the Lais.
The first one was Wilton.
This time he goes to the outside and plays the hero who is just so powerful.
Eighty four games before the final our last a ruck Belod broadly passes to stop straight the Londal.
Juna is on his way, the kid.
Living his drone in the Cronulla Sharks jersey. He's promptly dreaded that heine's calling for it.
He's with it, not for the line, says, but.
What a hardlight really is getting a four pointers if you will? Tobby boy deff Reagan now the right side. Johnson turpicky a tote zalazni Ark to score the nineteen ninth trime of his career and the fiftieth for the Warriors. Still a chance with the Warriors midcalv little show chops, all kicks any here comes down.
He wins the race and down the.
Tri Sister Johnson and Delan with Tennis Alesia.
Brings up the tone.
One hundred career tries.
What a special moment.
Mogan, you walk up, double put Johnson, tour Picky rock down. It clicks up.
Tenny's Alesiac was it over the He is such a physical player here and just hits the lesbiack as he's slipping from the inside. Had to be made great desperation from Kennedy, or if some of the others have been high contact. Oh thoughts on here now we're going, here we go.
He's in the middle of that.
It's drindle drindles throwing the little the little shop pis Wilton Stone Street, go back to back, So you aren't into the brief.
Gone, Kyl, you're right. It pays the.
Penalty you to slip.
Eagan Johnson to a.
Picky said, you got a Nickel Club.
Star going for the line. The Warriors have got another. The Warriors maybe riding in a headline. Here hold the front page. Look MEPCD, look.
The front.
This is a stradry front.
The Warriors plaily fires it across Treadll to Kennedy. They're playing return and Stone's trade is over. The scores are level, possibly their last checks. Hagan Newalker Johnson Clutside outside runs his own screen Riddled, produced directed by Sean Johnson, the movie His Last Game Wins It for the Warriors.
Big League Podcast.
Right, let's get into our season review, and of course I know Nathan Lemon and Michael Burgess. They started this podcast last year and they had the you know, the wonderful year that was where in terms of it sort of season review that they couldn't They had a top five each of their moments of the years. Bit of
a to get through five. I think in season twenty twenty four we've taken the liberty to change it up a touch and hand out some awards, highlights, low lights, etc. I mean, if we completely unpacked the season, we'll be here all day, but where we're going to look at some of the key parts that stood out for us
in season twenty twenty four. Of course, the Warriors don't play this week due to a buye, and irrespective of what happens this weekend, they'll finish thirteenth with a record of nine wins, a draw and fourteen losses, this of course, coming after making the preliminary final last year. Let's start with a grading, Alex, what mark do you give the Warriors and why so?
I would go with a D plus. I don't think other than the Titans away, there's not really been games
where I've been embarrassed for the Warriors. But at the same time, there hasn't been enough good to overtake the bad I think they should absolutely finish higher than thirteenth from what we saw last year and from the players at their disposal, I think there's been a lot of mitigation and players being unavailable and some decisions that go against them, and just moments they were going against them.
So I think a DED not quite a C minus, but not quite a D. Okay, Yeah, I'll just go with a firm D.
And of course, you know, context is important, and we're measuring the warr is this iteration of the warr is on last year, because you know, if we look back to how we all felt twelve months ago about the team going into this season, you know, all the noise was getting back to a preliminary final, getting inside and ensconced into the top four, let alone the top eight, and for the season to fall away as it did
was incredibly disappointing. As you mentioned, injury issues, Tauhu, Harris Sean Johnson barely fit throughout the course of the season. I thought way Egan looked pretty banged up from about round ten or eleven. He had a really strong start to the year but faded away and hopefully some rest will be good for him. Heading into season twenty twenty five, but just the nature of some of the defeats as well.
I know we'll get into low lights shortly, but yeah, just a lack of evolution to I just felt like they rested a little bit. I'm hoping things would just click as it did last year, and as we know in the NRL being one of the toughest competitions and sport in the Southern Hemisphere, you just have to continue to get better. It felt like that sort of second year syndrome and away, and unfortunately for the Warriors, they'll look on with envy as a season of what ifs
has gone by. What was your highlight? Then Alex Lea's get onto a positive note.
So initially, Nick, you and I talked this morning about what would do here, and I've had a late change from my heart of the year. Okay, initially I'd put Mitch Barnett's origin call up just for what it meant for him and the way the clubs read that. I've since changed that to the signing of James Fisher Harris. That is by far the best I felt this year in terms of the Warriors.
I think in many ways, highlighting two individual moments kind of sums up the collective, you know. I agree those are both great moments, and the Barnet elevation and eventual debut for New South Wales was thoroughly deserved. And the excitement around James Fisher Harris. I remember at the time thinking when Fish signed for the Warriors, I was like, oh, okay, the premiership win though for mine is open still and I felt it was closing on this group losing not
only Sean. We didn't know we were losing Sean at that point, but we certainly knew that Adam fanoor Blake was off. Now I'm still excited about Fisher Harris coming and filling in those shoes from Adam fanol Blake, but I do have my concerns with Johnson making way around that half back position. My highlight of the year, I'm going to go with the game, and I don't even care if you call it recency bias, but I just loved Saturday. I loved Sean getting his moment and getting
that comeback went over Cronal something like. I just never really liked them, and we had that last year, of course, and we've had it again this year. A shout out to tell the young guys that came in and topped Penrith that was bloody cool and magic round. I think that deserves an honorable mention. But yeah, that that final game.
I know you mentioned before, Alex. You know Sean won't be remembered just on that, but I think of, you know, if he was putting together a Greatest Hits album and it had his first try at Mount Smart and it had that runaway against the Broncos, and it had that you know that trice just for Lewis Brown against some album storm, I think I think there would be somewhere there in the in the Greatest Hits. So that was my highlight of the year, right low lights, sadly a
few to pick from. I might go, that's OK, just to change things up, and you did you did mention Gold Coast before and feeling embarrassed. This is cheating slightly, but it's it's a combination of the two games against the titles. What is it about this bloody Gold Coast team We just I don't know we take lightly or what's going on. But if we cast our minds right back to even when the game was announced, I was so excited to finally get an Anzac Day game at
Mount Smart. Of course it's become a or it had become a tradition. The Warriors would face the Melbourne Storm and pretty much exclusively was held in Melbourne. We finally, after groundswellow momentum after last season, get a ans auct Day fixture. It had been a bit of a middling start of the season by this point. Round eight was the Anzac Day fixture that they look good. They almost
beat Melbourne Storm. Round two a good one down here against the Raiders, sort of up and down, but for them to lose that game on Anzact was just as
a real flat moment. Yes, they had some moments not long after that that turned things around, but then to roll and face them again eight weeks later over there at a point of the season where their campaign was still very much alive, and for the Warriors to be beaten sixty six points to six against any opposition, let alone the Gold Coast Titans, with all due respect, was deeply embarrassing and upsetting for the Warriors fan base and just frankly unacceptable. And from there it really felt like
the wheels started to fall off. Yes, they won the following week, against Brisbane, but it never really felt the same from there, so that was my low light. It was the closest. In fact, I think I did walk away in the seventieth minute of that game and just said I can't cop this anymore. So yeah, how about you.
I agree with everything you said on that Titans game. The record lost as well. Something that was never picked up by the media was that I also orted Chinese that night and it took ages to get to livid and I was just watching as the Warriors they didn't try out to try So that was a bad night all around.
My low light.
I've actually gone aback a bit earlier, so to round seven when they traveled away to Saint George.
To face Dragons week before the end zecdote, yep, exactly.
Week before there was the same week they signed James Fish Harris and you used the phrase the wheels fell off, and that's the exact same prase I've used for this one. So basically for context, the Warriors opened the season with two losses against the Sharks in the Storm. They then won three on the bounce against was it the Raiders, the Knights, and gil who is it now? On they smashed outs. They then drew with Manly and I was like, okay, well, you know, you take a draw and those Then they
went to Saint George and they were played off the park. Now, that game triggered a formtch losing run, which I don't think the Warriors came back from. When they took the field against the Dragons that night, they were seventh on the ladder. They were never in the top eight again after that. The way they played I think was really when there was just no coming back from that, and known they had moments where you think, yep, this is it. They make a run for here were on and then
it never happened. So that Dragon's game for me was where it was the beginning of the end basically for twenty twenty four.
I don't disagree with any of that, and it's bringing aboaut some memories of that day too. That yeah, I don't want to recall on, Well, don't recall on with any fondness. All right, let's get back to a bit more of a positive. Then we'll mix things up a touch. What was who's your player of the year. I feel like this is relatively obvious and I think we're unanimous here, but you go first.
I think everyone's unanimous here, including the club. The Simon mannoring medallist will announce it. How the Simon mannoring medalist here on the Big League Podcast look out that this is not an exclusive. I'm I believe will be Mitch Barnett. I don't think anyone else comes close to what Mitch Barnett's done this year. He's led the team both as captain and just as a senior player. There was a point in the year where Mitch Barnett was the most
expensive player and er off fantasy. And I know that's never how we should judge it, but I mean, if you said that coming into the start of the year, even when you know back when Barnett signed for the club, then this guy will be the best player in the league, you'd have all left. There was a great video the Warriors did before Round one last year where all the new players got their jerseys presented to them, and Barnet had just come from the Knights where he was told
he wasn't wanted. And you know Round one twenty twenty three was against the Knights, so that was a nice little coincidence for him. And he said as he got the Jersey. A lot of people were asking him if he wanted to prove the Knights wrong, and he didn't want to do that. What he wanted to do was he wanted to prove.
The Warriors right.
Yeah, and that has stood by me or stood with me ever since. Just the amount of respect I've had much Bunnett and he just gets better and better. Origin kept it all off, you know, come out well because the Warriors don't have Origin players because a we don't really get the top end Australian players coming here. We might every now and then Fluke one, which is like what's happened here?
Well, I think Barney he was the first for New South Wales at least where he'd made his debut while playing for the Warriors. So of you know, in the past we've had players and sort of more thinking along the Queensland lines you Lilliman's or your Price or more recently in the capable yeah, where they've already made an Origin debut. But for him to on Warriors form into the Origin arena, I think just typifies how good he was. And yeah, he had an outstanding season and he can
hold his head really just on. I guess that conversation around him joining the club, like it's easy to forget too that he joined on the premise that Nathan Brown was going to be his coach, who'd worked with at Newcastle, and you know a guy like that could have easily gone, oh well, like I've come over here and now you guys have binned off Brown and who's this Andrew Webster Feller. But he bought him to the idea and he's still here now and he's going to have a big part
to play in the next couple of years. Longside James Fisher Harris, who or what surprised you most in twenty twenty four. This canna be good or bad. So I've gone for a good one and it's Tomighty Martin. You know, Tomighty Martin's had a strange career. I was a huge
fan of him at the Cowboys. They obviously backed him to be the man that replaced Jonathan Thurston and then of course he had that brain bleed and to get the game away, came back after three years out, went to the Broncos and played fullback and ended up coming to the Warriors as sort of an exchange for an unofficial exchange for Reese Walsh, but the way he's played in Seawan Johnson's absences here, so he's had sixteen triasis
in sixteen games. I think most of those came in about a three or four game stretch when Shawn Johnson was out. I've never seen to Mighty Martin as sort of a sitting halfback at a game managing halfback like Sean Johnson was, but when he has played there, it's absolutely looked like the best position for him. And he's obviously he's played He's played alongside Johnson, he's played alongside Jonathan Thurston, he's played alongside Michael Morgan, and he's never
been sort of the guy. He's always been the support act. But when we saw him as the main man, I think that absolutely took him to a new level. And I have no doubts next year about who's going to wear number seven. First up, It's going to be to Mighty Martin. Wow, wow, wow, Do you not think No, I'm not a line there. I agree with what you're saying, but I thought that the fade and form and towards the back end of the season made it pretty easy.
Of Course, they're always going to bring Shan Johnson back, but I don't. I only think there's probably one safe spot in that back line for twenty twenty five at the moment, and that's what's in is listening. Wow. Anyway, that's maybe a conversation Nathan and Burge can get us back in for some hot takes in twenty twenty five. My surprise, and I sort of touched on it before.
It was.
When they were at full strength, which was few and far between, but even when those senior players were there and playing and available, it was that lack of evolution with ball in hand and that conservative nature that I was quite surprised by. And I'm sure there's a lot of layers in context as to why they constantly would choose that fifth tackle, conservative keck option or always use the right edge for shape and trying to get what Ten's leasing out was so effective in twenty twenty three.
But just a couple of stats that jumped off the page, and it's not they're not big numbers, but they sort of show a little bit where the Warriors sort of dipped attack wise. Anyway, one hundred and eleven tries they scored in twenty twenty three ninety this year, and the Warriors had the second best or going into Obviously there's still all the other sixteen clubs still have this week ind to play, but the Warriors as things stand have the second best completion rate of any team at eighty
two percent. And for mine, it's that conservative nature of trying to not chance your arm that we just saw when we were so good against Cronulla that ultimately I think is proved the bit of their undoing and I hope that they can find the balance right. It needs to be closer to what you termed earlier as Warrior ball, or even back in the day where Ali Lawatiti was throwing it around like a Harlem globe trotter like. I just don't think they got that right, and that was
a surprise to me. I thought that they'd elevate their attack to another level and if anything, it went backwards. One last individual one, what was your who was your young player of the year.
I've gone for Ali Latawa handful of appearances, but every time he plays he just looks incredible.
How good was he on Saturday?
He just gets better and better, like ever since he played one game last year and didn't look out of place for a minute. And that was a way to the Raiders, which for me was one of their best wins of twenty twenty three. This year has not been as easy's and injuries. He's been concussed, but I think if he's not in the conversation to be a starting center next year, they've got rocks in their heads.
Just got some stats.
See average one hundred and twenty six running meters per game from center. You know that's not getting the ball every set, but you just can't stop him. Three tries to assists in six games, seven line breaks. He has to be in there next year.
Putting Nico Hines on his back side on Saturday too, got a lot of enjoyment out of that, but not nothing against Heines. I like him as a player, but it was just a bollocking run. Yeah. I'm almost wanting to agree, but just for the sake of changing things up, I'm going to go with Lequahala Seema, who's still well. He's got a lot of rugby league ahead of him, but I got his first taste of first grade, some real nice flashes of what he could be, whether it's
through the middle or out on the edge. He's been carving up a new South Wales Cup. I think he was born in two thousand and five, which makes him either I think he's nineteen. I know that's crazy to say out Louday, I think he's nineteen later this, Yes, there's a long way to go, but you can tell if he's already at that point in time where they're going, you know what, We're happy to give you some minutes here.
In first grade he came up with some real eye catching if it's his first run in first grade, he ran over the top of a bulldog's middle. I was just like, yeah, there's something about this kid, and we're going to see lecque halo seema a lot, hopefully in a warrior's jersey. They need a time down long term, right. Last one is with a view to season twenty twenty five, what is your fearless prediction? And we will come back to this of course, right.
So this is actually quite a negative one. I think we're going to see the end of to Harris next year. Injuries have continued to hit him. His contract up at the end of the next year. They've got younger players coming through. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the captaincy given to a Barnett or a James Fish Harris, like what they did when Roger Tavasashak came and they
took it off Simon Mannering. So I know, like we should never be into sort of hear say stuff, but my chiropractor goes to the same gym as tour Who in the off season. It just says that he does not look like he moves painfree.
Look, I think they did this sensible thing in terms of not playing him for the back end of the season to at least give him a chance. It seems everywhere on like you say, in and around the traps wiries forumsly like online that you know, this fear is he might have not even get to the start line in twenty twenty five. But I'm sure they'll put every effort there. But yeah, it wouldn't shock me if that comes to pass. A fearless prediction. And this is real
negative Nancy pessimistic areas. But I just have great concerns around I know you're a lot more optimistic around tomorrow Martin at half back, but I just don't out of what they've got with Martin and Metcalf and Harris Tavita. I just can't see a half back or a halves peering taking the club back to at least where they were or near where they were in twenty twenty three. So my fearless prediction is the Warriors won't make the APE next year. And I'm already of the view, which
is just the way my brain works. But I'm more excited about twenty twenty six than i am twenty twenty five. I'm always happy to be proven wrong when I'm negative about these things, but that's just how I feel at
this point in time. And contextualizing that too with when you look at some of these other clubs who are just so well set for the here and now, and a team you know, for example, like South Sydney will bounce back, I just, yeah, I think it might get I'm not necessarily going to say it might get uglier before it gets better, but we might be in a bit of a holding pattern while we balance what's a roster with some older players with someone who are just starting to taste first grade l Big Hits, Big.
Moments, the Big League Podcast.
Well, goodness, gracious me, it was a tough old week for tipping. I was saved by Sunday's games, I was one for six going and uh it was just the Panthers at that point. And then Newcastle got the job over Gold Coast and my smoking of the week came in the Raiders beat the Roosters in a real testing affair. Gee, I've seen see Brandon Smith and Sam Walker season ending knee injures, Victor Radley out verbal barbs, exchange between Trent Robinson and Elliot Whitehead. There was a bit bit doing
in that game. It wasn't too much better for you either, Alex, you're one out of the box. Came in the Eels beating the Dragon. But like me, it was pretty lean, wasn't it.
Yeah, not a good week. And there were so many results that you sat there as they came and went, oh, this will come back to buy me on the podcast. Isn't it there?
What I mean?
I feel yeah, like the Dolphins being a you know, running out of steam. They just absolutely rolled through the Broncos and now very much alive in the in the top eight picture. Let's look at the final round. Plenty to play for a lot of teams live for that eighth spot. The Broncos are not one of them. And they'll open things up against the Melbourne Storm home US
and Mett Alex. We weren't to know at the time of recording that Craig Balamy was going to say, oh, let's rest a dozen players, so there was a little caveat around that prediction.
Right absolutely, Like like you say, the Cowboys did so well to get up and beat them, but I think I'm going to tip the Storm this week. The Broncos just looked horrendous. I don't know if you saw Kevin Walter's press conference after Saturday.
I didn't catch it. No, what did you say?
Oh, he just looks like a man beaten? Yeah, you know all those those like Australian based enter our journalists are just root clos Like you know, when the coach starts asking questions back to the journalists, you know, what war would you do? And the journals we're having none of it. You know who They're just going No, I'm not the coke. I love that yeah, Storm as well.
I think the cues and the rack for the Broncos and those guys at the Storm rested last week were now wanting to be hit the ground running ahead of what will be a one V four game for them next week the Battle for the Wooden Spoon Friday Night, West Tigers Parramatta Eels. He doubling down here on the Eels, Alex. Yeah, same reason, guys looking to prove themselves for next year. New coach coming in. Great went over the Dragons, that could have ended their season. But yeah, go with the Ears.
See they looked like were they up like forty four to twelve or something and they just forgot how to play rugby league for it. But they got a little bit diicy, but they got the job done against St. George. Yeah, flip a coin. I'm going to go. I love Benji Marshall, so I'll tip the Tigers, Ah Rabbits roosters roosters with all these injuries.
Yeah, like you said Walker, I don't think Walker is definitely out for the season, but Brandon Smith and Victor Radley are. I don't see how they come back. Throwing to the fact that the Rabbit O's is a local rivalry, so they will be pumped to try and finish their season.
Well, yeah, these two hate each other. I'm going to go with South Sidney as well. Just inflicting a bit of damage even though well about a week to ten days ago. I thought the Roosters they were my Premiership favorites. But I think if Walker is out and I know they can shift Kerry and do some things. They got depth, but Smith as well. That's a big blows Dragons Raiders.
I mean, I'd like to think the Dragons, like you said, they scored a lot of points very quickly to finish that Els game just wasn't enough. Look, I've got a good record of going against the Raiders with these so I'm going to keep that for another week.
I'm going to stick with what's been a good thing for me, the Great Machine. After last week beating the Roosters, they're not completely done that they've had. Some crazy things would need to occur, particularly in this last game of the regular season. That both these teams, in fact, their points difference differentials are shocking, so they're going to need a bit to go their way. Two teams that are safely ensconced in the eights, the Bulldogs and the Cowboys.
I didn't like the Bulldogs last week, but I think they'll still get up.
Agreed and doubly agreed. We both tipped them and they were turned up by the Manly Seagulls. But perhaps it's one of those ones where a good time to have a loss and reset and perhaps look at some things that have been papered over. So I think the Bulldogs are particularly at home where they have a really strong record, will get the job done. Panthers Titans. Panthers don't need don't it's quick fire predictions for a reason. We don't need to get into that one. Manly Sharks Sharks interesting.
Keen to hear your thoughts on that just quickly.
Do we know what Tom Taboovich's prognosis is.
I think they were thinking he'd be at least a week and particularly given that they can't get into the top four, that they would give them some time heading into finals, whereas Cronulla after that loss of the Warriors, still have the potential of finishing in the top four.
Yeah. I mean you'd think Manly be used to playing without Tom tavoybitch by now. But I think it is a huge loss. Sharks have a point to prove. They shouldn't have lost that game last week and they'll know it.
No, I agree with that what you're saying. I'm going to go with Cronulla as well, particularly if they're all without Manly, without Tommy Turbo and to round things out, this is the one really that should determine who gets that eighth spot, Newcastle and the Dolphins.
Is it fins up, Alex, No, Look, I'm going with the Knights. Andy McDonald's friend of the podcast, the producer of Week in Sport with Jason Pine is a huge Knights fan. I'm on this for you, Andy.
I'm with you, mate. I do like Andy McDonald, but I'm going to go fins up when they're with ball in hand and they got guys like the Hammer and Herbie Farnworth and they Wayne Bennett's really changed things up, hasn't he. He drops Young Katawa, the Halfbacker's gone pretty well with Jake Averillo's and the halfs. But yeah, I'd love to see the Dolphins in year two. That'll be a great success story for expansion to see them playing
finals football. Rodio. I think that about wraps us up for season twenty twenty four, at least from a NRL standpoint. We'll have a word to our big boss Nathan Lynn once he's back from his European travels and see if we can get some big league podcast action in the international season when the Kiwis and Kiwi fans open their Pacific Championship campaigns. But thanks so much for everyone tuning
in across the course of the season. We will be back in due course and we hope we'll be bringing you a lot more positivity out of the Warriors, particularly in season twenty twenty five. But my thanks to you Alex for stepping in. I think we've done okay, haven't we for a couple of guys off the bench pretty much, you know, Jazz Tavanga areas just up up the guts.
I'd say we're the Chanelle Harris Devita and to Mighty Martin to Berg and Nathan being Shawn Johnson, Luke Metcalfe.
Yeah, I'll allow that. I'll allow that so long as I'm Chanel.
Yeah, all right, sweet up, it's mine.
Appreciate it's on though, mate, And thanks again for all those who have listened to keep us subscribed. And once we have new episodes coming into wherever you your podcasts, you will see them first thing
For more from News Talks B listen live on air or online and keep our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,