Navigated to Episode 82: "Didn't turn up" Roger Tuivasa-Sheck explains Warriors' horror loss to Titans and his magical one-off plays - Transcript

Episode 82: "Didn't turn up" Roger Tuivasa-Sheck explains Warriors' horror loss to Titans and his magical one-off plays

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1

You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB.

Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio The Big League Podcast dat by News TALKSB.

Speaker 2

This week on The Big League Podcast, Roger Tuivasaschek returns to unravel a horrendous loss to the Titans at Mount Smart, his individual performances and how he switches out of disappointment.

Michael Burgess and I will rip into the Warrior's clear and obvious right edge issues what needs to change before they host the Dolphins on Friday.

My name is Nathan Limb.

Let's go good, b LB.

Are you taking the piss?

The Titans were bottom of the ladder.

A win would have put them five points clear of the fifth placed Panthers up by ten dominating the Warriors can seed four straight tries and blow it.

The right edge had another shocker.

Now, in fairness, I understand what Andrew Webster was saying during the week about the middle being too tight and leaving too much space for the right edge to cover.

Even if Kurt Capewell didn't rush wildly out of the line and leave dalan Wa Tennis Alesniak covering a three on one, even if he didn't stay in and cover a short ball.

Dallan was still faced with an overlap, like what was he supposed to do?

It looked like they were playing with twelve men.

Even so, they both had poor performances.

Cape Well with a needless play the ball penalty in the Warriors twenty and then next set whatenis Alesniak clob is a player high without the ball and gets himself sindoned.

I say, bring Taine to Opekey onto the wing.

He deserves a shot.

Give wa Tennis Alesniak a couple of weeks in reserve grade, just until he gets his confidence back.

Speaker 3

He will come back.

Speaker 2

Ali Leatawa's injured his calf in New South Wales Cup.

So there is no replacement for cape Well.

Michael Burgess Senior.

He's on Herald writer.

Speaker 4

Yeah, yeah, indeed, yeah, we we needed to and the words one of my favorite movies, Remember the Titans, and we didn't because what is it?

Speaker 3

Now?

Six out of seven?

Speaker 4

I feel like every time we underestimate them, and now they've ambushed the Warriors again.

But there is a reason, because they weren't the Titans on Saturday night.

There was some other team like they have risen to the occasion so many times against the Warriors.

Now it just brings out the best in them.

It's become this weird rivalry because they've played so well.

We can't forget that, like the Gold Coaster, a really good way better than what they've been some other matches, and it makes you wonder, you know, where's this team?

Been a lot of issues to get through from this game, but your summary is spot on as an offerers, like, it's a really damaging defeat, really hurts in so many ways.

Had a chance to get a gap on the top four, had a chance to get revenge up Tenneril, all those things.

We'll get into it in more detail.

The right edge is as a factor, and I've got a really actually, I've got a new core option for you for the right edge.

I've got an option you no one would have thought of what they could do.

But let's see.

Really yeah, but we'll talk about that later in the show.

Speaker 3

I reckon, But we can't also forget this game Waite Egan.

Speaker 4

Like, I'm pretty certain if Wade Egan doesn't get injured in the what was it eleventh or twelfth minute and doesn't return sorry head knock, the result may have been different, like he is that important TOMARTI still played well and he still did great to set up that try if Roger said try, but Egan is so crucial to that team.

He goes off, they can see to try as in the moment he's down on the ground.

So you do wonder.

But the pattern is a bit disturbing, Naith.

They haven't actually played a good overall eighty minute performance since the Shark's game in early June.

Speaker 3

You know, there's been the.

Speaker 4

Panthers, the Broncos, the Tigers weren't bad, but it wasn't a bad performance, but not amazing the night it's with the better team and the Titans with the better team.

So that's the concern.

Is this pattern at this time of the season.

Well, you see we're talking about it later in the show.

I want to get stuck into this right now, this right edge issue.

Because Kurt Capewell, he fronted media after the game, he was on the desk with Andrew Webster.

He thinks that his partnership with hy Tennis A Lesniak is growing.

Speaker 5

I'm not usually out under Center's next Todel, but credit to him, he's adjusted really well.

I thought we made some improvements during the week.

You know, it's a tough position out there, and you know the last nighte of defense and a lot of the time in competence like for him, but creditor Downey, he steps up and does the job.

Speaker 2

Andrew Webster is applauding Cape wells if it's saying his versatility has been needed in a makeshift side.

Speaker 6

Kurt can play and he's got a lot of experience at playing different positions in his crew.

But we're dying to getting back to the back row.

You know, we're dying too.

But I mean Ali didn't finish the game again today and new so last cup, Rocco's still out, So that's what we're being given right now.

Speaker 2

Well, am I just like way off the mark here?

What game was I watching?

Speaker 4

I mean, I think you're a bit harsh on what you said about Cape.

Well, I thought I thought he had a good game.

He was trying his guts out.

He was completely busted.

He's got bandages down the left leg, he's got bandages of his right knee.

He comes into the press, well, he had bandages on his head.

He just banged up in a big way.

He probably shouldn't be playing I've got a feeling he's playing carrying injuries like the old Andrew.

Speaker 2

Ribster said to us during the week.

I straight up asked him, I said, is Cape Well injured?

Speaker 4

And he said, no, no, but what I don't mean injured, but I mean he's got niggles that you and I.

You and I had those niggles, we wouldn't becoming a work you know, you'd be at home watching your lady streaming series or whatever you millennials do.

Speaker 3

But love.

Speaker 4

Yeah, yeah, and I'll be watching some DVD from the nineties.

But anyway, he's carrying something in terms of he's not quite his best, but he guts his way through that match, probably in a lot of pain.

He did pretty well because the left edge also had issues.

The Titans scored a couple of tries down the Warrior's left edge, so it's not just the right edge but the right edge.

We asked Karen foran about it, and he didn't want to admit it, but he said, you know, we did our homework.

We knew what we knew I wanted to do, So the right edge is going to become a constant target.

Kate Well has done really well, but yeah, He's not a specialist, is he No?

And you know I applaud cap well for his efforts.

I just I didn't think he had a good game.

And Dallan I was obviously so low on confidence.

I suppose it's the fact that you said the right edge.

It's a pattern and Karen Forn has.

Speaker 2

Said basically they knew they were going to target it, and so does every other team in the NRL.

This is not a secret.

This is a weak point that is obvious to everyone and they need to do something about it.

Speaker 3

Yeah, they do.

Speaker 4

When I said pattern, I was more talking about the pattern of performances from the Warriors, where it's.

Speaker 2

Not there's a pattern on the road.

Speaker 3

This is a pattern too.

You know, what do you do this week?

Speaker 4

This week they've got a training session on Wednesday, They've got Captain's run on Thursday.

I'm pretty sure they have a day off Tuesday.

So they got one and a half training sessions.

Can't do too much.

Yeah, Dlan, he is down in confidence.

I actually I asked him after the game for an interview.

I've known Dan a long time.

I was on the Keys tour with him in twenty fourteen.

Not q's tour they played in Australia and I was there on that trip that was meant to make his debut and they had some bloody muck around session on the beach and he twisted his ankle.

It was crazy but and he actually said, oh mate, thanks for asking, but I won't you know, And he said, you know, he is struggling a bit at the moment, and fair enough, you know, fair enough, he is struggling down on confidence.

And if you're a winger, you're down on confidence and you're playing in an inner match watch by hundreds of thousands, not a nice place to be.

Speaker 2

Now, we're going to hear from Roger to ivasishek on this game shortly, but first here are the highlights.

Titans twenty four, Lauria's sixteen, his boy Arista Vita, he.

Speaker 6

Comes top Prey pop Hea, the pot fella Ali score again, a Boy's Arista Vita and a saber not again.

Speaker 7

Taden Temple with the great points, a fantastic score by the Times.

Speaker 3

So Joe the Feeder with a terrific four point.

Speaker 2

Use of the utery front way that Egan is coming off the field, Prince's got some spice day is a pass and it's a sight for Sammy three.

Speaker 3

Cam running onto the THEUDI free now four and this.

Speaker 4

Has looks saft a pass ah that was fantastic from the Quis International.

Speaker 3

Still great Shampool.

Speaker 7

Great class, good class they crop for Feta.

Speaker 2

I don't know if you've got.

Speaker 3

A download, I don't think it.

You can see that Jojo is over the goal line.

When have you the season?

Put hands to match soon over turns a set times a set.

Speaker 7

And it's tights kind of walking and it's a.

Speaker 3

Memous audio courtesy of sky Sport The.

Speaker 8

Big League Podcast.

Speaker 2

Michael Burgess did superbly well to get a quick chat with Roger two vasa Chick after the match.

Let's take a listen, Roger, I mean that one I mentioned it really hurts.

Speaker 7

Yeah, we've definitely got to about the results and how we played.

We started really well, you know, started really well.

We we knew the plan was wasn't work, so yeah, pretty disappointed.

Our lift edge left him sort of back in the game with they shifted our way and they've got to try down our edge, which was tough and and they sort of just rolled on from there.

Speaker 3

What was your view of the of the second half and how that unfold.

Speaker 7

I thought we went out and we put them in an armoryst and that's that's the way we like to play.

You know, let's let's carry it on and keep the long game going.

We still weren't perfect, weren't playing our best.

They've still finally tries again, you know, they they scored on our edge again, which is something we'd say personally, the left edge.

And then we go down there and in high school, you know, and I'm like, okay, here we go.

You know that that's a good feeling.

Now we're going to build something.

But Thailand's just kept completing.

Speaker 8

You know.

Speaker 7

The coach spoke about they were a close to one hundred percent and yeah, that's what it's look for them to get one over us, And yeah, that's it.

Speaker 3

What is it about the Titans?

Speaker 4

Do you think they forget this incredible record against the Warriors?

Speaker 7

Well, they turned up and played.

They played today.

We spoke but we're definitely a better side.

But on the day, they're better than us today and close to one hundred percent complete.

You know, they're park they're camping on our line and they're not giving us opportunities.

And yeah, that's why they're the better team today.

Speaker 4

What was your view of your tries?

You say, a really nice try, really important try.

Speaker 7

Yeah, I was.

I'm definitely happy that we got the shape right and they got the ball out to me and gets close as I can to the post.

Speaker 3

Get that kick, get that try, and yeah.

Speaker 7

I'm not gonna lie.

I was pretty confident after that.

You know, it's pretty confident.

Okay, we're gonna come away with it.

We're starting to click, and I just did it so pretty got to it.

Speaker 4

I mean, especially after the I guess the high of last week and the sort of win from nowhere.

Speaker 7

Yeah, yeah, we I thought we handled the week really well.

Speaker 3

Uh Lecqua.

Speaker 7

After that that try, I thought he still had a really good training session.

We all did you know, we all came back and we all trained really well.

We knew it was a short turnaround, but I thought we took the right boxes.

Are training just on the days and turn up because.

Speaker 4

Somehow it looked like tonight they were they were winning the ruck as well.

They're managing to slow you down and then they'd get.

Speaker 3

Them into themselves.

Is that is that how it failed out there?

Speaker 7

Yeah?

Speaker 3

It did?

Speaker 2

You know?

Speaker 7

Our back three, we we thought we started well the way we moved the ball up there, got kicking from their own forty and which is good for us.

And then as again went on, as they kept completing, we're running from our ten, from our twenty and yeah, they just yeah, just the way they kept completing just kept us in our own and our own half, and we weren't tackling as well.

Speaker 3

That's how we let in a few tries.

Speaker 4

How are you feeling about your about your game?

They're right, so you must be must be happy with what you're producing.

Speaker 7

Yeah, funny enough, I'm talking to the team.

I feel good, you know, I feel like I'm starting to st get into a groove.

I'm starting to work out the level of this today's NRL, and I'm feeling good.

I'm happy just to be doing my role the best I can and just keep trending up.

Speaker 3

And how does the team reset.

Speaker 4

You've got a relatively short turn around, and you've got the Dolphins, who to me, they seem quite similar to the Titans.

You know, a lot of a lot of threads, a lot of pace out wide.

Speaker 3

Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 7

We just we just got to get together, sit back down and go over what we're wrong out there and yeah, just fixed out tomorrow.

I'm still still in the moment, guts it about what just happened.

And I know we'll look at dolphins in a few days.

Speaker 4

And there's just one moment in the first half, kicked a huge bomb.

Speaker 3

You came over to take it.

Speaker 4

I think you kind of half slipped, still took it and then managed to step away.

Do you surprise yourself with some of the things you managed to do out there on the field.

Speaker 3

Sometimes?

Speaker 7

Definitely, sometimes, you know, I definitely Just you're just in the moment, you're on the flow zone.

You just you just turn up and yeah, the way you put yourself in those positions, opportunities like that just happened.

But yeah, it doesn't come when you just sit back and watch it.

Speaker 3

You need to go after it.

Speaker 4

And as you say you gut it, I can see you gut it.

But you're also a family man.

I mean, what happens tomorrow, you back home, you're with your family.

Is it hard to sort of not feel grumpy and not feel down?

How does it work for you after a real loss that hurts so much?

Speaker 7

Well, definitely guts it, but pretty special tomorrow the metrics Young Boys having his first birthday, and he's invited the boys who along, so definitely a good distraction for all of us.

Will go there and just be around the family, be around the kids, and yeah, they're the best distraction at the moment.

And you know, I love going home and trying to leave work at the door and walk.

Then they'll put a smile back on my face.

Speaker 3

Sounds like the perfect distruction.

Speaker 4

There'll be so many, so many kids there, so you can't focus on anything else.

Speaker 3

Thanks for your time, Roj.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Speaker 8

This is going yeah, the Big League Podcast on the Warriors Bad Wagons.

It's day one.

This is the Big League Podcast.

Speaker 2

Right, let's go through this game in a little bit more detail.

First of all, Andrew Webster's overall reflection on the contest.

Speaker 3

We just weren't good enough.

Speaker 6

Yeah, that's what it's most We weren't the way we wanted to be and.

Speaker 3

That's always frustrating.

Speaker 6

But I still think there's lots of effort, but just we didn't execute the rock control well at all.

We were playing really good football, were tackling great, and then Way got a concussion on the ground.

Our third Menimi wasn't back and we just allowed a really simple try, long range try, and then we didn't get back into the armrestlight we normally did.

Speaker 2

But what happened because they started superbly.

They were dominating position and territory, Adam Pompey and Liquahlla Siva punching through little half gaps and scoring tries early on.

Like for me, the ill discipline in the contact when they were on defense and around the ruck.

They can see the consecutive penalties that marched the Titans up the field and into the game.

Speaker 4

It was a real shame because they started like a house on fire.

I think they had seven of the first nine sets completely dominant.

Down the Titans end scored two really good tries and that was the moment they had to consolidate and instead, within three minutes of Hali Simus try, the Titans had scored their first try and I think it was three minutes later they had their second try, which actually the crowd was started to probably the Warriors were a bit surprise too.

That turnaround was a crucial point.

The Eagan injury and the fact they couldn't consolidate that lead.

They just had to build on it or stay with it and getting an arm wrestle and force the Titans to do something instead.

They kind of opened the door for the Titans, didn't they, And then it was back.

Speaker 2

Even the Titans were superb.

They played really well, They had a strong kicking game and crucially they made hardly any errands, so there weren't many free bees for the Warriors to just pounce on.

Speaker 3

I thought.

Speaker 2

In terms of the Warriors performers, Roger toy Vasishek and Charles to the Cooks are I thought were the two standout players from a Warrior's perspective.

Roger with a try in two hundred and seventy six run meters and Chance was a workhorse as per usual.

It was the same for you as anyone else who stood out.

I really like what Roger's doing at the moment.

Aaron Clark had a real go against his old team.

Maybe he was trying too hard, but he had a real go.

Speaker 4

Some of the forwards did well, but the key was the Titans got ahead, got a good lead in the second early in the second half because as their and forum are quite open after the game about their tactics, and they were just there to play mistake free football, just not make so they were quite conservative if you watch what they were doing, conservatives through the set of six.

And then Campbell was kicking so well, we have to mention his kicking.

His kicking absolutely spot on.

So it was a contest almost every time.

A lot of pressure on Chance and Roger sometimes on Dellen, whereas the Warriors, okay, we're losing the ruck.

But also I thought the work from the halves wasn't wasn't where it needs to be.

You know, Tanner Boyd his kicks if you look at them closely, they were quite often just a bit too long, you know, five minutes too long.

So the players taking the ball without pressure.

And then I thought both him and Chanelle Chanelle as well.

But Tanner, he was so good against the Tigers, and we both praised him to the high heavens.

The way he was digging into the line, you know, run right to the line and then pass.

Felt like on Saturday, a lot of it was behind the advantage line.

So it was quite easy for the Titans defenders to line up who they were going to hit because they knew the halfback wasn't going to run and he didn't really run.

Neither did Chanelle, so I don't know why Tanner's changed his game.

I didn't see he was so good in a Tiger's match, but he was holding back.

And you know, as you know you play rugby before.

It makes it so much easier when the halves don't dig into the line.

Speaker 2

Oh yeah, as a defender, because when a half runs straight, but it rugby or league, if a half is confident enough to take the ball to the line before giving the pass, as a defender, you just have to hold back.

Speaker 3

You have to hold your ground in way square up.

Speaker 2

Whereas if you know that they're going to pass before the advantage line, you can shift out.

You can be on the tips of your toes and it gives the defense an opportunity to just flow out to the right or wherever, to where you know the ball is going.

So that's the thing about taking it to the line.

You mentioned Wade Egan obviously at the start, and how that changed the game.

When he went off, Tamida came into hooker and part way through the second half, Tomdi and Shanell Harris Tavita swapped role, so Chanell Harris Devita was playing hooker.

Tmighty moved into five eight.

Why did that happen and did these changes Did that really disrupt things for the Warriors, because I didn't think either of Tom and Chelle play badly at all.

Speaker 3

No, Oh, well, she now he went a right, but he just probably needs to run more.

Speaker 4

If you look at Saya Cameron Munster and how much he runs or takes on the line, and she now can do that.

But it felt like he had that in his back pocket on Saturday.

So again it made the defense.

They were trying all these moves but very lateral, so the defense just slide and they're taken out wide or taken over the sideline.

So I think when they went down to twil women Dllen going off, that was when they did it because they needed cover out wide.

So Tomarty sort of went into a five eight center role and Chanell went to hooker.

Chanell's not bad at hooker as well, and Tomarty did Okay, don't get me wrong, but Egan is so vital I think with a new halfback with Tanner Boyd still new in the team, Egan is the quarterback of the team.

He's the guy that dictates so much that kind of even calls the plays or he sort of sees two or three plays ahead.

Boyd is sort of running the moves, but Egan is vital.

And that's why it was so Without making excuses because the Titans were still great, but that's why it was so.

Speaker 3

It was so damaging.

And then they didn't have a specialist, like if they had Healy on the bench.

Maybe.

Speaker 2

But I did feel for delln when he went off because it looked to me like that tackle he made that was high and play didn't have the ball, it was out of desperation from what I saw, it was so determined not to let another try in that side that he just he flew out and just clob at a guy who didn't have the ball and then got himself sin bin.

So it was sort of like pressure building on top of each other forced him into a mistake and it ends up even worse than if he had just held back.

Speaker 4

And that's the confidence thing.

Confidence thing, And split second two, wasn't it?

You know, one more second then it's a tackle.

They let a few of those go, but that was fair enough, and it's hard when you're down at it was.

He played two hundred and twenty odd games, but when you lost your mojo and you're a winger.

You gotta wait for the player to come to you, different if you're a forward or something.

Yeah, it's well, we can't forget.

People are sure memories what he has done for this club and other clubs.

So you hope he turns it around, of course.

Speaker 2

And I want to take your attention to a moment very late in the game when the Warriors were threatening a comeback Chanelle.

Harris Devida in front of the goalpost in the Titans twenty goes to play the ball, places the ball on the ground.

He's still got one knee on the ground.

He goes to play the ball and the Titans player just shoves him and he loses the ball and it's a penalty against the Warriors.

Now the rule is apparently referee Jered Sutton ruled that because Harris Devita planted the ball on the ground before getting to his feet, it nullified any rock interference by the Titans.

Birch, this is the dumbest rule I've ever heard in my life.

What do you mean if he plants the ball, you can just shove him again, Well, you can tackle twice.

Speaker 3

Now.

Speaker 4

They brought it in because what they wanted to stop stupid What they wanted to stop was players who were sort of you know, still on the ground in such a hurry and they'd kind of plant the ball.

Defenders are still there, and it's a way of getting a penalty, okay, But this one was so obviously the other way in terms of the defender was still all over him.

Nine times out of ten, that's a penalty get penalized so much.

What made it really hurt was it was five six minutes to go, the Warriors eight points down, but they had a lot of momentum under the posts.

Speaker 3

A six again or whatever a penalty.

There's some rules in the league that just.

Speaker 4

It reminded me a bit of two weeks ago, Egan made a break against the Broncos, made a big break fifty meters downfield.

Walsh is all over him, hanging on and then Egan gets penalized for what did he get penalis for?

He get penlows again for I don't know, getting up too quickly or something, and he's got a guy.

Speaker 3

With the ball.

Speaker 4

So there's just some rules you just like it might be written down that way, and something's a great referee, so I was surprised it might be written down that way.

But I think something was trying to be too clever, you know, like far out the guy.

I think it was Reagan Campbell Gillard.

He's all over him.

He smashed him backwards.

How the hell has that had a penalty?

Although Webster, to his credit, didn't didn't make the big thing about it that he answered my question about it, but he said in the same sentence.

Speaker 3

That, mate, the Titans were too good.

So and that's how I felt about it as well.

Speaker 2

That's why I've left it till now for the podcast, because it was not a major issue of the game.

Speaker 3

Now.

Speaker 2

There were two key injury concerns.

One of them we've mentioned obviously.

He was weighed Egan with concussion.

He needs to be careful, man.

I don't know how many concussions he gets a year.

But what would a doctor tell him.

A doctor would tell him quit the sport.

Speaker 4

He hasn't had one for a while, which is good, oh great, But he's had quite a few over his career.

And it happens because well, you got to hit in the wrong place.

But I think it happens because he works so damn hard.

He's making forty to fifty tackles a game, working so hard.

It's kind of the argument is to I don't know if he needs to pay eighty minutes all the time, because he does, it can have him with tightness.

Speaker 3

It's an issue I personally hope he gets.

Speaker 4

I'd like to see Egan get two weeks off, take no chance with this, give him a decent streetch So he did play the bulldoze game as well, because.

Speaker 2

Yeah, he just cannot muck around with that at all.

Coach Andrew Riofster says Egan is doing well.

Speaker 3

He's in really good spirits.

Speaker 6

But as you know, it's it's a week, so yeah, but he's he's in good spirits.

Speaker 2

Considering Dimitric Viie Maln that had a knee injury, he sort of looked like he limped off.

Speaker 3

Is he okay?

Not sure?

Speaker 4

Yeah, we didn't get to ask about that, and I don't think it was too serious.

I saw him walking through the through the gym outside of the sheds afterwards, didn't seem to be noticing limping.

And of course, as Roger mentioned, he had his son's first birthday on the on the Sunday, which I think the players were going to so it would have been a lot of jumping around on that.

But hopefully he's okay, because he was he was good again.

Speaker 2

Now.

The Warriors host the Dolphins at Mount Smart on Friday.

The Dolphins, it might surprise you, their eighth on the NRL Ladder with nine wins and nine losses.

They just kind of snuck up there.

They're coming off the buye but before that put forty three points on the Cowboys.

This is a team Birge that scores a lot of points, but they also concede a lot of points.

Speaker 3

Do you want to know something scary?

Go on, hit me with it.

Speaker 4

Well, they are the They are the Titans, but better right, So they're just they're just like the Titans.

They've got pace invention, They've got a lot of pace out wide.

They like to like to throw it around, try things, but they're a better around team.

Speaker 3

There you go.

Speaker 2

They've got threats everywhere and me so tab youu I for Doe at fullback?

Who the The Aussie commentators have cleverly nicknamed the Hammer so that they don't have.

Speaker 3

To pronounce it his name.

Speaker 2

Yeah, it's it's incredibly difficult.

It's like Marky Mark for Mark na Wangan.

That's the most blatant one that there is pretty hard.

Speaker 4

The way that rolls off your tongue is pretty good.

I mean, yeah, that's pretty Markie Mark.

Speaker 2

But if it's your job, well I know that name because he played for the Warritars and I was a super rugby commentator and I learned how to say the name like that.

That's kind of your job.

But anyway, I digress.

Jermaine I Sakle on the wing.

Isaac Atoya the skipper at halfback.

He's twenty one years old.

Bird he's and he's on there.

He's born in Wellington, but he plays for Tonga, presumably because he wants to play Origin.

How impressive is this kid?

He's great, Like I've been so impressed.

Speaker 4

But even more importantly, guys, you know way more than me about half back play.

Andrew John's Sean Johnson.

I heard Sean Johnson and his new show on Sky the League Lounge raving about him.

Andrew John's the same.

So he seems to be really going places.

So it's another big it's another big challenge.

The Dolphins, as you said, they put on a lot of points.

They can score a lot of points.

The Warriors aren't really that kind of team.

Warriors have to have to get ahead and stay ahead.

It's not the kind of game where they're going to be, you know, be able to come back from a deficit.

Speaker 2

The Dolphins are dealing with a lot of injuries.

They have plenty of players out, including Cody Nickerma, but this week they should get back for Lsi Kalfusi and a Mark Nichols.

Berge.

Speaker 3

You mentioned they're the Titans, but better.

Speaker 2

What are the Warriors have to do to shut down the Titans, especially when they've got so much pace in the outside backs.

Before we get into what the Warriors team should look like.

Speaker 4

I mean, they've got to win the middle.

They've got to win the ruck, which they probably haven't done the last two weeks.

If you look at the Knights game closely, if you look at the Titans, the Titans forwards are really good.

Speaker 7

Man.

Speaker 4

They've got a good pack.

They're big as well.

Everyone talks this cliche about the Warriors pack.

The Warriors pack, it's one of my most frustrating cliches out there.

It's not actually that big, especially at the moment with no Barnett.

You know, Aaron Clark is not that big.

Amazing players not that big.

They've got Jackson Ford at prop Tanners.

Thew smith is not big, he's a solid unit.

So they've got to win the ruck.

They've got to kick a bit better and they've got to find a way to stop the ball getting out wide.

Stop the off loads.

The Titans are the Dolphins sorry, quite good with their offloading game as well.

Speaker 2

Now, in terms of how Andrew Webster should select this Warriors side, he's loyal, which is a great quality to have, and a coach, so ordinarily I wouldn't expect any changes to the Warriors lineup except for Sam Healey coming in a hooker for Wade Egan.

But surely surely Tanned to Opeaky comes in for Watten is a Lesniak on the wing.

Webster was asked after the game whether Tanned to Opeaky could be an option moving forward.

Speaker 6

Tain's an option every week, mate, Like he's a good player.

But I'm certainly not going to be starting pick teams half an hour an hour after the game's finished.

Like I said, I've got complete confidence in everyone.

Speaker 2

What should they do?

Speaker 3

Berg, Yeah, good question.

Speaker 4

As we said earlier, they've only got one and a half training sessions, not much time to see things.

I think they'll look at the weather forecast first, because if it's going to be a rainy, shitty, horrible night, the temptation is still to have the bigger body in Dallan because the one time when Tane can get exposed, if it's a muddy night, you can't throw around that much, and he is the smaller body.

They kick to him, they push him back, so they look at the weather.

But I agree with you, I think Tane's got to be in the seventeen.

He's too talented.

It's not just about what Dallan's doing, but it's about the fact that Tane makes things happen.

He's the kind of guy in the red zone you can slip through.

He can make breaks.

The Warriors lack a bit of pace at the moment.

But what about Tane at fullback?

Where do you play charts center?

This is your nuclear option, okay, so go through it, go through it.

Well, actually, no, the nuclear option, which is really blow everything up, is Tane on the wing.

Chance at center.

Kate well back to second row and guess he's at fullback.

Roger, No, not Roger, to Mighty Dallan.

Speaker 3

Dallan.

There you go, there you go.

That's the way to get his comp but it's back.

Speaker 4

Put him at fullback, a new position he's played a lot there before, something different.

It's crazy and he probably doesn't have the fitness base to do it, but it's just an idea because he has.

He was a really good fullback for the Keys.

When you're at fullback, all you got to do is run hard.

Doesn't have to make those decisions around the line.

Could he be fullback, chance center?

It sorts out the right edge, I don't know, but a more realistic one that's a bit crazy.

I know Nathan's like, look, Nathan's about this sort of my.

Speaker 2

Hands in my head.

I don't know if giving someone who's down on confidence a completely new position and role then he's done the whole season is a good shout.

Speaker 3

Well, yeah, it could be crazy.

It might be crazy.

Speaker 4

It might be the thing that you come up with after twelve line reds or vodka cruzes, that you'd have at your.

Speaker 2

Flat drink vodka cruz.

Speaker 4

But what you do when you're on a date or something, Come on, be honest here, I don't be I don't know.

Speaker 3

You don't what a load.

Speaker 4

Of rubber you're there to impress the girl.

Speaker 3

Is not going to impress a girl.

I always trust me on that.

I always have been a glary.

Yes, that'd be great.

Oh G and T.

Yeah, okay, stand by that anyway.

Yeah, it's just sometimes it can be a spark new position, completely different.

Speaker 4

You know, some of the prove it's not.

It's not the craziest idea of come up with, but it's close to it.

But the serious one, the one that might be more realistic, which I quite like, will be taining it.

Fall back Chance at right center.

He's played only one er our game there, but he has played a Service Cup there and he's played six tests.

So Chance at right center keep Dollan.

But then you get cape Well back to the second row, you get Lequer back on the bench.

Or I think he's good as an impact player.

That's what I would think about doing.

But Webster, as you say, is a loyal guy.

And also I think about tom Alee.

I think about tom Alee coming in.

He hasn't played all year, but I really like his size, Tom Harley coming in for Tanner, Tanna Stowers Smith's be another option.

And then since since we're making changes, what about Tomato at halfback?

Speaker 2

Yeah, you're winding back the clock here, urge, because I just they either pick and stick with Tanner Boyd or they say, look they've picked him.

They stick with Tannemund, tell him to run to the line like he was against the Titans.

They're not changing it up again.

No, they probably aren't.

Vodka cruzes.

Give me a break, so I said, they said, long Whites, Oh yeah, I do, Long Whites.

Speaker 8

The Big League Podcast for the biggest league fans.

The Big League Podcast on the Warriors Bad Wagons since day one.

Speaker 2

Now, just before we get into quick fire predictions, we do want to mention the NRLW the Warriors women who went down twenty to ten against the Titans at Mount Smart on the weekends.

Obviously a bunch of new players coming over from rugby union.

The likes and sevens likes of Patricia and the Harves has been my personal highlight because it's such a different role to what she was doing in union, and she's been really impressed.

She's been better than Emily Curtain in my opinion.

So I've been impressed with their start.

They beat the Eels fourteen nil a couple of weeks ago.

Would have you made it them.

Speaker 4

Bug good good, not bad?

There was always going to be growing pains, a big learning curve.

They've got so many players that haven't played NROW, either because they're from rugby or just because they haven't had an ny ID team for a long time.

So a lot to put together, a lot to learn.

Eel's game was really promising.

The two away games Roosters, they got beaten by a team that's probably going to win the whole thing, and then the Knights was a good close game.

Last week felt like Saturday was quite disappointing though Titans played well, but they're not They're not going to be a big contender.

I think the Warriors be really disappointed with their defense.

Defensively, all four tries that led in were quite poor actually, so the team is a real shame.

On a nice sunny day, a decent crowd, the team didn't hit their straps.

But there's a good base there and they're developing, developing quite nicely.

All right, quick fire predictions Eels versus the Storm to start us off, and the Eels beat the Broncos on the weekend.

Speaker 3

B What is this competition?

Yeah?

Speaker 4

Can they Can they do the Warriors another favor?

Probably not, but you never know.

This is this is a stadium.

The Storm without Jerome Hughes, they are a different team.

So I'm still going to stick to stick with Melbourne, but it'll be close.

Speaker 3

Warriors versus the Dolphins.

Burge, how do you see this one place?

Speaker 4

Hoping we would talk about this one last, Nathan, because you know there's I want another five minutes to think about it, to be honest, there's too much to consider here.

It depends on the team he picks.

Well, I'll just say like this, mate, they have to win.

Speaker 3

They have to win.

Speaker 4

If they don't win, it could get quite ugly because if they don't beat the Titans the Dolphins, they're not going to get close to the Bulldogs the following week in Sydney, and then then there would have lost three in a row and then they're going to come back and face the Dragon too, quite a good team.

So I don't want to start thinking about that scenario.

But the Warriors have got a good game in them.

They've got to hit their straps.

They are down on confidence.

I think as a team.

Let's hope it happens this Friday night and the Warriors to win a close one.

Let's get it done.

Broncos versus the Bunnies.

Man, the Bunnies were brave against the Sharks, were they?

I really thought they were gonna beat Crinello, which would have also been good for the Warriors.

But the Broncos will bounce back, they have to, and they'll be too good for the Rabbit has you've got no one left.

Speaker 2

Titans versus the Panthers.

Speaker 4

I think the Titans are well, they revert back to being the Titans.

Speaker 2

No, they'll be useless next week.

No, let's be respectful.

This could be close.

Speaker 4

I think the Titans would have got a lot of a lot out of that game in Auckland.

Speaker 3

All their sponsors were over.

Speaker 4

I saw them all walking into the justtioning room, that just you know, twenty of them.

Big night in the Turps the night before another big not coming.

It just made you made you feel even worse, it really did.

It was like it's their Grand Final and they've done it.

Panthers, though, Panthers are I really like what the Pants doing.

So they'll beat the Tits just three points away from the Warriors there in fifth.

Now the Panthers here they come.

Dragons versus the Raiders.

I guess if the Raiders are going to lose a game in the running because they're flying.

This could be the one the Dragons good team, good team at home.

But the Raiders are just so full of confidence.

I love the way they're playing, and they'll win this one as well.

Speaker 2

I'm going to go to the Dragons.

Said cause a little upset.

Seagles versus the Roosters.

What the hell happened to the Seagules on the weekend?

They got absolutely mowed down.

And there's second half.

I mean it's twelve four at half time.

Bird, there's twelve four at half time.

In the final score was forty two four.

Speaker 4

Six tries in the second half.

Yeah, this is a week after mainly beat the storm.

You know, how do you how can you get a read on this competition?

How can you make expert tips?

How can you do what we're trying to do?

Speaker 2

Well?

Speaker 3

You can't.

Speaker 4

That's why we're both doing so badly.

Seagules rooster Seagules at home.

Speaker 3

Roosters.

Oh, I don't know.

Speaker 4

Do the Seagulls bounce back from that?

Or do you go the Roosters?

I go the Roosters.

I agree with you stuff Tiger's Bulldogs as much as I would love the Tigers Belmaine to beat the Bulldogs.

I can't see it.

The Bulldogs are back, aren't they?

Speaker 2

And Sharks Cowboys to finish in Coronella.

Speaker 4

Yeah, the Sharks are another team that are circling, aren't they circling the Warriors.

They're on twenty six points, the Warriors are on thirty.

But the war the Sharks have a bye still to come, so that puts them up to twenty eight.

Does that make you nervous?

With pen to twenty seven?

Speaker 3

Much?

We need to win.

They need to win, need to win just to keep that.

Speaker 4

There's still too long to go before that finals to have this slipping In the Melbourne cuping he would lead of only two lengths with four hundred meters to go.

Speaker 3

It's like gets you, get you nervous?

So Sharks Sharks to win that one.

That'll do us for this week?

What an episode.

Speaker 2

I feel exhausted, Verge after all that trauma, A couple of Voca Cruz absolutely the other date just have absolutely not.

Please follow and rate the podcast.

Speaker 3

My name is Nathan.

Speaker 2

Thank you Michael Burgess for your time and your wisdom and your insight.

We'll be back next Monthing to digest, what is hopefully please a win over the Dolphins at and how Smart have a fantastic week.

Speaker 1

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