#48 - Origin u19s preview w/ Rugby League Guru

A proper preview of the U19s state of origin next Thursday at North Sydney oval 

IG - Theshortball_

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back to the Rugby League Guru Podcast. We have got our CBA bowl, the under 19s origin special day. Obviously, kicking off next Thursday at North Sydney. I will really looking forward to it. Tickets they start from $10, cheap as cheap. You can come out there, fill the hill. It's going to be sensational. If you're working in the city nearby, whatever, come by after. Hopefully, it'll be the night after the New South Wales Blues wrap up the Origin series. But I am nervous as shit about that, so I might be a pretty depressed little figure up there on the hill. But it's going to be sensational. I'm sure we'll talk about it throughout the show today. But, you know, some of the stars like your Rob Toys, your Casey McLean's, your JoJo's Fafitas, guys that have come through this over the last four or five years, now, you know, not only featuring in Origin, but starring in State of Origin. It really is where you get to see uh the next generation of superstars. And hot tip, there's a couple coming your way today. There are a heap. Now, for years I've sort of had my whole CBA stuff and all that. I've always really enjoyed it. It's been great whilst my younger brother's been in that age group. Uh, but I'll tell you what, there is without a doubt a new king of junior footy taking it to a new level over the last few years, Jacob from the short ball. How are you, mate?

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Good, mate. Pleasure to be here once again. Uh, thanks for the big rap once again as well. I'll never get used to hearing the um OG King of CBA's hand the title over. But um, yeah, keen to rip into it again today.

SPEAKER_00 1:17

Now, for those of you at home that you know it might be your first time tuning into this game, or you might, you know, you might have, you know, a young brother, cousin, something that's coming through the grades and whatnot, make sure you go and follow the short ball. Honestly, like, it actually blows me away how much junior rugby league you manage to watch, mate. It is super fucking impressive, and I think it gives a junior grade like a platform for everyone to be involved. And I love the commentary you see in your comments from people who, you know, for those three or four years that your son, brother, cousin is in that grade, it is your fucking world, and you love it. I love that finally people have got an actual platform to enjoy that and discuss. And I, you know, I feel sorry for you every week when you put out team of the week or daily endpoints, and it's it's so hard to do. But for the first time, in my opinion, in the history of junior footy, we actually have someone that is watching each and every game. You might not get every single one of them right, gives a fuck, shit happens. But you're watching every single game, you're giving junior football the platform it actually deserves. And mate, obviously, you know, we've we've been mates for a few years, but just watching it every year gets bigger and bigger. And I think, you know, I I feel like for me, this is the most exciting game of the year. For you, this is Christmas Day. This is fucking unreal.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Yeah, I always say this is my um grand final in terms of content making, Super Bowl stuff. Yeah, yeah, it is. Oh, it's been good to see over the last couple of years as well. Like when I started covering this, like I started as a page, I was just covering the sports that I was watching. I I had every sort of little thing going on. I was doing interviews with people here, there, and everywhere. And then, you know, my mate started to come through this grade, focusing on this. And you know, when I first started focusing in on this, it was on Facebook streams and stuff like that. And there was one game a week. It was a tough old carry. Most of the games that I'd cover would be games I'd go to in person. It's good to see now, like you got um Bar TV there that you, you know, you can watch every single game of SG Born New South Wales Cup, Jersey Flake, everything's there. It's it's a lot more available now. You got New South Wales doing live streams now to announce their under 19s team. Like last year we came into this and we didn't even have a team list ready on that. Like we had to sort of do it based on my predictions. Like it was which are pretty accurate, to be fair, by the way. Yeah, well, you know, I'd be wasting my time if they weren't.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Exactly right. Uh, but yeah, I think this event itself, you've obviously got the women's game on first. We're gonna focus on the men's players here today. But you know, you have a look at the women's game over the years. I can't remember a few years ago, you know, watching Jamie Chapman playing. I think that was the first women's CBA bowl, the first under-19s a few years ago. Jamie Chapman at fullback. I know over the last few years, the Casey Rays, the indie Bostox of the world have, you know, absolutely would see more and more of these girls during the season and whatnot. But standing out there on the hill over the last few years watching them just going, wow, we're obviously at Lycard Oval two years ago, we're up on the Sunshine Coast last year. Fantastic events. North Sydney Oval, though. I especially with the Bears coming back, so much history there. I haven't been to watch a game at North Sydney Oval in a couple of years. I'm and I haven't been to a night game at North Sydney Oval as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:09

I'm excited as fuck for this.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

Oh, yeah, very keen. Um, I actually haven't been to North Sydney Oval at all for footy. I know I've been there, you know, for other sporting events and whatnot, but not for footy before. So I'll be keen um to get out there and experience it.

SPEAKER_00 4:23

Yes, the last time I was at North Sydney Oval was for a my one of my best mates, an East Rugby versus Ramwick grand final of the uh like cults or some shit, but it is just unreal out there. I'll be over there on the hill. You'll be out there, it's gonna be sensational. So make sure you come out. As I said, $10 tickets. It doesn't really get better than that. Uh, mate, let's get into the teams. Uh obviously we had the Queens End side name the other day. We'll get to that in a moment. We are a proud New South Welshman, so we'll get stuck in there first. The New South Wales teams. Uh, what's your overall thoughts, mate?

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Um, yeah, it's a solid lineup um this year, uh, as it usually is. Um, very defence-oriented, I think. I think they've picked a lot of guys who um, you know, aren't setting records in terms of line breaks and and try assists and all that sort of thing, but you know, guys that um, you know, are going to do a job there and be able to mark up, especially in the outside backs as well. I've sort of I've sort of mostly noted that. Um, yeah, even through the middle and that, you know, a guy like uh a Ryder Talungy, he had no try involvements, no line break involvements, nothing throughout the season in SG ball, but defensively he's a really, really solid defender through the middle there. So, you know, selections like that, um, that you you you know what their idea is and and what where they're going with it.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

Yes. Um okay, well, let's talk about some of the you know the the big picks that have come out, maybe some of the surprise selections for the New South Wales Blues. What sort of stood out to you?

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Um, yeah, well, the the surprise selections I've got written down here, you know, mostly the the guys that I've noticed in my comment section and people messaging me like, you know, a bit surprised that they're there and that sort of thing.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

Which is the reality of every single thing. In the existence of rugby league or sport in general. Yep.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

There's always going to be questionable selections. Um, but in this team, you know, a guy, first off noted, I think he's gonna start centre for them, Marcelo Copo. From the Bulldogs, obviously, Josh Jackson ties in with the Bulldogs and all those sorts of things. Um, so he'd know a lot more about his game, be able to break down his game a lot more than any of us couch pundits could ever do. Um, uh, you know, a big physical body, solid defender. I think he could nearly play in the back row. I noticed him he was a former Penrith Jr., which there is six of them in this side as well, former Penrith juniors that they've let go. Yeah. So um, yeah, he he's a you know, he's a solid pick. I'm not gonna sit here and um you know bag him out or anything like that. Um, you know, he probably didn't have the greatest SG ball year. Um, statistically, you know, he was operating about an error a game. He didn't really have too many try involvements, but what I do know is that defensively he's gonna hold his own there.

SPEAKER_00 6:58

Yeah, um and I think like to your point, I've seen you know those comments on your post as well. And you know, I think it's very easy to say, oh well Josh Jackson just picking the sake of, but maybe Josh Jackson's seen something in him. Yes, exactly. As you said, he's he's a lot more than us, he knows a lot more than us. Let's let's just see how it plays out.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

And he's a guy as well, Marcelo Cia Coppol. When he was at the Panthers, I remember watching him and Howard Matthews, I was really impressed with him, his game, like he especially his carries as well. Like he's got very, very strong yardage carries, he didn't get to show that off as much um this year, I thought. Um, but yeah, he's a guy that I've been super impressed with before. Howard Matthews, he had a lot of time off with injury last year as well, so maybe out of the public eye a little bit in terms of um you know the the fans that uh not as tuned in year to year and all that sort of thing. So um, yeah, I um I don't hate the selection. Um, would I have picked another guy there maybe? Um, but obviously Josh Jackson knows his game inside and out and he trusts him to do a job there, and I know what he can bring to the table if he if he plays a good game there. So pretty happy with him. Um another one, a Penrith uh Junior Talmage Brown, um, another guy who was in that same Harold Matthews side with uh Marcy, you know, two years ago. Yep. Um he was another player I've been super impressed with um, you know, over the last couple of years. He's been a city under 18s, rep and all that sort of thing. So not really all that surprising if you've paid attention over the last couple of years to him in particular this year, a little bit of a down year in SG ball by his standards. Um, but apart from that, like he's a very solid player as well. There's a guy that missed from the Roosters, though, and I'll talk about him in a second, who probably could have gotten his spot over him and probably deserved to get the right.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Well, what is his spot? Where did you see him actually like in the starting side? Is he on the bench?

SPEAKER_01 8:42

Is he sort of just in the squad? I believe he's in the extended squad based on what I've been shown. So you know, I'm there's nothing wrong with that selection. I just thought that um, and I'll talk about it in a second. We've got some notable admissions here. Um, I think the biggest one with a was a roosters forward um that we'll touch on in a second.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Yeah, okay. Anyone else before we do get to those notable omissions from the surprise selections for the blues?

SPEAKER_01 9:05

So I'll just rattle off um sort of the rest of these guys. Queensland's a pretty well-picked side, and there's not a lot of debate over a lot of those selections. There is a couple of guys that are messaged me and going, Oh, how'd this guy not make it or how'd this guy not make it? But not too much debate against the guys that actually made the squad. Um, but Joe Brock from New South Wales, again, I think he's going to be in the extended squad unless, um, and we'll talk about in a second, unless Rex isn't able to play, then he'll come in and slot onto the wing. Um, but he played FG Pack Champs last year, so I don't think there's an issue with that selection for Queensland. Bishop Neal was the big surprise packet selection.

SPEAKER_00 9:41

I was shaking in my boots when I saw this, and then I actually saw someone in your comments say which Bishop Neal, and I thought, God, I hope there's another one because I hope the one that I've seen isn't a Queenslander.

SPEAKER_01 9:51

This scares me. Yeah, so eligibility. I've done some digging, sent some a few messages out and tried to confirm with a couple of people as well. Christchurch born. Um, and when you search it up, and you know, I I had a couple of mates as well who tried to dig into it. I think New South Wales fans going into denial and trying to um, you know, there was a lot of there was a lot of um that's in Queensland, Dennis Carnahan's getting around. Um, but yeah, so when you search up his name and search up his background, it says born in Christchurch, played all his junior footy in Christchurch, all that sort of thing. Incorrect. He did move over to Queensland, played his junior footy at the Khmer Cutters and a couple of sides around South Brisbane as well. Um, so yeah, he he actually played a large majority of his early footy days um in Queensland, which makes him eligible obviously for the side.

SPEAKER_00 10:37

Now, if you've watched Bishop Neal at all over there at the Warriors, uh, is obviously coming to the New South Wales Cup scene this year. I remember when you messaged me and said, Oh, Bishop Neal's playing, I thought, ah, he'll play 15 minutes off the bench, that'll be cool to see. I think he started that first week and went the distance, didn't you?

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Yeah, yeah, started and went the distance, and I think he only had one missed tackle in that game, too. Which I actually, so when I messaged you about him, I remember you mentioned it on bloke on the Monday as well after that game, um, that you got messaged about a guy that could be the next like.

SPEAKER_00 11:02

Yeah, I think I think I fucked up his age or something, didn't I?

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Yeah, I think you I think you did. I think you put him as a little bit older. Um, I think he had him as like 18 or 19 or whatever, but he he was 17 when he debuted. So I I remember getting the message that he was going to debut earlier that day, and I thought, oh yeah, he'll be off the bench as well. And then he gets named to start, and then he goes a journey. And I'll when I message you about him, I go, look, attacking freak. I think he's got a couple of things to work on with his um defensive side of the ball and and all that sort of thing, which I'll go into a little bit more detail later on. But um, yeah, then he came out in that first New South Wales Cup game, killed at only one missed tackle, about 30 makes or something like that, and you know, was really good there. And then he in his second career New South Wales Cup start, he scored two tries, including the match winner.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

So you know I think sometimes with like New South Wales Cup, I think people you know that aren't watching that general should go, oh yeah, reserve grade, like sure. But it's like the gap between reserve grade and park football is so much bigger than reserve grade to first grade, realistically.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

It's the gap the gap between Jersey Fleg and New South Wales Cup is double whatever New South Wales Cup to like it's yeah, it's it's huge. It's a huge difference.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

Yeah, even just from watching Josh sort of go between those like yeah, you get like even now that Josh is starting to play some cup, I I was putting together some of these highlights the other day, and even just when it the highlights went from cup to flag, it's men to boys. Yeah, it is such a difference. So for him to come in there, and I once again I don't think people appreciate for a 17-year-old to be doing that, I mean, even when I fucked it up for a 19-year-old to be doing it is impressive. 17-year-old is out of this world. You know what else I love? And we spoke about it pre-show very briefly. I you were telling me about where he's from and everything. I said, Oh, is he more like is he a guy that you could just message him and ask where he's from? And you said he doesn't have social media, yeah. Makes me love him even more. Yeah, I fought that.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

Um, yeah, so he's an age up in this contest as well, so he could play this next year, but he won't because you'd probably be playing first grade. Um and then the next couple of guys as well, uh, Raiders guy show of Cologne. Not a big surprise if you tapped into the SG Ball and New South Wales Cup um games, but I did get a couple of messages about him, most from Queenslanders sort of asking what his background was. Um, you know, he's killed at an SG ball. He was a guy that I was really impressed with. I had him missing my squad initially, but then I did a podcast last week after his New South Wales Cup debut and said, well, he has to be in on the back of that. Yes. Um, where he came off the bench and ran for 175 metres from 16 runs and he just had his cup debut and he like visually killed it. Yes. Um he had one error late. I think he got a little bit tired late later in the game, missed a tackle, and had an error back to back, but you know, that was off the back of a 45-minute stint where he was super busy the whole time. So you can forgive that. Um coming back to his own age group now. I think he's going to be a really um good bench impact player for them. Um, and then the last one, Jet Ryan. He is the most Queensland pick of Queensland picks I've ever seen in my life. Like a guy who, you know, not setting the world on fire, not, you know, some super skilled guy, just a just a battler through the middle, gets through a shitload of defensive work, puts his head in all the you know, places you wouldn't put your foot, um, all that sort of stuff. He's a guy that I was I actually made a couple of posts about him during the SG ball season just saying how much I love watching him play because he's the type of player that you you'd love to play next to. Yeah. Um, and you know, there's a couple of those guys who won't necessarily catch the attention of the average footy fan or or some of that. But um, yeah, he he's I believe he's gonna be in Jersey 17 for this game. Um, I'm very keen to see how he goes at this level because he's just such a Queensland pick for mine.

SPEAKER_00 14:30

Yeah, whenever you describe guys like that that are just true Queenslanders, I I feel like I'm gonna hate Jed for the foreseeable future.

SPEAKER_01 14:36

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you might do. Um, but yeah, he's he's also a Storm uh player, so Storm and Queensland player.

SPEAKER_00 14:43

So um, all right, let's, you know, obviously the guys that have made it an incredible effort, unreal to see. Uh, let's talk about some of the guys that, you know, you could argue a little bit stiff, a little bit unlucky not to be there. Um, from the New South Wales, I was actually, do you want to start Queensland or New South Wales? What are you feeling?

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Oh, happy with either.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

Let's go New South Wales because one guy I wanted to ask you about. Uh Taj uh Alvarez, who was obviously playing for South Sydney. Uh, I've watched him a couple times this year. Looks like a fucking good footballer to me. I was very surprised to see him miss and this side altogether.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

Yeah, so him and um him and on a Tony Large were the two best 5'8's in this competition by a country mile. Yeah. Um I thought it was I made a post, you know, straight after SG Ball. I go, who would you pick out of these two? Put up all their stats and all that. Statistically, Taji Alvarez had a better season than Onatoni Large. He had um 12 tries in six games as a 5'8. Wow. Um, you know, a whole heap of line break involvements. He had a he had a really, really good year. Taji Alvarez, good runner of the footy, um, you know, great support player, defensively, very solid as well. He's a bigger body as well. So I I had him as my 18th man when I was doing my predicted squad list. I thought he was a bit stiff to miss. He was um he's got some sort of issue. Uh I've been told mostly precautionary. Um, I think it's an ankle issue or something like that. Been told mostly precautionary, but if he is out for you know the next couple of weeks, and obviously that's the reason he hasn't made the squad. But from what I've been told, he was fit to play, so he's just been um, he's just missed his side.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

Um one to note for you, South Sydney fans, though he might not be here.

SPEAKER_01 16:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Star of the future.

SPEAKER_01 16:18

Oh, yeah, very, very, very good player. Um, yeah, he's a guy that you know the the South Sydney halves channel at the moment is incredibly stacked. You might not realize it yet if you're not tuning into the junior grades, but they have got so many guys coming through the grades. They just re-signed Charlie Bade up, who's um he, I think they were signing him for three years, and the end of that's going to be a dev uh deal. Um, they've got a guy called Peyton Tartaro as well. He was the Howard Matthews Player of the Year. He was Charlie Baetop's halves partner that in in that grade. Um, then they've obviously got the guys that you know of, you know, your Ashton Wards, Jonah Glovers, and all those sorts of guys in the top grade as well. So they've got a lot of Maddie Humphreys as well, Taj Alvarez. They've got a lot of halves coming through the grades to um replace Cody Walker with. So they've done a good job at stacking their pathways with guys that could potentially fill that role. And Taj Alvarez is probably the front runner to replace Cody Walker once he retires.

SPEAKER_00 17:09

So uh talk to him about the big bit of gear, Seve.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

Uh yeah, Tula Seve. I thought he was the biggest omission from this side. Um he was with the Sydney Roosters this year. He's won back-to-back SG ball comps, been one of the premier front rollers in the competition over the last two years as well. I thought he was stiff not to get at least a bench spot. I had him on my bench when I was making the sides. I think um he's a very good impact player. Um, I think he could have been used very well there. And obviously, you know, Ryder Tlung and Christian Tarpal Moors, I thought were pretty much shoe-ins to start, considering they were the City 18s um starting pair last year as well. And Atula was in that city 18 side off the bench and had a really good game there as well. I'm pretty sure he was man of the match or he was one of the best players on the field that day. I remember watching him and going, um, he was definitely in the top two or three. Um, but yeah, he was um he he was very stiff to miss his side, I thought. And you know, when I speak about um Tarmage Brown, no shade to him or anything like that, but you know, compare his year to what a Tula Seve has achieved over the last couple of years, and I thought he's probably a little bit stiff there. And even like, you know, I'd have a Tula Seve over some of the other forwards on the bench, albeit how good they are. Yes. Um, and you know, I'm about to wrap them deluxe in this podcast when we get to them. But like that's just how highly I I rate a Seve and you know where I thought he was going to be in this lineup.

SPEAKER_00 18:25

Yeah, and I think it's a really good point to make as well that with these teams, like two things can be true. One guy can deserve a selection and be fucking fantastic, and one guy can be very unlucky. Yeah, two things can be true here. Yes, exactly. Um, another South Sydney Jr., Cody Hill.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Yeah, I thought he was the best hooker in uh SG ball. I thought there was sort of always a battle and always talks um of you know Hagen versus Hill for the number nine jersey. Um, and you know, I said the nine jersey would be one of those two, and Ashton Large will be the 14. Um, I just think it works that way. I think both Cody Hill and Diesel Hagen are very strong defensive nines who can get through, you know, big chunks of work, and they're not really guys that are going to be impact off the bench. Um, and Ashton Large is, he's a very good ball runner. So I I that's how I sort of saw it going out. Um, Cody Hill had a better SG ball season than Diesel Hagen. I will stand on that. Um, but you know, Diesel Hagen's come out and played New South Wales Cup, so obviously that influences the decision a little bit that he's been playing a higher level. But Cody Hill's been killing it in Jersey Fleg as well. So I thought he's a guy that I know South's fans feel very strongly that he was robbed of a selection. Um, you know, I can understand why they've gone Diesel Hagen over him, but you know, he he's another guy who could have maybe been in the extended squad just for that experience or whatever, or you know, a guy that you know, some people have said you go Hagen and Hill because they have been the two best dummy halves in the age group, and you know, Ashton Large is an age up, you don't necessarily have to have him in that side. Yes. Um, you know, some people have have said that you could go Hagen and Hill, but um yeah, for mine, I I thought he was the better hooker through the SG ball season, but obviously since the SG ball season, Diesel Hagen's played higher grade, so that's probably influenced the decision a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 20:01

Uh I don't know whether it matters or not, but probably hard to leave a guy named Diesel out of a rugby league team, too, just quietly. We need more of it, I think. We've got a heaps of Codies.

SPEAKER_01 20:08

Yeah, yeah, plenty of Codies and, you know, probably plenty of Hills going around as well if you go through the um the passage of time, but yeah, not many Diesel Hagans going around.

SPEAKER_00 20:17

Who else you got from New South Wales you thought was a bit unlucky?

SPEAKER_01 20:19

Um yeah, Cameron Bamblett's the last one. I, you know, I've put him in there because the large majority of people feel that he was unlucky. Yeah, I didn't personally have him in my side. I'm an Eels fan, watch all these Eels games, and I want Eels Juniors to be really good and make these sides. I personally didn't have him there. The big debate was him versus Rex Bath and Swaite. I think Rex is a better footballer. Um, but yeah, he I actually heard, I don't know how true this is. Fuck yes, talking about he was picked as the 18th man, and then they actually reniged on that and didn't didn't select him. That's what a lot of people are saying um that he was meant to be in the side and then got withdrawn from it. So bit stiff um if that is the case, but I think you know, a lot of people believe he was stiff. He's a very highly capable football. He was the Australian schoolboys fullback last year as well. Um, but yeah, there's a a lot of noise around that selection. Um, I personally, I like I said, I didn't have him in my squad, um, but I can obviously see the reasons why a lot of people are blowing up about it.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

I guess on that note as well, whilst we're here, uh Rex has obviously been picked at fullback. Yeah, you got Dane that's been picked on the wing from the South Sydney Rabbit O's. Um do you want to explain this situation? You might be better off here.

SPEAKER_01 21:29

Yeah, so my understanding of it, and I got told this two years ago when there was a situation with um Jesse McLean and I believe it was La Tufainu or Blaze Telangia, one of those two that year, um, when New South Wales won at Lycard on the buzzer. Um, Jesse McLean was NRL experience, and La Tufainu and Blaise Telungia both debuted at that point. So they could only pick one of them, is what I got told. Um so they picked Jesse McLean. I think La Tufainu had um NRL duties that um year anyway. But um, so my understanding of the rule is that you Can only have one NRL experienced player in your under-19s lineup. So if both Rex and Dane Jennings debut this weekend, it means that one of them will probably have to miss a side.

SPEAKER_00 22:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

Um, and you know, I've been told that Rex, uh, if you know, with a debut this weekend could be the one to miss a side.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

Okay. Um, you know, by the time you guys are listening to this, Dane may have debuted last night. Yeah, he's obviously been named on the six-man bench.

SPEAKER_01 22:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:22

Fingers crossed he does. Uh, but if only one of them debuts, your understanding is that both will be able to play.

SPEAKER_01 22:27

Yeah, that's yeah, that's my understanding of this. So, like Queensland have one player who's played NRL as well before, who's Brian. I like that rule, by the way. I think it's I think it makes sense. Yeah, I I do like the rule as well. Because I remember being told that when there was a lot of um lot of questions around why La Tufain or Blaise Lungy wasn't in the side. I can't remember which one specifically it was, but yeah, they m didn't make the side, and I think it was because of that rule.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

Yes. Anyway, um is your so if Rex debuts this weekend, I assume that means he hasn't been with the under 19s all week. Do you still believe he'll play?

SPEAKER_01 22:58

Um, I think so. I got told that he can join them on camp from because his game's Friday night, isn't it? Rooster's Dolly, yeah. That's Friday night. So he can join the camp over the weekend, um, and then he'll have a couple of sessions with them. And because they play on Thursday, he will get a couple of um will get a couple of sessions in with them.

SPEAKER_02 23:16

Yeah, okay, cool.

SPEAKER_01 23:17

Um, so yeah, I I I've been told um that Rex it can play um if he debuts, but I've also been told by other people that um there could be a situation where he doesn't play because of it. So it's it's just a it's a watch and see. Um and if it is, you know, if Rex isn't able to play, Camera Bamblet is the next up fullback. Like he's he is the next best fullback. He would come in, but he hasn't been selected in the squad, so they'll I think they'll go Archie Meserch to fullback and Joe Brock to wing.

SPEAKER_00 23:46

Um is Rex can he play this game next year as well or not? Or is he on the city? He's top age, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

He's top age. Yeah, okay. Um and yeah, so that's another part of it where Bamblett could have been stiff. Like if he was in the squad, he's obviously the next guy up to play fullback. Like I think he's the next best fullback after Rex in this age group, and he was the Australian School Boys fullback. So um obviously that sort of aspect to it as well. Um from Queensland, like I said before, not too many complaints about the guys who made the squad. It's a very strong squad. Yeah, um, but a couple of guys who were um notably not there. Charlie Dixon from the Dolphins, um, he's a very strong lock, great defensive player, playing NRL Q at the moment, so under 21's been very good there. You know, probably stiff to miss it. I think he's probably one of the better locks in his age group. Um, Jared Horn, you know, he's played um PNG in those PNG versus schoolboy games before. Um another very strong back rollerslash lock um highly quality player there, and there was a couple of people, you know, a bit surprised that he didn't make it. Yeah, and then another Broncos uh kid as well, Seth Gundry, the fullback. I think he's a highly capable player. He was in the under-17 city side two years ago, city or country, whichever side he was in. Um but he played that rep game for them there, and he's been killing an NRLQ, he's been the leading run meters and all that sort of stuff up there. So I think he's a highly capable fullback and he's missed his squad. Um, but yeah, those were the three guys from Queensland that were notable emissions, but again, there hasn't been too many complaints about this Queensland side.

SPEAKER_00 25:18

Similar to Diesels, I feel like we need more Seths around, otherwise.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:22

I've got no notable Seths coming to mind from the NRL. Good to see.

SPEAKER_01 25:26

I've got no notable Seth coming from anywhere, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00 25:29

Got that Seth's. Um, all right, mate. Let's take a little bit of, you know, a bit of a walk down history lane and all that sort of stuff at the moment. Uh Queensland at the moment, uh, their dominance in junior grades, pretty impressive.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Yeah, I made a post about it at the end of last year. They won everything that could be won, um, which, you know, was just a little bit of flashback to my childhood. Um, they won under 12s, under 15s, and under 18s at the schoolboy carnival, so they did a clean sweep of the schoolboy carnival. Great, good deal. Um, then they also won under-19s origin famously, um, thanks to a bit of Javon Andrews Magic, who's killing at New South Wales Cup, by the way.

SPEAKER_02 26:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:05

Um, and then the last two years of school boy cups have been won by Queensland schools, uh, both over my school, Paddy's Blacktown, who's a renowned chokers on the big stage. But yeah, Kiber and PBC are the last two national champions, so they're both from Queensland. And, you know, half of this year's Queensland side, they come from New South Wales Compsot SG Ball and New South Wales Cup and all that sort of stuff. So the Queenslanders are coming down here raiding us and uh becoming some of the best players in our own junior pathways.

SPEAKER_00 26:31

Good, good. They don't have a Laurie Daly, though. Know that. Advantage New South Wales. Sure. Good times.

SPEAKER_01 26:39

Um, anything else on Queensland there, mate? Um, not in terms of, I think I've covered all of my notes there, but yeah, they've just been completely dominant in the junior grades of late. Yes. And um, we'll get to it at the end, but I fear that may continue. Hopefully that means that um we swap, they can dominate the junior grades and we'll dominate the top grades. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

All right, what about the blues? Uh, their historical dominance uh in this game.

SPEAKER_01 27:02

So last year's game was very significant because it was the first time Queensland have ever won the under-19s origin um since they changed that format post-COVID.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

Um before that, New South Wales won eight of ten Origin Under 18s games. So traditionally, our junior pathway is a lot more stacked. Um, you know, we've just got the better talent coming through the grades, which you know, shop horror doesn't translate to first grade because we just have that whole eight out of ten that we won, Queensland won eight out or nine out of ten in the top grade. So fantastic. Yes. Um yeah, but you know, it's just been traditionally New South Wales dominate the junior grades, and Queensland have been a little bit behind in that aspect, but then as soon as it gets to the top grade, it sort of flips.

SPEAKER_00 27:45

Is there anything, and I'm putting you on the spot here a little bit just in my own personal interest? You know, I'm not overly familiar with the Queensland junior system and Malmining a Cup and all that sort of stuff. I follow SJ Ball and how it matts. What do we do down here that's so much better than what they do up there potentially, or is it is it just almost like a geographical sort of thing that all of our clubs are almost a four-iron away from each other compared to Queensland?

SPEAKER_01 28:07

Yeah, it's a there's a lot more money down here in it. Um that's a big thing, you know, a lot more coaching and all that sort of stuff. Whereas there's only four clubs in Queensland, therefore the resources is split across multiple different clubs. So Malmaninga Cups, obviously, you know, West and Clydesdales, South Logan Magpies, Townsville Blackhawks, Ipswich Jets. Like it's not um, you know, it's not like a direct pathway through NRL clubs, it's pathways through feeder clubs that then turn four into one. So the talent is stretched a lot thinner. You see these big blowout games, like you will remember when Kobe Black was coming through the grades, he put 100 on the Wide Bay Bulls. He scored 40 points himself in that game, and that's just purely because Wide Bay Bulls, not really any affiliation. There was no NRL contracted kids in that side, and you just get these big blowout games because you've got teams full of NRL contractor kids, teams without any NRL contractor kids, and it just dilutes the um strength of the pathway a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 29:02

Yeah, it's a uh yeah, it's an interesting one. How did the I I I haven't followed it super closely this year, but it the I believe it's the under 21s Queensland comp they're doing with all the sort of NR explaining it for people in New South Wales. Like I don't think it's been advertised overly well. Maybe in Queensland it has, but I think to a lot of New South Wales people's New South Wales people, they wouldn't even be fucking aware that it's happening realistically.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

Yeah, the only sort of advertisement they've done for it is the week leading into it, pretty much.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

Like I and it felt like it came out of fucking nowhere.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

Yeah, the first time that I the first season that it happened, so last year, I didn't even know it was happening until literally the Friday before it. Yeah. And um then it, you know, it started happening and I wanted to watch the games and there was no streaming of it anywhere. So it's like I didn't get to watch the first week of games there, and then you know, eventually they picked it up and sort of got to streaming the games and all that sort of thing. But I actually think this NRLQ um and come with me on this ride, they it is it's not there to be an established comp for very long. I think it's just to filter into a national reserve grade. I think after the next CBA Um they're going to merge um New South Wales Cup, Queensland Cup, and merge Jersey Fleg and NYC and NRL Q to form NYC under 21s and a national reserve grade, and they're gonna go back to having that three um, you know, three games in a day sort of thing leading into um first grade. So that's what's um Do you like that from your angle? I love it. Yeah um an NYC perfect for me. Um you know it just becomes a lot easier to streamline my coverage and a lot more people will be interested as well. Yeah, not a lot of people want to follow the split up, like it's very overwhelming. Yes, nobody wants to follow SG Ball, Malmaninga, NRL Q, Jersey Flag. Like if it's all together and you get to see the best of Brisbane versus the best of um Parramatta versus the best of the Bulldogs versus the best of you know the Gold Coast Titans, like at the moment you're not seeing the best of the best go against each other week and week, especially in Jersey Fleg in the under-21's age group, like it's a bit of a shit fight at the moment because the best in that age group are playing East of Thoughts couple first grade, and then the best players that end up playing Jersey Fleg are the SG, but all kids that come up. Like it's a bit of a shit fight.

SPEAKER_00 31:10

Is there any downside to what they're proposing heading into the future? Like if they do go down that avenue, like from a player development point of view, it's all it's all positive, right?

SPEAKER_01 31:19

Like I think mostly kids if there's only four Queensland teams, but I I think the big issue, and they saw it with Holding Cup and Toyota Cup, was the pressure put on the kids that are dominating Toyota Cup and Holding Cup to step straight up to first grade. And it's just not like that. And you watch you watch Jersey Flag or watch New South Wales Cup, the defence isn't great, and you've got to hone your defensive skills before you get up to first grade because it's a big step up, and defense is obviously one of the most important things once you step up to first grade, and you notice it all the time. Some kids get caught out defensively. You notice uh as well, kids go from the speed of New South Wales Cup to the speed of NRL, and I made a post about this the other day. They just lack composure a little bit once the game quits quickens up a little bit, like especially young halves and all that sort of thing. So you see these young halves playing Jersey Fleg, and they're absolutely lightened up, having three tries this games, two tries games, and that's what they'll do when they get to the NYC, but that's not going to translate to first grade straight away. They need to hone all those little details, get used to the speed of the game because the speed of Jersey Fleg, you watch a Jersey Fleg game and then watch an NRL game, and you tell me a thousand different things that are different between terms of the quality. And that's what I said. Like the step from Jersey Fleg to New South Wales Cup is nearly double the step to New South Wales Cup to first grade. Yeah. Like it's a very big difference.

SPEAKER_00 32:38

I think uh I think one good, and as much as he's not a ball player, I think a good example is probably Macassini at the moment as well, who has just gone bang, straight into first grade. Like for those playing at home, he he's um eligible to play in this game, isn't he? He's the right age. That's how young he is coming into first grade, and you can tell playing centre obviously such a key defensive spot that there are teams that are picking him apart week in, week out. And even for an athlete like him that is so big and strong, the physicality is still a huge step up.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

Yeah, yeah, 100%. So uh yeah, that's the only probably negative, and you know, speaking to a couple of people, that's what they fear may happen. But um, yeah, I think it will happen uh in the next CBA and it helps me a lot.

SPEAKER_00 33:18

So it'll be great for you, yes, fantastic. Yeah, and I think I think it'll be great for all of us that it's sort of because at the moment it really is just if I want to know anything about Malman Ingate Cup, it's your page, or I'll go fuck myself. I stand no chance to find out anything wherever if it is all streamlined, and I think it will be, you know, there's there's probably a lot of you know younger people out there, even guys your age, that you know, like I remember growing up and going to three games of footy before first grade. It was fucking unreal. That's how I found Sowie sitting there playing reserve grade for the roosters back in the day. It was so good to go out there and watch three grades before first grade. Unreal. Um, all right, let's talk about when we have a look at each side, mate, the strengths of both sides. You made a comment before which alarms me a little bit about how potentially I'm foreseeing you tipping a Queensland victory here. And if it does happen, it sounds like their forward pack is the thing to watch there.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

Uh 100%. It is very strong defensive forward pack. Like you got a guy like Jackson Coiner. I rate him super highly. It's become a bit of a joke how much I rate him and how much I've spoken about him over the last uh year or so. But um we'll talk a little bit more about him later. Cody Starr, very strong defensive forward, 151 tackles, 95% tackle efficiency. Tupal Francis, I made a post about him.

SPEAKER_00 34:28

Um Tony Francis's little brother. Yeah, little brother.

SPEAKER_01 34:31

He's a freak. I actually mentioned him when I was sitting in the same chair this time last year because he'd played Cyril Connell um and was a man of the match in that game, and then backed up and played Malman Inga Cup grand final and made the match-winning play in that game. Like he's just a freak. Um, but I I I've made several posts about Tupac Francis. Um, you know, one of them I mentioned his detail defensively. You just see him screaming and organizing his sides. He's, you know, been the captain of a lot of his sides that he's played in for the Burley Bears. Like, mate, just the detail that he has in organizing his troops and then his contact points and all those sorts of things. And then, you know, he's come up to Queensland Cup and in his first three games, he's got a you know, plus-minus. I love the NBA, got a Celtic jersey on right now. I look a lot at some time, I look at sometimes at the plus-minus of certain players and how they're impacting.

SPEAKER_00 35:19

I'm glad to hear this. I've brought this up with CIO before. I think it's something that needs to be analysed a little bit more. I think Cam Murray is the king of the plus-minus. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 35:26

I said that, so I actually said that in this post that I made about Tupac Francis. He is plus 27 on the field and minus and minus 19 off the field for the Burley Bears, Queensland Cup. He's 18. Right. So he's making such a big impact through the middle defensively for those teams. Um real blue guy, sort of yeah, yeah, just it's insane. And you look at his tackle efficiency down here, right? So across Maumenninger Cup and Q Cup, 155 tackles, 97.4% tackle efficiency. Um, and it's not just his contact that is really good defensively, it's it's just the way he organizes a middle and gets to certain spots, and yeah, it's it's it's insane to watch. I wish I could like articulate a little bit better because I know what I'm seeing with him, um, and I know what a lot of people have seen with him for quite a few years. He's he's going to be a very special talent.

SPEAKER_00 36:12

What about in the outside backs, mate? Who are the guys sort of keep an eye on from Queensland?

SPEAKER_01 36:16

Um, so in the outside backs, Brian Poigno is a freak. Um, obviously, we know that he's debuted in um first grade already. Defensively, he's been killing it in Q Cup. He actually had a really breakout game last week in Q Cup as well. He had three line breaks, two tries, and had a really dominant attacking performance, which he hasn't quite had yet in Q Cup. He's just mostly been solid, you know, getting through yardage, getting popping a couple of offloads away and defending well. Yep. But, you know, last week was a real I'm here moment for him in Q Cup. Um, and you know, another one I'll refer to his tackle efficiency, 223 tackles at 98.7%. Like he he is a he is a weapon, Brian Poignarie. He moves really well with the footy in hand. He just looks like one of those guys that's a natural athlete and in the way that he moves on both sides of the ball as well. And that's really shown shown in his defense in particular in Q Cup. Um I think we'll start to see it in his attack as well.

SPEAKER_00 37:07

I've uh yeah, I was talking to people up at the Dolphins a few weeks ago when he made his debut. Uh obviously, when you guys see him on Thursday night uh playing centre in this game, I know about the Dolphins, I think they've got their eyes on him being a back rower long term. I even think it's uh I think it's started to influence some of their decisions already as far as letting Aaron Keeley go. Lemware lose on a one-year deal. Uh so yeah, keep an eye on Poigneau because did you think he'll end up as a back rower?

SPEAKER_01 37:31

Yeah, he's been playing back row in Q Cup as well. Okay, good. So he's um I I definitely think he'll end up being a back rower. I actually thought so. Kalani Lavender was in this side, was in this side last year. He's injured, isn't he? Yeah. Injured. Yeah. Got injured. So I thought when he got injured, they'll move Poignew to the back row. Because when I initially made my sides, I actually didn't know Bishop Neal was eligible until not very long ago. So I didn't have him there. But I originally had Talen Toller and um Kalani Lavender as my back rowers because I just thought they were having such good years, you can put him there and Poignu can play centre. So I had him out there. But I thought as soon as Kalani Lavender got injured, I thought they'd move Poigneu into the back row, but they've just kept him there and for obvious reasons because they've brought Bishop Neal into the side. So um, had I had that knowledge earlier, yes, might have thought differently.

SPEAKER_00 38:11

You mentioned uh you mentioned Lavender there. Is there anyone else in this side that played last year? I'm just scanning through the names.

SPEAKER_01 38:17

Kobe Floro played last year. Um, he's down the bottom there at 19 for mine. So we'll talk about him because I was a little bit surprised when I got sent a team list that he wasn't in it. Yeah, okay. Um might be an injury or something or something that I haven't been made aware of. But um, yeah, he was in this side last year. Um and Hayden Watson was in this side last year. He played 14. Oh, Hayden was in it, wasn't he? Yes, he was in it last year.

SPEAKER_00 38:41

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_01 38:42

So he played um he played hooker off the bench last year. So he came on and played about 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 38:46

Yeah, okay. Yeah, so he's uh he's obviously down at the Melbourne Storm. You probably heard me mention on Bloke the other day, he's signed a contract at 2030 down there. I actually hadn't seen a heap of him until the last few weeks. Fuck the games I've seen. Christ, he's been impressive.

SPEAKER_01 38:59

Oh, super player. Yeah, um, and you know, we'll speak about it before how sort of awkward it can look at times at Jersey number seven. We think he's a better number nine. Um, but yeah, he's gonna be playing jersey seven here and just you will understand what we're saying when he plays on the weekend. He can do some things that you go, geez, that didn't look right, but for some reason it's a tri or a triesis.

SPEAKER_00 39:20

He actually, when he was playing cup two weeks ago, he actually darted out of dummy half at one point, put in a kick for himself and scored it. Fuck, it looked natural. Yeah, it looked very natural. Uh kid that he played cup. I mean, I think he'd played a few games off the benching cup, but he made his starting debut. I think he scored two tries that night, then he went back to Fleague last week. He scored a triple.

SPEAKER_01 39:38

Yeah. So yeah, the the um the storm halves depth's really good.

SPEAKER_00 39:44

Yeah, yeah, both teams very impacted both of them immediately.

SPEAKER_01 39:46

Um so if you want to talk about plus minus, his um his debut off the bench was the week before he he played in that game that you'd watched. And um he uh came off the bench, they were plus four in his time on the in on the field. They got beat like 40 to 14 or something like that in that game. Um he had a try and a try assist in that game, and then the next week he has two tries, two try assists, and they beat them by 60. So um he's come in and made a real impact. And then you know he went back to Jersey Fleg, him and Dylan Bretell both had a hat trick in that game, so very strong halves depths, and obviously they're being held out of New South Wales cut by the one and only Josh Durkin. Um so yeah, very strong halves uh depth at the moment in Queensland.

SPEAKER_00 40:26

Yeah, beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 40:27

Uh in storm at Storm. Should we uh move to New South Wales? Uh yes, we should.

SPEAKER_00 40:32

I think the spine is the uh probably the names that immediately stand out, mate. The the halves in particular and the fullback, obviously. Yep.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

They'll give you the floor. Yeah, well, it's just a highly classy spine. I think their kicking game is gonna get New South Wales out of a lot of trouble. We just spoke about how you know strong the Queensland forward pack is. You know, New South Wales is gonna have to rely on the boot of Honatoni Large and Carter Marico to get them out of bad field position. And you know, they've picked the perfect two guys for that job. Um, Honatoni Large is a guy that, you know, random stats guy messaged me like three years ago saying, Who's this kid? I love his boot. Um so yeah, he's he's got a big king game on him, so does Carter Marico. They're gonna really help with that. Rex Bathingswaite's obviously just a class player who's been playing New South Wales Cup. Um, and you know, Diesel Hagen as well has been playing New South Wales Cup and doing some really good things there. He carved up Parramatta a couple of weeks ago as well on a on a Fox League game. So um, yeah, those four guys are gonna be very, very important to this side.

SPEAKER_00 41:31

Uh mate, I've only seen Carter play on a handful of occasions, but fuck, he looks like a talented kid. He actually he came up last year and played a few games with Josh at Jersey flee level, and like he must have been 16 or 17 at that point.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Yeah, yeah, he was freak. So he won the Harold Matthews Player of the Year last year, and then he won SG Ball player of the year this year. Wow. So he was an age up in SG Ball and was a player of the year. Had 22 try involvements and 19 try involvements in nine games.

SPEAKER_00 41:58

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 41:59

Yeah, he's a freak, that kid. Um, I remember watching him play for Central Coast, and it was the first time I'd ever really watched him play because he he didn't play Harold Matthews the year before that, and he started off at the Central Coast, and um I'm watching, I'm going, this kid's a freak. And like I'm doing my 3-2-1s, and he's getting three points nearly every week, and he's looking like six points. He's he's the one that I'm looking at and going, this kid's gonna win it. And I'm like, I sort of was a little bit reserved about it because I'm like, Central Coast had a really easy draw that year to start the year, and and he and it looked like he was just beaten up on a lot of bad sides early through the year, and then he had a game against the Panthers where they got pumped 32 to 6. I'm like, yeah, I feel a little bit yuck about him leading my leaderboard at the moment. Obviously, he's obviously a good player because he was killing it and the best player on the field every single week, but against weaker side, so I just thought, uh, I don't know if he wins it. And then um, he had a game, week one finals, and he ended up topping my leaderboard that year as well. So he was my Howard Matthews player of the year. I just didn't feel all that good about it. Finals week one against Parramatta. He had three try assists and a try, they won 22-18. I go, oh no, this kid's legit. Yeah, he's proper. Yeah, he's he's he's a gun. And then he continued to play really well in the final series. They went to the prelim final out of a little bit, like it was a bit of a shock how deep they they went that year, and he was the king of it, and then obviously he's won the SG Ball this year, won SG Ball player of the year, an age up. He's made the New South Wales side like he he is a proper freak.

SPEAKER_00 43:21

Yeah, yeah, I'm excited to see him go in this one. Uh mate, there's a couple of just back line players here uh that I've seen over the last couple of weeks. Toby Winter, I love mate. Yeah, he's a freak.

SPEAKER_01 43:32

What do we got there?

SPEAKER_00 43:33

Shout out to Live Podcasting. Good to see.

SPEAKER_01 43:35

Yeah, beautiful. Um, yeah, Toby Winter is a freak. He's a guy that I think Newcastle Knights fans, you'll see him debut pretty soon. Um, you've had a talking point over the last couple of years of you know, Wilson DeCourcy and Kyle McCarthy as a future center of this um of the club. Yeah, I think Toby Winter's about to jump both of them and go straight into that into that gig.

SPEAKER_00 43:54

I've heard similar.

SPEAKER_01 43:55

Um yeah, he's a guy who he played his second New South Wales Cup game the other. Day again against Parramatic, he's just bullying my side. Um, but two tries, try assists, he made James Schiller look pretty good on a couple of occasions. Um, but you know, James Schiller's a New South Wales cup immortal at this point.

SPEAKER_00 44:12

James Schiller is unbelievable at Cub Light. Oh, yeah, such a good footballer there. I just yeah, and I know it doesn't always translate to first grade, but fuck he's talented.

SPEAKER_01 44:22

Yeah, yeah. He had that game, he had three tries, two assists as well out on the wing. So um that was a pretty handy performance from him. But yeah, Toby Winter out on that, you know, he typically a right sente, can play left side. I think he'll play left wing in this game. One of those guys, very versatile. Get into the red zone, he's going to get you points. Like he's one of those sorts of guys. Me and um me and one of my mates actually have a little bit of an inside joke because he comes out to these games from time to time, and we've got a little bit of an inside joke calling him Troll Mitt because he's um he's one of those fullbacks who, you know, he typically a fullback can play in the outside backs as well. One of those guys who you don't see too much of early in sets, but you see a shitload of him when he's in the red zone, and most of the time it's creating something good. Yeah, like he's he's just doing something freakish to set up points. When he plays centre, he does it a lot, marks up his man, skips to the outside, little giddly flick, try time all the time, or runs it himself. Like he's he's just one of those players.

SPEAKER_00 45:15

Do you think center's his best spot?

SPEAKER_01 45:16

Um, I think, yeah, probably for first grade. I think he will be a centre long term.

SPEAKER_00 45:21

Yeah, right. And it's a he's he's a right side way. Every time I've seen he's been on the right hand side.

SPEAKER_01 45:25

Yeah, so right side centre mostly. Um, but again, he's I think he'll be named on the wing here. Yes. And he's played left wing before for New South Wales CHS and stuff like that. So um, yeah, he can play both sides, but you know, he can play.

SPEAKER_00 45:38

Just thinking like Newcastle-wise, Gagay getting over timing could be perfect. Yeah, the time for Toby.

SPEAKER_01 45:44

And you know, I honestly I thought the timing was going to be perfect for Wilson DeCorsey to get that spot, and then no Toby Winters come charging out of the backfield.

SPEAKER_00 45:52

Anything else on New South Wales? Um, not in particular. Now you have got for those that can't see our screens, which is every single one of you, uh, you've got this fucking stat sheet of every single player. Uh, as I said at the start of the show, no one does junior footy better than the short ball. I this is so overwhelming for me to look at, if I'm completely honest. I've I love it. Where it what what else do you want to sort of touch on?

SPEAKER_01 46:23

Um, in terms of uh stats with these guys.

SPEAKER_00 46:27

Yeah, like is there any key stats that sort of stood out to you, you know, coming away from this? I don't know if we want to go New South Wales, then Queensland. You you you guide us, however you reckon.

SPEAKER_01 46:36

Yeah, so I'd love to be able to work it out in terms of the um the defensive side of the ball, what the um what sort of that tackles and and tackle efficiency works out between the two sides. Obviously, you can't really do that at the moment. I could do it if it was on an actual sheet, but um yeah, uh one particular stat that I actually wanted to mention with the stat sheets, and you know I've got down here some players to watch and tactics and stuff like that. So I'll deep dive into that in a second. But Bishop Neal, right? New South Wales Cup stats. I'll rattle off a couple of New South Wales Cup stats and then compare it to the other backroller that's next to him and what he's done in FLEG. Yes. So just to show you how ridiculous Bishop Neal has been. New South Wales Cup, 10 games played, 97 average run meters for a backroller. That's very good. Um, seven line break involvements, six tries, no assists, 23 tackle breaks in 10 games, 17 offloads, so 1.7 offloads a game, um, 181 tackles at 87.4% tackle efficiency. That's Bishop Neal, um, a 17-year-old turning 18 in New South Wales Cup. The guy next to him, Frank Howarthen, please don't take offense to this. Yeah, bloody good player, yes. Very good player. He's about to start in a Queensland 19s lineup, right? His stats in Jersey fleck, 12 games played, 67 average run meters, so 30 less than Bishop Neil in two more games. Three line break involvements, four less than Bishop Neal in two more games. Um three tries, one try assists, so combined two less try involvements, 23 tackle breaks, he's on the same as Bishop Neal there with two more games. Yeah, um, one offload and 146 tackles at 83% efficiency. It just shows you how ridiculous what Bishop Neal is doing at the moment in the New South Wales Cup is.

SPEAKER_00 48:18

Yeah, and even when you look at like I just scanned to the New South Wales side to see the stats of um Darcy Smith, which are incredibly impressive, that's an SG ball level. It's two fucking grades away and adults away. It's wild.

SPEAKER_01 48:31

And you even look at so like an offload count, Darcy Smith's a good offloader, he's a good tackle breaker. He's um and he runs a very, very tidy line, so he gets a lot of line breaks. Yeah. He's got 12 offloads in nine games. Yeah, that's less per game than Bishop Neil has in New South Wales Cup against men. And Darcy Smith is a freak. Um, if you've followed my page over the last couple of years, you know how much I rate him and how much I've spoken about him. You know, it's it's ridiculous how good Bishop Neil is at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_00 48:57

And that tackle efficiency at 87%.

SPEAKER_01 49:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:00

Like, as you can imagine, when Bishop Neil comes in New South Wales Cup, I'm sure there's a lot of team that goes, let's test out the fucking teenager. Yeah. 87%. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:08

Wild. And you know, like I've said before, I've made a lot of posts about it: tackle efficiency, miss tackles, tackles, very misleading stats at times. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 49:15

Um, you've got to back rollers, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:17

You've got to eye test these things. Um, but yeah, eye test news of the World's Cup. He's been pretty good and I'm gonna dissect his game in a second, get to tactics, plays to watch, and all that sort of stuff.

SPEAKER_00 49:28

I think it's interesting with guys like Bishop Neil, who, you know, he's gonna come into this game with a lot of expectation. I think anyone that watches him is probably just expecting him to date for feeder at his very best. Um, can you see how he handles that as well?

SPEAKER_01 49:39

Yeah, exactly. Um, but you know, he probably doesn't hear much of it not being on social media.

SPEAKER_00 49:42

Not on social is a fucking genius, actually. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 49:45

Yeah. Um, but yeah, like he's a guy who in Harold Matthews, he had one of the greatest grand final performances you'll ever see last year when Warriors won the comp. He was a player of the match in that game and it was the easiest player of the match selection you'll ever see in your life. I thought in that game, though, he had a couple of defensive lapses that Newcastle exploited pretty well there. And I thought that he's had these moments in games over the last couple of years where I've watched him where defensively he's been caught out a little bit, but he hasn't had as many of those moments in New South Wales Cup as I probably expected him to. Um, so he's actually he's he's make he's made that step up really well.

SPEAKER_00 50:17

Yeah, nice. Um, just on uh Frank Howard as well, you mean he's obviously the younger brother of Jack, isn't he?

SPEAKER_01 50:23

Yes, yes, he is.

SPEAKER_00 50:23

I actually I've I've noticed since I've been having a look at those Melbourne stuff, Melbourne Storm Reserve. Like they've got, you know, obviously Jamana Saka coming down there last next year. They've got his younger brother, I believe. He's down there, Howit's young brother's down there. There's a few family connections going on.

SPEAKER_01 50:37

Yeah, it's starting to get that way, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 50:39

So I'm available if they're interested. They had another 5-0 in the system. Um, all right, let's talk some tactics as far as Queensland go. What are you seeing here?

SPEAKER_01 50:48

Um, so I think they're gonna base their game's gonna be a power game through the middle. You know, Cody Starr, Jackson Coiner, Bishop Neal, Frank Harwarth, Tupow Francis. Like that's that is an incredible starting pack. Yes. And then you've got guys like Shayev Colone, Talon Toa, Jet Ryan to come off the bench who I think can um lift the tempo a little bit. Um, and I think in attack, I I'd just be playing playing ball around Hayden Watson. Yeah, get him the ball as much as you can and just work with him. Just push up with him, whatever he's gonna do, he's going to create points for you. And that's really all they need to base their game around to put in a very good performance here. Defensively, I think they're gonna be very strong, they're gonna back their defense. So they just go to Hayden Watson, mate, do whatever you want. Don't care if you make an error because we can defend it. Like I said before, Cody Starr, Jackson Coyner, Tupole Francis, they're very, very good defensive players. Like they're defense first sort of guys. Um, and I think they can really build a game off the back of that sort of platform.

SPEAKER_00 51:46

If they're running downhill, Watson's running game scares the living shit out of me.

SPEAKER_01 51:50

Oh, yeah. And like, do not sleep on you know the gliks of Taj Latoo and and Tyler Pereira as well. Like they're talented players. Tyler Pereira's been killing an NRL Q. He's been playing centres there, but played fullback for Ipswich Jets, and you know, his numbers six games played 16 line break involvements. Yeah. Like he's a he's a good player as well. But they like Pereira and Latoyo, all they have to do is play off the back of Watson. He'll he'll do something, he'll take off and run somewhere, and they've just got to be there. That's you know, simplify their job to as much as that, and then they can play off the back of him. Yes, and I think they'll they'll create plenty of points in doing so. Like they've got enough strikeout wide, CSI poussa, 10 line break involvements in six Melman Inger Cup games. Brian Poigneu, obviously he's been playing Queensland Cup, so his attacking stats don't look as good. But like I said, he had three line breaks, two tries over the weekend in in Queensland Cup. So he's a guy with a lot of attacking upside as well. Liddamu, he's got that connection with Hayden Watson from SG Ball. They combined for a lot of tries um in SG Ball for the Melbourne Storm, a lot of crucial game-winning tries as well. Um, so yeah, I think they've got more than enough there to be very competitive.

SPEAKER_00 52:52

I think it's one thing, mate, that I think it's uh in the modern game, NRL, it's more important than it ever has been. Your bench forwards. So when you get to these higher-level rep junior games, your bench is just so fucking crucial.

SPEAKER_01 53:05

Oh yeah, and you know, like I said, show of Kalane, he's New South Wales Cup debut, he came off the bench, played 45 minutes there, 16 runs for 175 run meters, super busy, made heaps of post contact, found his front, quick play of the balls, all that sort of thing, and raiders were able to play off the back of him. Um, you know, if he even brings half of that standard to this game, yeah, he's going to he's going to light it up here off the bench. And Talen Toa, he was the player of the match in the Malmaninga Cup grand final. He's a guy that coming off this bench, his offloads are going to create so much chaos when he gets on the field. Whether he plays on the middle or whether he plays on the edge, I don't know. He's big enough to play through the middle, and you know, his offloading game, 10 offloads in four Maumeninga Cup matches through the regular season. Yeah, wow. So he's another guy who, when he gets on the field, and I think he may go onto the field with this Elijah Berbay from the uh Panthers, he was actually my SG ball player of the year this year with my 3-2-1 counts. He's another guy who just plays off the cuff footy. I think he can connect with these guys offloading, whether he comes on, you know, as a nine or as a um half, you know, what whatever he does, if he gets onto this field, he'll connect really well with these offloading back rolls that the the Queensland side have. And you know, they're just gonna play some very exciting footy off the back of guys like Watson and Burvey, and then their defense is gonna be really solid and gonna be able to play that power and possession game.

SPEAKER_00 54:26

Yeah, okay. That mate, there's one more name there that we haven't mentioned. Um, Louie Lee is is he injured or yeah, injured.

SPEAKER_01 54:31

Injured, so he's not available in the from what I've been told. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_00 54:35

Um, all right, so tactics there for Queensland. Let's uh put our sky blue on. I imagine, mate, when you've got a big forward pack like Queensland, kicking game is going to be crucial for the Blues.

SPEAKER_01 54:46

Yeah, on Atoni Large and Catamarico are gonna have to do a lot of their boot. Um, you know, Ryder Talungi and Christian Tarpalmore's very good um players, the both of them, but you know, Christian Tarpalmore's a little bit more offensive, sort of centric. But you know, I I actually spoke with you two years ago when he was playing Howard Matthews about him. One of those really big players that does a lot of little things really well. Yeah. Um, but yeah, he's gonna be a guy who they're probably gonna rely a lot on him in terms of that power game. Yes, Ryder Talungy, you know, Parafan would love to see him do really well. Good for us. We need good forwards coming through at the moment, desperately. Um, but he's not one of those guys that you can ride or rely a whole lot on in attack. Defensively, he's gonna be very solid, he puts on big hits, he's you know, very sound defensively, um, 86.2% tackle efficiency, which you know doesn't read real well until you realise that most kids these age are in about the 80s. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 55:40

So he's obviously also the younger brother of Blaze for those of you who haven't put that together.

SPEAKER_01 55:45

Yeah, yeah. So, you know, even you look at like his tackle breaking, 19 tackle breaks in seven games, like only about two a game, 95 average run of meters, like you're not gonna get a whole lot of yardage from your from your forwards. Um, and you know, even your back five, like I said, you know, Toby Winter's a little bit of a Ferrari, like he's a red zone guy. Dane Jennings, he can be a little bit the same as well, but um he he's really worked on his consistency in his defense this year. I think he's really improved on those two facets of his game. Ian Coppo is probably the only guy there that I look at and go, he's an exclusive, like he's a yardage guy in terms of that back five. So I think the the kicking games of Anatoni Large and Carta Marico are going to be very, very crucial in this contest.

SPEAKER_00 56:27

We mentioned just then about how how important your bench is and whatnot. There's a couple of guys that are on the bench for New South Wales who, once again, you watch a lot more than I do, but what I've seen of Eddie Kallis and James Finnegan, very impressive footballers.

SPEAKER_01 56:38

Yeah, very, very good footballers. Eddie Kallas was the best lock in SG ball this season, um, I thought by quite a distance as well. Um his line speed and kick pressure and a lot of those little things, he's very, very good at that. Um, I don't know that he can play a full game, so he's you know, the selection of him off the bench, I actually like that. First time I ever watched him play was off the bench against the Panthers and Harold Matthews um a couple years ago, yeah, and he killed him coming onto the field doing that role. Um, you know, he he never really plays a full game in SG ball, but he when he's on the field, he's high energy, he'll up the tempo when he gets on. Um, and you know, Roman Tourmao, he's been playing New South Wales Cup, he's gonna be a very good um asset off the bench there. And James Finnegan, like you said, he's another guy who you know he moves very well with the ball in hand. He can pull off some freakish stuff himself. Like he's he hasn't really shown it as much over the last two years in SG ball as what he did in Howard Matthews a few years ago. Um, but he's a guy who can spark this game off the bench as well.

SPEAKER_00 57:34

I know you mentioned his name before, but obviously we've got the large boys. Probably people aren't as familiar with Ashton. Talk to us about his game.

SPEAKER_01 57:42

Yeah, so he's a dummy half, he's a year young in this one as well. He's a freak. He's nearly as good, if not better, than um attorney at the same age, I think. Yeah. Um he's at Manley, right?

SPEAKER_00 57:52

Yeah, they're both at Manley.

SPEAKER_01 57:53

So they linked up in SG ball all year this year. It was terrifying. Um, you know, not the best brother combination that Manley have had over the last few years, though. Um, they just seem to get him, don't they? Like even a few years ago, the Feyners were coming through there together and like you know, Trovojevich's Stuart's, like, where does this goes on? Yeah, so they were combining very, very well. Um, I saw a lot of talk about how he's, you know, not defensively great. I think that's a little bit silly to say. I think defensively he's he's been super impressive over the last couple of years, and um, you know, he's a physical enough body, but it it is really his running game and and the times that he chooses to take off. Yeah, he doesn't necessarily just go, go, go, go, go. When he does go, it's impactful. You notice it. Um, and him and Ana Tony licked up so much to an SG ball. Like, I reckon there's probably five or six highlights of them where Ashton's taken off and Onatoni's followed through. Yeah. Like that was just a symbol of how Manley played this year. So he's a very, very, very good player, Ashton Large, and he's, you know, I said it before, he was going to be my 14 regardless of who the nine was.

SPEAKER_00 58:57

Yeah. How do you uh how do you see Toby Batten being used in this side? Do you see him being used?

SPEAKER_01 59:02

Yeah, I think I've got him here as the 18th man. Yes. Um, you know, Anaton Larger, Caramarico are just very, very good. So it's hard for him to get on the side. But he was the Australian schoolboys half last year. Um obviously he's been killing it up there in Malmaningu Cup. Um he was playing with the Norse Devils, I believe. Um and Riley Lavity have formed a very good combination over the last two years there. So um, oh yeah, like I said, I've got him anything. Man, I don't know that he gets used in this squad, but a talented player for Dolphins fans to watch out for.

SPEAKER_00 59:30

Yeah, definitely one to watch out for. Uh, mate, anyone else you want to touch on from the blues, you know, from a tactics sort of point of view that you think will be crucial?

SPEAKER_01 59:39

Yeah, I think um again, the halves linking up with their back rollers, Darcy Smith, Chris Petris, two tackle breaking freaks. Um, you know, Darcy Smith, 48 tackle breaks in nine games, 130 run meters, Chris Petras, six games, 20 tackle breaks, 111 run meters. So they're guys that can really break this game open, and I think they're gonna be relying a lot on those two to to sort of start their um start their points.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:04

I haven't seen much of Petrus. He he's paramatura, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:00:08

Yeah, yeah, he is. Um he's been in their SG Ball side the last two years and been very, very good there.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:14

Yeah, okay. Yeah. I what I have seen of uh Darcy Smith, I've been very impressed by him. He he played uh News of the Wales Cup the other night against the store. He scored a try, but outside of that, he he he he he was pretty quiet in that one. But I like what I've seen from him in SG Ball and whatnot.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:27

Yeah, he um last year, he was another one of those guys who I hadn't seen too much of before last season. He was obviously with that SG Ball Roosters side. And we got about halfway through the year and nobody was talking about him. I'm sitting there going, he's the best line running back rower in the age group by far. I didn't know whether he was 18s or 19s at the time ago. I made a post about him being the most underrated back rower. Yeah, sorry. I made a post about him being the most underrated back rower in SG ball. By the end of the year, I'm going, no, fuck that, he's the best back rower in SG ball. Like he's a freak, this kid. And then he was a City 18s um captain, you know, made that rep side, played very well in that game as well. So yeah, he's he's a gun, Darcy Smith.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:06

I know uh I did some work in the early parts of the year. Um just went into um triple M one day with Luke Carey, and we went and go to uh our coffee after and shit. And I know he he holds Darcy Smith in very high regards from his work there in the grades. Big fan. Yeah, yeah. Um, all right, uh mate, tactics-wise, anything else you want to touch on, or are we sort of ripping and tearing into predictions?

SPEAKER_01 1:01:32

Yeah, we'll just go into some some players to watch and predictions. You're uh my man here, talk to me. All right. Um, well, players to watch from Queensland. I've got Hayden Watson spoken at depth about him. Um, you know, obviously just a highly talented, natural sort of um, you know, he just creates points for you. Yeah. Jackson Coiner, he's a guy who, like I said before, it's come a bit of a joke how much talk about it. Mate, when you get these young Eagles players coming through that I truly see something in, I just latch onto it. Lorenzo for me as well, like Lorenzo's one of my guys. Isaiah Younggi, when he signed to Parramatta, I was like a kid on Christmas. Yeah. Because he was a guy who I was ranting and raving on about in Panthers News World's Cup for years. I'm saying this guy is better than 50% of NRL fullbacks at the moment. He's just not getting a crack because he's behind the Australian fullback.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:21

I deal, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:22

Signed to Para, and I was like, yes, everybody's talking about, oh no, Gutho, no Gutho. I was like, Gutho who? Like I forget the 10 years of service you gave to me, club bugger off. I got a youngie now. Um, but yeah, like, and Jackson Coyne is the next on that list for me. Like, he's just a guy who, mate, inside shoulder, outside shoulder, smacks you in defense, yeah, big physical body, got good ball playing. I think he's a natural 13. I think he's gonna play prop in this game. I don't actually like that all that much. Like I said, with these guys, I really zone in on my favourites from Parramatta and really deep dive and analyze their game. I think he runs very upright when he runs a footy. Like he's he's a two-hand carry, runs very upright.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:01

You're in your restraining orders. Yes, mate. This is good.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:03

It's weird areas, but um, yeah, like he gets hit a lot off those back fence kickoffs. Like, I remember watching a game against the Bulldogs where he got snapped in half because he'd come in two-hand carry straight back, like everything running hits. And it's like, as a man who used to take back fence carries myself, albeit at a very, very low level, yeah. Um, it's just like a big no-no. Like I just don't think naturally he's a prop. And I think his best talents are wasted at prop. I think he's gonna be a very good lock for the future. I think he's gonna be, you know, I think he'll be a 10-year first grader at the paramedic reels. I rate him very, very highly.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:38

Yeah, nice.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:39

Um, and then the last one at Queensland, Bishop Neal. Um, I just say the name and I think we can move on from that.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:44

Yeah, that's all we need. That's enough.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:46

Uh, blues, players to watch. Who we got? Uh Dane Jennings, he is the most exciting highlights reel I've ever seen. Um, you know, every single time he plays. And it's sort of become a little bit of a thing where I I said last year at one point, Dane Jennings needs a statue out of the front of Central Coast Sports High for the things that he'd done for their schoolboy cup side. Every single time he put that jersey on, he just lit it up. Like he would just do some things that made like he would get the ball on the 40. There's five defenders in front of him, and somehow he's under the sticks. Yeah. It's just mate, ridiculous chip and chases, like just being able to beat people one-on-one. He scored a try that um South Sydney Rabateau's actual page put up. Yes. And it was a try where I think he scooped it up at about the 50, run around, split two defenders. Cameron Bamblett comes screaming across, Australian School Boys fullback, comes screaming across to try and tackle him, and then just goes bang, doesn't move. Bamblett sits down on the ground and Dane Jennings screens. Right turn over, wasn't it? Yes, yes, it was. And um Souse captioned it, is this the craziest try you've ever seen? I commented it's not top 10 craziest Dane Jennings tries I've ever seen. And I genuinely stand by that. Like I could make a power ranking of 10 tries better than that, but like that try for Dane Jennings. He's it is ridiculous. Um, and like I said before, he actually hasn't ever really been that good for South in terms of their Howard Matthews and SG ball. That's exaggeration. He's been good, but he hasn't been the Dane player. He hasn't been the Central Coast Dane Jennings. You know what I mean? But this year he has, and his consistency in defence has gone to another level as well. I just think, and I made a post about it at the end of SG Ball. I said his consistency in defence and the improvements he's made on that week on week have turned him into a player I can see playing New South Wales Cup this year, and now he's named in the first grade side. So he's gone ridiculously is Senna his best spot, you think? Yeah, Senna's definitely his best spot. I think he can play on the wing. I was surprised to hear that Toby Winter will be playing wing and Dane Jennings isn't.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:46

Yeah, I actually, when I looked at it earlier, it sort of threw me out a little bit because I assumed Winter would be center.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:51

Being the centre, yeah. Yeah, I thought so as well, but obviously, um they want Dane Jennings just playing his natural spot. He'll play right centre, um, and he'll do a very good job at that. He'll come up with a highlight player at some stage in this game.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:03

That's another one that could line up very nicely for South Sydney with Jack White and getting older. Yes. Yeah, wow.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:08

He's he's their next guy there for sure.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:10

Hopefully, by the time you guys are listening to this, you're well and truly aware of Dane because he hopefully got on the field last night.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:16

And if he did, and he did, and if he did get on the field last night, um, he's probably had some crazy highlights real that's been posted absolutely everywhere. Like I promise you, like every single time he steps into a side, the Australian schoolboy's side, he scored a try, tiptoeing down the sideline like he was Jared Hain, fending off play like defenders screaming across just see ya, see ya, see ya, scores in the corner diving. It's like this kid is ridiculous. Um, next one, Darcy Smith, like I said, great line runner, good tackle buster, offloader. There's not too much more that needs to be said about him, but he's definitely going to be a key guy in this game. Um, and then Thomas Dello, back-to-back Australian school boy, was the captain of the Australian Schoolboys last year as well. Just that super reliable lock forward, great mover defensively, does not stop working. Um, and you know, I mentioned him again. He was another one of those guys that I was very big on coming into the Harold Matthews finals when I first came into your studio. Um, he was a guy that then was just doing things. Him and Oliver Lester in that um Sharks, Harold Matthews side was just doing things to win games that you just don't really see all that much. Um, but yeah, he's a guy, you know, 93 average run meters, solid for a lock, but it's just the impact of his carries is good. He gets, you know, elbows and knees, quick play of the balls, gets gets carry on there, and then um defensively 259 at 90.2%. Like he's a very, very busy player.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:34

Yeah, I was about to say, uh, as far as his whole list goes, he's made the most tackles outside of uh well him and Diesel Hagen, both at 259 tackles. So yeah. To be up there with a nine, pretty impressive.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:45

Yeah, so they will be the um the two busy guys through the middle there.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:49

Unreal and Delo. All right, rubber's hitting the road. Predictions, I feel like you're about to betray me, but I'll let you take the floor.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:58

Um I'd have to be dead to tip Queensland. Good. Um fantastic. So New South Wales obviously win and win well. Um, but honestly, like I'm I'm shit scared of this Queensland side.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:10

I I think they're is this the best Queensland 19 side we've seen?

SPEAKER_01 1:08:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Bishop Neal. Yes. Starting Hayden Watson's been killing it New South Wales Cup. Like, there's there's guys the the forward pack's better, the forward packs are outright better. And for me, a lot of the time, maybe because I was a forward myself. Yeah, forwards forwards when your games, you you back like you don't do nothing. Um so yeah, I'd I just think that the the strength of that forward packs is gonna be very tough by saying that New South Wales 13 plus.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:40

Um when we went into the game last year, well, everyone was pretty confident on the blues, right? Like on paper, they had the better side last year, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:49

I I yeah, they did. And I I I sat here and when I'd done other preview podcasts as well, I I said this is gonna be the closest origin game you've seen between these two sides. I thought Queensland were on an upwards trajectory. Yes. And I've noticed that over the last 12 months, Queensland are on a very big upwards trajectory in terms of their juniors. Yeah, okay. Um and that's just continued. Like, you know, actually two years ago, I thought New South Wales would have pumped Queensland with the two sides that they had, and it ended up being 14-10.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:15

Um, but then last year I thought it would be close. I thought New South Wales would edge me out in a close game, but I just thought, you know, the class of Kobe Black at seven, I thought some of their forwards were very good as well. And um, you know, they obviously ended up getting the job done there. But um, yeah, this year's definitely the uh most worried I've been.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:32

When you say, like, are you worried about the next two or three years as well?

SPEAKER_01 1:09:35

Yeah, yeah. Um, when you look at the school boy stuff, under 12s, under 15s, under 18s, clean sweep to Queensland. Like it's it's greatly concerning. Although New South Wales used to do that all the time and it never resulted in the top grade. So maybe we've got a little uh shift going on here. Yes. Hopefully that becomes the case. Um, but yeah, yeah, it's gonna be tough.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:55

I'm gonna take the blues in a tight one. Yeah, I'll take blues by four, man of the match. Let's live in two hypothetical worlds. If New South Wales win, if Queensland win, who are your MOM nods? Who are we looking at?

SPEAKER_01 1:10:08

Uh if New South Wales win, I think Darcy Smith will be the guy for them. I think he'll be the man of the match. Just because I think most of their um good attacking raids will go to him um, you know, running that tight line and getting off loads and tackle breaks away. He's just a guy that, you know, I know he's I know he's a back rower. Typically, the man of the match is your halves and all that sort of thing. I'm a little bit hesitant on Carter Marico this year because he's an age up. Yes, he's obviously a freak, but you know, you saw Chevy Schulton age up a few years ago. He was a freak and he had a bit of a stinker in his first origin game. He came back and killed it the next time around. Not that I think Carter Marico will stink it up. I think if New South Wales wins, he's gonna be a key player, but I think he's gonna be also dishing a lot of ball off to Darcy Smith. Yeah. Um, and then for Queensland, um, you know what? It'll probably be Hayden Watson, but it wouldn't be surprised if it was Bishop Neal either.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:59

Yeah, okay. Yeah, I think Neil's, I think those two are hard to go past for Queensland. That's who I had. I've got a feeling, uh, you know, I think most people that watch trials and everything are already well and truly aware of large and the halves, but I know I've just got a feeling this might be the real sort of. I know like you had Ethan Strange had a game a few years ago, Jonathan. Yeah, I'm hoping he might be the guy in this one. Um so yeah, you're gun to head if you can be as completely honest as you like. If New South Wales weren't to win in a potential hypothetical crazy world, you think it's a tight game still? Oh shit. Maybe not. Really?

SPEAKER_01 1:11:36

Yeah, okay. To be completely honest, like I hate having to rely on the boot. Like, I just think forward packs can create so much momentum now.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:46

And you know, I think it's arguably it's even more important the younger you get as well. Yeah, as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:52

I I just think it gets to a point if what I see in my head is true in a hypothetical crazy way with Queensland win, which they don't.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:00

Yes, 100%.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:02

The thing that I see in my head with Queensland winning is the forward pack just gets on this crazy roll on, and Hayden Watson and Bishop Neal are just doing freaky shit, and it just it turns into a bit of a train wreck. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:15

It's got me nervous.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:16

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:18

Yeah, as a show just from watching Hayden for two or three weeks. If if he's if he's forward pack is winning the rock, good fucking luck.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:26

Yeah, and like it's not just the fact that they've got really good forwards through the middle, right? Their edge forwards are Bishop Neil, Frank Howarth and then the Maumeninger Cup grand final player of the match is coming off the bench. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, and you know, he's been killing an NRL Q as well, big body offload capabilities, all that sort of thing. It's just like I can just see I can see a stat popping up halfway through the match that says offloads Queensland 15, New South Wales two. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like I can see that sort of a world popping up, and in that world, Hayden Watson's got three try assists and Bishop Neal's got two tries. Like it's yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:02

Okay. Hey mate, uh, before we do leave, as far as this game goes and this concept, is there anything that you think could be done better from like like as in like the build-up and or like it, like I mean, there's only X amount you can do realistically, and I think the NRL does a fantastic job of it. Is there anything conceptually that you thought, oh, maybe we could improve at this or that or anything like that?

SPEAKER_01 1:13:24

Um I think there could be more spot here, but yeah, there could be more focus on the players. Yes. Um, like they build up the game and they try and build up the event as much as they possibly can, but people don't really know the players themselves. Like, I want to try and do a couple of interviews in the lead up and try and um talk to a few players and lead up because like you like some of the best content that came out of last year's under 19's origin was your interviews with Kobe Black and Mitchell Woods and all that sort of thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Kobe Black's holding the shield and giving you shit and like it's like stuff like that. Yeah, like things like that, yeah, I think could be done a lot better. And I know clubs want to protect the images of young players and like hide them away from the media and that, and don't want to put pressure on them and all that sort of thing. But like I look at you know, everybody hates the idea of Americanizing our sport, right? But you look at America, LeBron James was 17 years old and the most known name in in America, like uh in the world, really. Like pressure is you know, and I'll get this qu I get this thing a lot. A lot of people say, Oh, you put a lot of pressure on these kids by commenting on them and and posting about them and all that sort of thing. Pressure's a privilege. If you've got pressure on you, it means that you're doing something right.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:32

If you if you want to pursue a career in the NRL, pressure is your Monday to Friday. That's what you've chosen.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:37

And yes, and I'll tell you what, hiding people away from the pressure and hiding people away from that thing until they actually get there.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:44

Yeah, then it hits them like a fucking track. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:46

You see how many kids reach their first grade, they kill it year one, and then the next couple of years they're just on a downward spiral because you know they have a couple of bad games, and then the media's just into them. Yeah, Lockie Galvin's a prime example. He hasn't even been that bad, but the media's just into him. Social media is into him. Like his first year, he was the second coming of Jesus Christ, the bloke at the Tigers. And then as soon as he signed to the Bulldogs, Tigers fans hated him, didn't want to want to bar of him. It's like, man, he like I don't know, it's it's confusing for me.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:17

I I will say this, um, like as well. I know the NRL, like I've done some advertising for this game over the last years, and I know that they've tried to get access to players, and I I understand it as well from a coaching point of view, these guys want to protect their own players and that sort of stuff. But I I do think it, as you just said, we need to lean in a little bit. I think it's time. Like, can I give you an example? Like, as you just said, the interview uh that I had with Kobe Black last year, loved it. Fucking did huge numbers, it was great. Kobe Black looked down the barrel of the camera and said, I want to be a Bronco for life. The fucking polar opposite has happened. Yeah, you know how many people care? Fucking zero. Yeah, yeah. Zero. Like it's like it's I don't think it's as big a deal as what people carry on with. And you know, I think it it's really good when you do see those guys that are willing to jump behind a mic because you know, they're if all go into plan with their careers, they're 12 months away from having a mic stuck in their mouth three times a week.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:08

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:09

You've got to learn to manage it.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:11

Which they're not fucking idiots. Most of them can actually handle it as well. Yeah, if they can't, you learn from it. Yeah, it's fine.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:17

Yeah, exactly. Like there's no, there's really no issue at all, and it's just experience because you know what, when they do eventually get into the mic, they don't have that Casey McClain moment where they go, Are they talking to me?

SPEAKER_00 1:16:25

Like, exactly, yes. Um, I I will say this as well. Thank Christ. Uh, we spoke a few weeks ago, there was a bit of a vicious rumour getting around it was gonna go to under-21s.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:35

Uh, yeah, so I hate that idea with all of my heart, but um, what it did confirm for me was that there is plans to move to an NYC. Yeah, and they wanted to try and do that. But, you know, as anybody knows who actually follows the junior grades at all, under-21s is a dross age group in terms of, you know, you don't get the best talent there. You know why? Because the best talents in the NRL. The best talents in the U.S. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:57

You get a very watered-down version of that.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:59

Yeah, you get, yeah, it's it's just not the highest quality games, and and Jersey Fleg really suffers because of it. I wouldn't mind an under 20s origin at an absolute max, but I'd actually nearly rather it be, you know, stay at under-19s or even under-18s. Like that would nearly be a better product because it is the best of the best in that age group. Yes. Like rather than, you know, like a few years ago, Blake Steep missed under 19s origin because he was playing first grade. Airmassi Makasini isn't here because he's playing first grade. Like, I think when you get a game that's an age group-based game, I think the best of the age group have to be there. Like, I remember watching a few years ago Australia under 23s, and it had, you know, Ponger and Faso Mother, and like all these really good players, and that was an enjoyable thing to watch. Although I think they absolutely pumped shit out of whoever they're gonna be. They played France. Yeah, they played France and won like 66-0 or something, but it was enjoyable to see the best of the best in that age group mingle together and and play together. So I think you know, if they are gonna make it under 21s, NRO players need to be made available for it, but then NRO coaches will blow up and it just won't be a thing.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:59

So yeah, trying to make everyone happy in rugby league, uh, very tough gig.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:02

And especially doing it during the bye period where NRL teams need those younger players to step up as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:08

That was gonna be my suggestion. The timing of it, and I I know it's a very unique thing, but if Rex and Dane both debut this weekend takes one of them out of this game, I don't love that. Yeah, no, I hate it. Whereas if it was played in round 22 of the NRL season, there's a lot less threat of these guys actually being in a first, especially with these six-man benches.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:28

Or even just straight off the back of the SG Ball and Malmaninga seasons. Yes. Like you go, yeah. You go, okay, we've had our under-19 seasons now. Yeah. Instead of them going up and playing Jersey Fleck in New South Wales Cup and having a situation like this Cody Hill and Diesel Hagen situation where Hagen's playing a higher grade, so therefore he's been put in the side. Yes, instead of having that, you go, who was the best in SG Ball? Who was the best in Malmaninga? Put them together and play that game. Well, that's your game. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:53

Yeah. All right. But in saying that, this game and this product, it is fucking sensational. It is unreal to see. We love it, just sort of spitballing some ideas there. Uh, I would assume that if you've made it this far into the podcast, you're already following the short ball. But if you're not for whatever fucking reason and you have a phone, make sure you get on there. Doing great things. Genuinely, mate, you've been coming on for a few years now. I fucking love the content you put out. I love the effort you put into it. And I think that, you know, it's always on social media, it's always a loud minority that's complaining and has an issue with fucking everything. I do genuinely think the rugby community appreciates what you do so much because it has just honestly, it's you've taken it to a level that I actually didn't think you'd be able to do, or anyone would be able to do for that uh matter. So it's uh it's been really fucking impressive to watch and unreal to see, bro.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:38

Cool. Thanks, mate. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me in once again, and hopefully we'll see you again next year with this uh this uh CBA ball.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:46

Thursday night, North Sydney Oval. Gates open, I believe, 5 45. We've got the women's game on first, which will be a cracker, and then we've got the men's game straight after that. We'll be out there at North Sydney Oval on the Hill. Come and say hi, come and have a few beers. Uh, we'll be locked the fuck in, obviously. So good luck having a conversation with her. But uh, we will be there, know that. Up on the hill, it's gonna be sensational. Thursday night, make sure you jump on there. Got a link down below to grab tickets as well. As we said, uh I spoke to the NRL about this. They're like, uh, I sort of said, I, you know, last year they gave us some free tickets. It's like they're $10 tickets. Yeah, you you will not get more footy for less real estate. If you want to go check out the prices of first grade games at the moment, $10 is a fucking steal, just quietly. Absolutely unreal. So we'll see you out there uh on Thursday night, North Sydney Oval, CBA Bowl, under 19's origin, uh, the stars of the future.