They've been doing it all day sir!
Two Englishmen in Australia, talking sports and life in a new country
They've been doing it all day sir!
Ep#18: Origin, but Beers!
What happens when you combine some of Australia's favourite beers with its greatest sporting rivalry? We're diving headfirst into Origin week with our ultimate State of Origin Beer Teams!
Like any good selectors, we've carefully chosen our starting 13s for both New South Wales and Queensland, matching iconic brews to rugby league positions based on their characteristics, strength, and playing style. From Stone and Wood's versatile fullback qualities to Tooheys New directing traffic like a veteran halfback, we've created the perfect lineup for the Blues. Meanwhile, Queensland counters with XXXX Gold at the back and the monstrous 9.5% Felons Imperial Stout leading the forward pack.
The selections sparked fascinating debates about which state would triumph in this hypothetical beer showdown. Would Queensland's heavier forward pack (most weighing in above 5%) overpower the more balanced NSW team? Or would the Blues' versatility and combination play win the day? Just like real Origin, the margins are razor-thin, though we're predicting a narrow Queensland series victory - much to our chagrin as NSW supporters.
Beyond our beer-fueled fantasy draft, we break down the actual Origin matchups taking place this week, with both men's and women's games promising high-stakes action. We also dissect last weekend's NRL round, where underdogs reigned supreme across the board, and provide our tips for the upcoming fixtures.
Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast or a die-hard league fan, this unique crossover episode delivers plenty of laughs while showcasing our passion for both brewing and rugby. So grab your favorite tinnie and join us for a different kind of Origin analysis that celebrates the best of both states!
Hello and welcome to this week's episode of They've Been Doing it All Day, sir. I'm Ben and I'm Chris. It's Origin Week. Let's get stuck in.
Speaker 2:How's your week been, mate?
Speaker 1:It's not been too bad actually. Chaotic weekend, Very, very, very chaotic weekend. We went to Parramatta Away on. Friday didn't we? We saw Manly get turned over on Friday, which wasn't the greatest of experiences. We'll touch on that later on. We we saw Manly get turned over on Friday, which wasn't the greatest of experiences. We'll touch on that later on, um, when we review the round. But an interesting event happened on Saturday which um made made the news actually which.
Speaker 1:I was quite surprised. It happened at the end of your road, yep, just up the road from me. So, um, me and the boys were out having ice creams on Collaroy Beach and next thing we know we see a uh rescue boat speeding off into the distance. Obviously kids are excited. I was there like what is going on? Eyesight terrible, couldn't see into the distance, couldn't see anything going on. So I was like, oh, let me get my phone out and zoom in.
Speaker 1:And there was just a boat spinning around yeah in the sea, no one in it and, yeah, this rescue boat had gone out, collected the two people who I assume had been tipped over by a big wave been buying the waves and um, yeah, then went around the corner around the other side of the coloroy.
Speaker 1:There were police, ambulance, fire and rescue. There was everyone there. So, yeah, that happened on on saturday. And then, uh yeah, boring chores sunday with the rain and everything. It highlighted how many, how much of the uh leaves are in the gutters. So, so exciting. Got up there and clean them out. Felt like I was doing my good deed for the day of clearing the gutters.
Speaker 2:So exciting. Got up there and cleaned them out.
Speaker 1:Felt like I was doing my good deed for the day of clearing the gutters so we don't have a waterfall streaming over the front of the house. But yeah, apart from my Friday night experience, what did you get up to over the weekend?
Speaker 2:Nothing as exciting as that. My friend, that was what a weekend you had. Nah, pretty chilled out. To be honest, nothing out, to be honest, nothing, nothing crazy. Didn't really get up to much.
Speaker 1:Had very much a quiet one yeah, um nothing, nothing really to report. Weeping, weeping away at mandy's terrible performance on friday night.
Speaker 1:Oh well, not just manly's terrible performance, I think our tipping performance as well, um every game that went on, it was just like couldn't have been further from the truth. But it wasn't only us that were terrible at tips. I think it was a common theme throughout the round, and I saw a stat that highlighted the fact that at this point of the season, the most underdogs have won a higher percentage of games than in any other season, and all five underdogs won this weekend, which is mad.
Speaker 2:To think that the Raiders were the underdogs going into that game. I think it was just solely based on the warriors home record for that. Yeah, um, but yeah, we'll touch on each of the games in a little bit.
Speaker 1:The tipping was terrible, but awful, awful awful yeah but big game this week, or two or two big big games this week in terms of state of origin. We've got the uh men's game kicking off tomorrow night, which we'll have a look at in a bit. Then we've got the women's game on Thursday, but seeing as it's origin week, yes. We thought we'd do something a little different. We are going to do state of origin, yep, but beers yes.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So we're going to do New South Wales against Queensland. We put down a few rules. We've selected our our teams already, but we're going to treat breweries like teams. Yeah, so, for example, four pines brewed in new south wales. We can select beers from their catalog to represent each position that we select them for. Um, we're only picking a starting 13. Yeah, we're not going to go onto the bench. I think there could be too much turmoil if we go to the bench, but we'll go with.
Speaker 1:Uh, we'll alternate the positions that we, that we picked, um, we'll justify why we've picked each beer in that position using a little bit of the description off the website, um, and maybe a bit of our own experience supping those beers and ales that we've been talking about, yes, a lot of these we have sampled as well, which I think adds a little bit more of an authentic experience to it it does, and I think a lot of them are based around the day after experience as well, which is which is a good one um.
Speaker 2:So yeah, um, should we, should we kick it off?
Speaker 1:yeah, we've gone with the more common recognized brands I think we could have gone into independent breweries and stuff like that. But I think it's important that we just go with the kind of more recognized, familiar brands and if we missed any out, like, please feel free to comment below any of the ones that you might have missed out, because, you never know, there could be the uh pain hearse of new south wales beers out there that we've completely missed.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, do you want to kick it this? We're going to start with new south wales. Um, we're going to go from backs to to forwards, so you're kicking us off with who have you selected for our fallback?
Speaker 2:I've gone for a stone and wood hazy 5.2 percent, and there's a reason for this, and when I was trying to justify this decision, I had to dive into the research quite a bit. When it comes to this, it's quite a heavy percentage, something that you'd probably see in the pack, but in saying that it's a beer that that goes everywhere, in the sense of whatever, whatever you eat, it pairs with it brilliantly. So if you're on your burgers, you're tiny, and curries, a cheese platter, barbecue, fried chicken, covers, covers, the whole whole range, and that's what you want from your fullback is you want a beer that covers everything, um, and, and yeah, that's why, that's why I went with.
Speaker 2:It also packs that little bit of a punch, which you know when the fullbacks running the ball. You, you want that, um, and after sampling it as well, it's a delightful little tipple I like that one.
Speaker 1:I like that one. At fullback it kicks. It kicks off nice and strong, gets the ball from deep as well and runs it back with a bit of bit of power. Um, I'm gonna pick one winger for the. The next pick, um, I've gone for a bit of a bit of a random one, but it's a two ease, extra dry, but the platinum version okay um, it's a.5 percenter, but hear me out.
Speaker 1:So again a heavy percenter that could be worthy of position in the forwards. But it is a lager so it's not got that hoppy fruity kind of dense taste and flavor that you'd expect from a forward. It's clean and crisp, so it's certainly got no place in the forwards. It's not rough and ready, it's not rough around the edges like those forwards Got a clean finish and I feel it could bolt anyone over in a corner. I mean it's 6.5, it's got the power. I reckon it can contest the high ball as well. You can throw it up against anything. I think it would hold its own. Um, I did consider this. It. It may be in a center position as well. Like reminded me a little bit of a latrell mitchell kind of kind of vibe with the with the percentage and the size that he's got. But to me I think out of all the beers that we've selected, this could be one of the best wingers in the comp, if I'm honest that's a heavy start to the to the back three we are that's.
Speaker 2:That's a big start, um, so on the other wing we've got james squire stride. Okay, um, I don't think you could really look at this beer and not put it in a wing position as the name suggests striding over the line. It's low carb, so that's the big thing about it, so that's why it shifts it into that back position. Still a decent little percentage at 4.2. So you can't really work away from that. Having sampled this at Squire's Landing, it's a very drinkable. It disappears quickly. What you want from it? From a winger, think sort of brian tahoe or teruva? Um, that that start at that esk of winger and yeah, it's a. It's a solid drink to complete the back three and you know what.
Speaker 1:To complement that, at one of the centers it could probably pair alongside, actually, the uh stride.
Speaker 1:I've gone with the james squires, 150 lashes nice and I'm going to read its description and I think it screams out center all over it. So when james squires was caught stealing the ingredients to brew the colony's first beer, he was punished with 150 lashes of a whip. Thankfully for us, james squire remained undeterred and kept on brewing, so we named our iconic pale ale in honour of his drive and hustle. A few things I like from that is the fact that he's stealing, so loves an interception, loves jumping in, reading the play and being able to jump in and take it all the way to the other end of the field. Has drive and hustle Something you need. You want a gritty dog in there. 4.2% light crisps sounds like an absolute animal, so I think that couples well with the uh, james squires low carb on on the wing yeah, and, and you can bring in my other senator to partner with your two.
Speaker 2:He's heavy, heavy winger and I've gone for just the stone and wood. Um pacific ale, yeah, so it's 4.4%. Absolute gun of a beer Can sink these for days and they just don't stop working. And that's what you want from your centres. You want something in there that is going to be playing for 80 minutes and is going to be a hard hitting in beer in sense Light and hoppy to get around the defenders, but can also pack a punch when carrying the ball.
Speaker 1:So a great partner with any second rower or winger as well yeah, it seems like we've got a solid back five there, not gonna lie. New south wales have come out absolutely swinging yes, um, going into the halves. So I've got six, you got seven, you got we're gonna take up those responsibilities for new south wales and switch for queensland, but it's six. I've've gone for the Four Pines Lager.
Speaker 2:Nice 4.5%.
Speaker 1:Maybe here I'm being a bit biased because brewed on the Northern Beaches manly supporters, but it's a versatile one. Like there's many a time up in the Ken Arthurson that we've been sipping tins and tins and tins. Lager or Japanese lager, the Japanese lager Ah sipping tins and tins and tins lager or japanese lager, the japanese lager? Sorry, yeah, the japanese lager. Yep. So again, if we're going international, it could be eligible for.
Speaker 2:Yeah, other other selections here, but we can maybe dive into that one during the world cup or something but um, yeah, it's reliable.
Speaker 1:Not the master of the ship, I don't think. I don't think it's got the credentials to um be controlling everyone about. But as a second receiver, we've invested a hell of a lot of money into this number six over the last few years. Very decent, kick on it. You can have a few of them and next thing you know you're in Brookie Hotel. Moving on to the stronger stuff. So a few Sundays we've certainly felt the impact of the.
Speaker 1:Japanese lager, but who is the master of the Japanese lager? But who is the master of the ship for New South Wales?
Speaker 2:So I've gone to his new 4.6%.
Speaker 1:Here he is what you're sipping nicely there.
Speaker 2:The reason for this is because this beer bleeds New South Wales through and through and is everywhere. It's in every pub. Exactly what you want from a seven Directing traffic. It's been described as a legend since 1931. And I think what better fitting for a number seven? As I said, it directs traffic left, right and centre. I reckon it would create new players on the go because, it's got that, it's been around.
Speaker 1:It's a wily old dog, just knows what it's doing. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:It wouldn't leave the refs here either. I think this could be going as a captain, maybe selection maybe a little bit biased, as it was my choice. It just looks like a chirpy one as well, yeah, it just wouldn't leave the refs here, and I reckon it would be the first in a fight as well. I reckon if it kicked off against Queensland, that would be the first beer flying in to get in there, just because of its roots within New South Wales, you know solid, solid lineup so far.
Speaker 1:Just looking through what we've got and we're moving on to the forwards. Now, yep, one prop again, maybe Northern Beach's bias, but gone for the four pines Nitro Stout. Nice 5.1 smooth, full-bodied, well-rounded. We've had a few of these yes uh, four pines in manly, overlooking the wharf um, and I can tell you a couple of hit ups of these and you certainly feel it. It's the closest thing to a true guinness, I feel in australia coffier notes.
Speaker 2:I think it's better than the actual Guinness in Australia as well, yeah, I would agree with that.
Speaker 1:I could drink a lot. I think it's because as well of the creaminess of it, whereas the Guinness over here is brewed slightly different.
Speaker 2:It doesn't retain the cream, it's a lot lighter.
Speaker 1:Maybe the nitro has got something to do with it. The smoother bubbles, bubbles, but it goes down very easy and I think this just shows it's a well around, it's well well-rounded power. Um, so yeah, number 10, the four pines, nitro stout nice.
Speaker 2:I've gone for the other prop, um, and I've gone for two. Is old at quite a light percentage of 4.4, which you're like, oh, hang on a sec, that's a bit light for a forward. But it's an old timer. It's been around the block a fair few times, has a few war stories, battle scars, exactly you're probably you probably feel it the next day as well as sinking a fair few of them.
Speaker 2:Um, even though it's light percentage, um, I reckon it's a massive heavy drink. As I said, reminds me of like a fisher harris. Um, just just an. Reminds me of like a Fisher Harris, just an absolute dog. Been around the block a few times and, as I said, I think that would partner the nitrous out in the pack very well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, let's go with your nine next. So who's partnering the two of them in the middle?
Speaker 2:I've gone for the four pints pacific ale at 3.5 percent. And no, this is light, it. Is it this?
Speaker 1:this was the issue when I was trying to get roughed up by those queens and heavy bodies I don't know about the.
Speaker 2:the reason for it is because at nine, I feel like you need to have someone who's light on the feet and able to get around the field quite quickly. The, the nine in in league, reminds me of the nine in in Union, in the sense of that scrum half at every rook making all those passes. As I said, it's described as nimble, light and smooth. In the sense, yeah, perfect, perfectly goes for what I'm looking for and, after sampling many of these at Brookie Oval, as well as the four-point bars, I think it's a good choice for nine. The only issue I worry about is the lightness of it, but I reckon it would get a job done by by pulling the strings yeah, and I'll support it.
Speaker 1:12 as well, with one that is also a little lighter, um, but it's got the. It's the han super dry 4.5. Got Now just off the outset, as soon as I started doing some like I've had a few of these, like it's not my go-to beer. But you know, when you're thinking of carbs and you're thinking of preservatives it's kind of, if you're trying to watch the figure, it's a good one to go for. Mine's a little bit of Hudson Young, okay when.
Speaker 2:I bit of research around it.
Speaker 1:I don't know, just screaming hudson young to me. So a bit light, a bit smaller, but it's just just clean, just does a job. Like carb free would be absolutely shredded. If I had to picture a beer as a person, I think this one would be hudson young and it tries to hang with the big dogs and it's not afraid of getting stuck in. So my, uh, one of my second rows is going to be, yeah, the hans, super dry 4.5 unreal, unreal.
Speaker 2:And to partner, I've gone again for the for another this is the another Northern beaches club member. I've gone for the four pines, just normal pale ale at 5.1%. Okay, so it's. It's been the solid four pine staple for years. It's easy to drink but can can pack a punch the next day. You definitely. If you've had a few of these, you definitely feel them the next next day. Um, full flavored, with a smooth, bitter finish. Um, I can imagine it being there making big hits and some big carries as well. And reminds me it's quite funny when, when you do this, you do start picturing the beers as players you do it's so funny in that sense.
Speaker 2:But and the player that jumped out to me straight away was aliquatu, because it can do both, both sides of the ball- yeah, in a sense of hitting and running and, I think, being a stapler within the northern beaches as well, I think that's quite a good comparison in that way yeah, and to finish it up, the 13, the connection between the um forwards and backs the powerhouse, to kind of bring it in.
Speaker 1:I've gone with. I've had to dive into the catalog for this one of the uh, four pines, four pines brewery, but I've gone with the hazy pale ale, yep, uh, I've only ever tried this once, so I'm not too familiar with it, but six percent, okay, juicy, it doesn't look good.
Speaker 1:It looks like one of those fruity ones. It comes out thick but it does damage, yeah, like if you that will run it into the line a few hit ups, you'd know about it, um, and it's got a bit. It's got the ability, though, to be a bit crafty, like it'll catch you out, um, catch you off guard, but it's a real fruity number, so it's got that flair in it as well. On the website it's described as a mystic haze, so I think there's an air of uncertainty around it as well. And it'll keep your keep the keep. The queenslanders guessing, I think so. Yeah, I've finished us off with the four pines hazy pale ale at six percent. So that's our new south wales lineup a bit light.
Speaker 2:I think that's the only thing I'd worry about. It's not the heaviest.
Speaker 1:It's not the heaviest, and when we cover some of the Queenslanders in a second, I'll tell you what we'll discuss at the end who we think we'd win out of this, because I think it's actually a tighter contest than I first thought, but I'll kick us off with the Queenslanders.
Speaker 1:Starting off at fullback is the forex itself. The forex gold, screams queenslander their sponsor. I think the forex um brewery is not too far away from the suncorp as well. They describe it as full flavor, versatile, light, speedy how would you describe it? Shit, there we go. So sorry for the taste side of it. It's such a horrible bit. But the interesting thing about this is, as well, we don't have the highest opinions of reese walsh and yeah, when we talk about picturing uh players, yeah, it reminds me of reese walsh, like it says here versatile, light, speedy and gets in and among, like I put it, gets in and amongst it on all occasions.
Speaker 1:Yep. The only thing that I'd worry is that it would get its head taken off by the two e's extra dry platinum on the other side. So kind of like reese walsh-esque, yep, joseph suoli-esque. Yeah, I think it's got the ability there, but certainly can cause trouble if you let it. If you don't keep it under wraps, it will certainly cause you trouble. So I've gone for the Australian staple, the Queensland staple, the 4X gold at fullback. Good start I suppose.
Speaker 2:So I'll go through the first winger I've gone for. Bolter Cerveza. Ooh, the old Leighton number. Yes, at 4%, leighton Hoppy on its feet. This beer is exactly what you want from a winger, in that sense of being able to dive around the fenders Can be a little bit one-dimensional. I say that because it's a lot better to drink out of a bottle than it is a pint of Very like Corona.
Speaker 1:I was about to go down that avenue, in that essence.
Speaker 2:You never drink, even though you can buy Corona pints, you're like, nah, never, it always tastes better out of a bottle.
Speaker 1:You're a serial killer if you're drinking Corona, pints yeah, but it still does the job.
Speaker 2:It still does the job regardless. Good looking beer which always makes an appearance on the hottest 100 as well. So a lot of queenslanders end up in that. Yeah, yeah so, but it was quite funny when I I was, I was thinking the the reese walsh element of it as well, especially when I did the hottest 100 um side of it. But but yeah, it could be a, could be a xavier coats um, a lighter version of xavier coats, or a, or a val val homes esque um, but yeah, it's. It's a solid beer to drink and I like it. Good start on the wing.
Speaker 1:I like it, and then, flipping it over to the other side, I've gone for the Great Northern Original 4.2%, worked in Darwin a bit last year and I know Darwin's obviously not in Queensland, but had a fair few of these whilst I was up there.
Speaker 1:So I think I've got a good flavour for this one and I agree with the description that it is on the website. If it's a nice, clean, crisp finish, it's light, agile. Um, I think it would love the high ball again, similar to I think we've got an aerial contest, but the old 6.2 depending on which wing the platinum's coming up on yep could be interesting.
Speaker 1:Um, goes well in the heat as well so that's why I referenced the darwin, like when, when you're sitting there sipping on these. This is why I think it would do well at the suncorp nice. I think it would do well up there, um, but again, it's just one of the ones that screams queensland as well, like it's the first. It's one of the two first names on the sheet, along with a with a forex.
Speaker 2:So, um, yeah, I've gone with the great northern original hmm, right, uh, well, at the first center, um you, you'd have been. You'd start seeing these creeping up around the northern beaches as felons has dived into manly, but it originates in queensland, in queensland, yep, yep, and I've gone for the first of many heavy hitters for Queensland, so their normal IPA is at 6.2%.
Speaker 2:Description is lush, juicy and tropical. Our punchy IPA hits you with lip-smacking fruitiness and a smooth, bitter finish. Flavors of mango and passion fruit will have you going ah, with every sip it's a bit fruity. It's a bit fruity, it's a bit fruity, but then it's also it's also loaded with delicious usa uh, usa grown hops, so it's got a bit of international element to it. Oh, I wonder where it's uh, it's uh.
Speaker 2:Allegiances would lie in the future um, after having it, I've had a few. This is my go-to when I go to felons. To be fair, um, it's definitely smooth and what it does is what you want from a center in that. That's that side of things. Um, hard, hard hitter, hard finisher. So I think it'd be good to go up against, like sort of the, the heavier winger slash center of new south wales. Um, and yeah, it'd be a good, good start.
Speaker 1:Good, good enforcer for the backs yeah, it seems like Felon's uh having a bit of a presence in the centre spot because I've, I've the other. As the other centre I've picked the um crisp lager, 4.2 percent. So Felon's fairly new on the scene. So this reminded me of kind of Robert Toya getting selected for Queensland. It's a refreshing lager, apparently Australia's most refreshing lager, sorry, apparently.
Speaker 2:But it's a.
Speaker 1:Pilsner so slightly different take on the malt that they're using A little bit different on the palate. So I think it would offer something unique. Might need a bit of versatility coming up against the heavier New South Wales centre, but I reckon it could cause the opposition some trouble, and as I'm reading this I can just picture Robert Toyer as well. So I've gone with the Felins Crisp Lager at the other centre.
Speaker 2:But where's your?
Speaker 1:six who's your six?
Speaker 2:Sticking with the Super Crisps or the Crisps, I've gone for the Great Northern super crisp, 3.5%. So quite light in the halves there. I can imagine this crisp by name, crisp by nature in everything that it does, smooth passer, great. Second kicking option if your seven's taking over, that Would be able to open up defenses very well. I imagine it's very quick and nimble on its feet very much like a dearden-esque player. Um nice light beer which would just keep keep churning out the minutes yeah, not a bad choice.
Speaker 1:And then to partner that I'm gonna call it now I think this might be best on ground I I think the Bolta XPA. We have sampled this very often and once you get started on these things you get the confidence and creativity to try anything. So I feel it would just marshal the troops around. It's easy to drink. Their description punches you right in the taste buds. You sit back, relax and then bang, it's got you.
Speaker 1:It almost reminds me of kind of like Cleary's performance against the Broncos in the final they took their foot off the pedal and next thing you know he's won in the grand final. So 5% and it's actually won the lot. It's won so many awards. It's been top three in the great australian beer spectacular, the gabs um, since 2017 and, as I've mentioned, I think it might be the best out there. So it is number seven, for queensland is the bolter xpa um where are we going in the forward pack, though? So?
Speaker 2:this is the heaviest. This is the heaviest on the field, back at Felons.
Speaker 1:Fitness would be a question with this one.
Speaker 2:I definitely agree with that. It's verging on being a wine, their imperial stout at 9.5%, heavy, heavy, heavy prop to partner, partner, whoever they are in the pops um, very complex beer that shifts and changes as it warms. Is is is what the description was, which I think was fantastic yeah um, because props just get better and better as they get into the game yeah perfect for drinking now or slathering for a couple of years.
Speaker 2:So you know, you've got a few years out of this player yeah um, when I, when I, when I saw this and when I was going through it like junior, paulo jumped out to me straight away and fenua blake fenua blake immediately, as I saw this is the first one that popped into my head um, it's a drink that you can't, you can't be switched off on, like you've got to be aware, the whole time you're drinking it.
Speaker 2:Um, as, as well as playing against those two, you you need to be switched on for the whole game, because then bam it'll, it'll knock you out when you least expected it.
Speaker 1:That is a heavy, heavy prop, and then to partner it, I'll go with the bolter ipa, which is also a heavy percentage pale ale coming in at 6.8, which I actually think is heavier than either of the new south wales props. So they've got some big boys up front. Um, and it's dangerous, like I. There was a stage I went through of buying four cans like four I think it was maybe six or four cans of this. And you wake up the next morning and my word, you know, you've. You've drunk those four cans. But the the description again is hilarious. It's clean, hoppy base, offers a relentless yet refined bitterness, complimented by pine nuts and citrus aromatics. His cheers to a big refreshers after a hard one day Screams just hard worker, screams workhorse. It'll pack a punch in the forwards, solid as a rock. And when I see this one just gives me big Tino.
Speaker 1:Just gives me big Tino vibes Could sneak up on you as well. They'll forearm whilst running, give you a little punch in the mouth whilst you're trying to take them down. So yeah, I've gone eight, and then I'll carry on with my nine. So hear me out on this one. Okay, I've gone the Bundaberg ginger beer. Right, it's not alcoholic, but it's brewed.
Speaker 2:So it is a beer. It is a beer.
Speaker 1:Why didn't you go for the alcoholic? No, okay, because I just feel that the it's a queensland staple like the okay, everyone knows it, everyone drinks it, everyone loves it.
Speaker 1:It's a solid all-rounder like you put alcohol in it, I don't know, but can tackle anything. So it mixes well with a lot of stuff. Yeah, um, mix it with a rum and it becomes a dark and stormy, and I think that's what's needed at nine just dark and stormy just can tackle anything. They can target it and it will just be there, create a storm in a teacup and it will just compliment those two big boys next to them. So, lacking the alcoholic punch, but couple it with something and it will be an absolute powerhouse. And it's got two powerhouses next to it.
Speaker 1:So, I've gone for that nice.
Speaker 2:Um well, first second rower, this is this is again heavy in the set in that sense, like I there, I don't think. Yeah one, none of our forwards in this are under five percent, um, which is, which is crazy, uh, so I've gone for the backward bolter. The hazy ipa, so described as if a weather app forecast the outlook on this beer, it would say slightly cloudy, with a downpour of juicy hops, screams Queensland. It's luscious nectar showers your lips with a combination of candid orange, mango and passion fruit, followed with a refreshing breeze of bitterness beneath.
Speaker 1:I think we've got to have a question around how fruity these descriptions are. What's the audience trying to appeal to in this? These are great. These are great descriptions. These are questionable at best.
Speaker 2:Um, I reckon this is a boy that would be flying around into everything. Uh, and as I said previously about the number seven, would be the first in the fight.
Speaker 2:I think this is the first person meeting him in that fight um, in that sense it hits you out of nowhere again after sampling a fair few of these. It's just a solid, solid drink. Never smiles on the field. I reckon this is a grumpy, grumpy old, like older player who will just want to hit everything. Uh, as I said, and as I said again, b you need to keep your eye on because it could blindside you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then to partner that I've gone Felons Australian Pale Ale at 5%. So a fairly new one on the scene. The Felons Brewery seems to be getting a few players selected, had a few of these actually up Story Bridge, the Felons Brewery right next to Story Bridge. When I was up there, versatile this is very versatile, like you said, with what was the one that you said earlier.
Speaker 1:That goes with, goes with everything this kind of kind of joins that it's got some power in it but light enough to be nimble and agile, kind of can complement many different things. I think if I pictured this as a player, it'd take a hard carry but it'd also stop a few people in their tracks as well. Kind of. Is that Paddy Carrigan? It could be Carrigan's a prop, but I suppose he could drop back and play in this. So yeah, reminds me of that. But who are you going with at 13? Who's the linchpin of this lot?
Speaker 2:I've got Back with Felons. I love the name of this one, actually Paradise IPA at 6%. As I've said, queensland is full of some heavy boys and I think this is just the one to finish it all off. It's only a limited release, so maybe it's its own origin performance, so it may be one and done in that sense. But in saying that, but once watching the performances of this beer, they may have to rethink it.
Speaker 2:And then it may be one that's selected for years to come. So it's one of those on the fence, but I think, a solid beer to finish up the Queensland team.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I suppose the biggest question is then knowing everyone that's out on field who's taking game one, who's taking the series, who's taking the series.
Speaker 2:I think this would really depend on weather, because if a pitch is saturated and it has to go to old school up your jumper rugby league, I reckon Queensland run away with it.
Speaker 1:They've got power in the middle. They've got some heavy boys.
Speaker 2:Whereas if it's warm pitch is like a carpet. I reckon the speed and the agility for for the, for the new south world backs, and a little bit of their pack would would see it through. Yeah, so I'm, I'm going, it would be.
Speaker 1:It pains me to say it, but I think it could be a 2-1 to to queensland yeah, it's a difficult one because I look at this now and I'm like, do you know what? The new south wales back five the pack maybe have a bit of versatility, depends who they target. But to me, having the Bolter XPA controlling things, I think, yeah, such a good beer Sends it around. I don't think it'd be an easy, easy victory for the Queenslanders. But yeah, I think they get a 2-1 victory in this series. But again, if we've missed any or if there's any that you feel that we could add in that we don't know, please do let us know down in the comments below.
Speaker 2:But it seems like, unfortunately, a Queensland victory in the Origin of beers Maybe we can revisit next year and see if there's any new ones that pop up on the scene. We'll have to do some market research.
Speaker 1:Yeah, which means actually traveling around and tasting them. Which? Yeah which would be a good one. But let's move on to actual origin. Yep, origin, um game one kicks off. Hopefully this will be out tomorrow, all things going well, so kicks off tonight. Uh, what your initial thoughts on how you think it's going to go?
Speaker 2:um, I'm hoping obviously straight off the bat for a new south wales new south wales win. Um, I think if you break down the elements of the teams, the only thing that worries me is the, the backs for new south wales. There's not a lot of form and there's not been a lot of games in them yeah you look at lomax and Toe, who have been out injured for a long period of times. Edwards isn't having the best of season so far, and then you've got Mitchell again.
Speaker 2:He started in and out but he started to come up, and then Crichton's up in the air at the moment.
Speaker 1:And he limped off yesterday or today I have Cork in his quad.
Speaker 2:He's still in the starting line-up but that could change tomorrow. A lot of corks popping around this year.
Speaker 1:It's like the new FAD injury. Everyone just seems to be getting a cork, because Payne House has got one as well, which isn't great.
Speaker 2:But then that's a massive heavy hitter sort of out. Turbo's also got a cork, but we'll touch on that in a bit. Turbo hasn't been fit all season but in saying that I reckon I reckon the team's good enough to to do over Queensland. I think the pack is a lot better than than Queensland's. Like Mitch Barnett and Payne Hassel, that's a solid starting prop. The Warriors missed Mitch Barnett massively, massively.
Speaker 1:He's one of those ones that just goes on, doesn't go under the radar, but he just goes about his business, just goes about his business and gets it done like, doesn't put in outstanding performances, but just does his job, is solid, runs the ball when he needs to, makes the tackles when he needs to. Um, and I think he's uh yeah, a very influential player in this forward bunch.
Speaker 1:I believe the Queensland underdog story is obviously coming out Like what would never write off a Queensland team, or Queensland teams are always underdogs In this. I do genuinely think they are the weaker side out of the two, but what I believe will spur them on is the fact it's in queensland like they love me they love it up there. We were mentioning just earlier that um we need to get up there we need to get out there.
Speaker 1:Suncorp away day for for origin is definitely on the bucket list to do. We went to sydney but the accord just hasn't got the same presence like again, I suppose the question I've just just thought of, like what's your opinion on the atmosphere of origin compared to? Oh, it's completely different it's, it's it.
Speaker 2:I think it's closer, uh, but in then saying that when we went last year there was still queensland fans sat in front of us in the batches area. So like the, the ultras area, I suppose. Um, it is a little bit more hostile. Yeah, but gives you a slight feeling of yeah.
Speaker 1:Sport in the uk.
Speaker 2:But and then saying that you can the way, the way you can always judge the hostility and how horrible a game is going to be from a fan's point of view is always about like sort of police presence. Yeah, there's, there's just never any um. There's no horses, no no, no, there's no right shields and things like that, which I suppose is good and as I go back.
Speaker 2:It makes it a lot more family friendly, and which is fantastic, which is what you want, but I think there's more. There's more hostility on the field than there is in the stands.
Speaker 1:I reckon we might see some of that on the field in game one. I believe Queensland know that they are underdogs.
Speaker 2:They know that they're under sized or under skilled. Maybe they've got a great backline, though I don't don't count them out on that. They've got a very good set of backs there they do and I believe that they're gonna.
Speaker 1:I think new south wales are gonna target robert toyah, being new to the setup and I mean earlier I heard the right edge would be Cleary, toto Crichton and who's the other one, and then Dylan Edwards looping in on that as well. That's devastating to be running at someone on their Queensland debut, but to flip that they could be psyching Queensland out saying we're going to run at him and then have something planned for the other side.
Speaker 1:So I think they've just got weapons aging, aging, val homes on the wing yeah, I agree, but with moses being able to stick it up to lomax as well, that connection that we saw.
Speaker 2:I can't wait to see that saw last year.
Speaker 1:I don't know. I just part of me wants to say that new south wales is going to absolutely blow him away.
Speaker 2:But first one's always a cagey affair.
Speaker 1:Origin. We're up in Queensland. It's going to be a great game. I can't wait to see the RG barge. Back to the point that I was saying originally.
Speaker 2:I think the Queenslanders might resort to some wind-up tactics, especially when Spencer Lennie comes on For sure.
Speaker 1:I reckon they'll be straight at him. I tell you what Lennie against Tino is going to be something. If there's going to be, that's something that will. If that, if there's going to be fist thrown, I think that'll be the closest to yeah.
Speaker 2:But a couple of years ago. It was people that you weren't expected. It was um dane gagai walloping matt burton. Yeah, and who's there? Who was there to flying him straight away? Was it cherry evans? It was tino big tino.
Speaker 1:There we go. I think it's going to kick off um. I'm hoping it's refereed well. I'm hoping the refs don't ruin the game. Yep, origin tends to be refereed completely different to the rest of the season and there might be a clampdown after Origin. But to me I think that the New South Wales have got a stronger bench as well.
Speaker 1:And that lends itself to when the intensity of that game three last year was something else, and if they start like that this year, then having a strong interchange bench is really important. So looking forward to it, though it's going to be great. What do you reckon? You got any kind of predictions? What do you think is going?
Speaker 2:to. I'm going to go for a big New South Wales win. What?
Speaker 1:do you reckon the score will?
Speaker 2:be. I think it'll be like a 32-18.
Speaker 1:High scoring yeah.
Speaker 2:I think it will be high scoring. You think a game won last year? I know New South Wales went down to one, went down to one, went down to 12.
Speaker 1:I'm going to say this now. I still think it's the biggest hit in rugby I've ever seen.
Speaker 2:When you watch it back, it just gets bigger and bigger. To be honest.
Speaker 1:I mean, we'll talk about the Roosters-Sharks game in a second, but Milotalo's hit wasn't too dissimilar, he got lucky. But my word, every time I see a replay of Joseph Sordi, he's hit.
Speaker 2:It doesn't help, wiesch-walsh, I have too many for it. Yeah, reese walsh slips into the tackle as well, um, which drops his height completely, and yeah, looking back and no one can argue it's a red card.
Speaker 1:Yeah no, no reese walsh hasn't recovered since that day um, so yeah, what are you going with 32?
Speaker 2:32, 18, I think. What about yourself?
Speaker 1:I think I believe it's going to be a lot closer. I'm going to. I don't think any team's going to score over 20 points. I think it's going to be a cagey affair okay. I reckon it'll be something like a 18-12 18-14 with the odd penalty maybe kicked here and there nice but yeah, we'll see, I can't wait for it. Origin, I think, is some of the best footy, most anticipated footy of the year. But following that on the Thursday, women's straight into Women's Origin. I mean it's done and dusted.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is it is very much done and dusted, but I felt, as I said, I felt so sorry for the New South Wales women's team from the last game, just because of how shit and whether will fingers crossed be? Better yeah would be a lot better. It's up in newcastle. Um, wow, women's are 1.16. Uh, to win queens under 5.30, my word, that is a big, big difference.
Speaker 1:That says it all if queenslanders love to be underdogs there you go.
Speaker 2:They've also lost tamika upton at the back. I know, I know she got stepped out of feet, but she, she was solid in the first two games, yeah but that hamstring she, she don't yeah yeah, she, I think she looked and you.
Speaker 2:That's the game one, to be honest. But now the the New South Wales team has still got a solid, such a good back line. I expect them them to come into it. I expect Abbey Church to come into plays a little bit better, a bit more sorry, and yeah, 3-0. Hopefully it does happen. But if the girls win 3-0 and then the men's win 3-0, it'll be the first ever complete whitewash of Origin, because it's only the first year that they've done a well. The second year they've done a 3 game series and I don't think there has been a three nil yet.
Speaker 1:So that would be pretty awesome for new south wales as a whole do you know what I like from it as well, and it shouldn't require this. It should be something that happens anyway. But the, the performance of the um women's blues, the way it's kind of propelled them to be more on social media in terms of being in programs and stuff like that. I think it should be something that happens anyway. But um, and it's unfortunate, it's taken a dominating performance for it to happen. But their analysis, their inside knowledge like seeing um who's I saw the other day on olivia kernick that was it featuring on podcasts. I think it was. It's good to get out there and also hear their challenges on podcasts as well.
Speaker 1:Like hear what they've gone through in the struggles because, like you say, it's only been two series, since it's been um three, three, three three game series, so yeah, but what I've been invested in it for?
Speaker 2:the last last two games. I'll watch this one.
Speaker 1:I think they're gonna blow them away. I I hope the Queens then turn up. Yeah, they pop a bit of a fight, but this could be yeah, but origin's origin, anything could happen. It could, it could. So we're predicting a New South Wales-Queens sweep Wednesday.
Speaker 2:Thursday, yep.
Speaker 1:And then hopefully it'll be 6-0 across the two series. We shall see, but let's get into the weekend's fixtures. We're going to go quickly through these because we spent a lot of time on the old beers. But my word some upsets. Big upsets over the weekend, underdogs definitely took the centre stage, starting with kind of where why didn't we tip the roosters like all signs? Pointing towards the roosters and we didn't do it but I was.
Speaker 2:I was sat here going rooster should be rooster, but then I I was looking at the sharks team that hadn't lost anyone no one and no one. You know it's. It's yeah, it was so fresh, it was so frustrating. Sharks were just poor. Again, I don't know they weren't the Sharks team that you expected to determine but Roosters were really good. They were just dominant. Their line breaks were just incredible. They put in their hard yards.
Speaker 1:Tedesco was great, nohwanganitawase was great. I think they just performed really well. It's been there. This is the worry. It's been there. They've just lost a few players for injury. Um, the odd stupid result, inconsistent result, yeah, here and there, but for the last few weeks they've actually been decent. Let's touch. We touched on it earlier. Let's talk about it. Um, the roosters. I can't remember what try it was, but mulatalo's hit on the one huge, absolutely decapitating um, like you say.
Speaker 2:I think he was a sort of a centimeter away from it being a red um.
Speaker 1:If no one going to need to say wasn't six foot four yeah, he is on the on the floor out cold like.
Speaker 2:Reece Walsh Massive, huge hit, huge hit, and that definitely, that definitely shifts the game. In that sense, this is part of me, but it's the. What I have liked is the reference of of high shots has been a lot better as well Recently.
Speaker 1:You agree with it as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah I think they they very much. The refs definitely got together and and sort of over penalized and under penalized, over. So then just sort of found the middle ground with it and it's, it's got so much better, Um, but yeah, you can't have any arguments with that. Um, it, it was, it was shot. Yeah, it was um it was part of me, thinks it was also a good shot as well, like it took him an opportunity.
Speaker 1:He was getting under his skin. But I think we were saying the same about joseph soirees and you watch it back and it's like, wow, it actually was pretty bad. But in terms of the roosters, you reckon we've now got to start taking them serious. You know, annoyingly I reflected on this last week. We were talking about the sharks turning a corner yeah and starting to become more consistent, and now they get pumped. This this is.
Speaker 2:The thing is like, I don't think there has been any real consistency with teams um, even the teams at the top of of losing losing games unbelievably open. Um, it's great to see everyone's beating everyone. So are the roosters back, if? If they perform like that every week, yeah, why, why not Players? They were missing as well, though. Yeah, massive.
Speaker 1:Newbie mentality right Next man up mentality and the prop that came on and scored within two touches of his debut absolutely incredible. I heard Brandon Smith talk about him earlier and apparently he's a boxer as well and he's 33-0 undefeated, or something, jesus. So you don't want to get on the wrong side of him, but yeah, roosters, I think we've got to start taking them serious, yeah well, we'll see what they do this week and that's what you can do go week by week with it.
Speaker 2:At times they're playing the Raiders, so that's a big test for both teams. So it'd be interesting to see where they are after that. Yeah, so talking about the Raiders, we are talking about the Raiders. We are now at the Raiders Warriors game Warriors 10, raiders 16. What were your thoughts on this game? I couldn't really put my finger on it. Do you reckon it was sort of a Raiders out tough to Warriors in that sense, or what are your thoughts?
Speaker 1:Slightly. I mean talking of high shots.
Speaker 1:There was one of them that we'll touch on in a minute of Stalin who shortest man on the field. But I feel this comes down to the Warriors. Even though the Warriors have got incredible players that have in the past proven to be clinical finishers Tuivasa, shek, watesni, zalesniak they haven't been able to find the finishing touches to moves, to sets, in order to get them over that. And I think we've spoken about this a few times. Their points differential is quite narrow and it shows they're not allowed to. That would not allow, they're allowed to do anything they can't like blow away into a lead once they're up. They can't then build on that and build on that and build that. And that's what happened with this. They were 10, 10, 4 up, I think, at one point. A try then and you think, ah, they might go away of it, but they didn't. They let the raiders back into it. Raiders then go and score in the second half. And our man, jamal Fogarty nice to see him, it's exciting to watch him running, running with a ball.
Speaker 2:He's not the fastest, but it's short he's got a short stride, but it's good to see one thing he does have is a huge boot, and that's something is how big his boot is and I think this was lost in the middle a little bit, losing Mitch Barnett not having Fisher Harris as well both of them out. You look who comes off the bench for the Raiders and Josh Papali. He's a big boy and he would destroy the middles. And Tom Starlings I was saying before he doesn't need to leave his feet, he's 4-4 nothing as he is.
Speaker 2:He could still have put in a massive shot if he'd have just tackled normally, but he jumps off his feet and clears the player's head.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was Metcalf, I think he hit. But yeah, it's unnecessary and it puts him under unnecessary pressure. But what happens then is this is what I'm on about the Warriors can't take advantage of 12 men, and they should at that point have gone ahead, scored a few tries, but they didn't. I think they might have actually conceded.
Speaker 2:There was only three minutes left.
Speaker 1:Oh sorry, I'm thinking wasn't it before as well?
Speaker 2:Someone else got sent to the bin. Yeah, and I think the Raiders scored.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they did it was. Oh think the Raiders scored um. Yeah, they did it was oh. Hawes, bruh, yeah, he went down and he was holding out for too long and they've been penalized too much. He got sent off and he walked off yeah, stalin scored yeah, so it was in that that, um, that happened. But I tell you what the I think the Raiders turned up with a point to prove around the.
Speaker 1:Warriors they were. They're a bit on it, and was it? Uh, tamale, I think that was giving it, or Tarpon, a that was kind of after full time yeah, giving it to the fans, um, and it was just a bit like they were, you know, giving the two fingers and a horse bro was giving it as well, so do you know what fair play to him? Only one, we got right as well only tip that we got right.
Speaker 1:We said that the raiders would go over there, otherwise we could have been sitting here in our pants yeah, getting zero right yep. Moving on to the, the bulldogs getting absolutely turned over. If anyone saw this coming, this magnitude of defeat, yeah then fair play like the. The weather had a huge impact, but they were both playing in the same weather and the bulldogs got absolutely humbled by the dolphins. 44 points to eight. So how do we think origin impacted the?
Speaker 2:ball. Yeah, of course there is that you're losing your captain. Uh, in in steven crichton in that, like that that and max king up front, that's, that's a big, big couple of mixed misses. Um, that they had. But then you still had kick hours, captain. You still have the likes of josh curran in there, reed mahoney, like what a shit house he is, like he he's free to leave, yeah.
Speaker 2:He's free to go. He was causing some issues. But I said to you throughout this whole game, the issue with this game is the dogs' errors were just so high. It was just error after error that they had. I think they had like something like 29 errors, I think Something stupid like that and it just kills all your momentum as a team.
Speaker 1:You just can't do what you're you're trying to do that first half, though, like everyone, was struggling to hold on to the ball it was so wet, it was ridiculous, and that's what led me to clean the gutters. By the way, that rain linking back to earlier.
Speaker 2:Um, reed marnie man, you need a nine yeah, and that's what I meant, that's what I messaged you. Uh, the the other day was you reckon it would be a good, a good little thing to bring in?
Speaker 1:simpkins all right, like simpkins, but he got hit quite hard, like defensively. It's interesting to see what he's like and then to vanga switching in and out.
Speaker 2:I don't know how that experiment goes, but I mean I'm all, I'm all for having a shit house on the team. I wouldn't, I wouldn't out. I don't know how that experiment goes, but I mean I'm all, I'm all for having a house on the team I wouldn't, I wouldn't say I don't like the guy, but if he's wearing, if he's wearing manly colors and immediately.
Speaker 1:I like him yeah um, but how much weight do we give to the dolphins after this victory solid?
Speaker 2:uh, they, they. They were really good but again really inconsistent all season. They did this against the Storm. They show that they have.
Speaker 1:They're constantly putting up points though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good on them, but they're getting too many in the L column as well, so that's an issue for them.
Speaker 1:I reckon they got impacted at the start of the season more than given credit for like with the floods and stuff like that, and the travelling. I think we've got to consider them for the eight.
Speaker 2:Really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think we've got to consider them for the eight. Really, yeah, I think they're on a path where Wolf is getting them marching and you never know. We'll see what happens. But Bulldogs missing stars, we'll see how they go. I'm not sure if they might have a bye in the next origin period. I'm not too sure, but in fact they might have Manly in the next origin period. I not too sure, but in fact they might have manly in the okay next origin period.
Speaker 2:I can't confirm that someone does, but yeah, not great talking about sort of manly and dark horses um eels, 30 sea eagles, 10 we were there, we were there um, we witnessed it all wish it wasn't we left with 10 minutes to go um, and we? We said same thing as we said last year, never coming back to Parramatta away. We swore, as we left the ground last year, we wouldn't go back. See you there in 2026. Yeah, absolutely dreadful what went wrong.
Speaker 1:One dimensional, same play out on the left hand side was trying to get it out quick to Kola Hoppawate. Turbo looping in Turbo's not fully fit. We've got no power through the middle. Takiyaho was injured. These are all excuses, but this is recruitment. All right, prosecco's out. That's a big loss to have that run and power through the middle, but it seems like we've just got no plan B.
Speaker 1:We never attacked Addo Carr's side, never even considered going over that side, and just, defensively, were all over the place. So what it looked like from where we were. I'm not an expert at the game, but it looked like they were targeting Corey Waddell, who last week had a great game against. Was it the Cowboys? Yeah, the Cowboys up in Queensland. He was fairly good last week, got targeted this week, like with DCE missing. Does that Jake Harford? Does he not have the authority to be marshalling people around and pushing people to where they need to go? But to Vanga missed a few tackles, waddell and they were breaking through, and it was that back-to-back tries. When we scored, to go up, they scored, and they scored immediately after on the set of six, and I think it just. It's worrying. It is worrying. I'm not sure where we go from here.
Speaker 2:Though I'm starting, I do not feel that we are a top eight team the holes were opening up massively as you said, there was so much, so much space in the middle of the field and the Eels just took advantage of it.
Speaker 1:Fair play to old mate as well, scoring on his debut. Got to give him credit for that.
Speaker 2:Again, he was Papali.
Speaker 1:Papali? Yeah, I think so His family was sitting below us. Below us, yeah, and they went absolutely mental.
Speaker 2:But yeah, he had a good game out on there.
Speaker 1:But we attacked his wit even though he came on. I think it was a concussion. Yeah, three minutes, very early.
Speaker 2:We were attacking that and getting a bit of success down there, but that's all that. We did nothing and and we've said it so many times that there is no plan b to anything yeah like clear. All of the. The hit ups were from forwards that were gaining two, three meters. Every attack there was. There was just no attack at times. No kick chase it was. It was dreadful at such a poor, poor performance.
Speaker 1:Um, waste of a waste of a friday evening. Yeah, and what was even worse is we had to pay a silly amount for parking, drove the wrong way down a tram track, which, luckily, we found ourselves in the right way, but it was a bit nervy tram was gonna be coming our way, but yeah, we managed to to survive that one, um. But yeah, let's look at the last game. I mean, you retrospectively look at this and it's not an upset considering the amount of panthers, players missing, but it is an upset because the knights are absolutely woeful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so panthers, six knights, 25, um knights were too strong. Yeah, they were.
Speaker 2:They were at least I think that was a panthers team that just didn't know what they would. They, their defensive issues got highlighted in this they were all over the place um no real spark and attack if it was just like watching manly um no depth, no, no depth off the bench. Um, and then knights took advantage and I texted my mate, who's a knights fan, and he was like I didn't realize we had that in us. Um, so fair play to the knights.
Speaker 1:Um, they, they played, played well and come away with a very good win the interesting thing about this is, though said it before, the panthers when we beat them at the con bank, it was like no need to get excited yeah it's just the panthers, but it's just the knights as well, like it's two poor teams, with one team is missing all of his stars. Um so can we read too much into this? Are the knights turn in a corner, or do you just think this is more of a bottom of the table scrap?
Speaker 2:well, I'm gonna go for a bottle of bottom of the table scrap. Um, I think the knights need to put a couple more big performances and like this to be considered not going to go for a bottom of the table scrap. I think the Knights need to put a couple more big performances to be considered not going to finish the bottom, whereas the Panthers, as we speak, are rock bottom, which, after four championships on the road, is quite a fall off from grace you expected them to not be able to continue it and sustain it, but not this bad.
Speaker 1:This fall off is almost the equivalent to man United's fall off and not be able to continue it and sustain it, but not this bad Like this. Fall off is almost the equivalent to man United's fall off in the last 10 years. Be interesting to see how they go for the remainder of the season. A lot of people are saying you can't write Penrith off from the eight. They need to win a significant amount of games, but I don't think they're going to make the eight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think those arguments are going to stop. Stop coming up very soon.
Speaker 1:Moving on to round. What are we on?
Speaker 2:Round 13 already.
Speaker 1:The season is absolutely flying by. We'll go through our tips, we'll go through our best bets. But up first at the Jubilee Stadium we got the 10th place. St George Illawarra Dragons at $1.53 against the Newcastle Knights the victorious.
Speaker 2:Newcastle.
Speaker 1:Knights at $2.52. Who are you going with?
Speaker 2:I'm going to go straight out of the bath and say Dragons. Something that really excites me is Christian Tupolato is back, he's back.
Speaker 1:The money man is back yeah money man is back.
Speaker 2:I think they've been progressing week on week. Their senior players are taking a hold. Clint Gutherson is really starting to.
Speaker 1:He's shining week after week, isn't he?
Speaker 2:Same with Val Holmes. So, yeah, I'm going to go. I'm going to go Dragons.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm going to join you on that one the Dragons. I don't think the Knights back up their performance from last week. The Dragons are doing well. Like you say, leadership is shining through. They got to a lot of back. Um, I believe the dragons get this done. I'm just going to caveat this, by the way, and saying that we have been terrible at tipping and also origin happening yeah, there could be a few injuries, like val homes, for example, might get injured, might influence things but yeah, anything, anything can happen, anything can happen, but I'm going to join you.
Speaker 1:Illawarra dragons dollar 53 I've got them to to take this one. Where's your best bet?
Speaker 2:I've gone for a sloan and sharp uh score any time at just a nice cheeky four dollars. Yeah, it won't be. Won't be a massive money for you back, um. But then we head into saturday the Gold Coast Titans at $3.90 up against the Melbourne Storm at $1.26. Where are you going with this one?
Speaker 1:Everything points towards the Storm, right Like they are a team that will turn up and destroy anyone. But they're pretty unpredictable and away from home they are not great. So, although the odds are the odds, uh wide um, the weather is going to be fine, the ground conditions are going to be good. I'm going to have to go with the melbourne storm on this, surely?
Speaker 2:they cannot surely they cannot lose to the titan the form guide is quite interesting with the Storm one and three away from home and the Titans one and three at home, which has decided who's going to have the worst record. No, I completely agree with that. It's got to be a Storm win. Harry Grant's back in at hooker for them, hopefully, if he stays fit through Origin. They've just got too much around uh to to really really, and the titans have been been sort of shocking, um, but yeah, where's, where's your money going?
Speaker 1:I'm gonna go storm 13 plus and then I'm gonna go jojo for feta to score any time at six dollars 25 how nice indeed. Next we go up to the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. We've got the North Queensland Cowboys at $1.38 against Benji Marshall's West Tigers. Lockie Galvin Luss potentially West Tigers has he been named? I haven't even checked.
Speaker 2:Surely he's not? Yeah, lockie Galvin Luss.
Speaker 1:West Tigers because he's off to the Bulldogs at $3.08. I just see this one.
Speaker 2:I think I'm going to go Cowboys. I think with the Tigers, the…. The issues in the back have affected them a lot more than I thought it would. Jerome Luai isn't playing origin, which is a big, big impact. Neither is Terrell May, and they probably have a point to prove. But saying that, Tom Dearden as well has got a point to prove for sort of Queensland selection and the Cowboys have been decent at home, other than they're a little upset against Manly. So I'm going to go Cowboys.
Speaker 1:Parmy wants to create controversy and pick the west tigers. I just can't do it, though, like I can't see them winning this I can't see them going up there and beating the cowboys. You know there is going to be an upset. You can't just pick favorites yeah all the time.
Speaker 1:Um, the tigers, like you say, haven't got players in origin. Um, do you know what? Yeah, I'll go tigers, I'm gonna, I'm gonna tip the tigers to win this one, just to be a point of difference. But okay, um, there's got to be an upset somewhere, and this, potentially, could be it yeah, uh.
Speaker 2:Well, I've gone for a derby to ruva, uh, anytime as as well as Drinkwater. Six plus points at $3.60. I'm playing them a little bit safe this week with the bets. And then we head to Brookie Oval where we will be sat on a cold Saturday evening watching what could be an absolute demolition. Manly Seagull sat at $2. Versus the brisbane broncos at 1.69. Where are you going?
Speaker 1:interestingly, ninth and eighth in the table, so we're um joint in the table. Conditions are going to be dry, weather's going to be fine, so aloe is back. Right, we've got a forward. We've got a powerful forward back. Yeah, tommy talal's playing. Uh, is he in the center or on the wing? He's on the wing, he's on the wing. We've lost tom trabojevich. He's got a cork. Everyone's got a cork nowadays. Hasn't been fit cherry evans. Let's hope he doesn't get injured. The Judas doesn't get injured in um origin. But for me I hate to say it the Broncos are going to win. This is that who you're tipping?
Speaker 2:I am tipping the Brisbane Broncos well, I'm tipping Manly as I am never, ever, ever going to tip against my team.
Speaker 1:But you can't then say but I hate picking, I don't want to pick them, but you've got to go with who you think is going to win.
Speaker 2:No, you don't, not when it's your team. Regardless, you should always back your team, and I'm backing them.
Speaker 1:All right, so we've got two different ones here.
Speaker 2:What's your reasons as to why you think?
Speaker 1:the Seagulls are gonna win. I don't.
Speaker 2:I'm purely backing them on because they're my team. There we go um, you know what manly are gonna absolutely rip the broncos? A new one for some reason it's gonna click.
Speaker 2:Um, part of me thinks they're gonna turn up because we're gonna be absolutely. We're gonna be able to neutralize pain. Has some patty carrigan? Um, we've lost three on the bounce at brookie. Like the, the 14th man in the in the manly fans are going to get behind them. Um, hopper is going to have the game of his life and score a hat trick. That's why I'm going to go for the manly seagulls well, bringing it back down to earth a little bit more realistic bets.
Speaker 1:I've gone sab arthur's and Cobbo to combine for three plus tries.
Speaker 2:Have you seen Arthurs? He's playing fullback.
Speaker 1:Is he? Yeah, that's an interesting one. Cobbo on the wing Yep, wow, there we go. So Saab, arthurs and Cobbo combined for three plus tries, $3.20. So we'll be watching that one rolling on the Saturday night. But then we go to the Accor Stadium. Joe, I'm actually going annoyingly out to um the Kudos Bank Arena on Sunday to watch Monster Trucks, and it is an hour before this game kicks off. I'm parked in P1. It's going to be a nightmare. Hopefully, hopefully, the timing aligns that I arrive before and leave after. But anyway, out to the Accor we go. Enough about my sob story of my parking troubles. We got the south sydney rabbit owes two dollars, oh, four against the new zealand warriors at dollar 81. This one's going to be interesting. But yeah, who you got?
Speaker 2:oh okay, fisher harrison barnett are back. Pending origin Pending origin for Barnett. I was leaning towards the Rabbitohs. I'm not going to lie, but seeing that and I think the Wires last won away as well, I'm going to go for the Wires, I'm going to back the Wires.
Speaker 1:It's difficult, this one, I think, after the Warriors not being able to score not being able to finish. They'll want to improve on that. The Rabbitohs have been improving week on week, like Wayne. Bennett starting to kind of get his teeth into his team and they're starting to believe in themselves a bit more as well um, let's hope the trail mitchell doesn't get injured. My wise fans ain't gonna ain't gonna like me saying this, but I'm gonna tip the rabbit I reckon they cause somewhat of an upset um and they beat the warriors.
Speaker 1:But who are you putting cash on?
Speaker 2:So I've gone for Johnson any time, Tavasa, Shek any time, and then the Warriors to be in the 11 to 20 points band, so going off the premise of that. So I'm hoping for a live scoring game and that gives you $10.50.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice.
Speaker 2:So, and then going into the next game, the Pembroke Panthers at $1.64 versus the Parramatta Eels $2.26. This is at the Combank and I think that does.
Speaker 1:Is it a home game for both of them? It is a home game.
Speaker 2:It's a home game for the Panthers, officially. Where are you going?
Speaker 1:It all depends how Origin goes right. I believe that, with the Panthers having a lot of rep players in origin, all depends if they come back healthy. For example, dylan Edwards we know he's had a few injuries this year. Liam Martin always puts his body on the line in origin. Are they going to back up like are they going to back up a few days after the game they got Scotty sorensen coming back from. He was banned. I think he had a ban. Um, this is a lot tighter than yeah, I think it's a tough one to call. Uh, if I know it's a easy thing like easyout, but if the Panthers are fully fit and they're not impacted by origin, panthers get this done. Depending on who they're losing, then it might be Eels, but I'm going to say the Panthers win this.
Speaker 2:Okay, so the form guide at the moment is Eels are two and three away from home and the Panthers are two and four at home. It's a home game for both of them, yeah, so I don't think that really comes into it. I really think the Eels are a dark horse for the eight. They are only two points outside it. It's how close the competition has been this year. And their form is two and two. Where the Panthers won, I'm going to go for the Eels on this one.
Speaker 1:We are split on a lot this week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which is always a bit of fun. I just think that Lomax, moses and the game before they absolutely combined. I could be sitting here with egg on my face next week. Because of what?
Speaker 1:could happen at Origin. We've had a lot of egg on our face this year.
Speaker 2:But I've just got a little bit of a gut feeling that the Eels may do something in this one. Where's your money?
Speaker 1:I'm going to go. Interestingly, I'm backing the Eels to score two tries at least. Okay, that's good, because I'm going Zach Lomax and Dylan Brown to score any time. It's $3.90. But the Panthers blow them out of the water. Nice. So last game of the round. This has got potentially game of the round written all over it the Sydney Roosters at $1.97. Up against the Canberra Raiders, $1.87. This one is on Sunday night at the Allianz. Yeah, what have you?
Speaker 2:got Tough one. It is really tough actually. Do you know what? I'm going to sit firmly still on the Raiders train and I'm going to back the Raiders in this one. I think they're such a strong team at the moment. They've just proven that with a big away win against the Warriors, who were unbeaten at home and have performed so well at home. I think they'll come into this wanting to put some doubters out and I think they'll come into it hard and again. I think it's just a pace from everywhere that could open up the roosters.
Speaker 1:They've lost Tom Starling because of suspension, I feel I can't remember whether it's actually suspension, but it is suspension for this ridiculous high shot. It has to be suspension. I've just got a feeling that the Roosters beat them. Angus Crichton comes back. Obviously they get their origin players back. Daniel Tupou was something else jumping for the high ball at the weekend. He's got some competition with who he's coming up against with the high ball there. Toya, he's got some competition with who he's coming up against with the high ball there. Toya, I think, depending on how he goes in origin, will want to either continue his form from origin or prove that he's not getting bullied by Latrell Mitchell in origin. Nwanganita Wasay Animal. Hugo Savala had a huge game last weekend. Yeah, I'm going to pick the Roosters, hervala had a huge game last weekend.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm going to pick the Roosters In saying that as well. The players they've got coming back from Origin are going to be big, big minute players as well, and they're going to expect to have played two games in what?
Speaker 2:four days, yeah, but Sunday night last game they got a few more minutes to recover than the others, that's true Whereas the Raiders are going to be unscathed. Yeah, where's your, where's your cash? So I've gone for a hudson young uh, tupo, uh and big marky mark to score um, and then, fogarty and smith, six plus points at 13.50 there we go.
Speaker 1:so we'll see how the the tipping goes this week, but we've had a few more sporting events happen. Key sporting events happen around the globe that involve England. Let's talk about the Premier League first Came to an end this weekend. Obviously, your team, Birmingham promoted to the championship earlier on, but my team that I follow, Chelsea, we confirmed Champions League football which is huge.
Speaker 1:We have the youngest squad ever assembled average average age in the Premier League. So to achieve Champions League qualification on the last day beating them not in Forest couldn't be happier. Not that I sound ecstatic, because I actually think the football that we play is pretty boring. But it's good to see whether I'll be tuning in for those Champions League games next year.
Speaker 2:I don't know, we shall see, see.
Speaker 1:but we got the europa conference league final on wednesday as well, against real betis, so yeah tomorrow night.
Speaker 2:No, yeah, no, it'll be thursday morning.
Speaker 1:Thursday morning, sorry confused me there, so it'd be good if we could finish the season with a trophy. Finish the end of the season with a trophy, um and champions league qualification, but yeah, liverpool crown champions United. A terrible manager escape. Not finishing fourth bottom, but yeah, another Premier League season finished.
Speaker 2:And then moving on to the cricket, yeah, the cricket Big England big win by England against Zimbabwe. Knocked them over by in innings and like 40 odd runs in a in three days.
Speaker 1:I think it was first three batsmen opener scoring 120 plus nice, nice.
Speaker 2:It's an interesting warm-up to the series against india yeah I'm not gonna lie, it's sort of quick and quick and cheerful um, but sort of go back into the football as well, sort of um.
Speaker 1:My dad's team, sunland got promoted to the premier league.
Speaker 2:Uh, stayed up and watched that actually and then gave him a call at I think it was like 10 past 2 in the morning over here. He was happy as Larry was completely shocked that they actually got it done. But they did really well. Got a lot of mates who were there just from a time up at Uni there nice crisp finish as well. Sweeping it into the bottom corner from outside the area.
Speaker 2:It passed it into that corner, which was beautiful to see. How do you reckon they're going in the Premier League? My dad's not very optimistic. He was like they need to get to 12 points as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1:As long as they don't replicate Derby.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I think they were at one point the lowest points in a season before.
Speaker 1:Derby did it, so they were before Derby.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Big investors. They've got many investors.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they've got decent backing behind them, but they could just have to do what Forrest did cheat, take the nine points and then just hopefully stay up yeah.
Speaker 1:And then Formula One Monaco Grand Prix.
Speaker 2:Norris, absolute borefest. Who was it that came out?
Speaker 1:Absol came out after and was like we might as well just have two qualifying sessions and then where you finish in that second one is the points that you get. I've. Monaco to me isn't entertaining anymore.
Speaker 2:It's a nice spectacle when you're younger and I think yeah george russell said when it rains, it's a good good circuit, but other than that it's probably the worst one on the calendar there was there was a pack from about I think it was seventh down to 15th which just stuck together the whole race. So when the leaders got there they had to try and fight their way through them, because such a small track to be able to blue flag as well yeah and then cars were trying to nick him behind them and overtake.
Speaker 2:It was just I, I think, hamilton. So hamilton started 7th and finished 5th and he had that highest point. Places increase 2, just 2 my word.
Speaker 1:What an exciting sport Formula 1 is nowadays, yes, but on that bombshell Origin tonight, let's go New South Wales. But thank you again for listening in. Be sure to follow us on socials YouTube, instagram. What else are we on TikTok?
Speaker 2:that was the other one, we're not on.
Speaker 1:Facebook. They've been doing it all day, sir, but thank you for listening in and we'll catch you in the next one.
Speaker 2:Good night.