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#19: Welcome Back to Brooky!
A rejuvenated Manly Sea Eagles team delivered a stunning 34-6 victory over the Brisbane Broncos, sparking debate about whether they've finally found their groove or if this is just another false dawn. The hosts share their firsthand experience of this match, recounting a heated exchange with Broncos supporters that highlights the ongoing question of whether away fans should be segregated at NRL fixtures.
State of Origin talk dominates the middle segment as Chris and Ben break down New South Wales' dominant performance in the series opener. Stephen Crichton earns particular praise for completely nullifying Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, while Spencer Leniu's impact and physicality suggest he'll be targeted in Game 2. The conversation shifts to Lachlan Galvin's signing with the Bulldogs and what this means for both clubs moving forward.
The biggest revelation comes in their discussion of the Canberra Raiders, who continue to defy pre-season expectations. After defeating the Roosters 26-24 without halfback Jamal Fogarty, the hosts make a compelling case that the Raiders might just be the best team in the competition right now. Their physical presence, depth, and ability to win close games has established them as legitimate premiership contenders.
Round 14 predictions follow, with particular focus on Thursday's Knights vs Manly clash that both hosts will be attending. The episode wraps with cricket talk as tickets for the Sydney Ashes Test are secured, plus quick discussions on Joe Root's masterclass against the West Indies and Max Verstappen's controversial F1 moment. Subscribe for weekly NRL analysis that cuts through the noise with genuine fan perspective.
Hello and welcome to another episode of. They've Been Doing it All Day, sir, I'm Chris.
Speaker 2:And I'm Ben.
Speaker 1:A rejuvenated manly, a defiant raiders and a dominating blues. Let's get stuck in.
Speaker 2:How's your week been, mate?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, really good Cheers, mate, can't grumble at all. Went to the doctor's the other day and was told I weighed 112 kilos Oof. So I was like need to need to sort that out, sort of uh soonish. So I've been back in the gym, uh, doing a bit more running and and whatnot. So so, yeah, changing that up a little bit. What about yourself?
Speaker 2:busy, super busy, um a lot going on over the weekend been busy with work, but what a Saturday, eventful Saturday we had.
Speaker 1:I know, Shocked. I think I still don't understand where that performance came from. If I'm being perfectly honest, we're back.
Speaker 2:Manly are back?
Speaker 1:No, we're not. We're not. We thought this week. We thought this when we beat the Panthers. We thought this when we beat the Panthers. We thought this when we beat the Cowboys again. But no, manly aren't back just yet. They need to back up the performance they do.
Speaker 2:We've got a tough well, hopefully not a tough one against the Knights this Thursday. But let's talk about our experience at Brookie on Saturday night, because it was a slightly eventful one. You set the scene, set the scene for your arrival and why you got there early.
Speaker 1:I got there a lot earlier. I was like I want to go and watch the second grade, so I got there a little earlier Was enjoying a nice glass of Shiraz Interesting choice. I just fancied a red wine. It was a bit nippy, I just wanted to settle in and then these three gentlemen arrived and sort of sat in front of us.
Speaker 2:Where were they from?
Speaker 1:These three Broncos fans arrived and they started giving a bit of lip to the second grade team just like flipping comments for no reason, and I messaged you straight away and was like I think these three are going to cause a little bit of an issue To which later in the game they did, and we've mentioned this before.
Speaker 2:it's a weird one with the home and away fans mixing at games, and this highlights exactly the reason why it's not a good idea, especially when alcohol is involved. Now, like we had had a couple of beers, we weren't exactly like being irrational or or stupid, but, um, it got to a point in the game where they were just constantly shouting stuff and they were constantly like abusing the not the not directly abusing the people around us, but giving a bit of Bravado.
Speaker 2:Yeah, bravado around the Broncos being the better team, which they weren't, and kind of, yeah, trying to create a bit of a ruckus, and one of the things that they kept on saying throughout the game was that Manly were weak. Manly were weak and they weren't going anywhere. They've got nothing. So obviously Ezra Mamm goes over getting booed by the crowd, as he rightly should Yep, yep, which I think was a good, and his response, like standing up and putting his chest to the crowd, I think was a bit.
Speaker 1:He's come out and said he thought it was because he stood up against Spencer Lenu in the races. I mean that's why he thought he, but clearly he doesn't understand the significance of nearly seeing off a yeah anyway A mother and a child, anyway, but look, people learn by their mistakes.
Speaker 2:I'm hoping he realises that his actions have consequences. Some people disagree. I disagree with the length of his ban and stuff like that, and he's going to get it from all angles every ground he goes to. But yeah, when he went over, kind of they got up, they went mental, which you don't mind. Absolutely fine with that.
Speaker 2:Love it, love it happening like that, but then Manly got on top and absolutely dominated them and they kept on, yeah, coming out with all of these. I don't know it was a bit ridiculous some of the stuff that they were saying but one of the comebacks that we had language by saying they were weak, we're keep on moving.
Speaker 2:And then, when manly kind of sealed the game, there was a bit of a comment made around ah, enjoy your trip back to queensland. Yeah and uh, that didn't go down too well, did it no, they lost their heads.
Speaker 1:Um, they lost their heads a little bit, which you know. Yeah, you can't, you can't sit there and give it to nearly everyone around you and then not take. Yeah, take a comment like that and it and it was all meant in a friendly it was friendly banter, it wasn't going to spill over into anything.
Speaker 2:No, no, no.
Speaker 1:But yeah, they lost their heads properly. I feel like.
Speaker 2:They lost their heads. And the geezer in the middle was like given the fact that you're a Birmingham City fan, I'm a Chelsea fan. We haven't got accents that sound like we're from the north of England. We haven't got accents that sound like we're from the north of England and one of them turns around and goes. They're saying a Liverpool match.
Speaker 1:And it was like what have you just said, babe? Yeah, it was just. They lost all sort of standing from that point there was steam.
Speaker 2:There was steam coming out of their head.
Speaker 2:They knew that they'd been rattled and we were in between their ears and they were rattled and people like this is why I don't think it's fair to have away fans in home sections or mixing with home fans because of instances like this. We've seen it on the hill, I think we saw it at the Melbourne game. Someone got chucked out because of the tins being thrown around. But the biggest thing for me and the hypocrisy about this was the security guard came down and threatened to throw us both out which I thought was a bit.
Speaker 2:He was more you than myself, but you know Well me and the guy out, and I thought that was a bit over the top because I was like, what for? Like we're having like a good banterous discussion, but then you see, on social media after that there's people doing the Run it Straight Challenge down the hill at people and they're just seemingly allowed to do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and challenge down the hill at people and they're just seemingly allowed to do it. Yeah, and, and there was. I. I saw a couple of them and I thought one of them was gone, like he slipped just as the lad was flying through, flying through, and I was like how that was allowed to just continue? Is is madness, especially in a fan safety point of view.
Speaker 2:It looked like the side as well. That was the family side, like you know. Yeah, closer to the oh, what's that? Stand down to the right of us why can't I think of the name of it but towards our end of the field, like where the family section is. It was in that area there and it's like what message is that giving in to kids as well and families about feeling safe, being able to come to the foot. But yeah, it just felt a bit double standards from the security really, that I was going to get thrown out for what seemed like a yeah, and there was a lad who we sat next to last year who turned around and gave it to him oh, they were giving it to him as well, weren't they?
Speaker 2:that was it, because he kept on standing up saying they've been doing it all day. They get him on side. And there was a streaker as well on the field that got. That got sorted out by security. I didn't see, but, um, we bumped into another guy that has a tiktok account and he messaged me and said did you see the streaker? So, um, yeah, didn't, but there was, there was a few. There was a few people that were held back by police as well, and, like, it's the first time that the broncos have visited Brookie in 10 years there was a bit more.
Speaker 2:Bother was there yeah, there was, but you know what, disappear back to Queensland.
Speaker 1:I think that says more about the Broncos fans than it does does Manly, to be honest, which?
Speaker 2:is mad because when we went up to a Magic round, and we were there and we sat next to those Broncos fans and Manly were welcoming they were. They were good. We had a bit of banter with them as well. I had a laugh.
Speaker 1:We saw them the next day as well because they had the tickets next to us, so it was just a good day it was, but yeah, it seems like that overshadowed an experience.
Speaker 2:But what a game like for manly. We'll talk about it later on, but um, yeah, home and away, fans mixing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm still I'm still not sold on it, because there's there's instances like that. That can happen, yeah, but I think there should be certain areas where that you shouldn't have away fans. So where we're sat, it's quite a. It's not a cheap area to sit and I don't want to sound like a potential arsehole saying this, but we've put in a lot of money and I don't want to be sat no-transcript by away fans every week. And the one thing I really enjoyed about going to Parramatta, even though we got thumped, was that we were in the away section and I didn't have Parramatta Eels found jumping up and down in front of me. Yeah, I just had to watch three sides of the ground going mental, which I'm absolutely fine with. Yeah, I agree, you do. You want to chat to people who you support. We have sat next to some amazing one-way fans where you do have fantastic conversations throughout, but it can get a bit aggy every now and then especially a 7.35 kick-off as well, especially if they've been on it all day.
Speaker 1:It can be sort of issues, but I'll say I'm still out on it Manny, 13 plus.
Speaker 2:Yeah, piss off back to Brisbane and yeah, we'll see you next time. Exactly Big news this week.
Speaker 1:Obviously.
Speaker 2:Galvin signing with the Bulldogs Named in the reserves, though for this week? Oh, I forgot to check that. Yeah, there was conversations. Is he going to get a starting spot? Is he going to get the seven jersey, which is one of the things that was being spoken about? Do you reckon it's a good signing for them, or is he going to possibly unsettle them?
Speaker 1:No, not at all. I think he'll add to that team. I don't think it'll take anything away. He's solid in what he does. We've been big fans of his week one.
Speaker 1:There was issues in sort of mistakes starting to creep in the last few weeks, but the lad's still 19. He's got a lot to learn from the game and I think he's got some. He had some amazing people around him at Tigers and I think he's got even better people around him at the Bulldogs. He's got Matty Burton, who's turning into one of the best halves in the league. You've got Stephen Crichton there, who's the best captain in the league. He's so good, which will be interesting to see if there's any sort of well.
Speaker 2:They're talking about Stephen Crichton going back to fullback. There's a few speculations going around about how they're going to are being really good mates.
Speaker 1:I wonder if there could be a little bit of animosity from that side of things, but I don't think there will be. But no, it'd be exciting to see how he slots into that Bulldogs team, to be honest.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my concern is they're a well-oiled machine at the moment. They've been working on their plays, their structure and, yeah, they've been alright with injuries filling in. But does and yeah, right, they've been all right with injuries filling in, but does Galvin coming in upset that structure? Is it going to piss people off? Like Reid Marnie's been told to look for other clubs, there's reports Toby Sexton is looking for other clubs or being shopped around, so is it going to start to cause that unsettledness within the ranks?
Speaker 2:Who knows Great signing for them? And, come on, over the next three years he's going to develop into an absolute 100 superstar. I reckon, given the the coaching that he's going to get like he. I saw watch the interview that he did with 100 footy, I think, or whatever news outlet it was, and he came across as a confident young man that wanted to move for the right reasons. Whether that's going to piss the tigers fans off, I don don't know, but yeah, it'll be interesting to see how that goes. And then, yeah, we kicked off last week with a big one game, one State of Origin.
Speaker 1:Yeah, massive, absolutely massive game. As I said in the intro, they're absolutely dominating performance from New South Wales Didn't really see much from Queensland, if I'm being perfectly honest. They just didn't look like they were going to score at any point. New South Wales had to go down to 12 men for them to score again. Yeah, exactly, they were just having issues throughout. There was very lack of anything from them to be honest. Stephen Crichton had one of the best games I think I've ever seen him play.
Speaker 2:He absolutely shut down Hammer at the Hammer, he was non-existent. Do you know what I love about Stephen Crichton? When he makes a decision, he makes a decision, and when he goes, he goes and it's often getting them right, and he does get them right.
Speaker 1:He's never caught in no man's land because he, as you said, he commits to it 100%. So even if he's made the wrong decision, he commits to that wrong decision 100% as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I don't know. For me it felt like from game three last year. There was such hype about the physicality of that game and obviously New South Wales winning it up in up in Queensland to take the series. There was so much hype around this game building up to that. I felt it was like almost a bit of a letdown, like it wasn't as physical as we were kind of anticipating. Um, I felt like New South Wales dominated from the outset as well, like the Queensland didn't even look like scoring um until Cherry Evans puts the kick across for Coates to jump up to it and even then like it's contentious around whether Toto, actually you slow anything down in slow motion. I think it was said on commentary, like on super slow-mo, you can see anything. So Toto jumped up, had eyes on the ball and yeah maybe grabbed it.
Speaker 1:I think he knows what he's doing there.
Speaker 2:He grabbed him on the way down. But it is what it is and they slotted the two points. It didn't really, I don't know. The first half didn't inspire me much because we just tore them apart yeah a lot, but does it feel to you? I don't know, it felt like to me, like the Sun Corps losing a.
Speaker 1:I think because this New South Wales set up over the last two years has such a swag around it. They've got leaders in there who do not care what anyone else thinks and it shuts down any sort of animosity when you've got people around there that thrive off it. And I think it highlighted massively that they didn't kick towards Spencer Lenu on that one chance and they kicked it the other side. I think it was. Was it Max King?
Speaker 2:Yeah, billy Slater came out and was like oh Valentine Holmes only kicks to the right, or whatever it was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the opening kickoff, the first one went to Mitch Barnett. Yeah, and it was on the left.
Speaker 2:But do you know what? Spencer Lenu was fired up, and I tell you one thing that is going to happen and if they don't do it in game two, their absolute mugs is kick to Spencer Lenu and go, try and run down and fill him in, because I think that will spark, I think, this talk anyway around not kicking to Lenu and kind of how, yeah, their attitudes being questioned. I reckon that's going to light up game two. I think we could have a physical one. But a bit of bad news coming out for game two Massive Mitch Barnett rupturing his ACL so unfortunate. The guy has been playing so well this season. Comes in, was physical at origin, led from the front in that first series as well, taking the ball and then taking a few hit-ups. Who comes in and replaces him, though? That's a big question.
Speaker 1:I think you go straight to Terrell May, I think for the physicality side of things I like Max King and what he does, but just around his persona I suppose I think he's a lot better coming off the bench than sort of starting, I'll tell you what if Koloa Matangi has a performance like he did this weekend.
Speaker 2:If he backs that up, I don't know, in fact the Rabbitohs might be on a bye, but if he backs that up, then I reckon he could be within a good shot. And then the natural I feel the natural replacement, because he was named as a reserve is Otoyo Kamano from the. Storm it'll be interesting to see, though, how performances can influence that, but Mitch Barnett's going to be yeah.
Speaker 2:I worry about how that's going to affect the Warriors as well, because I think they've struggled without when Hargreaves they rely on both of them, not Hargreaves, fisher, harris, fisher.
Speaker 1:Harris and him have been missing. They've struggled at the middle, so it's going to be interesting to see what happens with them considering again, not winning by big amounts. They're scoring points now, which is brilliant, but we'll see.
Speaker 2:Do you reckon they make any other changes? New South Wales I don't think they need to. I actually think this team could batter any Queensland team that gets put in front of them.
Speaker 1:I think the only other person you might think about bringing in is Aliquota in the second row If he performs again like he did, because we had a conversation before the match like what does Aliquota need to do to beat Crichton and Liam?
Speaker 2:Martin.
Speaker 1:And it was more around the kick chase. Like both of them, what they bring on a and a kick chase is incredible, but Ola Kuwai to really showed what his aerial threat is as well yeah, if Ola Kuwai was to replace anyone, I'd say it's Crichton out of him and out of Crichton and Martin.
Speaker 2:And the reason I say that is because they both offer two different things. Like Crichton runs with the ball hard, fends people off, stands, bolt, stands, bolt upright shorts, high fending people off, liam Martin offers something different in the way that he's running downfield, chasing everything, hitting everything.
Speaker 1:I really love Liam Martin and that's why I reckon.
Speaker 2:Ola Kuatu replaces the Crichton side of things of being the more attacking run heavy second rower rather than Martin.
Speaker 1:And then if you have him and Latrell Mitchell sat next to each other in a defensive line like that's such a good game like.
Speaker 2:There was a period where we talk about where the rabbit was turned off, which cost him the game, but Latrell Mitchell just seemed to carry on from origin.
Speaker 1:But there was also the women's origin yeah, a bit disappointing for the girls it was. It was just a case of errors at key moments for them really shot them. I don't think the Queenslanders just never went away, which I think the New South Wales were a little bit relaxed at certain points. There were some fantastic plays in there, though, and Church. I think she had a Abby Church. She had an amazing Church. I think she had a Abby Church. She had amazing tackle. I think within the first half, when there was a lot of onslaught pressure, she had a great turnover tackle into the try zone. But you know, it's still fantastic for the women to win that Series 2-1. I think John Strange is a fantastic coach within the women's game and what he's done, and it'd be really exciting to see how, if he sticks around, and see how they can progress everything into this season with him at the Roosters and then next season's Origin as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it felt to me like a bit of dead rubber mentality, like they got a bit slack on their execution, and a prime example of that is when I've forgotten who it was goes over and doesn't ground the ball. It's just, I think, when it more switched on, more focused, you're diving straight over on top of the ball and, although I believe New South Wales then scored- off of the set after set.
Speaker 1:It didn't impact. No, no.
Speaker 2:But it's little things like that where it gave the feeling of we've won the series, although we won a clean sweep. Like we need to execute a bit better. But like you say, great to get the shield, take the shield. And just a shame it wasn't a 3-0 whitewash really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was, it was, but the women's absolutely dominated game one into game two, which was unreal to see, to be honest, yeah, and then from that into round 13. Big, big round. There's some decent performances and that's where we'll start. Where was your performance of the round this?
Speaker 2:week. Yeah, I just want to touch on something briefly before I say my performance of the round. Last week it was the week of the underdog and five out of five underdogs won. This week it was the week of the favourite. I think six out of seven favourites won. But my performance of the round comes from the one underdog that did win this week and that was the Manly Seagulls and particularly Mr DCE Dally Cherry Evans himself.
Speaker 2:I've not been the biggest fan of his since he announced that he was leaving and the speculation around where he's going to go. But I've got to give a man credit where credit's due. He didn't have the greatest of origin performance and with the Dearden the kind of speculation around Dearden and the performance Dearden put on for the Cowboys in the game before he knew there was some pressure on him to perform and I think he marshaled the troops so good so well on Saturday night Put the ball about creativity, was kicking balls through on third tackle, was putting deep kicks right into the corner and I thought he was a standout performer. I mean, there's a lot of people we can talk about from that Manny team that perform really well, lehigh Hoppawattie being one of them A real performance but for me, jaz Tafanga as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, jaz Tafanga, who actually got in the hard-earned index team of the week, which is when we were sitting in the stands. I was like he's an underrated, like he was everywhere. Decent game, a performance around DC to back up from origin. After such a mediocre performance and with all the speculation, it was nice to see a positive performance from him. But who have you chosen?
Speaker 1:I nearly went for old Leigh. I re-watching that game. He was very instrumental, something within his game that he started to really improve on, and the shift was his sort of link play in the attacking sets. But I've gone for the Raiders. They're so good I think. Losing Fogarty before the kickoff, I think that is huge. I think he was through it all.
Speaker 2:No it was Groin. Groin that's it. Is it slightly concerning for Manny that he's picking up real we knew he came with a little asterisk over him a little bit of injury problem.
Speaker 1:But they've had 13 games on the bounce. They're one of the very few teams that haven't had a bye Fair, I believe, and they've been able to battle on again.
Speaker 2:Well, they've had a bye after Vegas, but that's a forced bye. But then, since then, possibly 13 on the bounce.
Speaker 1:No, byes, where the dogs above have already had two, but for them to play against a rejuvenated Roosters side and still come out top. It was just great to see and I just absolutely love watching the Raiders at this moment in time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and in saying that I mean we could talk about the Raiders when we're going to move on to the game. But what you've said there around, they haven't had any buys that effectively they should be top. They're top of the table, right, because you're taking yeah, so they would be two points above where the Bulldogs are. And this is what I don't get there. Why points above where the Bulldogs are? And this is.
Speaker 1:This is what I don't get there. Why? Why do they give two points for a buy like? Why can't why?
Speaker 2:can't they just have no points? And then at the end of the season you figure out because James Graham was saying he just goes on the win-loss percentage or the wins and stuff like that and look, they've won 10 out of their out of their 13 games. So fair play to them. That's um solid going, but yeah, decent performances there. And then where are you going for your flop of the round?
Speaker 1:I've gone for a little bit of a controversial one here because you've got other teams that really had shockers at rounds. But I've gone for the Paramount Eels and the reasoning behind it is because I think I have put them in such a high standing now with how they're starting to progress and how they are playing that they shut the bed against the Panthers. There was errors in the final attack in third. There was missed passes, there was just wrong decisions and it cost them. We'll talk about the game in a minute. But the eel should have been in the Panthers and I think they left. It costs them. We'll talk about the game in a minute, but the Eels should have beaten the Panthers and I think they left it out there and because of that they're my flop of the round.
Speaker 2:Matty John said that they're trending in the right direction and I agree they are, but it's in that final like it's the execution 20 metres. I mean Addo Carr seems to line break willy nilly all the time nowadays and he's such a good finisher.
Speaker 2:But, yeah, mine, my flop of the round. I'm undecided between two and I'm still undecided between these two. So the two that I've got down are the Knights or the Broncos Knights, because they are absolutely terrible. Like I, I watched that performance on what was it Friday? And there was just nothing. There was nothing there. They pulled Ponga fair enough, resting him because of his hamstring or tiredness or something like that, but I just this is going to come back and bite us in the arse. I know it is. We play the Knights away on Thursday, but my other team already mentioned them, the Broncos. They are well, they are. Or are they full of superstars? Because people say you've got like Selwyn Cobbo, who's great. Reece Walsh, that's great. Ezra Mann, that's great. You've got all these players, but are we hyping them up to be something that they aren't? Because only two of them got selected for origin? Queensland got battered in origin. The broncos got battered like. Are we putting the broncos on a pedestal that they shouldn't actually be on? They finished 12th last year.
Speaker 2:They're currently so inconsistent this year I'm not sure the broncos are the team that we think they are, so I think they're the flop of the round.
Speaker 1:I think that's a good point. I think people like myself, included, still have the 2023 Broncos in mind, and it's not a team too similar to that which is I think the annoying thing. But I think you could be onto something and like big Kevi Walters.
Speaker 2:Is he sitting there going? Well, I knew this was coming, or he tried to do something different after that final, who knows? But it doesn't seem like Michael Maguire is getting the best out of him. I remember reports of old big Payne Haas being shopped around in the window. I tell you what Manly have got some money spare With DC going signing Fogarty. There's some cash there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think we should be doing it. See, you, go and sign him, fogarty, there's some cash there. Yeah, I think we should be doing it. I think we've said it previous weeks Manly should be doing anything and everything to sign him.
Speaker 2:Especially with how injured our forwards are. We keep losing them. But yeah, enough of the flop around, let's go through the games. We'll start off with what was arguably the most entertaining game of the week. It was the South Sydney Rabbitoh-30, the New Zealand Warriors 36, and it was up the waz. This weekend, warriors finally put in a decent amount of points on the board. It highlights the potential that they have. So, knowing what they can do, knowing their recent performances, do we start taking them seriously now as premiership contenders?
Speaker 1:they are a very, very good team to watch and are very entertaining when they're going forward, and you can't deny what they're doing at the moment, but one of the things I was mentioning the other day, I think they've only they've only beaten one, one or two teams out of their games who started in the top eight, which is a little bit of an issue. I know the ladder fluctuates every week and you can't have a definite top eight at the moment, but when they've come against stronger teams they've been undone a little bit and it was creeping in a little bit when Mitch Barnett went off. I think they lost it for a little bit. As you said, if the Rabbit O's hadn't switched off for a period of time, I reckon this could have been the other way around. But in saying that, the Warriors are a very good team at the moment they're a solid, solid top 8 team.
Speaker 1:I think they're going to finish well in the top 8 to win it. I don't see them overcoming the Raiders, overcoming the Bulldogs, overcoming the Storm in those finals and as everyone keeps banging on about the storm in those finals, and as everyone keeps banging on about if the Panthers get there, do they beat the Panthers?
Speaker 2:as well. We'll touch on that in a bit, but I know what you mean. I look at their results right. They lost to the Raiders in Vegas 30 points to 8, they lost to the Storm 42-14. So that's two significant big beatdowns. And then they haven't really shown scoring over the last few weeks. They've won a load of tight ones. They've got the Sharks up next, actually, which is away from Homestead Shark Park. That will give us a good idea.
Speaker 1:I reckon of where they are, and this is the thing you say. Because of how tight the league is at the moment. It's changing week on week. Your opinions are changing week on week as well, and it's really hard to put my finger on going. I can see these finishing and winning the comp. I think any team at the moment, from about 10th 11th, could win the comp. There's just inconsistency within some teams, and in saying that, I'm looking at who's there now and I might have overshot my comment there. But you know what the Broncos may go on a run, the Dolphins may just come out of nowhere. Then you can't sleep on the Dolphins, but yeah, that's where my thoughts are on them at the moment.
Speaker 2:I reckon this game has unlocked the potential for them. Yeah, a lot of scorers, a lot of different scorers. Luke Metcalf had another great game. Nicol Klokstad got on the score sheet 350 metres running the ball. Wateni Zelesniak got scored. Rocco Berri, like Pleka Halasima, looks like a good player. They've got the weapons RTS. Like they do have the weaponsts, like they do have the weapons. It's just, can they do it against a better team? And this week will be a good measure of that rabbit o side though. Alex johnson scoring 200 tries. He's only the second player in in nrl history to do that kalama tongue. He had a monster of a game. He was so close to being my player of the week, but maybe I'm a bit of manly bias there. Yeah, and latrell mitchell powering over for a try. That is Latrell at his best. And then his bullet pass out to Johnson as well. He was phenomenal, if it wasn't what. So they scored in the 47th, 50th or 54th minute.
Speaker 2:There's seven minutes of the game that have killed them If they switched on at the start of that second half. I reckon the Rabbitohs and they were so close to doing it at the end as well. But I reckon the Rabbitohs could have won this game. So I tipped the Rabbitohs in this. I thought it was going to be an upset. I was actually there, popped in for 10 minutes. I was at the Kudos Bank Arena opposite watching the monster trucks, the monster mayhem or whatever it was, with my son. Whilst I was in there, I noticed it was kids go free with a paying adult. So awesome. I was like why don't I just buy a ticket? We head over for his first experience of a. Did he enjoy it? He did.
Speaker 2:I think he was a bit overwhelmed by like the size of the stadium and he was more engaged or intrigued by the people around him, like the social aspect of it and trying to figure out, like, what is actually going on here. I don't think you watched any footy, but like to be in a stadium of that magnitude. Uh, yeah, you enjoyed it, so he had a good day out. I had a good day out on on Sunday. Um, ironically, I entered when the Rabbitohs were winning 10-4. I left when they at halftime, when they were down 12-10 or whatever it was. So, yeah, I only saw two Warriors tries, but, yeah, it's good to get in there and then we'll move on to the game that we were at.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:The Seagulls 34 defeat the Brisbane Broncos 6. Yep, now I thought about this and I thought about it a lot. When Manly are on, they're on, yeah, do they have one of the best attacks in the comp when they're on?
Speaker 1:easily one of the best attacks. There's so much threat from everywhere and I think that was shown again on Saturday and the word I kept regurgitating the whole time was just creativity that had been massively missing. The last, however long time was just creativity that had been massively missing the last, however long. There was just nothing there. We look back at Parramatta last week it was just boring up the middle. Then we're going to try and attack the left up the middle. We're going to try and attack the left Whereas there was DCE trying things.
Speaker 1:He was doing kicks on third tackle because the fullback was nowhere to be seen and they were attacking through the line Le tackle, because the full-back was nowhere to be seen and they were attacking through the line lehigh hopper whitey was coming in joining the line breaking through pain horse, yeah, which which was a bit, bit, bit bit weird, especially in the first minute of the game as well um, he's put in two, so he's put pain.
Speaker 2:Horse is putting a solid performance in new south wales and then previously the game.
Speaker 1:To that I think he put in 200 and something meters for the broncos, so it's gonna catch up with with you at some point, and I did say that last week is the quick turnaround. I think I was talking more about the Panthers game, but yeah, I can't take away from that. I think they are. I do, and I said on the car, I do think there was a little bit of a time where DC was trying to force things. So it was was again. They were attacking the Broncos left edge. He was trying to make passes that weren't there and I think Falalo got absolutely lit up on one of them what display he had.
Speaker 1:He had non-real game again for someone being brought in with hardly any time to adjust to replace Sarban. His little throwback into himself was incredible. He could have had three tries in the first five minutes. I think he was.
Speaker 2:He had two disallowed Some chat I saw earlier was Farlalo's more suited to Manly's style than Saab.
Speaker 1:Saab's a great player.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was reading that earlier as well Saab's a great player and he's got explosive tendencies, but he may not be suited to Manly's system because of the versatility and agileness of Fowlalo and if obviously this is big, ifs Turbo comes back at centre, hoppawattie at fullback. It means we have a real like strong centres in Kola and Turbo. We have a real like strong centers in um, cola and turbo and then on the wings we have garrick and falalo and like I feel there's pace, there's I don't know, or, to be fair, cola can play on the wing, garrick can play at center, like there's so much like sarb's, just a pace man like yes he's a breakaway supportive runner, whereas with those you've got a bit of nimble agile running.
Speaker 2:So I don't know. But my worry about Manly is, yes, we have a great attack, but Aloy off injured Shoulder.
Speaker 1:Another forward gone.
Speaker 2:Sipley's coming back this weekend. Be interesting to see how he goes.
Speaker 1:But you saw, him in the reserve grade. He didn't look dominating in the reserve grade. He didn't look. He didn't look dominating in the in the, in the reserve grade.
Speaker 2:I hope he proves that, proves that wrong. This week on Thursday against the Knights. Obviously, perseco's still out Lodge is named in the reserves. This week I thought he had a good performance when he came on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so did I.
Speaker 2:Was physical Good to see and try scoring Brownie 51st in his 51st appearance without a try scores after his yeah, a streak of 51 games of not scoring.
Speaker 1:so that's great to see and it's the last person you expect to see on a dink from DC but that's the thing, because it was sort of I think it was come from a little bit of a broken play. Yeah, it was because Tavanga got absolutely lit up on a pass and there was a few kicks through and Cervojevic got hit. But again, it was just that attack and intent of everyone trying to keep up and make a difference.
Speaker 1:So I think we're going to be there on Thursday, so it'd be. Hopefully they can back it up and do it again, because that's the issue, is the inconsistency.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:And I was, I think I spent a lot of this game bemused in what I was watching, because I couldn't understand how a team could perform like this and then, the week before, do absolutely nothing.
Speaker 2:I don't get it either, and I'm very. I base my tips on recent form because you're only as good as your last game. Both times I've tipped against Manly, they've won. So do I bring myself to tip?
Speaker 1:the Knights this week.
Speaker 2:Maybe you just take the hit, yeah but light touch on the Broncos where they go from here. I don't know. We touched on it earlier, Madge. Has he lost the dressing room? Is he going to struggle to get it back? I see Reece Walsh on social media outplaying golf of Cameron Smith. Is he focused on his YouTube career? We've mentioned it before. I see him chatting in the comments as well, around Brookvale's reaction to Ezra Mamm and the media person, saying he's just got to take it on the chin. He's got to realise what he's done and he's got to take it on the chin and expect that. And he's fired back in the comments underneath saying you've never stepped on the field in your life.
Speaker 1:I think he needs to worry about himself influence of drugs either.
Speaker 2:I've never hit a mother and a child whilst under the influence of drugs, without a driving licence. So you know I can't step in that scenario.
Speaker 1:So I think Walsh just needs to bring his net back in a little bit with that.
Speaker 2:He needs to figure out how he gets back to his best and he needs to let his footy do the talking. Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 1:Because, as much as we, I think the reason why we're so harsh on Walsh is because of how talented he is as a player. He could be an absolute talisman in any team.
Speaker 2:He showed it in 23.
Speaker 1:He was incredible in 23, and he is such a threat. There is times when he has the ball in his hands. He's gone. No one can defend him, and this season even at the start of the season, I said it a couple of times it was a step away from creating something amazing, and he just needs to focus on that.
Speaker 2:He does. But what next for the Cowboys? Who knows? It'd be interesting to see where they go from here. Sorry, it's because I'm looking at the next game. That's what it is.
Speaker 2:What next for the Broncos. Be interesting to see where they go. But on to the Cowboys. On to the Cowboys. Yeah, so defeat the Tigers, west Tigers 32-28. I was walking down to Brookie whilst this game was on and I left. I had it on on my phone. I was like you know what, I'm not going to bother watching this because they're however many points in front. And then we checked the score full time and the Tigers have brought it back. So a bit of fight in them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, massively, 100%, and we always thought that was going to be the case with the Tigers, and it's very much a round of where two Queensland halves were trying to make a statement of being picked for the next origin because there's been a lot of talk around DCE not being selected and Dearden coming in and Dearden had a great game in here, just linking play and everything.
Speaker 2:His run game pretty decent.
Speaker 1:But in saying that a little bit of ill discipline in the first half cost the Tigers, yeah, they spent what they spent 20 minutes in the first half with 13 so Luai Luai went for repeat offenses, and so did Dewey as well.
Speaker 1:I think, they both went for like just continuous penalties, continuous ruck, infringements they had 14 minutes in the first half down to, which has a massive impact, considering that they scored three tries in the first half. So that's again something that we have talked about when it comes to the Tigers is that little bit of ill-discipline there. If they sort that out, they've got the opportunity to improve, get improve and get better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they've got to put this Lockie Galvin stuff behind them as well. Now Hopefully the noise of that is going to going to end like it's a. It's a distraction, it's noise. They can put that to bed Like there's no going to hopefully no going to be. No media attention around all of might be for the first game and there will be when they play each other, but other than that they can focus on themselves for the season. I still think they've got a good chance of finishing in the eight. They're on a bit of a losing streak. In in May they've only won once, but that is with all the turmoil around what's happening with Lockie Galvin. So let's see where they go from. Here. I saw a funny thing I can't remember who it was earlier. I think it was the NRL roast. We're saying our May's gone for the Tigers and then they flip over the calendar of the team calendar and Lockie Galvin's due on the team on the supporters calendar.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, maybe they can't put it behind them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and look, the Tigers are two points outside the eight and the eight, and that's that just shows how tight this competition is um this year. And but yeah, fair play to the cowboys. They put in a put in a very good performance but seemed to shut off in that last 15, 20 um, but did enough to to get it over the line um. And then we're on to the roosters raiders, which again could have been arguably the the game, the round Roosters 24, raiders 26. Raiders, one of my I'll probably say it now my favourite team outside of Manly this season. Are they the best team in the comp?
Speaker 2:Considering I actually tipped them to get the wooden spoon. I think I've said this before, but going under the radar in pre-season, you can never judge what's going on, and they've definitely been the highlight of the season. Are they currently the best team in the comp? I think they are. Their way that they come back from games, their physicality, their togetherness, their strong running the ball, strong tackling and who's that nine that came on?
Speaker 2:owen, petty, patty, whatever his name is like great game sticks in a 40 20 like where where's that come from? Where's he been like? And then they just have players that step up when players go down injured and they're not losing as many players through injury, which is even if they've played 13 on the bounce that's ridiculous. And to lose Fogarty and then put in a performance like that, the comeback, I do think the Raiders, the Roosters, shot themselves in the foot with a few errors in the game, but you can't knock what the Raiders did. Are they the best team in the comp at the moment? I think they are.
Speaker 1:I think they are think they are.
Speaker 2:I think they are. What are your?
Speaker 1:thoughts around that. I can't really see disagree that I think you look at the storm. You look at the other two teams, both the three teams that around them like in the Warriors, storm, bulldogs, storm there's just something not there with them at the moment, like they are amazing when they're on, they are unstoppable.
Speaker 1:They can put 60 points past teams, like we've seen it. But then it's the jitteriness of them at times. They don't like wet weather, no, they don't. They got away with one a little bit against the Titans. Then you look at the Dogs great team this year, physical team, just continuing on from last year. They've been fantastic, but again it's the little bit of grit in them that can boil over a little bit. Warriors we've discussed about where they are. For me at the moment they are the all-round best team in the comp. I think I'm a little bit more excited watching the Raiders and how they perform because of Fogarty and him coming to Manly next year.
Speaker 2:Bit of bias.
Speaker 1:There is a slight bit of bias there, but they've got.
Speaker 2:Hudson Young is having an absolute season as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's such a shame that the Daily M isn't picked on. It's sort of picked on performances, but it's not the best. It's a vote. It's very subjective If you're the best player in the worst team you can end up winning in the daily end because you'll get the top five points every or how many points it is each week six, I think, or a share of six points. But no, he's having a great season. But the thing that we've always talked about is how they've got threats from everywhere it's. You can't just where's.
Speaker 2:Kai Weeks come from as well. Like he was terrible, he wasn't terrible. He wasn't a standout in Manly. He goes to this Raiders team and he just is influential. I see him taking the ball like out of out of the play, of the ball, first play, and he's like running with it.
Speaker 1:He's running along the line, being creative and then, yeah, savage it's amazing what a bit of confidence can do to people as well isn't it?
Speaker 2:it does was point out about the roosters that they've played some tough games recently. In the last three they've played dogs, sharks and raiders. They lost their dogs in an unreal comeback one, which they kind of chucked away. They romped the sharks at home and they lost a tight one to the raiders. Where do we see them going from here?
Speaker 1:because I I think they've got potential to yeah go far yeah, yeah, I've got a lot of potential to go far. They're on another buy this week which they they can sort of switch off and recoup and they come back against the Knights so that could be a great tune up to to then go into against the Cowboys. So they've got. They've got their talent there. They've got the potential. I said at the start of the season that they're going to have a bit of. They've got their talent there. They've got the potential. I said at the start of the season that they're going to have a bit of a nothing season, and not that they are at the moment, but it's fluctuating in between a team that could win the comp and a team that don't look really interested. But again, their attack and intent and defensive displays have been incredible at times.
Speaker 2:They defended pretty well and it was just a few lapses in concentration and mistakes. If they wipe out and the guy's incredible Nohunga Nitawasa he is a freak of an athlete. He can score ridiculous tries again, leaping up power to go over. He's just got to eradicate the mistakes under the high ball. He's doing it a bit too often. There was quite a few last week.
Speaker 1:Tupou off the kickoff, dropped it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and as well Daniel Tupou dropping it off, who's usually safe under the high ball. So if they can eradicate their mistakes, create a crisp performance, I genuinely think they can beat anyone. One of the talking points that we haven't got down and it's just sprung to mind is, like Victor Radley, he got cleared of a HIA, he had a category two HIA but at some point, like you've got to worry about his brain health I know we're not- experts we're not in a position to talk about it, but he's had so many knocks to the heads where he's looked dazed.
Speaker 1:And there needs to be sort of conversations in the medical side of things. Yeah, like you, look at Luke Keighley, who was one of the best arguably the best linebacker in the NFL and he took himself away from the sport. Retired yeah, retired after about four or five years in the NFL, because he was One of the greatest middle linebackers. Yeah. Panther is just unreal, but he was scared of what was happening to him, and the reason was because he didn't take a moment off.
Speaker 1:He trained as he played, and sometimes with these sports you do have to look at, you've got another. I don't know how old Victor Redley is, but he's got another 40, possibly 50 years of life ahead of him and he doesn't want to shorten that. Um. So so yeah, it's.
Speaker 2:It's a case that sometimes you do need to step away from it I agree and, like I hope, he hope he's all good, his brain's all good, because it's the least thing that we're wishing for people kind of brain injuries and everything that's coming out is yeah a bit of a hot topic. So yeah, fingers crossed, everything goes is all right. But on to Titan Storm. We've touched on it briefly. Titan 16, storm 28. Did the Storm dodge a bullet?
Speaker 1:I think you could argue yes Again. They just didn't look like a team that put 60, 70 points on other teams. They're just so disconnected at times. I can't really put a finger on who had a standout performance for the Storm in this, and I think the scoreline flatters them. Yeah, a little bit of so. Yeah, xavier Coates wasn't playing because he didn't back.
Speaker 2:I think it was him hamstring, not Ponga, a little bit of. So yeah, xavier Coates wasn't playing because he didn't back. I think it was him hamstring, not Ponga. They were arresting him for that. Harry Grant, I believe, didn't play because he dropped a grade A stinker in origin he did. He had a really bad game. But I don't think that was the reason why he didn't play. I think he was just not backing up. But the point of the game which I think is the contentious point as to where they dodged a bullet, is Sam Varel's try. That wasn't given. Now, I'm not an expert in the rules, but my understanding is the marker. You're not allowed to burrow through the marker if they're square behind where the tackle's made. But Big Nelson was to one side and I can't remember who.
Speaker 2:Pappenhausen, pappenhausen and Tino had kind of moved himself out the way, but Nelson could have made the tackle yeah like he goes through and round the side, which would have been to the side of a marker if there was a marker there, but he then touches Nelson on the leg and they've classed that as Burrow.
Speaker 1:Everyone said it should have been a try. Nelson didn't get low enough. I was listening to the explanation earlier and the TMO or sorry, the bunker was saying that he touched Tino's leg as he was going through, which then stopped Pappenhausen from making an attempt in the tackle Bollocks. Yeah, I don't really agree with it.
Speaker 2:to be honest, it wasn't getting stopped. Nelson's the one that's got to stop that, and he wasn't in a position to make that. No, he wasn't in a position.
Speaker 1:I think Nelson's going to look back at that and go. I've gotten away with one there.
Speaker 2:Because then the storm intercept down the other end score and I think they go what 22-12 up. Maybe at that point Big change, but unlucky for the Titans. It's sometimes the way the cookie crumbles but, are the Titans favourites for the spoon? I think they are. I can't see anyone else. Knights maybe.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I agree Knights are terrible, titans are terrible. I mean, I think I Knights are terrible, titans are terrible. I mean I think I've got it somewhere down here that the Titans are $251 to win the championship, win the premiership, whereas the Knights are 201. Ah, okay. I don't know. But yeah, Knights, Titans, it's going to be spoon bowl, I reckon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's not great for Titans. It's going to be spoon bowl, I reckon. Yeah, it's not great for the Titans. I thought having Tino back would massively shift them, as well as old mate Foran.
Speaker 2:Yeah but difficult one, difficult one for him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, very much so, but moving on to the next game, Panthers defeating the Eels.
Speaker 2:You had the Eels as you kind of flopped it around. Difficult one, difficult one for them? Yeah, very much so, but one. Moving on to the next game Panthers defeating the Eels. You had the Eels as you kind of flopped around. Panthers didn't look impressive, but gritty win and interestingly the bookies still have them $23, $23 to win the comp.
Speaker 1:Yeah, was that a? Was that a baby shower on Saturday? And I was chatting to a good friend of mine about this and he was mentioning everyone around the conversation was mentioning that he can never count out the Panthers and he's very much of a believer of they're going to just incorporate Ian Holloway's philosophy of we're just going to score more points than you, which I know it sounds like a daft thing to say, because that's how you do win games philosophy of we're just going to score more points than you, um, which I know it's. It's. It sounds like a daft thing to to say because that's how you do win games. Um, but the thing that I really worry about the panthers is their defense, their defensive system. That looks shocked like it's.
Speaker 1:It's all over the place and again, if it wasn't for eels who were building so much pressure they were the best team in the game, I thought, or at least in the first half In the first half they were having scrums 10 metres out, but then they would knock it on and then the ball would change over or they'd make a wrong decision and, to be fair, I've got to give Jenkins a good shout out on this. He had a great game in the air.
Speaker 1:He was up against Zach Lomax and shut down Zach Lomax in the air. And there was a couple of times where Lomax went up and you'd think he was going to come back down with it, but Jenkins put in a good 50-50. But they did. They all shut themselves in the foot in this game.
Speaker 2:What blows my mind about the Panthers being $23 to win the comp is that the teams around them in the ladder, the tigers, are 151 to win the comp.
Speaker 2:The knights are 201, the eels are 151 and the titans are 251. To win the whole thing now the panthers have got to go on some extreme run to to make, even make the eight. And even if they make the eight, they're then coming up against the top teams who are beating and beating them with, like all right, they toppled the roosters, but like, fair ease going into that situation. But you can't count them out. But I've written them off.
Speaker 1:I don't think they're going to make the eight. I, I just yeah it's a tough one it is. It is because, when everyone, because they've done four on a bounce it's, it's hard to ignore with talks of Cleary potentially going to going to. Union is his mind going to go, start going elsewhere, which, on a side note, I think that would be an unreal addition to the Wallabies. He, he. I think that would be an unreal addition to the Wallabies he would. I think he would be a great addition to the game in general.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we spoke about this earlier, but this is exactly what Eddie Jones did ahead of the 2003 World Cup Union World Cup. On home soil. He kind of raided the league stocks and bought some of the best players over and it feels like with Suoliti going potentially Cleary going Nwanganita Wase's contract's up, there's talks of him being in talks with is it the Waratahs? And Rugby Australia? You never know.
Speaker 2:They could be building something and it won't happen in time for the Lions, which is a shame but, I, think it puts them in very good if Cleary does go, puts Australia on a platform as a team to watch out for in the World Cup. But back to the league, back to the NRL Eels, although the flop of the round. Do you reckon yeah?
Speaker 1:they're on the up. They're on the up Again, being at the game last week and they absolutely dismantled Manly. You can tell there's something there. So yeah, they're definitely on the up. I'd put them in that same category as the Tigers, as well as the Dragons, those who are just flirting on the outside of the eight, who could make a late charge. I put them in that sort of little category.
Speaker 2:Talking of Dragons kicked us off on Friday night with a Comfortable, decent win. Yeah, clemmer stepped up the experience stepped up for the Dragons. They toppled the Knights. Knights didn't have much in um in attack. They're terrible in attack um but, dragons are 20, knights six. Not going to go into too much detail on this one, but yeah, old boys got this done, really didn't they?
Speaker 1:yeah, gutherson got gutherson, as we've been saying week on week on week is he's. You can start seeing the improvement of of him marshalling and carrying the team. And I always reflect back to one comment I read in the pre-season scrimmage Manly and Gutherson had not Manly, manly and the Dragons had at Brookie, and it was a comment of. You could hear Gutherson marshalling the Dragons around.
Speaker 2:And he'd only been there a few months.
Speaker 1:And that little comment has really stuck with me.
Speaker 2:You reminded me. Actually there was a video from the start of the year where they're doing hill sprints or something like that, and he was the first one to the top in all of them like real, leading by example, and it seems like his ways and his leadership is wearing off on everyone. So got a question, though If Knights had Caelan Ponga, does he make a difference?
Speaker 1:No, because even though a fullback can make a massive difference, you've then got to have the people around you to be able to link play and unfortunately I just don't think he would have had that around him. But yeah, I don't really want to say much about the Knights because I don't really want to be sat here with eating my words next week.
Speaker 2:Well, what a great segue. Why don't let's go on to round 14? Because the first fixture of the week I picked the McDonnell Jones Stadium on Thursday night. We're going to be there, we're going to be in attendance. We got the Knights $2.82 against the Manly Seagulls $1.44. Who are you?
Speaker 1:tipping. I'm going to go for Manly. Hopefully they can back up the performance they put in last week and that is where I'm going to leave it yeah, part of me thinks I should tip the Knights, because every time I tip against Valley, they win.
Speaker 2:We win this and we win it comfortably. I'm staunch, standing by my values. We go up there we batter the Newcastle Knights, hop a white as a ball game. Sipley comes in and is just dominant through the middle. Luke Brooks, dc just getting things clicking and Manny 13-plus. That's what I'm going for To be fair.
Speaker 1:when I went on my little rant about the XDC, it was actually beating the Broncos. I did say Hoppawattie was going to have a great game. I think I said he'd score a hat-trick, but I think he had a good game. You did, you did. The first six o'clock kickoff is the Storm at $1.21 versus the Cowboys at $4.45. At the Storm's favourite ground at the moment, amy Park, where they have put on some points, where are you going?
Speaker 2:I believe this is closer than what this suggests. I wouldn't be giving the Cowboys $4. Four dollars, 45. I think that's a bit harsh like they. They've looked all right. The cowboys storm at home. They're lethal at home. Um, you'd think that munster will turn it on. Grant will be a lot better coats will be back, so back. So for me Storm and not 4.45 comfortable, $4.45 comfortable. But I think the Storm will get this done pretty easily.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was just looking at the ladder there. They've got the Storm, are 5-1 at home and the Cowboys are 2-3 away, so I think that really sort of speaks volumes in it. And, yeah, I'm going to go for the Storm as well.
Speaker 2:Next game we have on the Friday is the Dolphins $1.53, against the Dragons $2.52, up at the Suncorp. Tough one, this one. But where are you going, yeah?
Speaker 1:Oh gosh, this is a really really tough one.
Speaker 2:So Turpilotto was named last week but then didn't. Apparently he was a week away. Name this week.
Speaker 1:The Dolphins have always been one of the teams that whenever I talk about them they do the opposite, but I think, with them being on the buy, they were on the buy last week, weren't they? With them being on the buy last week and having that sort of extra week off and being at home, and they've been putting in some decent performance, I think I'm just going to go for the Dolphins on this one. Yeah, fair.
Speaker 2:I'm on the fence with this one. I think Suar yeah, jadon Suar's out for the Dragons. But yeah, they welcome back Tua Polotu Fetala Mariner as well. I'm going to join you. I think the Dolphins get this one done. I believe at home at the Suncorp, they play well at home. I believe they see this one out.
Speaker 1:Okay, fair play. And then on the first game on the Saturday, we've got the Sharks $1.49 versus the Warriors $2.63 at the Pointsbet Stadium. Where are you going?
Speaker 2:Down in Shark Park, warriors have impressed Sharks coming off of a bye Tough one to call. Warriors have lost Mitch Barnett, which is huge, and we know the Sharks have probably one of the best forwards in the game at the moment in Fonua Blake. I believe that's a point of difference in the fact the impact that not having Barnett would have had. If they would have had both of them Barnett and Fisher-Harris then I think that would have neutralised the threat of Faneuil Blake. But for me at home, sharks, get this one.
Speaker 1:Sharks are missing. Mullotalo and Stone Street.
Speaker 2:Oh, stone Street's out with that. Well, molotalo's banned and Stone Street's out with that ankle injury.
Speaker 1:But I think one of the bread and butters that the Warriors have been able to rely on is their middle and I think they're going to have a tough one against the Sharks, and I think I'm going to have a tough one against the Sharks and I think I'm going to join you in going with the Sharks.
Speaker 2:Nice and then up next. Yeah, the team that we love talking about, we've got the 735 are also at Suncorp, so it's back-to-back games at the Suncorp Friday, Saturday let's hope it's not raining, I don't think it is but we've got the Broncos the Brisbane Broncos $1.32 against the Gold Coast Titans $3.40,. A local derby Ding dong derby day. Exactly who are we going with?
Speaker 1:We've just talked about him. Reece Walsh has been named at fullback. I think he's got a lot to prove and I think he's going to put in a hell of a performance.
Speaker 2:I think, with a, with a few, that, yeah, I'm going to go for the Broncos on this one the Broncos can't go back to back stinkers after the ripping that they've had from the media this week, reece Walsh being back. Broncos have got to get this done. They have to, I think, for their season. They have to win this game. So I'm going to back the Broncos in this one.
Speaker 1:Oh the Rabbit.
Speaker 2:O's on on a bye. I said they were earlier, they're not, oh, okay.
Speaker 1:Well, that nice little segue onto the next one. First game on the Sunday 2 o'clock kickoff Raiders $1.43 versus the Rabbit O's $2.83 at the Geo Stadium in Canberra. Where are you going?
Speaker 2:Jamal Fogarty's back Groin injury. They said one to three weeks so it'd be interesting to see if he remains in that or whether he's a late fitness test to see whether he's ready. Starling is back from his. I believe it's from a high shot that he's ready. Starling is back from his. I believe it's from the high shot that he's banned. The Rabbit O's have got Cody Walker back, jack Whiten's back, but they've lost Bentley Harpo. I see the Raiders continuing their good run of form at home. They're going to want to keep the ball rolling, raiders, to get this win.
Speaker 1:I'm going for the Raiders as well. I think they're clicking. I think Tom Starling adds so much in coming back and they are being a very dominant force at the moment. So I'm going to go for the Raiders as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the middle game on the Sunday. We've got the West Tigers at $3.41 against the Penrith Panthers $1.32. Interesting one about this one it's at the Combank Stadium, which is actually a Tigers home game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 2:Like Parramatta Tigers, panthers, all using that and Panthers have played there twice in the last week home and away. But yeah, tigers $3.31, panthers $1.32. Who you got this?
Speaker 1:is. This is quite a tough one actually. You look at, you can look at both the performances and Tigers should have won. You could argue the Tigers should have won and the Panthers should have lost. Moses Liotta had a great game to be fair to him against the Eels, but I think the defensive lapses in this team. I think the Tigers have got the opportunity to be able to attack and I'm going to go for the Tigers on this.
Speaker 2:Nice. Usually I'm the one that takes the risk for the Tigers, but for me Panthers they're going to have, so their origin boys are going to have a bit of rest between origin and the Eels game that they played. Now they're playing a week later. That's going to help them massively. Tigers haven't got Royce Hunt, who's a big aggressive boy in the middle. He's out. We're going to help them massively. Tigers haven't got Royce Hunt, who's a big aggressive boy in the middle. He's out. We're going to split this one. I'm going to go for the Panthers.
Speaker 1:And then actually this isn't on the Sunday, it's on the Monday, bank holiday. Monday Four o'clock kickoff. We've got the Bulldogs at $1.42 versus the Eagles $2.89 at a core stadium, $1.42 versus the Eagles $2.89 at a core stadium.
Speaker 2:Reports of this one is that they've, well, they've done the same as what they did for the I can't remember who the dogs, it might have been the Rabbitohs on.
Speaker 1:Good Friday Good.
Speaker 2:Friday $10 tickets. They reckon that they're on track to have more at this game. The Belmarsh.
Speaker 1:Belmarsh Barmy Army. The Belmarsh Barmy Army, the Belmarsh Barmy.
Speaker 2:Army, but they reckon there's going to be 65,000 plus at this game, which will be unreal, and because of that and the Bulldogs playing up to the crowd, they've got to turn up and the Bulldogs have got to beat the Eels.
Speaker 1:So I'm going Bulldogs yeah, I'm going to join you on that. I think the week off is going to have helped them and come back rejuvenated and put on a performance for the fans yeah, so subscribe, follow along.
Speaker 2:See how we got on with the tips this week. I wasn't great last week.
Speaker 1:No, I got 6 last week.
Speaker 2:You did alright so, yeah, give us a like and subscribe, keep up to date with how those are going.
Speaker 1:But big news today yep, explain what you did this afternoon, I bought us tickets for the Ashes, more specifically, the Sydney test. Yeah, so we'll be there day one and day three. I think it's good to have a nice rest in between. One to recover from the sun, because we're not going to be well shaded, unfortunately, and the second one is you don't want to go too hard on three days on the trot when it comes to the cricket, but, yeah, it's something to really look forward to. Could have probably arguably spent a lot of money today, but I reined it in a little bit especially with us doing the Lions.
Speaker 1:I think it was a good decision to not go mental, but yeah, can't wait.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, especially fifth test. We hope it's a decider. We hope it's a decider. We hope it's not been decided by then, and because we're there on day three, you never know we might see the ashes decided, fingers crossed. I think it's going to be a tight series. Obviously we'll build up to it and look at it in the future, but England currently playing a one day series against the West Indies. Two games in pretty comfortable in game one.
Speaker 2:But I don't know if you saw it, joe root 166 to win us the the second one day I was thinking about this when I was watching.
Speaker 1:It is I. Joe root always seems to put in massive performances when the team need him, when there's a lot going on around him. He sort of just goes in hits a 30, 40 like he knuckles down, doesn't he? He doesn't swing still puts some runs out there, but when everything's falling around him, root turns into Superman and he got 166, which was an incredible. Some of his shots were beautiful to watch, but yeah, wrapped it up 2-0. Third one is today, so yeah, we'll see how that goes and what was good to see.
Speaker 2:I think we like Duckett scored well, but he was out for a duck yeah, jamie Smith was out for a duck as well out for a duck and then, like you say, root comes in with that experience just doesn't like, I think, the highlights that they showed. They saw him hitting. I saw him hit one boundary and then the next highlight I saw was him.
Speaker 1:I was watching it and he was 7 off 14 and then he was 32 off 38. And I was like what's happened here? You're blinking, he scores 40 runs.
Speaker 2:And then you just see him knocking over his 50 in the highlights, and then he accelerated later on and we got to a point where we kind of couldn't lose, even with the wickets. We only needed like 18 runs.
Speaker 1:He built some. He built some good partnerships with Brooks and Jacks, I think it was yeah, which was, which was good to see.
Speaker 2:So and then interesting incident in the F1 this weekend oh, verstappen just threw his toys out the prom he did.
Speaker 2:And do you know what? I'm not into Formula One, but there's things that catch your attention when you're scrolling through social media and I saw the reaction of. The first thing I saw was his interview after the media and him being his boisterous, selfish, arrogant self saying I don't know what you're talking about, blah, blah, blah, all that sort of stuff. And then he's come out today and actually said, yeah, maybe it was the wrong move, but he's just driven straight into him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's thrown the toys out. To be fair, I don't think You've got to put a bit of onus on the Red Bull wall there.
Speaker 2:I don't think they should have, they got it wrong, didn't they?
Speaker 1:Yeah, he didn of 50-50, going into the corner with him and Russell, and then he was told to overtake and Russell overtook and was coming back in as he thought he'd been given the position and Verstappen just went straight into the side of him.
Speaker 2:But they looked at the metrics and he actually accelerated. He'd slowed down and he accelerated into him.
Speaker 1:But yeah, another win for Piastri.
Speaker 2:Could be on for an Aussie world champion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it would be pretty cool from sort of living in the local point of view, but it's nice to see McLaren doing well. They are absolutely dominating this year.
Speaker 2:Well, even like Verstappen says the car isn't quick enough, russell says the car isn't quick enough, hamilton saying the car is terrible, so that's three major players that are nowhere near it. So I will openly admit, formula One isn't my sport but, it's good when there's a bit of controversy happening. And then, last thing, big update Chelsea have won the lot. Chelsea have won every single European trophy going, and we had this conversation a couple of weeks ago around. Oh, it's not a great achievement really, is it Because you've won the Europa Conference?
Speaker 1:League, but you flip it on its head.
Speaker 2:And if we would have won the Champions League last yes, as in the final trophy to complete the lot, we still would have had to have won the Europa Conference League at one point. So yeah, we beat Real Betis in the final 4-1.
Speaker 1:Thumpton didn't you?
Speaker 2:Thumpton, but it was touch and go at one point. Like Jorgensen, our goalkeeper, I think that's his name he pulled off some great saves Did you see any of the Champions League?
Speaker 1:PSG looked so good.
Speaker 2:They did, but is it the new format that's allowed Dortmund to get to?
Speaker 1:It was Inter Milan.
Speaker 2:Of course it was in Bayern Munich and they were playing in yellow. That's why I had Dortmund in my head. Do you reckon it's allowed them to get to the final? Well, no, because they still had to beat. Barcelona in two legs. This is very true.
Speaker 1:This is very true, psg winning it though, yeah, they looked, they looked very good, rightfully the best team in Europe. To be honest, I think this season fair play, fair play.
Speaker 2:But yeah, that's another one in the books. Like comment and subscribe, follow along for stay up to date with us. Chatting, chatting, waffle each week and, yeah, hopefully performing better in the tips. But we'll catch you in the next one. See you next week.