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!
#22 From Origin Heartbreak to Lions Tour: This Week's Rugby Rollercoaster
The State of Origin series hangs in the balance after a controversial Game 2 saw Queensland edge New South Wales 26-24 in a thriller that left Blues fans wondering what might have been. Goal kicking emerged as the critical difference, with New South Wales missing seven out of nine conversions across both games – leaving 14 potential points unconverted and proving the difference between victory and defeat.
Queensland's Cameron Munster led brilliantly as captain while Harry Grant redeemed himself after a poor showing in Game 1. The Maroons' aggressive first-half display built a commanding 24-6 lead before a spirited Blues comeback fell agonizingly short. Questions about refereeing decisions linger, particularly with an 8-0 penalty count and several missed calls that significantly impacted the contest.
Beyond Origin, Round 16 of the NRL delivered surprises galore – the Panthers defeated the Warriors in New Zealand without their Origin stars, the Knights continued their resurgence by defeating the Dolphins, and the Eels found form without their star halves. Perhaps most remarkable is the incredible tightness of the competition, with just four points separating 5th place from 16th with eleven rounds remaining. We break down each match while looking ahead to Round 17's fixtures.
We're also gearing up for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, analyzing their opening loss to Argentina and what it means for their chances down under. As we prepare to head west for their match against Western Force in Perth, we discuss expectations, key players, and what makes this once-every-twelve-year tour so special. Follow our journey across Australia as we attend six matches throughout the tour, bringing you analysis and behind-the-scenes content along the way!
Hello and welcome to this week's episode of. They've Been Doing it All Day, sir. I'm Ben and I'm Chris. Now the dust has settled on Origin and we're off to Perth. Let's get stuck in.
Speaker 2:How's your week?
Speaker 1:been, mate. It's been good. It feels like an eternity ago that we were actually last here. So much has happened between last time we filmed. This time. We filmed Origin. The Lions got their first game in a round of NRL. Yeah yeah, a lot happening. How's your weekend?
Speaker 2:been. Yeah, not too bad. Actually it was at a wedding up on the.
Speaker 1:Central Coast. Central Coast, yeah, yeah, I saw that actually, it was really nice.
Speaker 2:Really nice. Come back and I feel like utter shit. Yeah, you don't sound too great nah, nah, I don't look it either. I look dreadful. I'm full of coal. I've got me, got me a lem sip here to the left of me to battle on through this episode commitment to the cause. Yeah, man gotta give the people what they want, and that's why I'm here. But but other than that, you're right, it's been an absolute overload of sport, even in England, india, down to the last day.
Speaker 1:How did I forget the cricket? And we haven't even got a result to be able to talk about, which is annoying. It finishes tonight, but before we get into that, I just want to go off on a little whinging section. Okay, whinging poms, whinging poms, as we always are. But but you know one thing that really pickles my cabbage? Love that, and it's how long traffic lights take to. In fact, no, it's not how long traffic lights take to turn, it's how long people take to pull off from traffic lights in australia.
Speaker 1:So in the uk the light and light sequence goes red, amber or red, red and amber, or red, red and amber green. So people prepare themselves to pull away. Here in Australia it just goes red green Start of an F1. You lose because people haven't got the quickest of reactions. You lose about 10 seconds, I think, from when that first car pulls away. Barely anyone gets through the lights and you're still left there like two minutes later. Really does do my head in. Like, for example, on the way here, there's about what 20 sets of traffic lights. There's a few, and you're just waiting for people to continue to pull away, to continue to pull away, and you're getting caught up in it. And yeah, I was nearly a bit behind this week, but I made it. Alas, I made it. Love it. Yeah, that's what I'm whinging about. This week weather's getting warmer, though that's weird.
Speaker 2:No, it's dropping though, because it was.
Speaker 1:It was a warm evening last night and now it's dropping down to 16 again so overnight it'll be like single figures, yeah, 9 time to get the blankets out again. Yeah, it's too cold, it's out again. Yeah, it's too cold. It's too cold, but feels like an eternity ago. Mentioned it at the start Origin last week, new South Wales beaten. What was it in the end? I don't even want to remind myself of the score 24-26 was it 24-26 or 26-22.
Speaker 1:I'm doing we're doing it a disservice by not remembering the score, but we want to put it to the back of our minds Now that the dust has settled a bit. What are your thoughts on it?
Speaker 2:It was 26-24. New South Wales need to spend the next camp learning how to fucking kick. Sorry for the expletives, but they've missed seven out of nine conversions in this series.
Speaker 1:Well, clearly he wasn't kicking because of his groin, whatever went, pop his hamstringstring. So Lomax comes in, misses what? Four out of the five, yeah, and then. Or three out the five, and then this weekend for the eels slots, everything bang, six out of six yeah, it could be the added pressure.
Speaker 2:Weather was horrendous and, you can't forget, lomax kicked New South Wales to victory last game three. So it's one of those, but it's on a whole, as I've said, seven out of nine. They've left 14 points out on those fields. Even when Lomax had won in front in game one, he still managed to slice.
Speaker 1:It missed it, didn't he?
Speaker 2:so there must be that little additional pressure. And then on the flip side you've got to give Val Holmes credit and you've got to give the Maroons credit for that first half. Um, munster and Grant, I think, were absolutely influential in in driving that that Queensland attack forward yeah, considering Grant an absolute stinker.
Speaker 1:Game one he uh did pretty well game two. Similarly, I think um Munster, the captaincy, yeah, elevated his game and there's some random stat out there that he hasn't actually won a series with a moustache. So although I said it would give him some mongrel last week, being captain with a moustache, he shaved it off. So I think because of that stat a lot of talk about the refereeing We've mentioned it but if New South Wales get their kicks it doesn't matter. But there were some questionable questionable.
Speaker 2:As much as I do moan about a referee, I do hate it when you do resort to that as the only issue. There's been a lot of talk on social media around the referee, and rightly so, but people then don't talk about the other issues that are in hand, like Brian Tyler again dreadful in the air up against Val Holmes, misses an air ball in a one-on-one and they score in the corner. So there's issues like that that I missed, or was it either Val Holmes, I can't remember, but there was. The biggest one I called out within the first half of the game was when Dearden took a 30-metre detour to block Lomax in the one-on-one. Granted, I think they ended up scoring off the knock-on from Ponga, but there was no initial call from Ashley Cline and that's a penalty. It could have been right. Let's get two points reset. Go again.
Speaker 1:It's more the ones that are missed. I'm fair with the ones that were given for New South Wales. I'm fair with the ones that were given for New South Wales. I'm not moaning about the 8-0 penalty count or the 8 of the 8-0. It's the nil. And when you see, I know you can take still pictures of anything and they can paint a picture, but Ruben Cotter is about three metres offside. On two occasions that I've seen pictures of, I'm like how's that not being called? How's the touchy not seeing that and call it? And that's when they're we're down on their goal line as well. So I mean, look, you can only be. Everyone's playing the same ref.
Speaker 1:There's, there's yeah a few uh conspiracy theories about taking it to a decider. It's what the nrl want. They want to sell out the uh sell out homebush and get everyone there. But um, I think from a new south wales standpoint, our bench, or the players that had been selected that were on the periphery, weren't as good this time round. Max King was only on for a short stint. I don't think he had the greatest of games. Otoyo Kamano not the biggest of impacts.
Speaker 2:He only had 41 metres running or something like that. He didn't.
Speaker 1:And then when Reece Robson came off like all that time you mentioned about Toto in the air, yeah, okay, there was some mismatch there, but on the ground he was phenomenal at finishing. And when Connor Watson came on for Reece Robson, it's all of a sudden like we didn't bother going left, towards his side, towards Mitchell and Toto, and we resorted to going right and it just wasn't working. So stupid decisions, I think, like that led to New South Wales and look, it could have been the best comeback the weather was also shit yeah.
Speaker 2:I know it's for both sides and both sides were shit because of it at times. And just going on Connor Watson, it looked like he forgot how to pass the ball at times, unfortunately. But you know what I would after that game, I think I would rather still been sat in the New South Wales shed for sure. Going right, we've. We've nearly beat them after a 24-6 lead. They've not turned up in this second half.
Speaker 1:We should have won my initial thinking after the game and I suppose it's still hand strong, stand strong. Now that second half is how new south wales perform. Yeah, that is what they should do all the time. The first half was just an off like they were terrible, maybe the influence of the ref, whatever but game three should be an absolute blowout. Yeah, there's no doubt about it. Unfortunately, we're in Canberra watching the Lions play against.
Speaker 2:I was tempted to message you going, do we trade tickets? But then I said no to myself because, first of all, Origin is every year and the Lions is only once every four years. 12 years in Australia and 12 years in Australia. So I was like, don't be stupid.
Speaker 1:I was thinking the same thing and I saw something that the cheapest ticket for Origin was 350 bucks as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, made the right decision.
Speaker 1:So yeah, we're heading down to Canberra for the Rumbies. We're watching the warm-up game before or after the.
Speaker 2:Sorry, just before the first test.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we're going to be watching that and then flying up to Brisbane to watch them at the Suncourt. But, um, yeah, we'll preview game three. It's a shame we're not going to be there first. Origin in Sydney. We've missed in a couple of years, but uh, yeah, should we get stuck into. Let's go round 16. So how many fixtures? Not a full fixture list? I think there's seven fixtures this weekend. Obviously a lot of players rested. Um, but where was your performance of the week?
Speaker 2:I've gone for a young gentleman who made his fourth appearance for the Roosters Benaiah Iolu, I think, is how it's pronounced I've got a good chance. I've butchered that. Came on very early in this game and looked strong at hooker when he came on.
Speaker 2:I was quite impressed with how he was playing in that first half, how he was moving the ball defensively, looked pretty sound. Yeah, he made mistakes, but he's he's 21 in and making his fourth first grade appearance. And then also, to put the icing on the cake, he put in a brilliant cross field kick for daniel tupo. Um, and to be fair to the, the roosters, if you want to have a young kicker kicking to to anyone you, you want the two boys and the Roosters with with Daniel Tupo and Big Marky, yeah, big Marky Mark. So so, yeah, really impressed with him. I think it may have been a performance that went under other people's radars, because I think it was a round of very good performances, but that's what jumped out to me yeah, I'm gonna go.
Speaker 1:So it's performance of the week for me. And the reason why I say the week is because he played in two games. Um, he was fairly influential in a few few of the tries for new south wales when they went down to brian toto's side, um, but for the bunnies he was a completely different animal. I'm going for latrell mitchell as my performance of the week. He put good defensive pressure on during origin as well, which I thought was a real positive of his. But to put that performance in in what was a more intense game on the Wednesday, to then back it up on the Saturday night, his performance he got three of the assists, for in fact he got all three of the assists. For in fact he got all three of the assists for no, he didn't because Johnson, one of them was an intercept, but he got two assists for the three, four of his tries and some of the passes that he provided as well.
Speaker 1:Like he, farlongo didn't know what was happening when he threw an absolute bullet out wide, skipping one person. He turned around and was like, oh he's there, I've missed him. Creativity from him. And then the kick that he put through for Munro for that try that gave him the lead. No, it levelled it up and all he had to do was slot the kick to get it over and he just pulled it to the left, I think. But even his two-point field goal to try and win it absolutely smacked the leather off the ball like 50 metres comfortably and it was close to going over. But even though on the losing side, I'm going to go with Latrell Mitchell. What a week it's been for him. Who's your flop of the week?
Speaker 2:I think this is more of an accumulation of the last two rounds. I've won the Cowboys. They've conceded 100 points in two games and scored 12. I just don't know where to go with them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they've dropped down the ladder quite a bit as well with those two losses.
Speaker 2:They just look dreadful. Roosters had them in the pocket. They had no attacking intent.
Speaker 1:Defensively were terrible as well.
Speaker 2:Defensively all over the place. Tommy Dearden was just unheard of.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I'm going to go for the Cowboys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, fair, I've gone for Sione. Katoa Sharks had a fairly good first half. I felt that they could have put a serious number of points on the Broncos. Broncos got themselves back into it. But then there was an absolute brain fart from Katoa. Just before half-time the buzzer had sounded, I think, the siren had gone and whoever it was broke free or intercepted. It was a high ball and he's just stuck his arm out. Professional foul Bin Simbin. It was a high ball and he's just stuck his arm out. Professional foul been simbin. It didn't have a direct influence on the game, but I think them playing for 10 minutes with 12 men after the break sapped their energy because the Broncos were relentless.
Speaker 1:So for me, my flop of the round is Sione Carter. Let's dive into the fixtures. Let's start. We're going in order of what we feel was some engaging games. We won't go in an order of how they were, but Warriors 18 defeated by the Panthers 28. I think this might be the upset of the round, comfortably.
Speaker 2:I think everyone backed the Warriors, probably other than Panthers fans they're going to end up winning the comp, aren't they? I wrote them off, backed the Warriors probably other than Panthers fans. They're going to end up winning the comp, aren't they?
Speaker 1:I wrote them off a while ago because, you assumed that teams would gain momentum and there'd be a separation from the top eight and those struggling further down. Because the competition is so close they are going to find themselves in the eight. So close they are going to find themselves in the eight in form, everyone playing well, and you know what's going to happen. You know they're just going to end up there or thereabouts come the end of the season. They've got the most experience out of all of the teams. That would be the top four. So let's say they finish in the eight. You've got in the top four. It would be what? Storm Warriors, bulldogs and Raiders. They finish in the eight. You've you've got in the top four. It'd be what? Storm warriors, uh, bulldogs and raiders. Those four teams aren't too experienced in recent years in finals football. So you've got the panthers sitting in the in the five to eight range just there's 11, 11 rounds to go.
Speaker 2:They're just starting to churn the panthers machine at the right time they're. They're looking a lot more defensively sound than they did in previous weeks. The young lads seem to be starting to gel with the defensive structure.
Speaker 1:And that was without all their origin players as well, and that was without all the origin players, who are big influences. Leo led from the front, though he got stuck into Fisher-Harris straight from the outset. The opening kick-off. He went in and tried to absolutely level him and they were what one of the best forward partnerships in the league for a number of years. That was always going to happen, wasn't it? What surprised me is Warriors over in New Zealand. They tucked him in Just nothing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think that's what makes it even a greater. Victory is in New Zealand, when they have this resurgence of energy and they just look like schoolboys.
Speaker 1:They did and I thought do you know what Fair play to the Panthers? I only saw the highlights of this one, but they're just finding form at the right time. They've got a few fixtures that will test them coming up. They've got the Bulldogs as well. That might be this week.
Speaker 1:I can't remember, it is this week yeah, so that'll be a good one because they have all their origin players back. A good one to actually assess where they are. But from one upset to another, yeah yeah, dolphins weren't bad. Like the Dolphins weren't bad. Like the Dolphins weren't bad. I think the Knights were just good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we did mention how defensively sound they can be throughout the game and they just seemed to tuck away the Dolphins and I think we're going to see a bit of a resurgence of the Knights. You've now got Dom Young back. You've got Brad and Bess back. I think their attack is going to change.
Speaker 2:I think we're going to see a lot more attack and intent with them. If they can keep up with the defensive structure and just keep the points out and start scoring over the other, I think Dom Young could end up being quite close to having the most tries in the season, because I think they're just going to continuously attack him and he'll have a little bit of confidence and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being quite close to the top.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and the other thing to consider, obviously a couple of weeks out from Origin Game 3, Bradman Best is an Origin machine. Yes, he is. Is there an outside chance that he gets picked for Game 3?
Speaker 2:Yes, he is. Is there an outside chance that he gets?
Speaker 1:picked for game three. Who would he replace then? It would be either Crichton or Mitchell. Crichton didn't have the greatest of games. No, you keep Crichton in there now. Sorry, but Bradman Best last year absolutely tore it apart. Last year he was one of the ones, didn't he split his lip fully open? Yeah, so he's got that dog in him.
Speaker 2:He does, but I still prefer Mitchell and Crichton together as centres.
Speaker 1:Yeah, who did best play for Play replaced last year? Was it Mitchell? It must have been, because was Mitchell injured last year? I can't remember. But yeah, you said this game would be tight and expected I predicted a 40 odd point blowout and the Knights actually ended up turning over the Dolphins. You know I read a stat earlier about Herbie Farnworth that he's only missed like 14 tackles all season. And he went for a period of eight weeks, not missing a tackle, so he's in absolute form of his life.
Speaker 1:Like the Dolphins weren't bad, they just made errors at key times, like the hammer dropped two high balls yeah which wasn't great, um, and that led to led to the tries for newcastle, but the biggest thing that is um a concern for the dolphins is their in-form winger bostock. Yeah, acl. Now I watched the highlights of this game because I was out and you actually hear the pop of his ACL when he goes down. Such a shame he was on fire.
Speaker 2:He was incredible, yeah.
Speaker 1:Maybe it was the celebrating the one, two, three, four, like someone, the rugby gods. Few people said don't run before you can walk, so I don't know whether there's a bit of and, to be fair, we haven't seen the money man that often.
Speaker 2:Yeah, since he started the old money celebration, tua.
Speaker 1:Palotto's been out injured. So the rugby gods don't favour a celebration. They don't. So, turbo, if you score this weekend, don't celebrate.
Speaker 2:Just don't celebrate, please don't celebrate.
Speaker 1:In fact, it's not even this weekend. They're playing Friday night, so we'll see. But yeah, shame for him. He was having a great season. But what upset from the Knights Again.
Speaker 2:Like you say, resurgence this competition is just getting tighter and tighter. How many points? They are on 14 points at the moment. Panthers are on 17. So there's three points outside the eight. Like, if they go on a, it's mad how close this league is. If they go on a streak they could just sneak into the eight.
Speaker 1:And imagine that at the start, where most weeks that we've discussed about them, I think the top four are pretty solid, like yeah, I think it's important to look at the wins losses rather than the points, because we've mentioned before about the buys like, for example, the storm, have had three buys yeah whereas the raiders have only had one.
Speaker 1:So the raiders sit above them on the table, but the Dogs are on 11 wins, the Raiders on 12, storm on 9, warriors on 10. And then there's a bit of a drop-off there. The Broncos have got seven wins, sharks eight, and do you know what? All the way down to Manly in 10th, so what that's fifth to 10th. They're separated by one or two wins, and then you've got another pool of people that are all the way down to. Well, it's really the Titans, actually, that are the only ones bottom of the table. Everyone else, I reckon, can make the eight. They're two wins away from being in the eight. All you need to do is put a bit of a run together and you're there.
Speaker 2:And that's what the night is.
Speaker 1:Signing Dom Young and having Bradman Best back. That's something that could potentially happen. But on to what some could argue was game of the week Rabbitohs losing out in a Golden Point thriller to the Storm 24-25. You mentioned that this could have been a bit of a.
Speaker 2:I nearly look like a predicting god. You did, and you know what, if it wasn't for mitchell's boot, they would have. They would have won this. He missed, he left six points out there, so it's again. It's. It's one of those little frustrating things, I suppose. Um, but no, we've said the storm aren't continuously good Like the talent is dragging them through.
Speaker 1:I reckon they might struggle in finals.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're not screaming out a final team for me. Like I said, the talent is just better than the other team.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it'd be interesting to see how they go for the rest of the season in that sense and if they do need to get a, because the only team you could really compare to is the Broncos. The Broncos have been that inconsistent, but they have the talent to bring it through.
Speaker 1:But the talent haven't turned up.
Speaker 2:That could have easily been the storm this season, but their talent has been playing well, so it'd be interesting to see yeah, and a big point in the game Alex Johnson scoring four tries. Try machine.
Speaker 1:So he's only six away from the all-time record which is held by Ken Irvine, irvine, irvine. Apologies If I pronounce it wrong. I've only been known the game for four years. Quite a long record has been held for but 212 tries he's chasing. Will he get it done this season is the big question. They've got the Dolphins, then Manly, then the Panthers, sharks, broncos, titans. He could score all six against Eels, dragons and Roosters.
Speaker 2:He'll get it done this season?
Speaker 1:I reckon he does and there's talks of because when in the, the AFL, when Buddy Franklin broke the all-time everyone pitch invasion yeah, I reckon they should do the same for him because this is a significant record, like the most tries ever so there's got if it's at the Accor or is it going to be at Manly and?
Speaker 1:there's. He can't score. He might stick a few against the Dolphins at Four Pines Park. Oh, that's the Sunday after the Waratahs game as well. I know we're going to be my birthday weekend. It might be a bit of a frosty one. A frosty game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but we'll see. Like I said, though, melbourne they're just struggling of late. It'd be interesting to see how they go. Can't put my finger on it. I know they're a bit of a strange one, hard one to read, Sitting in the top four, but wouldn't even say anything if they slipped outside and ended up finishing 5-8 at some point. But Broncos 34, defeat the Sharks 28. Big tale of two halves in this one.
Speaker 2:Massive, massive, 22-12 at halftime. We've got going in and I know you're down at the 12 men and I think they scored in there. Yeah, they did, the Sharks scored. The Sharks took it to 20, yeah 28-12.
Speaker 1:And then 22 answer points the Broncos just came back.
Speaker 2:And, to be fair, you're watching the game and I was watching it and you could see there was only going to be fair. You're watching the game and I was watching it and you could see there was only going to be one winner and it was going to be the Broncos. Everything they did was just at a faster pace and higher intensity and they just wanted it more.
Speaker 1:I've got to give them his dues, reece Walsh had a good game.
Speaker 2:He had a couple of decent little shimmers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he had a good game.
Speaker 2:Still unsure about him coming from the back as fullback. I'm still not sold on that. But again, a couple of errors. I think there was a. Did Kennedy drop one? I think.
Speaker 1:Nico Hines dropped the ball on the last. Yeah, when he got the ball on the last and he stuck it out on the Sorry, he kicked it out the back. Seven tackles set as they were attacking towards the end. Braden Trindle, I think, kicked one out on the full which led to a try.
Speaker 2:That was a massive one. That was a massive one. I think he was at the Sharks 30-40 metre line as well, so that's massive.
Speaker 1:To give a set start Mulletalo dropped one and then knocked it on like they were a lot of mistakes, but I don't see them being a title contender now.
Speaker 2:No, they're on a bit of a decline. I think we've tried to force them in there and try to come up with excuses for them, but they've just been so inconsistent in what they're doing, and it's really starting to show it is.
Speaker 1:But a team that isn't on the decline, a team that is fully on the up at the right time of the season, is the Sydney Roosters you mentioned the Cowboys being right time of the season is the sydney roosters. You mentioned the cowboys being your flop of the week. Yeah, the roosters absolutely blew them away 42 points to eight um are we? Are we saying they could be an outside, outside chance 100?
Speaker 2:um, they're, they're absolutely flying, and I completely agree with what's been said about the half situation at the Roosters. You've got Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala, who are having very good seasons. You've also got Sam Walker to come into that as well. And the way DCE is playing. Why would you go and splash money on him when you've got a good core of halves there that can be interchanged and they're churning out wins? Give them a couple of seasons in the belt, they're going to be incredible.
Speaker 1:If they're building for the future and they really want to get a halves partnership together I mean, with Sam Walker coming back one of them is likely going to have to go, but if you bring DC in, two of them are going to have to go.
Speaker 2:But if you bring DCE in, two of them are going to have to go and it's likely going to be.
Speaker 1:Sandon Smith and Savala. So it's a difficult one, because I mean, how tall is Savala? He's like six foot four, six foot five or something. Huge boot on him as well. He's surely going to sign a multi-year deal, which means it's Sandon Smith on the way out, and if DCE signs, who knows what's going to happen? So I think that'd be stupid too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and this back line is starting to click as well. Robert Toyers is putting in a couple of good shifts Mark Nwinga, nito Wase I always think I can say it really fast in my head, but then when I go to say it. It's just absolutely shocking, Big Marky Mark.
Speaker 1:I think I'm just thinking about Marky Mark, big Mark.
Speaker 2:What a finisher he is, by the way. He's incredible. He's scoring tries for fun. So you know what. They've got a great back line there. Why rock the boat? In that sense and I know at this point are you signing a name more than an actual player?
Speaker 1:is it what you need, or is it more reputation?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah so we'll see with them, but yeah, they're making a good charge. Would they go deep in the finals? I don't think so, but will they get there? Yeah, I reckon, so it'll be interesting to see what are their remaining fixtures?
Speaker 1:I don't think so, but will they get there? Yeah, I reckon. So It'll be interesting to see what are their remaining fixtures. Let's just pull their fixtures up for a second. So they have. So they've got Tigers. They got a bye this week. Then they got the Tigers, which is a winnable game. Dragons, winnable game, roosters, sharks winnable game, storm, test Seagulls, who knows who knows? Dolphins, bulldogs, eels, storm. So then Rabbitohs They've got a challenging fixture list coming up, but if they're in the eight, they deserve it, which I think they will be. Um, and you never know, they could sneak into the top four if one of the warriors or the storm aren't consistent. So let's keep an eye on them. Uh, moving forward, but onto a team that is absolutely flying at the moment, although this was a gritty old win yeah gritty old win.
Speaker 1:It was 16-0 at half time the Raiders. They defeated the Tigers, west Tigers. 16-12 is the lack of. Do you reckon the lack of the bye is starting to catch up with them? Because they've played what they've played the most games out of everyone. They've only had one bye. Are the Sharks have only had one bye as well? Yeah, look at what's happening with the sharks. There's a few of them that, but I suppose they went over to vega so they could they've had a forced by as well, but they've played a lot of games on the bounce. They got the most wins. Um, yeah, do you reckon it's starting to catch up with them?
Speaker 2:a little bit. It's a bit like. It's a bit like the bulldogs. Uh, robert o's game from the week before the Raiders came out absolutely flying, went to leading 16 at half time and then just just became unstuck in the second half.
Speaker 1:I actually switched off at half time, yeah.
Speaker 2:I think they just lost that little bit of oomph in them and, like you said, is it because they didn't have Hudson Young was playing, so he was backing up? And yeah, you could argue that actually it's the fatigue starting to set in at this point.
Speaker 1:When I was watching I was like Tamale is on one. He's an absolute animal. He was playing well. This is what I mean. Going back to my point earlier about origin, hudson Young didn't have the greatest of games when he came on.
Speaker 2:That's what I mean. Going back to my point earlier about origin.
Speaker 1:Hudson Young didn't have the greatest of games when he came on. That's what I mean about those three players that are picked. So whether he gets picked for game three we'll see. I think there'll be a few changes, but how class was it that Ricky Stewart got to see his son score a try in the NRL, makes his debut and scores? That must have been absolutely class. I think I read somewhere that he's put off giving him his debut for four years or something that's brave.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I suppose you don't want to be the coach's son you're getting put on.
Speaker 2:To be fair to the lad, he looked a talent, good finish over in the corner you know it's not easy to score in the NRL, so to be able to come on and score on your debut, arguably he's probably in the position to be able to do it. Yeah, on the wing, if he was playing prop then maybe yeah, prop, it would have been a different sort of conversation. It would be like get him in the NUSW team. But yeah, he must be so proud watching that and it's pretty. It's a nice little, wholesome story to attend that on interesting.
Speaker 1:I think Ricky Stewart cried when Papali scored his two tries, but did he shed a tear for his son scoring his first? I don't know, but I was thinking that would be class if my, if I, was to. I'm never going to be in a coaching position, but if my son scores. Well yeah, the under-sixes. They aren't exactly flying, but we're.
Speaker 2:They've been doing it all day, coming to a local club near you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, Got beaten 3-0 again at the weekend. But anyway, on to last game of the week. Yeah, this one. Out of nowhere, the Eels have found some form. No Dylan Brown, no Mitch Moses, and they defeat the Gold Coast Titans 36-20. Lomax, I think, took this team by the scruff of his neck and Iongi at the back and went we're going to do this, but Titans got to be favourite for the spoon.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know what I was on last week to predict the Titans, but to be fair, saying that, I felt like my prediction was justified in what I was saying.
Speaker 2:It looks alright against Manly, but is that how terrible Manly were but Eels just did what they did to us just up the jumper off loads left right, left right, left right. Just up the jumper off loads left right, left, right, left right, and yeah, just scoreboard pressure they were moving it so quick as well from side to side that you could tell they were getting it out.
Speaker 1:The paddle car was running it hard as well. But yeah, Lomax, six for six with his kick in Couple from the sideline.
Speaker 2:If he had that on Wednesday, it would be.
Speaker 1:Couple from the sideline. But do you know what I? If he had that on Wednesday, he would be A couple from the sideline. But do you know what? I look at the ladder, I look at the table and even though the Eels are sneaking up five wins, they're only putting on a little run and they're just outside the eight.
Speaker 2:I honestly reckon from the Broncos, I reckon from fifth to to 16th. Anyone, anyone? Could sneak in Literally anyone from that, and this competition is so tight, I wouldn't be surprised if from 5th to 16th the gap is like eight points at the end of the season, yeah.
Speaker 1:I reckon even less what is it now? So 5th is on 18. It's four points at the moment.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if it's like eight points separating. What is it now? So fifth is on 18. It's four points at the moment. Four points, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if it's like eight points separated. It's even less, it's so tight.
Speaker 1:I mean there's teams that are tracking in the right direction. So I look at this and I go. I mean Sharks, probably not in the right directions. Roosters in the right direction. Panthers, dolphins are right, a blip Dragons no. Cowboys no. But you look at 13, 14, or Knights, eels and Rabbitohs, who are all sitting close to the bottom of the table, all tracking in the right direction. Yes, the Tigers could track in the right direction, but I think they've got a real difficult schedule coming up, so it'll be interesting to see how they go, but I think I've got five out of seven in the tips.
Speaker 2:I've got two. Oh, bad week I thought you were going to get three. No, I've got two.
Speaker 1:Oh, wasn't Origin included in this as?
Speaker 2:well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I only got five. So looking forward to round 17. We say it all the time the weeks are absolutely flying by. We're at the Combank. We've got the Panthers $2.21 against the Bulldogs $1.67.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go for the Bulldogs. I think this is going to be their statement game against the resurging Panthers To be at the top of the ladder and to prove themselves up there. I think they need to win this.
Speaker 1:I'm going to go the opposite.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I reckon Panthers, with their origin players coming back in. I reckon this is time for them to make a statement and label their credentials and say we're back.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Panthers are back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it could go either way with that one, but then on the Friday six o'clock kickoff, we will be in the air. We're not going to be there.
Speaker 1:I think I thought about this earlier. This is the first manly game that I haven't watched in a fair number of years. I say fair Three, maybe two, two and a half years. So yeah, disappointed, but we're going to be flying over to Perth Can't help it.
Speaker 2:I suppose we could technically get it on KO as soon as we land. But anyway, the Seagulls versus the West Tigers Seagulls $1.48, Tigers $2.66. Who are you picking?
Speaker 1:So a few changes been made in this lineup. We got Turbo coming in at center, right center, pairing with Garrick on the wing, Saab dropped to the reserves Lodge coming in Big Matty Lodge that's come out of nowhere. That has Big Matty Lodge starting at come out of nowhere. That has Big Matty Lodge starting at prop like it with Ethan Bullimore coming off the bench like it a lot.
Speaker 2:Lehigh Hoppawattie back at fullback yeah, it's got to be Manly isn't it Manly all day, every day yeah, I'm going to go Manly as well. And do you know what? Having Matt Lodge on, the one thing I've noticed is Takiyaho gets more aggressive if you've got an aggressive prop next to him yeah and Matt Lodge is very aggressive with his running and it's going to be aggressive from the start, so it's going to be good to see he's going to be up against Terrell May, so it'll be a good battle there, but Seagulls, hopefully a good win, get the season back on track.
Speaker 1:Yep, then we go up to Newcastle on the Friday night, mcdonnell Jones Stadium. We've got the Newcastle Knights $3.16 against the Canberra Raiders $1.36. Ooh.
Speaker 2:Fletcher Sharp and Hudson Young are both out.
Speaker 1:Fletcher Sharp ruptured his, ruptured his spleen and his kidney or lacerated his kidney. All from what was an apparent normal tackle mental.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go the Raiders yep, just because of the run they're on. But do you know what? This is not a easy pick. It's not.
Speaker 1:It's not it's not nearly two dollars in it, it's.
Speaker 2:It's a lot closer than that and especially with dom young being back at home, um, it could be a again nights.
Speaker 1:This could be a lot closer than than one may have thought initially yeah, I agree, I'm gonna go the raiders, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the newcastle knights turn up and win this game, but I am going to tip the Canberra Raiders yeah good, good.
Speaker 2:And then on the first game on the Saturday, we're up at the Suncorp with the resurging Brisbane Broncos at $1.58 against the New Zealand Warriors at $2.39 that's quite surprising, but Wateni Zalesniak is out, which I mean it's not the biggest loss they dealt with at the start of the season.
Speaker 1:Broncos aren't missing anyone. This is a tough one to pick, but I'm going to go with the Brisbane Broncos to win this. I said it last week at home Warriors travelling. I reckon Brisbane Broncos to win this. I said it last week at home Warriors travelling. I reckon the Broncos get this done.
Speaker 2:I didn't want to join you there. If they play like they did last week, then yeah, they'll beat them, but who knows which Broncos team. So we're both taking a bit of a gamble here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll see how that one goes. But then we go down to the gong, we go to Wynn Stadium where we've got the St George Illawarra Dragons at $1.63 against the Parramatta Eels at $2.28. Still, no Mitch Moses. He's out for six weeks, isn't he with? His calf, I think it is. So where's your money at in this one? This is a tough one, it's a tough week like this is how tight the competition is.
Speaker 2:I liked what I saw from the Eels. I'm going to go Eels.
Speaker 1:I'm going to go Eels. I can't remember I usually put my tips in on Sunday on the ESPN app and I think this is the one that I was like tossing to them to them for as to who I'm going to pick, but I reckon I'm going to join you with the Eels, I think with Dylan Brown coming back, will Penasini is out and Riley Smith both for judiciary, both leg lifts, and one was from a dangerous tackle, so that might have an impact. But Tyrell Sloan is out for the Dragons. So yeah, I'm going to go. I'm going to join you with the Parramatta Eels.
Speaker 2:And then we're back at the Suncorp Stadium. So this is a doubleheader on the same day.
Speaker 1:No that was the other one. Oh yeah, it is. Ignore me, Ignore me. I thought it was a Friday. Don't worry, you will be ignored. I will ignore you.
Speaker 2:I will ignore you. I will be ignored, idiot. The Dolphins are at $1.54 against the Rabbitohs $2.48. Cor.
Speaker 1:Bostock's the only one out Season done, I'm going to go the Rabbitohs.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:I reckon they're going to be reeling after that defeat to the Storm, but I've got a feeling that they just I reckon they beat the Dolphins.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go opposite. I think I'm going to for the same reasons, but I'm going to go for the Dolphins. They're going to be absolutely reeling after the loss to the Knights and they're going to want to put a show on, so I'm going to go for the.
Speaker 1:Dolphins Fair play and then we head over to Melbourne Amy Park. We got the $1.32 Melbourne Storm against the $3.43 Cronulla Sharks.
Speaker 2:The inconsistent flat-trap bullies are back Storm.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's hard not to disagree with that fact that it's at home yeah they do very well at home. Yeah, coats is back. Yeah, I'm gonna join you. I'm gonna go with a storm on this one and then, finally, we're at the seabus super stadium.
Speaker 2:Uh, with the gold coast tit Titans at $2.25 and the Cowboys at $1.65. Queensland.
Speaker 1:Derby Queensland.
Speaker 2:Derby.
Speaker 1:Not the most exciting of derbies to finish the weekend on. Cowboys win this. They have got to pick up a performance from somewhere. They've got to get two points from somewhere. This is where they get it, so I'm going for the Queensland Cowboys.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll join you on that. One Spoonball for Titans.
Speaker 1:Well see, this could be actually some separation this week. You never know, from pushing them out at the bottom. But let's switch codes, let's go from rugby league to rugby union. British and Irish Lions played their first game over the weekend. They came up against the Los Pumas.
Speaker 2:Yeah, very good team.
Speaker 1:Argentina and came out 26th. Yeah, I think it was. They lost, they did, they did, they lost. What were your? Thoughts on the game 26. Yeah, I think it was. They lost, they did, they did they lost. What were your thoughts on the game?
Speaker 2:I think it was. It's very much a game that you get every, every first game with a Lions team it's that everyone trying to figure out everyone, who everyone is. There's silly mistakes. And when you come up against a well drilled, well oiled team, there's trying to figure out who everyone is. There's silly mistakes. And when you come up against a well-drilled, well-oiled team, there's going to be cracks. And I think don't quote me, but I think that might be one of the hardest warm-up games they've had. It's got to be.
Speaker 2:Argentina ain't no mugs, because Argentina are no mugs as a team and they do well in the the championship against New Zealand, south Africa and Australia. So but but you know it's it's. Hopefully they'll have iron nose out. There'll be additions to go into it, so the likes of Finn Russell are going to be going, going to be joining in there? Who? Who will bring a different level to this. So exciting to watch them on Saturday.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a bit of doom and gloom in the fact that they lost to Argentina. But bringing a team of all-stars together, it's always going to take a bit of time to gel, get used to each other, playing together, all that sort of stuff. And I mean Argentina. Two of Argentina's tries came from breakaways. So I thought it was a solid start to the tour, like being able to play in front of a home crowd seeing them in Dublin. I thought it was a real good start and, yeah, it's a good platform to build upon. I think Strong opposition in Argentina Prepare well for what's to come.
Speaker 1:But talking about what's to come, this Friday we head over to Perth. Yes, we do. We are on a flight whilst Manny plays, so we'll be hopefully watching that after we land. So no spoilers when we land can't be checking phones, but we're coming up against a Western force, the British and Irish Lions against the Western force. And what I think is going to be really interesting about this and I messaged you saying this is that you talk about a team coming together, taking time to gel, but they're going to be coming up against a team that's played together for a long period of time. I reckon this is going to be a lot tougher test than it might look on paper.
Speaker 2:When did they land they?
Speaker 1:landed yesterday.
Speaker 2:Yesterday. So you know, you've got five, six days to get over jet lag yeah that normally takes three days, and then get into training to still train at high intensity. So so, yeah, I think it'll be a slow first half and then lions to run away with it in the second but we'll be at the optus stadium.
Speaker 1:We got some juicy tickets in the lower. Yeah, I think we're on the lower levels back row, the lower levels. We're going to be in Perth exploring the town. I think there's a few boozers near the ground that we might they will be sampled yeah, that we might head into. Head into town. Have a look. I've been to Perth a few times. You been to Perth before? Yeah, first time in Perth. Yeah, that's good around explore and see how it goes. But we might, we might, dress full kit. We'll see what decided.
Speaker 2:At the moment we're on the side.
Speaker 1:Reserve it for the test we might just go test, because brisbane will be eased into it, yeah, with the weather. Then we're going down to melbourne, it'll be freezing and in sydney it should be all right. But how do you, how do you reckon the tour will go? What your thoughts and feelings?
Speaker 2:ahead of the tour um, is it? Only the tests that matter or do all reckon the tour will go? What are your thoughts and feelings?
Speaker 1:ahead of the tour. Is it only the tests that matter, or do all of the games?
Speaker 2:No, all games matter, because you want something from the whole squad, don't you?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I reckon there'll be. How many games are there?
Speaker 1:Nine.
Speaker 2:Nine. I reckon it's going to be seven wins, two losses, and I think one of those losses is going to be a test you know what?
Speaker 1:I don't want to see us lose a test, but I think it adds a bit of spice. Yeah, if we do like a 3-0 whitewash is fantastic. I think we've only ever done it twice. But to go into that final game at the Allianz, at the Accor, 1-1, I think it'll be a great ending to what I feel is going to be an incredible tour. I'm already part of a few Facebook groups and there's loads of people coming over for it.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of expats over here, a lot of immigrants, british immigrants over here that will be cheering everyone on, but it's going to be really exciting, really looking forward to it and we're going yeah to six out of nine of the games kicking it off in Perth, so looking forward to that one. But make sure to follow along on socials as well, because we're going to give some new things a go. We're going to potentially put out some bit of a vlog bit of maybe some interviews of people out and about, depending on how many beers you've had now confidence goes, yeah, but you know, stepping into new ventures and stuff like that, but, um, yeah, really looking forward to it.
Speaker 1:So make sure you follow us, follow us along. They've been doing it on youtube, tiktok, instagram. Yeah, they're the main ones, I think but any text, yeah, any text you had to follow along. As you usually put it 888 or something like that 666, get the scores up. But one last thing to talk about Now. I put this in the schedule, hoping we'd be able to talk about a result.
Speaker 2:What a flat track, but two teams that have been able to hold their bat.
Speaker 1:England in the cricket, opening a five-test series against India.
Speaker 2:opening test and I was thinking about it the other day, and I think this is just really going to highlight what the battle is going to be over here in the Ashes. And I think the battle is Australia's bowling versus England's batting. I think that's going to be whoever wins, that wins the series.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I was thinking about this watching. I've watched bits, I've dived in in the evenings when I've actually felt awake enough to watch it. But for me, india have Jaspreet Bhumrah like unreal bowler. But Siraj is all right, he's not great, he's, he's good, but then below that. Jadeja odds throws the odd decent ball down there. But England's batting is held firm. Yeah, and it's done pretty well. Now, caveat we've still got innings to go and a day to chase down 376, but it feels like england's batting is better than india's bowling and england's india's batting is better than england's bowling, but england's bowling isn't as good as India's bowling, so it kind of all evens itself out if any of what I've just said makes sense.
Speaker 1:But it feels like we're in for a good test series against India, which is a great warm-up for coming over here which. I would prefer our warm-up against India Than West Indies, than Australia's against West Indies, and I think what Constance has been named as, or is looking like, he's going to open the batting. Have I just made that up? But I've seen him rigs out in the West Indies, in Barbados, just what a place to be as well.
Speaker 2:How good, how good is it to be a test cricketer?
Speaker 1:just travel the world the dream, like you, any cricket, and you're just travelling the world. You've just got to stand in the field for five days. It's mental talking of the West Indies. You see Joffre Archer is back. Was back bowling in county cricket 14 overs we'll see see if he makes it to the Ashes see where we are because he's going to get selected, I reckon, in this test series against India. It's just whether the body holds up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we'll see how it goes. Test four or five, I reckon.
Speaker 1:It'll be good to see him Out there.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We do need a 90 mile an hour Bowler coming over here.
Speaker 2:We do need we need Mark Wood or Geoffrey Archer, like Kess or Kass Is quite close. Yeah, he's high 80s, but you need a Mitchell Starks. What's Tong, I?
Speaker 1:don't know, because Wokes is only 79. He gets it moving though yeah we'll see how it goes, but anyway, huge weekend coming up. Lions tour kicks off. We're flying over to Perth, so be sure to follow us along on socials. They've been doing it all day, sir. Thank you for listening and we'll catch you in the next one.
Speaker 2:Lions.