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!
Grand Final Week, Cowboy Boots On
The week starts with cowboy boots and Catskills scenery and ends with a grand final preview that pulls no punches. We swap travel stories for tactics fast: how Brisbane built a wall against Penrith, why Payne Haas looks like a physics cheat code, and where Melbourne can still bend a game with Jerome Hughes’ poise and Cameron Munster’s chaos. If you care about the details—ruck speed, edge legality, last-tackle decisions, and the quiet power of a clean kicking game—you’ll find the edges here.
We also tackle the story shaking the code: Rugby 360. City franchises, Saudi-backed budgets, and career-changing offers that make even loyal players take a meeting. When names like Ponga, Pappenhausen, and Lomax get linked, it’s not gossip—it’s leverage. We break down what that money means for NRL cohesion, how sanctions and eligibility threats might land, and why every club should be planning for contract turbulence over the next 12 months. Then we circle back to the Dally M awards—Tedesco’s consistency, coaching debate—and the way narratives shape pressure heading into the biggest night of the year.
From there, it’s matchups that matter: Walsh vs Pappenhausen in broken play, Reynolds vs the moment with the tee in hand, and forward rotations that decide who’s still moving on minute 70 under Sunday heat. We talk officiating consistency, bunker influence, and those Round 27 edge tactics refs will be ready for. Picks? We lean Broncos—fitness, middle dominance, and a kicking edge—while leaving room for a Munster masterclass to make it messy. Plus a quick spin through the England Ashes pace stack and a salute to England’s women, now world champions in front of a roaring crowd.
If you’re into smart, grounded footy chat with real stakes, hit play. When you’re done, drop your winner, margin, and Clive Churchill pick—and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help more league fans find the show.
Hello and welcome to another episode of They've Been Doing It All Data. It's Grand Final Week, baby. Let's get stuck in.
SPEAKER_02:How's your week been, mate?
SPEAKER_00:Never mind about my week.
SPEAKER_02:Care to explain this ensemble that you've you've you've bestowed before us? Two reasons. Um first one related to my trip to America uh over the last week. Um went to a wedding which was in the Catskills Mountains of New York. First off, absolute you turn every everywhere you turn, it's like a postcard. Like it's one of the most stunning places I've been in the world. And um on the Friday night we had a cowboy themed party. So thought I'd don this, but also for the fact that the Brisbane Broncos defeated the Penrith Panthers. I thought, you know what, I'd show show a bit of salute to the performance that they put on and um come dressed like I'm about to yeah, ride a horse or something.
SPEAKER_00:So fair play, fair play. You gotta you gotta you gotta respect that. Um and how's the how's the body feeling after the trip away?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, body is absolutely struggling, to be honest. Um, heavy, heavy, heavy uh weekend. So couple that with um jet lag and getting back into the swing of things. It's been it's been an interesting few days. Landed a couple of days ago, um, managed to get back into the swing of things, but I must admit, like one of the best weddings I've ever been to. It was just like everything was was well structured, well organized. Um on the on the Friday, we stayed at a place called the Urban Cowboy Lodge. So it made sense to have a cowboy theme theme party on the Friday night before the wedding. Bit of line dancing, bit of a rodeo. Uh, yeah, it was pretty good. And then Saturday pre-wedding, we had um we went shooting, went to a gun alley and went shooting, shot a 308 rifle, and my word, it was the most powerful thing I've ever experienced in my life. But like the wedding venue, stunning, the surrounding areas stunning. Um, but it just it was uh yeah, it was a heavy, heavy, heavy couple of days. Incredible, mate. Yeah, and to add to that, I know I mentioned about the jet lag and the fly-in, but wedding was Saturday night and uh went pretty late. Went pretty late. There was a lock-in after party at this place called Ralph's, um, which was on the site, and then flew home at 2 a.m. on Monday morning. So it was just a struggle. And America is so far away. It it's not close.
SPEAKER_00:It's not well to be fair, everything is far away from Australia, isn't it? Really?
SPEAKER_02:It is, but the way there um flew via LA then to then to New York, and then way back New York to Tokyo, which is long, and then Tokyo to Sydney, which is also long. Oh, yeah. But how's your week been?
SPEAKER_00:Had a few drinks Saturday uh in Hornsby, uh, well, more Witara to be precise. Uh when it was out with Marshi, the uh the ladder coach with on the defense had a couple of espresso martinis after spending the the morning and an early afternoon in Penrith. So you know, quite close to what you were experiencing, I think, with the uh being in America. So uh so yeah, definitely living up the glam life like yourself.
SPEAKER_02:One thing I will say is a difference, though, and like I suppose we won't touch on the Ryder Cup, but Europe won the Ryder Cup, but how they experience the abuse, abuse out there, Americans have zero banter. Like it's it's mad how they just don't understand other cultures, like there was a mix of like British people, American people, obviously me from over here, um Giza from Finland as well, one of my mates that traveled over from Finland, and they just don't understand uh like British banter. It's weird, interesting. Whereas at least Aussies pick it up and understand it a bit. But the Americans are just cut different, and I think that showed in the Ryder Cup when they're just absolutely abusing um what happened, what happened out there, but at least Europe came away with a victory, which is which is the best thing. Um, some big news this week, though, a few things that have come out. Um, rugby 360 has been given the green light.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I think I think you've uh you've covered this a bit better than I have, so care to so uh who is it?
SPEAKER_02:Michael Shamas released this uh Instagram post the other day that said um details of it, and it's like starts October next year, city-based franchises, players can decide to live where they want, but city-based franchises obviously lots of money up for grabs. I think like New York, London, Dubai, um, Saudi backed. So it's there's big money involved, but um it's a threat to the NRL. Like the NRL clubs, I heard this morning are panicking around kind of what it is, and there's some big names being linked with leaving. So Ryan Pappenhausen being one, he's open to explore contract options though from November 1, so it makes sense. But one of the big names that's popped up is Zach Lomax to leave. Interesting, huh? Like thinking about you're a big fan of the ills and their rebuild, what sort of impact might you have on them?
SPEAKER_00:I think it would have more of a mental impact than it would as a uh more of a cohesion impact than it would anything else. Again, you've seen what big big money talks and and big money moves can do to clubs. Um it's a bit of a shame, but I think if it's a if it's a case of I think the lads will understand, and it's a case of let's let's pull together this season, see where we can get to, and then um he's he's gonna be off to make his his money. Yeah, but can he even play next year though? If you think if it starts in October next year, yeah, we well it all depends on depends on what the contract restrictions are gonna be and uh and stuff like that, because clearly you're gonna have players coming in into it late. Um it's gonna be huge money. Yeah, it's gonna be some dirty money flowing around.
SPEAKER_02:Money that I don't think they'll be able to earn in the NRL. Like if you're pulling Zach Lomax out of a contract, apparently it took a pay cut to go from the dragons to the ills. So if he's been shown money that will set him up for life, then you Yeah, you can't blame him really.
SPEAKER_00:So it's like it's when when you have these discussions about bit offering big money and players chasing money or and you get called a money grabber, but in any situation, in every walk alive, if a if someone approaches you in your rot in your job role and goes, Oh, I can offer you another hundred grand a year just out of nowhere, which is would be the sort of comparison is is going from a hundred and twenty grand a year to two twenty two fifty, it's being offered a couple of million a year to being offered a couple of million a week.
SPEAKER_02:Like it's it's it's it's it's stupid. Sounds a bit like Oscar when he decided to leave um Chelsea and go to China just to earn an absolute fortune. Um, but there's a few other names that have been linked as well. Roger Tua Varsashek could be on his way later on in his career, obviously wants to earn money. Caitlin Pong is a bit of a surprise one. Um Jai Gray has been linked, so it'd be interesting to hear how they go. But the NRL well Peter Volandis wants to put heavy sanctions in place to deter any player from being able to exit their contract early. But um, what's your space? Because I think also rugby Australia have said if anyone goes from 2R 360, then they won't be eligible to play for the Wallabies.
SPEAKER_00:So to be fair, uh again, if you're being offered a couple of million a year, yeah, but with a home World Cup coming up. Yeah, I suppose I suppose there is that more of a an enticement for them, I suppose.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, but another thing that happened this week, and I think it happened yesterday, was the Dali M awards. So James Tedesco walks away player of the year, you reckon that's deserved.
SPEAKER_00:He's been the most one of the most consistent players throughout the whole season, hasn't he? Really?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, he has, and he also was captain named captain of the year, full back of the year.
SPEAKER_00:So all gels in, really. If you if you win in the daily M, you should then end up if you if you win in the daily M and you're the captain of the club, and then you're also the you should be you should you should probably win all three, uh, to be honest.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, Ricky Stewart walking away of coach of the year. I'm on the fence with that one. Um they couldn't do it when it mattered. But then I suppose over a whole season they did win the minor premiership. Yeah. Um Robert Toyer, rookie of the year. Okay, yeah, I agree with that one. Yeah, got selected for for Origin, uh, been outstanding, and then Big Marky Mark, Nawangani Tawase, he's everywhere. Apparently getting called up for the the ashes for the the kangaroos, and then he gets try of the year as well for that one. Who was it against? Uh the Broncos, maybe, or the Storm. I can't remember, but that's where he was out of bounds and ran back in. So Unreal Try. Um, but huge events over the over the weekend. Massive. I think I said last week that uh I would be getting up and watching these games, but uh from the festivities that was happening, I didn't manage to watch a single minute of either game. But when I got back, obviously I saw the results of each game, and my word, the first game that we're talking about, the Broncos against the Panthers, what a game this was. So Broncos obviously come out victors 16-14, been some absolutely incredible games this year, but I think this one's up there with one of the best. I when I was watching it, I watched it earlier today. It had a vibe of like the intensity of that origin three game a couple of years ago. Um it was phenomenal, but give me your thoughts.
SPEAKER_00:Um I think this I think this game showed how how much of an impact the extra grain the game coming through finals has on teams. Um the Panthers just looked dead 10 minutes ago. There was they were they were they were the Broncos were able to pin them down by their their try-line, and Brian Tarto was even struggling to get momentum when the runs. I don't think they've really had a set that left the left the 30 or left the 40 in the in the last sort of 10 minutes.
SPEAKER_02:And they're making mistakes as well, like they're dropping the ball.
SPEAKER_00:They were shattered.
SPEAKER_02:They still had opportunities though towards the end. Um, I agree with what you're saying. I think what contributes towards that though is the Broncos were solid in defence. They I think it was the best defensive performance I've seen from them since I've been watching this sport. Um, but their forwards, the way that they were running the ball, Payne Haas is a joke of a human being. Yeah, Kobe Hetherington, when he came on as well, was running the ball hard, apparently signing for Manley next year as well, which is which is a great one. Um, Tyson Smoothie, when he came on, was running the ball hard. Xavier Willison was running the ball hard. But one thing I do think that you need sometimes in finals is a little bit of luck. And um the I think the Broncos certainly got some of that, and like two instances when uh was it Laurie the or McLean that got the interception um that went all the way the other way and it was called back for being offside, like he was inches off side.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that was that was one of the closest calls I think I've ever seen. Yeah, like if you you this is the thing, is that did I need to be behind the line or have a foot on the line? This is this is the that's the argument they come up with. That I it needed like a VAR line out, like that was that was a really difficult to be able to Like here's here's one for you on that.
SPEAKER_02:Do you let it play through, let him score, and then review it.
SPEAKER_00:I don't know what I think I think I think but but this is the it's such a difficult point because they don't have really the technology to be able to call it offside because you've got at that angle, you need you need something else to help out and and see whether where they are in line because angles can be very deceptive.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I suppose though, if he was within the 10 10 metre line, yeah, he would have to have been on the goal line, which I think is where it was. I can't be 100% sure that there might have been one metre out from the 10, and then he didn't get back from that. But it is so difficult. Um, but that was one stroke of luck, and then for when the Broncos are attacking, Nathan Cleary jumps in front of a pass and it's like fired straight. I think Ben Hunt fired it straight into his chest, bounces off his chest, and then Willison is there just to pick it up and go over, like big man with football just runs over the line and dives over.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, they did they had that little shift of luck to be fair to them.
SPEAKER_02:And they're they're like two instances of luck, and then you think about how clinical Penrith usually are with their two-point conversions. They just looked out of sorts on that last drive when I don't even know who it was. Was it Moses Leota or Papa Lee that had to throw like a ball 40 metres back to try and get it?
SPEAKER_00:Um well this is this was something I was actually thinking about. Why didn't they just turn and kick it to him? And then he catches it, catches it and then kicks it again because the kick has gone backwards. Yeah, so cleary wouldn't have been offside.
SPEAKER_02:Or do you yeah, that's very true. Who knows? But um, can you do that as a mode of passing? Just kick it to someone. Talking of Cleary's kicks, right? Now, what is it early in the second half? Cleary boots the ball, and Mam absolutely wins the ball. Yeah, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00:I don't know how that's not a penalty.
SPEAKER_02:Like, we'll get on to referee and performance, and thankfully Kran Atkinson has been named the referee for the final. But to me, like, you're right, the melee that happened after. I was happy that no one got sent to the bin after that.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that was well reffed.
SPEAKER_02:But it just felt like that was a penalty. Like, we talk about protecting the kicker all the time. Yeah, and they've there's been penalties for softer.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's that's like the Broncos ended up beating the Raiders because of a of a incident very much similar to that, yeah. And it was because he ran through the leg instead of hitting him, and you the timing was just like simultaneous. Like, I don't I don't understand how they got that got away with that. No, I do I do like how they're F the melee and just gone boys, yeah, no need, no need for it. Um, but no, I that that should have been a penalty.
SPEAKER_02:And consistency is the problem, like we talk about consistency all year. If you look at that any other time, any other game, Nathan Cleary gets a penalty for that, and like all right, may not have had an overall impact on the game, but still it's a turning point where Penrith would have been down on the 10th, maybe or 20 and starting from there.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and and one of the one of the points I I think we we we discussed actually we texted about was I think Maguire's harsh training regime is starting to show why it's so important because the Broncos just the Broncos looked like they could they could have played another 50 minutes, like they they looked up for it and they looked fit, and I think that's really helped in the back end of the season because I was looking at it earlier since their loss to Manley, the 30 odd odd 14 or whatever it was, loss, they've had 14 games since then. Yeah, they've lost two, won 12. Um, they lost to the Eels by a point and then got done in by the Storm 22-2. But then they also then beat the storm within that run, and they have that that's the reason why they're in the finals, and they've gone to the def, been able to go to the death against the Cal the Raiders, yeah, beat them at the def, granted by a little bit of luck, I suppose. But then play such a hard physical get game against the Panthers, outphysical them, and then just that momentum building were just able to uh capitalise when the Panthers just were like out of gas.
SPEAKER_02:I like obviously I watched this knowing the result, so I'm thinking at half time, how did Penrith lose this game? And the Broncos just stepped it up in the second half, though. Like that second half performance from the Broncos defensively was absolutely phenomenal. Like one of I've they were just stopping absolutely everything. There were times when Penrith were down on their goal line and they were stopping them and stopping them and stopping them, and that adds to like why the Panthers were so knackered. But one of the other reasons I reckon why they were tied is losing Sorensen early on. Like Reese Walsh ran hard on that run, and then it was friendly fire, takes him out. But losing a forward that early has a massive impact. Then the rest have to have bigger minutes, and coming up against a forward pack like they like the Broncos, especially the way Haas was running the ball in the second half. Like he was an animal, he was a man possessed, and like even he goes down with cramp with 10 minutes to go, and he still puts that in that like that phenomenal effort to chase down Cleary from 30 odd metres away to put pressure on him that he needs to get the reward rid of the ball to Edwards. He is an anomaly, he's a physical anomaly. Um manly throw money at him. Yeah, can you imagine? Can you imagine if just somehow he completes the lot by winning it with winning it with the Broncos and he goes, I fancy a trip back home, and then he signs signs so manly. Yeah. Be absolutely ridiculous. But what do you reckon this does for Penrith next season? Absolutely nothing.
SPEAKER_00:This they've got a carousel of unbelievable players. Yeah. Players are slotting in, starting to find their feet. This they'll they'll be back stronger next year.
SPEAKER_02:The worrying thing is, like for the first, what was it, 12 games of this season, obviously bottom of the ladder. Yeah, I reckon they're finding their feet. Like they had players like McLean, Tulaggy coming in, people that just hadn't played together. And then I think games 12 to now showed what Penrith are going to be like next year. Like they could they could have and probably should have won that game. They had opportunities to ice it at times where they like they could have had a they could have kicked points and they decided to go for it and they ended up fumbling it.
SPEAKER_00:And it's instances like that where you think, hang on, could it could you have gone away? Could it have could but nah they they just they would as I said they were dead on the feet. Yeah, you could just tell.
SPEAKER_02:But Panthers ain't going anywhere anytime soon.
SPEAKER_00:And I know we've thrown shade at Reese Walsh a lot, but like we said early on the reason why we us throw so much shade at him because we understand how good of a player he actually is, he's a joke, and we can have we hold I think we hold him at a such a high standard. I don't think it helps he plays for the Broncos and the the and Queensland, and we're we're not that inclined to those both both those teams, but he is showing why he there is just all this talk around him. Yeah, he he is his feet are ridiculous.
SPEAKER_02:He's wearing those green boots as well, and you can just see how quick how quickly he cuts as well is a joke. But hilariously, before the before the game on social media, I said I think I saw something like oh the Panthers are done for he was drinking out of a cup that was as a toilet, and he was like, But on to the next game, the Storm 22 defeat the Sharks 14. I only watched the highlights of this one. Um but Jerome Hughes being named and playing soldier, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:He he was unreal in this game. He he mark he marshalled the the team on like he was he was brilliant throughout all of it. He was creating so many chances. Uh his kicking game was brilliant.
SPEAKER_02:Munster was a joke as well. Like both of them to go.
SPEAKER_00:Again, Munster, he just he he he can just shift so quickly. He's he's hit that him coming off the base of a rock, he he's just so lively, he's he's so difficult to defend against.
SPEAKER_02:Sometimes picks the ball quick, runs, yeah, creates trouble, knows when to kick the ball. Like there was one point where I think um Kennedy shot up from the back for that was it the uh Pappenhausen try? He just dinks it through, knowing that he's seen that and he has a split second to react, and he puts it through and Papenhausen goes and scores. And you know what? Like, it's gonna be an interesting. We'll get on to the to the final in a minute. But Hughes and his injury, there was a point early in the game, I saw it on the highlights, it's probably the only point they showed where um Coates kicks it through, Trindle picks it up in the dead dead ball area, and kind of like Hughes got slides on his arm, and he got up like so slow. So be interesting to see how he goes in the final because I heard someone talk about um like the impact of injury earlier, like you go back one game, and you're all adrenaline, you're high, but you know how it feels, and you know how it feels after. Now, alright, it's a final, but you guard it a bit more in the final.
SPEAKER_00:No, I think the final would be more of a not case, I think it'd be on some strong stuff as well to not really feel anything in there.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, the sharks were definitely targeting him though. They left a few hits in late. Be interesting to see if the Broncos um do a similar thing.
SPEAKER_00:Uh I and I I my honest opinion is this of this game. I think I think the sharks lost it. Uh not the sharks, yeah. The sharks lost lost lost this game in the sense of they had the chances to win it. Like they the sharks team that were blundering through the season showed up in this game. Like Nick um Nico Hyde's making mistakes in the in their tenure in the in the red zone, attacking, knocking the ball on. Yeah, when they've got a strong set again ahead of them. Just things like that crept in in this game for the sharks, and that the storm were there for the taking. Yeah the sharks had the the ability to beat them. Uh it's just the I think the storm uh the storm's experience outweighed the sharks in this game.
SPEAKER_02:Well yeah, I think for me the sharks had a great season. Like to win, what was it, nine in a row, finishing the top four? Sorry, they finished fifth, didn't they? Um, but then to get to where they did, I think that was their limit. Like I couldn't see them make making the final just based off of they do have that tendency in them to not perform well, especially Nico Hines. They like you say, they did have their chances. I can't remember who it was, went over at the end, near the end, and was held up like Papenhausen a month start. Oh, that was an incredible tackle, incredible tackle, even though it got done for a high shot from Papenhausen. Like, what's he meant to do? But like, if that happens and the sharks score the first try, like, yes, they scored the first points, two points after half time, but if they score the first try after half time, we might be having a different conversation as to who's in the final now. Um, but the refereeing performance of Ashley Klein, like a lot of people have mentioned it in the first half, there was only 22 minutes of play, 18 penalties. Mr. All About Me. Exactly, and thankfully he's been dropped for the final, like we've mentioned it quite a few times. Um but I've just read the officials and he's on bunker duty. So brilliant.
SPEAKER_00:He'll he'll find a way to make it about him. Yeah, of course he will.
SPEAKER_02:And that's and that's the worrying thing, even from the bunker. I think you're able to do that. But Melbourne's defence, solid. Um, but I suppose we'll talk about this in a second. Like, is it is it good enough to beat the Broncos? Did the Broncos fire on all cylinders against the Panthers? Like they look Broncos look great defensively, they didn't look great with the ball. Yeah. So it's gonna be interesting to see. So moving on to the grand final, um, one thing that got raised earlier, actually, is about grand finals being played during the day. Now, Sunday is meant to be a stinking hot day. Yeah, what's it gonna be? 28, 30 degrees, something like that. So you're kind of taking you're bringing the weather into the final there. But the point that was raised earlier was about um by having a kickoff at eight o'clock, you're kind of excluding the younger audience from being able to to watch the grand final, kicking off at eight.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and and it it it I don't see an issue with it being in the day. I think a bit like a nice four o'clock kickoff would be really good. The only issue I've got it with being very warm is because a couple of years ago when we're at the final, I think it was like 33 degrees, but and there was a waft. There was yeah, there was a smell that was going around that ground. Uh I think the temp I think in the second half, if I remember rightly, the temperature just drops. It's like relief. But it stank like 80,000 bodies in one area. It was not nice. Um, so hopefully we don't have the same experience again this year. Hopefully, hopefully.
SPEAKER_02:Um, but we'll be heading out there. Um the NRL, the sorry, the NRL W finals on before as well. So might have to get out and go and watch go and watch that. If not, catch a second half. See is it Roosters? Yeah, Roosters are the sharks, yeah, potentially. That's Roosters got off.
SPEAKER_00:I think Roosters.
SPEAKER_02:No, no, it's not the Sharks because I remember hearing earlier that the Roosters are the only representative for New South Wales in the they're doing it for New South Wales. So Broncos Broncos, yeah. Yeah, Broncos. Double finalists. Um we've mentioned Jerome Hughes before in his injury, but how do you reckon he'll go?
SPEAKER_00:Um I was just about to say we'll we'll be up against bigger bodies, but I thought I reckon the sharks have a bigger body. I think he'll be magical. I think he'll he'll he'll do well. Um he'll do well in it. Um I don't think he's gonna let it hold him back. I think he's gonna be creative. Um I just I just think the yeah, I just think the Broncos may just have that little little bit of an edge over them personally.
SPEAKER_02:We'll get on to who we're gonna pick in a second, but um talking of the Broncos, obviously last time they're in the final was 2023. Yeah. We were at that final, probably the best comeback I've ever seen in my life. Um how do you reckon what's their mentality going into it, like because of 2023?
SPEAKER_00:I think they'll always have that in the back of your mind. Yeah. Um, but they uh I think they've got the ability, especially on the run that they're on. And what they've done, they've come from behind quite a few times, and they've got a lot of boys in there who were in that origin team who this year who were supposedly down and out and were able to build it. And as you said, the last couple of games where against the Raiders they were down and out. Was it 18 points they were down again with the with the Panthers last week? I think they've got it in them now. I think it's been installed for them to be able to progress through and not worry about that anymore.
SPEAKER_02:And you think back like what two years ago, they've had 50 games, yeah. 50 more games as a team since then, like a fair few players have still remained from that. They lost a couple, um, but let's say they get up early and then after half time I think they would they their foot won't leave the thrall.
SPEAKER_00:Storm get one, then get another one. I think I'm I'm gonna go I'm gonna go bold here. If if the if the if Broncos end up scoring like they did in the first half against the Panthers, I reckon it could be a repeat of the Manly Storm final and it could be about 40 odd. Because I I just I can't I don't see them stopping. I think this especially this Broncos team are so dangerous when they've got momentum behind them, and we've seen it all season. Like you saw it in the last half of the the the last 20 minutes of the the Panthers game, they just they looked like they were gonna score.
SPEAKER_02:They they were they did look very good and were constantly on it, and like they've got some got some huge bodies, but we mentioned about the referee, and like Grant Atkinson's been named as the referee, which is good. But when the Broncos and Storm played in round 27, there was there was some interesting tactics that the Broncos used to stop Xavier Coates. Basically, Katoni Stags was just holding him, yeah, and it wasn't called. And I I wonder how that's going to be refereed in this game.
SPEAKER_00:I think there'll be reviews on it because refs refs review their previous games and stuff and and what's gone on to hide to find intricacies like that. So I think if it happens once, it'll get called early and it'll be like, no, stags, we know what you're on to. And so that could have a big factor in calling those sort of things early.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I think so. And I was it Mam that got done a couple of times for Sheppardin. Yes, he did. Against the Panthers, yeah. Yeah, so they'll be they'll be watching it, and they know there's a few with a bit of history, but there's some class matchups.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there's some big big matchups.
SPEAKER_02:You look at you look at the props, you got Payne Hassan Karrigan who's coming back fresh. Yeah, Patty Carrigan has had a week off and he's gonna be absolutely fresh. Yep. Then you've got Atoya Kamano who was running so hard against the against the Sharks, running people over, Josh King. Like, there's just some heavy runners, heavy hitters that are gonna be phenomenal. Walsh versus Pappenhausen, both in great form. Walsh's playoff form has been incredible. Pappenhausen just seems to be able to get something out of nothing. Um, and then in the halves, you've got Munster and Hughes, and then you've got Reynolds and Hunt on the on the redemption trail. They're on the redemption art. Like what Reynolds 2021 missed, and this got shown about 20 times, but missed the conversion for the rabbit O's in the same stadium, the Sun Corp. It was being played up there because of COVID uh in the grand final, and then the big one, Ben Hunt 2015, drops the boys, drops the boys. We did drop the boys because he because he dropped the ball and um yeah, Jonathan Thurston then slotted it over. But I think it's gonna be a hell of a game. I think the atmosphere is gonna be electric. I'm hoping that the Broncos fans bring the energy that they did at the Sun Court because that was that was bouncing. Bouncing, yeah. Um, but I suppose you know what? For one last time, we'll go snuck in. Yeah, so Sunday night, 7.30 pm kickoff at the accord. The ground conditions are good, the weather is fine. We have the Melbourne Storm at$1.74 against the Brisbane Broncos,$2.10. Where's your money going?
SPEAKER_00:My money is going on the Brisbane Broncos. I am back gonna I'm backing them to win their first NRL in what, like 19 years or whatever it is. Um they they just they just like I said, that's I think their momentum and their stamina are gonna be a massive part in this game. Yeah. Um I reckon they could play comfortably for over a hundred minutes and and still be playing at a a top level. And I think that's what's gonna be a massive difference maker in this game. Um I think they're forwards in pain has I I just don't think uh I just don't think the the storm are gonna be able to deal with him. And if he can play like that, if he's opening up gaps and letting Walsh s scream through It's gonna be it's gonna be a scary defence, a scary attack to try and stop.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Um another reason why I decided to dress like a cowboy as well is because I also do think that the Brisbane Broncos are going to be crowned NRL Premiership champions on Sunday night. I think the power they have in the middle with Patty Carrigan coming back fresh, Payne Haas. I think they're gonna control the middle. I think the forwards are gonna control the game, um, which then, like you say, tires out the middles, allows them to either run through the middle, then can can go around the outside. Um I think that Ben Hunt, Adam Reynolds are gonna have a bit of a day of it. Reese Walsh is gonna turn up. I just think the maturity of how he's developed and this playoff run and how he's been through this playoff run. I think he's gonna have a great game. Um, and I think their experience of coming from behind in the last few games, the mentality they've had to stick in there and just find another gear and go up. I reckon the Brisbane Broncos are gonna be gonna be crown champions. But um score prediction, what do you reckon it's gonna be?
SPEAKER_00:Um I'm gonna go 35-20. Oh, you're going high scoring. I reckon it's gonna be a big scoring game.
SPEAKER_02:I reckon it's gonna be lower scoring than that. I'm gonna go for like a 24-20 in in Brisbane's favour. Um, do you know one thing I was thinking earlier as well when I was watching the the highlights? I I think that uh kicking, goal kicking is gonna have a big impact on this game. Adam Reynolds, like I know Reese Walsh obviously was kicking, missed one, yeah, and then Adam Reynolds took over for that last one. I think Reynolds would be kicking all of that. Was it because his hamstring or something that he wasn't kicking? But you look at uh the storms Pappenhausen as well, hasn't it? Well, Pappenhausen wasn't good, Meanie as well, kicking, like he's not good from the right touch line. So I don't know. I think the there could be a few conversions that if the Broncos uh go six or five five conversions, four conversions, four tries, I reckon they can they can beat the storm in this one. But the big one as well, who walks away as the man of the match, the Clive Churchill medal winner.
SPEAKER_00:I reckon it's gonna be around Payne Hass's neck. I've just got a feeling it's gonna be big Painy has.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I reckon he has a field day. Um, I could also see a world where Cam Munster wins it on a losing side, like he could have like a huge game, but not mad at that. Not um, yeah, not not walk out winner, but if he doesn't win it, I think Painhouse wins it. Yeah. Let's think about some other ones as well then. First try scorer, who are you going with?
SPEAKER_00:Um I'm gonna go Tony Staggs.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, he took the words right out of my mouth. I reckon he's gonna be first try scorer as well. Um who do you reckon's gonna be the top point scorer?
SPEAKER_00:Uh I'd be one of the kickers gotta be one of the kickers, really, doesn't it? I reckon I reckon Reynolds.
SPEAKER_02:I don't know, you know. I reckon he might let's say he converts four, that's eight points. Yeah, is anyone getting two tries? Does Coates get a couple of tries? I don't know. That's an interesting one. But the lions 2.5, so in in the storm's favour, we both said the Broncos a win, and I reckon they'll win by more than 2.5, so they'll cover that. But what what a game we're in for.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, really looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so make sure you hit that subscribe button to hear our reaction next week. Um, we might take a few video clips as well and post them up as shorts. So follow along, hit that subscribe button, give this episode a like as well, helps us out, gets us in front of front of a new audience.
SPEAKER_00:Exactly.
SPEAKER_02:Bonto, let's take a let's take a little move sideways, let's take a little divert. The England Ashes squad was announced earlier this week, and England have gone with a pacey.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there's a lot of there's a lot of pace. You have to you have to down here though. Yeah, you have to. Um, and with with you've got Atkinson Wood, uh Archer, if they're all fit, they're all bowlers that can flirt around 90 on a regular basis. Josh Tung don't hang about cars, don't hang about. Yeah, um the only thing I worry about is the spin option. Yes, Bashier, I think he's gonna get tonked all over the place. And it will jacks is a part-time spinner as well, isn't he? But again, I know I think what you'll you know what you're gonna get from the batting. Um I think there's gonna be some wickets that that really suit England's batting and it can be very aggressive. Uh I I reckon this this selection is is what everyone would have probably guessed as it is predicting through that series against India.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and you've still got Wood, Archer, and Stokes recovering from injuries as well. So it'd be you're touching you're touching touching wood that they're ready in time. But what are we, two months away from yeah, well, not even that, about a month and a bit away now.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah, six weeks.
SPEAKER_02:November the 21st, isn't it? So that's going to be absolutely class. I'm going back to America before that as well. I've got my sister's wedding in Florida before we go. Um, but one another thing, moving moving lanes again to another sport. You predicted it.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, the girls.
SPEAKER_02:England's women walk out world champions beating Canada 33-13.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolute dominating performance. Third time they've won it now, England. Incredible stuff. Uh I've I've I've seen a lot of villages videos of them celebrating as well. They look like they've had a great time.
SPEAKER_02:When they walked out and saw the O2 bus with world champions on it, they all looked like they'd had a couple.
SPEAKER_00:I think they still had gin and tonics in their hands. I absolutely love that. All for it. Um, yeah, incredible, incredible performance. They've just dominated all over the park. Um they are such a great team to watch when they get flown England. Um, as I said, Hannah Bottomman was leading from the front. You've got and um Ellie Kildarean at the back as well. Like you've just got some unbelievable talent, and it looked like an absolute it looked like it was the highest ever attending women's game, I think, as well, with 80 odd thousand. 82,000 at least. Incredible stuff, incredible.
SPEAKER_02:The 2003 Rugby World Cup final where England won it out at home bush.
SPEAKER_00:It was just a great and the it was great to see that the attendance was there throughout the whole day because I think they had the third versus uh third place game match on before. New Zealand were involved in the New Zealand, and there was about 40 odd, 50 odd thousand in the stadium then to watch that, and it's it's just great to how see how much of a great spectacle of rugby it was as well, and everyone joined it to to win it. So, yeah, great great achievement for the girls.
SPEAKER_02:Talking of rugby world cup actually, I got an email yesterday about the uh super fan pass of 2027 mapping out when I get access to my tickets, bonkers. How I got one of them, I do not know. Not a clue. Well, that's it. The NRL season is coming to a close on Sunday. The grand final is upon us. Hit that like and subscribe button to hear our reactions from the fixtures over the weekend. But thanks for listening to this episode, and we will see you next week. Catch you in the next one.
SPEAKER_00:Have a great week.