Clear(y)out

A powerhouse coach walks away and the whole comp starts doing the maths. Ivan Cleary announcing he’ll step down lights up every big question at once: is this just work life balance, a pull toward rep football, or a sign that Penrith’s roster squeeze is about to bite harder than fans expect?

We get into the real knock on effects for the Penrith Panthers, from succession planning to the player market whispers around Nathan Cleary and other key names. We also zoom out to the legacy angle: the “coaching tree” effect, where great systems spread through assistants and shape the NRL long after the head coach leaves. Along the way we even take a quick detour into late season chaos in football, because nothing highlights pressure like a title race decided by one controversial moment.

Then we go full State of Origin mode. With injuries stacking up, we debate the New South Wales Blues spine and pack, including the fullback shootout between James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards, who owns the halves, what the hooker rotation should look like, and which forward brings the kind of edge Queensland hates. After that, it’s Round 10 reactions and Magic Round tips at Suncorp, including a deep dive on Manly’s win over Brisbane and what it means heading into the weekend.

If you’re into NRL news, Penrith Panthers analysis, State of Origin selection chat, and Magic Round predictions, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review with your fullback pick and your best upset tip.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello and welcome to another episode of They've Been Doing It All Day today. I've been clearly stepping down. The Empire's crumbling. Let's get stuck in.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

The Empire truly could be crumbling, but how has your week been?

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Yeah, really good, mate, actually. Um really good. Uh what did what did I do between Ah we're just weird, isn't it? Thursday to Thursday. Thursday, Thursday to Thursday.

SPEAKER_00 0:23

Again, it feels we've had a few admin things on this week that we haven't been able to film on the the regular Tuesday. Well, I'll be honest with you, it's actually a uh P and C meeting at my local school as to why we couldn't film on the Tuesday. But yeah, anything exciting between then and now apart from the copious amounts of beers we had on Saturday?

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Uh I did a Friday as well. I got a little bit uh I didn't have copious amounts, it was just a nice little nice little I've brought brought my workmate this side of the river, which was quite nice. Um so I think it was the biggest thing was I had my first rugby league head coach day. Oh yeah, I remember the uh because the the normal uh head coach was away on a baby movie with his uh with his partner, so I had to step in, take the reins. Caretaker coach. Yeah, caretaker, interim, interim, mass ball, as it was called. Um what was the score? Uh 20 to 4. Defensive master class. Oh, they were incredible. Defensive master class. The players were incredible. Like it just showcases how how good it is to be a coach when your players just go on the field and absolutely the the great thing was that from the defensive point of view, it was how every hit the they were going backwards. Yeah, like it wasn't us, and our fullback made a great one-on-one tackle. One of their um sort of stronger, quicker goals broke through the line one-on-one, but just sat her down. It was it was a great tackle. Um spoke of about them a little bit about the about attack. There was a pandemic, the white line fever was knocking around. Uh, but Robbie Fowler had white line fever. He did, he did. Um, but other than that, absolutely couldn't fault them, they were incredible. But yeah, what about yourself?

SPEAKER_00 1:57

Uh well, it feels like it's been a long week. My daughter was ill uh Monday, Tuesday, so I feel like I've got part of that illness now. I had to take Monday Tuesday off work. What a killer. Um, but yeah, not much to report back. Saturday, obviously, we'll get to it in a bit, but the mighty Manly Seag was just absolutely turning over the Brisbane Broncos, had a little celebration after.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

A casual celebration.

SPEAKER_00 2:21

It was casual. Uh ended up eating a massive kebab though. Um, and then heading home after that. And my word, did the kebab repeat on me the next day? Yeah, the stomach wasn't feeling too great. But we were celebrating a good win. We were can't argue with that one, but what a bombshell this week it has been. Um Ivan Cleary steps down. So held a press conference yesterday. Um, a lot of Penrith Panthers fans out there were like, oh, this is it. He's gonna, he's gonna uh come out and say that he's extending and he's stepping down at the end of next year. Absolutely mental. But what would you reckon for the for the Penrith Panthers?

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Oh I I don't know. You you look at the you look at their list of players are up at end of contract, uh it is it is long. Um so uh is it a case of he's he's bored um and he wants to do a bit of rep football? Busy, busy too bored of winning. I was I was saying he he's now he's now got to be the New South Wales coach. Like he has to be. He's either gonna be that or Australia's coach. He he has to go into representative football, is his next step and be able to dominate in there as well.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Yeah, I don't know. I'm a bit on the fence about like where he goes after this, because in the press conference I listened to snippets of it. He was talking about the old work life balance and wanting to take more time with his family, which I can understand, and something I heard say earlier as well, is like would the Craig Bellamy um news as well play on him like uh for the past I think he said he's been involved in footy for 35 years, yeah, has the past 35 years decided to you know just give it up and and take time with the family and then like is he gonna go into business or I don't know, or or is he gonna completely switch codes whatsoever and think, do you know what? I fancy a different challenge. Go a bit of the wallabies, go a bit of the wallabies. But the other thing that I thought was that remember when Sir Alex Ferguson left Man United and they went completely downhill after that because of the internal politics of the club and things not necessarily looking the brightest for the future. I reckon it could be something like that, the reason why he's going, and it links back to what Nathan Cleary said on um whose podcast was it? Josh Mansor's podcast, where he where he got asked if he was gonna be a one club player, and he was a bit like I'd love to be, but I'm keeping all options open. He's gonna test the open market. Has he assessed the situation and gone well Nathan's off? Yo seemingly is going to be off. Uh Liam Martin is off.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Brian Toto is all well, they're not all, but yeah, Brian Tyler said he'll he'd take a pay cut in the contract, wouldn't he? I think he's he's very keen to stay.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

Yeah, but that PNG money comes in, you're gonna be going places, but I just think he's had he might know a lot more than what other people do. So I think it signals two things. I think it signals obviously Ivan Cleary's off, club's going in the in a different direction, and that Nathan Cleary won't be playing for the Pembrate Panth Pembrith Panthers in 2028. So look, Panthers fans, like drink it in for the next two season and a half because apart from Manly, I think your favourites for the premiership this this year. Love that. Um, but after 2028, I think we could see a sharp decline in but like reading this comment here from the chairman, he said the end of next year we'll start a new chapter for the Penrith Panthers, but it's the same book, yeah. So it's almost like they've got that 18-month succession.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Well you yeah, but you also think about the the carousella players that they've got at that club. Yes, they may have a little bit of a dip, but I I think they've got the they've got the youth system and they've got the academy set up to be able to bring through a high intent of players to just keep it going. Um but I all it all ha all like depends on who the leader is and and if they if they can then lead them to to where they need to be. Um so it's there's look, he's he's he's been he's been incredible at the Panthers. There's a lot of talk about him being the greatest coach of all time. Like he's he's not done it over a prolonged period of time. It's like it's it's almost the Guardiola effect at Man City. I thought the same thing. It's like, yeah, he's been incredible while he's been there. If Guardiola was there for another 10 years, like your Wenger was your your Ferguson was, you can start throwing that in. But that's the thing, it it it that drops his character. If if Guardiola ended up doing that at uh you just leave when you're on top on that note, by the way, I really hope City win the league. I really hope it's not in the league. It's not in the complete thing. Did you see what happened in uh the Celtic in the SPL? Oh so complete tangent, we do apologize, but um, so it's essentially down to Hartz and Celtic now. There's one one point in it. Harts and Celtic play each other on the last game of Celtic at uh at Celtic Park on the last game of the season.

SPEAKER_00 7:18

So hang on, they play each other.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Yeah, last game of the season. Wow, Harts beat Fulkirk, I think it was like 3-0, and Celtic were drawing 2-2 with Motherwell, so there was could there was going to be a three-point gap. Last minute, uh Celtic got a penalty for a handball, which is a bit controversial, yeah. So the defender goes up with his arm like that close to his head, yeah. And look, there's a few angles you slow it it looks like it hits its hand, but it also just looks like it hits its head. Yeah. But uh they got the penalty score and ended up winning, so there's only one point last game, last game to go.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

That's gonna be chaos.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

I might watch it. It's I think it's like half nine on Saturday or Sunday.

SPEAKER_00 7:59

Yeah, as long as it's gonna be DYS DYRSL shouting out when certain teams score and you're gonna get yourself chucked out. But anyway, um, so you mentioned it there about Cleary being one of the greatest coaches. I think his legacy is gonna be left in a number of coaches that he's actually like Pep Guardiola, that's that he that he's and on underneath him, like O'Brien, um Seraldo, like there's names that he's well, it's not looking too good for. I was just about to say, probably not looking too good for the Bulldogs at the moment, but it's still that coaching tree of you can see it's the Mourinho effect, fundamentally that's and I suppose it's Bill Belichick as well in the NFL.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Bobby Robson, because that's that's who uh Mourinho was under. Very true. Everything trickles down.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

You can see the person that uh initiated and kind of installed that style of play, and then coaches have taken that from there and been successful. So I think that's what he's gonna be remembered for. But a good point that was made earlier on the buy round podcast, everyone thought that uh the roosters back-to-back premierships were they'd be the greatest team ever assembled, and then Penriff come along and doubled out. Absolutely dominated it. I think he's um yeah, he's gonna definitely be up there as one of the if one of if not the greatest of all time. Um, but before we move on to New South Wales Origin selection, just want to shout out those mad dogs that subscribed this week and followed us on Instagram. So if you're new around here, hit that subscribe button. Uh we're trying to chase 200 now, so we'll get there. But this weekend, after this weekend, the New South Wales Origin Blues, Batchy Blues will be announced. Um, obviously, everyone's a bit injury ravish, so this is the problem.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

There are a few injuries knocking around.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

This is the big problem. So it's Nawanganitawase, we got Karaz, Turbo, uh, Painhouse, fair few names out, but the biggest thing, the biggest contentious point at the moment is who starts at fullback. We had this conversation last week. Wow. Who do you reckon it is? I I I I I think I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 10:02

I I I I like in for New South Wales, I think Tedesco has performed better than um Edwards. Edward Edwards. But I if you're going off form at the moment, it is Edwards just. But it I that they are so close. Edwards and Tedesco are so close, it is so hard to call. Um I I think I would go Tedesco because he's got that he's got a bit of a more mongrel in him. I I picked Tedesco style fullback, which you know you need during origin. Like he's he's that that one who's always in the ref's ear. He's he just niggles, he's he's just nippy, he's just that, whereas Edwards seems like a bit of a goody-goody out the back, like incredible player, but you need Tedesco like flying over, just getting in someone's ear, like you know, Walsh drops a ball and Tedesco's there. This is the it's the black boots, shorts, shorts fucking socks all the way up. Yeah, looks like an old school centre midfielder, and that's why I'd pick him there.

SPEAKER_00 10:58

Then we go who joins him in the in the back line. Obviously, we got Brian Toto locking up one side, Lutrell Mitchell on the inside of him. You've then got who's your other centre on the right hand side. There's talks of Casey McLean being you've got to have Katutiny stakes. Well, he might be injured or something like that. He might or the suspension maybe. I don't know. I'm I yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Bradman best. Like he's he put in a shit.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

Well, I know it was against the dragons, but he's he's having a good season, and then obviously Steven Crichton's the I don't if if Daly holds to what he said, he's gonna pick off form, you cannot pick Stephen Crichton in this origin team, and I don't think he's fully fit as well. I think he I saw it, I saw him at the weekend make a tackle, he looked in pain, and he got up, but his like arm was yeah, held down by his side, so I'm not too sure about that. But outside of him is the big question as well. On the wing, you've got like Thomas Jenkins who can play out there. Josh Adokarr has been talked about a lot. There's been talk about Casey McLean shifting to the wing. Yeah, Casey McLean. What was the other comment I heard the other day? Uh someone oh, so having Dylan Edwards on the wing and Tedesco at fullback. Wouldn't be mad at that.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

Wouldn't be mad if that's a good that's a that's that's a good counter to their aerial threat. Well, I suppose Xavier Coates isn't that there, but they'll probably go with they'll probably go with Cabo, won't they? Saline Cabo on one of the wings.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

Maybe he's doing he's played a lot better for the Dolphins recently. Um it'll be interesting.

SPEAKER_01 12:25

Yeah, I think you do need you do need to have a bit more of a an aerial backup. Yeah especially if you go on Brighton Tower one wing.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

You do need to have a because yeah, you could you could almost yeah it's haven't Zach Lomax missing is he like it leaves a big gap. But then we go into the halves, and for me it's Moses and Cleary. Yeah, so I I I don't really see pretty straightforward. Yeah, an interesting one though is at nine. Who plays at nine? It's either Reese Robson, yeah, it's Reese Blake Brayley.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

I reckon they'll do what they did last year and have um would you say Connor Watson on the bench? Yeah, 14 and then coming on for Reese Robson. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

I would say that. Um, but Blake Brayley uh the sharks has been touted to potentially be in there. Oh one that going back to the halves, one that you said last year is being touted to be in there as well.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

Yeah, big Ethan Strange. Um big uh look, he he he had an incredible season with uh back end of the season with Canberra. Again, he's just come he's just come in and he's he's just he's just so steady. He he just really he just really steadies the ship, yeah. The ship for Canberra and it really shows um it's just a shame there's there's such a level of incredible hars above him at the moment. There is.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

I think there's a big drop-off though from Nathan Cleary. I think Nathan Cleary is by far the best, but not on origin. No, I've not seen him do it yet. So I think I I personally think I I said it last year, but I think this is the one that he's gonna need to. He really he really needs to have a big origin. If he's gonna finish in the NRL in 2027, then maybe he needs to have a big one this year. But the I think the biggest talking point with Payne Hars out, who who are like who's starting up front? So these are my options, options. Jackson Ford, who's absolutely phenomenal at the Warriors so 80 minutes, exactly. Mitch Barnett, so that's the Warriors both starting starting props, but then you've got Adam Fanua Blake in there. Um and then who's another option? It it prop forward. Can't think right now, but it's one of those one of those three is going to be starting, and then on the bench of coming off the bench.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

Well, you got well, you can't really have Spencer Lenou, he's not really.

SPEAKER_00 14:34

Oh, of course, Spencer Leniew. You want that Mongol, though, you want that someone that Queenslanders hate, yeah, and you want him to just ruffle a few feathers, mess up minds. Exactly. Um I actually I would start with oh do you know what game one in Sydney. I think I might I might go with Spencer Lenieu and Fenuer Blow and then have Ford and Barnett on the bench just on the the cusp of Western Sydney as well. Yeah, can you imagine? But yeah, one one manly player that should be playing for New South Wales and should be starting is Hamole Ola Kawara. If this skeezer doesn't start with Hudson Young, I believe.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

Yeah, he's he I don't I you got you've got Angus Crichton and you've got Liam Martin on his way is injured Martin still injured. Yeah, got Angus Crichton, who's again an ever present in you for New South Wales. Um Hudson Young's just come back from injury. Um so it's again do uh was it or is he spended? I can't remember. I think he came back last weekend, I believe. Um but Oliquar like it it it it it amazes me how Latsy Daisical he gets the ball, yeah, but he still makes 20 metres and then he runs into in what it looks like straight to someone, some late footwork, and he's round them.

SPEAKER_00 15:48

He's got three people hanging off him and he's still motoring forward.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

Uh it's it it it's just amazing to watch. Yeah, um, he needs to be in there, which is a which is you know, you've gotta you've got to take it from being a being a manly fan.

SPEAKER_00 16:00

Yeah, um and then I think I Yo starts at 13 but Connor Watson, maybe come on.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

Isaiah Yo's just a slow half, like he's he's he if he was if he was a few more inches quicker, uh smaller, and a bit a few paces quicker. A few more inches longer, he would uh it would have probably been a half because he's his ball playing, he's incredible.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Yeah. Um how long is it? It's got we've got two weeks, didn't we, until Origins Arts? So they get picked, yes. Teams get released after this weekend, and obviously that means they miss this week. I don't mind then Olaquil missing next week's game against the uh old Titans against the Titans at Brookie. So I'm not too mad at that. Um, so it'd be interesting to see how we go. But let's get on to uh round ten. Oh big Tino will be out as well. Yeah, sorry. Oh, yeah, he will. He will. Oh, I'm not mad at that either. But round ten, uh, a lot went on. There were hat-tricks a lot. Talk about hat tricks, five try hero in Greg Marju, absolutely nuts, and then obviously the storm finally snapped their losing streak. But let's start with the Bulldogs at the Dolphins. It was actually or Dolphins at the Bulldogs, Bulldogs at the Dolphins, yeah. We started watching it here and it ah, Bulldogs went up, didn't they? They shot up, but they just couldn't. I don't know what's got what is it, 12 points. They are averaging under 15 points a game, and their defense, which was touted to be the best in the league, like absolutely disintegrated last week. I don't know what the problem is, I and the points that are being highlighted, like Burton isn't booting the bombs up in the air anymore. Um, and what is it a point that teams have figured out that if you let it bounce, it's just gonna go out the back, seven tackles set. Um but they just look terrible, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:43

They they they uh they look lost in attack. Um I I I don't know because you can't just all pin it on Lockie Galvin because he's been a little bit of a creative spark for them. Um granted he was playing last last week. I'm sure he was playing both sides as well. He was playing both on the left and the right, he was moving, moving each side. Um and they just don't seem they don't seem to be doing anything. Um like, don't get me wrong, the the Stephen Crichton's try was incredible. Uh that the pass out from I think it was was it Tracy came in from fullback and popped it post.

SPEAKER_00 18:18

Well, I've just I've I heard the other day that he's actually only had one try assist all season, so that might have been it, or that might have been the same.

SPEAKER_01 18:25

When you don't when you got a quiet fullback who's who's not doing anything, he's not coming into the attack and and scoring tries and assisting tries, then you've lost an additional attacking player against a line that's shifting. Um they look like I said, they look lost.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

I genuinely don't know what they do to change it up. It's an interesting one. Um kick out, I think, is a big big loss for them as well. They don't know. But he's not been doing he's not been doing anything, he hasn't, and they've only turned up in one game, really. Against the Panthers, against the Panthers, and they haven't really done much from that. But like you said, uh their attack looks horrendous. And I said something wrong earlier. It was I said Adam O'Brien came from the Panthers, but he was the Knights old head coach who's been absolutely terrible in attack, so um, but yeah, four losses in a row and counting, I don't know. I think they're struggling, they've got a win we're at that stage where you start counting how many wins they need to qualify for the top eight, and I think they need to win like 13 of the last 15. Can't see him doing it, cannot see them doing it. But the game of the round I didn't see this coming. If anyone that tipped the cowboys to win in uh sorry, the Eels to win, especially they were eight points down with what was it, three minutes, six six minutes to go, and then the cowboys just gave up. Like they seemingly they went back to back, I think, the um eels, and they were just got through so easily. Um and then I don't know whether the carry-on at the end from Mitch Moses when he got hit as well. Yeah, it was a bit of a dive, wasn't it? I can see what he means, and like the rigmarole as well around him having to take a penalty. Yes, golden point, like they've scored. What what's the point in having to kick the screen?

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Can you not end the game on a penalty?

SPEAKER_00 20:05

I get I think what what was explained is the rules of the game, you cannot if there's a penalty on contacting a kick, you can't then you then have to take the resulting penalty from in front. Yeah, but there was all that oh, what if he misses and or clips the post and it comes out with the ball would have been dead. But it was a great game. Um the cowboys what if it hit the post and then bounce back out. Class is dead because it's the end of the game. But cowboys, I thought, were gonna steamroll this.

SPEAKER_01 20:31

Yeah, so did I, and it's really it's really shocked me a uh and a I think this shows more of how good the ideals can can can be.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

Shows how much manly towed them up. Yeah, every team exactly every team just seems to perform, but manly just towels them up. Like do them in.

SPEAKER_01 20:47

Look at the look at the Dolphins scoring 44 against the Bulldogs, conceded 50 against Manley. Exactly. Fucking write our name on the trophy right now.

SPEAKER_00 20:54

Get the um big loss for the Cowboys, yeah. Didn't he lose big loss for Queensland as well? Talks of like who goes in the halves like they are saying DCE, potentially Sam Walker, yeah. But if not, there's our all eyes might go on Jamal Foggetty if he goes decent this weekend. I know, but if Jamal Foggetty don't play, we've got Joey Walsh coming. Doesn't matter, doesn't matter who might be signing a new contract as well. So absolutely nuts, but yeah, Cowboys, I think they're unfortunate when Dedham went off. Yeah, very much so took the wind out of their sale um and Mitch Moses wins it in Golden Point. But another fantastic performance from the Sydney. Well, was it fantastic or was it just kind of getting the job done? The Sydney Roosters 28, Titans twelve. Uh they're on a bit of a roll. They are.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

They are with Robert Toya as well starting to get a bit of form just before Origin, like he did so well last year, uh in his in his debut. Uh again, Tedesco uh showing up, uh scoring a couple more tries. Just I think showing why people are touting him to to start. I I genuinely think it is very close between him and him and Edwards, but as I said at the start, I would probably just pick Teddy. Um, Titans don't really seem to have improved much from last season.

SPEAKER_00 22:10

I don't know. I think they well, I remember early on in the season last year, I I tipped him a couple of times, or at least tipped him to do well. And they seem to be firing out in games, like they led in this one, and then they just can't keep it together. Like Lucky Ilias is doing alright, um, AJ Brimson is doing alright, but I don't know what it is. I don't know whether it's the inexperience, I don't know whether it's the Are they a team to watch for next year?

SPEAKER_01 22:32

Do you think, after a year to together with these new boys? Or I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 22:37

Because isn't AJ Brimson off to Perth as well, I I believe. So it's an interesting one. Uh, but the Roosters, they're second favourites to win the premiership now. Yeah, have we taken into account the Many Sea Eagles? I don't know. But but we'll get onto that in a second. But Greg Marjou, I read a stat that there's only like ten players that have ever scored the same amount of tries in a game that's on the back of their top. And Greg Marjou scoring five. Can you name a Manly player that's done it? You would know who it is. Uh played recently? Still playing right now.

SPEAKER_01 23:15

Christian Tupelotu?

SPEAKER_00 23:16

Nah, plays for Manly now. Oh, Ruben Garrick. Yeah, scored four tries last year, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

Ah, when he scored 36, was it 36 points he scored against uh I can't remember.

SPEAKER_00 23:28

Can't remember. I have a little search and then say it. But look, dragons are terrible. I don't think there's any hiding it. No, I feel sorry for him because this week at Magic Round, they're coming up against the Penrith Panthers. It could be a Christian. We'll get into our predictions of that in a minute, but it could be at City Bonkers. They were they lost this one 44-10, but were 32-nil down at half time. Caitlin Ponga is the difference maker for Newcastle. Like it doesn't matter. He gets run over gets run over by Latrell Mitchell the week before, but he um he put on an absolute performance this week, and he could potentially be number seven.

SPEAKER_01 24:06

Yeah. Who's the Raiders? The Raiders. Raiders last year. Garrick scored 28 points, four tries, and six goals in a 40-nil thrashing in round three. There we go. And he would have been playing centre. Did we beat him 40-nil last year? Yep. Nah. It's what Google says. Really? Yeah. I thought we lost. Oh no, no. No, no, we beat him. We beat him at home, didn't we? We absolutely batted them all.

SPEAKER_00 24:31

Oh, of course we did. They scored though, didn't they? It wasn't 40-0. Surely.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Right. Google could have been lying to me. AI may be lying. They score. I'm pretty sure. I'm now on the NRL website and it is saying uh 2025 4012.

SPEAKER_00 24:47

Yeah, they because they scored like on the far sidelines where we were. You were away, I think, for that game.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

Were you? Yeah, was that that one? When were you back in the UK? Oh that was the year before.

SPEAKER_00 24:57

Oh, geez.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

Roosters and Panthers.

SPEAKER_00 24:59

Yeah, she time is yeah, time is absolutely flying by. But yeah, dragons look terrible. Knights, I tell you what, yeah. A little sneaky in that one. Um didn't expect this result, but the South's uh Sydney Rabbit O's absolutely well, we did you did say this about the Sharks.

SPEAKER_01 25:18

Yeah. Inconsistency is a killer, um, and it's it's really like I know I said there that a top six team and they do show they are a cons, but the inconsistency is killing them, and uh salves uh I think but it also shows how good the sat the rabbit O's are as well. Oh, we watched this after the Yeah, I think this shows more on on them than it does do the sharks, and that even without Latrell Mitchell they were able to just still pull it together.

SPEAKER_00 25:49

I think they're one to watch.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

Well, yeah, um they they they they really are uh they've got they've got just weapons from all over the place. Alex Johnson got injured though, I believe, didn't he? Okay, hamstring that's the big three of the left edge now gun, isn't it? For Fita, Mitchell and Johnson.

SPEAKER_00 26:07

Yeah, I'll have a little check on that, but I'm pretty sure he is injured. Um but to do that without Latrell, yeah, they absolutely towed him up. Um PCL. Ah, he played through a PCL injury, that was it. Yeah, um, but he's got the try, he's got the try scoring record. It don't matter, he don't care. Can he can have a he can have a few weeks off, rest and recover, and come back strong when he's needed. Back stronger. But uh storm end it, they end the horror run.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

It just shows I reckon this shows how much tigers are missing Apicaras out in the middle. Like they they're defensively, they they look all over the place at the moment. They look they look less, they look like what Manly are normally when Jake's off the field, yeah. Um, and they they lose a little bit of their structure. Whereas I think we're seeing that with the with the Tigers and how he marshals that middle, yeah, and it's such a big voice to have be able to dictate your middles around as well. So missing that, your whole defensive line can fall apart.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

I agree. And the other Fayonu brother that came in for Samuela, I think it's Sioni Fayenu. Let me have a little check on his name. Uh, don't want to get it wrong. Yeah, Siony Fayenu got absolutely stepped out of his shoes by I think it was uh it might be Munster or Grant. Like just went to go one way, just fell and let him through. And I think they were what 20 odd points with the first. We'll get on to that in a second, but what a geezer. Um, a big one for them is they thought um Falonga had fractured his face, but he's he's alright. He's been named, yeah. Yeah, he's been named and he's all cleared. But yeah, they snapped their losing streak, so it's not eight on the bounce, it was seven on the bounce. But let's get on to the only game that mattered.

SPEAKER_01 27:51

Actually, let's just go let's go Panthers against the Raiders. Uh neck, neck and neck, Panthers just wasn't the class.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

Yeah, they were class, and that was it. Now let's get on to the now. Let's get into it. Now let's get into it. Manly absolutely embarrassed the Brisbane Broncos. Well, is that a bit strong because they were missing players?

SPEAKER_01 28:08

No, but it was like uh Caprini on the on the wing, like he he he looked like a lost child, and hence why he had to go spend 10 in the bin.

SPEAKER_00 28:18

Yeah, I to be fair, he did. He was um I think I've completely butchered his name there, but I do apologise. When he grabbed back Jason, was it Saab or Garrick or whatever?

SPEAKER_01 28:28

It was one of the flying through three.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

Yeah, but just what is Foran doing? Like, how has he turned this team around to be like what you mentioned, Brandon Wacom? When I we saw he was starting four three games ago, I think it was. It was like, what is going on here? Why are we are we like desperate times, desperate measures? But this rotation between him and Simpkin it's just worked wonders. Works wonders, and the one thing I love about him, and this is part of the downfall as to why he's not playing this week, is he's firing out the line and he's aggressive and he and he puts the hits in, just needed to raise that arm a little bit higher so it wasn't forceful contact without ray without rapping or whatever. But we're missing this week. But I I do feel confident that Simpkin has played 80 in that position. We've got Docker Clay on the bench, but again, Ola Kawatu, unstoppable. But Luke Brooks is having some season as well.

SPEAKER_01 29:24

He's he's just it just seems like Fuzz has come in and going, Brooksy lad, just go play again. Yeah, there you go. There's no pressure on you, mate. Just just just go play. Um, and it and it really showed like what there was there was I think it was in the the Cowboys game where the ball hit the floor and no one reacted to it, and he was straight on it, bot and and hit a hit a line. Same at same at the dragons, he was the only one that was switched off and switching on to things.

SPEAKER_00 29:48

Um but when he said when he sees a gap as well, he's gone, he's gone, he cuts it and he goes. It's like he's making decisions a lot quicker, he's not second guessing himself and he's just getting on with it. Um but I think so it helps having Foggity behind him or next to him as a bit of support and experience, but then you flip it on the other side and you have Joey Walsh, the player that's playing with no pressure on him. Yeah, I think he's just gone out and go, you know what, let's just have some fun.

SPEAKER_01 30:14

I genuinely think that's what Five said to both of them at the weekend. Just keep playing the game, just go in out and enjoy it. And and and honestly, Walsh is kicking is why I'm 4020 is why I bang on about why that transition from league, uh from union, sorry, to league would be so so much better. I I think I was telling anyone that would listen on on Saturday in the ground that Johnny Wilkinson should come over and start being a like a contractor for the NRL. He would earn a fortune. Fortune. His 40-20 looked out as soon as he left his boot.

SPEAKER_00 30:46

Huge gap, and he just went bang.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

He's he's drop got his dropouts as well. Saab coming down with it, yeah. Granted, he did kick one out on the full, which is a bit all right, Joey. Lad, calm it down a bit. Um, but it he's he's kicking is is incredible. Like we need to just get Saab just every training session, just jumping and catching balls in the corner. Yeah, because if with how Walsh kicks the ball, that that is a try. That should be a try every time.

SPEAKER_00 31:11

He was Walsh again was incredible. He's 40-20 really set the tone for the attack. Um, but I tell you one player that obviously there was a switch, the late switch of Farlalo and Cola between fullback and centre. Cola is definitely more of a centre, a strike attack at centre. But Farlalo, like as well. When Wacem kicks that ball and dinks it over the top, he's had the mindset to just run on with what he's doing, catch the ball, and then just drops it off to Cola on the inside.

SPEAKER_01 31:41

Where are you? Try the season. Yeah, I I try the season. That is try the season creativity, yeah. It's the defensive line, it's the speed of the defensive line. It's Wacem that made the hit, wasn't it? I think as well, possibly. No, I think he made the first initial one. I think no, then Brooks came round. Um, or was it Sim King? Someone then close close down the second, it then rolled to to Wakeham. Wake him then chips over, Foul Allo catches it, pops it to Kohler, and then Kohler just toys with Mam the whole way up.

SPEAKER_00 32:07

Like everyone everyone goes like, ah, look how quick Mam is to catch him. But actually, when you take into consideration that Kohler is like five metres behind him and then then accelerates to in front of him, I'll tell you what, the guy's got some pace.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

That was the the acceleration was ridiculous on it.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

Umly downside from the game though, I rate this geezer's effort so far this year, losing Siwa Taki Aho. Um that's that was a massive shame. What a way, if that is the end of his time at Manley, which a severe broken leg like that, it quite possibly could be if his contract's up at the end of the year. Yeah. Never scored for Manly in his season and a bit, yeah, and he scores and goes out of a broken leg. Again, like look when you look back at the replays, it looks like a hip drop to me. It does look like a hip drop to me. Knee goes straight through his leg. So what is the hip?

SPEAKER_01 32:56

Those hips don't lie.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

Exactly, those hips don't lie. His bum's in the air, he's holding onto his hips, his knee goes through his leg. Seems like a bit of a hit, but it then it never got referred.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

You've you've got to you've got to get hand it to him as well to be able to still score it while he was in that much pain.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

You can see the point where his leg snaps and he's got the ball in his hand and his face just grimaces, and he still puts it down, and then he goes, and it's almost like he goes, I've got to score. Ridiculous. And then he puts the ball down and scores, and man, he just towel them up. Brisbane Broncos can do one back to Queensland. Nice jersey, though. Yeah, it is. It is. I do like their blue jersey, didn't mind it, but yeah, things are just feeling too positive at the moment. Like you don't want to get ahead of yourself. I might have said we're gonna win the competition a few times, but it's turbo, turbo and foggate that you still have to come back. Yeah, one of them's back this week. So let's get into Magic Round. Do you know what? I'm actually gutted we're not going. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:46

But I was thinking about this earlier when I saw everyone packing for it. I was like, I really need to do it again. I I want to do it again.

SPEAKER_00 33:52

I'd reckon we commit to it next year. Like we just might tuck a little bit of cash. There's a hilarious meme that I saw that was like, oh, that three grand you promised your wife you'd spend on Magic Round isn't the same as the it basically kept on escalating. Like that $3,000, $5,000, $10,000 trip isn't is worth it. Um, yeah, it could be the way it goes. But let's get on to it. So all eight games at the Suncorp. Yep. Who do we think is going to come out as shining and who do we think is going to be exposed for being terrible? I'm pretty sure there's one team that are going to be as terrible as they were at the end of this, but let's get into our tips and go on it. So Friday night, we've got the Cranella Sharks who are $1.52 against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at $2.55.

SPEAKER_01 34:43

I am going to go for the Sharks. I am. I just don't think the Bulldogs have got anything attacking, even an inconsistent sharks. I think it's going to score and score points past them.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

They've got Ronaldo Molotalo back as well, isn't he? He's back from an ACL injury. He's big for them. Again, though, ACL injury. Metcalf sort of similar vibes. Might take a while to bed back in. I see the sharks winning this.

SPEAKER_01 35:09

Yeah. And then the second Friday kickoff is the South Sydney Rabbit O's at $2.08 against the Dolphins at $1.78.

SPEAKER_00 35:19

I think this could be game of the round, you know. I think this could be huge. A few stats here. Mitchell's back. Souths have scored 30 points, 30 plus points for six straight games. The Dolphins are unbeaten against the why does it say this? Again, the Dolphins run beaten against the Bulldogs on a Thursday, and their record at the Sun Corp on a Thursday is strong. They're not playing the Bulldogs, they're playing the Dolphins. But anyway, I can see I I think Latrell, if he's not on kicking duties because that's apparently what's causing his back spasms. I don't know whether that's just an excuse as to his terrible kicking performance against the Knights. But um I think the Rabbit O's are gonna win this one.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

I'm gonna go rabbit O's as well. I think I learned my lesson to go against them in the uh in the in the last round. They look very strong.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

Yeah, and then the Saturday, 3 pm kickoff. We have the West Tigers at $3.14 against the high flying mighty Manly Sea Eagles at $1.37.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

Manly 13 plus.

SPEAKER_00 36:21

I I think this could be big Kobe's back as well. Yeah, I think I think yeah, he won't even play last week, was he? I think he's gonna want to make up for not playing against his old club, and he's gonna go out there and he's gonna go through. And they do have Terrell May back though, so that is a big force in the middle, but manly and manly big.

SPEAKER_01 36:41

Yeah, and then the half five kickoff on the uh Saturday. We've got the Roosters at $1.18 against the Cowboys at 4.90. Like there's been some disrespectful odds against the Cowboys.

SPEAKER_00 36:52

They've not got Tom Deerden, though. This is this is the problem, and he was phenomenal where it lasts like just the way the pace of the ball that I've just seen as well, Jason Tamalolo's out, Sonny Luke as well. They're yeah, right. Yeah, I can see why. Whereas the Roosters have only lost Victor Radley, I think, because of suspension. So yeah, Roosters.

SPEAKER_01 37:11

Yeah, I'm gonna go Roosters as well. I think DCE and uh Walker are gonna have to put on a bit of a display to get their name in for Queensland.

SPEAKER_00 37:18

Yep, and then the 745, we've got the Paramatic Eels at $3.12 against a Melbourne Storm at $1.37. Can the Storm go back to the room? Do you know what?

SPEAKER_01 37:28

I I'm going for they're a bit controversial, but I'm I'm going for the Eels on this one.

SPEAKER_00 37:37

I'm not I'm gonna go for the Melbourne Storm. I reckon, yeah, Storm wins.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

This is one I can very much have. It's starting to remind me of the Dragons Roosters uh the other week, but I just I just think the Eels can score points, and they have a decent defensive line when when they're when it's working, and I don't think the storm are gonna be back into full flow just yet.

SPEAKER_00 37:59

Yeah, it'll be an interesting one. There's definitely cause for an upset on this, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 38:04

So we'll we'll see. Yeah, see how that goes. Uh, and then on Sunday, uh the first kickoff, the two o'clock kickoff, we've got the Titans at 3.36 against the Knights at $1.33.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

Knights. I like looking at their team list, no one out, everyone in.

SPEAKER_01 38:24

Uh Fletcher Sharp's full strength knights too.

SPEAKER_00 38:27

Fletcher Sharp's great. He's an outside shout for an origin spot, bench spot maybe, but with um Bradman Best, Dom Young, Dane Gagai, Pong and Mahu, that back five. If to be fair, all of their all their um skill players, is that what you call them? All their skill players are pretty decent. So Newcastle Knights for me in this one. Then the 405 kickoff, we've got the home team New Zealand Warriors at $1.69 against the away but home team Brisbane Broncos at $2.17. Up the Waz. Up the Waz. I'm up in the Waz. The field is going to be carved up as well. I don't know what the weather's meant to be like in Brisbane, but it's going to be absolutely carved up. Metcalf is out, two of Arsenek is out, but I do think the Warriors have too much for the Brisbane Broncos. And then is there any point in even the 625 kickoff?

SPEAKER_01 39:27

I think this is the lowest I think they can go is a dollar three for the Panthers against the $12.50 dragons.

SPEAKER_00 39:36

That would be worth lumping on like just a fiver. Just a fiver. If this is Nathan Cleary's exit gonna motivate or hinder them, I'm I don't think they it would hinder them much to lose against this this team. Yeah, true. Isn't um Carl Flanagan back in as well? They're trying, yeah, switching out Carl Flanagan's back in at seven. If the Panthers don't win this by 30 plus points, I reckon they'll be disappointed.

SPEAKER_02 40:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:08

I agree with that.

SPEAKER_00 40:09

Penrith Panthers, it is, and then the Canberra Raiders get the two points on the bye. But last last game, which kicks off in Oh, it might have already kicked off the state of origin, women's second game. Let's go New South Wales. I'm gonna say New South Wales as well. They're one a lot, they scored a lot. What is it, a last second try just to solidify the win two weeks ago? Yeah. I reckon they get this one tonight, one done tonight and win the series. But we'll finish it up there. Magic round is well and truly here. Shame we're missing out, but we'll get there next year. Thank you for tuning in. We'll catch you in the next one. See you then.