The Perfect Storm

Melbourne arrived with the reputation, Manly delivered the reality. We’re back after a fortnight off and we get straight into why the Storm “didn’t cause a splash”, how Manly’s defence keeps tightening under pressure, and why the kicking game still decides too many NRL matches for teams to treat it like an afterthought. We also get into the little moments that shape a season: Turbo managing his body, young players like Joey Walsh stepping up, and how discipline and field position swing tight scorelines.

Then we shift to the State of Origin decider with teams named for Game 3. NSW make big calls, including leaving Brian To’o out, and we talk through what that says about aerial contests, repeatable targeting, and why certain weaknesses get exposed at Origin level. We also dig into the spine debate, the back-row rotation plan, and the one thing NSW need more than anything in Brisbane: their leaders owning the game when it’s ugly.

From there it’s a fast but detailed NRL Round 17 review, a set of Round 18 tips with Origin outs and matchups in mind, plus a detour into the wider sports week: World Cup early reads and the Ben Stokes retirement shockwave for England cricket. If you like honest footy chat, strong opinions, and predictions you can disagree with, hit subscribe, share the episode, leave a review, and tell us: what’s your boldest call for the weekend?

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hello and welcome to another episode of They've Been Doing It All Day Today. Melbourne turned up to Brooklyn expecting to cause a storm that didn't even cause a splash. Let's get stuck in.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

They didn't cause a splash indeed.

SPEAKER_02 0:16

They did score cause a splash. How's the week been? It's been really good. It's been a fortnight actually, hasn't it? It has.

SPEAKER_01 0:23

It was a busy one last week. I was away at a conference and we couldn't figure out how to record. So we decided to skip it for a week. And as you as you might recognise, we're in new surroundings as well.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Pastures new. Just a casual few million dollar c uh studio.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Well, yeah, but it's uh it's taken a while to set up as well. So um, yeah, we're late into the night for this one. But what have you been up to over the last fortnight?

SPEAKER_02 0:49

Um the the girls were absolutely gutted um that we didn't record last week because they were expecting a very good uh match for ball from uh the game against um I think it was I think we played Penanthill. Bio report, so this week was positive as well. This we it was positive. It was positive. We'd be local local derby, the beaches derby, hardboard versus uh Forestville. Um and yeah, it was I I think the it we it was very much a we made it hard for ourselves um during during the game. What was the score? 30-24, I think it finished. Tight one. Yeah, tight one. They they they had 11 as well, so it's always a little bit of a side psychological aspect to it of our we'll just 11. Yeah, we'll walk up but they're very 11 very good players though. Okay, yeah, like they uh they had some solid, solid players, and our fullback scored within the first two minutes. From we we uh we received, had a set up, they then had a setback, kicked our fullback, caught it, and then just run around the edge and scored. I was like, this could be a massacre.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Um as I say, as soon as Manley score earlier, it's like this one's gonna be 50 nil.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

This one's gonna be 50 nil. But but we we adjusted we adjusted well in the second half. Um the there was a lot more coordination in attack, uh things calmed down a little bit, and yeah, we we we got the we got we got the win. Off to a cracking start to the season then. Few wins. Yeah, yeah, it's um it's going well. We're we're uh over halfway now. Um we're we're joint joint top on points. Uh we've got the top of the table clash against mascot in a couple of weeks' time. So yeah, it's it's all all all things are starting to point to a very well-oiled team, which is which is all you can ask for. And just to start a kick on in the in the second half of the season and hopefully take that into finals as well. Fingers crossed, fingers crossed. But uh big game. Oh god. Sorry, I was gonna I forgot to ask how how has your uh how has your fortnight been?

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Oh it feels like it's been forever. Um what have I been up to? Like I said, went away for a conference with work, started a new job, which has been chaotic. Um yeah, life comes at you fast. I don't think I've had a minute to breathe. Uh but you know it's um yeah, it's been alright. Nothing exciting is happening apart from Manly just deciding to batter the storm.

SPEAKER_02 3:07

I know, I was I was not expecting it. I was I was worried uh about what what what was gonna happen. I was expecting a very similar performance to to last year when Melbourne turned up, but no, it just did not happen at all. That they they didn't like they scored the one try, they didn't look like scoring again.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

Not at all. We'll get on to it in in a bit, but obviously the World Cup started as well. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:29

Yeah, I've been watching a fair bit of that to be honest.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Yeah, football world cup started uh today. What a penalty shootout between Germany and who they played. Paraguay. Paraguay, yeah. Germans out, don't mind that one bit. Germans fuck off home. Um, and then the other was followed up by Holland versus Morocco. I reckon Morocco are dark horses.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Yeah, they they well they end they ended up winning. They won the Africa Cup of Nations, didn't they? By default, because wasn't it? Really Senegal, but then Senegal got done for something original.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Taking the players off the pitch and stuff like that, weren't they? Yeah. Um and then Senegal won on penalties, but then it was given to Morocco. But but you know, it's they've got a decent squad.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

Yeah, it's starting to heat up quite quite nicely.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

It is, and England are playing what Thursday morning? That's gonna be an early start, and then Australia playing Saturday morning, so yeah, 4 a.m. We'll see if I get off of that. I don't know. Yeah, that'll be a tough one. Bought my son an Australia jersey. Yeah, I saw that. I don't know how I feel I feel about it. But talking about good squads, let's get into origin. Origin 3 is happening next Wednesday. Teams have been announced, obviously, one all in the series, and New South Wales have got a bounce back from an absolute drubbing in Melbourne. Huge crowd, absolute drubbing. Six changes from Laurie Daly with the big one, Brian Toto, not being included. What are your thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 4:44

Um I I I agree. He's had a he's had a poor origin. Um I see there's there's a there's a lot of uh support out there for him, which is which is which is great, and he he has turned up, but I I I genuinely think the image of uh uh Jojo Fafita out jumping him didn't do him any well any any favours. If I remember rightly though, wasn't Toto backing up as well as it's gonna be a big thing. They're just gonna exploit that if they carry on doing it. Exactly, and it it's it's been an it's been an issue that's been exploited in origins previously. Like, don't get me wrong, he's but he runs the hot ball hard out of out of the the the blues end, but other than that, he's not really bought much in this this this this origin.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

That's why I think Jack Bostock's been picked, purely because of the aerial threat both defensively and attacking as well. Like his ability to jump up, there's been a few times recently, he's just leapt over people, come down with the ball, yeah, and done pretty well. Obviously, uh Catoni Staggs out, Brab and Best coming in. I don't mind it.

SPEAKER_02 5:44

I don't like best 100%. Like he he went well when he's been fit this season, he's been an absolute animal. Um when it when he's played Catoni again, that's another one where you know he's he he had a poor, poor game to he did, he was terrible in that second game, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Which you know and got binned. I do feel a bit, I feel a bit. I mean, look, there's positives and negatives to Kohler not being selected or not starting, whether he'll come off the bench or not, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 6:13

Well, old mate behind me, Ala Kwatu. Like he's he's on it on the bench again, like after especially after that performance on on Saturday. But anyway.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

But I reckon what I reckon's gonna happen. I heard Brent Reed talking about it, is or um what's the other one? The bulldog, what's his name? Richie, I can't remember his name, but um he's they're just gonna give Liam Martin 30 minutes scrap City bonkers and then bring Hamole off the bench to go absolutely bonkers and then potentially Liam Martin back on again. So look, it's a devastating rotation of uh second rowers. I think um I'm not sure whether Isaiah Yo should be starting. I think Cam Murray should be.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

Cam Murray should be wearing that 13.

SPEAKER_01 6:53

Um, but the if there's any time for Nathan Cleary to step up and win a series, it's now like he missed so many tackles in that first first uh second game. And it's time that he's got to step up and go, do you know what? I belong on this stage and I'm gonna win this for New South Wales. I mean, I hope it happens. I hope it happens. Queensland three changes, Carraghan's back, Jeremiah Nanai, and Corey Horsbrough was announced, which um interesting one because Lindsay Collins is out. Do you know what?

SPEAKER_02 7:22

That's that's the perfect type of user. He's Lindsay Collins. I don't know, just becomes superhuman in origin. Um he he just turns into an absolute like he's a he's a very good prop in his in his own right, but he just turns into a world-class front row. Pauseboro. You said Collins. No, I am Collins. So I'm quite happy he's got a lot of people. Sorry, no, no, no. Like I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

Did you see how he got it at the weekend as well? No. So Reese Walsh comes pinging off the back fence, um, runs as fast as he can into space, gets clipped by someone, and as he's got hit, he's spun round and just caught a flying elbow's caught Collins. He's gone down and then he's come off at half time and he's got that like delayed concussion. So very unfortunate for Queensland, as your talk stated, very fortunate for New South Wales because it's like, yeah, when he has that, he's got a tooth missing in his head as well. It's like uh Cam McKinnon, and they just look like absolute nutters when they've got teeth missing. Yep. What do you reckon then? Early thoughts, early predictions, and we're getting to obviously a bit next week. But do you reckon New South Wales can do it up in Brisbane?

SPEAKER_02 8:23

Of course they can. They've done it before. They did it in what was it, 2024, had to win up there, and they did on a wet, cold night? On a wet, on a wet sung cold Wednesday night. I think they're they'll they'll they'll do it. I'm not gonna back anyone else, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Yeah, well, we'll get into it more next week. But let's get into um round 17. The game that we're gonna kick it off with. We're back, baby. We are back. You can't performance bulldogs can get off. They they were lucky last week. We didn't take our chances. And if there's one big standout from this week compared to last week, it's the kicking game of Jamaica Poggley.

SPEAKER_02 8:54

I I went on a full-on round to anyone that would listen again on Saturday. Like, I have got such a bee in my bonnet about how important kicking is within about it.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

We always talk about it.

SPEAKER_02 9:05

And the thing that really really annoyed me about uh the bulldogs game was when when we when Manley would look setting up to for that extra point or the golden point, they were about five metres away from the rook. Like, these are professional athletes who should be able to kick like with their eyes closed. Give yourself an extra ten. Jamal was right in front of the post. If he gave himself an extra ten, give himself that even bring oh, he couldn't have brought Joey Walsh on, but he's got a decent drive.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

I reckon there's a little bit of failure to prepare though against the Bulls on, which I reckon they didn't expect to be in that situation, but after they've gone, we need to be better.

SPEAKER_02 9:40

Yes, and and that's what I agree because I messed with my dad about it, and he was like, Oh, it's it's it's he meant he said he mentioned about um they they the the they might have just done some training on it this week, and I was like, they need to be doing it every week, every training session, there should be kicking practice, it should be 20 minutes, half an hour, because it it helps your accuracy. Every NRL kickers should be 80%, they they should be with it within 80% of a season um uh for goal kicking, and then goal line dropouts, like if you get them on T, it's it's again a different element.

SPEAKER_01 10:14

Was it the Bulldogs that Garrett got knocked out? Yes, he got when he scored his try, wasn't it? Or was it the week before at Brookie when he got knocked out? Against the Rooster uh against the rabbit. It might have been, but it's like they just I don't know, this is me summising here. Like they just thought, oh Jamal Fogg, he'll be alright kicking extra points. Yeah. Then he he's all of a sudden starting banana.

SPEAKER_02 10:36

No, it was this it was this game because uh Garrick.

SPEAKER_01 10:39

Yeah, he went over, didn't he? Yeah, so he he started the kicking. So that's why I don't again, I don't think he put the time and effort in that he needed to kick, but this week, my what they were literally bullet straight, they were going straight through the and he pushed that last one and he's pissed off of himself. That's what I like to see.

SPEAKER_02 10:52

He's five or six, but yeah, and but and and that's uh and I I I haven't done the stats. I I don't know how I would do the stats around it, but I'd love to see what the comparison is around kickers who've got that that bend against kickers who kick it straight. I I reckon the the straight kickers have got a higher percentage because you see what's happened to Latrell Mitchell this year, he's very much a left-footed bender. He he adds that he adds that curve, and his kicking has been dreadful. Left foot what? Left foot curve.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

But um who's the kick for the Dolphins? Is it Katoa, the winger? Um yeah, uh no, it's Isako Isako, sorry, the winger, yeah. He has whip on it, but he manages to somehow start it wide and the the the game that they won at the weekend. What a game against the Russians.

SPEAKER_02 11:31

I won't rant on about it too much, but but yeah, massive, massive change in the in the kicking game. Uh again, like it's really frustrating. Saab scored one of the best tries I think he has all season. Uh cross field kick from Foggetty. He leaps above everything, takes it, and scores. And it's like we don't see it that often. We don't see it often.

SPEAKER_01 11:49

That he should he should be he should be doing that every every week. Um he should be, and uh part of it I think comes down to the angles at which Foggetty's kicking at. Like very much he tries to kick short, whereas this one was in the in-gold area and was like, right, just go up and try and get it. And he did, he came down with it. Um few interesting things, turbo's audition. He's been good since he's come back. He's he's he's just going about his business. I don't think he's trying to do too much or too little. It's like he's not hitting full pace though, and I think he's got in his back of his mind his hamstring.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Yeah, which is which is what he's he was like last season as well when he thinks that he just takes that little step, which is which you you do, but he's causing enough damage to to open up the defensive lines again.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

He is um people have got to be aware of Cola and him now, and Hoppowati or Hot Felady had a good game. Uh well Falala's coming back this week, which was Garrick, like we're looking pretty well. Look, Joey Walsh came on and was fantastic as well. He had to come on though because of unfortunately New South Wales number six in waiting. Lukey Brooks has torn his ACL. But look, shout out to him, what season he's had. He's been phenomenal. He's been incredible. We get we get that um email after every game to vote for our player of the match, and so many times I picked Luke Brooks because I think he's been fantastic. Uh, but Joey Walsh comes in and sticks a huge tackle on us. Tyrone Wishart, I think it was that he just stuck on his ass. Um is he 19, 20 years old? He's he's he's phenomenal, and he's we got him for another two years, which is fantastic. But that hip drop tackle that he got done for, he's not been charged, yeah, he's not been fined, and we were meant to have a seven tackle set off the back of that. So I think it was Far Longo, kicked it long, it or month, it might have been Munster, goes out that gets battered out the back, Turbo takes it, kicks it, gets the first tackle, so already like five tackles removed, and then it comes back, and then it gets called back. I think that was absolutely ridiculous.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Yeah, there needs to be a limit of how far back he can go. But I would look again, I'm throwing these things out there. I should probably do the research myself. But one of the things I've been really impressed with Manly this season is when they've gone down to 10, they've always ended up in a 12. 12, sorry. When they go down to 12, they're always in plus points.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

Yeah, I uh that I they score more points than they concede. When we lost we lost the Penrith 6-0, I think, in the when we were down, but we scored, but we scored, or we might have it might have been 6-0. But then when we were against the Rabbit Hoes, we beat them with 6-0, and then this with 2-0. Like was it yeah, it was 2-0. We scored got that because the dropout didn't go out. I mean, what help helps us massively is did you see that stat about the defensive side of the ball? Like, where since 40's taken over, we're literally for expected points conceded, we're the least, and for actual points conceded, we're like the least on this diagram. Uh it's absolutely bonkers how well we're doing. It it is like this is why I mentioned about Luke Brooks because he is solid defensively, yeah, and it's just hoping that like Joey Walsh.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

From from what I've seen from Joey Walsh, he is a solid, solid defensive, and he'll get stuck in. And it's the first thing I messaged yourself about when I went and watched the the New South World Cup last year, was the first glimpse of him, how he hits and how he tackles, yeah, never worried about him defensively.

SPEAKER_01 15:08

He's definitely not scared to get stuck in, but another one, young one, Laffey as well, phenomenal game, had more minutes running off the back fence. I I was really impressed with him when he came on. So, like I'm thinking you often look at our bench and you go, Oh, I'm not sure. I think he's gonna get he's got to get more minutes, but quickly on Melbourne, can we write him off? Uh I don't think we can.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

No after that performance. I I'd be I'd be fuming, and it's they just they look really disjointed. I don't know whether losing Jerome Hughes just like set them off, but um what the fullback uh far for Far Longo Far Longo didn't even have a sniff.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Nah, and he's usually dancing about all over the place. I'll tell you what, Ashley Klein was trying to level it up though. The amount of time they were offside was absolutely bonkers.

SPEAKER_02 15:52

As I said, add it in his multi.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

He did, he was on the payroll. I don't know how many over and under for um six agains or for offside, but he certainly got a payout that day. But you know what? We're we're back, baby.

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Yeah, it was great performance. We're back.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

Uh let's rattle through a few of the a few of the next games. Big shock, I thought, this one sort of cowboys upsetting the Panthers 26 to 12. Um, second straight loss for the Panthers. I think I've got a feeling though, this they're like in their mid-seas mid-season lull. Yeah. Making everyone think, uh, we got a chance, and then they just hit back into the season.

SPEAKER_02 16:29

It's very similar to the dogs game, though, when they lost. There was like they had so many more unforced errors.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

I remember watching the first 25 minutes of this and they dropped the ball. I don't think they completed a set in like 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

And when you do that as a team, you you're never you're never going to be looking good. And the Cowboys, uh, as we've seen throughout the season, have had this this mark of relentlessness when they get going. Um, it's just been very unfortunate that they haven't been able to maintain it. Um they've got Tom Deerden coming back though. Like in the exactly.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

So you these these have been one that's so I actually think he's coming back against Manley. Uh that's fine. That's fine. At Brookie. That's fine. At Brookie and what? Well, batterum.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

No, we're really not but they can have Jonathan Thurston come back. And I'm still not going to be able to get it.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

But Jason Tamalolo hit 300 games, which were a forward of his size that's had his injuries. That is absolutely phenomenal.

SPEAKER_02 17:21

I saw he was linked with us.

SPEAKER_01 17:23

Was he? Yeah. I'll take him. I'll bloody take him.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Yeah, I'm sure. And and so so was um Moses Moses and uh Liotta, yeah. I'll take both of them. Because he's he Moses is uh those two got stuck into it out of contract, and that he's been he's been given um presents to oh I reckon it'll end up at PG with everyone else.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

Yeah, sign me up though. Either of those I'll take for one season before we get a few more players, players in.

SPEAKER_02 17:45

Oh, and to work alongside Liaffy, that would be that would be brilliant.

SPEAKER_01 17:49

Look, Panthers, I don't think they've got anything to worry about. They're going to be minor premiers. Uh Cowboys, they're solidifying themselves in their top eight. I think they're looking like a real good side. Two teams though, the next game, Dolphins 26, Warriors 24. This was a phenomenal game.

SPEAKER_02 18:03

Incredible game, incredible game.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

Yeah, um, Cobo is looking devastating. He's a worried winger of the season.

SPEAKER_02 18:11

Dali M winger of the season, I think he's he's very he's very close to that. I know Jenkins came out flying with with the amount of tries he's scored in the winger need to I say he's had a few sort of stops in his his play, but the the form that that Cobo is is starting to hit is reminiscent of the 2023 Broncos form yeah he was in, and it's absolutely devastating at the time.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Dolphins had two tries this allowed, I think, in this as well, which like one of them's clearly on the line. But you know what, their acrobatic efforts at Winger um on the wing, sorry, is absolutely phenomenal when you've got Cobo's power as well.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Like they're they're definitely gonna be finals bound. Yeah, um without shadow of a doubt. The only thing for the Warriors I worry about is is this gonna start turning into their 2023 season? What where they start losing it halfway through the season? Yeah, and it's it's it I don't think it is yet, but you're starting to see little little glimpses of it of starting to creep in. Um this was a tight one though. This yeah, what it was could have gone either way, yeah, and and maybe sort of jumping the jumping the gun a little bit. Uh but like touchline two-point conversion to win it as well. Yeah, it could have gone, could have gone either either way. Um, but just don't want them because they've they've been brilliant all season, the Warriors.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

Uh just don't want them to drop into that little little if I had to predict something that was going to happen now is they won't finish in the top two, even though they've got promise, they won't finish in the top two, which means they won't be at home, which means they'll have to travel and they'll likely get knocked out, they'll go back to back early, out early in the in the finals. Uh, Warriors fans don't hate me, but um, I can see it happening. And then Roosters defeating the Broncos 24-18, draw a line in the sand for the Broncos. They are done. Um, I heard a lot of reports around Madge's future. He'll be gone. He'll be gone, but it doesn't matter he's won a premiership. Yeah, who cares? Two years he's won a premiership, and one of them had a stinker. The the second one, it doesn't really matter, but um yeah, Sam Walker looking pretty good, Roosters looking pretty good, winger's looking pretty good, four was looking pretty good, yeah, DCE looking pretty good, it's so annoying.

SPEAKER_02 20:18

It is for it is for but it was always gonna happen, wasn't it? As soon as he found his groove there, it it was it was always gonna turn into what what he can he can do. Um and again, again with this, Sam Walker is is just having he's having such a good period at the moment, especially from sort of origin one where he's just been uh his performances in origin have been what people have been hoping Cleary would do.

SPEAKER_01 20:41

Yeah, and we need to shut him down. We can't allow him to have time and kick and always.

SPEAKER_02 20:45

It's not even the kicking, it's his ball playing as well. Like that that first try or off the scrum of for Cabo, where he he he let go of the ball, passed the ball as he was getting clattered. Like that is incredible half play to take when you when you have a when you coach when you coach and you like take the ball to the line, that is a definition of taking the ball to the line because he was on the verge of getting taken out, but he was able to play it brilliantly.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

Yeah, uh Rooster's looking good, yeah, Bronco's done. Yep. Um, next one that surprised me quite a bit was the rabbit o's absolutely toweling up the eels. Like they were they smashed them. Um Cody Walker rolling it back with two absolute legendary dummies, and then just dummy and go straight through the eels. What is it their right hand side? And it just uh two carbon copy tries, exactly the same. But apparently he's gonna be offered a year extension to stay with a rabbit o's. Um Talis Duncan looks good as well, he's a solid player. People are talking about talking him up for Origin. Um, and I mean, look, that's without LaCreel Mitchell as well.

SPEAKER_02 21:46

So they've been do they've been doing really well. And the issue with the Eels is like they've they've had this all season where they've been very hot, very cold, very hot, very cold. Um, but the issue from the past few years we've attended the Combank. And watch them against Matt and they just turn into an absolute world beater. So I'm tempted to I'm tempted to go this Sunday, but I can't do it.

SPEAKER_01 22:06

Can't do it to myself.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

I'm not. Because the inevitable I'm gonna be in the middle of coaching, so I can I'm that's that's my out.

SPEAKER_01 22:11

Yeah, well we'll get on to the the tips in a minute, obviously Manly 13 plus, but Bulldogs get one done over the Titans, Titans up and down, like they put in such a great performance last week to beat the Panthers.

SPEAKER_02 22:21

I thought this would be a performance that where a game where they would be able to go, you know what, we're we're not a team to be sniffed at. Um but nah, they just didn't turn all.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

No, they weren't, they were making mistakes, and I don't know. They I think they made the Bulldogs look better than they actually are. I'm still jury's still out around the Bulldogs, they might sneak into the eight, but I'm not too sure. Raiders, I'll tell you what, this was a low quality game. This was poor. You expect more from the Raiders, and they only just poor they only just beat the dragons. Two breakaway tries as well. It's not even like interceptions both going the other way. Um I don't uh neither of these teams are caused causing anyone trouble. If there's anything, I think dragons are on the way up.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

And they and that next year this is what I said a few weeks ago with them with the little bit of dealings and wheeling and dealing they've been doing, they'd be one to keep an eye on.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

Their forward pack ain't that bad. They've got Kurala Matungi coming in, they've got drinkwater coming in, they've got a fair few players that Connor Watson's there for a season. Exactly. Like uh that next year they could they could be on one, and then last game of the round, which was touted to be a really good, really good uh fixture, turned out to be pretty poor. Yeah, just I uh sit when I looked at the score after 51 minutes, I saw it was 6-0. I was like, oh, what is going on here? But Bram and Best scoring the match winner, and that's what we want to see.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

Yeah, that's what I think that's what it got. It got him into origin. I felt like it was a bit of a performance of a game where neither team wanted to be too risky, and and there it was very conservative. Um maybe with Origin around the corner, Pongo was had that in his back mind in his in his mind. Um best as well. But uh look, the knights are the knights have I reckon definitely finals bound where they finish is is still very much down to down to them and and how they perform.

SPEAKER_01 24:07

When they're on, they're they're one of the best teams in the comp. But when they have performances like this, and look, the tigers did alright. They but well, they lost Taylor May again to dislocate shoulder third time this season. I reckon he's done. But um, Coruscal just couldn't get them over the line. There was a lack of creativity. I think they made a fair few mistakes as well. Um, but yeah, I don't know where they're gonna finish. I'm not too sure. Not too sure. Let's go on to round 18. Motoring on through the season, up on Friday night, Friday, the 3rd of July. Great date, by the way. Real great date. Um, we got the Penrith Panthers, $1.63 against the South Sydney Rabbit House, $2.27.

SPEAKER_02 24:47

I'm gonna go for the Panthers. Yeah, this is gonna be a lot closer just because of the Panthers losing their origin players, I think. Yeah, where I would have said this could be a 32-12. I think it could be a little bit closer.

SPEAKER_01 25:00

Huge, huge return for Jack White and um coming back of his broken arm starting as well. So it'd be interesting to see how he goes with that. Umazella's back in at hooker. Uh no, Brandon Smith, he's on the bench. Sorry, he's been am I chatting rubbish here? I saw his name. Where is he? Oh no, he's in the reserves. Ignore me. He thought he was thought he was fully back, but he's a tackle machine, so they'll be welcoming him back. I reckon the Panthers have got to win this just purely because of what's been happening, and Ivan will shove a rocket up their ass.

SPEAKER_02 25:35

Yeah, yeah. Uh, which leads nicely on to the first game on the Saturday. Uh, at the St. George Venues Jubilee Stadium Cagra. We've got the Dragons at $2.46 against the West Tigers at $1.55.

SPEAKER_01 25:46

Do you know what? Straight off the bat, I'm gonna go Dragons to win this. You reckon? I reckon the Dragons, Christian Tuo Pilotto's back, Moses Souley's back. They are full strength, they're not losing anyone. They struggle offensively, but our Tigers lose in Jerome Louai because he's ill, maybe, I think, or ham no delay concussion, that's what it is, and Taylor May is out, so but 12 does make a difference. I'm gonna go with the dragons.

SPEAKER_02 26:12

I'll be corusal.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

I just think they're gonna do it.

SPEAKER_02 26:19

I'm gonna be I'm gonna be different and I'm gonna go for the Tigers.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Saturday, 7.35 at the Sun Court, Brisbane Broncos $2.72 against uh Cornella Sharks, $1.46.

SPEAKER_02 26:32

Uh Sharks. Yeah. That's a bit that's a different that's a lot of.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

Brisbane were pretty alright when they played last time during Origin, though.

SPEAKER_02 26:41

Again, Sharks getting a uh an easy drawer again in in within this origin origin space. They've they've had quite a look on the look of the drawer about against depleted teams.

SPEAKER_01 26:52

They have, you're very right, you're very right. But nah, sharks. I think sharks win this.

SPEAKER_02 26:56

Yeah. Uh and then on the Sunday, Combank Stadium. We've got the Eels at $3.13 against the Manly Waringa Seagulls at $1.37.

SPEAKER_01 27:08

I don't mind our back line, you know, but it's whether Falalo's hamstring is alright. Um, coming in at centre. Ruben Garrick as well is back from his concussion. LeI on the wing, and then the kid, Billy the kid, Joey Walsh in six, fantastic. And you know what? Our forward pack isn't impacting like Olaquatu, I think, is currently the best, one of the best forwards in the league at the moment. Um, but Corey Waddell thrown straight back on. Corey Waddell, I wonder how his peck's gonna go. It's really interesting. Um Laafe's on the bench. Um Manly 13 plus, no doubt about it.

SPEAKER_02 27:44

Yeah, I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go Manly 13 plus, Joey Walsh to get two try assists.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

There we go, there we go. In fact, you know what? I reckon he might get a try himself. Yeah. I reckon you might go around the bottom of the ruck, bang, away he goes. Yeah, try, quick one. Then on Sunday, we are at the McDonnell Jones Stadium. We got the Newcastle Knights $1.96 against the Dolphins $1.87.

SPEAKER_02 28:06

You see no the Dolphins lose and lose. They do, but look who bust up.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

Fletcher Sharp ain't bad at fullback though. Oh carbo.

SPEAKER_02 28:20

This is difficult. This is difficult. But I'm I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna go dolphins.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

It'll be interesting to see, although the dolphins performed well without Katoa last week, and they had a lot of the supporting class around him like when he went off to be able to cover that a bit. Now that they're losing Cobo, Flegler, Plath, Bostock, the Hammer, I reckon it might be a different scenario. I'm I don't think the loss of Brabham Best and Kalen Ponga impact the Knights as much as those losses for the Dolphins. So I'm gonna go for the Newcastle Knights to win this game. Well, there we go. There we go. Some controversial ones this week. We are we're picking a few few opposites. But if you're new around here, make sure you hit that like and subscribe button. We've gone up a few, a few on uh a few on YouTube, which is good, tracking towards 200. So leave a comment down below about what you think the tips are gonna be this week. But let's quickly touch on Ben Stokes, England cricket, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, yeah, goes, I'm retiring.

SPEAKER_02 29:30

I don't blame him to be honest. Nah, geezer can't do anything right. No, um I reckon the disappointment of uh he's he was ill at the start of the year, like he was he was in surgery.

SPEAKER_01 29:43

Smashed in the face of a ball as well, didn't he?

SPEAKER_02 29:45

So he he came back from Australia. I don't think he's he's got himself right coming into this Australia test, gets attacked by Saracen's players in the pub with Atkinson. And I thought they he attacked the bouncer.

SPEAKER_01 29:56

The Saracens attacked the bouncer. No, I haven't read the ball story.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

I think he swung at Atkinson. Weren't there a few rumours though about them sticking up for someone's and then into this New Zealand test uh where series where England has been so poor. Um and I I've seen a lot of it around that Baseball started with New Zealand and has ended with New Zealand.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

I do like if I'm being honest, I do think he and McCullen are gone.

SPEAKER_02 30:28

They have to go if if Stokes goes they're they're they're on they're on borough time night now, and apparently there's leagues coming out that Stokes and Baz were disagreeing and when they were over here. Stokes who wanted wanted everyone to stick in and and actually grind out an old test score, and Baz was like, no, we're gonna go attack. I don't know how much truth there is in that. But I think it's come to a I with the likes of Bethel and Brooks, I think they're too impressionable at the moment to be in which which won't set them well fit for for tests. Uh they need the need to be able to.

SPEAKER_01 31:02

Yeah, my big concern is Stokes goes, Root goes. And if you look at two people that have done it for England, no matter what's going on, Stokes. I mean, even that spell that you had the other day.

SPEAKER_02 31:16

Root Root will be around for years to come. I don't think he'll return.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

Yeah, unless he's chasing super records. But look, Ben Stokes, fantastic all-rounder. Probably probably one of if not England's best all-rounder to ever do it. People talk about Ian Botham, but give him some of the best English moments in cricket. Headingly 2018, 19, 19. Was it back to back, 2000 World Cup final 2019? Headingly, do you know? I remember the first time seeing Ben Stokes though was when he got smashed for five sixes off the final over of that T20 tournament. Oh, and that could have that could have absolutely crashed him. Or the one of my first memories of Ben Stokes. God, that's breath of it.

SPEAKER_02 31:52

Yeah. Remember the name. Yeah, absolutely phenomenal.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Fair play, Ben Stokes. He's done some phenomenal things for considering his kiwi for English cricket. Um, most memorable moment, like I said, 2019. Just you can picture it in your head. That just him slapping the ball away, and just everyone in the crowd going up.

SPEAKER_02 32:11

I reckon he'll take a year off and be back for the ashes next year.

SPEAKER_01 32:14

Maybe when it all goes to shit, that's not happening. But yeah, and last bit of this week is the uh World Cup. Yeah. Let's go for some predictions. England against the Democratic Republic of Congo. 2-0. Probably won't score till the 80th minute. Do you know what's mad? So Congo are one rank less than Paraguay in the world. So Paraguay are 45th and Congo are 46th. Uh, I think it's going to be a struggle because we always play terrible against African teams.

SPEAKER_02 32:38

Yeah, especially like one of the things that you've got to say is I think within the modern game, being able to defend with 11 behind the ball has got a lot better and teams aren't able to stop teams breaking down, hence why we've not seen a lot of high scoring games at this this World Cup, especially when you have these mismatches. Um, and the issue is being able to break them down and and and going going at them and pulling players out of position. Whereas if you're if you're very much got 11 men behind the ball in your own half, it chews up space, it's a lot tighter. So I reckon I reckon it will be like a 2-0. I reckon there'll be a screamer from Rashford or something to get it open the gate, and then there'll be a Harry Kane header.

SPEAKER_01 33:18

I'll tell you what, Bellingham's been pretty good.

SPEAKER_02 33:20

Of course he has, he's from Birmingham.

SPEAKER_01 33:22

Yeah, but you can't talk you he's he left you.

SPEAKER_02 33:25

I know he did, and but he's still from Birmingham, doesn't stop the fact that he was born in Birmingham.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

Yeah, very true, very true. And then how do we reckon Australia are gonna get on against Egypt? Um I don't know. Most Allah. He's not if he's fit. If he's fit, if he's fit, um but yeah, we'll leave it there. We'll see how we'll see how the old uh stocker roots get on. Um but thank you again for subscribing. If you're new around here, hit that subscribe button and we'll catch you in the next one. Good on God bless.