#036 - Australian - State Of Origin 1, and that tackle. What’s wrong with the Union finals, and how can cricket be back?

This week in our Australian sports show John and Martin cover all the discussions over “that tackle” in Original 1. We discuss Super Rugby finals, update all your AFL, League and Netball here in Australia

We hit the crack, bounce off the helmet and find some special shit housery on the footy field.

Transcript

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Good evening, sports biz family, and welcome to episode number 36 with more frivolity fun and of course pheromones with Mr. Martin Winnell, aka the Dog, State of Origin, and myself, John Briggs, or Briggsy as some of you prefer to call me, the only podcast you'll ever need in your life because we hit all the open cracks in all the sports, all the time, because sport is life, and life is sport. What's happening, Martin? Well, it's a very poetic start with the flow, John. Thank you. Poetic and flowing. Indeed. As was the state of origin. Well, it was from a New South Wales fan's point of view, and this would be me. Of course. It was poetic, it flowed, and the result was perfect. But that's only one thing that has been happening. Yes. So in the world of Australian sport, we've got Union rolling into their finals. Yep. We've got the AFL NRL continuing to kick along. Yep. Netball is coming to a climax. Cricket has just kicked in again. Who would have thought we'd be talking about bloody cricket on the first couple of days of uh of winter? And this isn't even that wacky crap that you've got um over in England that no one cares about. Which is what? The hundred thing. I don't know. Whatever you've got over there. That's the equivalent of Big Bash. Uh big news about the Big Bash. I heard. In the last two days. We'll touch on that shortly. Yep. Um we'll have a quick, quick look at um the World Cup coming up. Yep. One of many around the world, but World Cup. Uh wanted to touch The Round Ball game. The Round Ball game. Oh no, no, sorry. I was talking about the OBLON ball. Oh. So uh the the the League World Cup. Right. But it has also come to my attention later this year, we've got the hockey World Cup, the Women's World Cup. So we're back on the Nikki Hudson trail. Indeed. Yeah. Um talking about the hockey ruse. So we'll do a little bit of a preview of that of how the hockey rus are going. Yeah. Good. Uh yes, and I've got some. I've got there's I I spied. I spied on Sunday evening. With your little eye. Some true shithery. Some fantastic shithhousery that the ref in a rugby league match fell for as well. Okay. It was so good that the ref warned the player for bad behaviour. Well, before you rant on about that. Yes, absolutely. I'm gonna start with it. Isn't really a joke. I saw a bumper sticker. Oh, yes. Yes, I did. I did see a bumper sticker. And it said, I'm a vet, so I drive like an animal. Okay, yeah. That makes sense. Yeah. Suddenly I realize how many gynecologists there are on the road. That's awesome. Let's drink to it. Let's drink to it. Well, can I ask you, John? Yes. Just to throw, can I ask you to do that for me? Yeah, of course. You're wounded, aren't you? Yes, I'll grab that one. Yeah, why not? It's uh we're we're doing the twisted palm again. Yeah. So we've gone back to uh burley brewing. Right. So because it's a great tropical drop for summer. Cheers. Cheers, my good man. So what do you get if you cross an owl with a rooster? I don't know, Martin. What do you get if you cross an owl? I don't know either, but it stays up all night. Very good. So what do you get if you cross that rooster with peanut butter? Well, hang on a second. I hadn't really thought about that. But uh the you obviously you've got a bit of a sick mind. Go on. I don't know. So, same thing, but it sticks to the roof of your mouth. Oh yeah. And because you wanted another one. Oh no. What do you get if you cross that same rooster with an onion? Same thing, but it makes your eyes water. Okay, very good. Right. Okay, well, Martin. Yes, John. The main event of the Australian podcast, it was and it will be the state of origin, doesn't it? I think it does. You know, I think it does, um but when did we leave it at halftime? 20 to 6? I know. But and what happened? Well, the tackle. The tackle happened. The tackle. Well, let's not as tackle. Well, no, no, no Brewster there. He plays for Newcastle. Yeah. Um, well, to be fair, it it wasn't a tackle, and I think that was the problem. Look, I mean he didn't put his arms out, so it's not a tackle. Yeah, okay. But you know what I'm saying. So yes, the the controversy surrounding this has been massive, hasn't it? It has had an outpouring of anger from one state being Queensland, who have soaked beyond belief to the level where their newspaper, the Courier Mail in Brisbane, started a poll for people to reach out, sign a petition to have the ref banned from the rest of the series. See, that is a little bit sad, isn't it? Yeah, that's just no good. And then the NRL, to their credit, came out a day later and said, no, no, we're backing him. Yeah. It was the right decision, and it looks like he will be refing the second game. Oh, is he? I believe so. Oh, wow. Yes, I believe so. I would have thought they would have picked three and done that beforehand. No, you pick one to do all three. Because if you start chopping and changing refs, you know, every reference. Yeah, they or every every ref interprets everything they see differently. No, no. So then there is no consistency from gain to gain. Yeah. So you can do that in any other sport. Cricket test matches, they don't have the same umpire all the way through. For a series? No. They change them a bit. Would you have the two primary just in the series? No, you'd have the same umpire, the same two umpires as field umpires for a series of test cricket. I will double check on that. Yeah, I'm sure you'd be. Anyway, moving on, but but not moving on, but staying on the subject. Yeah. Um, as we interviewed an international referee only a couple of days ago. We did. And the timing was perfect. Yes. And he was very impartial. He had an opinion on that tackle. Well, he did. He said it it deserved the sending off. But he is from New South Wales, you know. So I think in every single sport, whichever team you go for, you will always say, Oh, yeah, that one's we've been hard done too, or whatever it may be. Well, I tell you what, the way I try to look at it, to try to be objective, is to say, well, okay, if the roles were reversed, yeah. And that was a New South Wales player doing exactly the same thing to a Queensland player, yeah, would I want that guy kicked off and red carded? And if the answer is yes, then you have to accept the decision. Yeah. Simple as that. That's the way I try to do it in my own brain. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, 10 in the bin, not a send-off. Yeah. As a New South Wales fan, I probably would have been okay with that. I think so as well. But look, at the end of the day, if you don't tackle in a rugby league game and you lead with your shoulder, and you knock the guy out. So keep in mind this guy was knocked out, helped from the field, failed his HIA, which is his head injury assessment, and will now miss the next two games in the NRL as a result of concussion. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When you factor all of that in, if you had tackled him, that's one thing. But he didn't. He shoulder charged him, which he can't do. So at that point, whatever the outcome is, yeah, Kalen Ponger is responsible for it. It's weird that someone of his experience would do that. That's state of origin. That's pressure. Well, true. That's yeah, that's also dumb. Makes you do silly things. Yeah, but he isn't a dumb player, though. No, and he's not inexperienced. No. Which surprises me even more. But anyway, this is a comment that has been made. Yeah, okay. Is he an unbelievably silly boy? Yeah. Stupid thing to do. Yeah. Cost them the match, because they were still 20 to 6 up at that point, Queensland. Yeah. Yeah, I know. But then they played the last 20 minutes one man short. And you can't defend the whole width of the pitch with one man short. It's almost impossible. No. When you take into account that with an extra man, New South Wales butchered a try, which was two on none. Yeah. Plus in the first. Well, there is a reason. But plus in the first half, they had two tries disallowed. Yeah, but they were disallowed for good reason. One was second one, second one being two guys looking at the ball, grappling each other. I would have called that play on. You've got blue eyes, Martin. Yes, but the first one was fair enough. You've literally got three tries scored, or should have been scored, that New South Wales didn't get. Yeah, yeah. They should have won by a lot more. Yeah. Um, but the reason the pass to the guy who was free that they butchered was at his feet, and he was already a crippled injured player who couldn't bend over properly, and then he had to bend over and pick a ball up off his feet. Yeah. He couldn't do it, couldn't get down there. No, I know. So can I ask you a question then? On the referee thing. Yes. Um if Ashley Klein. Yeah, I know who I know who he is. And in German that means little. Ashley? Does it really? Klein. Oh, okay. So inclined, maybe? Maybe on a slope. Anyway, so. Yes, but only a little slope. Stop being racist, Martin. That's German. I'm being Germanist. That's not racist. What race is Germany? They're full of Germanians. Little slopes. Nah, I think that's the wrong one. You better find yourself a new career. Anyway, moving on. Could be a chink in your armor. Stop it now. Continue on with your with your referee. What have you got? Um I have a question. Yes. If Mr. Klein was refereeing the match in Queensland, would he have been making exactly that decision or would he been fearing for his life? Great question. Thank you. Um I'm going to say he would make potentially the same decision. And the only reason I say this is because in the history of State of Origin, which is 1980. Yeah. So we know that that that's the 46 years of this. Yeah. There have only been seven send-offs in 46 years. Wow. And Ashley Klein has done four of them. Yeah. So he's not afraid to do them. Yeah. So he's done four. I said this the other day when we were interviewed Ian. Some referees like the limelight in every sport. Yeah. Think uh in cricket, Rudy Kirsten or even Billy Bowden with his extreme Yeah, the bent finger and the silly hands up in the air. Yeah, yeah. Some of them just love it more than others. Well, I think also the there's more cool for sending offs now compared to previously. Because you get away with a lot more without being sending. Is that because of the head injury thing? Yeah, oh definitely. Yes. Yeah. But to be fair to Ashley Klein, he he he sent off a New South Wales player two years ago. Um can't remember his name, Sue Ali, who came out of the line in the first couple of minutes and literally took Reese Walsh's head off as fullback from Queensland. Yeah. Um and Ashley Klein dismissed him within three minutes. Yeah. And said, You're gone. New South Wales. Oh, yeah, yeah. It was a kind of it. I mean, that was a clear one. And his other one was uh two guys in a fight that went at each other. Right. So he kicked both of them off for throwing punches. Yeah. So that's kind of a that was even. So I don't see a problem with that either. So yes, he's got four send-offs, but they're kind one the two of them I believe were not questionable for head-high hits. Yeah. And then the other one were two guys throwing punches at each other, but they both got binned. Maybe the other refs are too soft. Well he's the only one who was. Well, rules were different. Yeah, yeah. I mean now over the yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, I don't see that as a big issue. Um so moving on to the next one. Yeah, lots of changes in Melbourne. 17th of June. So many changes already. Queensland have got, I think it's four players injured that won't be able to play again. Yeah, right. And New South Wales have either got one or two injured. One broke his arm. Braille broke his arm on Friday night. Yeah. So he won't be there. But New South Wales have got almost an entire team on the injured list, and a couple of them are coming back. Yeah, I know. So Mitchell Moses is back in, Payne Huss is back in, they're stand-up starters. Yeah, yeah. So only makes only makes New South Wales a bit stronger. Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Which means they're the underdogs Queensland, and that's when they play their best. Well, momentum is with New South Wales. It does not won't matter. No. Queensland don't care about momentum. No, you're right. You're right. Yep. Well, we'll see what happens, eh? Pretty happy. If I can also add in there, the women's state of origin was decided one day later. Yeah. 3-0 whitewash to New South Wales. Oh, bugger off. First time in the women's that it's been a 3-0 whitewash in the competition. Yeah. So right now I'm going 4-0 New South Wales. Yeah. Bring it on, Rick McKee. Yeah, okay. That's what it's all about, buddy. New South Wales all the way, Rick. So, we're gonna just move on to a couple of different sports. Briefly, I want to just mention the Formula One. Okay, because it was a couple of weeks ago and we haven't really caught up on it, actually. Okay. In the Canadian Grand Prix. So, what has happened to Oscar who pissed behind a tree? What's going on with Oscar? Well, they're not happy with him. He probably should have left, gone to and got another drive. Because if we didn't know if the team supported him in the last, say, eight races of last year, yeah, for the first three or four races of this year, I don't think he's getting a lot out of the team. No. To uh to help him. Yeah, yeah. It's a bit of a I mean, the whole car thing has changed everything, hasn't it? There's no question. It's changed literally everything. It's it's interesting which teams have grappled with it successfully in the offseason and come out firing, and which teams just their cars have not adapted to the new regulations. Yeah. Well, Russell had every chance of of winning that. He did he got to that. Well, I think he was unlucky. Yeah, a little bit. But um the the the winner and the leader of the whole thing. Anton. Indeed. And Nelly. Uh Nelly is he's kicking ass, isn't he? So he's only 18. It's quite remarkable. It's like Wow. How? I'm pretty sure at 18, I was drunk. So I certainly wasn't leading the F1 Championship. This is incredible. I'm pretty sure I was in and out of pubs. Oh, yeah. In down in Adelaide and pretty much drunk. It had to be Adelaide Martin, didn't it? That's where I grew up. Well, there's not a lot to say about the F1 at the moment, but it's in a holding pattern of new people being successful, but the same people. Exactly. Nando and so Ms. Mr. Chicken and Mr. Piastri are um uh they're they're they're they're sort of Nando. Very good. They're they're sort of uh that they backed off from the from the peak, but they're still both competitive.

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Yeah.

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Now you've got Russell and Antonelli at the peak.

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Yeah.

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Um and then your old names of Leclerc and Verstappen and Hamilton, all sort of at third tier now. Yes. Yeah. So new people, but it's the same couple of people winning everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. At this point. So happens. You've got something on um cricket. Uh cricket's kicked in. I mean, if you ever wanted to be happy in the world, cricket's up again. Good, isn't it? We're not talking this this this summer of cricket in England crap that no one cares about with the Duke ball. A bit of an embarrassment, the Duke ball, but but uh I'll let you have your say, go on. Yeah, yeah, but uh but but we're back in. We're back in playing the importance of one day internationals. Right. So the limited overs, don't know. But Australia, Australia are up against uh Pakistan. Yeah. Over there. Well, they lost the first one, didn't they? Australia did. Yes. They didn't just lose it, they got absolutely smashed. Uh yeah, they did. Five wickets. It was crap. Lost by five wickets. But I don't think Pakistan were straining to get the 202 to win. The Barbsman looked all at sea. Uh yes. It did appear that in the second match that they've sorted that out to a certain degree, but it is Pakistan, and as we were both discussing earlier, you just don't know what you're gonna get with them. Well, here's the thing that I'm gonna say for Australia. First of all, in the second game, forget the first game. That was just feeling each other out, getting used to the conditions. Yeah. So we won the second game by 41 runs. Uh-huh. Bold Pakistan out for 190. Yeah. That's not going to win you anything. Yeah. So that's all good. We we we were nine for 231 off our 50 overs. So obviously tough batting conditions if you're only going to go at less than five runs and over. Yeah. But what's important for Australia is Olly Peak. Yeah. In particular. So we know all the other names. Alex Carey, Matt Short, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labershain, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, blah, blah, blah. Old names, all over 30. We all know that. Olly Peak. He hits 31 off 32. It's only 19. Yeah. He is the future for Australian cricket. Yeah, he is. And this is where he needs to be finding his feet and playing well. Yeah. Third and final game is tomorrow. 9.30 p.m. Out time. Okay. So uh we'll see where we go from there. But more important than that for Australia, the end of June, we're in Bangladesh for a short test series. What, one match? I think it's two. It'll be two. It would be two. I think it's two. But then we're building through to August. Go on. No, no, no. August is big. August is gonna be great. We're in South Africa. Oh, yes. For three tests. It's not long enough, though, is it? It isn't. I don't think. I'd love to see against South Africa. I'd love to see five tests. Should be five. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, with the way they're playing now. I reckon that'd be magnificent. But I think that'll be great. Yeah. So we'll get involved with Frank. Frank, the rugby union and one-eyed cricket fan from uh is it Francois? Well, no, he's from Portugal. So I believe he's Frank from Portugal, who's lived in South in Johannesburg for 50 years. Yeah, right. Okay. But uh we'll enlist Frank as a South African expert for this tour. Because I think it's going to be a great tour. Yeah. Well, they should do well at home. So, yeah, they should do well. Yeah. So, anyway. Alright, is that all we have for cricket? Yeah, it's the only Aussie cricket, mate. Very basic at the moment, unless we just briefly touch on the BBL. The BBL. Victorian cricket. Go on. As if Victoria couldn't screw up most things. Yeah. Which they do. They've taken one of the best rivalries in cricket, the BBL Renegades versus the Stars, and said, Oh, we're just going to amalgamate you.

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Yeah.

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So I've heard that. I know for 15 years you've hated each other, but now you're All just gonna come together in the same team, yeah, and we're gonna sell the other BBL license to someone else. Yeah, a bit weird. Don't know who, don't know why, but I'm assuming they'll be a second Victorian team, and then they'll pull half those players out again. Yes, indeed. So is this your screw up? Is this your your biggest turd action shithousery section here, Martin? No, not yet. We can we can move towards that if you like. Yeah, why not? So there's a little bit of rugby league. Yes. So even though we had state of origin, we then had the backup uh weekend of rugby league. Yep. Fairly standard weekend. Yep. Results were pretty normal with the state of origin players back, couple missing. Um, but two things stood out. One was the Brisbane Broncos, defending champions, playing at home. They lost again, entire team available to them. Yep. All state of origin players that played back, one player missing, Jordan Ricky, from their absolute strongest team. Right. And all they had to do was at home, up here, beat St. George. Now we all know St. George. St. George aren't good. They're basically rolling into that game with zero wins for the season. They're your team. Yes, and they beat them. They beat them. Brisbane, you're no more. You should be relegated to the QFL or QRL. I think it's QRL. Yeah. Uh it should be relegated, even though you're reigning premiers. Doesn't matter. Uh, but what's interesting about that game, it's the third year in a row. Yeah. St. George has beaten, has beaten Brisbane at some court stadium up here. Yeah. And the third year in a row, the score was 30 to 26. That's crazy. That's bizarre. That is just awesome. Yeah. But the other game was Sunday night, 1v2, Penrith v New Zealand Warriors. Now, Penrith left four of their state of origin stars out. Yeah. And they still won. Yeah. But only just 20 to 18. Very, very good game. Great game. But here's one of the best versions of shithousery from 2026. So let me let me paint this picture for you. Yes. New Zealand Warrior halfback. Beautiful high ball kick. Yep. It's in the air. It's not a good kick. It's a floater. So it's moving left, right, all over the place. Alamotti from Penrith in the back is looking up at the sun. Trying to catch it. Turned an entire 360 degrees. Turned himself inside out. Didn't even go near it. Ah, right. Bounced, nowhere near him. Right. And he fell over. Okay. By the time he'd picked himself up, the ball bounced towards the try-line. Yeah. New South Wales, sorry, a New Zealand winger from the Warriors swooped in, picked it up one hand, try. Beautiful play. So how is that shit? Houseri. In comes. Oh. In comes a Warriors player. James Fisher. Oh, forgot his James Fisher Harris. Okay. Fisher Harris. James Fisher Harris comes in. Yep. Has a bit of a chat to Alamotti. Yeah. Basically telling him, you're not very good. Oh. So normally this would create a big problem. So very experienced player, give him a bit of a shake, but not too much, just a bit of a shake. Yeah. And a bit of you're not very good, mate. Couple of Penrith players roll in. Suddenly, the fullback from Penrith realizes it's James Fisher Harris. Yeah. So instead of going at him, gives him just a bit of a tap on the shoulder. Uh-huh. And that's it. And then all the Penrith players go and find another Warriors player to yell and scream at and grab the jumper and pretend to fight with. Okay. And big stink. 20 players involved. Then he punches thrown? No, because you can't do that anymore. And the umpire calls out James Fisher Harris and says, on the microphone, you started this. You need to settle down. Right. Okay. Now, why is this shithousery? Because James Fisher Harris won four premierships with the Penrith boys. Yep. He's only just left the club last year. Alright. Okay. No one was going to start a fight. Yeah. He wasn't going to start a fight. He played like 10 seasons with these guys. Yeah, yeah. All of the Penrith players knew it.

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Yeah.

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Only the ref didn't. So he's incited this huge melee with a team that was never going to lay a hand on him. Yeah. When they realized it was him, they backed off. And the ref got sucked into it and gave him a formal warning for starting a fight. Right. To which his response was, the hell are you talking about? Yeah. We're never going to fight. That is pure shithousery. James Fisher Harris. He's poked the bear and the ref fell for it. And then after the game, happy as could be. Yeah. Yep. All good. So James Fisher Harris this week's shithery award. I'm going to go bouncing off the helmet. Yes, mate. Feel free. Well, let's stick with um Rugby Leg. Well, it isn't really, it's a player. Sydney Roosters. Billy Smith. Totally unexpected happenings in sport this week. Right. What did Billy Smith do? What did he do? He was crapping on about uh whooms on e-bikes. Like some colours. Yeah, he was making a big point of it. But he's a rugby player. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. He was making a big point of it like a politician sounding off. Probably tried to make himself like maybe a second career company. He's looking at post sports post-sport career. Very good. Guess what he did? Come on, have a guess. Come on. He he got on his e-bike. You're right, that bit. And he's obviously done something foul of the law. What did he do? Was he drunk? He crushed the bloody thing. Going too fast. Like a hoop. Oh no. Yes. Oh no. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then he blamed it on the lack of parking at the Roosters training ground. So he's forced to go on his e-bike. Too fast. Too fast. So his inability to ride it and the speed that he was riding at was because of a lack of parking space. Absolutely right, yes. Only a rugby league player from the Roosters could draw that linear line together and go, This makes sense to me. He said he's learned his lesson. But he's going to change clubs, which has more parking. Well, maybe. I don't know. Maybe the West Tigers have more parking. Now, Martin, you love your AFL. Yes. My team lost again in another Collingwood. The Pies lost in a close one. Oh, they are about where they are, aren't they? Really? Yeah, they're where you would think they should be, mid-table, just on the verge of finals, not beating the better teams. Yeah. You're still super tough to beat. You only lost by a four three points, was it? Yeah, yeah. Really good game from you guys. Yeah. But the Bulldogs are a better team. It looked like we're a step behind. To be honest with you. Yeah, I remember having a chat to Drew about this, and I said, I was a big Collingwood fan. And I said it was you guys scrapped and worked hard and did everything you could to score a couple of goals. And then the Bulldogs would just go bang, bang, bang, and score two goals. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, and it was just simple for them. And then the next 10 minutes would be you guys clawing them back. Yeah, yeah. And then they'd go bang, bang, bang, and hit three goals. Exactly right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It just looked a challenge. So your top four? Yes. Three. No, four from Antle Sydney, Geelong, Hawthorne. Would you agree with that? At this point? At the moment, yes. Okay. Yeah, yeah, they're definitely. There's a probably a question over Hawthorne more than anyone else. Yeah. But then Geelong just lost to Carlton on the weekend. Yeah, who would have just been rubbish. Let's really pray that Geelong have become rubbish. Largely due to the fact that tomorrow night, Adelaide have to play. Oh, I see. Okay. So hopefully Geelong have turned to crap. You answered my question there. Yes. Anyway, there you go. Yes. But uh, yeah, they're probably solid for. However, keep in mind we're in the couple of weeks of buys. So if you look at a Gold Coaster sitting fifth, but they're a game behind. They're playing Brisbane this weekend, I believe. Yes, they are. At the Gold Coast, where we are. Yes. Well, Brisbane can't put anything right at the moment. Well, Gold Coast have to be favourites for that. They have to be favorites. Probably. Yeah. Even though Brisbane are not. Yeah, Brisbane copped an absolute belting on the weekend by Fremantle in Brisbane. Weird, isn't it? That both in league and AFL, Brisbane won both last year. Yeah. And both are rubbish this year. Something going on in Brisbane. Well, I tell you what. What is it? I tell you what, if you if you look at Brisbane as being rubbish, they're actually sitting ninth, which is higher than they were this time last year. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, yeah. And they went on to win last year. Oh, there you go. So even though Brisbane, they're six and six after 12, Brisbane could easily get rolling and win eight of their last ten matches. Yeah. And then go from there. Yeah, right. So uh yeah, so the AFL we're in short and rounds, so there was only seven games. Yeah. So so I wanted to just touch uh also on the union.

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Yeah.

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So super rugby, yeah. So super rugby isn't is done. It's into its finals. Yeah. So Hurricanes, are they the top team at the moment? Let me just call that up for you. Auckland Blues, Brumbies, Waratars. They all sound very New Zealand. Okay, top three. Top four. Yeah. Hurricanes, Chiefs, Crusaders, Blues. Okay. Yeah. So yeah, that's why the All Blacks do pretty well internationally. Five and six are the Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies. Yeah. So here's a weird thing about this. You've got a top six. Yep. So no one gets a week off in the first round of finals. Yep. So you've got how do you get six down to four if everyone plays? Yeah, good question. This is an anomaly. What do they do? That the union guys have decided with all of their public, sorry, private school education, this is the best way to go. Your three winners go through, and your top ranked loser goes through to the next round of finals. I think I'll take. That is just. I mean, I know I don't want to say this because I quite like rugby union. Yeah. But that's just but in Australia, I think it's fair to say below Wallabies, it's broke and a joke of a sport. I would call it a situation. Yes, it is a situation of a sport. It really is doing itself no favours. And the fact that you can progress from the first week of finals to the second week of finals, and you can do it as the best loser is just woeful. Yeah. No, I couldn't agree more. So okay. Um so I would be guessing um both the Australian teams have to go to New Zealand to play. Yeah. Here's a little anomaly for this. In all renditions of Super Rugby, which has been going now for 25 years in various forms, an Australian team has never played a final in New Zealand, any Australian team against any New Zealand team and won. No. Never. Not for anyone. So the Hurricanes and the Chiefs are the obviously the topics. They're the top two. And their standouts. If you look at it, they both had they both were 11 and 3. Yeah. Crusaders and Blues and the Queensland Reds were eight and six. Yeah. So Hurricanes and Chiefs are three games better. Yeah. On a win-loss. So yeah, definitely standouts. Really quick touch. Super net ball. Yeah. It's going well. Cool. Hasn't changed. You know what that means? Gone. Adelaide's on top. Oh my lord. Adelaide Thunderbirds. Jesus Christ. Sitting on top of the ladder. We're gonna get one, mate. We're oh from three at the moment. So how far are they off to the uh the end of this? Uh oh, there's still a few games left, handful of games left, and then into the finals. So um but we are who are the top four? Uh we've got Adelaide, we've got Melbourne Vixens, we've got West Coast Fevers Fever, so Perth team, and then Mavericks, which is Melbourne again. Okay. Yep. So they're and they're pretty much uh yeah, the fourth to there's only a top four. Yep. And the gap between fourth and fifth is two games already. Yeah, exactly. So probably unlikely to change. Right. Huh. Well there you are. So, mate, we are flying. I think that's it, though, for Adelaide's gonna get one. You hope well, hopefully for your sake, Martin. I need something. Well, especially Sam losing as well. Oh, it's been rough. I gotta tell you, it's it's be it's just before we go into the international one. Who's your um NBA team? Who's yeah, who's your team? Who do you follow? Uh, probably, yeah, you're probably looking Chicago. Okay. Back from early 90s from Jordan days. How about that? For sure. So, and they're there, and of course, Josh Giddy's there. They had Luke Londley from Australia. Yeah. In the 90s, Josh Giddy's there now from Australia, so you kind of get that feel for it. But yeah, you are a bit of a good thing. Well we're going to move on to that when we do international. But well, we haven't got a choice. Exactly right. Yes, indeed, it is on the list. So, but until then, it is good night from me. And it's good night from him. Good night. Good night.