Legend picks shock Blues pairing ahead of Origin Game 1: Freddy & The Eighth - Ep12

I'm really surprised. I don't think Wayne would go there because there's a mini rebuild for feet as a weapon like if he was in a good system playing. Look at that Troy you did on the weekend. I'm not. I'm not that was that was not backing the Titans. Luke Carey 5/8 wow. I I think without doubt she's got the potential to be without doubt the greatest player in the world. This is the maddest place on the planet dancing the only show where you're allowed to do it without shoes. Andrew John's one of the greatest players of all time. Cuddles and kisses go a long way. Especially when you're in trouble. Oh the horse has balded. What are the big fellas going Imagine me wonder for you. They're very horny and very aggressive. Are we allowed to put that to where Sydney stay class. I love everyone but making me feel this good. Hello. Welcome to Freddie. In the eighth magic round there'll be a few people dancing like these two in their prime in Brisbane across the weekend. Brad Fittler. And welcome back a very sun kissed and relaxed Andrew Johns too. Right. How you going? Good. Have a great time. You got tattooed over in Cook Islands. You got you got a tattoo? Yeah. There, Yeah, we saw that. We showed that vision last week. Look. Very sharp. Brief. One of the nicest places I've been to Cook Islands. I know you went there on your honeymoon. It was wasn't my honeymoon, but yes, I've been there, OK. I've given you. Wasn't with my wife either. No. I love this spot. Had a great time. So thanks. I love their footy. Love their footy. I'm just blown away. You go to those islands. Samoa, Fiji, a lot of it's rugby union. It's all rugby league. Right. When did the local grand final there? Is it chaos or is it? There's some big hits. There's some big hits. You know, the crowd reacts and they're just screaming. Yeah, but nice place. What was the footy like in the local grand final? Chaotic. Physical. Yeah, yeah, physical, absolutely fit. But you drive, you drive. Age, or was that open age. Yeah, yeah, right. Kevin Iray coaches A-Team there. I think they've got four or five teams. There's only 18,000 people on the island. Yeah, but you drive around the island. You can drive around the island in half an hour. But every, as you imagine that's, you know, it's in the tropics. There's not a super wealthy place, but you drive around, there's big posters, like cardboard posters. I've got the Wahs playing tonight at 9:00. Everyone welcome. So people just go to people's houses to watch the Wahs. How good's that? I was actually really surprised how big rugby league was. Did you catch up with Kevin Iogie? No, I didn't see him. Tried to see him. He ducked and we've. Did you get a funny story? Funny story. I went and watched the Nights Tigers, so they're 20 hours behind. I think it was. There's a 7:00 game over there anyway, so I'm sitting there. This bloke comes up, local bloke. Henry, if you're watching, it's great to have a beer with you. And then Henry's there and his mate comes up and he goes, oh, he played for the Knights back in the day. And the bloke goes, did you play with the chief? And Joey and his mate went shut up, you stupid as Alex. So he's no good. That bloke, I didn't play with him. Well done. Yeah. The Cook Islands. Riah Tonga. Great spot, beautiful part of the world breaking news off the top of Freddie and the 8th. Wayne Bennett has put pen to paper at Souths. He's coming back to Sydney three years, 3 mil. He's on Andrew. John's money was looked inevitable from a long way out, but it's been confirmed now. Yeah, good. Yeah, that 3 million I get paid. It's in Balanese money. It's in rupiah. It's not in. I'm really surprised. I don't think Wayne would go there because there's a mini rebuild but yeah he's well he's there's nothing better be interesting if there's a reaction this week. Well last week they were OK you know the periods are OK they're obviously down a lot of troops. Be interesting if there's a reaction to this this week and who they got Cowboys. So that's the turn to do it against plenty of put Cowboys to the sword and have come out winners. Cowboys have been gone poor, haven't they? Considering their team on paper. I know they just give up points. Don't want to tackle Unreal. Anyone watch Foot in the eighth in the Cook Islands? Yeah, they do. Massive. Well, My man Henry does. Does he? Yeah. Loves it. A lot of people are Henry. Henry muckraker. A what? Henry Cheeky bloke like. Yeah, you get up to note, actually, Henry's going under magic ground. This is he. Yes. I've given him where you boys are starting. Oh, good. He's gonna get my number. Yeah, pretty good. In fact, Brad's number will be on the screen in just a moment. Got my suit. Now we're getting close to Origin. We've got team selected in what to Sunday's time, Which gives us an excuse to bring out some of the gory Origin material. Michael Devier with a staple, one of the great, one of the great origin moments. One of the great doctors, Doctor John Orchard. Well, if anyone had had been at the hotel prior to this, what? I mean, like the week before. Oh God, the doc was actually giving himself staples, mate, wasn't it a hotel? Oh God, that makes me want to vomit. But I can exclusively reveal here on Friday the 8th that Michael Devir is not the only player to have been stapled by. That's unreal. Doctor John Orchard. Oh, that's awful, mate. I took this game away. I went away surfing in the off Indonesia on a boat trip and the American blokes were on it said bring a game. So I took that game. I think it was game 122000 and 3:00. So I told them the story before it and mate, these these American blokes, we go, what? What? Brad, you've been stapled. Yeah, I've been stapled plenty of times. He gets split open here. Oh, bang. Elbow in them. The head. Oh, that's not a good place to be stapled either. You got a heap of cuts in your chin. Oh, does John watch it again? Did it hurt? I don't remember that. Into your chin. Oh, look at your reaction to him. That would be awful. Right against your chin. Oh, look at that. He's got the head on the boy. I reckon we won that game. Well, Tiffany probably did. I'll tell you what happened. I played in the game in England and the World Club Challenge and Sharon Albert was playing fullback, so I was icy. So I was in start of the year the ground was. The ground was OK, but right under the goal posts, where the soccer posts are, normally it was just ice. So anyway, hit a hole, come off my left foot or whatever and just blacked out. Don't know what happened. Oh, anyway, but then got up and I was just bleeding, so I had a full flap. You just like scouting? Oh, yeah, I had about 40 staples. Oh, that's disgusting. Said Darren Albert. Gotcha. Sharon Albert with a high shot. Well, I think it might have been a knee or something. I still haven't. I've never seen. Well, I love Algun, actually. Oh, oh, geez. Had a full me. My little scab just popped up. So you got a face with free face with. I wish you had to pull it back first. Little tuck. You look like Mickey Rourke. Have you seen Mickey? Have you seen Mickey Rourke lately? Lately. Very good. It's not good, is it? Oh, it looks like a cavity. Wrinkles. Can you get away with one? Like one wrecking your life like a a pullback? Well, you have the foreign the foreign doesn't need. You're 50. Haven't got a wrinkle on your face. That's not true. One of the great miracles David Fafita's done. A backflip. He's not going to the Roosters. He's staying at the Titans, which is another excuse to bring out some great rugby league backflips. Before we get into maybe the biggest backflip for the last little while, let's start with the great Nathan Blacklock. What a freak, freakish try scorer. Here we go. I might have given. Oh well, that's not a backflip. Oh, there it is. Oh, what's the score boys? We've got our scorecards at the ready. There was a period of a couple of years he was unstoppable, wasn't he? He got Lady Troy scoring 2 years in a row. Yeah, that's a nine. That's a that's a nine. He had the elongated track too, because he done the backflip and then the the other one, the cartwheel fight for Australia. Never got an Origin jumper like in black lock. Went away in early 2002. Thousand and one, I reckon 2001. Did he come on that true? Yeah, I think he did. Good fella, Tinger. He's a good Anthony Mundine. There's a common theme here. Indigenous indigenous poets, Greeks. Look at him That that game. He lit it up there. Chalk. I like the end of it. The the double. The double. Banger. What an athlete. All the controversial stuff aside, for him to do what he did in rugby league and become a great boxer. 8. Tonight we've got an 8 too. OK. Dog's date. Reese Walsh Didn't know Reese Walsh was a back flipper. Here we go. I think you can do anything he wants. Yeah, that's a forward back flip. Wow, That's the the Blake Ferguson flip. You don't want to be doing that as a coach would just be terrified. I think that's easier than the actual back flip. You reckon? Yeah. Look at this. God, how I reckon. When when do you, When do you learn? And then he's had an oven. Aren't it upsetting? Stomach. Get the quicker. And it's blue. Blue Gatorade. Now there is a sign 99. Yeah. Can we find out where he was born, please? Right. In NSW he's spewing blue. That's a sign. I'll go. That's. I got a nine there for Reese. Good spew, Katoni stags. Big big man, fast twitch. Have a look at this. For power. He didn't even go in the air. That's like an angry backflip. That's an A look. His head doesn't even go in the air. He just flips over that quick. That's an angry egg. Yeah, I'll give it an angry. It wasn't as spectacular. But of course he's so big. Give me a little over 100 kilos. Oh, yeah. And just all muscle. Hey, Reece Walsh is born in that great Sydney suburb of Southport that's in the Goldie. You can't pull one back there. So maybe the biggest backflip. David Fafita. How bizarre. Signed with the Roosters. What the end of last week? This morning the Titans sent a press release through and and on their website 735, saying he's agreed to extend for a couple of years. So trigger that option. It will trigger the option, his option to stay with the club. And then 5 minutes later the Roosters came out and said that they've withdrawn their offer. So who broke up with who But for Peter decided he doesn't want to go to Sydney. He's going to stay with the Titans. Oh, it's good for the Titans. He's one of those players. Creates a lot of opportunity. Would have been interesting going to a a really strong club like the Roosters. Whether they unlocked him. There's a question mark too over how it all happens. Leo, why can you sign? And then is there a cooling off period? Yeah, 10 days. Oh, sorry, I didn't. Well, so why do clubs? This is? Can the Roosters? Why do clubs announce it? I don't think the Roosters did. They only announced they'd pull their money. Did they announce it? Yeah, right. Well, I wouldn't be doing that. There's a lesson there. So that's the good you you just mentioned something there. Have we have we seen the official where the Roosters actually announced them signing him? Yes. We came through last week for feeder probably had to make a choice that if he if he wanted to go to the Roosters or Penrith who were obviously courting him as well. If he wants to get the best out of himself as a player, they're the they're clubs where he could potentially do that. But clearly they have a a defined work ethic. Was he prepared to go there and get into their system or did he want to stay in the comfort of the entire person could answer that and that's Dave. Well, last week he wanted to come to Sydney and this week he's had a rethink 'cause his his girlfriend's from Penrith, didn't she? She's from Glenmore Park, I think. Yes. But I think she plays. I know she plays. She plays the. Yeah, his girlfriend plays. Yeah. She's in a real document, does she? She played for the Blues. Oh yeah, she's a gun. MMM. She'd go into camp and steal the game plan. Bring him back. So any espionage? Any reaction to, do you? I'm not surprised by any contractual nonplussed situations. So the Roosters now I suppose the spin off is that Crichton. Angus Crichton. Some uncertainty about his future until he took the newer. You'd sign Angus yesterday. Yeah. If this fell through with Dave is a former player of the competition nearly he'd be up there at the top three. It just cost him 100,000 though if you're a decent manager. MMM. It's good to see Angus killing it. We know he's, he had some couple of troubles last year. You wouldn't be a nicer young bloke, humble young fella if you were given the choice. Andrew. Yes. You're running the roster with the Roosters for Feeder or Crichton? Well, depends. The money sort of depends on your team too. But well, I suppose if you had the Roosters at the moment for Feeder's a weapon like if he was in a good system play. When you look at that Troy you did on the weekend, I'm not that was that was not backing the Titans. But if he was in a system with some world class halves bringing him into play, getting him one-on-one all the time, holy smokes. What about defensively though? Well that's his Achilles heel the but that's where the good clubs put people around him and you know they're smart with the way they they'll train that and have people around him to support. But he's not very shortcoming. He doesn't need people like as a bodyguard he he he just needs to want a tackle. Yeah. But then at the at the top clubs the the senior players hold everyone to account. The coach obviously does but you get the some strong senior blokes mate. Always. It's always player based. Yeah, always. And good luck to him. All right. Well the Titans have kept their man and not just short term. It's another couple of seasons on the back of this. They got their second win on the weekend. In fact they've been pretty good the last month. So he's extension like that he agreed to or that he had in his initial contract. Was that a couple of years or just one more year? I think it's two, right. So have they added on anything at the end of it? I can't if they're any, I don't believe so but I I can't. If they came to you as a CEO and they said we want to put these clauses in the contract would you just boogie on them? I don't you know what I don't think you have options these days. I think all the managers, I just think they're wired up with options galore. Everyone's got them. You get any options? No. Or SPS if they come knocking. Late night shows, new news, new news. Just make sure it's nice and warm in the studio. When I do on the new see the cameras, want to have a zoom on it on the way to the break with Origin around the corner. Don't think so. What better time to have a look at some of the classic old Origin openers. It's absolutely gold in the archive. Wednesday June 11, 2003 Brisbane I am back. My mission to wonder. Human race terminators among you. I have detailed files. Shane Webke, Darren Lacchia, Andrew Johns. Program to Seek and Destroy. Sean Geringer. Gordon Palace, One Mean Machine. Ben Kennedy. He's back. They can't be bargained with. They will not surrender. They will not stop. Are you ready for some football? Harvey's Woman's State of Origin. Game one, exclusively live Channel 9. No big fan of footy, Arnie. Never seen that. Ben Kennedy did. Fatty just voice that? Yeah. Good. Just lip sync. I mean, Fatty's. Arnie. Fatty's on. Turn it up this week, Is he? Yeah. Oh, that's good. Yeah, that's a good get. Oh, yeah. He'll have to extend it. He, he's got some great stories. He's the best. He's the best. You've got to go to the whiteboard. You know, Origins close when you're off to the whiteboard, straight in front of the camera. Pretty good. Both of us or just one. Yeah, both of you. You're locked up with too much holiday. What have you been doing over there lying on your back too much. Exactly. Putting in immortal performances for the full 80 minutes. It's surfing, I'm talking about. All right, Origin position. Battle. The six and the seven for NSW clearly has been thrown into chaos. Brad's on the left, Andrew's on the right. Here's your 5/8. First five, Eight. Wait up. Let me think, Cody. Yeah, you know they're getting flogged. I know, mate. But you know what Game three last year made of the match. One thing about Cody, you can get a game plan on he likes he loves to attack Luke Carey 5/8. Wow. That's come from left field. Freddy what you're thinking of that easier informed player I think he's got he's got a couple of good ones in him. I just don't know about Mitchell at the moment. You got to go in with one game under your belt. It's a big ask and Nico's got a calf problem so I don't know about going in with two injured players, but Nico's been named to play this week. Yeah, I know Cody would release the outside man and Jerome's the other one. I'll just see with that Nathan manually. Problem with these three players is they're all left field centric players, so you couldn't go any of these together. You couldn't go Burton and Cody or Jerome and Burton. Yeah, they're being too technical but the halves, so if you were to choose from Moses or Heinz and halfback, they're right sided players. Well he does everything, he can play everywhere. So if you played him with him, he just sits on the left with probably Bradman and Liam Martin or Hudson Young and then these two, they steer the ship. Now if he comes back and plays well in game one he's picked, I'd pick him straight away off the back of one game. But then Nico, he's got two weeks. So they got the Chooks this week of Magic Ground and they got Penrith next week. Obviously Penrith know Nathan, but if he plays well the next two weeks, he's straight in. So the next two weeks is dress rehearsal for Nico and Cronulla. They need to to shed that tag. They're they can't beat the top teams. So the next two weeks is the most important two weeks of his life. Nico for you, Brad, at the moment, yeah, I'm with Joey. I think Mitchell, if he has a big game when he comes back and the fact there's a camera there, it's a break, It's not a soft tissue injury so it's mostly more of a pain thing and I think then I'd pick, I'd give it a Mitchell, OK Queensland don't have these dramas, do they? When it comes to the halves, they pick the same blokes every year and they go performing. The problem is you look at at Queensland Monster, DCE, Harry Grant Mont. Ben Hunt, collectively, together, they've probably played 4050 Origins together. Well, DC ES played 20 hunts, played 15. No, I'm saying together when they're great on the field together, Yeah, so they're. We all know combinations and how for me, you have to be at that level and then we're going to have all new combinations, Hooker and the halves. So just having a look here too. Parramatta following Magic round play. Souths. So that'll be his one game. And where's that at? I thought he was close to playing a cork. A cork and that's a Saturday evening game. What an opportunity. Yep, what an opportunity. I remember we went and watched actually Mitchell play against Canterbury and there was a similar thing going on. Do you reckon and conscious that there was only the the one game and he had a handful of minutes, Nico in, in a position where he wasn't used to playing, but can can that be a valuable experience to draw on if he gets another chance? Yeah, mate. He's gotten better. Yeah, he's a good player and that's that's one situation in the game, yeah. And he wasn't the only one that, you know, Munster stood up as well. So yeah, he's gotten much better. He like he's a what he's doing at the moment, what he's done this year has been great. Yeah. He's taking their team to another level. He looks stronger. Absolutely. So I think without a doubt he can. He'll use that as an experience and just knows what it's like NSW unforgiving NSW are underdogs this year. Would you would you go Moses and Nico. Well they both play the same side really don't they like you know and that's one of the big things from a point of view of Kiri plays left. Nico right. So it's one less thing you've got. It's one less thing you've got to change. Lou I, Burton, Cody are all left footers so it gives you that option with the kicking game. Mitchell Moses kicking games so good. The long kicking game. What foot did he break? Don't know don't know. One of the two I think obviously talked with Gus before I come in here. He he have a strong push for Lou I or Burton as 5/8 on the left hand side. And he said I asked and he actually answered, which I'm surprised if I asked if he was coach who he'd pick. He said his half would be Burton and Louai. So Jerome came through as 1/2 back. Yeah he's play half back against Nathan. Oh what a clown's or Saint Dom's one. One. Is that Saint Mary's? Oh OK. But what about in SG Ball and what was that Nathan would be half. Nathan was half back in Jerome. I actually want to ask you about Burton. Now. You and we. You talk about big strong ball running 5 eights, particularly in Origin. He fits the bill. Yeah. Big, big body, strong runner this kicking game. I don't know why he doesn't. I don't have a time week. He doesn't kick him like that. Matt, seriously, I'm watching every week against Penrith. I'm just, I sit there every time you kick the ball. I hate. Oh, wouldn't he you back yourself and kick it. Why wouldn't he do it? I don't know. I'm not sure. I'm not sure if it's a conservative approach where the coach tells him he sits there every kick should be banged straight over skyrocket straight towards a. You've had a fair bit between the winger and the fullback. You've had a fair bit to do with Matt Burton. Is he dominant enough. Does he talk enough? Is he strong enough The to push and play us around and demand the ball where Cody is. He's not your normal he's not a Yeah he's. But what I'm saying is Cody the ball goes away from Cody. He he's going back where I was there. You stay here. He's telling everyone give me the ball now. Kiri's the same. Kiri. Kiri's in control, yeah. It'd be interesting if he could control the people around him as well as the others, and that comes with experience a lot of the time. But generally I'd say he's quite a sort of bloke. Yeah, I don't. I wish I'd, I should say 3 spirals again, I don't know why. Oh for sure. Hadn't he thought all about how Queensland might line up, But which we pretty much know who they're going to pick. Cherry Munster. But not not so much in the ice because there are other players. Well, they're short of middles. They're short of middles with Tino going down and Flegg Gilbert and Gilbert Fleggle will be back. No, Fleggle is gone for the year. Has he? Yeah, I think he's. Is he? Yeah, I I think he's gone for the year. I do think talk of Corey Jensen today. He he's one player that when Payne was out, I noticed him this year. He took his game to another level and he's one of those players. Quick across the ground, low centre of gravity, can play big minutes. So you got Lindsay Collins. Fatawaika. No. Fatawaika. Yeah. Reuben Kotter was no. Fatawaika. No. Yeah. He's. Yeah, yeah. Reuben Kotter. Yeah. You know the. Oh, the Cowboys. Finnifukiaki. Finnifuyaki. Well, the other one's nano. Is he is he going well enough? I'll pick him on the right side for sure. Yeah, the one, the one who's been tremendous for Brisbane all year is Kobe Hetherington off the bench. He's one of those. He's a real Queensland. Wind him up of course, isn't he? You know what he's got? He's got a bit of footy. Kobe, yeah, he's just done some nice things for the middle. Every now and then he'll play a bit of footy and he's got a tip on. And yeah, tackles. Well, he's a good tackler. What do I do on the bench? It'll be Hunt, as usual. Remember Peter Ryan was a Peter Ryan. Yeah, it was like that defensive freak. Very similar, like similar players. They both look a bit mad. Peter Ryan was definitely mad. Could I throw AD Could I throw on it? Given how well he's playing Ezra members out of this world last week, could he slide onto the bench for Queensland? Yeah, in front of Kaylin. Well, Kaylin's not going to be there. I mean, could you have Hunt and man Kaylin now for three months? Oh, he's got the list. Frank, he's gone. He might be lucky to play in this year. Yeah, right, Ezra. Yeah, maybe for sure. But Hunt will be 14. They've always done that, haven't they? They've always been in a position to bring a player through like that. But then are you going to have Ezra and Hunt? Yeah, you can't have you get big minutes out of Kerrigan and Cotter and these sorts. I mean, they probably won't have both of them, but I mean I you. You could see Ezra, ma'am in that bench Rock in the other one they miss. He missed last year too, didn't he, Paul. Bike home of Origin right here on nine Women's Origin tomorrow night, Thursday night from Suncorp. Live exclusive and free here on 9. Freddy the 8th medal. Now this is how diligent Andrew Johns is. Watched every game while he was on holidays and he's come up with this 321 Bradman was Bradman. Best was unstoppable against the Tiger. No one could tackle him. You obviously missed the Cranulla game if you didn't give Daniel Atkinson a point. Once again Sam Walker stand and applaud that kick when he kicked across field early in the tackle count. Oh, we've seen him this year. We've seen monster kick on. Play one for Xavier Coates. They just play. You know what, on that kick you had no time. No time. Because I thought, I thought I must have got up and spotted it that one. He didn't have time to spot it. The bloke was actually on him. This is so good. Just plays. Just absolutely play. And since they've given him the keys to the team, Four weeks, do you reckon it's been? Yep, they've scored. They had it up last night. They've scored. I'm trying to remember. It's like 136 points in three games or four games. They're a different team. Well, the good thing is they won The Who they've been the other day, Brisbane. The others don't matter. It's who they're. It's what they're doing against the big teams under pressure. And that's what having Victor there also confident that they can score points. He's the next superstar of the game, this bloke, yeah, How good is he? He does everything. What about what about his kick cha? What about his kick chasing and pressure on the fullbacks? He's got some tries for him though, so he needs to do some work in defence, like decision making. He did one bad one in the grand final and Moses Liotta went through. He turned out on Nathan on the dummy. Yeah, that was a bad tackling wise. He's a good Belcher, but he makes some bad decisions and then you know what's not easy? Yeah, which will come. But he won still, isn't he? He's, he's crazy. He's a baby. Yeah, and that's just like, you know, reps and reps and reps and reps with the people around you as well. But oh, Sammy shot to the lead. Sammy bitch. He's too responsible. Sammy would be good to take for lunch, 'cause we'll just go and have a snitzel and get on the punt. He loves the bet. Is he a punt or is he loves it? Jamal Fogarty will won't be seeing him again. The Hammer's back this week. Now he could really rock it into lunchtime calculations. Pearson, what are we going to do with Tray Fuller? He's too good. Yeah, well, you'll get picked up by someone. Someone's got to sign him. He's a Ripper. Yeah, 28 years old. What a good story. Wow, this is such a good crop of players we've got at the moment. There's just games flying at the moment. Really is some of the games. It was a while there a while there when the wrestling was dominating and teams were playing so boring. Sometimes I wouldn't even watch where now the games are so good. The attack, the the way teams are attacking. Well done. You know why they I reckon they're starting to get their identity. Canterbury's different to Penrith. There's a time there where everyone was the same. Well they played a lot of the story. Everyone was the same cause the play of the balls are so slow and they're just slowing everyone down and blokes were coming in chopping, laid and and everyone's jumping. And now at the moment everyone seems to have got their own identity in the way they attack. I'll be jumping up at Suncorp this weekend. Sold out the whole round Sold out, Sold out, the whole round sensation. When are you going to get 20,000 to the women's? Yeah, well that'll be a great atmosphere. When are you going out? Friday. I'm going Sunday. Up and back. You partying or are you going quiet? Did you boys remember travelling over to Perth to play the Western Reds? Yeah, yes. Long trip, yes. Hard to beat over there, Western Reds. Hard to beat 'cause they played on the wacker, yeah, and had the cricket pitch. Good for head slamming people. That was actually part of our game plan, what we went over there in 95 and the game plan was if you're on the cricket pitch, get them and hold them up and then come and come in and head slam them on. You can do it back slamming. Actually I got suspended. I reckon I was one of the only one of the first I got to get suspended. I I got Keith Blackett at Parramatta. It was bad. Three weeks, something like you. Yeah. Hold them up and head slam them on the cricket pitch. Actually, we played them in 95. They had a lunatic. That's when MG was at Chelsea and Robbie MG's eyes were absolutely spinning. They used to train at a horse. They train across the park. Yeah, that's what they trained. Who was their inaugural coach? Peter Mulholland. Peter Mulholland. Very good. Why am I asking this? Well, there's talk of a revival. The Perth Bears. MMM, could be on the agenda. Let's have a look back in the archive. At the Western Reds winning their first ever game, Saint George. The Western Reds dived back into their training routine today. Coach Peter Mulholland washing away victory celebrations with a 7:00 AM swim. But last night they painted the town red. Yeah, I think they're all a bit worse aware from the after game celebrations. But yeah, I think everyone's pretty pretty good. The Western Reds were the only new team to score a victory on debut captain Brad Mackay winning a personal battle against his former teammates before the Reds won the war. So I had 12 blokes that were gonna back me up from the word go, and they did right in the start. So you know, I was happy with that. For the defeated Dragons, Jason Stevens was literally the fall guy. He'll have X-rays tomorrow for a suspected broken leg. Oh, he broke his leg lifting his knee to someone. Stevo. He used to lift his elbow windy every time he'd run E Stevo like you get something there's a mad like, you know, obviously everyone knows Steve O and he's he's faith very, you know, very strong in his faith. He'd run here and just elbow you in the face all the time. They were pretty handy, actually, on paper, weren't they? Chris Ryan. Yeah. Manly bloke. Yeah, look at those gloriously. I didn't really. I I mean I did remember it was Fabia. Fabia Brad. Brad McKay. I yeah. Slipped my mind that he'd played for them. Was he the captain? He would have been the captain. I think MG was captain isn't it? Was he? I think he was my great friend David Morrow calling all the games over at over in Perth. He used to travel every week and called the Western Reds thinking I'll be mate. Well, tell you it was funny. I drove. I got driven here by the wife and we drove past North North Sydney. She never knew it was the ground. She looked and said how wonderful is that, just the stadiums and stuff. And I was explained to her about Perth and North Sydney and she was very excited about it. Sorry your wife didn't know North Sydney overly, just did. It's not big on footing so it's not AI think it's a great idea that Perth bears because you got you play a few games at North Sydney and you got rostered on fans. Memberships wise you probably get 2025 thousand like that and you know what you get? Well we work here and we're at North Sydney at the moment. Like what's happening in North Sydney at the moment. It's buzzing, it is flying, It's a different place to was before this. This has become a real energetic city of obviously not just people working but living the lifestyle smoke. I've thought a little bit about it and we hear hear discussions around expansion etcetera. I I actually would like the idea of a team in Perth now. Mate, you're playing the daytime and it suits television schedules perfectly. You're playing the daytime and there is a daytime, there is an interest, a genuine interest in the game in in WA, so they've just taken over. They've just gone over 4000 players. Now that's gone up and down over time. There's been through different stages, obviously back when the Reds were there, the energy and the interest in rugby league, but they've just gone over 4000. Melbourne just went over 5000 players. There's a a lot of energy around Melbourne at the moment. Some really, Nate Miles is down there doing some good things. They've got a great centre of excellence but there's they're doing well, they're doing well and this is, this will be the the springboard and even the the West Australian Premier was out in the press saying well it's not a National Rugby League unless WA is involved in it the other day. So clearly the West Australian government supports the idea of rugby league. A lot of mining money, a lot of expats from the east, a lot of Kiwis over there. I think there's a lot of Big South African community there. So the South, right. Big, big interest in rugby union. That's where the rugby union, the Western forced a lot of their folding aren't they? That's Melbourne. Melbourne Rebels. No. But also the Western. No, they're in all sorts. I I don't think they're going that great, but but what I'm saying yeah, you know contact sport. The South African people love that but you get it from the ground up. At different times they've been in our different competitions, SG ball, whatever. But what's the other one, Jim? Jim van Carp. Well, you've got Wales Carp. This is the next one, PNG, which is a political strategy also to we see what they do in some of those games to have a better. All right. Well, this is sporting. This is the Prime Minister's. I know that. Didn't they have a draw? Did they have a draw last year or the year before? I can't remember. Yeah, they'll be in PNG. They they might base himself out of Moresby, but they have to base himself. He's not play games there. Oh, play all the games, play games there. The ground looks good compared to what mate, I played there in 1991. Yes, we saw vision. We saw vision the other week. I I think it seems inevitable that that's going to happen for on a number of levels. But there are a few question marks about how they're going to set up. Like you say, where they'll base. Yeah. Where the players going to live. I mean it's a it's a complicated. Well, it's complicated Project Port Moresby has has some social issues, so it would be hard to get young Australians with young families to move there. It it'd be a a huge sacrifice for people to take their families there, whether they're based out of somewhere like Cairns. What's the furthest place up? Cairns. Yeah. Is that where they'd base themselves from? Yeah. But is that is that a genuine PNG franchise then? Well, no, I don't think you can, unless I don't think you would be able to take take families up there for the whole year to go and live there, a full footy team, like a full footy club, do a lot of fishing. I think there's a fair bit of pan out there. You know, in 20 years time, 20-30, we see Justin Ollum. He's up from the Highlands. He's close to the border of Timor. He's from right up, 2030 years tall. We might be the best player in the world. Might be living in a village somewhere, you know, 300 KS from Port Moresby. We know that's the only country in the world where rugby leagues, the number one sport. The growth area up there could be huge. Might be the equivalent of Andrew Johns living somewhere in the PNG hills. You'll build Well, I went to KVN Surfing up north. Yeah. Beautiful. Any nightlife? No. We know there's a few few Johns around Wales. Could be a couple of Origin. Origin. There. Origin. Thursday night, the first Mary Jane women's games at Suncorp. Can't wait. So I heard you're back in town and haven't changed a big man. Come, you'll get what you deserve. Oh, teams getting ready. Power and passion. This is intense as footing is. We are ready for Origin footing for the first time in women's Origin histories. A blockbuster 3 match series. Don't tell me I did the Warriors. It's a huge game for those win out on the big stage and pole. Women's state of Origin exclusive live and free only on 9:00 and 9:00 now I think quite like Origin at Suncorp GB Massive for NSW if they could Jag that first game there there's there's obviously game two and Newcastle game 3 Townsville. So they're going to have to if the Blues are to win the series they need to win one away from NSW 2 very powerful teams so Queensland named Briginshaw at lock. Aitken at 5 eighth Sahara Tamara at half back and then they've got Upton at full back. I mean that's so that's good attack. Tamara thought she was a Kiwi doesn't have the birth the you are able you are able to play. Yeah in the women's game got no she's a good player she's good. Ticker No, No Jesse Southall, No Hannah Southall for NSW and no Shyla Bent. Shyla Bent. If you took a straw poll of women's rugby league viewers and asked who the best halfback was, I'd imagine that Jessie Southall would be the overwhelming answer. Well, I'm I'm biased because I've worked with Jess. I I think without doubt she's got the potential to be without doubt the greatest player in the world she's close to now. So yeah, you don't know what's going on inside camp. But very, very surprising she's not there. And also her sister Hannah surprising Hannah absolutely. Well, it's gone tackle. She's won the last two grand finals, the halfback, you know, and she was there as a kid. She's 18/17/18, she's only 1920 now winning grand finals is a halfback. So yeah, that was a that was a big decision and considering you don't get to see them play well, they haven't played. So they're actually, yeah that's that makes it even stranger. You think you'd go in incumbents it'd be much stronger. Friday night footy, the first game that we'll cover as part of Magic round now. Queensland sold out huh? Queensland won the aggregate didn't it? Was it was it Queensland? Nice. This this will be an all out attack game I think. I think this cap will be upwards of 6070 points scored in this game and I think Brisbane will absolutely put on a show. Obviously no turbos will be out. Kohler has gone to fullback interesting to see how he goes. But for me Broncos winner win role Jock Madden comes back in for the Broncos and then pretty much the rest of their team is as per has been for most. Oh well no Billy Walters. So Billy Smoothie starts Moses on the bench. The the wraps on Blake Moses aren't big they are huge. Yeah I'm looking forward to watching him play. He's been earmarked for a long long time. It's being a a top line dummy off the big thing about their game the other night. Was their defence online? They move so fast. No one gives their defence a wrap. They move fast. They're a good defensive team. Parramatta had heaps of ball and heaps of opportunities within the quarter, like on the the Westpac red zone was unbalanced like that and it was all Parramatta. So their defence, that's what will breakdown. Matt Belland does a defence up there, I think, well we can't. He's done a really good job. Cardi's in their staff. I saw you chatting to Cardi last week. Yeah, yeah, good. What a good fella. He's in the Origin coaching coaching team. So good luck Cardi. You're feeling chillax. Not even to worry about Origin. I'm sleeping well. Oh yeah, I reckon I'll be sleeping better than match. Match. Match will be in the fetal position. Saturday night footy for magic round two, which is very exciting. And look, this is must wit. Like this is absolute must wit. The Rabbito, as we know, struggling all year long. But maybe the news of Wayne Bennett is a little little bit of energy for them and North Queensland. I mean, you look at that team on paper. We've said this repeatedly, but they should be challenging for the cop. Yeah. What's going on? Well, something's going on. Something's going on up there. I'm going to tip the Cowboys on trust. But we're too easy to play this young bloke. Finney Fukiyaki. I pronounced that right off Finney Fuki. Yeah Cowboys for me. But on trust with no trust. I'm the same. Cowboys you are right. But I want to correct that. I I do apologize. Queensland hold the shield. The women's both Shields. So if you're a Queensland fan you're happy it's time for the Blues maybe to turn things around Sunday afternoon. No Moses. Bit of a shame but Melbourne knocked around again. Melbourne versus power. They've got this now. I think it's fourteen in a row. They've won at Suncorp. Melbourne Yeah, they just win there for fun. Melbourne, Yeah, Particularly when Cam and all the, you know, all the Queenslanders go back up there and they get excited. They get beat. They barely ever get beat. They they they recorded Amy was fourteen in a row. They recorded Sun Corpse fourteen in a row. What a club. I watched the replay of the Brisbane para game para. They bombed about 5-6, mate. Two in the first ten. I think this game would be close from what people think. I think it'd be really close. Parramatta were good, mate. Their defence, I reckon that was the strongest as in contact all year, mate, and I mean from everyone, all of them. They were into it. Oh, they were into it plenty of times, mate. There was Brisbane blokes in the background just lying down wounded. There was a hit. Blaze Talangi on cell and Cobo the Selwyn broke through. It was literally Oregon. He had five motors to run to the try line and Blaze just went. Stopped him, man, that was so physical. They're like that again, man. Brisbane scored two tries off with their defence with errors, so you know they only have to tidy a little bit up. That'll be very competitive. The two pair of props needed to fire. They have no great idea. It's a shame you're away for that game. Blaze. You'd love watching Blaze to lunge. You kill the player, he killed it. Have we ever had a blaze in the NRL? Yes. Is he the first? No. There's another one. And I had it the other day in my head and I blaze. Wasn't there a comedian? Isn't there a comedian that does the. There's another one. It'll come to me. It'll come to me. Before we go, one of the great survivors. Andrew, John, Some advice for anyone heading to Magic Ground this weekend. Obviously it's a Thursday through Sunday carnival. What what advice would you give the people out there to make sure they get through it? Oh, go as hard as you can really. And then just and then just dig in Is the great Jonathan Thurston. I think he's neck and beers, mate. He loves it more than. Anyway, Bloody Marys. Yeah. Good. The next day. Good morning for the morning. Let's have a Bloody Mary. And remember we went to New York. No, I don't. What did you do in New York? We went and played. We actually played union. We went and played in Bermuda. Bermuda. Yeah. For the classic Wallabies, it was hilarious. Anyway, someone went missing in New York for about a day and 1/2 it wouldn't be the Wallabies. I was with Phil Bailey and that's why we woke up after and on the drink when they had Bloody Marys all morning, right? It was awesome. What year was this? Were you bloody? Were you retired? So, Joey, would you start with light beer or just. No, no, no, that's you dare X territory, mate. It would need strength. If you're gonna do it, do it right. Do it responsibly. You need someone, well, where you're staying, preferably a friend, to have a cuddle with in the morning when you wake up to go through what's going on. So if you do that, what happened last night? Yes. And there you go. You better lay down or so, for instance, if if somebody has a ticket for, let's say, Women's Origin tomorrow night, and so they're going in the afternoon or evening all three days, have you got like a roster or a schedule for the day? What should they do? I just cruise in the other Don't drink in the sun. Champers. Champagne is always good. What time you start. It's a good tip. Don't drink in the sun for midday. Don't drink in the sun. Hundred. Yeah, that's 100 emoji mate. You're up there with the boys or you're up there with the girls. Dress up. You imagine the excitement on the planes when people landing on Thursday or Friday and and then sad the airport sad Sunday is going to be a day and a half. There's going to be some crying in the valley. I love the excitement of the airport. You see the groups, you know, hovering around the bar into it, got their shirts on. It is a great initiative which was started by the Super League in England. But then you can take this, jeez, you can take it. It'll be great at Allianz Stadium but in Brisbane it suits them because everything's sold out all three days. It's the climate, still still mid 20s up there. You know, it'd be good if you're in Auckland, mid 20s at Eden Park. Yeah, you know Eden Park there. What about if you did over, like in the AFL, they do it over a couple of grounds. Well, they do it in Adelaide, yeah, So they do it over obviously Adelaide Oval. And then is it, what's the other ground there? There's another ground there where they play AFL there. There's a ground at Norwood, which is more of a country sort of vibe, I think. I wonder if you could do it in Sydney between Commbank and a call. We'd have to use Aliant, of course. Too big. Now, Aliant's close to all the restaurants and parks. I think it works 'cause it's at the one ground. Yeah, it's at the one destination. Just have it all one. Well, just on airports too. I I never ceases to amaze me that you could get to the airport for a 6:00 play or whatever. And there's always people on the drink first thing in the morning. You're going right through airports. You're going right through crazy man. There's no time, there's no time and there's no real judging of what you're up to at the airport. There's all post code rules going on and stuff. So it's one of the great, it is one of the great people watching places to have a beer at the airport. We we played a Test match one time and there's myself and Ben Kennedy, Badiris, Matt kids, and we go to the airport. It's Sydney, we're flying over at the Newry. It's kind of boys, couple of beers. So this was at 9:00 AM. We kept putting the flight back. The flight back. We got the last flight at 6:00 PM. We we sat in the bar at the domestic airport for 9 hours and we're just going. If this place had atob, this would be the greatest place on earth. And move in. I shall see you in Brisbane. Magic ground, Magic ground. Go hard or go home, but make sure you've got someone to cuddle up to in the mornings and Sundays. Just openly weep in the in the streets and do it responsibly. We'll see. Do it responsibly. We'll see you next week.