WEBVTT 1 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.199 Welcome to the latest edition of the West Tigers podcast, 2 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:29.320 anaelw edition. We're up the episode fourteen. I'm joined once 3 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:32.640 again by Kelly And despite us being a little ad 4 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.159 hoc in our episodes over the past two seasons, Kelly, 5 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:39.159 we've made it back for a show up to number fourteen. 6 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:40.759 But we've made it back for a show before the 7 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:44.079 start of the NRLW season. That's pretty good for us. 8 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:47.560 Yeah, it is fourteen. That's pretty exciting that we've got 9 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:48.000 this far. 10 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:51.479 And I'm looking forward to a longer season this year 11 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:54.719 with more consistent podcasts since we have more teams to 12 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:56.560 talk about and more games to talk about. 13 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.000 Do you think we'll actually manage to get our stuff 14 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:01.399 together that we can get on every week. 15 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:05.560 Well, we've just got to there's no excuses anymore, Gary, 16 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:06.519 we just gotta lock it in. 17 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:11.400 So it's been a disappointing first two seasons of the 18 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.760 West Tigers on her old W side. We've picked up 19 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:18.680 the wooden spoon both years, but there's been a lot 20 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:21.599 of changes over the off season, a lot of players 21 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.920 moving on and a lot of players coming into the club. 22 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:26.480 Do you want to give us a little bit of 23 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:28.560 a highlight of some of the players that moved on 24 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:31.120 that you were disappointed to see leave the club. 25 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:36.519 Kelly, Yeah, I think probably the first one that I 26 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:38.799 was probably the most disappointed. 27 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:40.760 To see leave was Nevada Nevada George. 28 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:42.959 I thought towards the end of the back season, the 29 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:46.519 end of last season, she was really starting to you know, 30 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.120 hit those lines well. She was playing really well in 31 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.439 that thirteen role, and then yeah, unfortunately. 32 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.640 We lost her. Also, Pauline. 33 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:58.719 We can't really go by and not say that we're 34 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:02.760 disappointed about losing Bo because she was such an integral. 35 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:06.560 Part of our West Tigers NRLW side from day one 36 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:09.599 back in the Harvey Norman's Harvey Norman. 37 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.000 Day's the Curtain Twins who almost felt like they were 38 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:16.840 rusted on to the West Tigers logo. So I think 39 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:21.520 as West Tigers supporters, it was really difficult to see. 40 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:24.599 A lot of those players being moved on with I. 41 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:28.479 Guess the biggest disappointment was the lack of communication from 42 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:31.560 the club around a number of them moving on and 43 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.439 just seeing posts pop up from opposition teams who were 44 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:37.000 announcing that they'd been signed. 45 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:40.280 As you said though, too, Wooden Spoon. 46 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:43.280 So it's you know, it's hard to keep a team 47 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:47.159 together that has had, you know, such has struggled so 48 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:52.199 much over to consecutive seasons. So I guess we just 49 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.879 have to wait and see now what flow and effect 50 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:58.159 that massive sort of shuffle has made. 51 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:01.199 The longest part of the off season, Like, we had 52 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:03.840 a lot of players leaving but not much coming in. 53 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.479 And I remember having a conversation with you back a 54 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:08.879 couple of months ago, and we're thinking, like, how are 55 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:10.680 we going to field a side? But over the last 56 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:14.120 couple of months, there's been a lot of players brought 57 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:17.000 in the West Tigers club, some with a lot of experience, 58 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:21.000 some with international experience, some with state of origin experience, 59 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.360 and some inexperienced from young players coming in as well. 60 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:26.280 Do you want to tell us about a couple of 61 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.639 those players that have come into the club over the 62 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:31.479 last couple of months to add. 63 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:34.840 To our squad for season twenty twenty five, Kelly, Yes, So, 64 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:38.039 looking at the list today on the website, which still 65 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:42.560 actually includes Natasha, who was another one that's a massive loss, 66 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:44.919 but it doesn't include Jessica, who is a. 67 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.520 New addition to the forward pack. 68 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.759 We have eleven new players that are in our top 69 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.840 twenty four and four new development players, which you know, 70 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:57.680 eleven out of twenty four is a fifty turnover. 71 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:02.400 That is huge, very much so when you look at 72 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:02.960 the side. 73 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.840 However, when I was sort of looking at the players 74 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:09.520 earlier today, I was actually quite interested to note that 75 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:13.520 they majority of them are sort of in their mid 76 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.079 twenties and upwards. So there are, as you said, a 77 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:18.480 few young girls that are sort of being bought through 78 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:21.959 the pathways. But we're looking at players like Emily Bass, 79 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:23.879 who is a veteran outside back. 80 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.560 She played for Queensland in game three in Origin. 81 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:31.879 She's played NRLW for the Titans, so she's an extremely 82 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:38.560 experienced NLW player we have, so just looking at my 83 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:43.360 list of other people, Tarena to MARKI if I apologize 84 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.920 in advance if I pronounce any of these names wrong, 85 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:47.720 but she. 86 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:48.959 Is a twenty eight year old. 87 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:52.120 She's actually a rugby sevens player from New Zealand who 88 00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:55.000 actually won the silver medal at the Olympics a couple 89 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:58.959 of years ago with the New Zealand team. And when 90 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.879 you read through the team announcement of when she was signed, 91 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:06.439 Naddy had massive raps on her and the level of elite. 92 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:09.480 Professionalism that she's brought to the club, which is really exciting. 93 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:14.279 We've got Jade Fanua, who she's not super she's not 94 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:18.279 exactly old, but she's got fourteen games of NROLW experience 95 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:22.000 from the Eels, so she's also played for Tonga, so 96 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:26.240 she'll be she actually scored, I think it was her. Nope, 97 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.000 it wasn't her. Sorry, I'm just all over the shop 98 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:32.240 at the moment. I'll get there in a second. So she, 99 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.600 as I said, has played fourteen games for the Eels 100 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:38.839 and represented Tonga in the Pacific Championship. 101 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.720 I think she was an important addition with that loss 102 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:44.120 of Nevada George as well, playing in the prop and 103 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:46.279 lock positions. I think that's a crucial appointment. 104 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:48.439 Yeah, very much so. 105 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.000 And then Amelia who was actually signed at the end 106 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:55.079 of twenty twenty three to play last year, but she 107 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:57.600 missed out on the whole season due to the birth 108 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:59.120 of her first child in September. 109 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:01.720 She's been in the squad this year to play. 110 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:05.600 She also has ten games of NLW experience behind her 111 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:09.839 as well. So those slightly older girls are going to 112 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:13.680 come into the existing team of those girls that have 113 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:18.000 stayed and really helped to bolster the experience and the 114 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:20.959 understanding of what it means to be an NLW player. 115 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:25.000 Then the clubs sort of sprinkled in a few young, 116 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.439 sort of early twenties players. So Caitlin Turnbull, she has 117 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:33.079 played os tag for Australia. She also played in the 118 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:37.040 Ossie Sevens in union. Then she made the switch to 119 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:40.959 league and she was playing in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership. 120 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.920 For went in Magpies last year and scored. I think 121 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.120 she's scored thirteen tries in eleven games that she played 122 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:50.560 last year, so she sounds like she knows how to 123 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:52.720 find there the try line. 124 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:56.519 And faith Minira twenty one has a union background. That 125 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:57.279 was another thing. 126 00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:59.279 I was noticing quite a lot of girls who have 127 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:02.199 made the switch union to league, but we've seen that 128 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:05.480 in the past be really quite fruitful, so hopefully we're 129 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:08.560 seeing the same here. So Faiths played quite a lot 130 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:11.199 as she actually played in the Super Women's season with 131 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.720 the Queensland Reds and then joined moved down to Sydney 132 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:16.680 to join the girls for the pre season. 133 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.600 And place primarily as a half Kelly. 134 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:22.319 Yeah, she does, but I think in the trial she 135 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:26.480 played quite a bit on the wing, but she was 136 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:31.360 also she's also capable of playing in the harves. Then 137 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:34.319 we've got Lily Rogan who's a twenty one year old center. 138 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:39.160 She actually captained the premiership winning Steelers Harvy Women's premiership 139 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:42.519 side last year and she had her NLW debut for 140 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:45.519 the Roosters in twenty twenty three, so she sounds like. 141 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:47.720 She's a pretty awesome pickup as well. 142 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.800 Then there's five or six other girls that we haven't 143 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:57.639 mentioned who have different ranges of experience, either in the 144 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:04.160 NRLW in Harvey Norman, Lisa Fiola or Tasha gail Or 145 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:07.240 have experienced from other sports that have made the transition 146 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:08.319 into rugby league. 147 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:12.879 And I think that turnover of the squad was needed, 148 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:16.040 especially I think Brett Comorley has to be under a 149 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:19.040 fair bit of pressure this season heading into into the 150 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:22.120 season to start to get results for the team, so 151 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.079 I can understand why he is he has brought in 152 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:26.079 so many new players. 153 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:31.839 Kelly, we also did have quite a injury disrupted season 154 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.440 last year. We lost Kezy for a big chunk, We 155 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:41.080 lost Harmony, we lost we lost Tile, we lost quite 156 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:45.480 a few, quite a few players of Lissana we didn't 157 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.559 have Lisana for a large chunk. 158 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.039 Of the year the year either. 159 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:53.720 So this season was quite disrupted. And interestingly, all of 160 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:56.039 those players who missed quite a lot of this season 161 00:08:56.120 --> 00:09:01.960 were retained for this year, so I guess not he 162 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.240 sees something in them that he wants to keep on 163 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:08.200 the squad and keep working towards. As we know, Kezi 164 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:12.039 Salah Christian of all extended with the club, which is 165 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:16.679 massive news. So hopefully we're starting to now see the 166 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:22.639 opportunity for the NRLW side to build when we're coming 167 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:25.600 into a competition that's got the likes of the Roosters 168 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:29.919 and the Broncos, who just seem to have endless amounts 169 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:34.240 of money and able to not only sign good players, 170 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.840 but then retain those good players year on year. So 171 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:39.840 it's making it that little bit trickier to keep and 172 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:43.159 attract those those high quality players. 173 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:46.960 And you mentioned the three real re signings over the 174 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.399 off season. For me, the biggest one out of those 175 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.399 is Kezi Apps, who was pretty much signed on for 176 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:55.759 the rest of her life. Yeah, shall be at the 177 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:58.639 club forever. We're lucky enough to have her at an 178 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:01.000 ambush event down at the BU earlier in the year, 179 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:05.759 and she is such an impressive individual, such an impressive 180 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.759 impressive leader, Kelly. 181 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:10.200 She's so inspirational. 182 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:14.279 And I just hope that you know, listening to her 183 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.279 behind the Raw podcast last year that she did as well. 184 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.360 I just hope that young girls that have any kind 185 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:23.879 of interest in potentially pursuing a career in rugby league 186 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.840 take the opportunity to listen to Kesey's story and hear that. 187 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:32.000 You know, she didn't get into the sport until she 188 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:34.080 was almost in well, I think she was in her 189 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:38.240 early twenties, which to have a lucrative career at such 190 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.480 a high level starting at such a late age because 191 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.480 she didn't have the opportunity. Young girls that are interested 192 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:47.600 in playing rugby league now have the opportunity to get 193 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:51.080 in and continue all the way through and build up 194 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:54.559 from that really base level into an NLW career. 195 00:10:55.559 --> 00:11:01.080 And you said Christian and Salad Tokatuki also so extended. 196 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:04.399 What do you think they continue to add to our squad. 197 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.840 The big thing with the two of them is they 198 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:15.480 just like last year, going to well almost every game 199 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:19.279 and getting to know the girls off the field as well. 200 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.399 And just seeing how they wore their heart on their 201 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:24.879 sleeves every single time they took that field. I remember 202 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:28.159 being like hard when the girls lost yet another game 203 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.679 and Christian was just devastated. 204 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.559 She was crying. 205 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:35.200 She was so upset because she just wanted the rest 206 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:38.360 of the team to experience that the joy of winning, 207 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.360 and they hadn't had that opportunity to do so. When 208 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:44.440 it came to the Dragon's game back at Leichhart, when 209 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:48.240 it was absolutely bucketing down and the girls did get 210 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.919 the win, it was so exciting to be able to 211 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.519 share that with the girls and see the way that 212 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:56.960 the older girls like Salah and Christian bought the rest 213 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:00.600 of the team together. And then again, obviously, you know, 214 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:02.559 getting that with over the Sharks in the last game 215 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.919 of the season, who then went on to play in 216 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:07.679 the Grand Final, was pretty awesome as well. 217 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:14.200 Now we've got to fairly well rounded squad. In my opinion, 218 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.799 who do you think are the key players in our 219 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.000 squad heading into the season twenty twenty five. 220 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:25.240 I think it's going to be interesting to see who 221 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:28.360 feels that fullback role now that Bo's gone. I think 222 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.559 from looking at the team liston and looking at the 223 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:34.039 new players that we're bought in there's a few different 224 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:39.159 players who could potentially feel that role. I think Jataya, 225 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.639 I think that's how you pronounce her name. She's come 226 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.840 to us from the Cowboys and the Titans, and she 227 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:51.600 played fullback in the trial, I believe, and you know 228 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.919 she she had quite a good game from my understanding, 229 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:59.360 and so that's a really big role that's, you know, 230 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:03.720 obviously extremely important in the game of rugby league. Montana Clifford, 231 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:07.120 I'm really excited to see Montana play again next year. 232 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:10.080 She was a late entry into the team as a 233 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:13.360 replacement for injury, and she just blew us away with 234 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:16.320 her running, with her tackling. She is just a great 235 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:19.279 all round player. So I'm actually really excited to see 236 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:24.399 see the way that she plays. And from all reports, 237 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:27.519 if her friends on socials are anything to go by, 238 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:32.080 Caitlin Turnbull sounds like she is an absolute gun who 239 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:35.120 just as I said earlier, those thirteen tries in eleven 240 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:39.200 games in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership. Hopefully she can 241 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.720 get just as many for us in the NLW this year. 242 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:48.879 YEA, for me, it's really easy to go past Kezzy, 243 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:52.600 Sarah and Christian. We know what we're going to get 244 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:55.639 from those guys, and they are all the three of 245 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:58.559 them world class players, and so I'm going to ignore 246 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:01.360 them for a little bit once again. Like most seasons, 247 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:05.559 I can't like to see Lassana Latu play. She is 248 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:09.639 probably my favorite and r LW player across the league. 249 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:13.639 She's just so exciting to watch, great footwork, can bust 250 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:18.080 through a tackle, and I'm hoping that she can cement 251 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:21.279 a position in the halves this year. I'm not sure 252 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:23.159 whether they're going to go with her in round one, 253 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.360 but I'd like to say her name in round one. 254 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:29.840 Well, she did play the trial and from all reports 255 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:31.600 she played the full first half and then they did 256 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:35.320 quite a bit of shuffling in the second. So I 257 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:38.240 think Noddy would be you know, if she's fit and firing. 258 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:40.159 I think Noddy would be a bit crazy not to 259 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:43.279 name her in the halves for that first game and 260 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:47.720 really get that Harves combination, because the question is who 261 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.720 does she partner with? 262 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.440 Who is going to wear the six? 263 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:54.000 You would assume maybe it'll be Evie who's got that 264 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:58.480 experience in that jersey, who played under nineteens origin, but 265 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.600 is she may be too young to be put into 266 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.600 that responsibility. 267 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:06.879 Full time to start the season, so I think I. 268 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:10.240 Think Noddy would be crazy to not put Lisagna in 269 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:13.159 the seven. But then the question is then who partners 270 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.000 her in the six? 271 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:18.440 Now, as you said, West Tiger's played a troll on 272 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:21.720 Sunday afternoon at Atlard Oval against the Saint George Dragons. 273 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:23.840 Neither you or I were able to get out to 274 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:26.200 the game. Sadly, my daughter dragged me away to some 275 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:29.279 basketball thing, so I'd planned to go but didn't get 276 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:31.320 out to the game. Can you give us a little 277 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:34.200 bit of a summary of what happened with that game? 278 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.879 We went down twelve to four to the Dragons. 279 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:41.679 Yeah, so yeah. 280 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.960 Without being there, it's often a little bit tricky, especially 281 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:47.919 with trial matches as well, to get a really full 282 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:52.080 understanding of how the game unfolded. But a few of 283 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:54.639 the others from the ambush were there and said that 284 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:58.120 the first half was a little bit clunky. The side 285 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:01.480 let in two tries, which is a little bit of 286 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:05.759 a concern, but also not a huge concern being such 287 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.840 a new team getting used to each other, building combinations 288 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:12.759 and those kinds of things. So the side was scoreless 289 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.879 in the first half. They were playing a team that 290 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:19.399 has some extremely good players, so the players that did 291 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:23.480 score for the Dragons included the likes of teag and 292 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:27.000 Berry and Racy McGregor, who we know are very very 293 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:32.919 well capped n RELW players. So the girls managed to 294 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:36.039 get over the line in the second half through I 295 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:40.000 wish I could remember who it was, but one of 296 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:45.960 the forwards that came off the bench in the seconds 297 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:48.759 that definitely sounds right well close. 298 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:52.879 I don't know the pronunciation, but I think that's what 299 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.240 it was. 300 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.120 We promised by the end of this season we'll have them, 301 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:00.159 will have them down pat But obviously having cares you 302 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.600 play a massive chunk of the game after missing so 303 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:05.640 much of the NLW season last year. Even though she 304 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:08.279 played Origin, it's not the same as running out with 305 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.160 your team. I guess Origin was a good warm up 306 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:16.000 for her for the preseason and the NLW season. 307 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:19.279 A few things to sort of take away that we 308 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.440 might need to work on. 309 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:24.680 Obviously that that cohesion in defense, so letting in three 310 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:29.200 tries is not awesome. But again with combinations the players 311 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:31.960 getting to know each other, hopefully that's something that Knotty 312 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:34.559 and the team can be working on. Over the next fortnight. 313 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:38.400 There seemed to be a little bit lacking in attack 314 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:41.799 in the second half. Potentially that's again because of those 315 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:45.240 different halves pairings listen and mostly played the first half, 316 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:49.680 so taking off those experienced players in the second half 317 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.559 always has a bit of that impact on a trial 318 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:57.839 and discipline, as we have heard tonight, So that. 319 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.880 Doesn't sound like a West Tigers team lacking. 320 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:05.279 DISI no, so we've heard tonight Earlier today, the judiciary 321 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:10.319 has found Selma guilty of a grade to careless tackle 322 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:13.279 and she's going to miss the first two rounds of 323 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:17.720 the ERLW season. So when it's only a nine round season, 324 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.160 that is a huge amount. 325 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:21.880 Yeah, it's a massive panety eleven? 326 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.720 Is it eleven? Yeah? Either way, it is huge. 327 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:29.720 And it's really disappointing for me because I thought she 328 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:33.519 was coming on really well last year and I would 329 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:36.960 have thought she was probably the leading candidate to get 330 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.680 some time at hooker this season, So it's really disappointing 331 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:41.920 to see her missing those first two games. 332 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.599 Yeah, I definitely agree that I would have had Selma 333 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:48.119 in my number nine to start round one. 334 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:51.920 But now you've sort of now got. 335 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:54.279 To go into those new players to start looking for 336 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.599 a replacement. 337 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:58.160 Especially as we've lost a little bit of depth in 338 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:02.400 that position with any Prior going across to the Bulldogs 339 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:05.680 and Emily Curtain heading over to the Warriors, So we 340 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.920 don't really have that backup that we would have had 341 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:11.480 had last season. Well, Salma was probably the backup last season, 342 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:13.519 but we don't really have that depth in the position 343 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:15.160 of experienced players. 344 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:18.279 Yeah, that's right. And just while we're on, a shout 345 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.160 out to Ebony for. 346 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:22.680 Scoring the Bulldog's first try in their trial, so that's 347 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:25.000 something that they can't take away from her that she 348 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.720 scored their first try. 349 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:32.440 Yeah, I'm very disappointed to see her move on. A 350 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:36.599 little pocket rocket who I really enjoyed watching play played 351 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:39.000 well above her weight because her weight wasn't very much 352 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.319 but plenty of heart. 353 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:45.519 Yeah, and so definitely would have been taller than this season. 354 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:53.319 So we'll have a little bit of a look at 355 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:56.359 the season I had and our expectations what we think 356 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:59.119 we're going to see throughout the twenty twenty five season. 357 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:01.799 As I said it start of the show, sadly, we 358 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:06.000 started our time in the rolw with two wooden spoons, 359 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:09.039 which is a bit disappointing considering we came off that 360 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:15.400 Harvey Norman premiership when and and I think it would 361 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:18.079 be really great for the club if we could have 362 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:20.559 a successful season in the own rolw. 363 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.519 Yeah, sure would it would. 364 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.799 I think seeing how much the men's team has improved 365 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:32.079 but still falling that little bit short, this club just 366 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:34.720 create is just needs that. 367 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.480 Little ray of hope to keep everybody going. 368 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:41.400 What are you expecting to see this season, Kelly do 369 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.640 Are you expecting to see improvement? Are you expecting to 370 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:48.200 see his struggle? What are your thoughts around what fans 371 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.279 can can expect to see moving forward? 372 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:55.359 Yeah, I guess that's a really hard question to answer. 373 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:00.440 With such a massive change to the structure of the team, 374 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.839 it is really hard to know what the one to 375 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:09.160 seventeen is going to look like for round one, and 376 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:12.559 you know, we don't have an easy opposition around one. 377 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:15.480 Of course, we go straight in to play the team 378 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:19.119 that's probably the premiership favorites after their off season signings 379 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:22.960 in the Brisbane Broncos at in Brisbane as well, just 380 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:27.240 to you know, make it that little bit easier. All 381 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.519 I'm hoping is sort of the same as what we've 382 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.920 said about the men's team is just that that improvement, 383 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:36.480 that never say die attitude, that they're in every game, 384 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.240 that you know, they don't drop their heads if things 385 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:42.559 don't go their way, that they you know, don't let 386 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:46.279 those you know, errors and silly penalties lead to the 387 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:50.279 opposition scoring, because we've seen that in both the men's 388 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:53.000 and the women's game over the last couple of years 389 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:56.000 that we've had some games that are so extremely close 390 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:59.880 that those little decisions and those little brain fades potentially 391 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.359 is why the game was lost in the end. 392 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:06.319 And being such a short season, injuries and depth play 393 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:09.880 such an important part because if you lose a key 394 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:14.440 player for three weeks, that there's a thirtyear season gone already. 395 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.720 So it's really important that we have a little bit 396 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:20.000 of luck. I'm hoping with a little bit of luck, 397 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:23.559 we can start to push out of the bottom of 398 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:27.880 their NMLW and hopefully up towards a semi final birth. 399 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:32.440 That would be amazing, And with another two teams in, 400 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:36.000 it means you get a couple of extra rounds to play, 401 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:38.039