WEBVTT 1 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:15.800 West Tiger's Collab Podcast, Episode number four. We've got Rob, 2 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:19.839 Steve Stratton and Gary Watson in the house tonight. Coach 3 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:21.640 of Del Haj, We've given him the night off, but 4 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.719 he'll be back next week in studio after the Tigers 5 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:27.920 take on Manly next Sunday at Alion Stadium. Tonight, the 6 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.359 boys will be diving into all things Adam Dewey. We're 7 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:32.880 going to do a deep dive on the West Tigers roster, 8 00:00:33.079 --> 00:00:36.479 including our spine, our outside backs, our forward pack and 9 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:39.399 our depth comparing it to other NRL clubs. And we've 10 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:43.119 got some spicy buy selling holes. But Rob Bashara, did 11 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:45.079 you enjoy it the bye week as a West Tigers fan? 12 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:46.119 I loved it. 13 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:48.320 I know it's boring not having a Tigers fan, but 14 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:50.520 it's very stress free. So yeah, I'm not going to 15 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:52.439 deny I did enjoy it and I kind of needed 16 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:54.920 the break after all the podcasts we did last week. 17 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.000 Agree Steve, No, I didn't watch a lot of footage 18 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.439 this weekend, mate, and I had to say after the 19 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.479 win last week, I missed not watching the Tigers this 20 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:05.840 week and I'm chanting to get to to get to 21 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:06.840 Aliards next weekend. 22 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:09.560 Garyt could be the middle of December. It didn't be 23 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:11.120 one of the West Tigers to play. When you mate, 24 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:13.000 I won football seven days a week. I want the 25 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.799 West Tigers playing seven days a week and anytime they're 26 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:19.079 not playing, I yeah, it was a boring weekend for me. 27 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:22.400 Performances off a win and off a bye over the 28 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:24.519 past couple of years haven't been great, Rob. What's your 29 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:27.200 confidence level heading into next Sunday against Manley? On a 30 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:30.599 scale of one to ten, ten being the nives, I'd. 31 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:33.120 Probably say a four, and that's not due to us. 32 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:35.920 Was actually quite impressed with Manley the other night. Airline 33 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.599 speed was really good. They've got a really potent back line. 34 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.519 Cohla is in rare form. Even one of their guys 35 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:42.640 off the bench, Bullymore, he. 36 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.920 Was on fire. He ran one hundred and seventy eight meters. 37 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:47.319 So they're still having a crack and they took it 38 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.280 to Canberra for quite a period of that game and 39 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.239 they're winning what twelve ten I think at one stage. 40 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:54.400 So just because Manly are playing well, if our forwards 41 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:55.359 can match them, we can win. 42 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:57.000 It's just a matter of whether our forwards are. 43 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:57.319 Up to it. 44 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:00.280 I bet it's comfortably at Brookvale a couple of months ago, Dave. 45 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.359 But different picture. Now Buller's back, Drave's back, it's almost 46 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.280 full strength Tigers. 47 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:07.120 Yeah, I think what Rob saying's right. If they're a 48 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.159 fast back line, if they beat us in the middle, 49 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:11.520 they can get around us. I'd say. But you know, 50 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.840 for me, I'd give them about three chance of next week, 51 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:17.960 and that's because I just don't know what Tigers are 52 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:19.680 going to turn up. You know, if they turn up 53 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:23.159 what they did against Canterbury, where every chance, if we 54 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.240 turn up a little passive and our fulls don't get rolling, 55 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:27.240 then we'll get smashed. 56 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:29.639 That's the next step of the progression in Gary backing 57 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:31.439 up a good performance with another good performance. 58 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:33.319 Yeah, Eddie, you and I have spoken about a number 59 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.159 of times on a number of different pods this year 60 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:39.159 about our inability to back up a win, and each 61 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:40.960 of our wins we've had this season, we've followed it 62 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:42.919 up with a really poor performance. So even the game 63 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:45.319 that we won against Saint George you wouldn't call a 64 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.280 good performance. So I think it's really crucial for this 65 00:02:48.360 --> 00:02:52.000 team to actually that little bit of a relax. They 66 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.280 take that little bit of a breath they take after 67 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.080 a victory. We've got to eliminate that from our club. 68 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:00.280 You still think we can make the eight, it's a 69 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:00.879 slim chance. 70 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:02.680 I mean, prior to the weekend I saw the odds 71 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:04.599 of three hundred and forty or three hundred and fifty 72 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:06.520 to one into one hundreds. They should be about one 73 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.199 hundreds now. So we do need certain results to go 74 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:11.599 our way. Next week Brisbane are decimated, but the Dolphins 75 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:14.319 played awfully. They play each other this week Canterbury play 76 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:16.520 the Roosters. Roosters are in cracking form, but Canterby' is 77 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.000 a different beast. The most important part of that equation 78 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:20.960 is us speeding manly. If we can do that, we 79 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:22.960 still keep ourselves in the hunt, and then we're still 80 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:25.639 within range even you know, when we go the week after. 81 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:26.800 To play the Cowboys at Leichhart. 82 00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:29.280 So I'm not giving up. Because our season has been 83 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:31.919 over in May for three years in a row. I'm 84 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:33.879 hanging on to that little branch. 85 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:35.319 Off the water. Four. 86 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:36.360 It's a little branch. 87 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:39.080 Well it is, mate, it is, but it's three times better. 88 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:39.919 It's a twig. 89 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:41.919 But we've gone from point three of a percent to 90 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:44.319 about one point two percent, So I will take that 91 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.240 right now, and it's better than zero percent in May. 92 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:48.479 Yeah, but how good is it this year? At least 93 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:50.400 we've got a team that's having a dig right this 94 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:53.520 time of year. Last three years, like the performance has 95 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.960 been horrendous. So these team are going out there every 96 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.280 week and given one hundred percent and we haven't seen 97 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.000 that in previous seasons. And you know, we are still 98 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:03.400 a chance. I'm not confident because I just don't think 99 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:05.840 we've shown for a very long time that we can 100 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:09.800 put back to back to back consistent performances. So I'm 101 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:11.520 really not very confident. I think it'll all come to 102 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.439 a shuttering holt when we play camera. But we're still 103 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:15.120 there at the moment. 104 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:17.600 Eddie's had us in the spoon race all year and 105 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.319 I kept on saying to him, I'll worry you're about 106 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:21.800 that with three weeks ago in the season if we're 107 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.480 if we're still in that position, I'm not really going 108 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.519 to change that. When looking at this as well, like 109 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.399 we've got to win four in a row from here. 110 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:31.600 We won our last game, so that's really five in 111 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:33.800 a row. We haven't won three in a row in 112 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:36.759 a long time, so I'm not going to put any 113 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:40.279 weight into us being a semi final chance at this point. 114 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:42.439 If we get a week out, two weeks out and 115 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.959 there's still a possibility, then I'll have a look at 116 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:46.480 the list that everyone's kind of made. 117 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:49.120 Up and they're checking off with what has to happen 118 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:50.079 for us to make the finals. 119 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.680 I'll worry about that if it gets a little bit 120 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.199 more of a chance than what it. 121 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.639 Is like going to the roulette table and getting sixteen 122 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.040 red or blacks right in a row. 123 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:00.800 Rob Mate, it's maths, I mean, still a chance. 124 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:02.879 Like Gary saying he'll look at it in three weeks left, 125 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:04.319 why not look at it now with four or five 126 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:04.800 weeks left. 127 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.240 What's the difference, Like, it's still a check. 128 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:08.079 Let's just go week by week if there is Like 129 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:09.959 put it this way, if the Dolphins beat the russ 130 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:12.560 last night, it was over as far as I was concerned. 131 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:14.639 So as long as we get through week one week 132 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:16.800 at a time. I'm looking at three results this week 133 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.279 and we'll reassess the week after. 134 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:20.959 It'll be interesting if we knock off Manly and the 135 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:23.639 Cowboys Seve, which I think are two winnable games, and 136 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.959 then at the moment, Brisbane on eleven wins with massed injuries. 137 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.040 Roosters and Dolphins are both on ten wins, and I 138 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:30.600 think Manly are on nine wins. So if we get 139 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.639 to ten and twelve, it makes that camera game really meaningful, 140 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:35.240 which will help our chances in that game. 141 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:37.240 I assume, yeah, if we turn up and play good 142 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:39.879 footy week and beat Manly, we can beat the Titans 143 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:43.439 and we can beat the Cowboys. Absolutely. The one that's 144 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:45.279 going to count as the one against Canberra. Whether we've 145 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:48.639 got the firepower to beat Canberra if they come prepared. 146 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:50.600 But the thing is right playing came back and you know, 147 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:53.519 if they get first or second wrapped up, they might 148 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:56.839 lose a little bit of intensity. Yeah, might catch them 149 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.600 on off game. The question Eddie is have you given 150 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:02.160 up on the fact we're going to get the spoon? 151 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:04.000 Are you willing to admit that that's gone? 152 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:07.040 And right you obviously weren't listening to me on our podcast. 153 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:08.759 I think I announced officially that we're not going to 154 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:12.920 get the spoon, So my goals have shifted. Probably I'm 155 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:14.360 not going to go as far as rob but I 156 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:17.160 think avoiding the bottom four would be a successful season 157 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:18.839 and two wins from four on the way home. 158 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.439 I'd more than be happy with that. 159 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:22.759 But he's the big news of the week, Adam, do 160 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:26.439 we re signs for two years? Ruman to be around 161 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.959 four hundred k per year? Before I get because. 162 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:31.439 We're gonna have a fair bit of debate and discussion 163 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:31.680 on this. 164 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.680 Boys before I get that, I want to know one 165 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:38.160 word to either describe do he's re signing or do himself? 166 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:42.879 Rob My, one word is irresistible. His form has been irresistible. 167 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:44.959 He gave the club no choice but to offer him 168 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:47.199 an extra year and to sign him. None of us 169 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:48.920 thought he was going to be with the club any 170 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:51.120 longer unless he was in a back up position. Now, 171 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:53.120 depending on what Benji wants for the rest of the year, 172 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:55.560 he's a serious chance of being a starting half, not 173 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:57.240 just for this year but the start of next year. 174 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:01.120 Am I one word for him is tiger. He's a tiger. 175 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.800 He loves the club, he loves the jersey. He's come 176 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.040 out publicly this week and so he loves Benji and 177 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:09.079 what Benji in the club have done for him. He's 178 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:11.720 supported the club. He wants to be here, you know, 179 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:15.120 and for so long we've wanted players that actually want 180 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:17.759 to bleed for the Jersey. We've got one. So for 181 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.240 that reason alone, I'm glad. Whe I agree with Rob 182 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:22.720 his form has been outstanding this year. I want to 183 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:26.000 see it be consistently really good for a long period 184 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:28.399 of time. But the fact that he wants to be 185 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:31.839 at the club and he's probably i imagine, has taken a 186 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:34.279 bit less money to stay here says something to me. 187 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:37.480 Gary is the biggest AD hater on this table. You 188 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.160 bought him with you today, I. 189 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:39.839 Did bringing with me. 190 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:41.319 There's no AD hate here ever. 191 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.079 Yeah, Look, my word is consistency. I agree his form 192 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.959 over the past month has been really good and I 193 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.879 would say probably our best player over the last month, 194 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:58.000 so that can't be tonight. I'm really happy about the signing. 195 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:00.759 I think the club got it right. But what's really 196 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.319 important over the next twelve months is to get that 197 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:06.839 consistent football from Adam Dey. We've seen great games from 198 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.519 him in the past. We need to see that week 199 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:09.120 in week out. 200 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:09.319 Now. 201 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.839 My word was footballer and you might think, well, Eddie, 202 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.600 you're going down and I live there saying that, But 203 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:15.800 I compare him to a good cricketer and I spoke 204 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.120 to Steve on Wednesday about it. Good cricketers that are 205 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.240 all around us. It can bat bowl field like Adam do. 206 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:23.279 He has proved this year. It can be an adequate center. 207 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.319 He's good at locke, he's good in the halves and 208 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:26.959 he could be definitely good in the fourteen. 209 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.800 So I think it's big news for the club. 210 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:31.720 But clear, like I watched him on social media and stuff, 211 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:34.159 Rob and all the reaction from Jerome and Tito and 212 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.879 Happy and the boys, it's clear he's respected and he. 213 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:39.159 Is a leader in that club. He's the leader. 214 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.080 And I said it the other night on the last podcast, 215 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.159 I did, we need more leaders in our club, not 216 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:45.120 just better football players, and he's one of them. And 217 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:48.080 he's made his voice heard so loud the other week, 218 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.080 you know, playing Canterbury. At halftime, he formed the huddle 219 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:53.840 and he was laying down the law and barking instructions. 220 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.840 Like I said earlier, he's imposed his will on the 221 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:57.639 team and that's what we need. We want someone that 222 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.159 wants it, and he wants it so badly. 223 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.799 I'll see He's gary a little bit about it, Steve, 224 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.240 but he is a pretty divisive player. It reminds me 225 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.879 a little bit of Robbie Farah, not so much for 226 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:08.399 his ability, but Robbie Farah was divisive in his last 227 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.720 couple He's among Tigers fans at least if you read 228 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:12.600 forums and that do he's been in the past couple 229 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:15.159 of years. But you think he's growing into a player 230 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.440 that's sort of, you know, ninety percent like by the fans. 231 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:19.559 Yeah. I think that's the same with anyone. Right, As 232 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:21.480 you get a little bit older and your mature, you 233 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:24.879 start to learn how to temper back your natural personality. 234 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:25.039 Right. 235 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:28.240 I've always said your greatest strength is your greatest weakness, 236 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.919 and his greatest strength is that he believes in himself 237 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:32.960 and he's got strong opinions and he's going to back 238 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:34.879 himself for that. But that can be your biggest weakness 239 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.000 because you can get out there and shoot your mouth 240 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.799 off a little bit, and that can turn people off. 241 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:40.320 So I think he has got a bit of a 242 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:43.080 history of doing that. But I think he's learning when 243 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.960 to talk, when to not talk, and what to say. 244 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:46.759 He's still going to be a little bit prickly, that's 245 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:51.399 his natural personality, but you know, he's developing into a mature, 246 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:53.519 grown up man now. You know, he's not a young kid, 247 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:56.279 so he's probably learning how to navigate all that. 248 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.399 You've been harsh on his weaknesses in the past, as 249 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:00.320 he rectified this. 250 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:01.840 Year, Yeah, some of them. 251 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:05.080 Definitely, the biggest problem I've probably had with him in 252 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:08.480 the past is lacking effort areas in defense, and I 253 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:10.240 don't think you can say that about him this season. 254 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.320 His effort areas and he showed that last weekend with 255 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:15.919 that chase down for the last try that he now 256 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:18.440 he's stopped from the Bulldogs. So I think he's worked 257 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:22.960 really hard on those deficiencies this year. So yeah, the 258 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:26.519 effort that I was worried about in previous season is 259 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:27.399 definitely much better. 260 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.600 Now, what's his best position, Rob right now? It's half? 261 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.159 I mean as a center. He does a great job defensively. 262 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:35.519 He hasn't got the five power or the thrust to 263 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.679 be an attacking threat to the opposition, but he does 264 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.120 a job defensively. I kind of disagree with what the 265 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.399 boys have said about consistency this He actually think he's 266 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:45.000 been in our top five players and been very consistent, 267 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:47.600 but certainly in previous years he hasn't been consistent. And 268 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:51.440 we're all worried about his acl ever recurring again. But yeah, 269 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.240 definitely half for me. He wants the ball, he wants 270 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:55.840 to drive the team, and he's happier when he's got 271 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:58.440 that ball and being the man he wants that stigma 272 00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.919 of being the go to guy. 273 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.679 Say it's his best position, Steve, but is that where 274 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:04.600 he should start in Round one twenty twenty six? 275 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:05.080 Half back? 276 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.440 I'm still a little bit undecided, to be honest, like 277 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:12.080 I'd still probably lean towards utility being his best He 278 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.799 can play it so and he can play it half, 279 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:16.919 you can play at Locke. I don't know whether he's 280 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:19.679 shown the consistency to be our starting half, but then again, 281 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:22.360 as has Fein who done that as well. Probably or 282 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.919 not right, so it may be a toss up. I 283 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:27.480 think he can make it a go at Lock, but 284 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:31.399 can he defend at Lock for eighty minutes every week 285 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:33.679 for a long season. I'm not sure about that. And 286 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:36.159 the other question is Fanny's played some of his best 287 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:38.960 football when he's started at thirteen, so is he worth 288 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.000 going there? But can he sustain that? I don't know. 289 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.279 I think there's a lot of questions to be answered 290 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:46.440 through the preseasons. I'm sort of not, not one hundred 291 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:47.600 percent sure where it's starting. 292 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:49.480 Last four weeks are big for him. 293 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:49.759 Gary. 294 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:53.840 Yeah, I don't think he has his name on a 295 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:57.320 position for next season at this point. And he's played 296 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:00.639 one week really at seven in that starting role this season, 297 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.000 and he performed really well last week. I thought he 298 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.440 had a really good game in seven. But we're seeing 299 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:08.080 him have really good games in the halves in the past. 300 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.159 A game against the Broncos three or four years ago, 301 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.679 he was the best on field by a long way. 302 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.919 He may plays around him better, but then you have 303 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:18.679 other games where he will run the ball too often himself, 304 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:21.799 he won't set up his outside men, and that's what's 305 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.080 really important for him now, and that's I think that 306 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:29.879 contract value is about right. If he was signed based 307 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.200 off the form he showed last weekend, if he was 308 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.759 showing that ninety percent of his games, he's an eight 309 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:39.080 hundred thousand plus player. But the reason he's at that 310 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:41.639 four hundred thousand mark is he doesn't show that every week, 311 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.080 and the history of his game is that he will 312 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:48.720 have those stand out, those blinder games, but you'll also have. 313 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.440 Some poor games. 314 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:51.679 Are you saying history day this season or is that 315 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.720 over four or five years. 316 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:56.080 That's over four or five years. And as I've said, 317 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:58.720 I think his performances have been much better this season, 318 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:01.799 but he still has to show in that halves role 319 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:04.720 that he's that guy week in week out to do that. 320 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.679 And I hope you. 321 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:08.159 Know what I reckon he's shown, and I think we 322 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:10.360 can agree on this, is that he's got to be 323 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:11.159 closer to the ruck. 324 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:11.399 Right. 325 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:14.759 His days of starting at center, unless we're desperately short 326 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:17.200 in the centers, for example, are gone, right, So he's 327 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.240 got to be half back or he's got to be 328 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:22.720 lock for next year. I think that's it, because when 329 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.480 I said to utility, I didn't mean put him at fourteen. 330 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.360 I mean he's got that value that he can play 331 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:29.200 multiple positions. Where's the best one. So I think we've 332 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:32.080 got Lui, We've got Fanum, we've got a lock in 333 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:35.000 at six, seven and thirteen. It's just what that combination 334 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:35.480 looks like. 335 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:37.399 Yeah, I was just going to say, don't forget he 336 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.919 played behind a beaten forward pack in my opinion last week, 337 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:42.080 Wait till we get a forward pack that's going forward. 338 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:44.320 And further to those last four or five years, who 339 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:46.000 did ad him have outside him the last four or 340 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.919 five years. This year he's got a gun back line 341 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:50.279 and we're getting some strike coming in and hopefully Macasine 342 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.879 he's there next year, Tailor's there. Now, you've got dream Buller, 343 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:55.039 You've got a class finisher into Ruver, So I think 344 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.200 he's got better weapons outside him now. But to be 345 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.639 able to do what he did last week on the 346 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:01.759 back of team that was getting beaten in the second half, 347 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.600 that's what stood out. If we get some more depth 348 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:07.120 in those forwards and get a better pack going forward, 349 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:09.799 he will be better for that. So I think we'll 350 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.840 be better next year with him. 351 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:13.200 He definitely can't be our utility. He can't be our 352 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.039 fourteen on the bench because I think and that's not 353 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:18.919 a knock on what Adam provides. He's I think he's 354 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.360 the perfect fourteen for some clubs because he can play 355 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.120 with those positions. He can play out in the backs. 356 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:26.120 He's played on the wing this season, so he's played 357 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.120 at full back in the past. He's played in the centers. 358 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.879 He's played at six, he's played at seven, and he's 359 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.200 now played at thirteen. A great guy to have in 360 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:35.000 your bench as a utility. Player, But I think we're 361 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.919 happy is at his career right now. We need someone 362 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:42.039 most weeks who can fill in and do twenty minutes 363 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.600 in that hooker role. I don't think Adam can do that. 364 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:48.759 So I think he needs to over the next four 365 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.240 weeks and over the offseason, he needs to own one 366 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:55.200 of those positions of the seven or the thirteen to 367 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:59.159 Otherwise he'll still play a lot of football, but otherwise 368 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:02.080 he's your first guy backing up and coming in when 369 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:04.200 you get an injury in one of those positions, which 370 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:06.879 means he'd play a lot of football regardless. But he 371 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.200 needs to own one of those positions over the next 372 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:10.879 over the next six months, he's got. 373 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.519 To get that worked out. 374 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:14.679 Are any of you guys concerned about his ball handling, 375 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:16.960 his ability to feed? You know, I agree with what 376 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:20.000 you're saying, Robert. We've got this fantastic back five all 377 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.799 of a sudden developing in our squad that are going 378 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.600 to need space and they're going to need good ball. 379 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.080 One thing that concerns me about him is his ability 380 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:29.600 to give that good ball, you know, even that passing 381 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.320 through to Bull you know the other day he almost 382 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:33.600 stuffed it up, right, Yeah, in fact, he did stuff 383 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.039 it up, went forward right, And I've seen a lot 384 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:39.000 of times him not throw a ball because he doesn't 385 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.240 seem to get himself in the right position, you know, 386 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:44.600 against the defender to actually draw him it and throw 387 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:44.960 that ball. 388 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.159 Does that worry you, doesn't worry me. I think he's 389 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:49.120 just got to decide what sort of half he wants 390 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:51.320 to be. He's always been a run first sort of guy, 391 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.240 and really whenever he passed the ball, it was always 392 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.200 that long cutout past that and offul over on the 393 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.440 right wing. So I think if he just gets finds 394 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:59.879 that balance, I think will be better for it. But look, 395 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.639 he did have one bad game at half when we 396 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:04.360 played paramattat the second time, but in my opinion, the 397 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:06.840 game he had against the Roosters, the cameo against Many, 398 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.960 and then the game against Cannabury, he's been good. So 399 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.480 he's had three and a half games really at half 400 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.039 and two and a half have been really good. I 401 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.320