Speaker 1: Now it's time for tensions that were running high at
Penrith Panthers podcast presented by The Western Weekender thanks to
Penrith Toyota. Here's Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor.
Speaker 2: Hello everyone, and welcome to Tensions Running High, a Penrith
Panthers podcast presented by the Western Weekender. This is episode
sixty four. I'm Troy Dodgs joined by Nathan Taylor. Hello,
Nathan Hollo Troy. We are the voice of Rugular League
in Penrith and we love talking all things Penrith Panthers.
For thirty five years, the Western Weekender has led the
way in Panthers coverage here in Penrith. We've covered six premierships,
the biggest breaking stories, and interviewed CEOs, coaches, chairmen, players.
The list goes on a big thanks to our sponsor,
Penrith City Automotive. Go and see Garth and the team.
Get yourself a new or used car today from the
people who do it best. On the agenda Today, we
pick our top eights for the year. Nathan Cleary cleared,
as Ivan turns Lawyer, We review the season launch from
Saturday Night, a little bit of Vegas Talk as the
season gets underway. But let's begin the show. And Nathan,
you are fresh from Panthers training. You've just been over there.
Speaker 3: Certainly, Troy was very hot out there. We very rarely
get to see training, but they allowed some of us
weekend the staff to head down there to do some
interviews with some players for this week's edition. Troy, and
We've got a sneak peek at training, and it was
like a very much so like an opposed session. So
a lot of the boys are working hard, but not
everyone was training, Troy.
Speaker 2: Oh, okay, who are we missing? Well?
Speaker 3: Missing? I noticed that Liam Henry was training away from
the team. He was doing a bit of boxing with
Glenn Lydiard. Liam Martin was also a spectator. He was
in full kit, but he wasn't He wasn't doing anything.
And we had Matt Eisenhuth who a little bit bit
of talk about him and what his role is with
the Panthers this year. He wasn't training either. He was
more mingling around with the coaches. So I'm not sure
what to make of that, Troy, but it was quite
interesting session to watch.
Speaker 2: But just for those who may have heard some other
rumors doing the rounds and I think other podcasts and
on the internet and whatever. In terms of Liam Henry
and Liam Martin, neither a bit of a serious injuries
or anything like that.
Speaker 3: Yeah, there were some rumors about doing serious knee injuries,
but I'm pretty sure that's been put to rest. They're nothing.
The club hasn't announced anything. There was no strapping on
either of their knees or anything like that. It just
looks like they might not play in round one. They
could be a few weeks away if possible.
Speaker 2: All right, Well, someone who will play around one, of course,
is Nathan Cleary. He has cleared at the l Judiciary
on Monday night. We had a bit of fun with
all of this, of course because ilib and Cleary we
didn't really know this was going to happen. But the
judiciary kicks off and Ilivan Cleary is there as Nathan's
legal representative. I guess, and I guess when you think
about it, it probably is the smart way to do it.
In terms of clubs have turned to doing the whole
you know, get the lawyers in, they never get them,
get them off. Penrith tri to come.
Speaker 3: Have to pay these lawyers too. I don't know what
they charged with ten grand or something to do something
like that.
Speaker 2: Yeah. My wife is always like, what do you mean
they've got lawyers NLU. Yeah, But anyway, so, yes, so,
And it was probably a better idea because Ivan was
over lover with the city to present things from a
football perspective, and he had his evidence, he had some
still photos and things like that, And in the end,
Nathan Cleary had that Grade two danger careless high tackle
charge downgraded to a Grade one, which means I think
an eighteen hundred dollars fine and he's able to play
in round. But it would have been pretty ridiculous for
him to miss two games for that tackle on that
very powerful West Tigers winger.
Speaker 3: Oh one hundred percent. And you know, not to say
that it would have derailed pair of season, but it
would have. It just wouldn't have been great for the
side to run out there for least of the first
or two or three weeks of the season without their
main guy, especially after what happened last year and how
important it is to get get off to a good
start and you don't want to be chasing the pack
like they did last year. Having Nathan gets in the
best chance of getting at least two or three wins
to start the year.
Speaker 2: And Macassini it didn't even have a h i A.
Speaker 3: No counts straight back.
Speaker 2: For a careless high tackle, so high contact with the
head and there's not even a h I A. So
I think that was a you know, that was brought
up I think in the in the in the case
from the Panthers side, very quick judiciary hearing. I think
once it was so quick it was pretty obvious that
that Nathan was going to get off. There was a
cast of thousands down there. Matt Cameron, Shane Elford, obviously,
Ivan the Panthers media manager, was there, like so they
took pretty seriously the p.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I believe they all they all pulled in the
same car and you may have saw some footage on
the news of Ivan and Nathan and another bloke that's
the Penrith media manager, Michael Block, and apparently they got
dropped off by by the other two while they went
and found a car spot and made their way inside.
Speaker 2: So you think they may have all driven in together,
That's what I'm saying. That was just a standard car.
Someone's in the middle there, yeah, who he thinks in
the middle of blockish.
Speaker 3: He's in the middle. Yeah, he's probably the smallest out
of the others in the middle.
Speaker 2: Matt Cameron would have shotgun or maybe drive. Ma Cameron
comes across to me as the drive.
Speaker 3: As the driver, I'll drive everywhere.
Speaker 2: Yeah, alright, well he's free to play. It is there
in round one and that's that's the good news. Now.
Saturday night, Nathan, you and I were at the Panthers
season launch. It was a season launch with a difference
this year. The sixtieth anniversary celebrations of course, combined into
this season launch. It was a great night. They even
got the air conditioning working at some stage during the night.
A bit of a warm start, but look for me,
any event that starts with margaritas as part of this
sweek of drinks is always going to be good. But
it was a great night to celebrate not only the
new season, but more importantly the sixtieth anniversary.
Speaker 3: Yeah, you're right, it was. I was saying to some
of the people at Panthers today. I was probably the
best season launch I've been to in a long time.
That they've held it at some different locations over the years,
like I don't know, maybe ten years ago, now they're
held at the fern Hill Estate. I remember that being
quite a memorable one, but since then it's just been
in Penrith or Evan Theater or in some random function
room somewhere at the club. I think we had that.
They've had various scales. Sometimes they sit down mills, Sometimes
they're cocktail parties where you're standing up getting some party
pies like But this was an all out, really amazing,
amazing function and I think obviously being the sixtieth anniversary
dinner that obviously had something to.
Speaker 2: Do with it.
Speaker 3: I reckon there wrot three four hundred people there on
Saturday night you mentioned.
Speaker 2: Igan Moore, probably six hundred because that's pretty much the room.
But it's full capacity, yeah, true, which we haven't really seen.
I'm sure it has happened for private the bens and whatnot,
but probably haven't seen since its opening for an.
Speaker 3: Event like that, Yeah, and just you know, you know,
just to peek behind the curtain. Usually it's an event
where it's just beer and wine that's handed out at
these things, but to rock up and having margaritas amidos
on hand, you know, for at least for the first
hour and a half before you went inside the room.
It was a nice touch.
Speaker 2: We saw the new hype video for the year released,
of course, with the best one yet I think pretty good. Yeah,
a few people have said to me, that's that's vision
of you back in the night watching TV.
Speaker 3: Yeah, we get pendeth press on the side.
Speaker 2: Yeah, a little bit, just a little bit of feed.
Maybe too much pen press now I noticed that of it.
Speaker 3: If they wanted some more copies of the Weekend and
we could have found some for them, for.
Speaker 2: Sure, we could have helped them out. In fact, we've
been on a bit of a project here gathering all
our front pages, yeah, last thirty five or so.
Speaker 3: Years, promoting a brand that's really not around much anymore.
But hey, I guess that's what people had back in
the day.
Speaker 2: I did look highlights of the night for me, definitely,
obviously seeing the Hall of Fame confirmed, obviously as those
four with then the legend status now that we now have.
So we saw those legends come up, or a few
of them come up, those those new legends, and also
some representatives of those no longer with us, of course,
Mary cart right there for Nerv cart right, Max Cowen
there for Roger Cowan, and also Jake Farriger there for
his dad John. That was probably one of my highlights
seeing those three up on stage.
Speaker 3: Yep, and Brandy obviously did those those Q and a's
with those guys, and he would know them very well,
of course.
Speaker 2: And I will say I think Max Cowen, I'll say,
on his best behavior. And what I say about that
is that the Cowen family and Panthers have not always
been on the same page since Roger's departure a CEO
what twenty years ago now, and Roger has since passed.
Because obviously Roger was, you know, forty years dedicated to
the club, a big power player at Panthers, responsible for
the move to Mogoa Road, you know, big, big, passionate
Panthers man. But the way he left and in the
years following, Panthers kind of ignored Roger Cowan. It was
their mission to ignore him. Almost The Cowen family weren't
thrilled with that. They feel that he should have been recognized.
I'm now, I'm sure now they are very happy with
that recognition, but Max doesn't mind talking about it. So
you know, I was waiting to see if he threw
in anything, but I think he was. He was well behaved.
Speaker 3: He was for his dad, yeah for sure, and as
as were the others. They were yeah, very very very
happy that their loved ones had been recognized. And of
course there was some some formal players there to Troy
that obviously got recognized on the night too, and they're
all in attendance, which was good to see. He had
Luke Lewis there, Trent Waterhouse, Luke Rooney, Luke Prittis and
Steve Carter, five deserving guys that you know, definitely deserve
their place in the in the Legends list.
Speaker 2: Luke Lewis revealing he's very much still a Panthers fan,
leaving the Panthers and then going on and winning another
camp with.
Speaker 3: The show, moving down to the Shire and doing all
of that. Yeah, that was good to know, still a
Panthers fan.
Speaker 2: And look, yeah, look we obviously saw the other night
close with a speech remving Cleary in which he spoke
also about becoming a Penrith person and the fact that
he wasn't from Penrith and that Penrith welcomed him in
and whatnot. And he seems pretty confident about the other
year ahead two, which is good.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I must have been I don't remember too much
Ivan speech Troy. There was probably nine drinks deep into
that part of the night, but at least I stuck
around for it.
Speaker 2: Try.
Speaker 3: And a point I want to make is I was
very disappointed that maybe a quarter, maybe a third of
the room actually left before the Ivan Cleary speech and
before dessert was even served. It was a Saturday night,
wasn't getting that late, but most of our table had
departed by that point.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it meant I got to have a cream rele Ai.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and it was just like, come on, guys, like,
this is a this is a Sunday night.
Speaker 2: Yeah, look, you know what the reason that I think
that is a good point, you know. And I normally
would say, well, people leave functions early and whatnot, but
there's been criticism probably over the years. Sometimes this season
launch almost feeling like, oh, it's just a bit we
have to yeah, being repetitive. So they finally do something different,
something pretty spectacular, and yeah great, you know, And look,
I spoke to someone on the night who said that
they did have deliberate long breaks in there, because there
was a lot of people in that room who hadn't
seen each other for some time, particularly players and whatnot,
and it was good to see, like you'd look over
and you'd see Carta chatting, the Cray gower or you know,
some of the players mixing. But yeah, too many people
took the opportunity to leave.
Speaker 3: Perhaps they didn't know because there wasn't really a run
sheet what was happening on the night, so was there
no Perhaps they didn't know that there was an Ivan
Cleary speech coming, like they stuck around for all the
legends Q and a's and stuff. But I mean someone
told me that I was speak. I didn't know, like, yeah, yeah,
maybe they weren't aware that there was there was more
to come. Potentially, I'm not sure, but there was a
Max Max exodus, and I just thought it was a
bit a little bit rude. I guess.
Speaker 2: Well, one thing that's that sometimes keeps sponsors hanging around
is of course the jersey. That's true draw.
Speaker 3: So what's happening with that?
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's happening on Monday night at its own function
function now there. Look, there's a few sponsors miffed apparently
because the players aren't actually going to be there for
the what do you mean? And look, I thinks is
trying to argue that you're actually if you're a sponsor,
getting an extra function, if you know what I mean,
because they're the season launching that. And they will also
always argue, and we know this because we have Panthers
posters in the player posters in extra time. We always
try and sell the ad underneath to the player partner. Now,
the reason this always creates confusion is because you actually
sponsor the number. You know, you sponsor number seven. So
you know, now if you sponsor number seven, you are
obviously going to say that you sponsor Nathan, clear for sure.
But if Nathan, for example, got suspended for the first
few rounds of the season, well you actually are sponsoring
Jack Cogger. You're not sponsoring the players. So the Panthers,
I think, are arguing, well, you know it's not the
players anyway, but you should have the players.
Speaker 3: There absolutely, I mean, yeah, that's and if they don't
want to do it in game week maybe, but like
let's hold the function, you know further back. I could
have hurt it last week or whatever. Like it's it's
I don't know, it doesn't smell smell right to me, Troy.
You know, those those higher sponsors, those sponsors are in
such demand, Like it's very hard to become a player
sponsor and they pay a lot of money for that,
and they love getting that photo with the player every
year and having their do and like, you know, whether
Panthers make it up to them at some point of
the year and they will organize them to come in
for a day and get a picture. Who knows, But
I don't know. It's just something that was a tradition.
It was a Panthers tradition that this year at least
is not happening.
Speaker 2: I will say this, and I'm not being critical of
whatever schedule is in place or you know about this
incident in incident, this situation. Yeah, but it does it
does make me kind of, you know, roll the eyes
a little bit when I hear, well, you know, the
players just aren't available for that. For example, in that
I know that there's RLPA staff, there's agreements, like there's
all these agreements with players from from how many things
they sign to how many events they go to and whatever.
It's a full time job in twenty twenty six, being
a being a football Yeah, it's you know, we all
know the past. You know, it wasn't a full time
job in thirty years ago. It's a full time job,
and just like we have a full time job, Nathan,
that sometimes requires us to go to a function afterwards
after work whatever. Come on, they're not being asked in
this every week and the players should just about to go.
And I actually reckon that probably half the players would
just say yes anyway if they are as Yeah, but
obviously there's all these things you've got to adhere to.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, for sure they like to make that. Yeah.
I've heard that the club in some accests like to
make deals with players because they might need them for
other functions or other important media commitments throughout the years,
so they don't want to burn them out too early.
And I guess they maybe thought we better not burn
them out in round one, and we might need them
for other things across the year.
Speaker 2: So I don't want to be in an old Fundydaddy
naysayer is back in my day and whatever else. But
come on, like you're getting paid a lot of money,
You're not working forty hours away, like you know you're training,
You've got days off during the week. Yes, you've got
games and whatever, but you've got time.
Speaker 3: And the majority of them live in Penrith and they
probably are. They're probably training that day anyway at the
academy is so then hanging around for a couple more
hours to pop over to the club or wherever the
function is going to be held.
Speaker 2: Well two things will not being critical of the players,
because I don't think that they.
Speaker 3: Had to say I won't even know they're not going
to the city.
Speaker 2: But it's just the situation I think I'm saying in
any club in any in when it comes to this
stuff in sport, it should just be given that you've
got to do this stuff and do a lot of it,
because that's part of the job, not just playing.
Speaker 3: And that's what makes an are relevant. I mean, look
at the A League like, yeah, who the wonder is
playing this week? You know, like we should we should know,
but you know a lot of people don't.
Speaker 2: So here's I've got an idea that they're not going
to change it. Why didn't they just invite them to
a training session and do the player partners or at
the training well, yeah, get on a barbecue and.
Speaker 3: I mean they could they could still do that at
some point. But but you're right because but not every
sponsor or people that attending this function next week is
a player partner, right, Obviously we're attended, but we're a
sponsor for for other.
Speaker 2: Things sponsors, yeah, meet or something like that. So anyway,
that's just my Again, it is only four days out
from a game. We get all of that on the
Monday night and it's an away game and whatever. But
just in general, when I hear about not just Panthers
but other clubs like oh, this player wasn't available to
do this, or you know, the players didn't turn up
to do this, guys, come on, you know, change the rules.
R LPA, Clint Newton, where are you you got to
They've got to be able to do this stuff.
Speaker 3: And we expect it to probably go back to normal
next year when there's no sixtieth anniversary celebrations dinners, we're
probably going to get the usual cocktail party like we
usually get next time round.
Speaker 2: So now, talking though, of players who don't have to
do things anymore, change to the will we think it
changed the post match press conferences. We're going back to
something I think we had maybe during COVID and whatever.
But it's just the coaches now who are going to
do the post match presser.
Speaker 3: Correct, It's it's not fully locked in, but that's it's
been proposed that. Apparently this was proposed last year as well,
and then right before the first game the NRROL said
we're gonna have captains again. So I'm not sure what
happened last year, but yeah, the proposal is that following
a game, we'll often watch the press conferences, whether we
go in person or we watch them online for away games,
and Ivan Cleary, Isaiah or Nathan Cleary will be sitting
in that room at the same time, and journalists can
ask questions to the coach player. Obviously, often the player
doesn't get asked many questions, but it was always nice
having him there in case there was an incident out
in the field or some sort of player did something
good out there with a try and you could ask
about it or something like that. So, look, the coaches
obviously more in demand the players, but I'm hearing the
clubs very much in favor of not having the captains.
Speaker 2: Surely no one's complaining about these. First of all, the
players give you nothing, and secondly, half the time it's
just like a a pity question they can asked. It's like,
you know, true, we've had press conferences, whereas you didn't
get ask a single question, because what are they really
unless there's been a dramatic incident. I think as long
as that can be and I know common sense is
not common in rugby league, but as long as that
can be common sense, Like you know there is a
player milestone game, there has been a particularly full on
moment during the game or something like that, that we
could have the common sense where the player comes, I
think would be smart.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but the other other sports you're talking about a
league AFL that I think they're just coaches only like
they've they've removed away from having a player there.
Speaker 2: But no one's complaining, are they have I seen anyone complaining.
Speaker 3: Oh look again, I'm not complaining. It's just I don't know,
It's just that was the one difference center I had,
was having a player there. But I heard that if
it does go through, it could make for press conferences
to start a little bit quicker too, because often the
players are signing autographs with thirty forty minutes, getting selfies
after the game with fans and whatnot. It delays these
press conferences from happening. So if the players aren't involved,
then the press conferences could start within five or ten
minutes of full time. Even would just go straight in,
do the presser, and then he'll wait for his players
to come in and do the team talk. So it
might speed things up on that matter.
Speaker 2: Or I'm going to completed the NRL as well. For
those of us who watched the live stream of the presses,
and I love a good presser, so I actually watch
a lot of them. Can you please go back to
the old video system because from last year you couldn't
come in halfway through and go back. Oh, I had
to stay with the live stream and you couldn't the
live feed and back to the start of the press
or whatever. So please fix that. Peter over there at
the NRL next time.
Speaker 3: He is busy in Vegas and the hot Dogs.
Speaker 2: Yeah, well Garlos pies with a tariff. Now, just a
quick mention of the pre season Challenge, because the hilarity
of all of this is the pairs didn't get a
single point on the ladder. That happen now, that's happened before,
believe it or not. The Titans and mainly both got
zero points in the twenty twenty four pre season Challenge.
But yes, for the pen of Panthers zero points and
our rivals from down the road. The e actually won
the whole thing.
Speaker 3: They won, and I think they have thirty points. They
did really well.
Speaker 2: But there's a parade in Church Street tomorrow.
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, yes, we'll be attending as para news. But yeah,
like what do they win for that?
Speaker 2: It's a few hundred grand, isn't it under grand or
something like that?
Speaker 3: That's insane. They won two preseason games and have picked
up one hundred grand.
Speaker 2: Like, yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 3: When you're winning the minor premiership. I don't think you
win that much more, is that right?
Speaker 2: No? No, well they did increase it, but yeah, not
that much more. Look the think about it. Look, I
don't like the preseason challenge, but then what do you
replace it with, Like you can't just go back to
having trials that mean nothing anyway, so I guess they're
trying to make it. Well.
Speaker 3: The AFL used to have a preseason challenge. They just
have Now they just have match simulation games with loves
and they barely even televis.
Speaker 2: Which is interesting because the AFL's preseason.
Speaker 3: Was actually they had a big lug toy.
Speaker 2: It was actually exciting and yeah, people were interested in it.
The only I think I'll say is that I think
I've mentioned this a few times. The original plan of
the preseason Challenge was this whole like fourteen days of
footy concept when you're gonna be able to turn it
on a Tuesday night in the old days, I'm co
Cup and whatever. We kind of just followed the usual
routine of schedule in terms of and it just.
Speaker 3: And I don't think it's very fair either, like no
to a lot of like the teams, like, it's not
fair at all, Like Penrith played the Cowboys in the
Cowboys second week of the competition when Penrith were running
out all their juniors and then so they got trounced
as we know by sixty and then the week after
like obviously a bit more, a lot more even with
the Tigers. But yeah, it's Pith had no chance at
all to even win that. Yes, they should have picked
up a point here or there, but.
Speaker 2: Look, maybe we should go back. I saw Michael Maguire
during the week, I think said, look, the World Club
Challenge needs to be a permanent fixture in the preseason.
We need to stop having this debate every year. And
if it's going to happen and not happen. It needs
to be a permanent fixture. We do need to maybe
fix up the preseason somehow, and maybe it is we
go back to just clubs organized in there, because the
clubs you just organize their own trials.
Speaker 3: Yeah, you see Paramatta Battle of the West every year.
Speaker 2: And you know the Panthers had get on the phone
and you know, organize that with the Heels. And that
would mean though that if you don't want to play
two trials, then you don't have to, or if you
want to play a trial against you know, a New
Town or something like that instead in that first like
you could like this is kind of forcing.
Speaker 3: It's commercialized now. The manner are making money off of
who's watching Fox or we watched it? Who watched the game?
Speaker 2: Weast watch and I did watch. I probably watched all
up probably one other game in twenty minutes here.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Fox obviously try and push it like there at
the ground. They're on the ground for some of the
NFL games, the Preside Challenge. But but yeah, all right,
well that's the precesson challenge is done, thank god, and
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Great Western Highway in Kingswood. All right, now is this
time of year, Nathan, when we start to talk about
our top eights and predictions. Now I've got my column
coming out this week in the paper where I make
some wacky predictions. Now this has become a bit of
a tradition because one year I got them all right,
he did. They were wacky predictions. So it was after
the twenty twenty two Grand Final, so I think I
said the Eels won't make the finals in twenty twenty three,
and I got that right. I had some other stuff
in there and like bizarrely got right. Pretty dud results
last year two years now, but it's back. So I'm
going to hold those. But I am going to go
through our top eights.
Speaker 3: Okay, let's hear it.
Speaker 2: Now. Let's just start Nathan with both of our top
fours and who we got as minor premiers. So who
have you got as minor premiers?
Speaker 3: Well, look, people are going to say I'm very biased,
but I don't know. Something tells me that the Panthers
are going to do well this year, and I've given
them the JJ Gildlan Shield. Really come September, Yeah, I
think they're going to have a I think they're going
to have a good year of the Panthers, So I'm
putting them first.
Speaker 2: Okay, look that's look, I've got them in my top four,
so I will tell you that much. But I've actually
got a team that I don't know, people might tell
me I'm ludicrous here. I think the Sydney Roosters will
win the minor premiership. They will finish first.
Speaker 3: I'm not what's convinced you of that? Like, is it
just the hypes surrounding them or they've got a thirty
seven year olders out?
Speaker 2: Yes, but this is the point I feel like the
Roosters of Remember there was that year a few years
ago and I think Trent Robinson said before the season,
we won't make the eighth this year. We're not going
to make the eight. I think it was twenty eleven
or something. It was somewhere in there, I don't know
it was, but and he said we're all about sort
of next year and sorting that out. And then they
came back, they made the Grand Final, what won the
cop something happened, but it was around that kind of concept.
I feel a little bit similar about the Roosters this
year and that last year they kind of were thereabouts.
But this year I almost feel like they're trying to
not buy the premiership, but they've almost gone, let's let's
have a massive crack at twenty twenty six and therefore
let's bring in daily cherry Evans when you could have
relied on the talent that was there. Let's bring in
daily Cherry Evans for a big last hurrah, remotivated. You've
got Rhys Robson coming to the club as well. You've
signed Cody Ramsey and Tommy talou To. You've got rid
of some players who, like you know, sand and Smith,
you know, not going to night a love hit title
or whatever. Zach doc Oclay thinking Brandon Smith obviously off
the South Sydney it's a bigger loss. It was problematic
for the Roosters and he left before the end of
the year. Anyway, I just look at that Rooster's side
and I just think, you know what, there's there's premiership
in it for for multiple reasons. Because then I look
at what happens to them in twenty twenty seven. Well,
at the end of this year, they've lost Angus Crichton,
he's gone, Cherry Evans has only signed a one year deal,
Daniel Tupuh's off contract at the end of this year,
Marky Mark he goes to Rugby at the end of
this year. So I just feel like they've put themselves
for a big shot at this So the Roosters are
my minor premiers.
Speaker 3: I just think it's an aging roster, Troy, Like, it's
an old squad there, aging roster ready for one last
aging roster read to break down and get injured and
be out for six weeks, like and what's their depth like, Like,
we don't know what their depth is like because we
don't have all the rosters with us at the moment.
But that's what I worry about. One of those guys
get injured. On Sam Walker's always got an injury at
some point throughout the year. Tedesco had a great year
last year, Ken he replicated again Cherry Evans, like I said,
he's going to be motivated at this club. But he
didn't have a great season as well last year apart
from Origin and he missed out in Origin. What happened
with him? Did he get dropped in Origin Daily? Cherry
Evans after yeah, after their like, I mean, so, I
mean he's not in his prime by any means.
Speaker 2: No, I no, no, I agree with that. But I
just think there's a last for our coming.
Speaker 3: And so I'm thinking they're going to do it well.
Speaker 2: But first, okay, on first, Now, the rest of the
top four, I've got the Broncos coming second. Now, I
will say I don't know. I don't think the Broncos
can win the COP. I don't think that can go
back to back. But I do have them having a
pretty good regular season. Once you're in that sort of
premiership defense mode, you tend to win a lot of
your games. So I go Brisbane there. Now I've got
the Panthers finishing third. I do think they'll have a
good year. I think that there's a bit of motivation
now around the year with Scott Sorenson and Liam Henry
both moving on. We had that last we didn't have
that kind of fueling a farewell like we'd had almost
all along, you know, with players that were going to depart,
and I just think the most settled preseason for a
long time. So I've got them third, and I've got
the Sharks fourth. The perennial good club season team that
just won't do anything once you get to the end
of the year. But when you've got the likes of
Nika Heines got in your around like you should be
a top four team.
Speaker 3: Apparently have quite a soft drawer too. The sharkis this year.
They always get They always get soft draws.
Speaker 2: The Sharks, so I've got them in the four, but
I don't think they'll do much once they get there.
The Roosters smash them in week one. Today's my top
four Roosters Broncos, Panthers, Sharks.
Speaker 3: Okay, well, as everyone knows, my top four is the
Panthers as minor premiers. This one I was a bit
unsure about. But I feel like we try and write
them off every year and it doesn't work. So I
picked the Storm to come second. Look, I know they've
lost some players Nelson Papenhausen, but they've also got a
few people leaving at the end of the year that
they might want to see off. Tiro and we shot
Nick Meanie, Karen Munster, we know is going to be there,
Jerome Hughes like, they've still got a really strong squad
with Craig Bellamire's coach, he's now resigned for a few
more years, and just everyone it's just so hard to
win in Melbourne, so they've got that advantage. They're almost
a lock to win games at Amy Park and jack
ether Trent to Oh exactly right, so they'll probably superstars
those two now that they're at Melbourne. So look, while
I don't. I'm not sure about them, but I just
have to have them up there as my top two team.
I've got the Broncos in third. I'm with you, Troy.
I think they'll have a good year, but I don't
think they can win it again. There's always a bit
of turmoil over there over for some reason. Obviously, Payton
Harse is leaving at the end of the year. Who
knows if everyone likes Madge or not. We're still not
entirely sure how that relation's going to work. Ben Hunt,
Adam Reynolds, they're basically on their last legs as well.
We know Reynolds is leaving at the end of the
year too, So yeah, just again some of those aging players,
they're worrying me. And then at number four, I was
really impressive with what the Bulldogs did last year, so
I think they're going to make the top four this
year as well. I know they made it last year too,
but I think they're gonna they're going to be fourth.
They're they're a good side. They're they're building every year,
They're getting more confident, they're getting stronger, they're getting more experienced,
and I think they'll make the four this year.
Speaker 2: All right, well, let's have a look at the bottom four. Now,
I've got the Warriors in fifth spot. That's probably the one.
If I've got anyone in my top eight that I'm like, well,
they could also finish last. It's probably the Warriors. But
I just feel like, look, they were really unlucky last year.
Obviously with injury eat season. He was having a great season,
and I don't know if he's good to go for
the start of the year because that was a serious injury,
only sort of in the back end of the year,
so he might not be good to go. But I
just think that they've added some depth, they've lost some depths.
I feel over all the Warriors miss barnetc.
Speaker 3: And ounced today that he's leaving at the end of
the year, so can pick him up.
Speaker 2: I just think, look, as long as they can get
that home record right sometimes they've lost some silly home
games over there, then they should be going well. Or Warriors.
I've got them fifth, I've got the Storm sixth. I
don't know what to think about the Storm. Just a
very disrupted sort of preseason they've had. Obviously the Pappenhausen leaving,
then you had the Zach Lomax drama.
Speaker 3: But Xavier Coats.
Speaker 2: Yes, finally some stability regarding the coaching because Bellamy signed
his first long term deal in a while. But yeah,
I've got them six. They're just always thereabouts. But I'm
I'm not sure they're better than six. I've got the
dogs in seventh.
Speaker 3: You're seeing them dropping out of the fourth.
Speaker 2: I think that I think this, look, you know what,
I just think about field Gold and let's hear it,
and I remember feel good at Penrith and I feel
like history is just repeating itself where they almost get
there and then they kind of are just thereabout the
finals team and Phil Phil Gord will rebuild you a
team and he will get you to the finals. But
I'm just worried about when Phil's involvement gets a bit
too much. And I just feel like also Vegas, the
Vegas hangover, A lot of clubs have had it included
last year. So I've got them seventh and in a
triumphant return to finals football. I've got the preseason Challenge winners,
the Paramattices coming eighth. I just think that Jason Ryles
was all about the twenty twenty sixth season. We saw
that with the way that he just left Dylan Brown
out of that team, one of his best players, because
he wasn't part of the future plans he was gunning
for twenty twenty six. And I just think, you know,
they show too much improvement last year for me not
to make the finals.
Speaker 3: Yep, Okay, Well I run through my five to eight now.
So I've got the Roosters. I think they'll have a
good year. But like I mentioned earlier, I just think
they've got a bit of an aging roster there, and
I just don't believe the hype. I think the media
loves the Roosters. There's a lot of that Sydney media
hang around that part of town a lot, and they
got a lot of influence, you know, with certain members
of the media, which which talked them up and make
fans think that they're going to have a good year.
So let's see if that's the case. I've got the
Raiders at six. I noticed, Troy, you didn't mention them
in your top eight. The minor premiers from last year.
Speaker 2: I think the minor premiers falling out.
Speaker 3: Wow, Well I've got them. I've got a bit obviously.
I'm a Raider lover, so I've still got them in there.
I've got them at six, though I don't think they're
going to have as good of a year as they
did in twenty twenty five. But I mean they've still
got virtually the same squad together apart from Foggerty going
isn't great. I'm not sure how they're going to replace him,
but you know, who knows. We didn't think they would
go so well last year and they surprised everyone. At seven,
I've got the eels. I think they're going to finally
make it back as well. They impressed me last year
with a lot of tough, tough things that happened to
them throughout the year with Mitch Moses not being there.
As long as Mitch Moses in that team, I think
they've got a really good shot. It does concern me
that obviously Zach Lomax left in the off season, Ado
Carr has broken his thumb, so he might not be
available for a few weeks. And then this youngie stuff
that emerged this morning. Who knows whether that's gonna you know,
see him copper fine or a suspension over the first
few weeks. So that that's concerning. But as long as
Mitch Moses in the team. I think they should finish
in the eighth and I've got the Sharks at number eight.
I just I don't know. Yes, yeah, they're always there,
they're thereabouts, They're always having a consistent year. But their
draw does help them a lot in terms of racking
up a lot of victories. I heard that Pender's got
one of the toughest draws because obviously they are a
big TV teams, so they're playing against Brisbane twice, Melbourne twice,
the Bulldogs twice, whereas the Sharks they're not probably not
as watchable as you know, a Penreth or a Brisbane
or a Melbourne, so they get a bit more of
an easy draw.
Speaker 2: I don't entertain tough and easy drawers really, nah.
Speaker 3: I think it plays a huge role because so much
there's too that's a lot of fair draw though.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but there's too many variables through the year where
you'll you'll pick up a Melbourne without care Munster or
you'll you know, you'll get a good team after it
like original something.
Speaker 3: You getting to play the Tigers twice, Dragons twice, Knights twice,
and the.
Speaker 2: Knights turn out to be top four teams. This year. Yeah,
but that's what I mean, like entertain that wouldn't spoon. Actually,
let's just go through that again. So my top eight Roosters, Broncos, Panthers, Sharks, Warriors, Storm, Bulldogs, Eels. Yep.
Speaker 3: And I've got the Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Bulldogs as my
top four, followed by the Roosters, Raiders, Eels, and Sharks.
Speaker 2: All right, who have you got coming last?
Speaker 3: Look, that was a that was a tricky one for me. Look,
I'm I was tossing up between a few clubs. Actually
got the Dragons or Knights hovering around that bottom part
of the table. I'm I have to go with the Knights, Troy,
I'm I'm not sure. I'm not sure the Knights this year,
but not closely, but followed by the Dragons. I think
I just those two sides don't excite me.
Speaker 2: Okay, I've got Manly really last.
Speaker 3: So you got your Turbos there, You've got foggedy, you
got some real talent, and then they're gonna come last.
Speaker 2: Yep. I just think that the Depths not there. Look,
if it looks, don't get me wrong. If if Jake
and Tom stay on the field for the whole year.
I think they're they're a shot, but also they're aging
as well. If Jake it's another head knock, I think
they'll put him out for three or four weeks, you
know what I mean, Like.
Speaker 3: He's just on the edge.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Foggedy gonna take a long rule like he's walking. Yeah,
but Foggedy is filling some pretty big shoes in terms
of Manly culture and the way they play in which
Cherry Evans gone. I know Cherry didn't have a great
year last year. That's not about necessarily the quality of
the number seven, but just you know that is Bean
Cherry Evans team for more than a decade.
Speaker 3: Maybe maybe they needed a change though, Like yeah, they
made one Grand Fight, like one Grand Final in twenty
eleven with him and that was it. He seen years later.
Speaker 2: I get there. But they're going to finish last and
that will spell the end of Anthony Sea Bowls at
the Manly Sea Eagles. First coach sacked this year in
my opinion, maybe the only coach sacked this year maybe
Todd Payton. If the Cowboys don't perform, Cowboys would have
to perform. All right, Well, there you go, there's our
top eights Now, one question I did say beforehand, you
think about a team, a team that you don't have
in there that you'd actually like to see. Mate, but
I would like to like to be like, oh, that's
great that they made that.
Speaker 3: It's hard for me. I'll tell you why it would
be cool. I'd be cool seeing the Tigers make it
because it's obviously been a long time since they made
a final series, and it'd be cool for you know,
Jerome and Taruvera and all those guys just still as
a as a Penrith fan, just having that rivalry were
the Tigers. I still don't really want them to make it,
but it would be cool for that club. If not,
If not the Tigers, the Dolphins give them a shot
for the first time.
Speaker 2: Okay, I'm going to go one from bit left field,
but I'd like to see the Dragons. I actually just
feel like, you know, they've got a very large supporter
based the Dragons. They've been almost the forgotten team for.
Speaker 3: A long time and old Man's you know.
Speaker 2: I just I feel like, you know, look, you know what,
there's a few teams at the moment who aren't playing
regular finals football that if they were, and we're already
talking about rugby league being the biggest sport in Australia
and going through its best period. But can you imagine
if the Eels, Tigers, Knights and Dragons were all playing
finals foot and rabbit os too, you know, and look, yeah,
put the rabbit o'z back in. Like imagine imagine if
like you turn around your top eight and you say
you've got a Penrith in there, which is now you know,
Penis become one of the most followed teams everywhere you go.
People in Penrith jerseys and the Broncos obviously the powerhouse
at Brisbane, so you keep them there and the Dogs
you keep them there. But then you're throwing Knights and
Dragons and Eels and South like.
Speaker 3: So you're just saying, based on like fan bases and
the size of.
Speaker 2: Fan bases and the interests that would generate, that you've
got those teams back in in finals footy and you're
not just going through the motions as exciting as it
is of seeing Melbourne playpen Rith and so you know,
like we saw it with Canberra last year about.
Speaker 3: How it was funny everyone.
Speaker 2: Camber because it was something different, you know. Anyway, footy
back this week finally, and we've got two games, so
just to run through it quickly, We've got the Knights
taking on the Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
We've all been seeing the teams on the flights and
all that.
Speaker 3: They virtually get up to the same stuff every year, right,
they visit the same facilities, they do the same shows
on the on the strip or whatnot.
Speaker 2: And I've been reading the still on the NRL Vegas
Facebook page, so everyone's commenting.
Speaker 3: An official page just like a fan page.
Speaker 2: You know, you've got all the same basically the same questions,
just in it format. Did anyone bring any cash? Oh?
Did anyone get money exchange at the airport? Did anyone
not Getnesta Viza? We just go through really and people
giving their experiences that TSA and all these things. Anyway,
Knights Cowboys one fifteen pm Australian time at Allegiant Stadium.
The Cowboys the favorites that one, and then at three
point thirty we've got the Bulldogs and the Dragons. That's
sort of the feature game. They're three thirty pm kickoff,
which I think is like eight thirty in Las Vegas.
So they're the Vegas games. Look, Bulldogs, Dragon's good game, Knights, Cowboys.
Probably not the the greatest game, but just the spectacle
is is good and look everyone to be watching again.
And I don't know if it's don't look correct me
if I'm wrong, but I don't know. If this has
been I would almost argue this is the lowest interest
build ups of Vegas. I feel like the last two years.
Speaker 3: Do we have a hangover so to speak?
Speaker 2: For they yeah, well maybe, but I just feel like
in the last two like in the first year it
was like what is Yeah, it was whatever. Last year,
I think you you had sort of you know, oh,
we know what we're doing now, so we're even better
at it in terms of promotion and whatnot. And this
year are we getting to the point now we're just
kind of going through the motions of Vegas And therefore
maybe the wheels are turning in Peter Blandy's head like
this experiment.
Speaker 3: Probably one more year in it, potentially, yes, And I
know the schedule has changed as well for this one,
only three games, so we got rid of the women's.
Speaker 2: Australia won by too much.
Speaker 4: Yeah, women for winning, we have a super League game on.
So that's before that's that's first you missed.
Speaker 3: Last year, didn't you try?
Speaker 2: You? Yes, yes, you chose not.
Speaker 3: To attend that one.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I think I was a country music but.
Speaker 3: So yeah, because I noticed that that game, the first
game was starting quite in the afternoon, was quite early
because before I think they had NRL game Jilla and Panthers.
Is that right? They strip them up that way, But
now they're.
Speaker 2: Just back to back, back to back RL. So what
I think this will create from a crowd perspective is
that there's more chance that people are going to go
for all three games. The biggest fear you have is
the English fans leaving after that Super League game and
it's going out to get on the drink something.
Speaker 3: Yeah, which they're entitled to.
Speaker 2: But they do love the NRL, so I think that
Unfortunately for the girls last year, even though it was
Australia in England, they didn't want to hang around and
see the girls go around. But Tayler hopefully this will
improve the crowd. We've got some Aussie food and whatnot happening.
I do wonder if the local sales are down.
Speaker 3: That's what I mean. The one thing I worry about
every year, is Americans or other tourists visiting Vegas that
weekend if they're actually interested in.
Speaker 2: This, not really, I mean how many like we haven't
we seen that this year? Normally they say, oh, how
many tickets through?
Speaker 3: So so I think it could be down.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it'd be interesting. And look, Peter blans is back
talking about Global Round even for twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 3: Oh, this is where everyone plays in a different city
that weekend.
Speaker 2: Crazy bit crazy. It's crazy, a bit crazy. But I
don't know what the NRL does now in the sense
that you can't just go back to playing at like
our't Oval to kick off the season like you've gone
to Las Vegas. I feel they've got to go big
for the opening round now. I feel pressure.
Speaker 3: Yeah, they've got to do it. But there are big
places just like Vegas in the world. They can definitely
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Speaker 2: Yes, Grace Funerals, great team, and go have a chat
with them. It's looking here on Instagram, Nathan. The Fox
League team there in business class heading to ah Yes,
heading to Vegas.
Speaker 3: There and you'll junket to Sin City of course.
Speaker 2: Yeah, as we always say, they can get to Vegas.
Sometimes can't get the Sun cart, but anyway, they'll be
there for the Vegas Games this weekend. And yeah, thanks
for Grace Funerals for jumping on board. I've been a
client of Grace before. They do a great job there
in EMU planes, Nathan. A couple of things to finish
off some media moves you mentioned to me earlier. Ryan
Girdlers back on Triple M.
Speaker 3: Yes, he's took a couple of years off from Triple
M to do his drumming and breathing. Whatever he's been
doing is he's turned certainly a different guy to what
he used to be as a football player. But yeah,
he's decided to get back in the media game. Maybe
he ran out of money, who knows how lucrative whatever
else he was doing away from the game was. But
back on Triple M as one of their analysts during
one of their calls. I guess over the weekend, whether
it be Friday night, forty Thursday, at forty Sunday, they
do a few games the Triple M team, So good
to see Goods back on the radio.
Speaker 2: And I think the big one in that Triple M
announcement too, is Emma Lawrence is going to be the
main play by play callers, so she'll become, I guess,
the first female play by play caller.
Speaker 3: Play by play definitely, of course they've they've had a
lot of females in the booth, but I have heard
em before. I think she may have done some n
RLW calling for nine over the definitely in the last
year she was doing a bit of that. So Triple
M have scored a good one there. It'll be different
to hear a female on the radio, but obviously they
think she's she's up to it, and yeah, good luck
to her.
Speaker 2: Absolutely all right in Channel seven. They've got a new show,
Agenda on Monday nights.
Speaker 3: Yes, they do the agenda sets Troy Monday Night seven thirty.
They're saying, I said to you earlier. I doubt that's
actually going to be on their main channel because seven
thirty is he's usually reserved for their their sort of
big reality shows straight after Home and Away. I doubt
the whole country is going to go into agenda Setters,
So expect that on at least there there streaming services
or maybe a seven mate or something like that, I think,
And maybe the main channel will get a get a
replay later. But Corey Parker is the main guy there
for the agenda setters, I think. Also David Rikio from
The Telegraph, he's being a part of that panel, as
is Aaron Woods. Uh and is there anyone else that
may have missed the might have been another yeah, not
sure player or so yeah, but look Channel seven obviously
doing whatever they can to get their hands into rugby league.
They're doing the World Cup later on in the years,
so yeah.
Speaker 2: I've had to look at the TV guide actually because
I thought this was kicking off on.
Speaker 3: The Kere is the other the other player yes, sorry, true, I.
Speaker 2: Thought this was kicking off on Monday, March too, but
it's actually not on any of the seven channels on
Monday March.
Speaker 3: Too, March nine.
Speaker 2: It's primariye, Okay, we'll know when we look at the
TV get the TV week when you map out your
shows and get the TV week of course and check
that out one hundred percent footy. It'll be interesting to
see what nine do there.
Speaker 3: I think they're just bringing back the usual crew. But
obviously Michael Chamis has left Channel nine and s m H,
so they'll probably see Danny Wilder will have more of
a presence. He might be on weekly like he used
to be. Chammas was obviously not on every week either.
He'd pop on, you know, every every couple of weeks.
So yeah, like it's I mean, I think Channel nine
hundred percent forty has the runs on the board, like
there's enter all three sixty. There's certainly got to be
my preferences, you know, of viewing every week. Yes, I
will tune into a gender centers, I'll see what's up,
but there's no one on there currently that's really get
me to tune in, right, Yeah, it's only got a
Paul kent On there or something like that.
Speaker 2: Yeah, maybe that would have been a smarter later, Like
I know it would have been controversial, but the attention
you would have got to got people watching for sure,
Kenty or James Hooper. James Souper of course is doing
the apology round yeap just like he did last year
the podcast. He was good on that, James Hooper. But yeah,
like it's yeah, it's just not a show that I'm like, yeah,
I'm definitely going to watch that. And I think you're right,
there's just no one on there that's that's grabb to be.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I believe Rico is still doing three sixty
as well, so he hasn't just left Fox Tell or anything.
Speaker 2: That Ray Hadley is going to jump in on three
sixty and feel the buzz.
Speaker 3: Roll really like he's going to be the confirmed or
anything yet.
Speaker 2: But that's what fact. I do have a rumor. Let's
sound the rumor alarm, because I do actually have a
rumor related to Michael Chammas. I was told last week
that making Michael's decision easier, apart from the impressive number
at the bottom of the contract, was that nine had
basically informed Michael Chammas that they weren't going to be
using him much this year. And this person is adamant
that the rumor is true, but also that the whole
Gus feud here is a bit behind that, right.
Speaker 3: I didn't even think of that, But yeah.
Speaker 2: Maybe Gus didn't really want to appear with Chamis on
that program. I think we all saw it as fun awkwardness. Yeah,
maybe Gus felt differently, That's just the rumor I've heard. Yeah,
Chamas was aware that. I guess he was going to
continue obviously at The Herald and probably nine News, but
those nine magazine shows. Maybe he wasn't going to be
used as much.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, there was no love lost between those and
I think definitely Chamis was pretty open that they didn't
get along, and they never really have. I think Gussen
and Chamas so, but Gus is a very powerful man,
so whatever Gus usually wants, he gets. But I also
found interesting during the week to hear that Matt Cameron
was their first choice as the CEO over there at
the P and G Chiefs, and Matt Cameron, like Ivan
Cleary also has done in the past two week, has
ampolitely declined to be part of that near French and
set up. I can't imagine why.
Speaker 2: Yes, well, you know, it's it's interesting, it's a it's
going to be interesting who they get pup in New
Guinea because I think you are just looking for people
who are desperate, and I mean like a a Jason
Demetrio who is after a job.
Speaker 3: You know, or a Brad Arthur. You know, Madrian Lamb's
not a bad one. I've heard his name being tossed
up ping heritage of course.
Speaker 2: Yeah. I always thought the Ivan Cleary was a bit
far fetched, Like I know that it would be ridiculous money,
but you know what, he can get pretty ridiculous money
at Penrith or anywhere else in the NRL. I not
tax free, sure, but you know, I don't know if
if that would be Ivan's biggest motivator these days.
Speaker 3: Now, does that say Nathan from going over there?
Speaker 1: Now?
Speaker 3: Do you think, Troy, do you think that's that's almostly?
Speaker 2: I don't think Nathan's going there. I think Nthan's either
staying at Penrith or he's going to play rugby union
overseas in twenty eight. In twenty eight, you know, assuming
that his relationship with Mary is still alive, and yeah,
I think that that's where that's where it lands. But look,
I wouldn't be surprised if part of Ivan and Nathan
in all of this is saying, look, two years is
a long time, you know, So twenty six, twenty seven,
it's a long time. A lot can change in both
our lives. Let's see where things are, you know. I
actually think that Penrith wouldn't be comfortable with where they're at,
but they would know. I think that they're not going
to be taken by NRL rivals. So you're either re
signing with Penrith or you're going overseas. In Ivan's case, like,
I don't think Ivan's going to say yeah, great old
But what could I Evan do?
Speaker 3: Could he move into Penrith like Matt Cameron, he might
leave else where. Could Ivan clearly move into that role?
Speaker 2: Like maybe he should be lost to the game alsogether?
Speaker 3: Should I don't think.
Speaker 2: He would be lost to the game. I think he'll
end up somewhere. I just don't know if you'll coach
somewhere else in the NRL. I just struggle struggle to
see that I might I might be wrong, and don't
forget there will be at some point a twentieth team
in the NRL, sure in New Zealand where Ivan has
a bit of a history. So anyway, we'll see what happens.
But I look, fans are rightly nervous, but I would
say don't be nervous in the perspective that you know
another NROL club is going to come and steal. They're
either staying in Penrith or unfortunately they're making some life decisions,
massive life decisions, yeap. Elsewhere in the media landscape, we've got,
of course, right here closer to home, the weekend kicks off.
Rugby League coverage for twenty twenty six. Extra Time is
back next week, but we've got a twenty page season
preview this week, so make sure you pick up the
paper there and look all the usual stuff doing the rounds,
people announcing their teams and whatnot for the year. I
think Fox and nine or pretty pretty much the same,
I would think in terms of their coverage for the year.
I don't think Foxes is doing too much differently in
our all three sixties actually back on Thursday at three
point thirty pm.
Speaker 3: From Vegas, Live from Vegas.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so there'll be a big crowd watching on.
Speaker 3: Sure, I'm sure there will be.
Speaker 2: And all the usual rugby league stuff happening everywhere. I
think the ABC if you listen at ABC Radio Listening,
they've got a new show they launched already, I think
on Monday Night Andrew Moore and Luke Lewis six thirty mondays.
You will turn it to an RL three sixty if
you want to listen.
Speaker 3: To driving around somewhere do the rounds.
Speaker 2: So there's more rugby league than ever before? Really? Sure?
Is about that? Or right? Time for the price is right?
To wrap things up now? Of course if you have
a game heard this before. The price is right is
a concept where I jump onto either the NRL shop
or the Panthers shop and if Nathan can guess the
price within fifty cents either way, then I'll buy in
the item.
Speaker 3: So he came up with selling Panthers gear.
Speaker 2: Now I saw your picture on it. Yes, yeah, I'm
joined the Best and Less Brigade. All right, how did
the gear look any good?
Speaker 3: They've had a T shirt and a hoodie there, but
a lot of the teams were represented. But yeah, good
good affordable gear.
Speaker 2: All right? Well, Nathan first up on the price this
week is the Panthers Men's Barracootera fishing shirt.
Speaker 3: I've seen these.
Speaker 2: Yes, stylish Men's Barracouta fishing shirt is the perfect gift
for any Panthers supporter who loves their footy and fishing.
The Barracouta fishing shirt is the perfect gift for someone
who loves their footy and fishing. They've got that in
there twice, so really love you. Featuring a menacing look
the barracoutera on the front, Jersey beach design across the front.
It provides a high visual impact and hang appeal. They
are made from premium quality waffle knit Polyesta fabric, fully subliminated, subliminated,
leminated whatever it is with true team color and won't
fade guarantee fifty plus upf protection, absolutely fish absolutely fully die,
sub bright vivid team colors and logos. So, Nathan, how
much do you think the Panthers Men's Barracooter fishing shirt
goes for?
Speaker 3: Look, I think I might be under selling this. I'm
going to say, I'm going to say an amount, But
you've sold it really well, so it means it could
be worth more than I think. But the first number
that popped into my head. It was sixty dollars.
Speaker 2: Sixty dollars, Nathan. Unfortunately, you're not going to have a
men's Barracuda fishing shirt because he's ninety nine ninety.
Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, I was thinking that as soon as you
kept going on and on about it. It's like this
has got a lot of features. It's just as good
as a jersey.
Speaker 2: One hundred bucks, a hundred bucks, all right. Next up,
let's see if can get this one, Nathan, Panthers Men's
Sorrento Party shirt, the fashion statement of the summer. All right,
Panthers Men's Sorrento Party shirt is your wear anywhere shirt?
Speaker 3: Is there any way you can show me this?
Speaker 2: You're also in there twice, so someone over at the
Panther shop needs to fix this website. They've got the
same thing in there.
Speaker 3: Because I've seen the Barracouter shirt, so you didn't need
to show me that. But is there any way you
can show me this shirt without?
Speaker 2: Yeah? To you, I can't. Yeah, I'll find a way
to show it to you now. The this is a
statement of the summer. This shirt. It is a stylish
vertical stripe themed shirt in light cotton fields with a
polylstaine polystain blend. Look great, feel great, excellent tailored fit,
true to size four way stretch, light cotton like feel
for comfortable. We're got an embroidered team logo on there,
and it's an official licensed product.
Speaker 3: Now I've better get this now.
Speaker 2: Before there is there Nathan.
Speaker 3: It's quite stylish.
Speaker 2: What a stylish is nice? The party shirt of the summer,
the fashion statement of the summer.
Speaker 3: They're saying, Okay, I'm going to put in I'm gonna
lock in fifty dollars.
Speaker 2: For that Troy fifty dollars, Nathan, eighty four, nine for
that one eighty four, So you are none from I
think six in the NL shop.
Speaker 3: I think even worse than that. Actually been doing this.
Speaker 2: For a while, it could be none from eight. You reckon.
Speaker 3: It's tough. It's a tough game that that. I don't
know about that shirt for eighty five dollars.
Speaker 2: Lovely to fix this issue on the Panthers website where
it's repeating the descriptions. Very interesting.
Speaker 3: Well, I'd never seen anyone walk around in that shirt.
No one was wearing it the other night at the
season launch, that's for sure. So yeah, all right.
Speaker 2: Well, that is it for Tensions Running High this week.
New episodes around of course every single Wednesday, where if
you listen to podcasts and make sure you hit subscribe
to because then you'll get the latest episodes every single week.
Jump into your podcast feed. Now, visit Western Weekend dot
com dot you follow us on all the socials and
check out our print edition out every Thursday. Also download
the Western Weekend app from the Apple App Store or
the Google play Store. I'm Troy Odds Nathan, thank you
so much for joining us. Thanks Troy and and also
of course thanks to Penri City Automotive for their sponsorship.
We will see you next time on Tensions Running High.
Go the Panthers
Speaker 4: Aparata Pataty