WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:03.799 To lose should now be called two wins. Prince Andrew 2 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.559 is paying for his past sins. After Saturday, Wigan fans 3 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:10.359 are in heaven. The Bradford Bulls partied like it was 4 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:14.480 nineteen ninety seven. There were also wins for Saints, Wakian, 5 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.559 Leeds Brisbane now know to give a little respect to 6 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:21.839 Super League. Welcome to the tenth episode of Super League 7 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:24.960 three sixty, a podcast primarily about the top tier of 8 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.160 British rugby league, but a few other things as well. 9 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:30.000 My name is Lee Addison. 10 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:31.839 And my name is John Davidson. 11 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:35.560 You've not said anything about the poetry this week, John, 12 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:36.759 do was it not up to the mark? 13 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:38.960 It was very good, but it was very good. But 14 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:41.840 you've so you're just. 15 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:44.200 Used to it now, you're blase already. I mean when 16 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:46.880 somewhere you know, when you've got a star player in 17 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:50.920 your team, you just expect greatness all the time. I'm 18 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:54.600 I'm a coach in Australia, but obviously clearly not got 19 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:57.840 an Australian accent despite nearly twenty years in this country. 20 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:01.399 John's a journalist in the UK. We have had to 21 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:04.000 cut down on describing who we are, so you have 22 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:06.840 to look back at some old podcasts or on the description. 23 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:10.079 This podcast is being aired also on the Ashes, Rugby 24 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:13.879 League and Rugby League Coach podcast platforms Rugby League Coach 25 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:16.879 YouTube as well, so if you subscribe to those you 26 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:18.840 won't miss a Thinger and I also believe in the 27 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:22.159 last week John that Rugby League dot Com, Steve mascad 28 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:25.280 and the gang have taken our podcast as well, which 29 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:26.840 we really appreciate. 30 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:31.760 To put us on their schedule of programming. 31 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:39.159 John Davidson tweet of the week. I'm actually it's not 32 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.480 something that you did per se, it's the responses to it. 33 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.120 So on the February of the eighteenth, you tweeted do 34 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:50.959 you still tweet? Even though it's called X you still I'd. 35 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.719 Like to call it Twitter as opposed to X about. 36 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.640 To support okay our specs, Savers is giving out twenty 37 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:04.319 thousand red tinted glasses at the MKM Stadium Entrances tomorrow 38 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.959 night for the World Club Challenge. Through the lenses anything 39 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:10.960 black turns Red, giving KR fans a way to feel 40 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:14.919 at home in a stadium usually wrapped in black and white. 41 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:20.120 And then at Keith Underscore Cat, who is known on 42 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:23.280 ex Twitter as a dad of three, granddad of six 43 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:28.120 and all leftc mad replied efing gobbledegook, you mup it 44 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.960 call yourself a journal thought you was all supposed to 45 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:37.680 be good with words with it being your trade. Efinglame 46 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:41.199 dot com yep. 47 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:47.000 Perfectly no more response. In the world of social media and. 48 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:51.479 The regulating somebody else said they went there spelt it 49 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:55.639 wrong on a holiday. Tell me the Broncos put as 50 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.759 much into this as they did their finals campaign. No, 51 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:03.080 didn't even have a match. Yeah, they took it serious 52 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:08.919 and I'm Prince Andrew Socials pop up lee of the week. 53 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.199 They're still happening. In response to my saying that I 54 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:17.000 believe that we should respect super League because there's only 55 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:21.159 two professional, full time competitions in the world, so we 56 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:24.879 should show it a bit more respect, Ryan Fuller on 57 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:30.199 Facebook said, y'all can't even pronounce bottle of water correctly. Relax, 58 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:38.800 bo oh oh. Julian Thomas Brenchley Super League is the 59 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:45.639 NRL from Team Moves shaded up. In response to my 60 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:49.439 saying Wiggans nineteen ninety four World Club Challenge win was 61 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:52.560 the best, well, a certain man called Martin a Fire 62 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:58.759 shared my post, but Lee Cullerton replied, Bollocks Witness versus 63 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:05.520 cam Barra Raiders. They're all concerning bt W Witness eighty 64 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:11.080 nine all day long. We got some questions though on 65 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:13.680 social media. John Paul Trest said, do you think Willie 66 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:15.759 Peters will still be at KR next year? 67 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:22.120 He's contracted, but to be honest, I would not be surprised. Look, 68 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:26.800 I think the Newcastle Knights were interested in last year. 69 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:29.680 He wasn't interested in that job. I think there was 70 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:33.040 another gig potentially that he could have gone for, and 71 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:37.160 you know that he didn't. I'm sure if Anthony seboll 72 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:40.600 gets the acts or if mainly struggle, you know, he'll 73 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:45.560 be on the radar for I think he's probably the 74 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:48.519 number one candidate for any in our old job at 75 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:53.519 the moment, so that's probably fifty to fifty if he's away. 76 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:55.720 If he's there. Actually, I know the P and G chiefs. 77 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:59.000 There was a story came out from Australia saying, you 78 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:02.120 know he'd be int in talking about a job. I 79 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:05.519 don't think necessarily PG would be the first choice for him, 80 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:08.639 but yeah, I think he's he's a friend r and 81 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:11.360 what he did last year. But then obviously what he's 82 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.839 done with whole character Thursday Night. Yeah, you know with 83 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:19.759 the Ashes as well with Australia. He's very very talented 84 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:23.120 coach and got a you know, inclining reputation that just 85 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:24.000 gets better and better. 86 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.319 And of course he's been linked with the England job too. Look, 87 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:31.199 they're just one thing I want to add. It's happened 88 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:36.639 this week. Jason Demetrio also spoke about wanting to get 89 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.759 back into the NRL. He's only just got his feet 90 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:42.160 under the table at London. I think Willie Peters has 91 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:44.560 possibly earned the right. But I just find it a 92 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:48.360 tiny little bit disrespectful to these clubs in England. And 93 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:52.519 Brad Arthur has been linked to a few positions ever 94 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:54.879 since he's been at Leeds. It's just a tiny bit 95 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:57.759 disrespectful to the clubs in England, their employers. 96 00:05:58.800 --> 00:05:59.040 Yeah. 97 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.240 I know, I know the journalists will ask. He doesn't 98 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:02.120 mean they have to answer. 99 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:06.399 Yeah, I mean, I think I think it depends on, 100 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:10.600 you know, the relationship that you have with the club 101 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:12.600 and also you know your intentions when you come in. 102 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.560 I think Brad Arthur always came in from datad saying, 103 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.160 you know, he was never going to be at Leeds 104 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:19.439 for a long time. He publicly went for the Perth job, 105 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:23.079 didn't get it. He's always, you know, said that, you know, 106 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:24.519 he's looking to get back to the NRL. I don't 107 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:26.879 think he's made any secret so that Willie Peters, I 108 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:29.199 think I'm trying to remember. But I think he got 109 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:32.480 the whole car an end of twenty twenty two, twenty three, 110 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:39.839 so what this is his servefall fourth season now and 111 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:42.600 look he's turned the club around. I'm sure there have 112 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.439 been discussions with the hierarchy long term. You know, he's 113 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:47.639 always said that he wanted to get into the NRL. 114 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:50.519 I think he's contracted to the end of twenty twenty eight. 115 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:52.279 I could be wrong. Now he had an extension not 116 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:55.040 long ago, but look, he may sally that out. I 117 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:59.639 think he's his family's very happy, his wife's happy there 118 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.759 and lustry. He's doing a great job there. So but 119 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:08.079 you know, you can say, lad, that's disrespectful, But the 120 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:11.279 NRL is the pinnacle of the sport, like that's a fact. 121 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:16.480 Whether on Thursday Night or not, which they did, it's 122 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:18.120 still the of the sport. 123 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:24.240 Sam Luke on Facebook said World Club Challenge. Why would 124 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:26.959 Rovers go short from a dropout when Rovers are well 125 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.879 up on points. 126 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:33.040 Were you're the coach, may only that one to you. 127 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:40.399 I think sometimes players are just robots and don't always 128 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:45.160 adapt to the situation, particularly went under pressure. And we're 129 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:48.040 going to talk a bit later about the context of 130 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:51.279 the World Club Challenge in England, and it would have 131 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:53.920 meant so much to those Whole KR players, particularly the 132 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:57.279 English lads to win the game, and the Australian lads 133 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:03.879 who again but probably can't necessarily secure an NRL contract 134 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.600 or they're playing in Super League. It would be big 135 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:07.639 for them too because they want to stamp their mark 136 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:11.920 on on on the world of rugby league. So I 137 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:15.759 think pressure sometimes does strange things to people. And I 138 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:21.879 do think that a good leader in that team and 139 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:24.399 are smart. So I would imagine if Cameron Smith at 140 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:27.040 his peak was playing for the Whole k Are or 141 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:29.680 Cooper Krok, they would have said, no, we need to 142 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:31.720 kick this one long. So I just think it's that 143 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:34.840 it's that simple. Really, Maybe Willy send the message out, 144 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:38.399 Maybe Willy didn't send the message out. Maybe Willy tried 145 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.639 to send the message out but the trainer didn't get there. 146 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.960 I just think I just think sometimes we do things 147 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.039 in rugby league just because they get done and we 148 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:51.320 don't necessarily process the reasons why. Interesting question, Matthew Darnley, 149 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:55.200 who has sent us a few questions. Thanks Matthew. Given 150 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.600 that all three promoted teams have won a game and 151 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:00.799 to lose, being two from two, does it prove that 152 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:04.080 there is enough talent fourteen teams in Super League and 153 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.039 that it just needs celebrating more. 154 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.240 Yeah, I mean that's a really good question. I don't 155 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:14.320 think we can make the judgment now when you say 156 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.639 is there enough talent? I mean there's not enough English 157 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:22.360 talent because if you look across all those teams, you know, 158 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:25.120 most of them have at least ten foreign players. So 159 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.279 they had to increase the quota because they were concerned 160 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:31.360 about the lack of talent. So I think that's a fact. 161 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.159 I mean, I even, you know, we started on the 162 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:36.679 World Cup Challenge. I had a look at the makeup 163 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:41.879 of the two squads and if you look through a 164 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:45.200 thirty five percent of Whole Hours team on Thursday night, 165 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:49.000 of their seventeen thirty five percent rossies six of them, 166 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:51.120 and they had a Kiwi player and a French player 167 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:54.399 and nine of them, fifty three percent were English. And 168 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.480 then you look at the Broncos, seventy percent of their 169 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.279 players rossies and five of them were Kiwi, so thirty percent. 170 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.600 So out of the two squads, fifty three percent of 171 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:05.440 the players on the field and the World Cup Challenge 172 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:08.399 were Australian and twenty six percent were English. 173 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.159 So what was the percentage of Australian? 174 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.799 Sorry, fifty three percent of the thirty four players and 175 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.399 both of the coaches were Australian. Yeah, and there was 176 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:22.679 actually eighteen percent were Kiwis and twenty six percent were English. 177 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.879 So it's probably more a re a reflection of the 178 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.200 Southern Hemisphere player pool. 179 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:31.679 And I think you get, yeah, you can read lots 180 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:34.679 into it, but I think it shows how interreliant both 181 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:39.159 the NRL and Super leg are. English game is very 182 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:45.360 reliant on Australian New Zealand players coaches throughout, and you know, 183 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.559 there's a massive I think it's another reason why there 184 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.519 should be a partnership between the two leagues because there's 185 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:57.200 already you know, things going on, knowledge sharing, you know, loans, players, 186 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:00.960 moving development, all that sort of stuff that already happened anyway. Media. 187 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.279 It just needs probably to be formalized, but I think 188 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.519 they were very dependent on each side of the world. 189 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:09.080 Because rugby league is a small sport, let's be honest, 190 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.720 they're very co reliant. 191 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.519 So as you said, I'm a coach and I look 192 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.759 at it from a coaching perspective, and one thing I've 193 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:19.639 noticed has been a few big injuries in the first 194 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:24.519 round of Super League. Blake Taff, somebody else at Wigan 195 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.559 is out for a while. I forget off the top, 196 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:28.480 Jack Wardle. 197 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:30.559 How does Field have got a load of injuries? 198 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:34.279 A load? Whereas I'm critical of the NRL, I think 199 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:37.320 they trained too much and prepare too much for the season, 200 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:40.519 and I think there's too much of a focus on 201 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:43.360 trying to get personal best all the time. By round two, 202 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.960 there'll be thirty four players on the sideline with easily 203 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:52.120 that's two squads of seventeen. Okay, in Super League, I 204 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:54.879 think it's the exact opposite. I think they don't have 205 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:59.399 enough time. Their season finishes later and it also starts earlier. 206 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.799 And this year we've also had the added focus on 207 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:07.639 the Ashes, so they've had less preparation time. So I 208 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:10.159 think there's a lot of bodies that are underprepared, and 209 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.720 because of that, I think some of the stronger sides 210 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:17.600 and those who are more in tune with sports science 211 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.879 and the body's workings actually tend to pace their season 212 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:24.279 a little bit more so they're not necessarily focused on 213 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:29.320 starting too well all the time. And Leeds might be 214 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:33.000 an example of that. Right they had a scratchy performance 215 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:36.879 a week before. Lee could be one of those. They're 216 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:40.039 probably just eighty seventy percent of where they want to be. 217 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:43.039 Saint Helen's could be, et cetera, et cetera. We're going 218 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:44.519 to have had a good start, but I don't think 219 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:49.480 they've had the toughest draw yet. And what that gives 220 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:54.840 an opportunity for is for the newly promoted sides. So 221 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:58.919 for example, your Bradford New York's and you're to lose 222 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:06.360 by natural attrition, they'll have less international players anyway, so 223 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:08.720 they'll have more of their players at pre season, so 224 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:11.960 they can put in more work and as a result, 225 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.919 they can start the season well. And I think that's 226 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:18.320 why York pulled the pants down of Saint Helens. Saint 227 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:22.000 Helen's worth ten percent off. I think that's why to 228 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.480 lose have had a good start as well, because they're 229 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:29.919 just catching teams a little bit cold, and because it's 230 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:32.480 a bloody longage on the Super League year. 231 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:33.679 Yeah, and. 232 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:39.639 The human body just can't take that much work throughout 233 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:42.559 a year. So what I think we're finding right now, Matthew, 234 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:46.480 is that imbalance that some teams are a bit more 235 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:50.480 ahead in there in their preparation. Because if York Bradford 236 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:53.559 to lose get five wins from the first ten games, 237 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:57.960 they're not going to finish bottom basically, And that's why 238 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.840 a team like Huddersfield will probably start to get a 239 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:01.720 bit worried in a couple of weeks if they don't 240 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:06.639 win a game in Castleford. What we're actually looking at 241 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:08.759 is a situation where we probably need to judge it 242 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:13.799 in eight to ten rounds, in eight to ten rounds, 243 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:17.240 and I think there's warning signs there already with York. 244 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:20.759 York played the game of their life against Saint Helens. 245 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:25.240 Seven days later, ah okay are again sorry against Okay. 246 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.559 A week later went to Leeds and don't get me wrong, 247 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.639 I know they've had a hard draw, but that just 248 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:35.120 proves how hard elite rugby league can be. 249 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.559 Yeah, yeah, And I think I think we'll have a 250 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:41.080 better judge probably around Easter, which is yeah, seven seven 251 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.120 rounds in and we'll have a better judge than you. 252 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:48.200 But look, the promoted teams so far have done really well. 253 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:51.879 At Bradford were very good against Catalans, you know, I 254 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:54.000 mean it's the first game an Ons Super Ego and 255 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:57.200 Module in eleven twelve years and I had ten thousand. 256 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:04.080 Fantastic and they deserve their win and to lose great 257 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:07.840 two wins, you know, you'd have to say against Wakefield 258 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.000 and Casts winnable probably games for to loose, but not 259 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:13.159 necessarily you know, no gimmes by anyway, but they've done 260 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.879 fantastically well and York you know, came up against a 261 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:21.039 very talented lead side. So yeah, we will. We will 262 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:24.279 know more throughout the year. I think if you if 263 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:26.879 you're Castleford a Harddersfield though, yeah, your two wins and 264 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.279 two losses so their game coming up and around three 265 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:32.559 is massive. You don't want to be none and three 266 00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:34.000 after three rounds. 267 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:38.039 If you want to get questions tours during the week, well, 268 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:41.000 first of all, you can right on my Facebook or 269 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.440 Instagram at Rugby League Coach, or you can email me 270 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.320 Admint at Rugby League Coach dot com to say you 271 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:48.399 John you can. 272 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:51.399 Get me on Facebook at John Davidson Journalists or on 273 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:54.159 x and Johnny d Davidson. That's generally where most of 274 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:55.679 the abuse rolls in. 275 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:06.799 I think you'd give different contact details every week. Yeah, look, 276 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:09.000 we're going We talked about the World Club Challenge. We 277 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.639 had a reaction pod, and I know we're going to 278 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:14.759 go into it in game reviews and we're also going 279 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:17.039 to have it in Johnny's job, so we'll just part 280 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:20.840 that for a moment. We have also made a pledge 281 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:23.320 to cover some NRL news a little bit to make 282 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:27.840 sure fans in England in particular are still in tune 283 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:30.919 with what's going on. So obviously they're two weeks from 284 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:35.000 the season starting on the mainland, but obviously Vegas is 285 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:38.720 the official start of their season. This one I know 286 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:44.039 you're going to respond to, though I'm not one of 287 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:48.679 those who will overanalyze trials so friendly matches in terms 288 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:53.440 of their importance for the bigger picture, for the reasons 289 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.639 I've just mentioned with regards to Super League that some 290 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:57.960 teams are more prepared than others at this stage of 291 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:01.000 the year. For example, on pretty sure we're not too 292 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:04.000 worried about Melbourne Storm, even though the Titans put forty 293 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:10.640 past them in a trial. That said. A certain team 294 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:14.240 that John Davidson supported as a boy, the Manly Sea Eagles. 295 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:18.000 They played against South Sydney Rabbit Holes yesterday in a 296 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:27.000 trial and they showed absolutely nothing and selves basically controlled 297 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:32.279 the game from go to Oh and the coach Seabold 298 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:36.799 was seen several times in the coaching box. He wasn't 299 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.000 losing his rag by any stretcher, He's not that kind 300 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:42.880 of person, but he's just shaking his head and that 301 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:46.920 would suggest to me that he wasn't seeing what he 302 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:50.839 wanted to see at this stage. He wasn't too relaxed 303 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:54.319 about what he was seeing. So that came to mind 304 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.240 automatically when you mentioned Willie Peters, who has worked at 305 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:03.119 many before. That could be another real thing to watch 306 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:05.799 because I think Sea Bold is a bit in the 307 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:10.400 Sam Burgess realm needs to have a big club that 308 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.799 needs to have a good start to the NRL season. 309 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:17.440 Oh yeah, yeah, he's probably one of the coaches, one 310 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.200 of the most pressure. I probably put him Todd Payton. 311 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:25.200 Apart from that, I think probably even Shane Vanigan's got 312 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.400 a bit more breathing space, but I think those two 313 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:31.880 were probably the most under pressure. Obviously, Wholebook's a new coach, 314 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:36.519 the Titans coach his name escapes me has only just 315 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:39.799 come in, so he's got a bit of breathing room. 316 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.400 Jason Rawls is only in his second season at Paris, 317 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:47.200 so yeah, I think Seabold wasn't far from the acts 318 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.160 last season, and you know, mainly had a bad year 319 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.000 last year and they really obviously the DC's gone, but 320 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.240 they need to they need to improve, and I think 321 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:58.559 if he if they don't perform well, he will be out. 322 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:04.720 Mike Rush is leaving Saint Helen's or has left. You 323 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.160 can maybe add some clarity to that, but that's Saint 324 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:10.799 Helen's and the Rugby Football League that are looking for 325 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:12.079 a chief executive office. 326 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:16.519 Yeah. Yeah, the Rush one is very interesting. Obviously, been 327 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:18.559 at a club for twenty seven years. You know, he 328 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.240 was the coach at one point, he was the CEO 329 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:24.000 for a long time. Yeah, it was sort of the 330 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:25.880 key figure at the club for a long time. But 331 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:29.799 there's been a lot of rumors about him. I approached 332 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:33.440 him the week before he denied he was he'd left 333 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:37.000 his role and the media managed to denied it, and 334 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:39.440 then there was more rumors that was announcement on the Monday, 335 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.079 and then low and behold on the Monday they announced 336 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:47.160 that he was stepping down. Just goes to show you 337 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:50.799 can always believe what you're sold. But look, yeah, I 338 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.240 think there's a lot that's been gone behind the scenes. 339 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.759 But my rush obviously there's a marked personal situation which 340 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:00.759 you know, sources have sort of said that he was 341 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:02.680 offered a contract which he agreed to and then that 342 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:05.559 contract was pulled and that's upset a lot of people. 343 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:09.400 You could say there's been a lot of questionable decisions 344 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:13.039 in terms of re signings and deals and recruitment at 345 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:16.400 Saint Helens in the last couple of years, like the 346 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:22.440 signing among A Blake and extensions for Ignacious Parsi and 347 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:29.039 Conrad Harrald's there's quite a few there. So look saying 348 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:31.319 all that, I think Mike RuSHA obviously was a key 349 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:34.880 part in there four wins in a row, but maybe 350 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:39.519 you know, just changes is perhaps good at any club, 351 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:42.799 but the chairman aim around us is filling that role, 352 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:44.799 so that's probably not a great thing. Then you've got 353 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:47.160 a chairman running us running the club as the CEO 354 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.880 as well long term. But yeah, I think Saint Alan's 355 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:55.519 to me, they've always been. They've been a very successful club, 356 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:59.640 but they're somewhat insular. They're very focused about themselves and 357 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.720 their and not looking like say a Wigan is to 358 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:07.039 kind of promote the sport and everything around. So maybe 359 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:09.839 some change that couple will open their doors a bit 360 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:13.440 and don't look beyond the greater Merseyside area. 361 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.359 I know Mike Rush and I've worked with him. What 362 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:18.599 an amazing stint at Saint Helen's twenty seven years. I mean, 363 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:21.960 nobody can doubt commit them to a club, but what 364 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.240 a will add. And this is with the biggest amount 365 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:29.160 of respect I could ever offer. As I mentioned sometimes, 366 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.799 I'm a Manchester City fan and when City won the Treble, 367 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:35.400 which was their holy grail for so long, and winning 368 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:42.079 the Champions League, there's definitely been something of a drop 369 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:45.119 in standard at Manchester City. And this is with all 370 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:52.559 those resources, all the support, all the finances, and nothing 371 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:57.039 fails like success in sport. And I think if you 372 00:21:57.119 --> 00:22:03.200 look at Mike Rush's ear as CEO, Saint Helen's actually 373 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:05.160 won the league was it four on the bouts or 374 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.839 three on the bout? 375 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:08.000 Was four on the bout four on the bount which 376 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:10.640 is an amazing twenty two. 377 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:13.599 Yeah, nobody else has done that. Nobody else has done that. 378 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:18.160 So it may just be that he's reached the end 379 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:23.680 of his energy level and that's not a crime, and 380 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.720 he needs to be applauded for what he's done there. 381 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:29.599 And because there's a few things, another thing to add 382 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:32.079 to the Saint Helen's probably need a reset is that 383 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:35.799 crowd on on Friday, on Thursday or Friday whenever they 384 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:39.039 played Lea only down the road from Saint Helens, it 385 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:41.799 was a big game and there were so many empty 386 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:45.279 seats there. Now it wasn't it wasn't a good look. 387 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:49.440 So I think there was I'm just actually having a 388 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.839 look now. I think it was fifty. No, it was 389 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:56.640 thirteen thousand, two hundred and three, which is not you know, 390 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:59.119 the biggest crowd. But look, I think if we look 391 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.440 at Saint Helens, I was even when they were in 392 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:05.640 that that great run, they weren't you know, getting massive 393 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:10.720 crowds every week. And I think what happened with Paul 394 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:14.480 Wellens last year was also you know, I think the 395 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:17.279 treatment of a club legend like him, and a treatment 396 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.559 by some of the fans as well, like you know, 397 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:21.720 abuse being sent to his son and all that sort 398 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:25.920 of thing. It's just disgusting. You possibly lost each way 399 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:28.599 a little bit. Yes, I think I think that's fair. Look, 400 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:31.640 I think that's a fair comment. And I'm not putting 401 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.279