2024 SharkCast Twelve Wishes Of Xmas - with all (most) of the crew!

[00:00:00] SharkCast, SharkCast, SharkCast

[00:00:31] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast, a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla Sutherland Sharks.

[00:00:39] This very special Christmas episode is brought to you by Dyson Logistics, the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Port Hacking and Jason Hors at Crips & Crips Real Estate.

[00:00:47] We have to say we are in the Royal Motor Yacht Club right now and thanks to Liam for being so kind and gracious with your space

[00:00:55] and hopefully the food that's going to arrive at some point, we'll see.

[00:00:57] While I'm focused, I want to say thanks everyone for a great year, listening to the podcast, watching the YouTube, etc, etc, we'll get to more of that later.

[00:01:05] But right now we have our annual Christmas show and we're missing two people but we're here with a whole bunch of others so that's kind of okay.

[00:01:14] We are missing TK, Tristan K. Nell, which is a bummer, he sends in a few thoughts.

[00:01:20] We're missing Jardine Ormsby who's come up with the idea for this Christmas show which we've been doing now for quite a while now.

[00:01:27] However, the good news is I have in no particular order our very reliable regular shark analyst, the youngest man in the squad, the baby if you will.

[00:01:40] I would like to give a big SharkCast Christmas welcome to Mr. Joshua Bolling, how are you going?

[00:01:46] I'm very well mate, I'm very well. Looking forward to the pre-season coming up and the holidays and speaking about the Sharks with all of us here today, can't wait.

[00:01:57] Alright, thanks Joshy. Next up we have a guy who always puts his job on the line when he comes on this show.

[00:02:05] And tonight's going to be no different. Please welcome our very good friend, Mr. Gary Dover.

[00:02:10] Thank you for having me in my favourite episode of the year. I'm glad to be here with everyone. It's a shame the other boys can't be here but looking forward to talking some Sharks and footy with the rest of you guys.

[00:02:18] Next up we have our good friend, our famous entomologist slash musician and the sweetest guy that ever lived, Mr. Cameron Webb.

[00:02:29] Hey Sam, good to be with you and the boys tonight. We're looking forward to talking about the year that was and the year that's coming up and our Christmas wishes.

[00:02:37] And last but certainly not least, he is about to hit prime time if he hasn't already on Radio 2GB and associated programs.

[00:02:47] He is probably the biggest Sharks fan I know and he stays up late and he worries about it and he doesn't sleep much and I respect that.

[00:02:57] He is heard at the moment on Drive Time 2GB, Mr. Clinton Maynard.

[00:03:02] I've just spent the last three hours talking about heat waves, the future of electricity, the train drivers dispute and budgerigas.

[00:03:08] So I'm actually looking forward to talking about Sharks for a while.

[00:03:10] All right, that sounds good. Now the idea of this show is we have 12 wishes that we want to see come true for the 2025 season and perhaps ongoing after that as well.

[00:03:23] We'll get into that in no particular order, although I'll leave some of the big ones till the end.

[00:03:28] All of the people involved and those not here have sent in three or four ideas.

[00:03:34] I've put them all together. We agree on some. Some are just wild ideas from alone thoughts.

[00:03:41] But we'll start with something that Gary, myself and Josh were very passionate about.

[00:03:47] And we want to see the return of one of our big boppers, Braden Hamlin Ueli.

[00:03:56] He's been injury prone, as we know, had trouble training, getting fit, played a lot of cup football the last two years.

[00:04:03] But Gary, why don't you start? Give us an update. How is he going?

[00:04:06] He's going good. Preseason is going well for him. He's obviously still coming out of a bit of a rehab phase.

[00:04:11] Still.

[00:04:11] But he's getting into all the sort of contact and wrestling and everything like that.

[00:04:15] So he's kind of back to where he needs to be at this point in the season.

[00:04:18] And yeah, I think he's going to be and I hope he's going to be a big part of what we've got going on in 2025.

[00:04:24] Now Josh, what was it that you missed about the big unit?

[00:04:27] The whole reason I thought of this was because a couple of nights ago I actually had a nightmare that he got really injured again in preseason.

[00:04:34] And it just made me think we can't have that again. We need him fully fit.

[00:04:37] He's such an enforcer.

[00:04:39] One of our really aggressive, one of the most aggressive guys in our team.

[00:04:43] And I think we missed that in the back end of the year and we saw how damaging it can be in some of the later games for Newtown.

[00:04:48] And I just think a combination with either him or AFB on the field at all times would just like the impact that they could make either if they're together, if they're off one or the other.

[00:05:00] I just think that that's maybe a missing piece to take another step.

[00:05:04] See, I reckon if he's completely fit, I think he and Adden are the starters.

[00:05:10] Like on paper, given the past, what we've seen from him.

[00:05:15] That's my opinion.

[00:05:16] I think I reckon Confucius has got a good argument based on the year he had.

[00:05:20] What are some of the other thoughts on how he went on?

[00:05:22] I think we're down medium in terms of we've lost Royce Hunt.

[00:05:26] Not that he played big minutes, but we're down a middle there.

[00:05:29] We've lost Jack Williams.

[00:05:30] You know, lock but essentially a middle.

[00:05:33] You've got Toby's out for what the first two months with his big toe.

[00:05:37] Colquhoun's coming back.

[00:05:37] No, no, it's the shoulder.

[00:05:39] Oh, is the shoulder hurting?

[00:05:40] Is that right Gary?

[00:05:41] It was the surfing injury in Bali.

[00:05:43] Okay, so he had the toe problems during the year, but then he only fell off the surfboard.

[00:05:45] That's it.

[00:05:46] And you've had, you know, Colquhoun, will he be fit opening round?

[00:05:50] No.

[00:05:50] Yeah, exactly.

[00:05:51] So we actually need him as a middle, whether it's the enforcer in the team.

[00:05:55] I would have thought numbers wise, we actually need him.

[00:05:57] What do you think, Cam?

[00:05:59] Yeah, it was perplexing that he didn't get a run towards the back end of last season.

[00:06:02] He looked great for the Jets, particularly in that championship game, I guess on grand final day.

[00:06:08] He looked great.

[00:06:09] And so, yeah, I mean, I'm pretty excited to see him back and fully fit.

[00:06:13] And I think he's going to be, you know, take the opportunity that's been opened up for him,

[00:06:17] both to play alongside AFB, but also in the other guys missing.

[00:06:21] So here's a chance for him to really put his hand up and say he's one of the sort of big dogs of the pack,

[00:06:26] which we all want him to be.

[00:06:28] I really feel for him because like he was really trending to a really great point,

[00:06:33] playing some red footy, other clubs looking at him.

[00:06:37] He's a great fellow off the field, great ambassador.

[00:06:39] He took less didn't he to stay with us because he wanted to play?

[00:06:42] What didn't he?

[00:06:42] Wasn't there a deal to go to the Warriors?

[00:06:43] Yeah, yeah.

[00:06:44] So he definitely wants to stick around.

[00:06:46] But yeah, it's just this weird year or two he's had.

[00:06:50] So hopefully this is the one.

[00:06:51] I mean, we were joking before we hit record about Blake Braley finally coming good as a Christmas wish.

[00:06:58] Hopefully this one for Braden's just one off.

[00:07:00] So I think we need him too.

[00:07:02] You're right, Clinton.

[00:07:03] I think we really need him.

[00:07:05] Those guys, they don't come around every day, those sized athletes.

[00:07:10] So yeah, that was where the whole thing for me stemmed from was the two things like Clinton and Josh said,

[00:07:15] like the aggression that he can bring when we've seen him at his best,

[00:07:18] that kind of replaces what we lose in a guy like Royce Hunt.

[00:07:21] And then just the need that we have with all those guys that have left or are injured and not playing,

[00:07:26] like he's got to step up and he's got to be there.

[00:07:28] Like, say if Kofusi starts the season and Tom comes off the bench,

[00:07:32] I mean, who's the other middle on the bench at the moment if it's not BHC?

[00:07:36] I don't know.

[00:07:36] A youngster.

[00:07:37] Yeah.

[00:07:38] I know we haven't done the depth chart yet, but...

[00:07:40] Big Tooks probably, yeah.

[00:07:41] Yeah, well he's...

[00:07:42] I don't know if that's an official go, but he's sticking around.

[00:07:44] I know that.

[00:07:45] Yes.

[00:07:45] You're smiling.

[00:07:46] No comment.

[00:07:47] So yeah, we know that he's sticking around.

[00:07:50] So maybe...

[00:07:50] But it shows there's a...

[00:07:51] To start the year anyway, until Toby and Jesse are back to full fitness,

[00:07:56] there's a bit of a depth issue.

[00:07:57] I think the most exciting part of that is if he's fit round one

[00:08:00] and Adam Vanewa Blake pumps out 20, 25, 30 minutes

[00:08:03] and the opposition go, okay, thank God, he's off.

[00:08:06] And then he comes on and replaces him straight away.

[00:08:09] Kofusi can play an extra 5-10 and then cover that for Tooks to come

[00:08:11] and have a 10 minutes to rip in as well.

[00:08:14] Like that's a real...

[00:08:14] And then you bring them back on.

[00:08:17] That's a really damaging front row if all fit.

[00:08:19] Is that your preference?

[00:08:20] Yes, at the moment.

[00:08:21] I'd rather have Oggy start for sure.

[00:08:23] He had a good year, hey?

[00:08:24] He did.

[00:08:24] He had a really good year and that was like something that I'd hoped for

[00:08:27] at the start of last year was for him to step up.

[00:08:29] I thought he did and I thought he did really well.

[00:08:30] Like there were some games there.

[00:08:31] I think in Canberra he played the whole first half.

[00:08:33] Yeah.

[00:08:34] And like we can see he can play big minutes.

[00:08:36] He doesn't fall off too much.

[00:08:38] Yeah.

[00:08:38] But then there's other guys like Tooks doesn't play that big of minutes.

[00:08:40] He doesn't need to.

[00:08:41] But he doesn't need to when we've got guys like that.

[00:08:43] Adam's going to play big minutes.

[00:08:44] Adam's going to play big minutes.

[00:08:45] We know Oregon can play big minutes.

[00:08:46] So if guys like Braden and Tooks are coming off the bench, Tommy Hazer, I think we'll be

[00:08:50] in a good spot.

[00:08:51] But yeah, we need all those guys firing to start the year.

[00:08:54] Once they're all fit, it's a pretty good pack.

[00:08:56] Like I tend to say this every year.

[00:08:58] We've got a great pack.

[00:08:59] But they won't be fit at once.

[00:09:00] That's reality.

[00:09:01] They'll always find one with Inja.

[00:09:02] That's true.

[00:09:03] That's true.

[00:09:04] But I guess my point is the pack when you look at the depth chart, it's pretty good.

[00:09:09] Got Nephi's brother who's come from the Raiders as well.

[00:09:12] He's playing lock a bit.

[00:09:13] Have you seen him train?

[00:09:13] He's sort of that Jack Williams mold.

[00:09:15] Is he training well?

[00:09:16] Yeah, he's training really well.

[00:09:17] Really nice guy.

[00:09:18] Just like Nephi.

[00:09:19] You've met him before.

[00:09:19] Yeah.

[00:09:20] They're pretty similar.

[00:09:21] They're hard to tell the difference in photos when they ask you to send them photos.

[00:09:24] I'm not sure which one you are, but I'll send you them all.

[00:09:27] Are they twins?

[00:09:28] Yeah, they're twins.

[00:09:28] Twin brothers.

[00:09:29] He comes with a pretty good rep.

[00:09:31] So they're twin brothers.

[00:09:33] One plays in the front row and one's a halfback?

[00:09:35] Yep.

[00:09:35] How does that work?

[00:09:36] They're both solid though.

[00:09:37] Nephi's not a small half.

[00:09:39] Yeah.

[00:09:39] Yeah, like I've heard a lot of Raider fans were pretty upset that they let him go.

[00:09:44] Yeah.

[00:09:44] They boot against the Shucks.

[00:09:45] That's exactly right.

[00:09:46] Yeah.

[00:09:47] He's only played a couple of games, but yeah, a couple of people I really respect are really

[00:09:53] happy with the idea of him coming and he might fall into the Billy Burns, chuck him

[00:09:58] in when you need him.

[00:09:59] He won't let you down category, which is, you can't have enough of those guys.

[00:10:02] Yeah, exactly.

[00:10:03] So we hope that BHU has a great season.

[00:10:08] He just became a dad, didn't he?

[00:10:10] He did, yeah.

[00:10:11] Him and his missus had a little boy.

[00:10:12] So he's, yeah, there's a lot going on off the field for him, which I think has put him

[00:10:16] in a really nice headspace and he seems like he's come back fresh, I guess is the word.

[00:10:22] All right.

[00:10:23] That's our first wish.

[00:10:24] We're off in the SharkCast annual Christmas episode.

[00:10:28] The next one we are going to choose is this one and it's from TK.

[00:10:35] And he would like Will Kennedy to prove the doubters wrong with a Dalliem positional season.

[00:10:42] In other words, standout year for Will Kennedy, winning fullback of the year.

[00:10:47] That's his wish.

[00:10:49] We all support that, but what do we all think about it?

[00:10:52] I'm all in on this.

[00:10:54] I'm a big Will fan and I think he's at the wrong end of a bit of fan, you know, speculation.

[00:11:04] It's snowballs.

[00:11:05] But look, I reckon he's, I think he's really great and I think he's safe and I don't know

[00:11:10] whether he's going to be, you know, there's some other good fullbacks that he's fighting

[00:11:14] for to get the Dalliem.

[00:11:16] So I'm not sort of betting on him, but I'd like to see him really cement his place in

[00:11:22] the Sharks for 2025 and just snuff out some of this discussion about moving him on, even

[00:11:27] though I know it's not going to go away.

[00:11:30] Well, I reckon Fitz has made the choice here now because maybe not the long term choice,

[00:11:34] but certainly in the next 12, 24 months, maybe that gives Will confidence because Eisson

[00:11:38] and he did well in that game that he played, but he's not ready. Dykes has not played for

[00:11:44] two years, let's be honest, and he's let Atkinson go.

[00:11:47] Now I know Atkinson's going to be there this year, but he's not going to suddenly put

[00:11:50] Atkinson at fullback to start the season, given he's going to a different club.

[00:11:54] Well, keep in mind, Eisson's signed for a few years now.

[00:11:56] But Eisson's played one game.

[00:11:58] I know.

[00:11:59] Eisson's played one game.

[00:12:00] So I think that's Kennedy being told, okay, it's your spot to start the year with.

[00:12:05] Yeah.

[00:12:05] To give you that confidence.

[00:12:06] Yeah, but I wonder when the contract...

[00:12:07] Plenty of plans didn't want him to start the year.

[00:12:10] Yeah.

[00:12:11] I wonder when the contract talk will heat up though for him and the coach and the club.

[00:12:17] But, you know, the contract talk doesn't need to start yet.

[00:12:20] There's only one club that's going to be interested in Will Kennedy.

[00:12:23] Sorry.

[00:12:23] I don't know about that.

[00:12:25] PNG, or Perth, the new club.

[00:12:28] You run through the 17 clubs.

[00:12:31] Who does Will Kennedy knock over?

[00:12:33] Which club actually...

[00:12:34] And I love Will.

[00:12:35] You know, I really do love Will.

[00:12:36] And I think he's our fullback now.

[00:12:38] But who's going to bid for Will Kennedy?

[00:12:39] But does that mean he's the 17th worst fullback?

[00:12:42] No, no, no, no, of course not.

[00:12:43] Of course not.

[00:12:44] But if you look at, you know, the Raiders.

[00:12:45] The Raiders got someone like Chevy Stewart playing reserve grade.

[00:12:48] Yeah.

[00:12:48] And he's meant to be the next big thing.

[00:12:50] Yeah.

[00:12:50] Some of those mid...

[00:12:51] Buller.

[00:12:52] West Tigers at the bottom of the ladder, they've got Buller.

[00:12:54] Well, yeah, but he's a very special player.

[00:12:56] Well, the Parramatta have let Gutho go, because he's on his last legs, but they've gone and bought who they think is going to be the next gun.

[00:13:01] So, and yeah, things can change in the course of six months.

[00:13:04] And I just don't think there is pressure on the Sharks to go and sign Will right now.

[00:13:08] Even though you can.

[00:13:08] Oh, sure.

[00:13:09] I don't think they need to yet.

[00:13:11] Sure.

[00:13:12] When those other clubs...

[00:13:13] Now, Perth will be announced, apparently, I'm hearing in the next week.

[00:13:16] Really?

[00:13:17] Yeah, apparently.

[00:13:18] They're just trying to...

[00:13:19] For the same time as PNG?

[00:13:21] No, they'll come in the year before PNG.

[00:13:22] Oh.

[00:13:23] That's the difference.

[00:13:24] Okay.

[00:13:24] Now, once those two clubs are formally in, and they come up with the guidelines of when players can sign and so forth,

[00:13:30] that's when Will Kennedy, absolutely, his value jumps, because he'll be a big option for those clubs, I would think.

[00:13:36] Yeah.

[00:13:36] Josh, do you have Will Kennedy starting in round one?

[00:13:39] Oh, he's definitely going to start.

[00:13:41] Okay.

[00:13:41] But, look, to Clinton's point, I think that Fitz has made the decision that Ison is the next guy, or is the guy going forward.

[00:13:49] With that contract signing, the fact he got a game when he probably realistically shouldn't have, showed a big sign of faith in him.

[00:13:58] Everything that I've seen from him indicates that he is a first grader at minimum, and I think the potential of him is huge.

[00:14:06] So, I think that re-signing, probably on a cheaper deal than what he will be in two years, is really astute.

[00:14:12] And I think that if Will goes down, he's first in, obviously.

[00:14:15] I think 2026, I think he probably takes the spot regardless.

[00:14:20] So, I reckon if Will goes down in certainly the first half of the season, Atkinson plays fullback.

[00:14:25] You reckon?

[00:14:27] Well, he's got the experience at the moment.

[00:14:29] Okay, not the experience of playing fullback for us, but he came through as a fullback, didn't he?

[00:14:32] But would you waste getting games into Ison for another season?

[00:14:37] Yeah, we've got a premiership window.

[00:14:39] I reckon, honestly, you know I'm pessimistic about the Sharks.

[00:14:41] I actually think there are hope in 25 to win the comp.

[00:14:44] Oh, jeez.

[00:14:45] I think we'll get to that later.

[00:14:46] Absolutely.

[00:14:47] But I think that's why you don't release Natchinsson.

[00:14:51] I think we've got to...

[00:14:51] Oh no, you don't release him.

[00:14:52] No way.

[00:14:53] Yeah, but if you don't release him, Ison is a longer term project.

[00:14:56] And I reckon, you're probably right, I think he's Kennedy's replacement.

[00:14:59] But I think he's Kennedy's full-time replacement, not Kennedy's down for a month.

[00:15:03] Who do we put in the number one?

[00:15:04] Do you think they would have done that though during this season when they did play Ison?

[00:15:09] I don't think there was a choice.

[00:15:10] I think I was overseas or something, but I think Haradi was injured.

[00:15:13] I think there was a lot of choice for football.

[00:15:14] But Atkinson was available to play him there.

[00:15:17] I think he might have been playing in the arms.

[00:15:18] Was he?

[00:15:18] Yeah.

[00:15:19] Okay.

[00:15:19] I still...

[00:15:21] I think I'd play him and get as many minutes and as many games if you can, if the injury presents itself.

[00:15:26] I think you'd get him in there and get five games in him if that's the case.

[00:15:29] Get him prepped and then he's got half a dozen games going into the full-time season

[00:15:34] instead of going bang, round one, you play one game.

[00:15:37] I reckon we had the attitude this year where he'd win a comp.

[00:15:40] Let's start with your season with that attitude.

[00:15:42] This will not disappoint the forum listeners who listen to our show.

[00:15:45] So I'm on the fence about this subject, whether they go Ison or Atkinson if there's an injury to Will.

[00:15:52] Like I think it's pretty even.

[00:15:54] There's pros and cons of both.

[00:15:56] Because if he's going to be our long-term fullback, he's already played one game,

[00:16:01] he's probably a better fullback, inverted commas, than Atkinson.

[00:16:05] Then obviously Atkinson's pretty good at what he does.

[00:16:07] I'd say more of his defense before I'd commit to that.

[00:16:10] Yeah, I'm all in on that.

[00:16:12] I think that's the problem is you think, so what's Will doing?

[00:16:15] Apart from getting injured, what is he going to do wrong that means he gets replaced?

[00:16:20] And if his defense and security stays what it has been in last season,

[00:16:25] I think it's hard to move him on even if he's just not glittering an attack.

[00:16:28] Because as Sam, you and I talked about with Ison, sure he's going to be in that highlight reel last year,

[00:16:34] but he made some mistakes and he's not as secure at the back.

[00:16:39] He's also 12 years old.

[00:16:41] 100%.

[00:16:42] But it also depends on where Atko ends up, what role he has in the team,

[00:16:48] when we're at full strength, and how you might want to disrupt his role to start the season,

[00:16:54] to move him to fullback.

[00:16:55] And I think you probably take it a game by game basis, but I think he's now a number 14,

[00:17:00] depending on if we go with a full four on the bench, a forwards.

[00:17:08] We don't now have a long-term commitment for him, so it's not like this whole idea,

[00:17:12] oh, you've been guaranteed a spot in the 17, I don't think that applies anymore.

[00:17:16] I just think, I don't know if this isn't an Ison debate topic, but I just want to go back.

[00:17:20] Like, he is young and he's going to make mistakes,

[00:17:22] I think we need to allow him to make mistakes and learn from them and grow,

[00:17:25] because if you remember back, Dylan Edwards was shocking when he debuted,

[00:17:28] and now he's one of the greatest fullbacks we've ever seen.

[00:17:30] Penrith weren't in a premiership window when Dylan Edwards debuted.

[00:17:34] No, but...

[00:17:34] I reckon we are now.

[00:17:35] I know, but if you get games into him now,

[00:17:37] and you want to make that window longer and more open,

[00:17:39] or even change the way we play and the superstar potential that he has,

[00:17:43] I think you get him in as early as you can if he's good enough.

[00:17:47] On the Will Kennedy thing, I've said it before, I'm sure,

[00:17:50] I find it laughable that people pile onto him and his performance,

[00:17:57] say, the year just gone, when we were a heartbeat away from a grand final.

[00:18:02] And okay, look at his stats, maybe they're not where they need to be,

[00:18:05] or whatever.

[00:18:05] I don't really think he was the reason we didn't get to a grand final.

[00:18:09] No.

[00:18:09] That's what I can't...

[00:18:10] I don't understand all this, you've got to get rid of him.

[00:18:14] What? What are you talking about?

[00:18:16] If you get rid of him, it's a bigger risk of rocking the boat in the premiership window.

[00:18:20] We also played Penrith who won four-strike comps in the best team of the NRL era.

[00:18:24] Hello.

[00:18:25] We played like we didn't want to hold the ball or win the game.

[00:18:28] It wasn't Will Kennedy thing.

[00:18:30] So that part of the argument and the flip side of what TK,

[00:18:34] TK wants him to have a great year, we all do.

[00:18:36] So that's the thing I do not understand.

[00:18:38] It's like, okay, you might have a better fullback down the road for me.

[00:18:41] Sure. Absolutely.

[00:18:42] This is the guy we've got.

[00:18:43] We're having these great seasons.

[00:18:46] We kind of know why we didn't go all the way last year.

[00:18:48] We had a whole bunch of reasons why.

[00:18:50] It had nothing to do with Will Kennedy.

[00:18:52] I think if you look back to some of our best attacking shapes

[00:18:56] on both sides of the field,

[00:18:58] Will is always in and around linking it somehow.

[00:19:02] And I feel like, yes, his defense gets questioned a little bit and he can probably improve in a few areas in both attack and defense.

[00:19:08] But when we're playing our best football,

[00:19:10] he's always in and around doing something and putting someone in space that helps our team drastically.

[00:19:17] You know, I reckon his best football came the previous year when Moylan was 5'8".

[00:19:21] Yeah.

[00:19:21] And so he's just then come into the,

[00:19:23] he's been the fullback this year when there's been inconsistency in the halves pretty much the whole season.

[00:19:28] Mm-hmm.

[00:19:29] So hopefully in the off season, as a quartet, they're working together.

[00:19:34] Okay, Braley's obviously hooker, but it's Trindle and Nico now, full-time halves going forward.

[00:19:38] Yeah.

[00:19:38] Well, we didn't really see that for any length of time.

[00:19:41] I mean, 100%.

[00:19:42] I agree, totally.

[00:19:43] And he's come back in really good nick.

[00:19:44] He's actually bulked up something fierce.

[00:19:46] He's looking solid to start the year.

[00:19:49] So I'm interested to see if he's lost any speed or anything like that.

[00:19:52] But in terms of size, Will's looking really good.

[00:19:55] All right.

[00:19:56] Our next wish is going to be one that Gary, Cam and TK have requested,

[00:20:03] but only one of the three have named it this.

[00:20:05] Yeah.

[00:20:06] This is how it came to me.

[00:20:08] No more Mr. Nico guy.

[00:20:10] But it's spelt nice guy.

[00:20:12] No more Mr. Nice Guy for Nico.

[00:20:13] That's it.

[00:20:14] And that means a whole bunch of things.

[00:20:16] I think we all know kind of what that means.

[00:20:19] Let's talk about Nico, the king of carrying bar.

[00:20:22] Gary, he's back at training.

[00:20:23] He's in full training.

[00:20:24] Yep.

[00:20:24] Back doing everything.

[00:20:26] So he's fully around it, getting into it and getting stuck in.

[00:20:29] But yeah, it's time for him to almost drop the nice guy thing for me.

[00:20:33] I think where this stemmed from was the thought that we know he's a nice guy.

[00:20:36] We know everything that he's done on and off the field.

[00:20:38] We saw him when he spoke about Atkinson.

[00:20:40] He said he's a better guy than he is a football player.

[00:20:42] Like we get it.

[00:20:43] He's a nice guy.

[00:20:44] I love Nico.

[00:20:45] He's beautiful human.

[00:20:46] But I want to see him flip the switch and become an absolute savage

[00:20:50] and go out on the field and perform like the top halves perform.

[00:20:54] Now, the only problem I have with that is we've seen him do that from time to time

[00:20:59] and he's absolutely lost the plot.

[00:21:02] Now, there's different definitions on flicking a switch and becoming aggressive and that kind

[00:21:07] of thing.

[00:21:08] So I'm talking about when he gets frustrated.

[00:21:10] We've seen him just, you know, kick out in the fall and do all these silly things.

[00:21:15] I get what you're saying.

[00:21:16] Renato Mulattalo, right?

[00:21:17] That's my classic example.

[00:21:19] Like he went through a phase where he was too aggressive.

[00:21:21] He was too in people's face.

[00:21:23] Things fell apart for him.

[00:21:24] That's probably where Nico's at now.

[00:21:26] Now Ronnie holds his nerve, knows when to insert himself in those moments with aggression

[00:21:31] or with a comment or with a push or a shove.

[00:21:33] I just want Nico to get to that level.

[00:21:35] Yeah.

[00:21:36] And we want him just to have a breakout year again.

[00:21:39] The first half of his year last year was great.

[00:21:41] Yeah.

[00:21:42] Shades of that when he came back from injury.

[00:21:44] That's the thing.

[00:21:45] He's coming back from a pretty nasty injury.

[00:21:47] Yeah.

[00:21:47] People just expect him to be on straight away.

[00:21:50] He copped it left, right and centre on the media for the way he came back.

[00:21:53] But the media didn't, look I'm part of it, we all are in a different way,

[00:21:57] didn't accept that he was coming back from an injury that probably was season ending.

[00:22:00] Yeah.

[00:22:00] Like seriously.

[00:22:01] A big injury.

[00:22:02] 100%.

[00:22:02] I just think the pylon last year was just utterly ridiculous.

[00:22:05] He wasn't at 100% and he went out there and tried to do his best for the team

[00:22:09] and like maybe in hindsight he shouldn't have.

[00:22:11] It's that tough balance where he is the highest paid player.

[00:22:14] He's the most, probably one of the most high profile guys in the comp.

[00:22:17] Absolutely.

[00:22:18] And I remember sitting with a very inebriated TK at the Penrith prelim.

[00:22:24] He was gone.

[00:22:26] And all around me, you know, cries of do something, Nico, now's your time.

[00:22:33] And to be fair, he wasn't lights out.

[00:22:36] He didn't have an eight out of 10 game.

[00:22:38] That's all the people around me wanted was him out of the 13 guys to do something.

[00:22:43] So I understand that.

[00:22:44] But they need to share it around.

[00:22:46] Like it came good with Trindle sharing around him taking the reins a little bit.

[00:22:50] There's a nice balance there.

[00:22:51] I want to see him just get rid of all the outside noise.

[00:22:54] We know he's really leaps and bounds ahead of most of the guys as far as mental health awareness

[00:23:02] and the healing powers and all that stuff he's into, which I fully respect.

[00:23:07] I want to see him shut out all the noise, the rep stuff.

[00:23:11] I think he kind of does, but the performances sometimes don't display that.

[00:23:16] I think, Sam, I think that's the thing is that great performances by Nico is really the only way to silence some of the noise that's kind of around the Nico story.

[00:23:25] And I think that I kind of feel like I know, look, I know we're paying him a lot of money and the circumstances that led to that or a few years ago now.

[00:23:33] And I sort of feel like I want to just drop that sort of describer about him all the time.

[00:23:39] Like, you know, I know we're paying him a lot, but he needs to find a place in the team that has the best outcome for the team.

[00:23:45] Yeah.

[00:23:45] And, you know, the rise of Trindle kind of has changed that a little bit, I reckon.

[00:23:50] And so I kind of don't want him to kind of feel like he has to do everything too much.

[00:23:55] I want him to have a great season.

[00:23:57] But he doesn't have to be the miracle worker that sometimes people want him to be.

[00:24:00] And so whatever that role in the team is, play that solidly, play it well.

[00:24:05] Yeah.

[00:24:06] And then hopefully that'll shut out some of that noise that surrounded him in the last couple of seasons.

[00:24:10] The problem though is he needs to flick the switch if no one else is going to do it.

[00:24:18] So in the Penrith game, the prelim, the game was there to be taken.

[00:24:21] The whole team didn't play the standards we know they can.

[00:24:25] But like all the crowd around me, you're looking for someone to do something.

[00:24:28] I personally wasn't looking just at the number seven, but if no one else is going to do it, he kind of has to do it.

[00:24:36] Which is a lot of pressure.

[00:24:38] Yeah, it's a lot of pressure, but also in games like that.

[00:24:40] Like again, like we just said about Will, it's not Nico's fault.

[00:24:43] No way.

[00:24:43] No, no, no.

[00:24:44] And so...

[00:24:45] Yeah, but I know what you mean.

[00:24:46] I mean, I guess that our players...

[00:24:48] It's just that fine line of him.

[00:24:49] Yeah.

[00:24:50] He's the poster boy and that's why he gets the extra money and like we love him.

[00:24:54] Like he's one of the greatest signings in our club's history.

[00:24:58] But with that comes this kind of, yeah, yeah, go out and be awesome.

[00:25:03] I reckon we can treat 2025, and I hope this is the way he's treating it, that it's a fresh slate.

[00:25:09] It is.

[00:25:09] Now he started last year playing outstanding.

[00:25:12] Yeah.

[00:25:12] To the point, I think he was leading the Dalliem or second.

[00:25:15] And most fans thought, oh, that's a bit much.

[00:25:17] Like it was a bit like he was attracting points because he was Nico Hines.

[00:25:20] But he was playing very well.

[00:25:21] To the point, and yes there was injuries, he was named in Origin.

[00:25:24] I think the beauty we're going to have in 2025, I hate to break it to Nico if this is his dream.

[00:25:28] I don't think he's even going to come into calculations for Origin.

[00:25:31] But I actually think that's a good thing.

[00:25:33] Of course it is.

[00:25:33] I think it attracts so much attention.

[00:25:35] Whether it piles pressure on him or not, who knows.

[00:25:37] But I think the fact that he won't even really be talked about as an Origin prospect this year.

[00:25:42] I think that's good.

[00:25:42] Just focus on the team.

[00:25:45] Build that combination and whatever the new role is between him and Trindle in the offseason.

[00:25:49] And then put that into practice week after week after week.

[00:25:51] What happens if he has the same start to the year and then Cleary or Luai has the injury?

[00:25:58] Honestly, I reckon they'll go elsewhere.

[00:25:59] They will?

[00:26:00] I think he's, for the moment, almost had papers stamped as a rep footballer.

[00:26:04] Unfortunately for him.

[00:26:06] But I think, that doesn't mean he's not going to play rep football in a couple of years time.

[00:26:08] But I reckon there's going to be a bit of a break from the Nico Hines train.

[00:26:11] I'm with you.

[00:26:12] I couldn't care less.

[00:26:13] But I'm just wondering if that really is not going to be a thing.

[00:26:18] Like you'd think...

[00:26:19] I think Flannoy Jr. will get a run before Nico will.

[00:26:22] Oh, Jesus.

[00:26:23] That's what it was.

[00:26:25] But then, like, we've got a guy out there called Adam Fenua Blake.

[00:26:29] And we spoke about it in our first wish as well.

[00:26:31] If Braden Hamlin-Welley steps up, those two guys playing the way that they play when we know they can play that way,

[00:26:37] frees up Blake Braley, so Nico doesn't have to do as much.

[00:26:41] And then Tricky and Nico off the back of that, they're going to have much more space.

[00:26:45] And then off the back of that, we've got a guy called Will Kennedy that we've just spoken about,

[00:26:49] who's going to have even more space off the back of that.

[00:26:51] So it's not going to be up to just Nico doing it.

[00:26:53] But if he picks his moments, it's going to be great.

[00:26:56] I'm personally not worried.

[00:26:57] I think that he's a great player.

[00:26:59] And if you don't look at his year with circumstance, then you're kind of not doing it justice.

[00:27:06] Like he...

[00:27:07] It was a weird year for him.

[00:27:09] So what do you reckon, Joshy?

[00:27:11] I think, well, we want him to be talked about in the origin space because if he is, that means...

[00:27:15] Sorry, let me choose Josh as the number one ticket holder of the King and Kering Bar fan club.

[00:27:19] Yeah, I just...

[00:27:21] I think that if he's being spoken about in that origin space again, that means that we're probably going pretty well.

[00:27:26] So I think it's a bit of catch-22.

[00:27:29] We don't probably want him to play and we don't want him to be in the discussions because we've seen how it's kind of affected him,

[00:27:34] whether he would admit that or not.

[00:27:35] It has.

[00:27:36] But if he's playing lights out, he's going to be in the discussion.

[00:27:39] Whether...

[00:27:40] Obviously, like, Cleary's going to get picked if he's fit.

[00:27:42] Luai's probably going to get picked if he's fit.

[00:27:44] But that discussion will still be there.

[00:27:46] And that's a good thing.

[00:27:47] I think you want that.

[00:27:48] You want your best players being talked about in origin because that means they're playing well.

[00:27:51] But not being part of the camp, not being part of the pressure that comes with it.

[00:27:56] It'll be the talk, but not being part of those six weeks.

[00:27:58] If it's on 360 a couple of weeks out and they're going, what about Nico Hines?

[00:28:02] How well is he playing?

[00:28:02] Of course, that's going to happen because it's going to be an issue anyway.

[00:28:05] Yes.

[00:28:05] And I don't want Nico not to play origin again.

[00:28:08] Just have a year away from it.

[00:28:09] No, I agree.

[00:28:10] To get the basics back.

[00:28:11] And I think to Gaz's point as well about that front row lane, that platform is that I think this is the...

[00:28:17] In the fits era, this is the most balanced the side looks across the park.

[00:28:21] So I think if you have all those pieces moving, like I said, just that 10 to 20% taken off...

[00:28:28] Thank you very much.

[00:28:28] Oh, look at this.

[00:28:29] Oh, guys.

[00:28:29] Thanks so much.

[00:28:30] Forget Nico.

[00:28:31] Shout out to the Royal Motor Yacht Club.

[00:28:34] Our friend Liam and these lovely people delivering some lovely food.

[00:28:37] Thank you so much.

[00:28:38] Hey, thank you.

[00:28:38] This is awesome.

[00:28:39] Thank you.

[00:28:41] Thanks so much.

[00:28:43] Yeah, I mean...

[00:28:44] Can I ask, is this the garlic bread?

[00:28:45] Free garlic bread, baby?

[00:28:46] The famed garlic bread.

[00:28:47] It looks pretty fancy.

[00:28:49] It looks fancy.

[00:28:49] Is it garlic bread?

[00:28:50] This is the famed garlic bread.

[00:28:51] Yeah, it is.

[00:28:52] Okay, well, shout out to the Royal Motor Yacht Club.

[00:28:54] Let's finish on Nico and we'll have a break.

[00:28:57] The whole origin thing, you guys know I'm not an origin guy, but if he was to play there

[00:29:01] and succeed, can you imagine the confidence that would give him?

[00:29:04] I don't want to risk it.

[00:29:06] I'd rather him not.

[00:29:07] It would, and I think it would, but we've also saw after last season, players came back

[00:29:12] from origin and a winning side.

[00:29:13] Lomax was not quite the same player, even though he had a great season.

[00:29:17] Oh yeah.

[00:29:17] He was down on form.

[00:29:18] There were other, from the winning Blues side, it mentally takes so much out of them.

[00:29:23] I just think it's going to be good, hopefully, to have a concentrating on the Sharks for 12 months.

[00:29:29] Yeah, for sure.

[00:29:30] For sure.

[00:29:30] How's he looking down there, Gaz?

[00:29:31] Looking all right?

[00:29:32] Good.

[00:29:33] Looking good.

[00:29:33] He posted a thing saying, I love my job.

[00:29:35] Good job.

[00:29:36] Was it your photo?

[00:29:37] I don't know.

[00:29:38] I don't know if I saw it.

[00:29:38] He was like in an action shot.

[00:29:39] He looks really fit, actually.

[00:29:41] It looks really good.

[00:29:41] Yeah, he is.

[00:29:42] He's come back in good nick, but yeah, I think, as we've all spoken about, he just needs

[00:29:46] to shut out that outside noise and get back to what we know he can do, and he'll be fine.

[00:29:50] He did the presser at the children's hospital the other day, which was pretty cool.

[00:29:54] He did.

[00:29:54] It was good getting the whole squad out there, a few different places.

[00:29:57] Yeah.

[00:29:58] Yeah.

[00:29:58] All right, let's take a break.

[00:30:00] All right, let's take a break.

[00:30:00] And we might even play an ad from the Royal Motor Yacht Club.

[00:30:03] They're looking after us so nice.

[00:30:04] And after the break, we'll be back.

[00:30:06] The listeners, it's just going to be a short break.

[00:30:08] For us, we're going to have a little bit of a food break.

[00:30:10] But we'll be back real soon.

[00:30:11] Don't go anywhere.

[00:30:12] This is Shark House Pod Christmas Edition 2024.

[00:30:18] The Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking is a hidden gem of the Shire, situated on the banks

[00:30:23] of the beautiful Port Hacking.

[00:30:24] It's a great place to catch up with friends, celebrate your birthday or any special occasion,

[00:30:28] and they always show the NRL live on the big screens.

[00:30:32] The RMYC Port Hacking, proud sponsors of this podcast, and big supporters of the Cronulla

[00:30:38] Sutherland Sharks.

[00:30:39] Check out their website, rmycph.com.au.

[00:30:42] They've got a Facebook page, or you could go old school and call them on 02 9523 9300.

[00:30:50] So I'm the last of times, and he's going to go to the air again.

[00:30:54] And oh!

[00:31:02] Welcome back to Shark House Pod.

[00:31:04] The lads have been chowing down on food from the galley, the Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking

[00:31:14] restaurant, eating establishment, which is where we are.

[00:31:17] We're actually in the Mariner Bar, which is an awesome little place that you can come and

[00:31:21] hang out when that's open to the public.

[00:31:23] Currently, it is just for SharkCast, our Christmas party, if you will.

[00:31:27] And thanks to Liam for the hospitality and all of his staff.

[00:31:31] Please come down and support them.

[00:31:33] Boys, what was your favorite thing here?

[00:31:35] Everything.

[00:31:36] Garlic bread, baby.

[00:31:37] What do you guys say?

[00:31:38] I hid the headline.

[00:31:39] What's the word?

[00:31:40] I buried the lead.

[00:31:41] Buried the lead.

[00:31:42] We got the free garlic bread, baby.

[00:31:44] So I've got to say, it was some of the best garlic bread I've ever had.

[00:31:47] Legitimately.

[00:31:48] It is the best.

[00:31:49] Yeah.

[00:31:49] So we thank those responsible.

[00:31:53] Back to the Christmas wish.

[00:31:55] And aside from free garlic bread and pizza, Cam Webb put forward this one.

[00:32:00] He wants the NRLW team to keep the momentum of this season's grand final comeback and bring

[00:32:06] it into next season and dominate.

[00:32:09] So Cam will let you lead on this.

[00:32:11] It was a great year.

[00:32:12] Yeah, there's no doubt.

[00:32:13] Fantastic year.

[00:32:14] And despite a bit of a blip towards the end of the regular season, I guess, which might

[00:32:19] have, you know, could have easily derailed the rest of the season.

[00:32:22] They kind of finished with a bang.

[00:32:24] And look, they're a few minutes away from one of the greatest ever, you know, footy

[00:32:29] comeback grand final wins.

[00:32:30] And so I suppose it can play out two ways and you can be a bit deflated by that or come

[00:32:37] back and really want to prove that, you know, you've got what it takes to win it.

[00:32:42] And I think notwithstanding the performance on the field, I guess the NRLW team just

[00:32:48] have been great ambassadors for the sport.

[00:32:50] And we've been to a number of events, kind of meet and greet type events with them.

[00:32:55] And they've always been fantastic, very generous with their time, friendly, just genuinely interested

[00:33:00] in the fans.

[00:33:01] And I think that that goes right through the squad.

[00:33:03] And so I think I kind of really wish them the best for next year.

[00:33:08] And I reckon kind of we should try.

[00:33:11] It'd be great to see more people turning up to the games as well.

[00:33:13] And I know that we try and sometimes weird hours, but I reckon Sharks fans should get

[00:33:19] around them and do what they can, particularly for those home games to get along.

[00:33:23] It'd be nice to see a bit healthier crowd there at some of those games.

[00:33:26] The quality is really good.

[00:33:27] Now, I can't profess to have seen every game all season, but when you watch it, compared

[00:33:31] to say what women's state of origin was like, say about seven years ago, when it was first

[00:33:37] starting to get a lot of attention, I think the quality is, the defense has improved remarkably.

[00:33:43] Fantastic, yeah.

[00:33:43] Kicking games are a lot better than they were back then.

[00:33:47] But I think we probably all agree we're biased.

[00:33:49] They should have been in from the start.

[00:33:51] But the Sharks, given they were a pioneer in the game, it was ridiculous we were let

[00:33:55] out.

[00:33:56] But given it's only their second season and they made the grand final and sure the first

[00:34:00] half wasn't great, but the fact that they got that far, and after that undefeated run

[00:34:06] as well, take great heart out of the fact it's only the second season.

[00:34:09] I think to Cam's point about, you know, it could go one of two ways, the reflection on

[00:34:13] that game, it should be that they came back and they almost won it.

[00:34:17] It's, I mean, you had a bad first half, that's okay, that happens.

[00:34:20] I think that's okay.

[00:34:25] Yeah, I think that's okay.

[00:34:26] But they showed enough that they deserve to be there and we were talking about their

[00:34:30] roster, Gary, and we've lost some players.

[00:34:34] We've kind of got a player but she might have most of the year off, which has been announced

[00:34:38] of course.

[00:34:39] Yep.

[00:34:39] But how's the NRLW team looking?

[00:34:42] Yeah, obviously we lost probably three or four middle forwards there, Holly Wheeler, Teagan

[00:34:46] Dimmick.

[00:34:47] We've lost Taylor Preston, gone to the Bulldogs.

[00:34:49] Oh my God.

[00:34:49] So there's a few key pieces that have sort of moved on to different clubs.

[00:34:52] But yeah, the majority of the squad's still there and they're obviously ready and raring

[00:34:56] to go off the back of that comeback sort of in the second half there.

[00:34:58] But, you know, that's a, as a staff, couldn't ask for a better group of girls to work with.

[00:35:03] Like they're so appreciative of everything that we do for them and, you know, we probably

[00:35:07] don't do as much as we should when it comes to, you know, coverage of NRL versus NRLW.

[00:35:12] But, you know, next year I think is a big point for us to really focus in on, you know,

[00:35:18] what they actually bring to the club.

[00:35:19] And as Cam said, it's, you know, for him and his daughter, for me and my daughter, they're

[00:35:25] such ambassadors for the game.

[00:35:26] And like, I love watching my little girl go out there and run out on the field with

[00:35:30] the girls and just, she's in awe of these people.

[00:35:32] Like it's such a platform that they have.

[00:35:34] And I think, yeah.

[00:35:35] It's good for young boys as well.

[00:35:37] Yeah, exactly.

[00:35:38] My kid, he certainly won't be discriminating against a gender.

[00:35:42] That's for sure.

[00:35:42] Yeah, for sure.

[00:35:43] And this is an easy lesson for him to learn.

[00:35:46] Oh, they're sharks.

[00:35:47] Yeah, they're sharks.

[00:35:47] Just the fact that they have now those idols that they can look up to that are out there

[00:35:51] on the footy field that aren't males.

[00:35:53] Yeah, it's great.

[00:35:54] And we'll see the benefit of that in 20 years when the women's games had that time

[00:35:58] to develop their skill because they haven't been professional realistically for that long.

[00:36:02] Look at the, I don't know what the correct term is, but the female EPL comp.

[00:36:08] Yeah, huge.

[00:36:08] And the cricket, the women's cricket is probably the best women's sport in the world, I think,

[00:36:12] because of the standard, because they've been playing now for 20, 30 years.

[00:36:16] And the last 10 years, like the women's game has skyrocketed.

[00:36:19] They're playing all the time.

[00:36:21] And I think when we see that with the NRL, when we have a full comp and they're playing

[00:36:24] full seasons in 20, 30 years, when they've had that ingrained in them and the professionalism

[00:36:29] and the specialists that they have, we'll see that the quality go even higher.

[00:36:32] Yeah.

[00:36:33] A point I did want to just quickly ask you guys and what you think your thoughts are with

[00:36:37] the NRL W's.

[00:36:39] And I guess maybe we'd also have to ask the girls what they think.

[00:36:41] But do you think that for now there'd be strength in playing them before or after NRL games?

[00:36:46] I know that there's a discussion around wanting to stand on its own two feet and get games

[00:36:53] with no distractions around them, I guess, of NRL games.

[00:36:56] But the grounds, like when they're playing there before or after that, like they're going

[00:37:00] to have a better experience, better atmosphere that will also improve, I think, the product.

[00:37:05] But do you guys think that that's something that the game should look at?

[00:37:09] Or do you think that they should still probably stand alone?

[00:37:11] The girls love it.

[00:37:11] They absolutely love when they get to play in front of a decent crowd.

[00:37:15] Like yeah, 11am on a Saturday is really hard for families to get to.

[00:37:18] Like my kids are playing sport and I've got to go to work.

[00:37:21] I can't watch them.

[00:37:22] Half the families can't come and watch the game.

[00:37:24] But then you go to an NRL game and they're playing before that.

[00:37:26] They've got a decent crowd there.

[00:37:27] Everyone gets there early and watches them.

[00:37:29] Like they absolutely love it.

[00:37:30] So I don't think it's a question of do the girls want to do that versus a standalone match?

[00:37:34] Like, yes, they want to have that standalone value.

[00:37:37] But I think where they're at now and what they get the most out of is having people there supporting them.

[00:37:43] And whether that's in front of an NRL game or not.

[00:37:45] So there's a few issues there.

[00:37:47] Obviously, there's broadcast rights.

[00:37:49] Yep.

[00:37:50] And when they want to show it, because they prefer to show stuff live, obviously, then on delay.

[00:37:55] And there's also the fact that the women are not full time.

[00:37:58] So they have their jobs.

[00:38:00] Yep.

[00:38:00] Yes.

[00:38:00] And they can't just hit North Queensland on a Friday or a Sunday or whatever.

[00:38:05] Yeah, it's super hard for them throughout the season working full time and having to take that time off.

[00:38:09] Does it work?

[00:38:10] Like, okay.

[00:38:10] All their training is late at night.

[00:38:12] It's a three month season, basically.

[00:38:13] Yeah.

[00:38:13] Do they take those three months off work or they're juggling?

[00:38:16] No, they're juggling.

[00:38:17] Yeah.

[00:38:17] And they have a set schedule, training for the guys.

[00:38:22] We're playing on a Thursday, whatever it is.

[00:38:24] Training will shift each day and they have their whatever, D1, D2, D3, whatever it is.

[00:38:28] The girls are set all week, every week, so they can go to their jobs and say, this is when I'll be training.

[00:38:34] I'll work around all that.

[00:38:35] And yeah, it's like the hard work and dedication that they have to hold down that job and then come

[00:38:40] and put in late at night, field and gym.

[00:38:43] Like, sometimes they're not finishing till all hours.

[00:38:45] I think we've got an opportunity to be able to play depending on the broadcast schedule

[00:38:49] and availabilities and so forth.

[00:38:51] But because we don't have our own NSW Cup team, I think there's an opportunity to have

[00:38:56] the women's game straight before the men's game.

[00:38:58] Now, often we've got like a Jersey flag level game or something like that.

[00:39:01] I think it'd be better to showcase the NRLW in that spot.

[00:39:04] Oh, personally, I'd like to see some Newtown games occasionally played at Shark Park as well.

[00:39:09] But given that we're not at that point, that should be a slot we can try to have the women's game.

[00:39:13] I think the only difficulty with that would be what Sam was saying is also if the women's game's at 3 o'clock

[00:39:19] and we've not played 5-3, there's obviously an NRL game at 3 o'clock.

[00:39:21] And I think the worry about it is it's the crossover there of eyeballs.

[00:39:24] It's complicated.

[00:39:25] But I mean, the people there, that's where the experiences are obviously,

[00:39:28] but I know they're paying money to showcase these games.

[00:39:30] Yeah, it's a real problem.

[00:39:32] Like, it's a real divide on, you know, the broadcasters wanting to save their money and also show it live.

[00:39:40] And yeah, and then the women being available and not to mention, I guess, ground staff and coaching staff

[00:39:46] and all that kind of thing as well.

[00:39:47] So they need to get it right though.

[00:39:49] Yeah. And the other thing too, Sam, is that I wonder whether there'll be a time when they do have their own standalone grand final.

[00:39:55] Yeah.

[00:39:55] Because that was great on grand final day.

[00:39:59] We were sitting amongst all the Sharks fans way, way up in the cheap seats.

[00:40:02] Like, I'm sure the girls loved playing on that day.

[00:40:07] But jeez, if they could have had a standalone grand final at Parramatta or Allianz or something like that,

[00:40:13] the atmosphere would be really fantastic.

[00:40:15] And the perfect example is the State of Origin game.

[00:40:17] Well, they get to do some crowd for Origin.

[00:40:18] Amazing.

[00:40:19] The numbers are through the roof.

[00:40:24] I'll go backwards.

[00:40:26] I mean, Jada Taylor, what, played a few games this year and then did the knee?

[00:40:30] Yeah.

[00:40:31] So she'll be back.

[00:40:33] We are missing Johnson the prop who she won't be playing, we don't think.

[00:40:38] I mean, some of those girls coming through were pretty good at the back end of the year.

[00:40:42] So...

[00:40:43] Yeah.

[00:40:44] Yeah.

[00:40:44] Biddle.

[00:40:45] Absolute gun.

[00:40:46] Biddle.

[00:40:47] My favourite player.

[00:40:48] Yeah.

[00:40:49] She's amazing.

[00:40:50] Really good team.

[00:40:51] Great coaching staff.

[00:40:52] And let's hope they can go one step further.

[00:40:57] Let's talk about something that myself, Gary and Cam have raised.

[00:41:02] And that is Las Vegas.

[00:41:05] Now on a recent episode, was it with you?

[00:41:08] I didn't know where Las Vegas was.

[00:41:10] Yeah, it was me.

[00:41:11] I kept calling it California.

[00:41:12] That's right.

[00:41:13] It was very funny.

[00:41:14] I was mowing the lawn because I often listen to the podcast on the headphones.

[00:41:18] I'm yelling out.

[00:41:19] I'm yelling out.

[00:41:21] I'm yelling out.

[00:41:21] Straight away, I was like...

[00:41:22] Is he taking...

[00:41:22] Is he joking?

[00:41:23] Yeah.

[00:41:24] So, not in California, but in Nevada.

[00:41:29] Anyway, the point is, we want to win on and off the field in America.

[00:41:36] Now, I'll say that there is some business to be done.

[00:41:42] Like if the club does it correctly and, you know, maybe has a bit of luck and worlds meet

[00:41:48] together, they could do some business over there.

[00:41:52] I mean, we've already got some high profile bankrollers to an extent who are based in New

[00:42:00] York but have a lot of business in Vegas.

[00:42:03] Now, there's no reason why they can't hit up some other contacts and meet and greets

[00:42:08] and get the ball rolling.

[00:42:10] It could be a very fruitful trip for the Sharks off the field.

[00:42:15] Even if just one of the contacts comes through in some way, they could be looking at new

[00:42:21] sponsorship or someone to pay for a gym or whatever.

[00:42:25] Like, whatever.

[00:42:26] Stadium.

[00:42:27] Stadium, we'll get to that.

[00:42:28] And, of course, we want to win on the field as well.

[00:42:30] I think that's just as important in the sense of there's one person at this table who is

[00:42:34] staying up late at night worrying about the effect that it's going to have on the team

[00:42:38] and he'll have his say in a minute.

[00:42:40] But he's got a good point because it could derail your season.

[00:42:44] Like, you know, who's the nicest guy in our top 17?

[00:42:48] Gary, just pick someone, the nicest guy, who's not going to get into trouble.

[00:42:52] Would it be...

[00:42:55] There's lots of nice guys.

[00:42:56] Of course, they're all nice but just pick one.

[00:42:58] Is it Will Kennedy?

[00:42:59] Yeah, Will's up there.

[00:43:00] Say Will just goes nuts in Vegas.

[00:43:03] It's not going to be good, right?

[00:43:05] It could derail the season.

[00:43:06] Exactly.

[00:43:06] If they...

[00:43:08] Anyway, you know what I'm saying.

[00:43:09] Like, anything can happen over there on the plane trip.

[00:43:11] There's stress on the body.

[00:43:14] We want it to be smooth on and off the field.

[00:43:16] I love this one.

[00:43:17] This is one of my Christmas wishes.

[00:43:19] But Gary talks to us about Vegas.

[00:43:21] Yeah, so like obviously from a football perspective, Fitzy and the coaching staff and everyone there, like they're so focused on it's a shorter preseason.

[00:43:28] Like there's so much work that needs to be done to hit X, Y and Z points before we get there.

[00:43:32] So yeah, they're totally focused on the football and I think they're going to be in a great spot when we get there.

[00:43:36] But for me and I guess the admin staff in the office, it's an opportunity to take our brand global.

[00:43:42] And I think, you know, you get one shot at that Las Vegas market, that American market as a brand and as a club.

[00:43:47] And I think if we can do it properly, there's, you know, a number of opportunities that could become fruitful for us in the long run.

[00:43:53] Cam, this is one of your ones.

[00:43:55] Have you got any...

[00:43:56] Have I caught you at the wrong time?

[00:43:57] Clinton, tell us why going to Vegas is wrong.

[00:43:59] Well, I can't actually say that because today on 2GB, I was reading commercials for the NRL promoting the trip to Vegas.

[00:44:07] So I'm very supportive.

[00:44:08] You're coming as well, are you?

[00:44:09] I'm very supportive now.

[00:44:10] I've been reading commercials all week for them.

[00:44:11] Yeah.

[00:44:11] Look, I'm not anti the NRL taking games to Vegas.

[00:44:16] I'm very pro the idea of spreading our brand, the business opportunities.

[00:44:20] Of course I am.

[00:44:22] That's brilliant.

[00:44:23] If we were sitting in position 11, 12 on the table,

[00:44:29] I'd be saying, let's go.

[00:44:31] Honestly, as I alluded to before, I think we've got a chance of winning the comp this year.

[00:44:35] True.

[00:44:35] But to win a comp, I think you need everything to go your way.

[00:44:39] Now, I'm not worried about players getting in trouble off the field.

[00:44:42] Sure.

[00:44:42] We didn't see that last year, last season with the four teams that went there.

[00:44:47] I was banned from being on Tinder.

[00:44:48] But I've got confidence that that will be looked after.

[00:44:51] And you're going to be banned from being on there as well, by the way.

[00:44:54] It could be played in London.

[00:44:56] Yes.

[00:44:56] It could be played anywhere.

[00:44:57] I'm with you.

[00:44:58] It's not a Vegas thing.

[00:44:59] It's the flight.

[00:44:59] It's the...

[00:45:01] Now, I was fortunate to go to the Paris Olympics this year.

[00:45:05] It honestly took me two and a half weeks to get over it.

[00:45:08] And I worked funny hours.

[00:45:10] I thought I'd be fine with jet lag.

[00:45:12] I was knocked around worse than I've ever had before an international flight.

[00:45:15] Now, they're highly trained athletes, etc.

[00:45:17] It's not like a Neville from Engadine.

[00:45:19] But I just...

[00:45:20] I really worry about the effect.

[00:45:23] And the other thing that jumps out at me is the fact that no other clubs beyond the four

[00:45:27] that are going wanted to go on the end.

[00:45:29] Why?

[00:45:31] Eh, I don't know.

[00:45:32] I mean, the team that just won four comps in a row are going though.

[00:45:34] Melbourne Storm...

[00:45:35] Because they don't have a home ground.

[00:45:36] Melbourne Storm were going to go until...

[00:45:38] No, then they pulled out.

[00:45:40] Gus Gould has said, yeah, I'm keen on the idea.

[00:45:42] I want to see how the first few seasons go.

[00:45:44] Yeah.

[00:45:45] I just think there's a reason behind all that.

[00:45:47] I think worst case, or what I'm hoping would be worst case, I don't know.

[00:45:51] We lose to Penrith.

[00:45:53] They come back a little bit jet lagged.

[00:45:55] It takes till week five.

[00:45:57] And then we click.

[00:45:57] I don't think it'll be...

[00:45:59] I think if we have like a disastrous three and 20 season, we can't blame it on Vegas.

[00:46:06] No.

[00:46:06] No, but we've also...

[00:46:07] And I actually think it's good we've got a tough draw.

[00:46:09] But we've got a draw that's very much dominant with the first half of the season.

[00:46:12] We've lost a lot of travel.

[00:46:12] Yes.

[00:46:13] And we've just added to that travel by going to Vegas.

[00:46:15] Yeah.

[00:46:15] I think maybe a positive, if you can class it that way, is the fact we're playing Penrith

[00:46:19] first up.

[00:46:20] That no one gives us a hope of winning anyway.

[00:46:22] But remember, they're missing half their spine, potentially.

[00:46:25] Nathan Cleary Edwards...

[00:46:26] Cleary spoke this week, reckoning's going to play.

[00:46:28] They'll all play.

[00:46:29] But, but, but, look, at least we're not playing the Tigers and just expected to win.

[00:46:35] You know, we're probably going to go in as underdogs.

[00:46:37] So if we do have a loss, that's actually not the end of the world.

[00:46:40] We're going down in the first and grade against the Premiers.

[00:46:42] It's the next month that worries me.

[00:46:44] Yeah, sure.

[00:46:45] Do you honestly think that they're like, this one, the two flights they're going to take

[00:46:50] will really take it out of them?

[00:46:52] A hundred percent.

[00:46:52] As elite athletes who...

[00:46:54] Absolutely.

[00:46:55] Look at the Broncos this season.

[00:46:56] Hopeless.

[00:46:57] I don't think it's ideal, but I'm with you in that if they manage it right...

[00:47:02] They jet lag for three days and then it's...

[00:47:04] No, it's not the jet lag.

[00:47:06] It's the...

[00:47:06] It's everything.

[00:47:07] It's South Sydney, the Broncos both had terrible seasons.

[00:47:10] Terrible squads though.

[00:47:11] The Roosters...

[00:47:12] Broncos should have bloody made the top four.

[00:47:14] Look who they're coached by.

[00:47:16] Yeah, correct.

[00:47:17] But a lot of, a lot of off-field issues, sure.

[00:47:19] Yeah.

[00:47:19] But the only side that had a decent season really was probably the Roosters, but they

[00:47:24] had a...

[00:47:25] Yeah, but Clinton, I don't think we can say they had a bad season because of that.

[00:47:29] No, yeah.

[00:47:30] I think that if you look at the draw and go, they lost five of their opening seven games,

[00:47:37] then you can do it.

[00:47:38] I think we're just making it harder for ourselves than we need to.

[00:47:41] Sure.

[00:47:41] When we've got a chance to win a comp, you combine that with all the travel we've now got

[00:47:45] in the draw, which is the luck of the draw anyway.

[00:47:47] I don't think we can complain about the draw whatsoever.

[00:47:49] It's just adding to the drama this year.

[00:47:51] They travelled pretty good last year.

[00:47:53] They're travelling to the other side of the world.

[00:47:54] I know they didn't go that far.

[00:47:55] They didn't go to Perth.

[00:47:56] Yeah, yeah.

[00:47:57] But I'm not as worried as what I thought.

[00:48:01] I'm more worried about Josh, to be honest, going to the Legas.

[00:48:03] I'm a grown man.

[00:48:04] I'll be fine.

[00:48:05] I know you're a grown man.

[00:48:06] Worry about yourself.

[00:48:09] I do that anyway.

[00:48:11] Mind you, I'd love to go.

[00:48:12] So if I keep reading those NRL commercials...

[00:48:15] You could.

[00:48:16] Good.

[00:48:16] All right.

[00:48:17] So, Vegas.

[00:48:18] Cam, can we get your thoughts on Vegas?

[00:48:20] The thing for the fans too is that we want to see a good start to the season.

[00:48:25] And all of this business talk, most Sharks fans don't really care about that.

[00:48:29] Unless it accelerates the finish of the club and stuff like that.

[00:48:32] I reckon that darts.

[00:48:33] Yes.

[00:48:34] But I think we want to get...

[00:48:37] Because I guess Vegas is as much for the...

[00:48:40] Or much more probably for the domestic audience.

[00:48:43] There's going to be lots of eyes on the game.

[00:48:45] It's going to be a great start to the season.

[00:48:47] And the last thing we want to do is come out and have a poor performance, irrespective

[00:48:50] of who we're playing.

[00:48:51] But if we can come out and beat the Panthers, I reckon amongst the fan base, that really

[00:48:57] gets the ball rolling.

[00:48:58] And I think that's really important for the Sharks.

[00:49:01] And I reckon from the general game perspective, I don't think there was as much excitement

[00:49:05] about an opening round of football this season as there was last year.

[00:49:08] Or this last season.

[00:49:09] It was brilliant.

[00:49:10] Yeah, great.

[00:49:11] I absolutely loved it.

[00:49:12] Yeah, the ratings were crazy.

[00:49:13] I think that's what you said, Cam, is the most important part is that we're going to be

[00:49:17] the talk of the town for that month leading in and that whole week is going to be Sharks-Panthers.

[00:49:22] You know, Sharks...

[00:49:22] That is like big opening game, prelim rematch out of Fanuel Blake.

[00:49:27] Is Nathan Cleary going to play?

[00:49:29] Sponsors are going to love it.

[00:49:31] And then as a fan experience, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

[00:49:34] So I take everything we say completely on board and I agree realistically.

[00:49:38] Yeah.

[00:49:39] But from a selfish point of view, I'm like, I get to go to Las Vegas with a couple of my

[00:49:43] mates, go and see the Sharks play in Las Vegas.

[00:49:46] That, in your wildest dreams would you have ever thought that would have happened?

[00:49:49] Pretty much.

[00:49:49] And then if we win, if we beat the Panthers over there, regardless of who they play,

[00:49:53] coming back with that momentum and going, we've just beaten the best team in the comp

[00:49:55] that we haven't been able to beat for four years.

[00:49:58] Take that momentum into the rest of the season.

[00:50:00] We've come back for that.

[00:50:01] The boys have had a great trip together, bonding, all those.

[00:50:03] I think there's so many positives as well.

[00:50:04] It's actually, it's a good place to get them because there is that novelty factor.

[00:50:08] You said it, Clinton, no one's going to be backing us.

[00:50:10] There is a novelty there that's like, well, if we lose, whatever, we move on.

[00:50:15] If we win, we can do something silly and go, we just beat the Premiers who we haven't beat

[00:50:21] for four years.

[00:50:22] We scored our second try in 100,000 minutes against it.

[00:50:26] We can double down that stuff and get the ball rolling.

[00:50:29] So hopefully there's some positives there.

[00:50:31] Yeah.

[00:50:32] I know that the team is sick and tired of being asked, are you looking forward to going to

[00:50:37] Vegas?

[00:50:38] Because when I am at a certain cafe, which needs to start paying us some money before we

[00:50:43] start, keep talking about that cafe.

[00:50:46] People say to them, were you looking forward to Vegas?

[00:50:48] And they go, yep, yep.

[00:50:49] But we're going for the footy only, you know, just the footy.

[00:50:52] And yeah, I'm sure you're around that as well, Gary.

[00:50:54] Yeah, they're very, very focused on round one.

[00:50:57] Yeah.

[00:50:57] And everyone's hounding them, but trust me, they're going to be doing everything they

[00:51:01] can to win that game.

[00:51:02] Do we know if injured players are going?

[00:51:04] I don't think so, no.

[00:51:05] Really?

[00:51:06] No Toby.

[00:51:06] No Toby.

[00:51:07] Thank God.

[00:51:08] Probably a blessing.

[00:51:10] With respect.

[00:51:11] Okay.

[00:51:12] Our next Christmas wish comes from Josh Bolling, Vegas bound Josh Bolling.

[00:51:18] And he would like to see a strong, healthy comeback and someone to get back into the

[00:51:24] team before the end of the season.

[00:51:25] And that is Jesse Colquhoun.

[00:51:27] He's had a lot of really bad injuries.

[00:51:30] Was it ACL?

[00:51:31] Was that it?

[00:51:32] It was ACL.

[00:51:33] Yeah, we were there.

[00:51:34] The crowd went quiet and it was awful.

[00:51:38] He had only just come back and he was playing really good.

[00:51:42] And yeah, I guess what are we expecting next sort of June-ish?

[00:51:45] Are we thinking?

[00:51:46] Yeah, he'll get back.

[00:51:47] He's been in a lot of pictures like he's training again, he's in the gym and stuff

[00:51:50] and he looks really good as well.

[00:51:52] He's looking fit.

[00:51:53] So it might not be mid-year?

[00:51:54] I don't think it'd be mid-year.

[00:51:55] I think it'd be earlier than that.

[00:51:56] Okay.

[00:51:57] Yeah.

[00:51:57] Cool.

[00:51:58] I'm no doctor though so take that with a grain of salt.

[00:52:01] You could have fooled me guys.

[00:52:04] There's so many lines we could throw there.

[00:52:07] How's his attitude?

[00:52:08] How's his spirits?

[00:52:09] How's he?

[00:52:10] From the moment he did his ACL, his attitude was spot on.

[00:52:14] Like for a young guy, the way he handled it and handled himself and was in and around

[00:52:17] the club.

[00:52:18] He's still pretty young.

[00:52:18] Yeah.

[00:52:18] He's 21 I think.

[00:52:19] 22.

[00:52:19] Wow.

[00:52:20] Cool.

[00:52:21] Yeah, he's got a really good head on his shoulders and he attacked it the way he needed

[00:52:24] to and it shows in the results that he's getting now through his rehab.

[00:52:27] Coach loves him.

[00:52:28] Coach loves him.

[00:52:29] Everyone loves him down at the club.

[00:52:30] Everyone.

[00:52:31] Okay.

[00:52:32] Interesting.

[00:52:32] He's just no good at NFL fantasy football.

[00:52:35] What's, yeah?

[00:52:36] No.

[00:52:36] Has he got a Mari Cooper like I do?

[00:52:38] He doesn't.

[00:52:38] Zero points.

[00:52:39] How good's that?

[00:52:40] I have him in another league so.

[00:52:42] In one of my other leagues, I just don't have a quarterback and I had, you might have

[00:52:47] to hit me with the name, is it Will Davis?

[00:52:48] Is he a quarterback?

[00:52:49] Will Levis.

[00:52:50] Will Levis.

[00:52:50] He got minus 4.4.

[00:52:52] Love that.

[00:52:53] And I'm still going to win the game.

[00:52:56] I know nothing about NRL other than that really good bloke got injured the other day

[00:53:00] and he can't play.

[00:53:01] Which one?

[00:53:02] Which one?

[00:53:02] Which guy?

[00:53:04] There's that many injuries every week.

[00:53:06] Yeah, Mahomes.

[00:53:06] The quarterback.

[00:53:07] They reckon he'll play.

[00:53:08] He's not playing this weekend.

[00:53:09] He's out for a while.

[00:53:09] Who?

[00:53:10] Patrick Mahomes?

[00:53:11] Oh, is he injured?

[00:53:12] Yeah.

[00:53:12] I know that much.

[00:53:14] That's good.

[00:53:15] Someone else can win the NFL points.

[00:53:17] Don't know who, Gary, though.

[00:53:19] I just don't know who.

[00:53:20] Okay.

[00:53:21] So we all wish Jesse C the best.

[00:53:23] Cam, you're a Jesse man.

[00:53:23] Yeah, yeah.

[00:53:24] I'm really excited to see him come back.

[00:53:26] Hopefully he comes back fit and strong.

[00:53:28] And I think he's, yeah, he's one of those players that had so much potential, excited

[00:53:32] about.

[00:53:34] And yeah, I reckon he's got a big future.

[00:53:36] So yeah, I reckon we want him to come back fit and healthy.

[00:53:39] Great end of the year.

[00:53:41] Causes selection problems at the back end of the year when everyone's fit.

[00:53:44] But he's got a place, I reckon.

[00:53:45] For those who haven't seen enough of him, and I've seen him, but is he a Jack Williams

[00:53:49] replacement?

[00:53:50] Yeah, that's what I would say.

[00:53:51] Is that the role we're thinking?

[00:53:51] Yeah, like he can play on an edge, he can play in the middle.

[00:53:54] He reminds me a lot of like, who's the lock for Brisbane?

[00:53:58] I always forget his name.

[00:53:59] Patrick Carrigan.

[00:53:59] Patrick.

[00:54:00] He reminds me of like a Patrick Carrigan, Jack Williams hybrid type of kind of player

[00:54:03] who can play front row, play at an edge at a pinch.

[00:54:06] So yeah, he's taller than Jack, isn't he?

[00:54:08] I think he would be.

[00:54:09] He looks taller.

[00:54:09] I think he would be, yeah.

[00:54:10] But he's just got that body, that very unique body shape of can kind of, he can

[00:54:15] play edge, can play middle, can play front row.

[00:54:17] So, got a bit of skill too.

[00:54:18] Like, he's not slow.

[00:54:20] Like, he's got a bit of pace for a big guy.

[00:54:22] Like, I just see so much upside in him of like a bigger rangeier Gallon.

[00:54:27] And when I say range, I just mean rangier than Gallon, who was a nugget.

[00:54:30] But, I just see like, there's so much upside when you see certain guys like he's got it.

[00:54:35] And I just really want to see him get through the season injury free.

[00:54:39] And I think he could be a potential like Cam McInnes replacement or even a front row

[00:54:43] placement when he's so young.

[00:54:45] They could really make him whatever they needed him to be.

[00:54:47] He's got that kind of really subtle but aggressive way of playing.

[00:54:52] Yeah.

[00:54:53] Like, that's when I think of him and he's just, he doesn't look at, but when you actually

[00:54:58] watch him closely, he just looks like a mean kind of tough guy.

[00:55:02] Yeah.

[00:55:03] But I don't associate that with him.

[00:55:04] I just think, oh, great forward.

[00:55:07] I almost seem like a Paul Gallon kind of guy.

[00:55:10] Yeah.

[00:55:10] Which isn't fair comparison.

[00:55:12] But, yeah, hopefully he comes back and is ready to go.

[00:55:16] No more injuries.

[00:55:17] That'd be awesome.

[00:55:18] And you see it with players.

[00:55:20] Like, they have three or four really bad injuries as youngsters

[00:55:24] and they certainly have a long career.

[00:55:25] So, hopefully that's what he seems to.

[00:55:27] Benji Marshall.

[00:55:27] Benji Marshall.

[00:55:29] All right.

[00:55:30] We're going to keep rolling here with our Christmas wishes.

[00:55:33] And I think what we're going to do is,

[00:55:36] I might leave those ones to the end.

[00:55:38] They're a bit heavy.

[00:55:40] We might go to a Cam and Sam request.

[00:55:47] I seem to do this one most years.

[00:55:48] Let's make home games special again.

[00:55:52] Have Sharks fans leave Shark Park pumped?

[00:55:56] This is Cam's words.

[00:55:58] Sorry to put you in the headline there, Cam.

[00:56:01] Felt like we often left disappointed in 2024.

[00:56:06] I didn't look up the home and away results.

[00:56:11] But I know what you're saying.

[00:56:12] Yeah, I just think.

[00:56:13] There were times where.

[00:56:14] Yeah, it just seems like, even though I enjoy going to Shark Park,

[00:56:17] I just feel like last year, last season,

[00:56:20] there just were too many games where we kind of left a bit flat or disappointed.

[00:56:25] Like, obviously there were a couple of bad losses, a couple of mediocre performances.

[00:56:30] And I really think, I actually honestly believe that we would have had more people turn up to that finals game at Allianz

[00:56:40] had everyone left, left one of the last home games kind of really pumped with a big win.

[00:56:46] Oh.

[00:56:47] And I just, yeah, I kind of feel like we, I don't know how you make it more special than just simply winning the game.

[00:56:55] Yeah.

[00:56:56] But I just reckon there's a big momentum that could kind of reverberate around the Shire.

[00:57:01] If people are going to the games, they have a great time.

[00:57:04] We win, win well, or at least play really well.

[00:57:07] And people leave kind of, yeah, I'm going to go back next week.

[00:57:09] Or I'm going to go to the nearest away game or whatever the case might be.

[00:57:13] And I know we lose, what, three home games this season.

[00:57:17] And some of the home games are weird times, I think, this year.

[00:57:20] Is it two or three, Gary?

[00:57:21] Yeah.

[00:57:22] Yeah, we've got Magic Round is a home game.

[00:57:25] Perth's a home game.

[00:57:26] Ah, gotcha.

[00:57:26] Is Vegas a home game?

[00:57:28] No.

[00:57:28] Vegas isn't a home game, no.

[00:57:29] Now just to be clear, and I'm going to hold someone back in particular,

[00:57:33] this isn't the stadium talk.

[00:57:36] This is about making the home games fun.

[00:57:39] I hear you, Cam.

[00:57:40] Yeah.

[00:57:41] I think that they're on that edge where they could go either way.

[00:57:45] Because, you know, we all think about 2016, how fun it was.

[00:57:48] It was like carnival.

[00:57:49] Now that we've got the small capacity, most games are sold out.

[00:57:56] Which means a full house, obviously.

[00:57:59] And that kind of vibe where, you know, you're at a concert and it's a full concert.

[00:58:05] Like, it's a full house.

[00:58:06] We just need to take that over the edge a little bit, probably entertainment-wise, as well as the performance in the field.

[00:58:13] But you know what I mean, Gary?

[00:58:14] Like, get that carnival vibe happening again.

[00:58:17] I know people just go to watch the footy.

[00:58:18] I'm like that.

[00:58:19] I go to watch the footy.

[00:58:21] But, you know, if we can get someone over here singing and if we can do something crazy at halftime and, you know what I mean?

[00:58:27] Just get people talking about it.

[00:58:28] Hey, I was at the footy yesterday and this dog jumped through a hoop board.

[00:58:32] You know what I mean?

[00:58:33] Like, just something.

[00:58:36] Winning changes everything.

[00:58:38] It does.

[00:58:39] I think there were, unfortunately, a few poor losses at the home venue this year that had a real lasting effect.

[00:58:46] Dolphins.

[00:58:46] Panthers.

[00:58:47] There was so much hype in the lead-up to that Panthers game because we were on the winning run and we'd finally beaten decent teams.

[00:58:53] Yeah, that's a good point.

[00:58:53] And had to be beaten in the way we were.

[00:58:55] It was so deflating.

[00:58:57] It was.

[00:58:57] But not just for that game.

[00:58:58] I think that lasted a while.

[00:59:01] Yeah.

[00:59:02] The Warriors game did a lot of damage.

[00:59:04] Yeah.

[00:59:04] A lot of damage.

[00:59:06] I'll give your club a bit of a tick, Gary, so you can walk into the place of employment tomorrow.

[00:59:12] They do do great things.

[00:59:14] We're not saying they don't.

[00:59:15] But I always hark back to, and people have heard me say it a million times, I kind of want like the EPL vibe.

[00:59:22] I want just something.

[00:59:24] Like it's just so dull.

[00:59:25] It's kickoff and we'll just sit there.

[00:59:27] And like our little group's the most lively and that's not a good thing when we're the most lively.

[00:59:31] You know, like, oh, what did you do yesterday?

[00:59:33] Oh yeah, I did this.

[00:59:34] Oh, it's Will Kennedy making a line break.

[00:59:36] Awesome.

[00:59:37] What?

[00:59:38] Get excited.

[00:59:39] Like people are not that excited.

[00:59:41] Maybe they're taking it for granted.

[00:59:44] And I'm talking about select people.

[00:59:46] So internet, podcast, YouTube world, whatever, calm down.

[00:59:50] I'm not saying everyone's like this, but there's a vibe, a certain vibe in all places of the ground.

[00:59:57] You and I, Gary, are fortunate enough we move around a bit sometimes on the day.

[01:00:01] And it's not always this amazing atmosphere.

[01:00:04] It's hard, right?

[01:00:05] Like, as you said, like sometimes we kick off and it just goes deathly silent for the first 10 minutes of the match.

[01:00:10] It's like, what's going on?

[01:00:10] Like, and that could be nerves.

[01:00:12] Yeah.

[01:00:13] So I'm not saying everyone has to be like yahooing and singing songs, but...

[01:00:17] There needs to be a level of entertainment.

[01:00:19] Like you go to any other code or sport and there's something happening at all minutes.

[01:00:22] I think we've lost the fear factor.

[01:00:23] I know that the team and the coach probably want us, you know, we want to do everyone proud down here and make it a place they don't want to come.

[01:00:32] I don't think people are intimidated at the moment.

[01:00:34] You know what?

[01:00:35] For me, it's like maybe a bit of same, same.

[01:00:38] Like we've kind of done the same thing each year and not ran away from that.

[01:00:43] That's what I mean by taking it for granted a bit.

[01:00:44] So we kind of need to switch it up, change out a few things here and there and...

[01:00:48] Maybe.

[01:00:49] I don't know.

[01:00:50] But it's on the fans as well.

[01:00:52] It's not just the fans.

[01:00:52] Oh, absolutely.

[01:00:53] 100%.

[01:00:53] Yeah.

[01:00:54] And I think the sort of the elephant in the room a little bit too is the whole issue about sold out games and there's still thousands of empty seats.

[01:01:03] You know, we're in the Monty Porter and I have like, we've been there for now three years and I can't remember the Monty Porter being more than 70% full except maybe one of the finals games.

[01:01:14] And I think that that's, I don't know what you do about that in an effective way.

[01:01:19] Some of that comes down to the ground in the Leafs club issues.

[01:01:21] Yeah.

[01:01:21] So I know we're not going to talk about now, but that for the first time this season, and I've just got general admission, but there were games that I either didn't go to or was not going to go to now because of the state of the ground, the Leafs club, the parking, the whole shebang.

[01:01:36] Yeah.

[01:01:36] It all plays into it.

[01:01:38] Yeah.

[01:01:38] But Cam, are you saying that if every seat is actually full, it'll obviously create a bit more of a...

[01:01:44] Yeah.

[01:01:45] But I understand you can't fill all those seats for lots of different reasons, but there's like, that means there's 2,000, you know, there might be 2,000 extra people in the stadium and just the sheer numbers.

[01:01:56] And, you know, I've talked a lot before about my barometer is that area at the front of the Monty Porter that swings around there.

[01:02:04] Like when that's packed and I can't see any grass, I know there's going to be a pretty good vibe.

[01:02:08] Yeah.

[01:02:09] Because there's like momentum in the crowd.

[01:02:11] Yeah, they have fun there, yeah, yeah.

[01:02:11] But when it's not, like even for some of those games, like again, like I can tell when we're sitting in the seat, if I can see grass, I know, okay, we're in trouble.

[01:02:19] Yeah.

[01:02:21] But, yeah, I don't know how the club can manage that capacity and manage those seats that aren't being used.

[01:02:30] Well, I mean, taking it from a personal point of view, when I can't go to a game, and you guys know this as well, I offload my tickets.

[01:02:38] Now, I don't go on the site and do the selling.

[01:02:41] I just give them to my mates or family.

[01:02:43] I try not to leave them spare.

[01:02:45] And that's for a whole bunch of different reasons.

[01:02:47] It's not necessarily to make Shark Park alive.

[01:02:51] But I wonder if everyone has that attitude.

[01:02:54] I'm sure some do, but that's something you can't enforce, right?

[01:02:58] Yeah.

[01:02:58] Well, I have a seat in the Southern Sand, and I've had that membership for three years.

[01:03:03] I've sat in that seat once.

[01:03:04] Because I prefer being on the hill, but I just get it just in case I ever need it.

[01:03:08] So you're the problem.

[01:03:08] So I'm part of the problem.

[01:03:10] But I can't, I'm obviously not going to sell off my ticket because I will just go and stand on the hill with my other mates or, because I've got one seat.

[01:03:15] It's just for if I ever go by myself and it's raining or something, but I've never, I've sat in it once.

[01:03:19] Because if you get rid of your ticket, then you have to pay to get in.

[01:03:21] Exactly.

[01:03:22] So I just, I'm still there, but so I don't know how much that happens.

[01:03:25] Maybe if people are coming in and just going, I'll just be on the hill with my mates as opposed to sitting by myself or with whoever they might be going with.

[01:03:32] But I agree that that, that is part of a problem, a wider problem.

[01:03:36] And not going to the stadium upgrade issue yet.

[01:03:39] I actually think...

[01:03:40] You're, I've got to hold you back.

[01:03:41] I think once the, once the renovations of the Leeds Club are complete and we, if that marquee disappears from the northwestern corner, that was an area I would stand with my mates in most of the time.

[01:03:55] Now you can still stand there, but it's drastically reduced the capacity there.

[01:03:58] And I think when that, those corporates are in a different, if they ever move to a different spot, I just think getting the old Shark Park back a bit will help with some of that atmosphere feel.

[01:04:08] Anyone else got any more thoughts while I try and add up how many wishes we've done?

[01:04:13] I guess it's a, it's a problem that is just because Shark Park's unique.

[01:04:18] That, that Josh, that kind of scenario where, yeah, you can get a seat and, but then go and stand on the hill.

[01:04:23] Like there's probably not many other stadiums where you can do that.

[01:04:26] You know, you can't, those fans can't do that at Bank West sort of in the same way that Shark's fans can walk with.

[01:04:32] Which is a charming aspect to it.

[01:04:33] Or it's like, if I'm by myself, I can go sit in the seat or, or, you know, one of my mates gives me a call or says come down into the hill, I can go and do that.

[01:04:40] Yeah.

[01:04:40] Which I kind of like that aspect of like, if I have a couple of mates or family come there, my dad or my brother come down with us and George, I know that I can, I can give my dad the seat if he, if he can't stand up or I can just go down and sit with them for that one game.

[01:04:54] Yeah.

[01:04:54] I like that aspect.

[01:04:55] I like that we still have that.

[01:04:56] I know a lot of people don't.

[01:04:58] I think there's still, there's a charming aspect to that, that I like that you can still kind of go and meet anyone anywhere if you want.

[01:05:04] Yeah.

[01:05:05] Yeah.

[01:05:05] Yeah, I agree.

[01:05:06] That's why it's a bit of a diabolical problem that Sam's going to have to solve pretty quickly.

[01:05:12] I will.

[01:05:13] I think one more wish maybe.

[01:05:14] We'll see what happens there.

[01:05:15] We'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

[01:05:17] It's still the greatest place on earth.

[01:05:19] We should say that TK had two wishes that we couldn't get to.

[01:05:24] My favourite one was for St George to go broke and fold.

[01:05:28] But unfortunately he also wanted to demolish Shark Park.

[01:05:32] So that's TK, he's a little wildcat.

[01:05:34] That's what he wants for Christmas though.

[01:05:36] Actually Sam, how have you progressed with that proposal that I had when we last spoke to demolish Shark Park but build a new stadium on the golf course across the road?

[01:05:46] The golf course, yeah.

[01:05:46] How's that proposal coming in?

[01:05:48] We got a complaint from fellow Sharkcaster Kieran Fraser who lives on the other side of the golf course.

[01:05:54] And he thought it would be too much kind of, you know, building for his very fortunate lifestyle that he lives.

[01:06:00] So given they're close to protesting in the streets over Moore Park being reduced from 18 holes to nine holes, I would worry about the golfers in the Shire going absolutely mental.

[01:06:12] If only we knew a kind of high profile radio broadcast that could sway the Sydney community to win over the Shire into our argument.

[01:06:22] We're going to take a quick break, come back and give you the rest of our Christmas wishes.

[01:06:27] This is Sharkars Pod and you are with Josh, Gary, Cameron, Clinton, Shanaz and in spirit of course Jardin and TK.

[01:06:35] Back after this very short break, don't go anywhere.

[01:06:40] Sharkars is supported by the best and most honest real estate agent in the Sutherland Shire, Jason Hawes from Crips and Crips Real Estate.

[01:06:46] He's an expert in the Caring Bar region and has his eye all across the Shire.

[01:06:51] Lifelong Sharks fan and supporter of this podcast, if you're looking to buy or sell in the region,

[01:06:56] the person you need to be talking to is Jason Hawes from Crips and Crips Real Estate.

[01:07:01] Call him on 0410 417 450.

[01:07:05] That's 0410 417 450.

[01:07:09] Jason Hawes, Crips and Crips Real Estate.

[01:07:13] I'm just handing over possession to Cronulla in good field position now.

[01:07:17] Right on the halfway line.

[01:07:21] Heading Housen and Green, laying it on.

[01:07:23] Peaches!

[01:07:36] That is one of the best fun news you've ever seen.

[01:07:39] Welcome back to Sharkars Pod, brought to you by Dyson Logistics, Jason Hawes at Crips and Crips Real Estate.

[01:07:45] And we have to point out a very special thank you to the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Port Hacking,

[01:07:49] which is where we're recording our Christmas episode.

[01:07:51] It's a bit of a theme for us every year now to come down here and discuss our Christmas wishes.

[01:07:57] And thank you to Liam and all of his staff for just, yeah, providing all amazing food

[01:08:03] and particularly the space which we enjoy.

[01:08:06] It's air conditioning boys.

[01:08:07] I mean, brutal Sydney.

[01:08:09] Brutal.

[01:08:09] Cam, you're out there in the fields, literally.

[01:08:12] Yeah, 40-something.

[01:08:13] It was out in the badlands of Liverpool working today.

[01:08:16] So I was glad to be in the air conditioning here.

[01:08:18] Holy smokes.

[01:08:19] Very nice.

[01:08:20] All right.

[01:08:21] Jardim would like to talk about his Christmas wish and that was going to be,

[01:08:25] have us being a dominant forward pack.

[01:08:27] We talk about it most years.

[01:08:29] I usually come up with an idea that, in a scenario where we can have a really good forward pack

[01:08:33] and then sometimes it just doesn't quite get there.

[01:08:35] We've got Fanua Blake here, the Beast.

[01:08:38] Gary, you've been hanging out with him a little bit.

[01:08:40] Tell us a little bit about Adam Fanua Blake, the man behind the Beast.

[01:08:44] Yeah, so he is a bit of a beast but he's probably not as big as I expected him to be,

[01:08:48] which was a little bit of a shock.

[01:08:49] He's obviously very solidly built but softly spoken, really nice guy.

[01:08:53] And yeah, he's come back early to training.

[01:08:56] He rocked in a bit earlier than he was scheduled to and he's ripped in,

[01:09:00] meeting all the boys, obviously finding his feet there.

[01:09:02] And he's got his cousin in Sifar hanging around.

[01:09:05] I was going to say, so Sifar's his cousin.

[01:09:07] Is there another relative?

[01:09:08] I'm not sure if there's another relative.

[01:09:09] Close friends.

[01:09:10] Yeah.

[01:09:11] So, he's loving it.

[01:09:13] He seems to be fitting in really well.

[01:09:14] He speaks really well.

[01:09:15] He had another media call today.

[01:09:17] So, there'll be a video out there I'm sure on sharks.com.au soon.

[01:09:20] So, check it out.

[01:09:21] I know that maybe another group were responsible but I like the Fanua Blake getting in the car

[01:09:27] and driving.

[01:09:28] Yeah.

[01:09:28] Although you know what I noticed?

[01:09:29] He's a grind man.

[01:09:33] Now, take it the giggles.

[01:09:35] It's a grinder.

[01:09:36] Grinders.

[01:09:37] You immature people.

[01:09:38] I can't believe Cam was the first one to break.

[01:09:41] Grind is a brand of coffee.

[01:09:43] Coffee.

[01:09:44] Yes.

[01:09:45] That's all I was saying.

[01:09:46] We knew.

[01:09:47] But Gary knows how I feel about that certain brand.

[01:09:49] Unless they want to come to the party and supply us with money and coffee.

[01:09:52] Until that point, vastly overrated.

[01:09:55] But no, he's a really good dude.

[01:09:58] He drinks Grind though so we need to get him off that.

[01:10:00] We've got to sort that out.

[01:10:01] But he's only just got here so we'll sway him.

[01:10:02] I didn't see his media conference today but somebody who did at work mentioned, because

[01:10:07] I was jumping up and down about him, mentioned at work that he said something along the lines

[01:10:12] of I'm not the saviour.

[01:10:13] Like maybe just playing down the expectations a little bit.

[01:10:16] I'm just, this is just from what someone else told me.

[01:10:19] I did not see it.

[01:10:19] But just trying to play down the expectations that he's going to be the complete game changer.

[01:10:23] Well I've got something to tell him.

[01:10:26] He definitely is the saviour.

[01:10:28] And I think he's Jardy and Saviour.

[01:10:30] He's the missing link.

[01:10:31] Absolutely.

[01:10:32] He's the man who's going to create the space for Brails, for the halves.

[01:10:36] But he doesn't have to come in and do anything other than his game.

[01:10:38] He's potentially what the second, is he the second best prop behind...

[01:10:43] Who's better than Harris?

[01:10:44] Penrith dude maybe?

[01:10:45] He's better than him.

[01:10:45] Well he's now Warriors dude.

[01:10:47] Well I mean he's not there on par maybe.

[01:10:49] I don't know.

[01:10:50] I'm just...

[01:10:51] I think, I genuinely do think he's a better all-round player.

[01:10:54] I think he plays longer minutes.

[01:10:55] I think all of his stats are better.

[01:10:57] Well my point is, he can talk it down as much as he wants.

[01:11:01] But there's high expectations around him.

[01:11:03] I think we'd be saying similar things if we got a Fisher Harris or a Payne Haas.

[01:11:07] Of course.

[01:11:07] I think what we needed is the alpha male prop form.

[01:11:11] I mean you take the side that we had this year and you throw in 160 metres per game from one guy.

[01:11:17] Because we're getting that from about two at the moment.

[01:11:19] Yep.

[01:11:19] You get that from one.

[01:11:20] Then the other guys have extra energy.

[01:11:22] They get their outputs.

[01:11:23] They can maybe be more defensive focused.

[01:11:25] Like if you thought of Kofusi, he's just that guy that just gets through his work.

[01:11:29] And then Adam Finneau would like, and Ueli and these kind of guys are the enforcers that come and break the game open for us.

[01:11:35] Yeah.

[01:11:35] Can we just make sure he's got first class on the way to Vegas that we keep him in cotton wool at all moments?

[01:11:40] And keep him away from me in Vegas, right?

[01:11:42] Business.

[01:11:43] Yep.

[01:11:43] You won't be going here anyway.

[01:11:45] I thought I already told you.

[01:11:46] We're going to go to hotel room, car to the stadium, straight to your seat, back to the car, back to the hotel.

[01:11:54] Those fellas don't fit in economy, do they?

[01:11:55] They do not.

[01:11:56] They're offline business.

[01:11:57] Not me though.

[01:12:00] We're looking forward to, we're looking forward to, for New and Blake, at least bolstering up that forward pack.

[01:12:10] So that's Jardine's wish.

[01:12:11] We all support that, of course.

[01:12:13] Now, we've got four more to go.

[01:12:17] One, two.

[01:12:18] And they're all, they're all of a serious nature.

[01:12:20] Yeah.

[01:12:21] These ones, this one's going to be like a double, a double wish.

[01:12:24] It counts as two.

[01:12:25] We're just going to do them together.

[01:12:27] The first one is from Clinton and it's finish the league's club to the standards we were promised.

[01:12:34] So I'll get you off the back fence and there you go.

[01:12:37] I recall, and I've got a great deal of sympathy for Dino and the management.

[01:12:41] I was fortunate to have a chat to Dino at one of the finals games.

[01:12:45] And he explained to me the situation they've been in with the handover process from the builders.

[01:12:51] He's sounds like he's very much, or the clubs very much had their hands tied with it.

[01:12:56] But I recall listening to a podcast many years ago, Sam, of yourself and Adam.

[01:13:02] Yeah.

[01:13:03] Where the club, this would be prior to Dino, I think.

[01:13:05] Maybe Dino was actually on the board, but before he was CEO.

[01:13:07] And they took you through the plans, the actual plans, when there was going to be the rooftop pool.

[01:13:13] Yeah, I remember that.

[01:13:14] And I remember that podcast blew me away with what we were promised.

[01:13:19] But before you go on and get me into trouble, that's all factual.

[01:13:25] And everything we said in that show was factual.

[01:13:27] That was a long time ago.

[01:13:29] And that was just planning.

[01:13:30] That wasn't...

[01:13:31] I wouldn't be confident saying that was locked in, but that's what we saw.

[01:13:35] Absolutely.

[01:13:35] But it seems like we've fast-forwarded the fact that we now haven't had a club pretty much since then.

[01:13:41] Correct.

[01:13:41] A clubhouse.

[01:13:42] And I guess what I'm worried about is we're going to be ending up with a clubhouse.

[01:13:47] And even that's going to be better than having nothing.

[01:13:50] Yes.

[01:13:50] But we've had the opportunity to have this amazing property development around us.

[01:13:56] Now, there's a lot of debate which we might still touch on with the stadium

[01:13:59] and whether that should have been included in the board development and that issue.

[01:14:03] But the club itself, if that could at least be something a little bit special.

[01:14:09] Well, I like the way you're thinking and if this is what you're...

[01:14:14] If I'm getting this correctly, you're saying because of the amount of time and not being a smartass,

[01:14:18] you're saying because of the amount of time, they actually legitimately have the amount of time and space, dare I say, to get it right.

[01:14:26] Yeah.

[01:14:26] It's not a hurried project in all seriousness.

[01:14:28] But I do have concerns that that's going to be the case just because of part of the delays.

[01:14:32] But Dino, with his history of working for Star and I think it was the core hotels before that, you know, he knows the industry better than anyone.

[01:14:38] There's some good people involved there, obviously.

[01:14:41] But I guess when I wrote that book a couple of years ago, part of one of the themes of what my arguments were in the book

[01:14:50] of why Cronulla had been a struggling club for so many years is the strongest clubs in Sydney were all based around leagues clubs.

[01:14:58] Canterbury, for instance, it's in the middle of a part of Sydney that, you know, you might not really desperately want to go and live in, right?

[01:15:04] Yeah.

[01:15:04] But it's very successful because it's got a very rich leagues club.

[01:15:07] It's awesome.

[01:15:08] Because it's been massively successful with poker machines and so forth.

[01:15:11] I think Cronulla's problem from the start in terms of financing the club, we had a leagues club in the middle of nowhere.

[01:15:19] In terms of, it wasn't near public transport.

[01:15:20] It's not near Carring Bar shops or the Cronulla shops.

[01:15:22] It was in the middle of nowhere because the land was gifted to us.

[01:15:25] So we do a property deal to create a customer base around the club.

[01:15:31] Bingo.

[01:15:32] There's our customers, not just on game day, seven days a week.

[01:15:35] And look, it's great they bought into the Chinese restaurant that I'm sure most of us have now gone to.

[01:15:40] We've got thousands of people living there in apartments.

[01:15:43] And I've got to say, it's a really cool development.

[01:15:45] Yeah.

[01:15:46] It's a nice place to go.

[01:15:47] There's a venue that we've got customers now on the doorstep if the venue's good.

[01:15:53] Yeah.

[01:15:54] And that's what I'm just given the delays.

[01:15:56] I hope it's going to be good, but I guess I'm not filled with huge confidence.

[01:16:00] Define good in all seriousness.

[01:16:02] Define good.

[01:16:02] I think it needs to...

[01:16:04] The Shire probably lacks.

[01:16:06] You know, we have registered clubs in the Shire, but it needs to be better than tradies.

[01:16:11] Like, look, it needs to be better than tradies.

[01:16:13] It's probably not called the Sus Club anymore.

[01:16:15] It's other.

[01:16:15] Like, it needs to be a place where people want to go.

[01:16:18] But the customer's already there, so it actually doesn't need to do a lot to attract the customers

[01:16:23] because they're on the doorstep.

[01:16:25] So...

[01:16:25] They don't want to go in there.

[01:16:26] And how much colour do you want to see in the establishment?

[01:16:30] In terms of Sharks colour?

[01:16:32] Yeah.

[01:16:32] In terms of...

[01:16:32] Look, it would be nice to have some recognition of the club's history.

[01:16:36] To have a Hall of Fame room, a memorabilia room.

[01:16:40] The whole club does not need to be decked out in black, white and blue.

[01:16:43] Okay.

[01:16:43] I think because you've got a customer base there, a lot of people probably don't care too much about the Sharks.

[01:16:48] Uh-huh.

[01:16:48] So you've got to cater for all of them.

[01:16:50] And there are greater minds when it comes to hospitality who run the club.

[01:16:54] I had no question about that.

[01:16:56] But given that we...

[01:16:57] As a fan base, when we get the members' emails, we keep hearing about, oh, we're close to appointing a builder.

[01:17:07] It's 2024.

[01:17:08] And I'd understand why there's been delays, but we don't actually have a...

[01:17:12] Maybe there's been a change, but we don't have a builder yet?

[01:17:14] I don't know about that.

[01:17:16] On the colour, my thought was because, okay, you've got people who live there and they may not even go for the team,

[01:17:24] but then you've got people travelling for game day, open training sessions, kids in school holidays.

[01:17:31] You've got to cater for those people.

[01:17:32] 100%.

[01:17:33] Yeah.

[01:17:33] But it should be big enough to have all that.

[01:17:36] And I guess the vision of when we heard the podcast years ago was that you're going to have the massive deck area.

[01:17:41] And I think the deck is still going to be part of it, isn't it?

[01:17:42] Yeah, yeah.

[01:17:43] The deck's still there.

[01:17:43] But you had the pool and you had all this amazing...

[01:17:45] There's no pools gone.

[01:17:46] That's all right.

[01:17:47] That's probably a pipe dream.

[01:17:48] But I guess...

[01:17:49] It's probably for the best.

[01:17:50] Because we're still at that point where we're not even sure who's fitting out the property,

[01:17:54] let alone publicly seeing the plans for what is actually on the table.

[01:18:00] I guess I don't have a huge, yet until I see it happening, amount of confidence.

[01:18:05] Okay.

[01:18:05] I'm not across a lot of the development stuff.

[01:18:07] Like obviously I don't see it in that side of the business or anything like that.

[01:18:10] I have seen some basic plans of what they're doing and what they're planning to do.

[01:18:13] And obviously a little thing called COVID happened and price of everything went up.

[01:18:17] I don't...

[01:18:17] They have stripped back, definitely from the extravagant...

[01:18:20] And they had them from the roof and all that stuff.

[01:18:21] Yeah, absolutely.

[01:18:22] All that stuff.

[01:18:22] But from what I've seen, it's going to be something that we can all sit in there and

[01:18:26] be proud of and people will come just to go and check it out.

[01:18:29] Yeah.

[01:18:30] Because that's the key, I think.

[01:18:32] You can cater for the people who live upstairs, but you want to cater for the people that

[01:18:36] just want to go check it out.

[01:18:37] But that's where I think it's crucial to cater for the people who live upstairs.

[01:18:42] Because the old leagues club, which in the end wasn't strong enough to sustain the rugby

[01:18:46] league club long term, because it was close to collapse on so many occasions, it was catering

[01:18:51] for the fan base already.

[01:18:53] Yeah.

[01:18:54] So we have to attract customers from outside the fan base.

[01:18:57] But we now have...

[01:18:57] The brilliant thing is the development puts them on our doorstep.

[01:19:00] It's right there.

[01:19:00] Yeah.

[01:19:00] I mean, I'll only speak for Gary and I, we know a number of people either attached

[01:19:06] to the club or with great fondness of the club who live there now.

[01:19:10] I dare say it's because of their love for the club as well as lifestyle, whatever.

[01:19:15] I guarantee you, the most successful leagues clubs in the city, like the Bulldogs club,

[01:19:20] right?

[01:19:21] Yeah.

[01:19:21] I guarantee you 50% of those punters who go there, and I say punters, would never

[01:19:26] clue who the Bulldogs are.

[01:19:28] Sure.

[01:19:28] I mean, I went to a rock and roll concert at Panthers last...

[01:19:36] Yep.

[01:19:36] It was a week after they...

[01:19:38] Maybe before they win so many premierships, I don't know.

[01:19:41] Maybe after the third one.

[01:19:42] Have they won four?

[01:19:43] Yes.

[01:19:44] After the third one, I was there, just bad timing.

[01:19:47] You knew they won a comp.

[01:19:49] Yeah.

[01:19:49] You knew where you were.

[01:19:51] You knew whose town it was.

[01:19:52] Even regardless of the grand final stuff.

[01:19:54] I'm not saying don't do that at all.

[01:19:55] Yeah.

[01:19:56] Yeah.

[01:19:56] But I'm saying that we've got a customer base there now.

[01:19:58] Yes.

[01:19:58] Right there now that we've got to seize.

[01:20:00] It's got to be mixed.

[01:20:01] Absolutely.

[01:20:02] Yeah.

[01:20:02] Yeah.

[01:20:03] I think there's a lot of markets that you want to cover.

[01:20:05] You want to have the guy or the woman, the girl who want to go in there and have a punt.

[01:20:09] Yep.

[01:20:09] You want the Sharks fan to feel like they can go there and have a good time and feel the

[01:20:13] sharkness in it, I guess.

[01:20:15] I think the biggest thing, you want the young people to go there.

[01:20:17] Yeah.

[01:20:17] You want a reason for a 22 year old to go there on a Saturday night and have a good time.

[01:20:23] Or after a Sharks game, when you've got 15,000 people who want to go and party after a good

[01:20:28] win, you want to have a space for them to feel like they don't have to go back to vinyl room

[01:20:32] or go back to, to, to, to Nordies.

[01:20:34] It's still probably going to be, even though you've got now that custom base, it's probably

[01:20:37] a bit tricky for younger people around the Shire because it is still a distance to get

[01:20:40] there, you know.

[01:20:41] But it's not that far.

[01:20:42] I was going to Carmen's and Hunter's, but they're on train lines.

[01:20:46] Yeah.

[01:20:47] It's just, it's still in that little bit of a location that's off.

[01:20:50] But if you give people a reason to go there, they'll take the 15 minute Uber.

[01:20:53] What was the club we used to go to?

[01:20:54] Was it Captain's?

[01:20:55] Yes.

[01:20:55] What was the club we used to go to on a, whatever night it was there.

[01:20:58] I like your idea about if you're at the game though, or if you're going to something at

[01:21:04] the club, the game's on before, I will go to the game as well.

[01:21:06] No, you go spend 50 bucks.

[01:21:08] But if you have 200 people that'll go and just spend 50 bucks, you're golden.

[01:21:13] Then you're going to get all your loyals that go in every night or after a game.

[01:21:16] The bottom line with all that is the club's got to get finished.

[01:21:18] Yes, it does.

[01:21:19] So the schedule is still probably late 25.

[01:21:22] I'm willing to spend a lot of money in there after and before a game.

[01:21:25] And I have many friends who would do the same, but we need to be able to go in and spend

[01:21:28] our money.

[01:21:29] Do we know Gary, is there going to be any room for an entertainment, like a band room or a

[01:21:36] venue?

[01:21:36] Yeah, like there's function rooms and things like that.

[01:21:39] Right.

[01:21:39] There's spaces set up to host concerts or whatever it is that they want to do.

[01:21:43] And the outdoor deck has all sorts of things going on.

[01:21:45] There's nice hospitality venues in there.

[01:21:48] Okay.

[01:21:48] Like it's not just one central idea or theme that runs through the club.

[01:21:51] Do you remember like in the old East club where like after a good win, it'd be packed

[01:21:54] in that main room and they'd have a little live band on like, oh no, just that main,

[01:21:58] that first main room.

[01:21:59] They'd have a little live band and people would get up and have a dance and you know,

[01:22:01] like just even something like that, but at a better scale or like even just a room where

[01:22:06] they have a DJ or something.

[01:22:08] But to Clinton's point, like they would, you know, in the, I guess up until even the

[01:22:12] 90s actually, they had concerts to like tumbleweeds to play there and they'd play to a thousand

[01:22:16] people.

[01:22:16] Yeah.

[01:22:17] Like the band's making money, the club's making money.

[01:22:20] I don't know if they got the space for that.

[01:22:21] The Shire doesn't seem to have those sort of venues.

[01:22:23] We used to have carrying bar bizos.

[01:22:25] We used to have places, you know, carrying bar in.

[01:22:28] We're all apartments now.

[01:22:28] But that's the thing.

[01:22:30] The Shire doesn't have the same venues as it used to.

[01:22:32] So there should be an opportunity.

[01:22:32] There's a market there.

[01:22:33] There is an opportunity to really make some good money and pump that back in the club.

[01:22:37] All right.

[01:22:37] Let's move on to part two of this, which is actually a second wish though.

[01:22:41] It's a different wish.

[01:22:42] Uh, and this is from Clinton again, coming off the back fence with his mate Jardin.

[01:22:48] Probably throwing TK there, to be honest.

[01:22:50] Uh, an actual, and it's not to say we don't feel the same way, but you raise this.

[01:22:53] A plan on how we can redevelop the stadium without government.

[01:22:58] And then in brackets, it says such as what Damo has put to them.

[01:23:02] I don't know what that means.

[01:23:04] Okay.

[01:23:04] Well, I won't give away any confidences of, um, we should be talking about, but there've

[01:23:08] been people connected with the club at past who have had discussions about it.

[01:23:12] And then there are discussions with the current management about what could be done beyond

[01:23:17] the current development.

[01:23:18] I couldn't go into chapter and verse because I don't have it in front of me, but it's exciting

[01:23:21] sort of stuff based on what smaller sports, some smaller sporting clubs have achieved

[01:23:26] overseas.

[01:23:27] There is still room.

[01:23:29] And I mean, even physical room for further development around that club, um, that would

[01:23:35] need private investment.

[01:23:36] I think we've got to actually, unfortunately move away from the point where we think we're

[01:23:41] going to get any government funding unless we sell the ground to the government.

[01:23:45] And I don't even know if the government wants to buy the ground and allow venues, New South

[01:23:49] Wales to actually have ownership of the ground itself.

[01:23:52] I cannot see just from, I've been, I know I've been saying this for years now, but from

[01:23:57] all the people within government and both sides of politics that I talk to, there ain't

[01:24:01] going to be any government funding for it.

[01:24:02] We've got on our side, Peter Volandis, who is passionate about suburban football, which

[01:24:06] is, that's great.

[01:24:07] The fact they've invested in the Quest hotel adds to the argument that maybe one day the

[01:24:13] NRL might.

[01:24:14] I was going to say, is that a chance?

[01:24:16] Look, they're actually buying up hotels left, right and center.

[01:24:18] They bought another two hotels in the past month.

[01:24:21] They don't seem to be, because they generate income for them.

[01:24:24] The problem with the ground as an investment, it doesn't generate much income.

[01:24:28] It's an expense.

[01:24:30] And so I listened to a, the Buy Around podcast with James Grammar is a really good podcast.

[01:24:36] He did a round table with a group of fans, sort of half prominent fan type people a couple

[01:24:43] of weeks ago.

[01:24:43] And they were really critical of our development, the fact that it hasn't led to a new stadium.

[01:24:49] But I think what they were forgetting was the fact when the deal was signed off on, the

[01:24:54] club was about to go under.

[01:24:56] Yeah.

[01:24:56] People don't understand that in the broader rugby league community.

[01:24:59] That's why we didn't have much pulling power when it came to, yeah, we'll sell all this

[01:25:02] for 50 mil, as long as you build a new stadium.

[01:25:05] We didn't have that power.

[01:25:07] Yeah, that's not.

[01:25:07] The current, the nation did not have that power.

[01:25:09] But a lot of people in rugby league got no idea.

[01:25:11] Yeah.

[01:25:11] So they see the development and they think, hang on, they've done all that and they

[01:25:14] haven't rebuilt the stadium.

[01:25:15] But it also causes a problem for us with government.

[01:25:18] Yeah.

[01:25:18] Because we're privately owned.

[01:25:20] Yeah.

[01:25:20] The government sees that we've sold the ground, sold the asset around us and not spent the

[01:25:25] money on the ground.

[01:25:26] So they're going, well, Alan, why are we going to put the money in?

[01:25:28] Yeah, but that's just a, that's a five minute conversation, history lesson, right?

[01:25:32] Hey, this is why we didn't do it.

[01:25:33] Yeah, but that's the problem.

[01:25:34] The government themselves, who don't have enough money to pay nurses at the moment, pay rise,

[01:25:38] they're not going to suddenly come and say, and we know with how much stadium costs have

[01:25:43] gone up.

[01:25:43] Penrith's getting the new stadium right.

[01:25:45] It's actually not a new stadium.

[01:25:46] No.

[01:25:47] It's an upgraded stadium at $307 million.

[01:25:50] And it doesn't look that good.

[01:25:51] It's not a new, but that's how much costs have gone up.

[01:25:54] It's $377 million.

[01:25:56] But would we need that much to just do small refurbishments?

[01:25:59] No, but that's where I think they've now got to think outside of the box beyond let's

[01:26:03] wait for the government grant because it ain't coming anytime soon.

[01:26:05] What did you say at the start of this when you said something about the redevelopment

[01:26:09] and it was, there's actually room there to.

[01:26:12] Look on the, on the Western side with the ET stand side.

[01:26:17] Yeah.

[01:26:17] There apparently is based on what was explained to me and I don't have the details in front

[01:26:22] of me, but modeled on what has been done with some smaller sporting clubs who own facilities

[01:26:27] overseas, there could be the capacity to, to have some private investment where maybe there'd

[01:26:32] be some more commercial space for the private side.

[01:26:34] There's airspace there that could be potentially developed.

[01:26:38] Okay.

[01:26:38] There's airspace above the leagues club.

[01:26:42] Now, if you think about the way the development actually is at the moment, the leagues club,

[01:26:46] height wise, is a lot lower than all the buildings around it.

[01:26:49] Oh.

[01:26:50] We own the leagues club.

[01:26:51] So there is airspace there that could be developed privately.

[01:26:55] Got to fix that roof first.

[01:26:56] So, well, so, so, but all it takes, this is not simple.

[01:27:00] I think we need to move past the hope that we're going to get government funding.

[01:27:04] Cause it's not happening anytime soon.

[01:27:06] Sure.

[01:27:06] Ever.

[01:27:07] I think they've got to now start, and I'm sure Dino and Mace, they're smart people and

[01:27:12] they're now being advised by other smart people.

[01:27:14] They're hopefully looking at more creative ways, probably with the private market, because

[01:27:19] otherwise the stadium is not going to be upgraded.

[01:27:22] I'm not fixated on the government giving us money for the, like I would accept it, but.

[01:27:26] From the point of view of what the club has said to fans.

[01:27:28] No, I know.

[01:27:29] They have been.

[01:27:29] I know.

[01:27:30] And hopefully.

[01:27:31] Oh, we were promised this.

[01:27:32] But hopefully that's less and less.

[01:27:33] Yeah.

[01:27:34] Because they, they never sound good when they say it.

[01:27:36] No.

[01:27:36] And I think they've given up on that.

[01:27:38] And it's just the fact that the government has spent upwards of $700 million upgrading

[01:27:43] and rebuilding Sydney football stadium.

[01:27:45] Yeah.

[01:27:45] It's used a handful of times a year.

[01:27:47] They want content.

[01:27:49] The government wants content there.

[01:27:50] So they aren't going to be spending money to upgrade Jubilee, Coggera and us when those

[01:27:56] two teams, us and St. George could be playing in the city.

[01:27:59] That's what they would love.

[01:28:00] Now we don't want that.

[01:28:01] So I think we've got to now look well beyond government.

[01:28:05] End of rant.

[01:28:06] That's a good one.

[01:28:07] Cam, any thoughts?

[01:28:09] Yeah.

[01:28:09] Josh can just bring home those bags of cash from Vegas and find out.

[01:28:14] That's the plan.

[01:28:15] I promise all the Sharks fans out there, if I ever win an exorbitant amount of money,

[01:28:19] I will pay for the development.

[01:28:21] That is a promise.

[01:28:22] Cam says that as someone who at this stage isn't traveling with you.

[01:28:25] And when I'm saying thinking outside the box, it might be doing deals with the fellows

[01:28:29] from New York.

[01:28:30] And it's not that they just give us money.

[01:28:31] It might be some sort of legitimate property development that they're in.

[01:28:34] And then there's things like the money that every NRL club's getting from the government

[01:28:39] money for P&G.

[01:28:40] I think it works out to be something small, but it's like 3.3 million.

[01:28:44] Those sort of things are putting that money aside to then use if another little thing comes

[01:28:49] through and that money starts to add up and interest, all those things.

[01:28:53] That's when you go, okay, we've got 20 million.

[01:28:55] What can we do with that?

[01:28:56] It just seems to me that everything with the ground is on hold because the Leeds Club isn't

[01:28:59] finished yet.

[01:29:00] Yes.

[01:29:00] Because there's even just the basics like upgrading toilets and the basic things.

[01:29:03] Wouldn't be ridiculously expensive.

[01:29:05] To put people off from going there.

[01:29:06] Yeah, but I can't get past that point.

[01:29:10] I don't know why that can't be done.

[01:29:12] Get a plumber and fix the freaking toilets.

[01:29:14] I reckon it's because the Leeds Club's probably just taking up all the time.

[01:29:16] Nah, that's not good enough.

[01:29:18] Like people are not going because of that.

[01:29:20] People who are fans are not going because they need to go to the loo when it's too disgusting.

[01:29:25] Fix the toilet.

[01:29:26] That's not going to cost you thousands of dollars.

[01:29:28] I wouldn't have thought.

[01:29:30] I mean, it might if you fix them all, but you know what I mean?

[01:29:33] I just think it's...

[01:29:34] Well look, the problem is Flano is a plumber and he's not at the club anymore.

[01:29:37] Flano.

[01:29:38] Good.

[01:29:39] There must be plenty of plumbers in the Shire.

[01:29:41] There are more plumbers in the Shire per capita apparently than any other area in Sydney.

[01:29:46] All the plumbers that go for Cronulla that are listening, can we get something together?

[01:29:50] Can you...

[01:29:51] One day...

[01:29:52] A sponsorship release or something like that.

[01:29:53] A rally day.

[01:29:54] All just meet us.

[01:29:55] Yeah.

[01:29:56] And then we can do a...

[01:29:57] It's like when the Buffalo Bills stadium snows under and they call all the fans to come

[01:30:00] shovel away the snow.

[01:30:01] We just need to call on all the plumbers.

[01:30:02] That's right.

[01:30:03] And we'll get them to...

[01:30:03] We can give them a lap of honour, can't we?

[01:30:05] Some free garlic bread baby.

[01:30:07] Free garlic bread.

[01:30:08] I'll bring the garlic bread for me.

[01:30:09] It's worth it.

[01:30:10] All right.

[01:30:11] Well, I don't know if we solved anything, but we had a good fun chat talking about that.

[01:30:15] Now, I should not be in charge of being the list guy, but I am and this is what we're

[01:30:19] going to do.

[01:30:19] We've got a few more to go before we get to Christmas.

[01:30:23] I think it's...

[01:30:25] I think we've got two left.

[01:30:26] Can anyone confirm that?

[01:30:27] I think we've got two left.

[01:30:29] I don't know.

[01:30:30] Yeah, I think that's right.

[01:30:30] Let's just keep going.

[01:30:32] People are going to write to us and tell us how funny we are.

[01:30:34] Funny being silly.

[01:30:36] All right.

[01:30:36] Jardium would like to talk about the evolution of Fitz's coaching.

[01:30:41] He said, I thought he took a big step last year when it looked like people were being

[01:30:44] held to account for performances.

[01:30:46] I'd like to see him evolve again.

[01:30:50] He just wants Nico dropped.

[01:30:51] Yeah.

[01:30:53] Yeah, Jards.

[01:30:54] I saw him today at work and he just wants to keep Nico honest, I think.

[01:30:59] And he wants the best for him.

[01:31:01] But on that, I mean, we did see Fitzy take some big steps last year, last season and make

[01:31:06] some calls.

[01:31:07] And I think, I mean, everyone knows I'm a Fitz guy, but I think he's actually getting

[01:31:12] better each year, which is what you want, what you need.

[01:31:14] Cam, what are your thoughts?

[01:31:15] Yeah, yeah, no, I totally agree.

[01:31:17] And I think, you know, some of the decisions that he ended up making in this season kind

[01:31:22] of, you know, what we were, I guess fans were calling for, but he made them decisive,

[01:31:29] positive outcomes.

[01:31:29] So we saw Iro come into the centers.

[01:31:32] Yeah, he was a great example of, you know.

[01:31:35] And he was, he was good.

[01:31:36] Cali was good.

[01:31:37] We saw...

[01:31:39] Ison a game.

[01:31:40] Ison played fullback.

[01:31:42] There was a bunch of decisions like that where you were looking at the team with Tuesday

[01:31:46] going, ah, I don't know if he's going to have the guts to do it based on his first two

[01:31:51] seasons.

[01:31:52] But this year, I think he's just, yeah, he's, I think he's really finding his groove and

[01:31:57] hopefully there's more next year.

[01:31:58] I mean, the signings are pretty good as well.

[01:32:00] Like he's, he seems very specific about his signings.

[01:32:03] Can you talk about that Gary a bit?

[01:32:05] Yeah, I'm probably in a bit of a different situation where I am really lucky and blessed

[01:32:09] to be able to sit down at the start of each year with Fitzy in his office and work with

[01:32:13] him on the things that he wants to present to the playing group.

[01:32:17] His philosophies for the year, how he wants them to play, act, all this stuff.

[01:32:21] And to see where he's gone from the first year he was here to now, and just the little intricacies

[01:32:27] in what he does as a coach, the way he speaks, the presentations that he's putting together

[01:32:32] each week, like all these different elements that people probably don't get to see.

[01:32:36] He's definitely growing as a coach.

[01:32:38] And I think this year, from what I've seen to start preseason, he's going another level

[01:32:44] again.

[01:32:44] And it's the people around him.

[01:32:46] He's got a great support staff.

[01:32:47] He's got, you know, it's not just him making every decision.

[01:32:50] He's got trusted experts in each field that he works with and they come up with a plan.

[01:32:54] But I think from my point of view, he's definitely each year taken massive steps.

[01:33:00] And this year is probably another one where I think he'll make those tougher calls with

[01:33:04] a bit more ease.

[01:33:05] He used to maybe hold some decisions in his head a bit too long.

[01:33:08] And, you know, there's those things that he's working on.

[01:33:10] And yeah, he's a really good dude in a really good space.

[01:33:14] I do get the vibe that he really doesn't like to rock the boat.

[01:33:19] And when I say that, he doesn't like to, hey, thanks so much.

[01:33:23] Thank you so much.

[01:33:25] He doesn't like to, he doesn't like a lot of change because if it seems winning and doing

[01:33:31] so well, why mix it up?

[01:33:34] You know, Will Kennedy is a great example.

[01:33:35] And it's not that he doesn't like change.

[01:33:37] It's probably that he's got the belief in what he thinks is going to work and happen

[01:33:43] and what he can get from his players.

[01:33:45] That if it all comes together, he knows it's right.

[01:33:48] Thank you so much.

[01:33:48] And maybe at some points he put a little too much trust in that.

[01:33:51] But at the same point, if you believe in something enough, it's going to work out.

[01:33:56] Yeah.

[01:33:57] What do you think, Josh?

[01:33:57] Well, I think, I don't know about you guys, but I feel like sometimes we take for granted

[01:34:01] how young of a coach he still is in his career.

[01:34:04] I mean, to me, it sometimes feels like he's a 10 or 15 yearer and he's in his third year

[01:34:08] now or going into, yeah, going into third, no, or fourth year now.

[01:34:12] This would be the fourth year.

[01:34:12] Yeah.

[01:34:13] This would be the second contract, wouldn't it?

[01:34:14] It would have been a three year contract to start with.

[01:34:16] That's a great question.

[01:34:17] Yeah.

[01:34:17] I would have thought it was three.

[01:34:18] He has extended during that.

[01:34:20] Yeah.

[01:34:20] He has.

[01:34:21] I think we like, we sometimes take that, take for granted how good he's been so quickly

[01:34:25] when we've seen how many rookie coaches in the NRL get chewed up and spat out within

[01:34:29] a year or less sometimes.

[01:34:32] So I think like his development, like as I've already been saying, has already been

[01:34:36] so interesting to watch as like, as someone who's a keen observer and really takes this

[01:34:43] stuff seriously.

[01:34:44] Yeah.

[01:34:44] But also I've just been impressed with his development as a man and as like a coach of

[01:34:49] a team that I've loved my whole life.

[01:34:51] And I trust him like so much already.

[01:34:54] And I hope he's there for the next 20 years.

[01:34:56] Like if we keep being successful.

[01:34:58] I think he's really earned that trust.

[01:35:00] Absolutely.

[01:35:01] I know there's people who don't like what he does, but I'm with you.

[01:35:06] Like he's, like if he signs a player from Canberra who's played two games, I go, okay,

[01:35:11] well there must be something there.

[01:35:13] He's not just going to blindly pick someone.

[01:35:15] And that's, I'm not suggesting that any of the NRL coaches would do that, but we know

[01:35:21] that this guy takes what he does very seriously.

[01:35:23] He's got results.

[01:35:25] Like we've had some really good times.

[01:35:28] Yeah.

[01:35:29] I completely love the road he's on.

[01:35:33] I think he'll be here for at least 10 years.

[01:35:35] I think he'd be a 10 year-er.

[01:35:36] I hope so.

[01:35:37] I think he was, and he picked wisely.

[01:35:40] Remember he came to the club because he was impressed with the playing group, with the

[01:35:44] junior base.

[01:35:45] He came to a club that would regularly make the semifinals.

[01:35:48] I think we missed the finals the year before he came.

[01:35:50] Yeah.

[01:35:51] But that was about it.

[01:35:52] Flano and then John Morris, they regularly made the finals.

[01:35:54] Okay.

[01:35:54] We couldn't break through.

[01:35:56] Since he's been here, we've made the top four twice.

[01:35:59] Okay.

[01:35:59] The first year, top two, but probably over achieved.

[01:36:02] The year we've just had has been the best year of the three, I think, given we made the

[01:36:06] prelim, given we started beating the big sides during the season.

[01:36:10] That's the development.

[01:36:11] He brought players in as much as he's a polarizing figure now.

[01:36:16] He's brought in Nico Hines as a man who'd never played first grade half-back.

[01:36:19] Yep.

[01:36:20] And made him the centerpiece of the club.

[01:36:21] So, he's obviously got an eye for talent and developing younger players as well.

[01:36:27] So, I feel entirely confident with the future of him.

[01:36:31] And sure, he'll evolve, but I think that'll just come naturally is what Gaz has explained,

[01:36:34] what his observations are.

[01:36:35] I know being a good player doesn't mean you're a good coach and vice versa.

[01:36:39] Yeah.

[01:36:40] But it can also mean that you are.

[01:36:42] And I think people forget about his playing career.

[01:36:44] He's a hell of a player.

[01:36:45] One of the best second rowers of the 2000 eras.

[01:36:46] Did everything.

[01:36:47] The 2000 eras.

[01:36:48] Did everything.

[01:36:50] As well as goal kicking.

[01:36:51] Look, he has covered every kind of role as a player, which he can now pass on.

[01:36:57] Yeah.

[01:36:57] So, when Nico's having, you know, kicking issues or whoever, pick a kicker, yeah, they've got

[01:37:03] specialized guys they bring in.

[01:37:05] The head coach has kicked 400 goals in his life.

[01:37:09] You know what I mean?

[01:37:09] He just seems to me from the interviews that are conducted with him, with people who know

[01:37:13] him and talk to me, he seems like such a loyal sort of decent character.

[01:37:17] Yeah.

[01:37:17] But I don't even have that fear that when Uncle Nick comes knocking, he's a life member of

[01:37:22] the Roosters, remember?

[01:37:23] Yeah.

[01:37:23] Right?

[01:37:24] Now, Trent Robertson's been the coach of that club for a hell of a long time.

[01:37:27] Eventually, Trent Robertson will move on if he's own a court or whatever.

[01:37:29] Yeah.

[01:37:30] Uncle Nick would come knocking.

[01:37:31] I've actually got confidence that at this point, he'd knock him back.

[01:37:35] Yeah.

[01:37:35] I think he has some loyalty to what he's doing.

[01:37:36] It would take something bad at our club and some bad feelings, bad blood for that to

[01:37:42] even be a thing.

[01:37:43] Yeah.

[01:37:44] He's not going to chase that money.

[01:37:45] What do you reckon, Cam?

[01:37:47] Yeah, like I said before, all in.

[01:37:49] All in.

[01:37:50] The club for a long time.

[01:37:51] And I think, I guess there's so much that he's probably contributing that Gaz probably

[01:37:55] knows about that we don't, we just don't ever know about.

[01:37:59] The shark dialogue.

[01:38:00] I'm not allowed to talk about that.

[01:38:02] Be the shark, Cam.

[01:38:03] Be the shark.

[01:38:05] Yeah, I'm all in.

[01:38:06] All in.

[01:38:07] But it's even just the way we handle player signings now.

[01:38:09] Oh man.

[01:38:10] They come out of nowhere, even for people in the building.

[01:38:12] That was the thing I thought, if Ryan Pappenhausen suddenly signed a couple of weeks

[01:38:15] ago, I wouldn't have been shocked.

[01:38:16] Yeah.

[01:38:17] No, because that's the way AFB came about.

[01:38:19] Yeah, exactly.

[01:38:19] That's the way Niko came about effectively.

[01:38:21] Yeah, it's fine.

[01:38:21] Hardly need talk.

[01:38:22] And I think the players appreciate that too.

[01:38:24] That's the way we need it.

[01:38:24] Like not having their name in the media of where they're going, like how much money

[01:38:27] they're on.

[01:38:28] It's just yep, done.

[01:38:28] And I'm just using Pappenhausen as an example, as a big name player who was linked to a

[01:38:33] couple of clubs there for a couple of weeks.

[01:38:35] Yeah, in the market.

[01:38:35] Hey guys, how do you view the players and their relationship with him?

[01:38:40] Like how do they see him?

[01:38:42] A lot of respect.

[01:38:43] Yeah.

[01:38:43] A lot of, you know, they like to have a good time.

[01:38:46] They're a bunch of men who are playing footy for a living.

[01:38:49] Like they have some good times at training, but as soon as he's out on the field, it's

[01:38:52] business and everyone knows that.

[01:38:54] Yeah.

[01:38:54] And you know, when he speaks, he commands the room and there's, yeah, that level of respect

[01:38:58] is probably the biggest thing that I've noticed since he started.

[01:39:01] So, who are the, if I can ask guys, like who are the leaders in the playing group at the

[01:39:04] moment?

[01:39:05] You know, when we had the Waitos and Fafitas, those big older personalities.

[01:39:10] Yeah.

[01:39:11] Um, Cam's the captain.

[01:39:13] Yeah.

[01:39:13] Like obviously Cam.

[01:39:14] He's the sort of dominant player around the training sessions.

[01:39:16] Yeah.

[01:39:17] Cam is.

[01:39:17] Another, like two that probably don't stand out a lot is Teague Wilton.

[01:39:21] He's probably one of the biggest.

[01:39:22] Who was always a captain coming through in junior grade.

[01:39:23] Yeah, yeah.

[01:39:23] Absolutely.

[01:39:24] All through New South Wales and stuff like that.

[01:39:26] And, um, Siffa, who's like one of the quietest guys you'll ever meet.

[01:39:29] Like when he's around the boys and they're talking footy and all this stuff, like he's

[01:39:33] really dialed in and switched on.

[01:39:34] Yeah.

[01:39:35] They're probably two of the ones that, you know, when it's a halftime chat or something

[01:39:38] like that and they're piping up, you kind of like, you don't expect it.

[01:39:41] But like the level of respect that they command off the back of that is, yeah.

[01:39:45] Yeah.

[01:39:45] You see Teague a lot in the, in the heart, like in the sheds or like after we've conceded a

[01:39:49] try something, you do see Teague like leading a lot of those chats and like firing

[01:39:52] the boys up or giving them a spray.

[01:39:53] Yeah.

[01:39:54] Like Ronnie's come a long way as well.

[01:39:56] There's like Blake even like, there's heaps there.

[01:39:58] It's funny when I, when I, you know, cause there's only so many guys in the team and I

[01:40:01] interview guys every week or two and see, you're obviously doing multipliers a year.

[01:40:06] The guys you just mentioned, Siffa, Teague and Cam, like Teague and Cam in particular,

[01:40:15] complete all business.

[01:40:17] Like if I try and razz them, if I try and break them, it's like for 10 seconds.

[01:40:22] Yeah.

[01:40:22] That's it.

[01:40:23] Siffa's different cause he's probably a bit more chill, but the way he talks about footy,

[01:40:30] if I didn't have that experience, I wouldn't have thought it was possible just given the

[01:40:34] way that he plays.

[01:40:35] He's, and then the kind of, I guess the kind of way you might perceive him as a, as a person

[01:40:40] off the field, just the whole complete package.

[01:40:43] Yeah.

[01:40:43] When you talk footy with him, like man, he's, he's got opinions.

[01:40:49] He's knowledgeable.

[01:40:51] So I can clearly see why they're leaders.

[01:40:54] Got a nice Siffa story for you.

[01:40:56] So I'm walking around my suburb, so I live in Engadine last night and it's starting to

[01:41:01] get dark and Christmas lights are coming on around all the houses, right?

[01:41:04] And so many people now have the inflatables in their front yards where they're whatever

[01:41:07] they, you know, kangaroos and dinosaurs and Santa Claus and so forth.

[01:41:12] Anyway, I'm walking past them.

[01:41:13] There's a house of some, some friends of ours.

[01:41:14] I hadn't walked past their house since they put their Christmas decorations.

[01:41:17] And the top story, one of their windows is one of those giant Siffa faces that they

[01:41:22] had on.

[01:41:23] Oh, cool.

[01:41:24] With a Santa hat on.

[01:41:25] How good.

[01:41:25] That is awesome.

[01:41:26] So he's got the beard in there, the black beard, but he's got the Santa hat on.

[01:41:29] That's the best.

[01:41:30] That's the best.

[01:41:30] That's the best.

[01:41:31] That's the best.

[01:41:31] That is awesome.

[01:41:32] Santa Siffa.

[01:41:33] Love that.

[01:41:34] That is cool.

[01:41:35] Has he got a new look this year?

[01:41:38] Have I seen a new look?

[01:41:39] He's like trimmed the beard and like hair cut, things like that.

[01:41:43] He's come back in good nick, so.

[01:41:44] All right.

[01:41:45] Well, we're down to our last wish.

[01:41:48] It's either the 11th, 12th or 13th.

[01:41:50] We're not sure.

[01:41:53] But they're all, they all matter.

[01:41:56] So this one matters, I would say, quite a lot.

[01:41:58] No.

[01:41:59] So this is from Clinton.

[01:42:01] And Josh and I are three quarters of the way in and we'll explain what that is.

[01:42:06] Clinton wants a premiership.

[01:42:08] He doesn't want just a grand final.

[01:42:10] He wants a premiership.

[01:42:12] We need to pounce while the window is open.

[01:42:15] Whereas Josh and I have taken it back a step and we want grand finals.

[01:42:19] Doesn't mean we don't want the big one, but we're just saying we want grand finals.

[01:42:23] That guy is saying he wants a premiership.

[01:42:25] Doesn't mean I don't want a grand final.

[01:42:27] Of course I want a grand final.

[01:42:27] Doesn't mean we don't want a premiership.

[01:42:29] Now, I think of all of the Sharks cast co-hosts, I think I'm the most pessimistic usually.

[01:42:35] Correct.

[01:42:35] I think I had us battling for the top eight last year, seventh and eighth.

[01:42:38] You have us losing every week.

[01:42:41] I actually have a lot of confidence heading into this season.

[01:42:43] Now, I think that's got a lot to do with AFB.

[01:42:45] Sure.

[01:42:46] I think it's got a lot to do with Nico having a fresh start.

[01:42:50] It's not the same, yeah.

[01:42:51] It's got a lot to do with the fact that we had, was it one player playing in this national series at the end of the year?

[01:42:58] Don't underestimate the impact that has on players pre-seasons.

[01:43:01] That we don't, we didn't really have players playing in that competition, which was great by the year, but it was good that our players weren't affected.

[01:43:09] I think that the fact we were top, I saw a tweet during the week from Michael Chamis, who I've got a fair bit of respect for as a journo with City Morning Herald.

[01:43:18] And he didn't have the Sharks in the top eight.

[01:43:19] Yes.

[01:43:20] And I replied to it and I said, hang on, we're top four last year.

[01:43:24] We're adding the best prop in the comp and we can't make the top eight.

[01:43:27] So I think again, I think we'll be underestimated.

[01:43:29] Did he reply?

[01:43:30] No, he didn't because he was going on holidays tweets.

[01:43:33] I think I liked your reply.

[01:43:35] I saw it and I was like, get in there.

[01:43:36] And, and I, and I'm careful not to get into Twitter wars because I get into it.

[01:43:41] Right.

[01:43:42] But, but I actually have more confidence than I've had for a long time.

[01:43:45] Now that can come undone pretty quickly.

[01:43:47] Sure.

[01:43:47] So if my fears about Vegas are realized and we get off to a bad start for the season, then all that travel things could change quickly.

[01:43:54] But if we can get through to the midpoint of the season, and if we are say floating around fifth, sixth spot at the midpoint of the season,

[01:44:03] I think we can make a real run of it, provided we haven't had injuries to the halves, to AFB, to the key players.

[01:44:09] I think we can make a real run from the back end.

[01:44:12] I, you know, I wouldn't now bet against Penrith after four comps in a row, but they've just lost your own lure.

[01:44:19] Like, he has been a mainstay of their team for four premierships.

[01:44:22] That's got to have an effect.

[01:44:24] I think that, you know, there are other teams that are going to think too, I think watch the Broncos bounce back this year under Madge.

[01:44:29] Like there's going to be other teams that suddenly threaten who weren't a threat last year.

[01:44:34] But I reckon that even if they're looking at the next sort of four years, I reckon this one might be our year.

[01:44:41] Genuinely.

[01:44:41] Genuinely.

[01:44:42] Yeah, I'm with you.

[01:44:43] I'm not sure if it's this year or the one after.

[01:44:46] I try and, you know, equate everything back to 2016 and 2015, they had a really, really good year.

[01:44:52] And they got, they made some changes they had to make and then boom.

[01:44:57] So maybe for Noah Blakey is the change we needed and that's it.

[01:45:00] Ready to go.

[01:45:01] Maybe it's not.

[01:45:02] Maybe, maybe it's the year after, but I'm with you.

[01:45:06] I think we'll be there.

[01:45:07] That's why I said grand final.

[01:45:09] I look at the year we had in 24.

[01:45:12] There was so much rubbish around it.

[01:45:14] Like the Nico, you know, media onslaught, his injury, the Trindle off field stuff.

[01:45:22] And we still, what did we finish?

[01:45:25] We finished.

[01:45:25] We finished top four.

[01:45:27] Top four.

[01:45:28] We were fourth.

[01:45:29] We were fourth.

[01:45:30] We were fourth and we were a step away from a grand final.

[01:45:34] Yeah.

[01:45:36] I mean, imagine if we didn't have all that disruption throughout the season, surely win more games.

[01:45:40] I think the only thing, I think the only thing against us compared with last season is the draw.

[01:45:45] And I'm not talking about the quality of the teams we're playing because I think it helps us playing good teams.

[01:45:50] It's just the amount of travel in the first half of the season.

[01:45:53] Yeah, but we don't leave Sydney after like...

[01:45:55] Yeah, which is where I say if we are floating around fifth to sixth...

[01:45:58] Yeah, we will be.

[01:45:59] ...come mid-season, I reckon we can have a really good, strong back in mid-season.

[01:46:02] I'd be disappointed if we're not in the top four at that point.

[01:46:06] I think we'll be hardly touched by rep football again.

[01:46:08] Yeah.

[01:46:09] I actually don't think we've got the players who'll be in origin, to be honest.

[01:46:12] Sure.

[01:46:13] We don't seem to be fashionable when it comes to those individual players.

[01:46:15] No.

[01:46:15] Because I think we've got a really well-rounded squad.

[01:46:18] Yeah.

[01:46:19] So, we're in that position where we can get through that mid part of the season once the travel's over.

[01:46:23] I just don't see us from a performance point of view stepping back.

[01:46:28] 100%.

[01:46:28] So, if they can do the travel...

[01:46:30] I mean, I understand it's Vegas.

[01:46:32] I understand it's Perth.

[01:46:33] I get all that.

[01:46:34] I think we're the second most traveled team next year.

[01:46:37] We're not asking them to walk there though.

[01:46:38] No, we're not.

[01:46:39] And they're professionals and the staff take it really seriously.

[01:46:43] But it is the turnaround times.

[01:46:43] You've got this...

[01:46:44] There's a lot of quick turnaround times.

[01:46:45] There's a couple.

[01:46:46] There's a couple, yeah.

[01:46:47] You've got your town...

[01:46:47] The Vegas one, they get about eight days I think.

[01:46:50] Yeah.

[01:46:50] Which is pretty good.

[01:46:50] By the time they get back, it's still like...

[01:46:52] Because it's at the start of that.

[01:46:53] It would be longer than eight days, wouldn't it?

[01:46:54] Because you've got...

[01:46:55] Because we play the Sunday the following week.

[01:46:57] You're not playing next week, right?

[01:46:58] Yeah.

[01:46:58] So, I think...

[01:47:00] I don't even know if that's going to be a problem.

[01:47:01] But I concede that it could be.

[01:47:03] But from a performance point of view, they're not going to fall off a cliff and forget

[01:47:08] how to play.

[01:47:08] And they've traveled.

[01:47:09] They have traveled well since Fitz has been the case.

[01:47:11] Absolutely.

[01:47:12] Yeah.

[01:47:13] What's the feeling like there, Gary?

[01:47:15] Too early to tell?

[01:47:16] Too early to tell.

[01:47:17] One game at a time.

[01:47:18] But like, as you guys said, we traveled pretty well last year.

[01:47:20] Yeah.

[01:47:21] I don't think travel's an issue.

[01:47:22] I get the whole effects on the body, everything like that.

[01:47:25] The time it takes to recover from that sort of thing.

[01:47:28] But...

[01:47:28] Yeah.

[01:47:29] I mean, in terms of the way we perform at away games and, you know, in the team room

[01:47:33] together, training different fields, things like that.

[01:47:36] Like, everyone's switched on and they almost find it like a real bonding experience when

[01:47:40] we're on an away trip.

[01:47:41] I was going to say they have that vibe.

[01:47:43] Yeah.

[01:47:43] Yeah.

[01:47:43] It comes across real well.

[01:47:44] I think we'll be fine.

[01:47:45] I think the travel will almost be good for us.

[01:47:47] And is there any talk at all about, I don't know, expectations or...

[01:47:52] No.

[01:47:52] Or it's just expected that they probably think they should win the comp?

[01:47:54] Yeah.

[01:47:55] Like, everyone goes into a preseason aiming to win the comp and we're no different.

[01:47:59] So, you know, if that's not what you're aiming for, then why are you playing?

[01:48:03] Well, you know, Geron Luar came out yesterday and I reckon good on him for saying

[01:48:06] that he says, if I was in this team last year, we would have made the top eight.

[01:48:08] Yeah.

[01:48:09] Like, no, but that's...

[01:48:09] That's good though.

[01:48:10] You want that.

[01:48:10] That's the attitude you've got to have.

[01:48:12] Yeah.

[01:48:12] I agree.

[01:48:13] I do find him a bit annoying, but I agree.

[01:48:15] Look at their spine.

[01:48:17] Seriously, have a look at that.

[01:48:18] No, no, no.

[01:48:19] I'm saying I find his...

[01:48:21] Him saying that is annoying.

[01:48:23] Yeah, but you know, he's a four-time premiership winner.

[01:48:25] Yeah, I would be too if I was in that team.

[01:48:27] Yeah.

[01:48:27] I guess that's the problem or my worry over the next couple of years in this window

[01:48:33] being open is that I think the competition is getting even tighter.

[01:48:37] Of course it is, yeah.

[01:48:38] And...

[01:48:38] Yeah.

[01:48:38] And that then brings in a bit of bad luck.

[01:48:42] Yeah.

[01:48:42] You know, like the difference between finishing the top four and the bottom four

[01:48:46] is going to be pretty...

[01:48:48] It's going to be really tight.

[01:48:50] And just with those, you know, even just next season, like again, you were saying like

[01:48:55] maybe Bronco, like it's easy to pick out three or four teams that you would expect are going

[01:48:59] to get improvement and that's disrupting last year's top eight.

[01:49:04] Yeah, but I look at that, Cam, and I understand that argument, but I then just look at our team.

[01:49:10] Like our team is getting better, not worse.

[01:49:13] Yeah.

[01:49:13] So I don't worry about any other team, to be honest.

[01:49:19] Like I don't look at Penrith and go, oh, they're still going to be in the hunt.

[01:49:22] I don't look at the West Tigers and go, they've improved 100%, which they have.

[01:49:26] It doesn't concern me.

[01:49:28] Like...

[01:49:28] Yeah, okay.

[01:49:29] Okay, playing those teams is going to be harder.

[01:49:31] I get the point.

[01:49:33] They've got to look at us and go, hang on, they just got Fanul Blake.

[01:49:36] And that's just one guy.

[01:49:37] I know we're picking on him, but that's one guy.

[01:49:39] How'd they go, oh, they almost beat us in the prelim.

[01:49:43] Like, I think they need to start worrying about us as much as we worry about other teams.

[01:49:49] No offense to you, Clinton, but in years gone by, that's been your big thing has been like, this team's going to be this.

[01:49:55] And it's like...

[01:49:55] And I still...

[01:49:56] No, you're right.

[01:49:57] I still say that.

[01:49:57] You're right, but I'm saying, but look at our team.

[01:50:01] Yeah.

[01:50:01] I don't think in these arguments we look at our team enough.

[01:50:04] And I'm the one backing us for the premiership out of the fall.

[01:50:07] I'm very blown away by that.

[01:50:09] But I still think what Clinton said just before, like just resonated really well with me is,

[01:50:14] the amount of people that could have played rep games, that chose not to, to go and get surgery,

[01:50:20] to be ready to start the season at the point they want to be at, is the mindset.

[01:50:24] There are some top players coming back in the first week of January, like in some clubs.

[01:50:28] Yeah.

[01:50:29] A lot of them actually come back early deliberately, but they, under the CBA, they don't have to

[01:50:33] until the first week of January.

[01:50:34] Yeah.

[01:50:35] That's got to have a big impact if you're playing trials back into February.

[01:50:38] Massive.

[01:50:39] Yeah.

[01:50:40] Yeah.

[01:50:41] It's a problem.

[01:50:42] Like they're playing way too long, way too many games.

[01:50:45] Yeah.

[01:50:45] All right.

[01:50:46] Well, let's do this.

[01:50:47] You're saying premiers.

[01:50:49] No, I'm not.

[01:50:49] I'm not.

[01:50:50] Oh, he's backtracking.

[01:50:52] Don't backtrack now.

[01:50:53] No, this is our window.

[01:50:54] Oh, sorry.

[01:50:55] Yeah, you're right.

[01:50:55] No, he didn't say it.

[01:50:56] He didn't say it.

[01:50:57] This is our window.

[01:50:58] We've got a big chance this year.

[01:50:59] He didn't say it.

[01:51:00] Cam, where do you see us finishing?

[01:51:03] At the end of the week?

[01:51:04] Or doing?

[01:51:05] What do you see us doing?

[01:51:06] Don't know how to ask you.

[01:51:07] Where are we?

[01:51:07] I reckon we're going to finish top two.

[01:51:10] Ooh.

[01:51:10] And I think that I'm with Clinton.

[01:51:11] I'm backing us in to surprise everyone this year.

[01:51:15] Okay.

[01:51:16] It would surprise a lot of people.

[01:51:18] I wouldn't be surprised.

[01:51:19] Gary, are you allowed to say what you think or not really?

[01:51:22] Of course.

[01:51:22] Personal opinion.

[01:51:23] What do you think?

[01:51:24] I think for me, there was something that was said in the sheds after the Panthers game

[01:51:29] that stuck with me.

[01:51:30] Next year, hold the ball.

[01:51:33] It was, if we can learn to play the long game, we've got everything else there or thereabouts.

[01:51:40] When we look back at some of the games where we lost, even the Panthers game, there's moments

[01:51:44] there where we try to do too much in that moment.

[01:51:47] So long game in the actual 80 minutes.

[01:51:49] Yes.

[01:51:50] We try to do everything in that one moment instead of looking at, hey, let's just get

[01:51:55] to the other end and back our defense.

[01:51:57] If we can play the long game, I can't see us not being top four premiership.

[01:52:02] Cool.

[01:52:03] Joshy, what do you think?

[01:52:04] I think Fitz's first year, we unlocked the window.

[01:52:07] We had the key, we've pushed it open and now I think we're ready to walk through the

[01:52:12] window and take it home.

[01:52:14] I'll be very, very disappointed if we don't make the grand final this year.

[01:52:18] I think all the pieces are in place.

[01:52:20] I think some teams around us are aging and getting weaker.

[01:52:23] I think the Panthers, for as good as they are, the pieces are slowly being pulled apart.

[01:52:28] Dylan Edwards' legs must be getting worn out.

[01:52:33] The guy could barely run at the end of last year.

[01:52:35] And those things, they take their toll on the body.

[01:52:37] It's not the years, it's the miles.

[01:52:40] And I think some teams like Melbourne, team like Pemrit, they've got guys like that who

[01:52:44] have been around for a long time, played a lot of football and do every year.

[01:52:48] They play all the origins, they play for Australia, they play all the way to grand finals.

[01:52:52] We're now entering that prime period where we're at the start of where these teams were

[01:52:56] three, four, five years ago.

[01:52:58] And I think there's not a lot of other teams that are in the balance of where we are at right now.

[01:53:03] Squad, coach, timing.

[01:53:05] Yeah.

[01:53:06] So I think it would be a disappointing season if we aren't at minimum in the grand final this year.

[01:53:12] Imagine us playing the Roosters in the grand final.

[01:53:15] You've got fits up against his club with the Chad playing half-back.

[01:53:21] I agree with all of you that we're going to have a good year.

[01:53:24] Yeah, I'm not going to be disappointed if we don't make the grand final, Josh, because

[01:53:28] I think that it takes so much luck.

[01:53:32] I know.

[01:53:33] I'm with you.

[01:53:34] Yeah.

[01:53:34] But I think if we're not top four, it's a disappointing year.

[01:53:38] Yeah.

[01:53:38] And I think that, I'm with Cam, I think I'd be pushing for top two.

[01:53:43] It's going to depend on the draw, how we handle that travel.

[01:53:47] But injuries aside, there's no reason why they can't do something really great.

[01:53:51] And I say that, you know, not, I say that as a guy who watches a lot of this team really

[01:53:58] closely.

[01:53:58] It's nothing to do with like being over top fan or whatever.

[01:54:01] I really think that they've got a great chance, great squad, great coaching staff.

[01:54:06] It's just going to come down to things like travel, like injury.

[01:54:08] I think if we get injuries in the halves, I mean, there's Atka, cool.

[01:54:13] I mean, Poo.

[01:54:15] Don't release him, please don't release him.

[01:54:17] Poo had a great New South Wales Cup campaign.

[01:54:20] So maybe it's his time.

[01:54:22] I'm not sure.

[01:54:24] But that aside, I think that they're, you know, touch wood.

[01:54:29] They're pretty good in all areas as kids coming through.

[01:54:32] Unbelievable kids.

[01:54:33] I think the window is definitely, I think the next three years, there's an opportunity

[01:54:37] to win a comp within the next three years at minimum.

[01:54:39] And depending on the development of other, of the, of the youngsters and if there's any

[01:54:43] like key signings that we can make, I think there's still plenty of, I think we're in

[01:54:46] that, we're at the start of like a Pemreth Melbourne dominant area.

[01:54:50] Hopefully.

[01:54:51] Yeah.

[01:54:52] Definitely.

[01:54:52] Potentially.

[01:54:53] Yeah.

[01:54:55] Who are we about to lose in terms of older players?

[01:54:59] That we don't want.

[01:55:00] Who are we about to lose?

[01:55:00] Yeah.

[01:55:00] Like, Cam's just signed just for an extra year.

[01:55:03] So he'd be better than dollars.

[01:55:04] And that'll be it probably, but yeah.

[01:55:05] Yeah.

[01:55:05] Yeah.

[01:55:06] I mean, there's still the issue.

[01:55:08] There's a lot of players still off contract who they haven't re-signed yet.

[01:55:10] Yeah.

[01:55:11] Ronaldo's and your Wilton's and a few of those.

[01:55:14] Yeah.

[01:55:14] And they've got to go through that period probably some of the next six months of tying

[01:55:17] that up.

[01:55:17] But if we don't, there's opportunity to get someone else.

[01:55:20] Yeah.

[01:55:20] That money's there.

[01:55:21] Yeah.

[01:55:22] The next three years.

[01:55:23] Yeah.

[01:55:24] Even looking at that flag team, a lot of those guys get me pretty excited.

[01:55:30] You know?

[01:55:31] Who's the lock?

[01:55:32] Sam McCulloch or something?

[01:55:34] McCulloch, yeah.

[01:55:34] So he was the captain, wasn't he?

[01:55:35] Well, I think he's a good keast.

[01:55:37] And the hardback Pollard.

[01:55:39] Pollard's good too.

[01:55:39] Pollard, yeah.

[01:55:40] Yeah.

[01:55:40] There's lots of guys like that coming through.

[01:55:42] So, um...

[01:55:42] Who's the Nakora guy?

[01:55:44] The Jack Nakora?

[01:55:46] Yeah.

[01:55:47] Nakora Williams?

[01:55:48] Yeah.

[01:55:48] Yeah.

[01:55:49] He's doing pre-season.

[01:55:50] From Gaz and Sam's point of view of the insiders, what is the situation with Cade Dykes?

[01:55:55] Is he going to be fit to start the season in New South Wales Cup?

[01:55:58] I don't know.

[01:55:59] I hope so.

[01:56:00] Is he training?

[01:56:01] He's training.

[01:56:01] He's training, so...

[01:56:03] When do you do his injury?

[01:56:03] Because this is probably important, isn't it?

[01:56:05] This year's probably the make or break.

[01:56:06] I would say so.

[01:56:07] When do you do his injury, do we know?

[01:56:09] He's done one every year.

[01:56:10] Oh, it was pre-season, wasn't it?

[01:56:11] No, he did one again mid-season.

[01:56:13] Yeah, he came back for like a game or two and then did something else and was off for

[01:56:18] the rest of the year.

[01:56:19] But not as serious.

[01:56:20] Still serious enough to keep him out for the rest of the year.

[01:56:22] Yeah, right.

[01:56:23] I don't know exactly what it was, yeah.

[01:56:25] Yeah, it was something in his knee.

[01:56:27] I just can't remember.

[01:56:28] Yeah, I don't know.

[01:56:30] Just because of all our junior players, if we cast our minds back two seasons, he was

[01:56:35] the one coming through.

[01:56:36] Yeah, he was the one.

[01:56:37] As we're thinking, he's going to be partnering Niko, or he's going to be the full-back.

[01:56:40] And unfortunately, because of this thorough run of injuries, he's just pretty much disappeared

[01:56:44] now.

[01:56:44] I mean, I know he's still got the talent.

[01:56:46] It's just a matter of putting it together, right?

[01:56:48] Yeah.

[01:56:49] Like, yeah.

[01:56:51] Well, I just don't forget that we were playing the final series year before last.

[01:56:57] And even in the finals game against the Roosters that we lost, he was in the box with Fitz.

[01:57:02] Yeah.

[01:57:02] Still around.

[01:57:03] He's still around.

[01:57:04] He's played one game in the coach's box, unless the club seriously had major raps on

[01:57:09] him.

[01:57:10] Yeah.

[01:57:11] Oh, he's well-liked.

[01:57:12] Yeah.

[01:57:12] Yeah, yeah.

[01:57:13] So, yeah, I'm not sure.

[01:57:15] Hopefully, hopefully he can get it together because they're going to need him at some

[01:57:19] point or someone like him.

[01:57:21] Yeah.

[01:57:21] So, all right.

[01:57:23] Well, that's all of our wishes.

[01:57:24] Let's hope that all of them come true.

[01:57:27] Wouldn't that be lovely?

[01:57:28] Yeah.

[01:57:29] Thanks boys for another bumper year.

[01:57:31] Appreciate it.

[01:57:31] Thanks to everyone who listens in, watches on the YouTube, hits us up at the ground.

[01:57:37] We appreciate everyone.

[01:57:39] I do have breaking news.

[01:57:40] It's not bad.

[01:57:41] There's another episode to come this week.

[01:57:43] There's another episode.

[01:57:44] Hmm.

[01:57:45] What's happening?

[01:57:47] I'm going to be chatting with someone else about the Cronulla Sharks on SharkCast.

[01:57:51] So, but yeah, I believe all being well, Ricky and I are going to catch up later in

[01:57:57] the week.

[01:57:57] Awesome.

[01:57:58] So, for those who didn't miss it, who've missed it, make sure you listen to Sam's pod

[01:58:02] with Brendan Cowell.

[01:58:04] Oh yeah.

[01:58:04] You like that?

[01:58:05] It was such a good listen.

[01:58:07] He's a good go.

[01:58:08] Particularly for not folks at Josh's age, but maybe the rest of us.

[01:58:11] It was just a real insight into the thinking of men when they get to midlife.

[01:58:17] Yeah.

[01:58:17] As the series is.

[01:58:19] He's really started to specialize in that in a lot of his work.

[01:58:22] Yep.

[01:58:23] So, let's go around the table.

[01:58:25] You haven't watched Plum yet?

[01:58:26] No, I haven't yet.

[01:58:27] You haven't?

[01:58:28] I want to know.

[01:58:28] Cam, what'd you think of it?

[01:58:30] Yeah, fantastic.

[01:58:31] Yeah?

[01:58:31] Yeah.

[01:58:32] Really good.

[01:58:33] Okay.

[01:58:33] And we finished it just before, yeah, I finished watching it just not long actually

[01:58:38] before the interview that you did with Brendan.

[01:58:41] So, yeah, great timing.

[01:58:43] Great to hear his perspective on it.

[01:58:45] You recommend it?

[01:58:46] Oh, yeah.

[01:58:47] A hundred percent.

[01:58:48] Yeah.

[01:58:48] Yeah.

[01:58:48] A hundred percent.

[01:58:49] Yeah.

[01:58:50] Because I read the book a while ago.

[01:58:52] I was looking forward to the show, but I had no idea it'd be that good.

[01:58:56] I don't know why, but I had no idea the show would be that good.

[01:58:59] It's, I thought it was lights out.

[01:59:01] It was just everything about it.

[01:59:03] It wasn't sort of completely obvious how they did it.

[01:59:07] There were twists and turns and...

[01:59:09] Massive spoilers in the podcast though.

[01:59:11] There were some spoilers.

[01:59:13] But it's not even a program that you have to have an interest in the sharks.

[01:59:17] No, no, no.

[01:59:17] Like, obviously...

[01:59:18] I think for our listeners.

[01:59:20] Yeah, for our listeners.

[01:59:20] We'd love it because you see so much sharks.

[01:59:22] You know, when you...

[01:59:23] Or even if you live in the area.

[01:59:25] When you couldn't remember Gavin Miller's name.

[01:59:26] You'd shout, Gavin Miller!

[01:59:27] Like, there was such a connection for us, but also the messaging in it about the issue

[01:59:32] that so many footballers are now facing, tragically.

[01:59:35] Yes.

[01:59:35] But also just the challenges you face when you sort of start to enter your middle-aged years.

[01:59:40] Yep.

[01:59:41] And even just the perspective of the son.

[01:59:43] Yep.

[01:59:44] Young fella coming through.

[01:59:45] Absolutely, yeah.

[01:59:45] Yeah, it was awesome.

[01:59:46] What did you think of the Leagues Club?

[01:59:50] It's better than their current one, isn't it?

[01:59:52] So, here's another spoiler, Josh.

[01:59:54] The Leagues Club was the E.T. bar.

[01:59:58] It was.

[01:59:59] They made it look good.

[02:00:01] It was plenty of memorabilia, wasn't it?

[02:00:02] It was 20 metres long.

[02:00:03] It looked good.

[02:00:04] Okay.

[02:00:05] Were you around, Gary, when they filmed anything?

[02:00:07] They came in and filmed a few times when I was floating past, but I never went in and sussed

[02:00:11] it all out properly.

[02:00:12] Okay.

[02:00:12] Yeah.

[02:00:13] You'd love it as a local.

[02:00:14] I want to watch it for sure.

[02:00:16] You'd love it, yeah.

[02:00:16] I want to watch it for sure.

[02:00:17] Yeah.

[02:00:18] Thanks to Brendan.

[02:00:19] Thanks to everyone else who's come on the show.

[02:00:21] But yeah, hopefully, all being well, touch with another episode.

[02:00:23] I'm not sure when I'm going to put this one out, so I probably have spoiled everything,

[02:00:26] but we're going to have Ricky Owen hopefully if our worlds can meet.

[02:00:31] But until then, thanks to my immediate company for joining our audience and getting our Christmas

[02:00:38] wishes out, and we send our respect to TK and to Jardian.

[02:00:46] SharkarsPod, you know where to follow us.

[02:00:47] You know what to do.

[02:00:49] We'll talk to you real soon.

[02:00:50] Up, up, Cronulla.

[02:00:52] Happy celebrations, whatever it is you do over the festive period.

[02:00:56] Up, up.

[02:00:56] Talk to you soon.

[02:00:57] Back in the Shire.

[02:01:19] Turn your porch lights off because we're coming out with a truck.