Finals Week 1, 2026: Exclusive Interviews with KL Iro, Tom Hazelton and Nicho Hynes Presser

[00:00:01] The Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking is a hidden gem of the Shire, situated on the banks of the beautiful Port Hacking. It's a great place to catch up with friends, celebrate your birthday or any special occasion, and they always show the NRL live on the big screens. The RMYC Port Hacking, proud sponsors of this podcast and big supporters of the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. Check out their website rmycph.com.au

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[00:01:05] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast Pod, a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. This is a short, sharp, interview-based episode brought to you by Dyson Logistics, The Royal Motor Yacht Club and Port Hacking, Jason Hawes at Cripps & Cripps Real Estate. And get our coffee from Mr. Paisley, he's been there twice already today. On this episode you're going to hear from Tall Tom Heslton, you're going to hear from K.L. Ero. A couple of interviews I was lucky enough to do down at Ocean Protect Stadium.

[00:01:36] The team is in a good way, they're pumped. I actually got to watch an extended amount of their training session and they're all guns a-blazing. It's going to be a very fit and capable team that performs on Saturday night and you'll hear they want you out there watching it. So if you're one of those people on the fence or you're thinking about boycotting, don't be that person.

[00:02:01] Just get past the fact that the Sharks are not playing at Woolaware and if you're able to physically and if you have the means, etc. Head out to Allianz Stadium, there's going to be a function on beforehand at Watson's in the Fox Precinct from about 4, 4.30. And the women's team is playing at about 5.10 as well and it's all happening so make sure you head out there. Plenty of good chat with K.L., plenty of good chat with Tall Tom.

[00:02:30] Everyone's in a pretty good way, I've got to be completely transparent like I normally am and usually am and always am I should say. The other thing I want to tell you is there's another separate episode coming out and it's a real special one. And I want you to go listen to that and you can watch it hopefully too if all the tech works. And that'll be out probably by Wednesday night sometime. Really cool episode. Little loose but two great special guests on that show.

[00:02:58] One I will be very transparent with wasn't planned at all. 7.50pm, we're out there Allianz Stadium, Sharks-Cowboys. 5.10 Allianz Stadium. The local derby, the fight for the avoiding of the wooden spoon, NRLW. There is a jersey flag game on earlier in the day, I think it starts in the AM. And there is New South Wales Cup as well. So it's a big day for the club. Get behind them in any way you can.

[00:03:27] I know there's people listening far and wide so we'll try and stay up to date with as much as we can. Make sure you follow us on all the social pages and on all of our apps and all of our ways of communicating with you. Whether it's the shows which come out via YouTube and via Apple and Spotify and every other podcast. Subscribe there. And or social media, Facebook, Instagram. We also have TikTok and we have The X.

[00:03:54] So posted some cool clips of Riley Pollard and Riley Jones this morning. The episodes are there for you to listen to as well in full detail. All right, I'm going to love you and leave you right now with KL Ero and tall Tom Hazleton. And don't forget there's another episode out and about Wednesday night, hopefully latest. All being well, you can watch that on YouTube and our website. Up Up Cronulla, talk to you soon.

[00:04:18] Tom Hazleton is out. It looks like Peter Garrett steaming down. Tom Hazleton, welcome back to Shark House Pod. Big game, elimination time. We're ready for it. I just saw the boys out there. You look pretty good. How's the feeling? Yeah, really good. Obviously, good spirit around the group, good energy. You know, we've had another year where we've played well enough consistently to give ourselves a shot in the semifinals again, which is what it's all about. So yeah, really looking forward to it. Let's get it out of the way now.

[00:04:48] We're not playing at Ocean Pre-X Stadium. We're moving on. We're going to Allianz. You got any words for people who are on the fence about going? Oh, obviously the more people we can get there, the better, right? You know, they turn out in force here at Ocean Pre-X Stadium to watch us and something we're really grateful for. And, you know, while there is the disappointment that we won't be here, you know, it'd be nice to get as many there as possible. You know, give us that 14th player, that edge over the Cowboys for sure. Well said. Let's talk about the Cowboys. Fast back line, good forwards, good halves.

[00:05:18] They're good all over the shop. They can leak some points. I don't want to disrespect them. But I think if we keep the ball in play and defend well, I mean, does it come from our defence this week? Yeah, definitely. This time of year, that's what it's all about, right? It's the best defensive teams putting them in positions to win games and playing bigger games. So, yeah, they've got a lot of strike, like you said. Good forward pack. And, yeah, defence is our main focus this week, that's for sure. Now, how are you feeling? Don't remind me.

[00:05:48] You didn't play last week. Is that correct? Yeah, I didn't play. I got a suspension, so... Oh, did you? Yeah, against Parramatta. So, that was disappointing. Oh, the hip drop. Yeah. All right, let's talk about it. I mean, the monitor, the monitor screen. I mean, I personally don't think you're... No, actually, I do think you're at fault. Fitzy said it was a penalty count, and I went, Yeah. I don't think so. Did he own up? Did he go, hey, you made me break a screen? No, no. Actually, to your first point, he reaffirmed that it wasn't. Boy, yeah.

[00:06:17] Yeah, but, yeah, obviously, that was disappointing. Yeah. Disappointing to miss out on the game on the weekend. That was, you know, as good as we probably defended for a month. And to have three guys, three really good guys debut for the club too, was special. And you could probably tell how much it meant to the rest of the squad with how they performed too. So, yeah, disappointing not to play last week, but, yeah, excited and feeling good about the weekend. Now, I never get the chance to ask someone about hip drops. I'm just going to ask you. Yeah. It's obviously spur of the moment. It's obviously not on purpose. Yeah.

[00:06:47] You see a guy, you go for him. Yeah. You've got no time to think, right? Yeah, definitely. It's one of them things, like, if you have your time back, you probably do something different. But when he's sort of getting away from you, it sort of seems like you either let him go or you do it, right? So, yeah, it's just something you have to be mindful of, especially this time of year in a big game. You know, having a period of 12 players could, you know, win or lose you a semifinal potentially. So, while they all come, not all of them can be helped,

[00:07:15] obviously hip drops and high tackles and stuff, we'll be definitely looking to limit it. That's for sure. I spoke yesterday to Riley Jones and Riley Pollard, and I was blown away with their maturity, with their appreciation of their position they're in now. Give us a bit of insight into what it's like playing with those guys. Yeah. Obviously both extremely high quality. Obviously, RJ got a debut at Newcastle as a hooker and came here a bit down on confidence, a bit, you know, unsure of, you know, his position going forward.

[00:07:44] But to see a guy come in and do nothing but, you know, get the trust of the boys and work hard and earn a spot was so impressive. And obviously the story last week about losing his dad and to get that game on Father's Day is so special. And Riley is mature beyond his years. He's got a really calm head, really good defender, popular around the group too. And, you know, I'm sure those guys are going to have, you know, long careers here at the Sharks going forward for sure.

[00:08:13] All right, Tommy, we will talk again next week because the road ain't done yet. We have a long way to go. And thanks for your time and go well. Thank you, bro. Appreciate it. KL Eero here with Sharkast Pod. Hey, Phil and man, what's going on? Nah, I'm pretty excited. It's three days out now from do or die games.

[00:08:40] So, yeah, the tensions are high and we're pretty calm at the same time, having fun. Ready to go. You're a very calm person. I like the dude, not the die. Now, Rob Willis, how do you think we're going to go? Oh, they'll be fine. The boys are going warm, mate. Thanks, Rob. They're more interesting than they. That's not true. How's your golf game? Nah, I play no golf. A bit of mini, mini, mini golf, but nah, I can't. The boys are beginning to it though, most of the boys. Yeah. I went to, what's the ex-golf thing? Yeah.

[00:09:10] I went home angry, so I didn't want to ever pick up a golf club again. How did you go on the weekend not playing, watching? How did you go? Were you alright in the stands? I hated it. I always wanted to play. Pitsy knew that as well. That's why I said at least just put me on the bench so I can be around the boys. And just, yeah, I wanted to get away with the boys and train with the boys, warm up with the boys. I just wanted to still feel that, you know, feel that bit of tension coming into the game. You did the warm down too, yeah? Yeah.

[00:09:37] A bit of a conditioning hit at the end, but yeah, I need that coming into a game obviously in the finals, so I'm pretty excited. So, Cowboys are pretty good all over the park. Very quick back line. Are you ready for them? Yeah, I think obviously when you get one back on them from, obviously, I know the season doesn't matter now, but they got us up there last time and I think there's a bit of a tension holding there between us and yeah, pretty excited to go out there and put on a good job.

[00:10:06] And yeah, I think we're ready for them for sure. I'm not going to ask you about not playing here because it's been asked a million times, but what have you got to say to the fans who are a bit on the fence about going into the city or not to watch us play? No, we definitely need everyone we can get over there. Hopefully we can paint the stadium black, white and blue. Yeah, we're pretty, we just need everyone to, we need everyone's support. Obviously when we're playing, we hear everyone, hear the chairs and I think that helps us out of the last. So yeah, we need everything we can.

[00:10:35] How was it for you watching Pollard, Gabriel and, don't tell me, Raleigh, Jones, how was that for you last week? Nah, really happy. Especially young, young Uncle Gabriel. I was really happy he got to get his game. He's been working at it all year and everyone knows that he's been ready. So yeah, it's just, I think next time he comes in, he's going to probably stay there. So that's what I'm hoping for anyway. So hopefully he goes away and works hard at his craft and yeah, comes back stronger. Had that game on his belt now, so he's ready to go. Bizarre game. Yeah.

[00:11:06] Nah, tough game. Fitzy was saying it as well. Like we felt like we won that, but yeah, but we didn't obviously with the scoreboard. But have you had any chats with Raleigh Jones about the fact that you were in a similar boat where you debuted, you waited a few years, you came back. Have you guys had that chat before? Nah, I haven't really had that chat with him yet, but yeah, I don't even know if he really knows that story too. Yeah, because I debuted back in 22, then missed the whole year, 23 and then came in 24.

[00:11:34] Yeah, well, I probably might have that chat with him now actually. Yeah. Yeah, just had to talk to him about that. Yeah, because I had a chat with him on Monday, super impressive guy obviously as you know, and he was talking about how it took a lot of confidence to come back from that because he played, I think it was in 23 for Newcastle. He's waited, you know, three years to get back. So, great story. Yeah, no, he actually shared it with the boys that he was in a pretty tough spot before coming to Sharks.

[00:11:59] So, I think, yeah, he's got pretty emotional and he opened up a bit like saying that Sharks gave him that second life. So, yeah, it's pretty cool to see like him run out there on the weekend. He scored a try too, played good, killed it. And yeah, I was really happy for them. All of their bit once they killed it, they went well. Yeah, they did. Yeah. All right. Now, don't get too ready for the World Cup because we've got a game next week. We're going to play the loser of Roosters Panthers, but don't worry about that. Just think about Cowboys. And we'll talk to you again next week. Yeah, sweet bro.

[00:12:29] Thank you. Thank you KL. Thank you very much.

[00:12:58] I'm sure you're happy to have your regular half partner back. How does Braden help your game when he's on the field? Yeah, definitely happy and excited to be playing with Tricky again. He's had an outstanding year and he just brings more of a, I guess, seven role to the team, I guess, if you will. I know I wear number seven, we can both play that sort of role, but he's got an outstanding kicking game. He can play on ball a little bit more and free me up and play out the back and play my natural running game.

[00:13:26] So, we've built this combination over the last few years now and yeah, look, I'm really looking forward to having another finals campaign with him. What's your kind of, I guess, relationship with him in terms of, do you know what he's doing now? You've played so much together. Is it kind of second nature that you know how each other play? Yeah, I guess so. It was our second or first run together out there today and it just felt like riding the bike again.

[00:13:51] And I know the way he likes to play and he knows the way I like to play and when we're chiming in together on both sides of the field, it just feels natural. And look, it's not an end product and it's been something we've worked hard at and we'll continue to work hard at it over the next how many years we're here together and in particular we're on Friday and then on Saturday night again. It's pretty tight as you can see so I'm just wondering, is it just coffee or does he do an aspect bowl?

[00:14:19] Funny you say that actually because I'm always the one doing the cooking and he's always doing the critiquing. So the critiques are the ones who always sit back and don't do the cooking so I've been waiting for him to actually do some cooking for me. But yeah, look, we've worked really hard at our connection and our relationship and not only Tricky and I, the whole team but in particular our spine too. So yeah, look, it's definitely like I said, not a finished product and we're going to continue to work really hard on that and hopefully it shows what we've been able to build over

[00:14:49] the last however long on Saturday night. He must be young. I don't know, I've never done it and fingers crossed I don't have to ever feel that way but yeah, look, he's worked really, really hard with the physios and in the background over the last few weeks to make sure he was right for this game and it's a credit to him. He's been in the gym, he's been doing his rehab, he's been running on the field and he doesn't really like doing those long fitness sessions but he's been working hard at it.

[00:15:17] So yeah, there's got to be a degree of toughness to play our sport and an extra degree to play I guess with a bung shoulder and yeah, if you're taking the field week in, week out in the NRL it's hard to do and in particular playing injured, yeah, so head off to him and to the players who do that. Until last year, there'd been a bit of criticism about your form in the finals but with a couple of wins last season, do you feel like you kind of erased any demons that might have been there? Yeah, for sure.

[00:15:44] Like, there's always that sort of noise about the finals and with us but in particular this time of the year there's only eight teams left so you've got to talk about something, right? And yeah, we were in this position last year and we went on and made the prelim and there's no reason why we can't do that again. You don't want to look too far, you've got to bring the horizon forward and just look forward to Friday and then Saturday night. So yeah, look, we've had plenty of experience over the last couple of years and hopefully that experience brings us joy on the weekend.

[00:16:10] Talk about in closing but I'm just, Jessie's a whole other, we're only around the 50-60 game mark so you don't ever feel, you know, this is the one and only chance or we've only got this year or next year and you feel so there's news? Yeah, for sure. Forever when we're in this room and we're preparing and the players we have at this club

[00:16:35] and you've seen on the weekend some of those young guys got a chance and they went through it with flying colours. So I think I'd be doing a disjustice to this club and the players coming through if I said this was our only premiership window because it wouldn't be right for the young players and they would be telling them that we don't have belief in them. And whoever comes into this facility with a Sharks shirt on or a jersey is always going to do a great job because we have the coaches, we have the senior players here that make

[00:17:00] sure that the standards are held to a certain level and forever in a day that I'm here and Fitz is here and the club is still going, we'll always be holding those standards. So yeah, we've just got a good opportunity to try and win another premiership and hopefully we'll be doing that for many years to come. You mentioned obviously that the premiership window doesn't close after this year but do you view this year as the best chance that you guys have at a premiership considering how connected this group seems to be at the moment?

[00:17:28] Oh look, I think any year I play at this club that we have the best chance of winning because we wouldn't go into any season thinking that we can't win a competition otherwise you may as well not be. So look, we've put ourselves in a position to win a premiership, we've put ourselves in this finals campaign again so but no doubt that we're going to be going into every game thinking we can win but again I don't look too far forward at the premiership because we've got to get through the Cowboys first. What do you make of the Cowboys matchup this weekend?

[00:17:59] Obviously you've got a very strong ball this week. Yeah, they've got origin players, international players across the park. My old mate Drinky there, he's playing some really good footy and when he's on he's one of the best players in the comps. So, you know, regardless of what happened last week it doesn't matter, it's a whole new competition right now and they've got players in strike across the park and they've got a guy named Justin Tomlin who can turn it on as well at any time.

[00:18:25] So, yeah, we're going to have a work cut out for us and we've got to focus on us and obviously them but majority on us. What version of the Sharks do we need to see? Just the best version and you've seen, all of you in the room have seen some of the best versions of the Sharks this year and like I said, regardless of what's happened over the last month, it doesn't matter, this is a whole new ball game and anyone can rock up on their day and win this competition and can win in the final series and if we bring the best version of the Sharks, it's going to be hard to stop.

[00:19:02] Yeah, he's just a guy who come to the Sharks looking for an opportunity and I grew up on Central Coast as well so where I'm from and obviously I take a little more interest in someone who grew up in around the same area and he's just a guy who's hungry and wants to learn and he was a bit deflated there when he first rocked up and didn't know whether he was going to get another opportunity to crack it and he's came in and he's brought

[00:19:27] into our systems, our connection, everything about the Sharks that he loves and you just see the smile on his face he comes in with every single day and I was just really happy that he was able to play a good game last week and score on his club debut and it's been a few years or a couple of years I think since he played his first NRL game. So, yeah, it's just really exciting to see a guy come in and work hard and then see the rewards he gets. Replacing Jesse Raymond on your side of the field, what's your expectations?

[00:19:57] Oh, look, Jesse's a really aggressive player and I've been defending next to him for the last five years so it's obviously really comfortable with him but the advice I give is just go out there and be aggressive and back to your first instinct and the team will cover the rest if, you know, obviously there's always going to be some sort of defensive error in a game of 80 minutes of football and obviously if we limit those but just back yourself and if you go up and back yourself then we'll cover your tracks if it doesn't work out. Cowboys won four seed bins in four games and it seems like it's happening.

[00:20:28] How much have you guys been thinking about that internally about how that changes your attacking shape when it's 13 on 12? To be honest, I don't think I've ever spoke about it. Good question. No, look, there's always scenarios in pre-season and whatnot but, you know, we don't plan for that stuff to happen. I'm really sorry about that. But, yeah, look, it's, it's, it's, it happened to us in the periods of the games this year

[00:20:54] as well so maybe it is something we can talk about a little bit more but, yeah, we plan to have 13 on the field this week. Just from the weekend, obviously you didn't play but it seemed like some of the defensive resilience from the middle of the year was back if no you didn't get the chocolates. What was it that you saw that was slightly different for the guys you did? Yeah, I think the energy to get down there and put them under pressure and not let the opposition get out of their own end and I felt like Storm were struggling to get out of their own end a lot of that game and I reckon, yeah, like you said, that showed a

[00:21:23] lot of signs of, of the way we defended in that run where we had a big run there of wins. So, hopefully, yeah, it gives us a good confidence that we go out there and deliver that this weekend and make it hard for the Cowboys to get on their end. SharkCast is supported by the best and most honest real estate agent in the Sutherland Shire, Jason Hawes from Crips & Crips Real Estate. He's an expert in the Carring Bar region and has his eye all across the Shire.

[00:21:49] Lifelong Sharks fan and supporter of this podcast, if you're looking to buy or sell in the region, the person you need to be talking to is Jason Hawes from Crips & Crips Real Estate. Call him on 0410 417 450. That's 0410 417 450. Jason Hawes, Crips & Crips Real Estate. SharkCast!

[00:22:28] Back in the Shire. Turn your porch lights off because we're coming home with a trophy. That was great! Choose what the game was? Thank you.