G A M E D A Y Flagship w/ Shinazzi and Bolling, plus exclusive interviews with Tall Tom Hazelton and Blayke Brailey!

[00:00:00] Hey there, welcome to SharkCast Potter Podcast, dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world, the mighty Cronulla Southland Sharks. Always point to the wrong side of the jersey Josh, but it's over here for people who are watching.

[00:00:45] This is SharkCast Potter brought to you by the legends at Dyson Logistics, the Royal Mediocre Club in Port Hacking and Jason Hawes at Crips and Crips Real Estate. We're all rugged up on this Wednesday morning for SharkCast. Been around since 2015, some OGs right here.

[00:01:00] One as an original creator, the other as an original consumer and now part of the family has been for a long time. Mr Josh Bolling, welcome to the show my friend, you're all rugged up, got your beanie on. Yeah, it's a little chilly.

[00:01:16] It's a nice day, a little chilly but got to keep warm because I don't want to get sick these days. You say that wearing a t-shirt. Yeah, I'm a hypocrite. I didn't say that. Whoa! This has gotten off to a heavy start.

[00:01:28] We are here to talk about all things Krillin Sharks. Of course, thanks everyone who's been in touch. We'll get to some of your mail shortly at SharkCastPod on the socials, sharkcastpod.gmail.com on the emails, etc, etc. The merchandise is out there, rugbyleaguemerch.com.

[00:01:46] Not sure what else I'm leaving out. The intro because we're winging this but this is SharkCastPod. We love having you here and we've got a big game coming up in just over 24 hours which is super exciting.

[00:01:57] To get us there, Josh Bolling, we are going to talk about the last few weeks. We haven't spoken to you for a little while so must be happy with the performance on Saturday night against the Broncos. Yeah, really happy.

[00:02:09] I guess I probably saw it as a bigger win than a lot of the crew did in the chat. I was really impressed and I did call it a famous win like you said with Kieran because I thought it was backs against the wall.

[00:02:24] It was no one expecting us to win a place we don't often win against a team we don't often beat without our best player. I know the Broncos without two of their best as well but I think losing Nico means

[00:02:36] more to us than them losing Walsh and I just thought the team, every single one of them to a man was incredible. I couldn't fault any of them and just so proud of them and we get the season back on track.

[00:02:47] Yeah, I think the only reason I hesitated at what you said and I've come around to it is that I didn't think we were ever kind of out of that game even at 12-4 down.

[00:02:54] I thought we're playing well, the stats look good, we just need to sort of have a bit of luck or whatever go our way which it did. Not so much luck but the hard work turned into good fortune and but I'm with you. It was great.

[00:03:06] It was a great way to get the season back on track because if you lose that one it's three in a row against three pretty good teams and then people are like oh I thought you could beat good teams but we can.

[00:03:19] We've beaten six out of the seven of the current top eight not including ourselves and Penrith, some other top eight guys along the way I think as well. So we're in a really good place. One more job to do before we take the bye.

[00:03:31] It's going to be a tough one which will get to against the Dolphins another top eight. Is that there? They're a top eight team yeah. So it's a top four at the moment. Yeah it's an important week. Short turnaround again.

[00:03:42] We've had two of those in the last couple of weeks but the team's ready to go. Ready to rock. The Brisbane game yeah I love the urgency. I love the dedication to the game plan. A lot of the stuff that happened Josh was just from our persistence.

[00:03:58] I mean you look at the Blake Braley try it just there was there were five guys chasing that kick and old mate spills it. Talekida Blake's number of other guys that could have got it. That was all just from pressure on the kicker doing the simple stuff

[00:04:12] which we often talk about and it pays off. That's proof that it pays off. It's one example of the proof. We saw Big Royce Hunt come on the field and just dominate. We'll talk about Royce a bit in the episode but who aside from Royce impressed you?

[00:04:27] I mean they all I'm with you they all did a job but did anyone scream out to you as another contender for man of the match? After watching the game I've watched it twice now since watching it live.

[00:04:38] Although Blake Braley was absolutely incredible watching his game the way he controlled the game from dummy half and I mentioned this in the group chat as well. I thought when you go back and watch that Trindle try watch the pass he

[00:04:53] throws Trindle it is like a 20 or 30 meter pass on his chest on the front foot that gives Trindle the space to get in through that gap and like that is not a pass that people can just throw.

[00:05:06] That is we always talk about how good he services even when he hasn't been playing well but man that pass just is incredible and I actually don't think he's getting the plaudits he deserved.

[00:05:18] His defense was really good and he got bumped off a couple of guys but when you got Payne Haas running at you for 80 minutes and it's going to happen but his run meters were incredible. His ball playing getting out of dummy half bringing his forwards onto the ball.

[00:05:32] I thought he was one of his better games of his career. That reminds me Josh thank you for reminding me we do have two interviews we're going to play at the end of this episode. If you're watching on the YouTube you're probably not going to hear it.

[00:05:45] I might need to add that to a YouTube that's an admin thing if you're listening stick to the end. We've got interviews with Blake Braley and tall Tom Hazelton and we talk a bit about that with Blake.

[00:05:53] It's a really good interview Blake probably our best one so far. So stick around for interviews at the end of the episode. I'm with you I thought he was great. I mean it's hard to single out guys because they're all just terrific.

[00:06:04] I thought Britton Nicker had a return to form and there are a few things there which we've spoken about in the first few episodes of the week where he can improve on but overall it was a big improvement for him run meters amazing tackling and a general

[00:06:20] presence out there which I thought was missing for the past few weeks. I think a lot of what he does in defense goes unnoticed because he does the stuff that isn't flashy. Yeah, I don't think he's had a great season by any means compared to last year.

[00:06:32] But I think he does a lot of clean up work that stuff that you won't see but then you look at his numbers and like 43 tackles with one miss like that's a heavy-duty effort. So I think he's been improving over the last two to three weeks.

[00:06:48] Obviously we need more out of him because we know how good he is the standard he set last year. But I think also you've got a factor in that he hasn't had Nicko for a lot of the season. He's been suspended.

[00:07:00] He's had Nicko in and out of the side. He's had different guys on his edge. So I'm not trying to make excuses for him. I think if you can get Nicko and him next to each other for a 10-week block and getting back to some form getting

[00:07:14] running those lines again, I think you'll be fine. I actually think he was going pretty good up until three weeks ago. I thought the season was okay. It might not have matched what he did last year, but I thought he was on his way.

[00:07:25] So I'm glad to see his back. Let's talk about the halves. They both had good games in their own way. I thought Trindle was slow to start, but boy he really found his feet and I thought Dan just kept being Dan like just super reliable.

[00:07:39] Fills in the gaps, fills in the holes. We've seen this week that Trindle got the job which I think is fair, but it's also kind of unfair on Dan Atkinson, but that's just kind of how it's going to go and he'll get another chance.

[00:07:52] I have no doubt this year and we know we can rely on him, which is awesome. What did you make at Trindle? I completely agree. I thought he started a little slow, a little manic. Once he worked his way into the game gave himself some time.

[00:08:06] I thought he was really excellent. Actually, I thought his kicking game was I thought I thought his kicking game won us the game because if you watch a lot of his kicks, he pinpoint high bombs into the corner under pressure every time,

[00:08:19] but Brisbane didn't get a sniff that second half because he just he just kept them in the corner and we put once he similar to what Jerome Lui did to Sione Katawa a few weeks ago. Once they found a weakness, they just hammered it.

[00:08:30] I love that a lot of times you see teams get a result out of someone and then they don't go back there. Trindle just kept bombing him and bombing him all night and they harassed him. Tell me about Dan Atkinson passing.

[00:08:41] Is he a bit limited there or is it just not flowing at the moment? What are your thoughts on his passing because I think it's the only kind of I don't even want to use the word weakness, but the only

[00:08:51] kind of less than great thing that I can say. Yeah. What are your thoughts on his passing? Yeah, I think I'm still undecided on whether it's an ability thing or if it's just learning the shapes and timing because sometimes you see

[00:09:05] like it's the spaces there and the guys are making their runs any he'll always dummy or he'll go back on the inside. I don't know if he's the confidence is not there to throw the pass, but then you see sometimes you'd like in the Melbourne game.

[00:09:16] You threw a big Nico kind of long cutout ball. Okay, so I know you've got it. Okay, I think it's just maybe he doesn't want to take that risk, which sometimes you need to do and I think that's where Trindle will take

[00:09:27] the risk and he'll you know, maybe you'll throw a forward pass like we saw with that runaway try. He'll take that risk, but it'll come off sometimes. I don't hate the Dan Atkinson idea of not passing when maybe it's not on.

[00:09:40] I know that's the whole thing about footy is risk and reward and etc. Yeah, I don't hate it for parts of the game. Like if it's not on maybe it's not on. I'm okay with playing safety football. If you're in the game, if you're winning

[00:09:55] the game, it's probably more when you're chasing that might become a problem. I'm glad you said that because I sort of thought that I couldn't get the words out to say it during the week, but I think there has been times when

[00:10:06] he's gone say left to Talaqai and Talaqai is maybe a meter away from where he should be, but we know he can run onto it. He can catch you can do all sorts of stuff and he won't pass it, but it's probably not because he can't pass.

[00:10:21] Probably he's just being wary. He's probably wary of his position in the team. He doesn't want to kind of rock the boat too much, but we sort of thought that it would either be number 6 or 18 for him and this week it's 18 and that's a bummer for him, but

[00:10:35] man he's won so many fans and he'll be back at stages throughout the year. So it's not the last you've heard of Dan Eckertson. That's for sure. I love the fact that Toby Rudolph started and dominated. It gave tall Tom a rest.

[00:10:49] He could come on at a slightly less intense time. I spoke to him about it in the interview here at the end of the episode and he mentions things about that, but I thought Toby did a great job. I thought Gafusi again not the

[00:11:02] hugest stats, but I thought he really he played with the physicality that I haven't seen before maybe if you watch it again watch it closer. He's really bringing some heat to his game and that was a huge criticism of his for a while, but he's getting as

[00:11:16] physical as anyone out there, which is awesome because he's a beast and he's only a young guy. I was watching training yesterday Josh and I was watching him rip in and I said to someone I think my been Ricky. I said how old is he?

[00:11:28] And he's like I'm 23 ish 24. He's young. I was like man the upside on Gafusi if he can get it right at the club gets all right is huge. It's it's interesting. You said like the stats never read amazing for him, but on the eye test he always looks

[00:11:43] it always looks impactful. And I think that's what's more important is that he might only have you know seven runs for 80 meters. He averages about 80 to 90, but they're good 80 to 90 meters and he's one that really locks up our middle. He doesn't miss many tackles.

[00:11:58] It doesn't really make any errors. I know you through that silly forward pass, but he doesn't really make mistakes. Yeah, it's just a really solid front row like starting front row for us. And I think that's all we need when we've got that in

[00:12:10] with you want to take the sting out of the game. You know, it doesn't need to be Adam Finnell Blake. That's not him. He just we just need him to give us someone's going to make their tackles. Give us 80 to 90, 100 meters a game and then we bring on

[00:12:21] our impact. That's what that's when we go up the next level. So I think he's doing a really good job really surprised actually. I loved after he threw that unnecessary forward pass and the game was the game was done like I was I was

[00:12:35] I was confident that we'd won the game but it was unnecessary. It's unnecessary for him to do that at any time, but especially at that point first tackle off a scrum maybe with a minute or two to go. It was. He looks so annoyed at himself.

[00:12:49] He looked like he was going to eat himself. He looks so upset. So he'll learn from that. I love that though. Was it against was it against Paramatta when Eero missed that tackle and he looked genuinely emotionally annoyed at himself and he'll learn from that.

[00:13:06] And I know you can fake that kind of stuff like I forgot to hit record on the podcast. I'm so annoyed at myself am I annoyed at myself or am I going to learn from this? And I think those two guys hopefully moving forward

[00:13:18] it could be proven wrong, but hopefully moving forward they learn from those errors and that's why you can cop them especially two guys like that who are pretty young in their career. Big upsides to those guys coming through the ranks. All the forwards were really great.

[00:13:31] I know there was a bit of criticism about Jack Williams, but he was really strong. I can't believe that. People are a bit I can't believe people are a bit I'm going to be nice here and say emotionally charged with their thoughts and their internets sometimes.

[00:13:44] Again, again, Josh. The thing about that was it might have been the play of the ball. It might have been the spilt ball, whichever it was from Jack. The next set within a tackle or two he created a tackle turnover. He made up for it.

[00:13:56] So if he wasn't doing that and he continued the errors and was making 40 meters a game and missing 10 tackles you'd be like you're out of here. You're off to the Raiders. No, no. He's like one of our best players genuinely and has been for years.

[00:14:11] So hopefully I get the deal done, but the criticism oh man the criticism drives me up the wall about some of these guys, but the forwards were great. Let's talk about him. Big Royce Hunt friend of the show. He really stole the show in a very short

[00:14:26] amount of time. I was just super happy for him super impressed it turned the game. I think if he doesn't play like that do we win? Maybe we still win, but it made it a lot easier. I don't think we do because you watch every

[00:14:41] run that he made. He only made six runs, right? Six tackle bus for six runs, which is wild. But every run that he made directly led to good play from us or tries. So that the pass from Blake Braley I was talking about Trindle is completely

[00:14:58] set up by Royce Hunt carrying three blokes and nearly scoring himself. Yes, which staggers the line, drags everyone in and gives Trindle the space out wide. So without him does that try happen? I don't know. I mean Butterfly Effect, right? Anything could happen for sure. Of course.

[00:15:13] I thought he was incredible. His impact. We don't, not every player needs to be a 50 minute, 60 minute, 200 meters. Like you need guys like this who come in and just absolutely rip and tear for 10, 15, 20 minutes and change the game. And that's what our bench does. You know,

[00:15:29] we don't like Tsuku had to pour. Yeah. Played nine minutes, but played a really good nine minutes. Like remember they made a break when he was in the middle and he was the one that ran down and chased the guy. I can't remember who it was,

[00:15:40] but he chased him down and tackled him one on one. This week we've got Hamlin Welly returning in the spot of Tsuku this week. So they just keep rotating these beast-like guys. Because of match fitness, Hamlin Welly will play short minutes. But you know he's

[00:15:54] going to rip and tear, give you everything you got. So between him, Hunt and Tsuku, say two of them play one dozen each week, however they want to do it. You've still got that same game plan and style of game happening. So it's really working well

[00:16:07] and it changes the game. And when they do it right, it is just devastating. And yeah, Royce Hunt was great. It did coincide with not alleged reports, but reports that the club had been in touch with him saying that he could look around in the future,

[00:16:23] not for now, but in the future. So that came out and then he had a huge game. Now, you do the math. I'm not here to say he only played well because of that. I don't think it hurt that that was out there and he was like, well,

[00:16:36] maybe I can prove a point here to whoever. And yeah, I was at training yesterday. He was in a jovial mood. The boys were in a jovial mood. Don't take that the wrong way. They were training their butts off. Once training had finished, you know,

[00:16:51] Ronaldo was yelling out to the world that hunted some with Souths already, the world being the media who were there. It was a joke. So they're making light of that situation and he is too. But I mean, if that's what it takes to play awesome, then

[00:17:08] I don't care. Just play awesome. We'll see what happens with him in the future. I don't think we're close to a decision yet on that sort of thing with him, whether it's the club or whether it's him, but who knows what's going to happen. We'll see.

[00:17:20] I did find it interesting the fan response, Josh, to him playing like that and saying we can't let him go based on 20 minutes of his career. No bigger fan than Royce Hunt than me as a player, as a person. But I'm not going to make

[00:17:39] a decision based on that and either is the club. Does it help? Absolutely. Absolutely, it helps. Go do it 10 weeks in a row. Well, he's done that probably three weeks in a row. He's been good. So he's been good. He's been really good since he's come back

[00:17:53] into the side. And people say it could be because contract talk, but these guys pride themselves in their performances and he was out of the side for a while. So it could just be a simple matter of I don't want to lose this spot again.

[00:18:05] I have to play well. I have to lift because all these forwards man, someone's missing out every week. Someone good is not going to be picked when they're all fit. And we've seen him, as you say, get better week on week on week on. So

[00:18:17] I'm not surprised that that was the the result. I'm just saying that given the reports that were out there, it was interesting timing, not unfortunate timing, but interesting timing that that was the result. And there's always been that kind of thought assumption

[00:18:38] that a player is going to play better when they're off contract. He's actually not off contract. They just said that in a couple of years, if you get a better offer, come back to us. Let us know what that is that they didn't say go away.

[00:18:53] And I'm not convinced they're going to say go away. Having said that we got a whole bunch of guys playing awesome. We've got a guy coming in who's going to play awesome next year. And there's a couple of guys coming through the ranks a little while off

[00:19:06] but who would be in that developing prop circulation. So very healthy stuff. Where do you sit with all that, Sam? I don't want to look too far in the future, but with all these guys that we've got, what do we do? Or what would you do?

[00:19:21] Like where is your head at with who comes in? Like who starts? Who misses out? Like I know it's a long way away. It's so tough because start with the guys that have been starting. So Oregon Cofusi, right? I'm re-signing it.

[00:19:35] Like I'm not going to throw the bank at him, but whatever he's on he's going to stay on that. And usually you get a bit more, right? I'm signing Tom Hazleton. But as far as starting goes, I mean it's hard to kind of pull Cofusi out of that

[00:19:49] rotation now. Hazleton I can see. I could see him being a benchy. Knowing that he can do the job if needed. Faneuil Blake is going to start. He's going to be the big bad guy. Then you have Rudolph who when fit, when healthy, is great.

[00:20:08] He's been great all year, a bunch of last year too. Hamlin Welly when fit and he hasn't had a lot of success there lately. Devastating. Tsuku has the world at his feet. He's a way off, but the world at his feet. Who am I leaving out?

[00:20:24] Jack Williams does a number every week. Like it's I don't have an answer for you. I don't have an answer for you. Right? But maybe that's where the club is thinking that well, Royce is going to have to resign at some point. This is what he's on.

[00:20:39] This is what someone else is going to offer him. Maybe that's the thinking. Well we can't compete with whoever, you know. So I don't, I don't, I don't have an answer man. It's tough. It's super tough. I think because I was trying

[00:20:53] to work it out and I think I even said it on one of the shows that if you have for example a Tsuku versus Hunt as to who you're picking, who you staying. I'm almost leaning towards Tsuku because of the youth and the potential.

[00:21:06] Now for all I know he may not get to the value and worth of what Hunt will become. But Hunt is late 20s. He's 28. There's still, you know, he could have a four or five year career at least. Like I'm not shortening his career. And props do get

[00:21:24] better as they're older. But if Tsuku is this good at age 21, 22, whatever he is, then you sort of have to do that kind of math and go well, he'll be probably be a bit cheaper. There's more upside in age, inability. He's a freak as far as

[00:21:40] a specimen goes. So that's how I'm sort of looking at it. It's like well, Hunt will give you what he's got now. The other thing is Josh, they're all going to lift when Faneuil Blake gets here. So imagine Royce Hunt in January next year ripping

[00:21:56] and tearing and training with this guy. Like it's, you know, I think Darren Moody probably needs more money because like, geez, what a job. How are you going to work that one out? But yeah, it's a great problem to have. It is a really good problem to have.

[00:22:10] So I don't think they all fit eventually. We might see a Smokey. Like you might see, I'm just picking a name out of a hat. You might see a Toby get an offer from somewhere. Maybe someone in England goes, hey Toby, I'll give you twice what you're paying.

[00:22:28] I don't know. The Warriors might come back and go, you know what? We need a prop. Someone might get an offer. It could be Royce. It could be anyone that's too good to refuse. Toby might get an offer. I don't know. Jack Williams might.

[00:22:39] Jack very well may get a great offer. I think out of all of them, he's the least spectacular of them, but he's as worthy as anyone and probably one of the better forwards we have. But he's not, hasn't got that reputation outside of the the club pretty much.

[00:22:57] It's not like other fans are going, man, that Jack Williams is awesome. It's like, which will work in our favor. Absolutely. Keep him. Absolutely. I think, I think a Canberra or just a smarter team. Like I don't think like a West Tigers or anyone,

[00:23:10] but I think you know, even like a Storm, like there is obviously people working in clubs who are phenomenal at what they do and know so much more than you and I. I'm not saying people don't see him play. Everyone's talking about Royce Haun

[00:23:23] and they should be from that weekend. No one, no one is talking about Jack Williams. That's that's the that's the comparison there. That's what I'm trying to say. So no, I agree. It's it's interesting man. It's interesting. What about the skipper?

[00:23:39] I'm running out of things to say dude, like, I know you're the original McInnis man on our on our team, but I'm edging you out. I'm knocking you out. You're off the train, man. I'm driving the train now. Like he's it's it's everything. It's the performance.

[00:23:54] It's the way he carries himself. It's the way he talks when he talks about the club. I get emotional. Was it the press conference just gone and they asked him about origin and he said something like I'm focused on the Sharks.

[00:24:08] It's an honor for me to be in this team and I've got chills just saying it now honest to go I've got chills. Yeah, it's exactly what I want to hear from a player and especially from my captain, but then he backs it up on the field.

[00:24:21] He was great. Again, I think he played a huge role in us winning that game just having him there his presence what he does in the middle of the field. There was no doubt he was going to play like there was no doubt. Oh, yeah,

[00:24:33] but just another great performance and you know career best form. He's had a long career already and career best form and you know people are starting to wake up to him. I'll say that we got to resign him right. Well, what's the sitch there?

[00:24:48] He's got one more year. Yeah after the recent we got to keep that won't be a problem. Won't be a problem from club or from him. I know we spoke about it in the group as well, but he's he's in my top five all-time sharks for me already

[00:25:04] and I know that's kind of crazy only after three seasons or two and a bit see just be careful what you say about all time sharks. It can get you in a lot of trouble. We were talking about best shark signings is what you were saying as well.

[00:25:16] Oh, that's right. Yeah. Yeah, no doubt. No doubt. He is top tier when it comes to signings. Yeah, and obviously in reality he's got a long way to go to I guess cement himself as one of the greats one of the all-time greats,

[00:25:29] but I've got no doubt that if he sticks around he'll get there. I mean he's already done such a great job. I love the improvement in him and we set it over summer will like this guy's got a fair lock.

[00:25:39] He's got to be our captain and he's got to play big minutes and the coach was listening because it happened and his performance has gone through the roof like last year. He was an 8 8 and a half this year. He's close to a 10. He's just killing it.

[00:25:54] I love those runs. He does Josh. He's not much of a size of a man. I was gonna say he's not much of a man. He's the greatest man ever, but he's not he's not a big fellow and and I can't emphasize that enough.

[00:26:06] If you haven't been in his presence, he's a smaller player like no doubt, but the meters he gets the tackle bus the quick play the balls is super important. You know the retirement of Dale Finucane was sad because it was so premature was two years premature.

[00:26:27] Dale Finucane means a lot to this club even now you see what McKinness has done to fill that hole and I know a lot of fans are like no Dale's time was up. That's not exactly true, but medically his time was

[00:26:40] And I feel like rather than just cam slotting in and going I'm the guy. I feel like he's lifted a bit as well. I feel like he's taken a lot more responsibility on and off the field, but that's made him a better player my long-winded point.

[00:26:55] So Captain was great man. He's super important. I hope he plays every game and yeah, if you don't watch the press conferences, you should watch them because he has not a lot to say, but when he speaks just remarkable remarkable stuff is an aura.

[00:27:11] It's aura it is it is I thought he went okay for the other team. He played for as well during the week like I thought he was he's real solid. So all right, Josh, let's have a little bit of a break so to speak and tell you about

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[00:28:04] technology. Oh my god Dyson logistics. You guys rule Joshy some news about town. The Jets keep winning playing really well some of our I guess lower grade players is how to term it are going really well they're flying pretty high. If you haven't seen them you can watch

[00:28:21] them on there's an app you can get it's quite affordable. I think New South Wales rugby league shows all the lower grade games. They are also on Fox Sports occasionally and of course you can go watch them play the Newtown shark jets.

[00:28:35] The news that caught my eye Josh today one of my favorite current sharks Talia Holmes in our old W she's extended for two years until the end of 2026. She's a back row. She started in Tasha Gale and she's just a great player both sides of the ball.

[00:28:54] So they've resigned her that's great. They've been resigning a lot of players and the comps coming around really soon. They've had their first training sessions and doing a big media day on this Monday coming so expect to hear more about NRLW from the sharks from us from everyone

[00:29:10] last year they I guess under performed or underwhelming they didn't get to where we thought they would. I think this year is going to be a really big year for NRLW. So looking forward to that coming around sooner rather than later, but Josh

[00:29:26] why don't we hit some of the mail there is a bit of mail around and it does cover a lot of the news as well. So we're kind of hitting two birds with one stone. There's some heavy stuff here. I'm going to start with a heavy one

[00:29:36] from Blake who's a who's a passionate regular listener who we appreciate and he said I thought I get in touch with you regarding some feedback. I've been mulling over for a while now just and for people watching I'm going to stare over here

[00:29:49] because I'm looking at I'm not not freaking out. I'm just staring over here. I know that you will disagree with it Blake don't tell me what I know it's painfully clear now. You ready Josh? Okay, Nick O'Hines is probably the most overrated player in the comp.

[00:30:07] I don't hate the bloke. He's a good player. He's not worth 1 million a season and soaking up so much cap. Now this was written. I'm pretty sure after Oregon watching last night's game proved to me doesn't have the mental fortitude to thrive in big games.

[00:30:24] I hope I'm wrong, but I can't actually see the Sharks winning a comp with him. People will point to the fact he's played less than 100 games at halfback and has plenty of room to grow. But I will point out he's about to turn 28. So he doesn't have much

[00:30:38] experience at 7. He should have a lot of life mental experience to perform in big games. Unfortunately, this old stat is coming back. I count quite literally one win in two and a half seasons. Nicko has been a part of against quality opposition and that was

[00:30:54] three weeks ago against the Roosters. The best win we've had in a few seasons. The storm game came without him. I'd be happy to develop Trindle who I think has more big game potential than Hines. Sadly, I've seen enough of him from Blake.

[00:31:09] I repeat, I'd be happy to develop Trindle who I think has more big game potential. So, Blake, we love your opinions. You've thrown that one out there. Let's hear what Josh has to say about that. Every single team in this comp would find us place for Nicko Hines.

[00:31:28] I think that's largely, I'd largely disagree with that completely. Sure. I think you don't get picked for Origin if you don't have some sort of talent and mental fortitude to play in big games. Now, I know there's some people that fell over in front of

[00:31:43] him to get him there. That doesn't mean they had to pick him. If he's in the top three halves in the state, I think I'm pretty bloody happy with that he's on my side and locked in for his career. I think this narrative that he

[00:31:55] is not a big game player. I don't buy it. Sure, we haven't played well in a couple of finals games, but I always say cast your mind back to that Cowboys game at home. He was the best player on the field and his teammates let him down.

[00:32:11] I just don't buy. I think some of the criticism for Nicko is, look, there's some truth to it for sure. He wasn't great at Origin. He hasn't been perfect in a lot of big games, but that's not just his fault. And I know people say the

[00:32:24] halfback runs the show and it's his job, but he's not making missing tackles the other side of the field. So to defend Blake a little bit, I think his point is more about the money he's on. It's not so much get rid of Nicko,

[00:32:36] but he doesn't think he's worth a million dollars a season. I guess that again falls into my point there like who else would you spend the million dollars on? Yeah. How many halfbacks are out there that are worth it? I mean, the Tigers, look at the Tigers

[00:32:48] are running out every week. Aiden sees at 32, Apikoris out, 32 is a hookup. You know, they've had to sign Jerome Lui who's a six as a halfback on more money than Nicko. What do you think? Blake's narrative is out there a little bit from non-Sharks fans.

[00:33:05] So that's why I'm very interested in hearing it from him because he's a massive Sharks fan and he wants the best for the club. I like the fact that he hasn't completely given up on him. It sounds like he has, but I feel like he hasn't

[00:33:16] completely given up on him. But to my thoughts, I'm with you Josh in the fact that talk about big games. So I'm thinking about big games in the last two and a half years. The biggest game for me was the Cowboys game at home.

[00:33:29] If he wasn't best for us, I couldn't tell you who it was, right? We lost that in extra time from a 45 meter two-point field goal. We conceded 30 points, 32 points, whatever it was, at home in a final. We were torn up the middle specifically. That game is not on

[00:33:51] Nico Hulms, right? The second biggest game would be Roosters at home last year in the final week one. He could have handled the field goal situation better. I don't feel like he had a bad game. That's two games where you're talking about a flip of the coin,

[00:34:09] a field goal. Like it's this close to us winning big games. So I'm not worried about the big game scenario. Origin, as much as I don't really feel passion for it. You know, I thought he was average in that game. I didn't think he was bad.

[00:34:27] People aren't talking about the try assist that he had or the fact that there were 12 guys in the field for the most of the game. Could he have kicked better? Sure. I think that the narrative about him not playing in big games is there for him to change.

[00:34:41] He needs the opportunity. I can't see what's going to happen in game two. It sounds like it's 50-50. Moses wasn't exactly great in his game. I think if Nico plays lights out tomorrow night, he'll probably get the gig again. It's up to him to sort of do well.

[00:34:56] Yeah, I'm not looking for a new halfback Blake. I think in every game he plays for us. I mean, he won a Dally M by more points than anyone's ever won in his first year with us. Last year he was really, really good. This year he's been

[00:35:11] really, really good. The thing about winning the Storm game is Dan Atkinson going to have a 10 or 10 game every week. Nico's usually an 8.5 week to week and sure you're playing against lesser teams most of the time. I get that. Yeah, I'm not looking anywhere Blake.

[00:35:28] I'm not and I think that as annoying as this is going to sound the stuff he brings off the field is why he's on a million bucks as much not as much as he's on field stuff, but it's part of the package. It's the face of the game.

[00:35:40] We're going to Vegas because of Nico. Going to get new sponsorship because of Nico. That doesn't mean you can't have someone else doing that, but I just think that he's got some growing to do. I understand Blake's point of view. He's 28. If it takes at least

[00:35:53] 32 to win a comp, I still believe he can do it. So we'll see what happens there. We've got a bit more to get through. Appreciate you getting in touch Blake, but I wanted to give that some good time. Great storylines. I really appreciate that. He's actually got it.

[00:36:06] You know, we're going to stick with Blake. This is going to be the Blake segment. He's hit us up for a few things. Interestingly note, our best wins, probably our best wins, he says, came against the Storm Broncos without Nico. He doesn't have the kicking game, Trindle brings.

[00:36:20] And one thing I will say that absolutely irks me is watching him run into a cul-de-sac thinking he's creating something, but he's close to the slowest half in the comp. I've never actually seen him make a break, a line break on his own. So he's doubling down there.

[00:36:35] So that's okay. We can move on from that Blake. I thought you had something else, but here's one from Blake again. We love Blake. Blake's cool. We don't love all of his thoughts, but we love him. Would you rather have to give exactly half the players

[00:36:46] in your team a four-year contract or a one-year contract? It's prevalent in the NFL. I'm becoming more so here anyone that in a contract year plays better for you, but have to sacrifice talent not coming back. Royce Hunt is the prime example of that right now.

[00:37:02] Josh, would you rather give half the players in your team a four-year contract or a one-year contract? Oh boy. Blake's full of today. Full of good stuff. Good stuff. No, and I hope Blake doesn't think I was having a go at him. No, no, no.

[00:37:15] I think it's a very interesting point. I just am passionate about Niko and I love him. I'm sure Blake is cool with our opinion. That's a, that is a good question. I guess I'm going to pick holes in it. Would it depend on can I pick which half

[00:37:28] or is it, is it just Probably. Yeah, because you know what with our team right now, I'd probably give half of them four-year deals because they're all young. Right. And one-year deals scare me. Because why? Because it just someone's really good then they're gone. Yeah, they're gone.

[00:37:43] When if you, if you can get someone you know cheaper like getting Niko for four years in my opinion on on what he got is pretty good. And if you got Ronaldo on four years at 23, it's pretty good. You know, like all these guys. I think it

[00:37:56] would be worth the risk worth the pun. Okay. What about you? That's gone over my head. So I don't have an opinion. I like two-year deals. That's my answer. Terry's written to us and said, hi team. What a great win on Saturday night. I was lucky to

[00:38:09] be there with my son and his friend proudly wearing our Sharks jerseys. We should not underestimate the effort of our boys. There was a massive crowd finals atmosphere. Lots of parochial Bronco supporters. Great to see lots of Sharks supporters too. When the game was over

[00:38:24] we started singing the song. It was special and great to celebrate my fellow Sharks supporters. Everyone played well, but Shrickey was great the way he controlled the game. Will Kennedy was immense. From high up in the stands you could see they were a well-coached professional outfit.

[00:38:41] Thanks for the awesome podcast. We enjoy listening every week up up. Thanks Terry. I like that. From high up in the stands you could see they're a well-coached professional outfit and they look like that on the weekend. Like they were slick ass. Thanks for being in touch Terry.

[00:38:56] Glad you had a good time. Greg says loving the pod. I listened to the latest about Vegas. If we end up going as a club they need to do something as a first like we did with the members jersey having all our names on there.

[00:39:14] We need a sharks in the desert shirt or some sort of apparel handed out for free in Vegas leading up to the game. It would cost the club but the exposure would be immense like a grand final shirt, but with a Vegas theme. Imagine seeing a

[00:39:28] whole supporter Bay in Vegas in black white and blue. He's just speculating he's not sure what it would cost yada yada yada but he said it's a good idea for him. I've been listening to every episode. I don't have anything to add sometimes that's why I don't write

[00:39:44] in much but up up from the Sunshine Coast you are my news at let for all things happening down there. Well, that's lovely Greg. We appreciate you listening glad we can help Vegas shirt. Josh, what are your thoughts? I think it's a great idea. I think the more

[00:40:00] you can get your brand out there and exposure is is only a good thing right? Whether a shirt or a scarf or a beanie like a hat like something just to get something that people can wear and expose your brand. I mean why not we took an almost

[00:40:15] like a Hawaiian shirt vibe like what's a Vegas shirt like something in that you know how hot is it there in March is it is going to be stinking hot and you want to wear Hawaiian loose it's not stinking hot. It'll be nice. It's not hard.

[00:40:27] No, I don't think maybe not a beanie but indoors at that stadium. It's normal weather. You'd have to think that they'd be doing everything they can to get exposure over there and using this once in a lifetime once in a lifetime opportunity to the

[00:40:41] to the best of their ability. Maybe they could look to our friends in Vegas the brothers who are who are big fans of the club. They might be able to bankroll a thousand shirts or something or whatever it is people looking for a hat or a thousand in

[00:40:55] or something. Yeah, we'll see what happens not confirmed yet. So we'll see what happens though. Steven says I was listening to the bloke in the bar podcast review of the Sharks First Broncos Josh you're a big fan of that podcast. I love them quite like it as well.

[00:41:12] Shout out to bloke in a bar love the story love the story of so cool man fella like what a what a legend they spoke of the durability of Blake Brayley he's 25 almost 26 played 123 games missed one game in the last four seasons. He's always been

[00:41:32] one of my favorites he cops some fair criticism some unfair. There's a world in which he becomes our most capped player. Certainly our most capped hooker. I thought he was great on the weekend. That's from Steve and I replied to Steve and I said I completely agree.

[00:41:50] We're going to discuss it and also at the end of this episode or on the YouTube a separate episode. We've got a Blake Brayley interview for you. So stay tuned for that. We praised him already about the game. Josh at the moment he is the most

[00:42:04] durable player in the NRL he has played the most games in a row whatever it is without injury without missing game. So his worth is magnified because of that alone let alone the fact that he's quite talented and he's getting better and better and better.

[00:42:19] He's becoming a bit of a leader as well. So yeah some praise from Steve in there. I mean we're all on board Blake Island I think at the moment which is fantastic. I'm back. I'm back on Blake Island. You swam back on. We let you back on Josh.

[00:42:30] Yep. I had to shark net up I was like don't let this guy in. All the mean things he said. I let you on the McInnes machine. I never said anything mean about McInnes ever. That's true. Lee wrote to us and simply said pray for Nico. That was

[00:42:45] five minutes before Origin started. Pray for Nico. Lee knew what was going on. David sent us a funny meme which I can't really show you but he said love on the pods keep up the great work. So thank you for that. Reese has written to us

[00:43:01] this is interesting bit off topic but not really. Reese said I don't think I've ever seen anything so polarizing as a reaction to Dylan Wright's national anthem rendition at Origin. We've heard the same version of it a thousand times over. I enjoyed hearing it performed a different way.

[00:43:18] It seems just as many did but just as many didn't. What did you think? So if you're living under a rock and don't listen to this show Dylan Wright was this year's Australian idol. He's a friend of the show. He's been on the show a number of times.

[00:43:33] Dylan's a listener of the show. He's a hardcore fan. He and I go back a little bit before that. So he performed the national anthem at the Origin 1 at the Homebush just him and an acoustic guitar. Opinion was divided and that's never a problem

[00:43:51] until you cross a line and of course many people crossed the line because they're jackasses. I think people were a little bit surprised it was just a guy on a guitar and I think towards the end he did one of his trademarks soaring vocals and they were like

[00:44:04] what's that? I thought it was really good. I'm not a huge national anthem guy Josh, but for no not for like an anti reason. It's just not I don't know. I just don't have that attachment to that song I guess. But I know when someone does

[00:44:18] a version I don't like and that wasn't it and I really liked the fact that was just him on his own. He foked it up a little bit. He did something different. He put it on the line went for it. I thought he

[00:44:29] did a great job delivering it and for that I cannot fault him. I sent him a message the next morning because there was a lot of flack out there and he actually addressed some of it which I thought was brave but also very unnecessary.

[00:44:41] I said man keep your head up. People at the game messaged me saying they loved it can't make everyone happy and he was cool. He was cool. So not making something big out of it just reached right to us and that's what we thought.

[00:44:51] Did you see it Josh? I did. I did and like you I mean realistically the anthem is fine. I just I'm not really passionate either way about it. So I was like oh that was cool. Like I liked Dylan and I liked the song

[00:45:04] and he's got a great voice and I thought that high note he hit was really cool. I just don't know why people get but being there buying about stuff like this sometimes life's too short to care about if someone sang an anthem a different way.

[00:45:15] Life is really short and people don't realize that and I'm not getting too heavy but it's really short. So you know they're allowed to do whatever they want. As I said don't cross a line which a million people did which sucks but

[00:45:26] you know I was reading things about how soldiers went to war for that song and then someone wrote didn't it come in 1984 or whatever it was and then we had soldiers writing in going I'm a soldier and I like this song. So just people just get so

[00:45:43] oh my god. It's like a minute and a half of your life like I don't know don't take it so serious. No I feel like he disrespected the country and was just like what are you going about? Anyway I think Dylan's listening

[00:45:54] so hopefully we're giving him a bit of a cheer up I love you Dylan. Yeah, you're cool bro. He's recording his debut album right now which is exciting. Okay okay next up we have Steve a lot of Steve's that listen to us.

[00:46:06] This is one of those Steve's I told you so from last week by the way and I say that in jest. Against the Broncos I saw a different side of the Sharks first half defense way better the attack looked unorganized without Nico

[00:46:19] but then I saw the Broncos starting to look tired around half time came back in the second half we scored first and then one two three tries in eight minutes we had them we wanted them some praise for Sione praise for Atkinson Big Royce Hunt

[00:46:34] he says why are we letting him talk to other clubs? That's a terrible call. So Steve's big on keeping Royce Hunt and I appreciate everything you've written him a friend hoping this starts a long run of wins through to the semis one thing I'm scratching my head about

[00:46:49] Trindle kicking for goal he missed a sitter almost in front and we've seen Atkinson kick everything in weeks prior why did Atkinson not do the kicking? So I think we discussed this in one of the episodes and I think Josh correct me if I'm wrong

[00:47:04] it was for experience right? Like Trindle's the experienced kicker I actually had a short amount of time with the coach yesterday off the record Josh and that came up in conversation and he was praising Trindle as a kicker so he hadn't lost faith in him

[00:47:20] I'm sure when Nico comes back and if Nico is fit to kick he'll be the kicker but I think on the depth chart in Fitz's eyes currently it's Nico Trindle Atkinson and you can look at that in a half's depth but as far as goal kicking goes

[00:47:36] so Steve says all the best up up Thank You Steve for that appreciate you Jay has been in touch Good win by the Sharks of the night very satisfying performance especially second half all they need to do now is on Thursday the exact same thing to Wayne's Dolphins

[00:47:53] let's see a repeat of that but a warning watch the hammer Now do you have any insight into off season signings or re-signings or anything on that mostly Sam Stone Street Jack Williams Kyle Ero I don't have anything for you I apologize

[00:48:11] Have you heard anything on Michael Gabriel and young Eson they plan on extending them well Gabriel's def I think they both on the contract for a couple of years that might not be necessary just yet Tsuku we need to keep him long term

[00:48:25] I felt least three more years he's headed for a big career Wow I mean I don't disagree Jay Tsuku as we said on the show the upside on him man We'll see three years seems like it's not necessary but we'll see what happens there

[00:48:43] I don't have any more information I apologize on that I think Gabriel made one of those rep sides as well on the wing Yeah, he's a center but on the wing I think it's under 19 New South Wales so we'll see how he goes there but he's a

[00:48:56] talented young fella and again, I think that if everything goes to plan he could be our starting center down the track so it's good to see these young guys coming through now another heavy question for you Josh this is from a different Steven All right. You ready?

[00:49:13] Yeah, let's go he does start by saying I don't like thinking this way Okay and it was written it was written before the game on Saturday do we need an upgrade on Kennedy to win the comp Premiers over the last 10 years have all boasted an exceptional fullback Edwards

[00:49:34] Teddy Slater Pappenhausen Barber Cowboys had Coot who on his day was good but not the same level as the others however, they had Thurston playing for them I like Kennedy but I feel we need him to be one of the best can he do it?

[00:49:51] or does Fitzie need to be the bad guy and fast-track the likes of Eason or look externally I hope I'm saying his name right remember we had a good fullback in 2015 called Michael Gordon and Flannery made the tough call to bring in Ben Barber

[00:50:09] Eason is not as good as Kennedy at the moment but if his potential upside is greater I don't think we have the luxury to wait too long to bring him in with AFB coming into the squad we have a Premiership window, but it closes fast love the pod

[00:50:22] Cheers Steve Well, thanks Steve for being in touch Thanks for loving the pod It's a great question one that I have an answer for but it's a great question also, I don't like this situation when you say the Premiership window closes fast

[00:50:35] I don't think that's completely true in our situation Josh, I'm gonna let you answer first It is an interesting conversation and it's a thought that I've had myself at times because Kennedy's form can fluctuate on the occasion where he has a game like he did

[00:50:53] on the weekend and he was incredible and he has games where you know, the hands aren't right and the confidence is down and you know, he's like he's not as physically gifted as Dylan Edwards or whatever I just think you don't have to have superstars

[00:51:09] in every single position to win a comp you need guys that are going to work hard for each other who are never going to give up who are talented I mean Dylan Edwards isn't the most talented fullback in the world

[00:51:21] he works harder than probably anyone else in that team and I just think again you're onto a fairly good thing here who out there could you realistically get that's better? And I understand the argument of Eason but he's a kid he hasn't been tested whatsoever in first grade

[00:51:41] and if going on the logic that our Premiership window is now which I also disagree with like it could be open for a while this isn't the time to bring in a kid to try and go on a Premiership run we've got the players to do it

[00:51:56] now and especially next year let's give these guys a chance to do it and bring it home I just I'm open to the idea of upgrading of course, but I just don't know who else you could get that is better for the money that he's on

[00:52:09] I think that Will Kennedy is getting better and better each week to the point where now he's integral to our team all I'm seeing is really eight out of tens or more I think comparing him to Michael Gordon is unfair Michael Gordon for me never reached the heights

[00:52:27] Will Kennedy already has he went close from time to time but I think and Michael Gordon was older as well at that point so I think that's an unfair comparison I don't mind the comparison but I think it's unfair

[00:52:39] I like the fact that you can compare the other Premiership winning fullbacks but I think as long as you have four guys in the spine who pull their weight but then you have a guy like Mulatalo who pulls his weight from the wing

[00:52:53] we have a Ramian who plays out of his skin in the centers or a Talaki wherever he is in the field it's not all about the spine necessarily if 1-17 their players a team and we've seen that I know we had an incredible team in 2016

[00:53:09] I know that but if you think about their strengths they played in as them as an amazing team do we have a Maloney at the moment? No, do we have a Ben Barber? Probably not we're achieving the same things at this point in the season

[00:53:23] we've scored almost as many points as what they did I think we have more wins if not the same amount of wins we're on a level with the Premiership winning team with this team so to me it is crazy huge statement crazy to look elsewhere

[00:53:39] as Blake said for a new halfback or as Steven and a whole bunch of other people saying for a fullback when it's actually working we lost to Penrith shouldn't have lost to Para shouldn't have lost to West Tigers shouldn't have what else has gone wrong?

[00:53:53] we've got the most wins in the year out of all the teams that have played I know what everyone is thinking they got the elephant in the room talking about the next step up in the finals I get that let's give them a chance give them another chance

[00:54:06] so I think the Will Kennedy storyline is I'm hitting delete on it I don't think it's a storyline it's it's I think he's great and he's only getting better if he was declining sure but he's getting better every week the fella in New South Wales Cup is awesome

[00:54:23] like go watch him play he's Dylan Edwards Jr. He was literally his that was his mentor but he's young he's got time and we got time so re-sign him but I don't see him stepping into Will Kennedy anytime soon like really don't

[00:54:37] Kennedy gets some amazing deal from elsewhere or Super League or whatever and this other kid comes through maybe you look at it but nah when I look at us next year Josh I see the same team with Fenua Blake and I'm sorry if that upsets people

[00:54:52] I don't know why it would because your teams coming equal first they've got the most wins and historically they're one of the best Sharks teams we've ever had in case I didn't say that clear this team this year Josh is stats wise performance wise

[00:55:08] one of the best Sharks teams ever and if that's not good enough for you at this point in the season my hands are up in the air if you're watching the YouTube I don't know what to say echo your sentiments completely and you've said

[00:55:21] your point about Will Kennedy is much more articulate and in-depth than what I had to say but I I completely agree I probably was a little harsh because I do love Will yo I mean you always look at you know is the grass always greener

[00:55:35] is there better play like Reese Walsh and these flashy players but Will Kennedy works just as hard as any of them you know and he's our guy so I think we should just I think we're Sharks fans are a little guilty of getting on the

[00:55:48] back of our players sometimes like you said do you know how many teams would be killing to be in our position to be second equal first the most wins I think we can be a little little down on our position right now when it couldn't

[00:56:00] almost not be going any better Yeah and I understand that our fans and our listeners and ourselves take the losses hard I get it but that's short-term stuff man like remember after Para walls were caving one short flight What is it 45 minutes an hour to Brisbane? We're back

[00:56:22] only as good as your last game let's beat the Dolphins look to continue the story but it's a difficult one because I'm not saying that we're going to look at this team in five years time from 2024 and if we finish third and then bow out in week

[00:56:40] two finals then I'm not going to say we're one of the greatest teams of all time in sharks history but currently halfway through the season I can say it you know people already talking about it the draw we have and let's not count our wins

[00:56:54] because all the team you know, we're playing a dog soon they're top 18 the draw we have is really really good like we're going to be top four we may be first but just depends on a whole bunch of stuff so really it's about being healthy in the finals

[00:57:08] at a point not now but at a point in the track it's about being healthy in the finals mentally physically you can't go changing that team you can't be going we need a better fullback unless you can get Dylan Edwards unless you can get maybe Reese Walsh

[00:57:22] James Tedesco maybe like I'm not having a go at the fellow that wrote it it's Stephen who wrote to us because it's I'm happy to talk about all this stuff and I appreciate your opinion and I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just saying I disagree

[00:57:35] and the same with Blake about Nico like you know, Blake makes some points that are hard to argue with but I guess you and I are saying let's take a breath let's give them the opportunity to kind of right some wrongs particularly the final stuff

[00:57:50] which is what everyone is talking about happy to have those conversations though our friend Smitty said Hunt was a machine we can't let him go which is a common theme this week Josh has written to us and said hey crew after our recent history at Suncorp Stadium

[00:58:09] I was wrapped to be able to be there and belt the song out loud not once but twice this season he's been at both Suncorp Games the game on Saturday night not one of our best performances but the second half showed we wanted it more

[00:58:24] looking forward to the clash against the Dolphins the buyers come at a good time the team will benefit from a freshen up at this stage of the season Up Up Cronolids from Josh thanks Josh for listening appreciate you and you're right like the end sight is in near

[00:58:36] I spoke about with Blake so listen to the end of this episode or jump on another YouTube clip for the Blake Braley interview and I kind of say to him the end is almost in sight but he didn't thankfully he sort of went

[00:58:47] no no it's just another game we're going to win and then I'm like yeah I know but we were having communication problems but I think for all of us as fans as players as coaching staff the end of this big cycle because a full stop after the Dolphins

[00:59:03] and I think they're going to treat it like a finals game Josh like a almost like a elimination final go out there one more game one more game smash him get the victory there'll be some time off not as much as probably what everyone thinks

[00:59:16] there'll be no Fiji but yes I agree with Josh the end is in near sight our friend Lush who has a great podcast called The Post Credits Show I think that's technically what it's called he said lots of nice things about us in the podcast

[00:59:33] so I wanted to give Lush's shout out he said they went with Trindle I'm not mad about it but I feel for Atkinson I think we all kind of relate to that so that was from Lush next up we had a few comments on the YouTube page

[00:59:49] I wanted to give a shout out to our friend Scott said the second half was awesome we need to hang on to Royce a lot of Royce love there Josh I think that might be all the mail if I've got it wrong

[01:00:02] I apologize and we'll make it up to everyone but I think that's all the mail I wanted to give a shout out while we're here to our friends at the Royal Motioc Club in Port Hacking and they have a place called The Galley

[01:00:15] which is a great restaurant type food situation which they have incredible food I was down there the other week Josh watching the game against the Eels great place to go watch sport let's turn the telly up loud not too loud great food great drink great service great people

[01:00:32] very friendly atmosphere you can book online if you would like to do that rmycph.com.au they've got a membership app you can call them on 9523 93 00 just a real good place to go chill Josh you know I've done it many times we'll do it again soon

[01:00:51] so we love our friends down at the Royal Motioc Club in Port Hacking and while we're giving good shout outs Josh let's give one out to our friend Jason Hawes huge Sharks fan lifetime member season ticket holder and he's a Crips and Crips real estate

[01:01:05] he's been in the beers the real estate beers for over 20 years close to 25 I believe he knows the Cronulla area Carring Bar the Shire inside out so please give him a call on 0410 417 450 that's 0410 417 450 Jason Hawes tell him we sent you real estate

[01:01:25] anything at all to do with the real estate he will help you out if you say you're a friend of ours and if you're listening to us you are certainly a friend of ours speaking of friends of ours Josh we have a big game

[01:01:36] tomorrow night as we record I'm kind of excited like the Thursday night thing oh it's gonna be a smaller crowd which I don't get man you know what I do get okay kids it's hard to go on a school night my kids not going to school

[01:01:53] I get it not to say they can't but some make that choice but as adults it's almost like a Friday night it's Thursday night it's 8 o'clock kickoff so you got time after work your team's coming equal first we just told you they're one of the greatest

[01:02:06] Sharks teams of all time but at the moment there's still some tickets available so if you're thinking about going but not sure just put on the extra hoodie come down it's gonna be a lot of fun it's gonna be a great game the Dolphins are gonna bring it

[01:02:19] and we're gonna bring it so our team looks very similar to last week we've got Toby Rudolph starting the game we've got the return of Nico Heinze that's huge Nico was training yesterday I saw him train Josh he looks good there's no sort of struggle there

[01:02:33] he looks fine to play he will be playing Trindle will be starting so Trindle keeps his spot that means Dan Atkinson is in 18 so he'll be extra man if needed I think that's how they'll go Oregon Confuci keeps his spot starting so your bench is Jack Williams

[01:02:53] tall Tom Hazleton Braden Hamlin Welley returns and he looked pretty good at training Royce Hunt keeps his spot so Big Tooku is gonna have some time off we think if that's how it rolls out which I think it will extended bench of Marweenie Haloti

[01:03:08] Jaden Beryl and Sam Stone Street so what are your thoughts on the team first of all Josh I made a tweet yesterday about I think an X UX besides on X Yep, sorry besides Teague missing this is the best team we can name

[01:03:24] I think this is us at full strength minus Teague so I'm really excited because we haven't really had this full side play together at all this year so I'm really excited to see how we go full strength at home against another top four side cold Thursday night

[01:03:38] should play into our hands a little bit I'm really looking forward to it I'm wondering I don't want to get back onto it when Teague comes back who misses out in here because and this side this is the this is the one we want on the field

[01:03:51] well there were some rumors out there Teague was gone for the year and that's not what I'm hearing at all I think he'll be back after the bye I saw him yesterday he looked okay he wasn't I didn't see him train to be fair

[01:04:00] it doesn't mean he wasn't training but I didn't visually see him I saw him afterwards and he looked fine I asked about him and people said they're reasonably short short term and he'll be back pretty soon so I think after the bye you might see Teague back

[01:04:14] who for? I think he slides back in and then you do the math but we'll come to that when it happens I want to say this give someone else a shout out and is he on the he's not on the extended bench

[01:04:24] he must be playing Cup this week Jesse Colhoon I saw him and I had to say to our colleague Dave Riccio who's that guy? and he looked at me like I wasn't a Sharks fan and it was like it's Jesse Jesse Colhoon I went oh yeah of course

[01:04:40] he looks like he's shed about I'm not good at this sort of stuff he looks like he's shed like five kilograms but looks unbelievable he looks more like a lock than a second rower kind of vibe like more at least more back row than front row

[01:04:56] and he looks ready to rock man like he was smashing guys and he looked like just physically he looked really good so I think Jesse could be pushing his way in at some point if there's injuries and that kind of thing so there's a bit of

[01:05:09] he's another guy we've forgotten about we have on that list so there's a bit of hope there as well if a bunch of guys fall over now he's obviously less experienced but he's got a lot of talent but I was just pleased to see him

[01:05:21] in such a condition the other guy I want to give a shout out to at training that I saw who looked really good who we've only seen play a couple times at the top level was Billy Burns like I'm not suggesting he's top tier talent but he

[01:05:34] these guys are in the squad much like 2016 they literally come on and do a job for a game or two if they need to so I think the depth is going to take us so far this year so that's exciting for me Dolphins

[01:05:46] have named a pretty good team they got the hammer at the back with Isako, Avarillo, Farnworth and Boss Doc so that's a pretty good back five if you don't watch the Dolphins much it's pretty exciting back five physically strong very fast probably a bit faster than us actually

[01:06:04] their halves are sneaky sneaky good Cody Nickerim is in really good form and Katoa is just a really strong phenomenal young talent he's from the Penrith system he's an A-something he is something you better watch out for those 40-20s my wingers because he's coming to get you

[01:06:21] he and Nicko both kick three each which is the most in the comp so look out for the Katoa 40-20s they're missing the more famous Bromwich brother but Kenny will be front row with Marshall King and Felice Caffuzzi so that front row Josh even though it's

[01:06:37] at an international level the Felice Caffuzzi and Kenny Bromwich they're that's more like their back row right? That's where we get them that front row back row so that's that's a positive even though they're really good players and you take them in your team

[01:06:53] they're not front rowers really I don't want to put a jinx on it but I feel like we can we can get that as tough as they are I mean Felice Caffuzzi is extremely tough during Marshall King's they're very very good dummy half as well

[01:07:03] yeah this is a good team the back row doesn't faze me too much although Max Plath is a pretty good lock their bench is Josh Kerr Mark Nichols Ray Stone and Kurt Donahue Donahoe Donahue yeah so an 80th man Oren Keely is really good too but Josh Kerr

[01:07:23] Mark Nichols Ray Stone so you're talking about physically strong guys more on the veteran side but they're not bringing the sparkle that our bench will bring it's not the worst bench we've ever seen like they bring a physicality but I feel like our bench if fully fit

[01:07:42] will dominate that so that's exciting as well but it's going to be a tough one Josh like it's not like I think we're going to win but I think it's this week going into it one of the harder teams that will play in the season so far

[01:07:56] they're in the top four for a reason coached by you know the GOAT arguably Wayne Bennett you know who typically does well against us wherever he is it's a good side I think we can and will win but we will earn we will earn these two points

[01:08:11] I don't think it's going to be something where we're going to put 40 points on it's going to be a cruise no way I think it could be very similar to the Broncos game actually yeah yeah and I think the team knows that like they trained really hard

[01:08:22] and they were speaking really hard and they had a lot of respect for the Dolphins and even the coach was you know I mean the coach is pretty apprehensive for the best of times but he he and when I say that he's not a headline grabber

[01:08:34] he won't say to you necessarily we're going to smoke these guys although he did say it about the Melbourne game which I told you about the team are wary of opposition coming into their turf they need a win they've lost two in a row before the bye

[01:08:47] so they didn't turn around but yeah I think I'm with you Josh I think there'll be some points in it I don't think it'll be a shootout but there'll be some points in it and we're going to come out on the right end

[01:08:59] it'd be a great way to finish this part of the season like letting it all by it's almost a six point win you know two points last week two points this week in the bye so confidence level will be will be good

[01:09:10] it'll get better if they beat them we want to stay on top I think we'll do it too I really do and I think with all the eyes on him I feel like Nico will will take the reins because like he needs to for the team's sake

[01:09:24] not for Origen or anything else he just needs to do it for the team and for him just get some more confidence in him club level has been pretty good I'm do you count the Penrith game like he shouldn't have been out there right? No

[01:09:36] I find it really hard to even consider it a game he played he could barely walk he couldn't walk then he got hit in the head we were getting pounded in the earth like it was just I just it's out of my mind I'm not saying that like

[01:09:48] she kicks out in the fall is because he couldn't walk but just the whole picture of the lead-up the warm-up the the emotion of getting out there and he knows that he's busted I don't know why he played like I don't know if he was

[01:10:05] I mean I'm sure he was cleared to play like they wouldn't have let him play otherwise but I feel like he felt like he had to do it there's different rumors out there that he knew he was going to be in Orange and he didn't know

[01:10:15] but it's just one of those games where it's just like like you know you hear people on in the media say oh well the game before Orange and he was just terrible so well he was but he was barely out there like there was a jersey

[01:10:28] it said number seven I'm not sure if Nico was playing you know so I'm not too worried about that I'm not too worried about him and I think that if the team plays well around him like let's not just leave it up to him to do the job

[01:10:40] I think they'll be fine I think he's gonna have a killer game yeah I think so too I think so too he looked pretty good at training I have to say like he didn't look like he was going through the motions or limping or anything like that

[01:10:50] so hopefully he's recovered from his day yesterday today is captain's run and tomorrow is the game I'm excited because it's coming around and I can go to the game it's Thursday how do you feel about the Thursday game? They're great when you win

[01:11:08] because then you've got the whole weekend to just kind of bathe in that victory and watching everyone else bash each other yeah the para game was getting a long turnaround the para game was brutal yeah yeah that was brutal that's a whole weekend

[01:11:17] I was getting hammered by all my para mates so but when you win it's great so look I'm really looking forward I love when the games come around thick and fast not so much I'm sure for the players their bodies but for me as a fan

[01:11:28] yeah I think that's what I'm excited about too yeah I'm super pumped I can't wait to see you and get down to the ground and hopefully enjoy a really good game and two points go back to first and head into a bye I can't wait

[01:11:39] yeah so a bunch of the casters are gonna be down there a couple of guys are unavailable but most of us will be down there in one way or another so see us hanging out and you want to come say good day please do of course no obligation

[01:11:52] and you might be disappointed in who you meet but we're gonna be down there is what I'm saying it's gonna be a lot of fun I think that's Kieran and I and maybe a few others might be at the local brewery beforehand

[01:12:02] if you want to have a sugar-free Coca-Cola with us the point of the message is get down to the game if you can the team's coming first if you're in the hood if you're able to if you can afford it the whole thing I'm not you know

[01:12:14] there's obligations everywhere if you can get down there and have some fun you should definitely come down I don't want to hear any business about the cold like it's winter that's what happens in winter it gets cold Shark Park is the coldest place on earth

[01:12:25] you sign on as a fan knowing this or you grow up as a fan knowing this so there's no changing it there's no changing it you have to adapt to it or like me you have to enjoy it so I mean torrential rain or something

[01:12:38] I can understand that I'm not saying don't but the cold is just you know let's rock up anyway it's not for me to tell people how to live their lives Josh I'm barely living my own life sharkcastpod at gmail.com on the socials

[01:12:54] my hands are waving in the video you can see we're on the YouTube the YouTube is getting a little bit bigger which is good we don't care how you listen to us just listen to us if you choose to that'd be fantastic I'm really stretching now

[01:13:06] I don't know why Josh thanks for your time I man really appreciate it nah it was good to be back on missed you missed you and missed the voice and missed the fans good to be back on the pod with you and can't wait to see you tomorrow

[01:13:17] always welcome my man it'll be my honor to see you let's go get the job down sharks fans let's stay number one equal number one whatever is Melbourne playing this week? Josh everyone's playing right? yeah I think so the dogs have the bye so there you go

[01:13:30] they're playing okay so let's hope the storms lose although we're not really at that to the warriors yeah that's possible we're not really at that point where we're you know let's just keep winning let the storm win give them some give them some good times

[01:13:42] on that note of saying such a ridiculous thing I'm gonna say goodbye this is sharkcastpod we appreciate you we're gonna hit end recording right now so if you're listening to the audio podcast I'm gonna throw in some interviews with Blake Braley and talltomhazardson stick around for that

[01:13:55] if you're watching on the YouTube hello you're gonna have that on another clip of YouTube is what I'm trying to say see you later everyone sharkcastpod now up up quinoa let's go talltomhazardson welcome back to sharkcastpod appreciate your time amazing win on Saturday night up in Brisbane confidence

[01:14:15] must be high in the camp yeah, definitely mate obviously it was good to bounce back with a win after the the couple of weeks before that were you know below our best and you know we got to go up there against a good team and

[01:14:27] get the job done so I was yeah happy to come over the two points what did coach say at halftime? I just sort of said like maybe the scoreboard didn't reflect how the game looked from the outside you know we were you know button heads with them

[01:14:41] and it was a you know good contest and you know the scoreboard doesn't always tell the truth and we were just confident that if we went out and played footy how we know we can we'd be able to get over them and you know we came out

[01:14:54] firing out in the second half and those three quick tries sort of put us in a good position to you know hold on and and get the win you and your forwards did an amazing job got the team going forward was there a shift in that second half?

[01:15:07] Yeah I think the the boys that started you know at first 20 was intense and they did a really good job of getting us into the fight and you know the boys that come off the bench we have a job to you know uphold that

[01:15:19] or raise it if we can and you know I think every not just the Middles but everyone on the field had an important role to play the other night and you know everyone did it as nearly as well as they could I think and that's

[01:15:30] that's what got us over the line You went back to the bench for the first time in a long time probably played around the same minutes is it a different impact on your body? Do you feel the same after a game? What's what's the feeling like afterwards?

[01:15:41] No I still feel the same obviously you know it's the NRL you don't get any any free shots at it so but yeah like whatever role I have to play whether it's starting or off the bench or whatever I'm just happy to be a part of this team

[01:15:53] and where we're heading mate Good crowd support up in Brisbane is that do you get a shock when you look out and there's just thousands of black, white and blue in Brisbane? We have good fans wherever we go mate and you know rain, hail or shine

[01:16:04] they're turning up to support us and you know especially the it's a fair hike to Suncorp and you know we've seen a few that were were from down this way so we just wanted to put on a good performance for them and you know I'm sure they'd be

[01:16:16] impressed with how we played on the weekend Hard not to be Tom Dolphins this week short turnaround we've had a couple of those in the month so you're used to that they're a very competitive team as you know what's the I know you're going to tell me

[01:16:30] you're worried about ourselves but looking at the Dolphins what do you see there? Yeah lots of good players obviously you know we've seen what the Hummer can do last week and you know Herbie Farmwell it's a good player getting them out of trouble and obviously

[01:16:44] Marshall King's crafty at nine so you know if we stick to our D and you know play as good as we can we'll give ourselves a shot at beating them Alright one last question for you we had a listener right into us asking about

[01:16:57] if any of the players in the squad in the 30 were into what this listener described as heavy metal music and someone pointed at you and said you might lean that way sometimes Nah it's not something I'm into mate Anyone? If anyone it'd probably be Dale he loves

[01:17:16] air guitar and and head head I don't know what it's called head bang so you know I've seen him in a few night clubs air guitar and head head banging to Fisher so I reckon if he got a bit of heavy metal in there

[01:17:29] it'd probably be right up his alley What about Hamlin Whirly any chance? Possibly maybe when he had the long locks but yeah nah he's more into the the the R&B and rap sort of scene braids But you're officially ruling yourself out I'm officially ruling myself out Okay

[01:17:47] Yeah The detective work will continue Thanks for your time Good luck on Thursday Thanks mate Thanks to you appreciate you Alright Blake Brayley career best form I'm gonna say it Congratulations on the game on Saturday awesome game to watch as a spectator Energy was high

[01:18:04] even for the whole game watching the replay I thought it was less close than watching it in real time I know we were down 12-4 but we were ahead in all the stats and that kind of stuff What was the vibe at half time like?

[01:18:15] Yeah the vibe was high we were definitely down the scoreboard but it definitely didn't feel like it we felt like we had control of the game and we were playing well we knew what we had to do in attack and defence and 50 just relayed a message

[01:18:27] just to stick at it you know we'll get our opportunities when they come and yeah that second half we came out firing from the start and that set us up for that that second half there where we can come back and put on a few points

[01:18:38] Coming off two losses it was important to win what does it do for the confidence of the entire squad? Yeah it's massive obviously coming up against Broncos at Brisbane at Suncorp sold out you want to be in those big games you want to play in those big games

[01:18:50] and when you come away with the two points it gives you so much confidence so yeah like you said there the last few weeks we didn't perform well and we wanted to turn that around and we did that against Broncos so hopefully we can

[01:19:00] do that again this week against the Dolphins I know you guys don't like talking about it Coach hates talking about it but the storyline of not beating the big teams now has been proven wrong you've actually beaten six of the seven current top eight

[01:19:12] it's a bit whack how they judge what a top eight team is obviously but this year six of seven kick up here against Penrith but that too gives you confidence right? Moving forward Yeah for sure you know the last few years we that narrative was around

[01:19:25] that we couldn't beat the top eight sides and that was definitely a driving factor for a lot of us so yeah this year we've performed well against those top eight sides so yeah but in saying that it's only a half way point and it's more about you know

[01:19:39] getting those two points in the back end of the year so that's what we'll be pushing for and looking forward to so but in the meantime yeah we've got the Dolphins this week who are top four so another opportunity for our squad to to stand up

[01:19:49] we'll back home we need put a good performance last time against Penrith so yeah it'll be an exciting exciting clash and two great sides going up against each other In what is a relentless season do you look at this as the last stop before a couple weeks off

[01:20:04] end of a big bracket of games as well are you looking at it like that? Yeah we definitely know the you know we can put the feet up for a couple of days after this game but we're not looking forward to that just yet we've got to

[01:20:16] you know get the job done and work hard on on Thursday so it's definitely been a long you know few periods I think we were on ten straight games so but if you come to training come around the schedule you can't really sense

[01:20:30] I think everyone just wants to keep going keep training everyone's happy to be here everyone's happy to you know keep working hard for each other so I think it's great for our side and just shows how far we've come and it's going to be exciting

[01:20:41] exciting few weeks for us for sure I know you can't tell me exactly what he said after games but in the huddle is it just like take a breath soak it in move forward that kind of vibe? Yeah this year we're just worrying about staying in the moment

[01:20:55] and enjoying the those big moments those big big stages where it's full crowd you know your backs against the wall we're not you know tipped to probably win from some people outside but we know inside what we can what we can do and what we can perform so

[01:21:10] yeah just about soaking it all in not getting too far ahead of ourselves not thinking we're better than what we are so that's just the message we relay in there and it just shows that we're really connected as a squad and we

[01:21:21] we enjoy playing with each other and yeah it's it's great great for our squad and our connection and yeah I really enjoy those after game huddles when we're we're tired with badgers and bros but you can you know look at each other

[01:21:33] and you know you worked hard for each other Yeah it's all going well I wish you all the best I have one last question for you you know we always talk about music a listener has written to us in the past month he is a fan of

[01:21:47] the genre of heavy metal music and you can define that however have I asked this before No Okay you can define that however you want we're chasing someone in the current top 30 who is a metalhead and we're not getting a lot of good responses but people are saying

[01:22:04] perhaps Hammam Welly perhaps Tom Tom's ruled himself out I think maybe Jaden Beale just because of all the tough stickers have you got any insight well you would assume Ken McGuinness by the way he plays and but that's actually disappointingly incorrect he if you listen to his music

[01:22:22] He's a hip hop guy let's just say it's not the toughest music he listens to so Okay that's interesting I hope he doesn't mind me saying he's a big Sex and the City fan so I don't know if that has anything anything to do with the movie

[01:22:34] I just wanted to put that out there and get that that'll be out there that's wild and there's nothing wrong with that of course heavy metal yeah I mean Jaden Beale he he does have the tattoos he has I know bit of a scary figure to himself so

[01:22:48] he could be he could be up there but heavy metal yeah if you hear anyone playing heavy metal music can you think about it and next time we talk actually probably here we go I reckon maybe Billy Burns oh yeah yeah Billy Burns okay he's he's

[01:23:04] yeah I could see him rocking the heavy metal there's a moustache he something about him he got bit of heavy metal burning yeah keep an ear out thank you good luck on Thursday thank you for your time appreciate it boy SHUT UP KEEPS SHUT UP KEEPS

[01:23:17] SHUT UP KEEPS SHUT UP KEEPS back in the Shire tell your points lights off because we're coming out with a trophy