Rd 9, 2026 Sharks vs Wests Tigers Preview with Coach Adel Hage (Wests Tigers TV)

[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

[00:00:26] They've got a Facebook page or you could go old school and call them on 029523 9300 And to all you people back in the Shire, turn your porch lights off because we're coming over the trophy.

[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 special preview episode and if you're watching the video, my special guest this week is already smiling because he doesn't know what he's in for. He's not really a SharkCast kind of guy. This episode is brought to you by Dyson Logistics, the legends of the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Port Hacking and Jason Hawes at Crips & Crips Real Estate.

[00:01:28] This is a preview. One of the biggest games in recent times for the Sharks for lots of different reasons. The high-flying West Tigers are coming to town and there is no one better to talk to than an old friend of mine. His name is Adele, Adele Hage and he is a rugby league guru. We met in the building of Fox Sports. We became friends straight away. I don't know if you remember it's Adele.

[00:01:53] Actually, do you remember one of our first conversations about a, let's say about a rugby league great? Do you remember that conversation? Cooper Cronk. Well, we had a lot of those, but we both agreed that Darren Lockyer wasn't an immortal and we bonded over that almost straight away. Look, you're not going to get me in trouble. I currently work for an affiliate club of a Brisbane Broncos. Let's not go down the house path, please.

[00:02:18] Love Darren Lockyer and he's a great player. We met, yeah, a while ago now. And since then, you've gone on to some great coaching successes, including at the West Tigers club. But I want to get everyone up to speed. Where do you coach currently? So I'm with the South Logan Magpies in the House Plus Cup at the moment.

[00:02:40] So we're an affiliate of the Brisbane Broncos. Yeah, it's a very different type of football environment up here, but extremely enjoyable. I'm an assistant to the great Carmichael Hunt. So he's our head coach. So I work with him. Yeah, former great premiership winning shark, Ricky Letelli's on our staff as well. He was a player with us last year. Yeah, some really good names, obviously the likes of Anthony Milford still playing with us.

[00:03:07] And obviously we've had a couple of the Broncos boys who have come back who haven't played, or if they're not playing first grade, have come back to us this year. So yeah, that's my current journey at the moment. And I'm really actually really enjoying being back in the men's game. But yeah, that's what I'm doing at the moment. Is that fair to say they're some of the most high profile guys you've been involved with? Yeah, what's the fascinating one?

[00:03:29] I mean, I think Milford would probably be the most high profile because of the fact that even though he's playing in the Queensland Cup at the moment, I mean, if you go back to Anthony Milford, he's prime. He's a high player in the game and whatnot. I'd probably go as far to say coaching Kezzy Apps would probably be my highest profile person I've had to deal with. Sure. You know, you don't know how significant Laura is in the game until you're around her week in, week out. And she played a great role beating the Sharks in the only premiership I've won at club level.

[00:03:59] So we just throw that in really quickly. But no, no, look, it's dealing with people. Obviously, I've got a lot of friends who are currently not role players or past not role players as well. So as much as you do look up for these guys and you sort of can look at them with a bit of stardom, you almost just treat them like friends and just, you know, be around them in a more professional environment.

[00:04:18] It is a little bit different at the moment coaching guys who are potentially, you know, on the brink or playing in RL and that sort of stuff because you do want to have that bit of respect with them. But at the same time, you know, you've got to know your place as well. Good balance. Run us through and we'll work backwards, but run us through your history coaching at the West Tigers, including NRL dub. I actually joined the club by accident in COVID.

[00:04:48] There was basically no football left to play and he's the current head of part plays at the Bulldogs at the moment. But a close friend of mine, Adam Harding, actually reached out and said, you know, our women's program was back up and running when nothing else was. And they wanted a bit of help. So jump back on board there and a couple of years into that, I actually just, you know, I was doing it for fun. And it was part of the Harvey Norman women's set up. And then, yeah, just basically was an assistant coach there and didn't really take it too serious, to be honest with you.

[00:05:16] And then just by coincidence, actually, Michael Maguire got sacked as coach of the NRL team. And Brett Kamorley, another former shark, actually got promoted to the NRL head coaching role. I think they gave me the coaching gig out of sympathy because I've been an assistant coach for a couple of years. And I think we were coming eighth at the time and we had to win every game to even make the finals and went on undefeated and won the comps. So it sort of put me instead to, you know, it's important to always take your opportunities.

[00:05:43] And I thought it took mine at the time and then, yeah, was then relegated back to being an assistant coach. But not he came back and it was his assistant coach for the NRL W season. And then obviously I made the move up to Queensland two years ago now. Okay. And obviously, not obviously to everyone, but a passionate West Tigers man to run us through that from youth. I'm guessing like, how did that happen? And, and, and who was it before West Tigers, et cetera?

[00:06:11] Well, it was all about one bloke and that was Benny Elias. Who ironically I'm not a big fan of these days, but being a kid, watching Benny Elias play was everything for me. Um, my uncle took us to games. My parents were all, my family's all Parramatta fans and I wasn't a Parramatta person. So, um, went to my uncle to game at Leichhardt Oval and, um, yeah, just, I was a sickened West Tigers or Balmain fan initially, but you know, I'm all in with the West Tigers at the moment.

[00:06:39] Like I'm the whole West and Balmain thing, but yes, I grew up through it, but you know, those two clubs, unfortunately are dead and buried now where West Tigers are one club and, you know, I've got a significant passion for the club. And even though, you know, I'll say this openly, the club kind of betrayed me in the end then, but they can't take away my passion and my love for the club. So I'll always have that.

[00:07:03] Now, before we get into the preview, one last plug, you're involved with a very successful West Tigers podcast. Give them a plug and tell us a bit about that, please. Um, so yeah, it's a really good product that we've got at the moment, uh, with the boys there, they've created West Tigers TV. Um, Rob Bishara, Gary Watson, Eddie Otto, Steve Stretton, and obviously Rob Bishara Jr. has come on board. Uh, so we do two shows on a Sunday. We do a sort of a preview show on Tuesday.

[00:07:30] Uh, the he, her, he, her raw ladies in Rachel and Sally do a Thursday night podcast. Um, and that will sort of build up as the NRL season in our W season comes along. And, um, the guys from West Tigers faithful have also jumped on board. So they do a little bit about our pathway system as well. So a lot of content. So yeah, really, really exciting and enjoyable to be part of that thing. Um, yeah, it's awesome. It's great to see him, uh, rise so quick as a fellow podcaster. You see other people out there doing it and they're doing it really good.

[00:08:00] And, uh, yeah, congrats to those guys. Now we're here to discuss the big game, Adele. Now, are you, now this is going to be highly offensive to you. Are you surprised at the West Tigers success this year? Tell me what's going on. Well, it's funny. I have these conversations with the boys a lot and they always talk to me about the fact that my temperament doesn't change. I don't, nothing surprises me anymore in, in anything in life, I guess.

[00:08:29] Um, I've had a big belief in Benji and what he's been able to achieve at the club. Obviously when he started coaching the club, both as an assistant and then the back end of that taking on the head coaching role, I was still at the club. So, and I've been lucky enough to have that little bit of relationship with him and understand sort of his intricacies. And obviously the couple of the boys that were still around back then. And, and the way they talked about him, the way they presented him to me and some of the things that he presented to us as a coaching, as a part of the coaching staff at the club

[00:08:58] told me that he was going to have success at some stage. It was just whether the club, um, you know, stuck with him. The interesting thing about it for me at the moment is yes, we're going well, but if you talk to any of those coaching staff at the moment, like I have, they basically think they've achieved nothing yet. So there's nothing to compliment them about. They're sort of really fixated on making sure that everybody, including the players and the fans understand they've achieved nothing.

[00:09:27] So, um, we're going good, but you and I both know we've been around rugby league long enough to know that it's all about keeping it sustained and being able to do it for a long period, especially, you know, through a big season like the NRL season is. Yeah, for sure. Uh, I mean, all they can do is what they're doing now and you're right. The true success will be come towards the end of the year where they finish, how they go in the finals, et cetera. But I mean, we'll get into it in a little bit, but just looking at all the stats and the

[00:09:55] numbers and that kind of thing, like they're really strong in most facets of the game and particularly compared to their opposition, which we'll get into, um, going way better from a sharp point of view, but that's, that's neither here nor there. Um, have you had much to do with Bomber Morris in your career at the Tigers? No, unfortunately I've never, never met him before. Uh, at all. Um, but he's very popular around the playing group and I know that's not always the most

[00:10:24] important thing, but I think it is pretty significant. Um, he's got a lot of respect. Um, obviously he, the majority of his career, correct me if I'm wrong, has been with the Sharks, but you know, he was a part of the West Tigers club for, for a decent period there. So he understands the fabric of what the club's about and he's obviously someone Benji trusts. So, um, you know, he's playing an important role for our club at the moment. So I'm sure the players and the fans are very appreciative of his efforts. Yeah. He's a friend of the show. Don't worry about that, Adele.

[00:10:52] Now let's go to the West Tigers this year. Um, you've only had a couple of losses and they were narrow losses as well. Let's talk about those two games. So you lost 21, 20 to the Broncos and you lost 20 to 16 to the set to South Sydney. Where, where did the, like what negatives from that would you take and move forward as far as ways to improve on to win a game? Um, you know what?

[00:11:22] I think it wasn't so much what we did wrong. I'm a bit worried. Is Fitzy watching this show? It's like, am I giving away some secrets here or? Uh, Fitzy has, I don't think he will, but we're friends with Fitzy. So making sure. Now, look on both occasions, to be honest, both teams that beat us did it through frustration us on our edges. Um, on both occasions, it was, you know, even when we played the Broncos a couple of weeks ago, we played them with, you know, a lot of personnel being out, but what they didn't have out was their two edges.

[00:11:51] So they're, they're back there, they're left edge and right edge where they're grand final edges from last year. So, um, and then when we played the, the, uh, the Rabbitohs, it was the same sort of thing. The likes of Jack White and Latrell Mitchell, two very experienced centers were able to really pick us apart on the edges defensively. And they were able to sort of stop or how we wanted to play the game against those sort of teams. So that was the, that was the one thing that those two teams did a lot better.

[00:12:17] Uh, we've taken advantage of teams that have had a little bit of inexperience and guys that are pretty much out of form on their edges, which sort of, you know, if you look at this week's game, it's probably a one that I sort of talk about that that's, you know, not so much a strength of your guys at the moment, but that's the sort, they're the areas I think that's, um, been our weakness this year where, when we've come up against some really good centers and accommodations in teams, uh, I think we've struggled a little

[00:12:47] bit. So, yeah. So this week, and we can name the teams in a little bit, but you've got, uh, Taylor and staff at tour against Sifatala Kai and Kale Iro. Now Kale Iro last year was a phenomenal defensive center. Uh, you know, I love what he does this year in particularly in our losses. He's been way off defensively, which I'm sure you may have noticed. Now that's, that can be circumstantial.

[00:13:13] It's not necessarily every time one-on-one, but with him and Talakai who Talakai is a beast at second row, beast, middle forward center days, defensively pretty much over except for this week and last week. Um, so I'm a little bit worried considering that's what you said is how to beat you. And I'll look at us this week and then you got Hiradi on a wing and stone street and another. So a fringe first grader and a rookie.

[00:13:41] So that kind of weighs up in your favor. How do you view, take will Kennedy out of it for now? How do you view our three quarters there this week named? Well, yes, they're not, they're not experienced footballers. Uh, Hiradi actually played against us last year at Leichhardt. I think he got hooked that day as well. Okay. Um, so it's something that I think that we'll, we'll definitely target. Look every Tuesday night on our preview show, the boys asked me to give it what they call a closure clipboard. And one of the things I have noticed about Cronulla and I've watched the last two games

[00:14:10] you guys have played, I actually think there's a disconnect in your, in your, what we call defensively your four men and your three men. So, Hines and Trindle and it's been Billy Burns and, uh, Teague Wilton the last couple of weeks. It's interesting to see Nicker has been named to start this week. I think that's actually an important change for you guys. Um, cause I do think defensively he's a little bit more positive than the other guys. And he goes after the, um, the opposition a little bit more than what I think the other two have been doing.

[00:14:37] Um, I actually think that's where that's what's caused a lot of the issues on the outside for you guys. I think there's been a bit of, um, inconsistencies in regards to those boys and following the normal system Cronulla plays. I think that's caused your centers and wingers to be sort of a little bit left out. Um, let's, let's paint it exactly as it was. I thought the, the, the Cowboys had a picnic on news last week and, and, and, you know, I'm sure our coaching staff, uh, would be watching that. And I just think that it's just really important.

[00:15:06] It all starts with your background and your half and then their decision making early, because I think the centers and wingers unfortunately having to react, react off the back of that. But, you know, I'd like to think from our end we're able to put the pressure on really early and early and take advantage of it early in the game. And then, you know, once the pressure's on, it's, it's hard to sort of come back from that, isn't it? So if you put your coach's hat on for the sharks and look at the last two games, like you have, and you've targeted some things, which are amazing.

[00:15:33] How can we correct that as a, as individuals, as a team, like, how would you go about correcting that? I feel like it's a loaded question. And what's, and what's the best to answer this question? Yeah, of course. Yeah. Um, Jesus, this is, I've got it in my head. I just don't know how to say it. Um, no, look, it's, it's about being, I think anything in defense, it's about being positive.

[00:16:02] Defense is an attitude. It's a, it's a choice. And I'd like to think most teams and most coaches prepare really well for the oppositions. And in most cases, it's lack of intent, lack of execution of, of the planning and the, and the, and the stuff that's fed to you throughout the week. And when you get the game time and you're under pressure and you're under fatigue, are you able to execute the plans that were put in place all week? Uh, that's going to be that question mark for the Sharks this week.

[00:16:30] You know, those two guys, uh, your back rolls and your centers, your half, sorry. That's where it's got to start for you. And then on the back of that, cause I, you can't expect Talakai. You can't expect Iro to be able to the ones like your Luttrells and your Whitens and your, um, get Tony Staggs. These are seasoned footballers. These are vets who have been playing this game for a long time. Their IQ supersedes everything else, football talent wise. So you can't expect that from your centers. It's going to have to come from your halves and your back rowers.

[00:16:59] And defensively, they're going to have to start the positive, um, movement around what you do defensively. Defensively on your edge. Okay. Now just broadly season wide, it's been a very inconsistent season. How do you view the Sharks so far this year in 2026? I'm I'd be disappointed. And the reason I'd be disappointed and not only this year, I think the last couple of years is I'm a big believer.

[00:17:28] If your team should be a reflection of your coach, this thing looks nothing like a Craig Fitzgibbon coach side. I mean, if we all relate to Craig Fitzgibbon, hard worker would, would play for 80 minutes, would not stop. Um, was all about his teammates was all about his club bled for the Jersey. Didn't matter what Jersey plays for.

[00:17:48] I think the Sharks over the last couple of years have shown to me when they are on the front foot and they are what you call front runners. I think they, they handle that situation a little bit better. What they don't handle is when things are getting tough and they're a little bit uncomfortable. Yeah. That's my observation from the outside looking in. And, and I can sometimes see, I watch all the coaches press conferences across the region. I think it's education as a coach myself, I try to learn as much as I can.

[00:18:17] So I watch a lot of Craig Fitzgibbon's press conferences. It almost feels like to me that when he, when he says a press conference, he's telling the public one thing and he's trying to remain calm. Yeah. But you can feel the frustration sometimes that's happening behind closed doors. Yeah. Um, I just think from a Sharks perspective, they've just got to become a little bit more uncomfortable when things start to get a bit more uncomfortable. And I think that's probably the one thing they haven't been able to handle over the last couple of years.

[00:18:46] And, and, and this year in particular has probably been the worst start of those few years. So yeah. Yeah. Big challenge. How do you, how does a team do that though? Do they have to be in that grind and then get a few wins or toughen up a bit, even if they're losing and then just keep doing it week in week out? Like how does one change that kind of pattern? Um, personnel usually. Okay. Um, you know, the topic of discussion at the moment for us is Jerome Law. Like we all know what's going on with the Jerome Law situation.

[00:19:15] I don't know Jerome Law personally, but I know enough about Jerome Law to understand that he's someone that, um, what's the word? He demands elite respect and commitment at training. Mm-hmm. Our pre seasons over the last few years from the people I've spoken to have just gone to another level.

[00:19:38] So if you want to take us for an example, there's the reason everyone talks about what we've done this year and Benji ball and all these sort of catchphrases. The reality is the reason why we are in the position we're in at the moment is because besides Penrith, who we know are the best by country moment. When it comes to this stuff, we've got the second best defense in the competition. Yes. We average less points per game than 15 of the other seven seasons, 17 teams, right? Yep. So everything else doesn't matter to me.

[00:20:08] That's the number one stat in rugby league. If you can be that. And on top of that, we have the number one possession rate of the competition. I just believe that until you get to a stage in pre season where you actually respect and understand that that is what you need to be a quality football side, you're never going to get to that situation. I think it's been a battle for us as a club to be able to get in that position at the moment. The challenge is now to sustain it from a Sharks perspective. And I don't have the numbers in front of me.

[00:20:37] It seems like they're the type of team that if they've got a lot of position, they're happy with that. If they have to defend quite a bit, they struggle with it. So I think it's just a mindset thing to be honest. And do you put Luai as a major, if not the main reason behind that turnaround? Absolutely. Absolutely. I'll do it from the conversations I've had with people. Yeah, there's no, there's, there's no BS with him.

[00:21:06] It's, it's the old Greg Popovich term. If the best player in your team allows you to coach to the same standard as everybody else, well, everybody else shuts the F up and follows, you know, that's what his line used to be. Yeah. And that's, that's the reality of it. If, if your best players and your highest paid players do everything you ask of them with a yes, sir, no, you know, yes, sir. How hard do you want me to jump, sir? Everybody else has to follow. And that's what he's been able to provide us as a club.

[00:21:37] Now let's talk about halves. We mentioned Luai who missed a bit this year. Jock Madden came in, did a great job. Uh, Dewey's, you know, Dewey's just always magic as long as he's healthy. Like he, wherever you play him, he's just one of those players. Uh, and this week we've got Jock Madden on the bench, been pushed out by Luai, obviously. You happy with how the halves are going? Yeah, extremely happy to be honest.

[00:22:04] Um, Adam, Adam is a, just a boarder. He's a running threat. Um, I think one of the things that Benji needs to get a lot of credit for is he's not asking the players to do things that are not their strengths. Um, a lot of our fans get frustrated at the moment with Adam's lack of passing, but how can you fault someone who's just consistently, um, you know, compromising defensive lines and, and, and being a threat to defense every single time he runs the football? Yeah. Yeah.

[00:22:33] He's never playing his hand, but the numbers and the evidence shows that he's not. He's someone that's just continually threatening the opposition and he's being able to, you know, score tries at will, to be honest. Um, Jerome, Jerome's got the IQ. Yeah. Look, there was a lot of controversy over the last couple of years about who plays six and who plays seven. The facts are they switched jerseys, but Jerome's our seven. Adam does all our kicking or the majority of our kicking, but Jerome's our seven. Jerome directs us around the park. He knows our shapes.

[00:23:02] He knows our points. He knows what the, you know, he's the coach on the field when, when, when, um, you know, that's, that's, um, relaying Benji's messages. He's the guy that's in charge. He's technically our seven, but he's obviously wearing the number six jersey. So I guess just make it whatever it is. So yeah, really pleased with the way they're going. And it's a great position for the club to be in, isn't it? When you've got Jock Madden, um, who came in a field of void, but I'll give you a scoops.

[00:23:28] And as to me, Lartu Fane is our best half in our club, but he's not even, not even, not even a question in my mind. I feel sorry for that poor kid. And at some stage, um, we're going to find out who he is. So will he need to wait until PNG come in or what's the story there? I mean, that's, that's, that's a really good question. Um, but, um, yeah, I think for him, it's understanding, like the poor kid has just never been able to string a lot of football together.

[00:23:54] So until his body's be out is able to handle it, I think the club is managed really well. Um, I know he trusts the club. He trusts our high performance staff. Uh, Peter Musa is our head of performance. Who was actually formally at the sharks before. Okay. Um, for, uh, I think he was there a couple of years. Not sure who was your coach when he was there. Who was the coach in between Flanagan and Fitzgibbon? Uh, bomber, bomber Morris. I think he was there with, for bomber Morris then. So yeah. Okay.

[00:24:24] So he, he's, he's had a performance and you know, they're, they're looking after the kid, but mate, he's, he's, he's a superstar. I just, I'd love to see him get a full year of first grade under his belt. And then when the time comes, you know, he'll get his opportunity. Now, Tristan Hope named it hooker because up he's, uh, having a few weeks off. Does that mean Jock comes on and does Jock play hooker as well? Or what, what's the story there? Uh, fascinating one. I think Tristan will play.

[00:24:53] They'll push out Tristan for as many minutes as they possibly can. Um, there is a couple of different options. I don't think Jock will play nine, to be honest. I think R2 will come on and fill that spot for a little bit if need be. Uh, we've actually also seen Sione find her jump in and play nine, um, a couple of times this year when, when, when up he's come off. So, um, I think the, the way the game goes will determine how they, what they do with that.

[00:25:17] Um, I'm sure the coaches will have a plan, but it's not necessarily one of those plans that I think we're going to know about till the game actually goes. So yeah, it's going to be a fascinating one. There's a couple of different options there. Now, very good friend of the show. Uh, if you ever seen him around, you can, you can tell him that we're mates. Uh, Roissy Hunt having, I would suggest a career best year. I haven't seen him like this since probably 2020 around then when he started with the sharks on train and trial and he was just in beast mode.

[00:25:44] Um, but yeah, he's lighting it up and that is what an engine change player should be doing, right? Just coming on and ripping and tearing and getting a try here or there. Yeah. And again, I've got to give credit to our coaching staff and I'm actually think, and don't quote me on this. I think Bomber Morris does that interchange. Um, pretty sure he's in charge of it. I actually think what we're doing really well as well is we're getting Royce on at the right times. It's not specific to there's a certain time he's coming on.

[00:26:12] You can tell that there's a plan about what the game is looking like, what the momentum of the game is looking like. And we're trying to put him on, on the front foot. Um, because obviously we get to take advantage of that. And sometimes where we've needed opportunities where we needed momentum to change and potentially our yardage sets aren't as good. Uh, we're getting Royce out there, but you know, credit to him. We've heard all the stuff in preseason around, you know, he come back a little couple of weeks earlier and he's just put time in.

[00:26:37] And at, at, you know, it was, it was crazy that I heard that he actually went to Benji last year and told him to drop him to reserve grade. It wasn't the other way around. He actually volunteered and said, I'm not fit enough. I'm not going good enough. Drop me back. So you love that as a coach that someone takes their accountability in the, in themselves, but you can tell this is a revenge season for Royce, isn't it? Yeah, he's going well. I mean, I know him off the field. Terrific, terrific fella. Uh, cheeky as heck, but just would do anything for anyone.

[00:27:06] And, uh, hopefully this week it's not a breakout game for him, but I, I'll know he'll be revved up. He'll be back fence of, uh, ocean protect stadium. Let's, uh, let's get your thoughts on some sharkies here. Now this is you and I, you know, we don't, we don't speak much, uh, because of distance, but, um, so I'm going to ask you some questions we haven't discussed.

[00:27:27] And the reason this is a loaded question from the podcast side of things is because this guy, for whatever reason, um, splits audiences on our side of the field. And I'm on one side and that's will Kennedy. What do you think about will Kennedy as a, as a neutral, absolute neutral? What do you think about will Kennedy? He's a fantastic fullback. He's, he's work rate and his effort plays for the sharks are amazing. Look, the one thing, and I, and I have this conversation with a lot of our fans, we got to understand these guys are humans. They're not robots.

[00:27:56] If you expect someone to be absolutely elite every week, well, you're not going to get that. But I always talk about as a footballer and as a, from a foot, sorry, as a footballer from a coach's perspective, what you want to see is the gap between your best and your worst games. And that gap's got to be as small as it can be. I actually think from will Kennedy's perspective, that's what you get, you know, in our real clubs don't get the luxury of, I mean, maybe some do, but you don't get the luxury that everyone wants to get.

[00:28:26] Everyone in your spine is a superstar. Yeah. For everybody in your side, in your spine is going to be able to be on the big bucks. So if you look at your spine, I mean, your nine is your best spine player, in my opinion. Yeah. And I think, I think your six and your seven, you know, your next three. And then, and obviously we'll, we'll probably number four on that list. If your fourth best player in your spine is a will Kennedy type player. I think that's pretty good. I think that's, you know, you can't expect anything more than that.

[00:28:53] You're not going to get a superstar at fullback, unfortunately, if you don't. The other thing I want to add to this, and I think again, as fans, we sort of get caught up a lot in the attacking component of the game. I could give you Josh Drinkwater tomorrow as the Cronulla fullback, and he's going to light it up and attack. Mm-hmm . But what's his defense going to be like? Because I know what it's like. Yeah. You know, and defensively and numbers wise in particular, Will does a wonderful job organizing your defense.

[00:29:22] That's the one thing I have noted about him. Look, can he play shape? Can he ball play? Not really. It's not his strengths, but what are his strengths? And that's, they're the, they're the things you've got to find and figure out in his game. Um, but yeah, I think he's a quality fullback in my, in my opinion. Now you've sort of hinted at it, but where, like just then, but where do you stand on N. Hines? Mr. Nico Hines, how do you feel about Nico? Um, well, he's a quality half in a competition that's void of half.

[00:29:51] So yeah, do the Sharks fans take him for granted a little bit, do they? They can. And this isn't a shot on anyone. Like I, I get so much mail every week and I love all of it. Good, bad, indifferent. And a lot of people don't like Will Kennedy. And a lot of people think Nico's, I guess goes missing. Sometimes some think he's overpaid, like you're going to get that with every player, but because he's our, probably our highest paid player and he's the, you know, the poster boy and everything. He does come under criticism.

[00:30:21] And again, I just want to ask you as a neutral and someone who I trust your opinion of. It's, it's, it's exactly what Jerome cops at the moment with us. If we lose a football game, everyone looks at Jerome. What you're on $1.2 million. Why aren't we winning football games? It's your fault. It doesn't matter what happens. It's your fault. Really making five line breaks a game, scoring three tries a game. It's again, it's, it's not what we should be doing as fans. I get we're allowed to do it.

[00:30:48] And that's part of, you know, the journey and then the rollercoaster of rugby league. I will say something about Nico because we've actually been the benefits of it. Like I think when he's put under pressure, he does struggle a little bit. Yeah. But the only way to face that is front on. Yeah. But yeah, I look like, I mean, once again, if you compare the halves in the competition, you know, if I said to you, you get to swap in with somebody else. Yes.

[00:31:16] You probably could pick somebody else, but the reality is, is that going to be as easy as bye-bye Nico? We can just go sign everybody else. It's probably not going to be that easy. So I was just reminded of his, I don't know, was it 47 meter 51 meter attempt at field goal at Leichhardt where it shaded the posts. And I was like, if he gets that, that's all we're talking about. That's how, that's how different a career can be. Right. Oh, absolutely. You know what? He actually played well that day. It was the year before we played his on Leichhardt.

[00:31:45] I think it was a Saturday night. It would have been early in the year and he hadn't. Yeah. It was shocker. Yeah. He was one of the worst games I've seen him play in a long time. But you know, we've always had, I always observe when we play you guys, when the position is 50 50, we go after Nico. You can tell us that it's a ploy from us. You know, we go after him, we kick pressure in. We, you know, whenever he's trying to ball play, you know, you can see our guys,

[00:32:10] you know, there's a, there's a distinct, there's a distinct plan to go after him. It's not giving him any time at all. So yeah. I mean, and there's the sorts of things he's just got to be able to handle, but I don't think it's a Nico thing. I think it's a, it's a, it's a team thing to be honest as a whole. Yeah. No, I agree. I agree. His defense has really gotten better year on year in his first year, the Sharks, there was some shaky signs, but it's not, it's not sort of a surprise these days when

[00:32:37] he's making 25 tackles a game, maybe missing one or two, obviously. But there are a lot of, I love a lot of things about what he does, but he's a, he's under so much pressure. It's, and even just seeing him around the area, just walking around, like it's like, you know, hanging out with a rock star or whatever. Cause it's just, it's all eyes on him and I get it. Like that's the job, as you say, like it's part of, you know, what we do, but yeah, it's great getting a neutral perspective. So thank you for that.

[00:33:05] Is there anything that worries you about the Sharks this week against your team? Like what, what do you think is the biggest danger perhaps going into this game for the West Tigers? Allowing you guys to start downhill, basically. Uh huh. You know, at the end of the day, anything with Fanua Blake in it, you know, if they can get on the front foot, he's gonna, he's not going to slow down. He's going to keep going. I think Nick are coming back into the back rows is a significant one.

[00:33:33] Um, you know, what's my prediction? I'm very confident this week and I'm very confident in the fact that the type of football and the attitude that we're showing this year means that one, one of the things we're prioritizing is that is completing and taking control of positions. And I just feel like that if we can do that this week at the moment, the way you guys are playing, it just doesn't suit your style at the moment, you know, and it comes down to early in the game. What's early in the game going to look like?

[00:34:02] I think the first 20 minutes in this game are going to be significantly important for you. I'm just having a look at who the referee is, Todd Smith. Okay. As long as not Adam G. As long as not Adam G. Um, but yeah, I think the first 20 minutes actually is going to paint the real picture of the game. I actually think it's the most important 20 minutes of the game, uh, from our perspective. Um, if we can turn the game into a bit of a dogfight, um, I think we're, we'll put ourselves in good stead, but if we let you guys dominate possession early, um, I think it'll be a bit of a struggle.

[00:34:32] Look, it's a massive, we've got two massive losses this week and I'll be in dream being out. I think they're our two most important players. Um, I think they're the two players from a depth perspective. We actually don't have adequate replacements for. So, um, it's going to be a challenge for us this week, but what is the great Gus Gould called the Bermuda triangle? We head down to the Bermuda triangle this week. So he's not wrong. He's not wrong. Uh, what, what should shark stands make of, uh, to river at fullback? Like we know he's got a lot of energy. He's very physical.

[00:35:00] Is he half decent fullback or is it a winger playing fullback? Well, we actually, you know, and I'm, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure we won over 50% of games when he played there last year. So, um, he'll do, he'll, he'll do the job for us. He's not going to give us that dream, um, is able to provide us. Um, Benji actually got a little bit creative with it last year at times where when Therruva played fullback, he actually got one of the centers to sort of shift infield at times and, and play a fullback type role.

[00:35:30] So, um, I wouldn't be surprised to see, uh, someone like Luke Lali actually, who's grown up being a fullback at some stage sort of, especially in attack, I mean, um, you know, come infield and, and play that sort of a role. Um, I don't know if you guys know this yet, but it's been reported and we actually presumed it on, um, on the Tigers podcast that, um, Tino Tavano will come in on the wing as well for Skelton. Um, even though he's been named, um, yeah, they, they had their opposed training and with the Tigers, it's, it's a public park.

[00:36:00] Everyone gets to watch and train and, um, with all the cameras out there today. And we know that the team in black is usually the team that's playing in the same in orange is the team that's not playing. And those two boys were in the opposite. So, um, that'll be a bit of a change there, but yeah, I think Therruva will be fine at fullback to be honest. All right. And I don't have much more to say, Dale, except really appreciate your time, man. Um, it's great to catch up now. How, how is your Queensland cup team going?

[00:36:30] Uh, we're not going that look, we've, we started the year really well, but yeah, the last couple of weeks, we've had some pretty disappointing results to be honest. Um, I think we've, you know, we're, we're, we're, we're a little bit like the sharks to be honest. If you want me to be honest with you, I think we're very, we're very similar to the sharks at the moment. I think we, we enjoy the attacking part of our game. Um, but not so much, uh, the defensive efforts, you know, we lost last week, 38 to 32, we're down 38 to 12 with 11 minutes to go. Right. Okay.

[00:36:59] And we scored 20, what was it? 20 points in 11 minutes. Like we can put on points, but yeah, we, we haven't, um, think, I will say this. It is difficult in our position and you know, all the New South Wales current teams will know this, that, you know, our, our, our Broncos boys sort of come in and out every week. Like, you know, we started the year with Hayes Perrim, Jesse Arthurs, Preston Rickey, Tom Duffy in our team. And, you know, there was a couple of weeks there that none of them were playing.

[00:37:25] And yeah, so it can be a little bit tough with, um, injuries and, and those sort of guys coming back and forth, but no excuses. And yeah, we get, uh, we play this week. Should we play this week? We played the Makai Cutters this week. So it should be a, um, should be a good opportunity for us to try to hit back this week. Um, do you have much interaction with the Broncos coaches? No, no, no. So we, we're, we're an affiliate club, but, um, yeah, we don't have really much for there. Okay.

[00:37:53] But yeah, everything we hear out of the boys that come back is how good the systems are, how good the club is, how enjoyable a place it is to be around. So yeah, you know, everything from our perspective is how good everything's going at that Broncos. I mean, to be fair, we've, we watched them win a comm last year. You know, they're starting the season, but the last couple of weeks, how impressive has that been? Like with all the personnel they've had. Yeah. I think we're seeing what, what type of a football club they've turned into.

[00:38:20] And, um, yeah, very, very minor, but yeah, it's good to sort of, sort of being on the outside of that and seeing a little bit of, yeah, and the boys coming back and yeah, it's enjoyable. How much time approximately does coaching take over your life like week to week? I'm sicko snazzy. I go to bed thinking about it and I wake up thinking about it, but, um, no, we, we train Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays,

[00:38:49] and we will do about four hours on those nights. Okay. Maybe on Fridays, probably not as much because usually a captain's run, but yeah, it takes, probably not enough to be honest. I'd love to be doing more to be honest, but yeah, I love it. So maybe 12 hours, 16 hours a week, I'd say, excuse me. And insight on Ricky Letelli before we let you go. Oh, he's a Instagram star at the moment.

[00:39:15] I don't know whether anybody follows him on Instagram, but yeah, he's probably a little bit too good for us at the moment. He's, um, barely comes the trip, doesn't come to train. He might turn up to the game day, but you know, that's the life of a, of a, of a superstar content creator. Do you, uh, ever replicate the tackle, the tackle? Do you ever like sometimes try and run past him and go, Hey Ricky, tackle me like the tackle. What tackle are we? Oh, what tackle? Corobidi in the grand final.

[00:39:45] There's only one. Yeah, of course. I wouldn't. Well, I'm not a shark fan, but ultimately my mind flicked back to that last minute of the grand final. I remember Corobidi getting. That's the one. Was that slick mate? That was Ricky. You didn't know that he changed our lives, dude. Yeah. Oh, good job. What's all? He changed our lives. I saw him that night at the function. I got blessed to go to the function and I saw him and he was alone having some alone time. And of course I harassed him cause I vaguely knew him at the time.

[00:40:14] And I was like, dude, you just, you changed our lives in one tackle. And he was so like, you know, bashful and humble at that point. Cause he was a lot younger or whatever. And, but yeah, we love Ricky Letelli. And that's one moment out of a million. He stood up your boy, Sonny, Sonny Bill Williams at shark park one night. Like brilliantly, brilliantly. Like he's had some big moments. I do remember that. Yeah. I do remember that. Yeah. I do remember that. Yeah. He's probably one of the nicest people. Yeah.

[00:40:40] And to be fair, I mean, I don't, I'm, I never mean to be disrespectful. Like being at this club has been a big change for me, but I'm, I'm currently around Carmichael Hunt. Carmichael Hunt's the best coach I've ever worked with. Yeah. And I've been around some incredible people, but, and I've been able to learn a lot over the last couple of years, but what I'm learning at the moment, you know, is just unbelievable in regards to how you can manage people. And that's, that's, that's my evolution as a coach now. Yeah.

[00:41:09] Um, so yeah, I'm just appreciating being around people who, who really know the game, humble, respectful, um, and value you as a coach and as a person. So yeah, really enjoying it. We've got, we've got a great staff. Um, do you know the name Scott Tronk? Do you remember the Scott Tronk played in the early days? Of course. Yeah. He's, he's, he's, uh, he's on our coaching staff as well. So he's a former Queensland origin player. Yeah. We've got a young man by the name of Phil Dennis, who's not known to many fans out there, but

[00:41:38] he's actually the most cap, uh, Queensland cup player. All right. Um, so he's another guy that's on our coaching staff. It's just a wealth of knowledge and I'm just really privileged to be a part of it. And I'm learning a lot. Awesome, man. Well, friend to friend, very proud of you. And, uh, I'm stoked that you're doing like podcasts and that. That kind of thing. So, uh, go check out the West tigers, uh, podcast. So you're on usually once a week, right? As the coaches. Yeah. I'll go on Sunday night. Yeah.

[00:42:06] So if you want to hear more of Adele, that's a good time to hit them up. Uh, best of luck on Sunday. You sound pretty confident. So I'm not going to wish you too much more luck, but, uh, it should be a big game no matter what, like, you know, it's going to be, I'm going to be down there. It's going to be fun. So, um, we'll see what happens. Appreciate your time more than anything. And we'll talk to you another time. I'm sure. I'm sure. I know I'm going to get feedback about this and go get that guy back on. Cause he knows what he's talking about as opposed to myself and my, my goonie mates.

[00:42:35] So, uh, appreciate you, Adele. We'll talk to you soon. No, my pleasure, mate. Anytime. All right. And for all of our listeners and viewers, thanks for tuning in and there's more episodes coming. Don't freak out. We'll be back soon. Uh, Bob Cronulla. Good luck to Adele and the West Tigers. Shark Cast is supported by the best and most honest real estate agent in the Sutherland Shire, Jason Hawes from Crips and Crips Real Estate. He's an expert in the Karembar region and has his eye all across the Shire.

[00:43:02] 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 and Crips Real Estate. Call him on 0410 417 450. That's 0410 417 450. Jason Hawes, Crips and Crips Real Estate. Sharkies! Sharkies!

[00:43:41] In the Shire. Turn your porch lights off cause we're coming home with a trophy. Foggy!