The 2023 Twelve Wishes of SharkCast Christmas!

[00:00:00] We're in possession. We're Tom. We've got a good audience to start the poor hacking Yacht Club.

[00:00:04] Crumb of fans down there in the presence of the great Joe Docking, the former Sharks fullback.

[00:00:10] So I'll share that to you.

[00:00:14] The popular good luck inside the race, we're doing. It's a very live episode but let's go around the room. Clinton Maynard welcome my friend from 2GB and Macquarie networks. Are you still the Macquarie? No we're the

[00:01:40] nine entertainment company. I've already marked it up. Merry Christmas Sam. Merry

[00:01:44] Christmas to you. Gary Dover from Macquariell Sharks welcome. Hello thanks for than backwards facing and that it was based around, you know, the 12 days of Christmas, where there's all those different things that people wish for, partridge in a pear tree, etc, etc. and turn that into a sharks version of that, the 12 wishes that we could have as fans if we could get them. And it's turned into, I guess, a fun episode that we were fringe eight last year. We lost first week of finals to top four contender. He's clearly what we're missing. So I'm actually open to probably any of the forwards going except Cameron is. He'd be the one I definitely wanna keep.

[00:04:20] If we can give him Blake, fantastic.

[00:04:23] What?

[00:04:23] What exchange?

[00:04:25] Who's gonna hook the scrum? with Luke Meckoff, we didn't let him go. Josh, what do you think? I want him bad this year. I just don't think it's feasible at all at the moment. Just with the fact that we don't have anything that's anywhere near equivalent to what he provides, the Warriors, they're going to be going for a premiership this year, and anything we give them is going to be a downgrade.

[00:05:40] So I just don't think it's going to happen.

[00:05:42] So I'm trying not to get my hopes up and I'm just focusing on this year with what we've got

[00:05:45] and then look forward to them in 25.

[00:05:47] So really it's going to get him this year, do we have money under the cap? No, I know there is money under the cap because obviously Connor's gone to the bulldogs and Moiland's gone, but Connor, he might have been on 350 as well. Yeah, but the way money would have been already registered this year, but what's left, the Connor money, which may

[00:07:01] be 350, he's already pre-paid in a month, to play here, which is good. Do we think it's a chance? No But I mean you've seen us you've seen our secret the sharks are bad I reckon yes Surely someone in the sharks camp. He's 28 now. So when he gets here. He's gonna be almost 30

[00:08:25] So I think that'd be I'm sure they'd be thinking we've regards to the Warriors thinking they've got a premiership chance I don't think they've got any premiership chances she I reckon they have achieved last year and I Sean Johnson who we know was brilliant last year You look back at his career. He rarely has two brilliant seasons in a row look what he did with us

[00:09:44] So I think the chances of them being a contender this year a slim

[00:10:43] or beliefs by like 2% or whatever if it's a possibility. But I also might be argued,

[00:10:45] given his history, Adam Fluleblakes,

[00:10:47] maybe Fitz has actually altered his stance

[00:10:50] on some character issues anyway.

[00:10:52] I think so.

[00:10:54] For the good of the team.

[00:10:56] Well, we needed a big bopper, a bit of mungrel,

[00:10:58] and he's coming at some point signed the deal,

[00:11:01] so we'll see when that is.

[00:11:03] The apples are going to be, boys,

[00:11:04] watching him play for the Warriors next year,

[00:11:06] just thinking, oh please, no ACL.

[00:11:08] Yeah, that obvious statement there. And I think he's just after a bit more structure cam and a bit more maturity maybe in some of these guys. What do we think about it? I like it. I think it's needed. I think it's a good point. And I think yourself and Dave two episodes ago

[00:12:21] raised a pretty good point that kind of sat with me

[00:12:24] and I've thought about it a fair bit.

[00:12:25] And it's about Nico his first year where he's pretty much guaranteed the spot. I like it though, I think that, yeah, so many times last year we just saw them go for the Hail Mary or just, yeah, just not be patient. And I thought in the first year under Fitzgibbon

[00:13:40] and Hines it was less so, like it was a bit more

[00:13:43] how you wanted them to play,

[00:13:44] that they were forcing dropouts and that kind of thing.

[00:13:47] But yeah, this season just gone, And I just really want him to get there for us, for the team. I feel like I'm starting to get a little bit more lonely on Blake Island at the moment. It feels like a few people are rushing off this one and then I'm standing on this hill. A little bit more by myself these days, but no, I still see it.

[00:15:01] And there were times this season when he was ever since then, he's hardly played like that again. And I keep looking at the thing, is he under instruction from the coaching stuff, not to run the ball, not to show any flair? It's a strange one, isn't it? But look, we're now in what year, that was year five of Blake. With us, I think four or five, wouldn't it? 25 years old, like this, it's go time for him.

[00:16:21] Like it's now or never.

[00:16:23] And that's another reason we need to agitate

[00:16:26] for Fennel or Blake to get back into the side, 20 times a year. We're getting it three to four times a year maybe and that's the most frustrating part It would almost be better if you knew he was just a part-time like a Billy Walters Who was just there to rock the ball out make his tackles, but he's better than that Well, he's making the tackles and even he probably made player of the year based on stats and tackles effort you could have cambaginess there making those tackles if we really want to yeah, yeah

[00:17:41] Well, then what's people we know he's got more flair than cambag no matter where you were playing. The amount of times Blake would run out of dummy half, break open the game, kick 40-20s, all that sort of stuff. Where's it gone? Like he's got it but it's just not happening in any sense of a game. His service out of dummy half, Chris, perfect, love it, defensively, love it,

[00:19:04] but there's more to his game that's just not happening and I don't know where it session when I vividly remember the head coach talking to the hooker and says, who insane to him, whose job is it to bend the line right now? It's not theirs, it's yours. When you have that ball, you decide whether the line is going to bend right now or not. And you know, I'm sure that that was selective for that particular situation. It wouldn't be applicable to all rugby league scenarios,

[00:20:21] but there's kind of, you know, coming off of you when you just won Dalian. Like if he's calling for the ball, you're giving him the ball. Yeah. Maybe Blake needs to step back and say, no, I'm not giving you the ball because you're not the best option.

[00:21:41] It could be a Blake team.

[00:21:42] Yeah.

[00:21:43] Or maybe Niko, like, I'm on the island. I'm with you too, okay. Okay, next up, one, two, three, fourth wish. I really like this one. It comes initially from Cameron and he's getting hungry out in the swamp. He wants to book a donut van for the home game to Chuck Park.

[00:23:05] And then we've season ticket holders on members. Oh, members. Well, you can't, what if you're on the hill? It's like, where am I going to find me? I can't be my microwave cup. That's not really a microwave membership cup in there. I've got to have something to show for.

[00:24:20] Don't you work in the stands, surely?

[00:24:22] In the A.T. stand.

[00:24:23] Okay, sure.

[00:24:24] How am I going to find you on the hill?

[00:24:26] Yeah, I'm wearing a shark's hoodie.

[00:24:28] Yeah, sure. And I felt like the stupidest person alive Because just across there is the live action. He's me on KO and it's they were doing the best they can I'm with you. Let's get that happening Gary who we talked to the sharks to make this technology happening not me So Cameron also said the you want to donut man. Is there no donut man?

[00:25:40] Not that I've seen but I would advocate definitely

[00:25:44] There was a little more variety probably our five years ago with a few food trucks I said, Gary, what did you last night? Oh, which side fell? You know, like, cool, man. Like, maybe I'm not living the right life, but I want to make it fun. Because I've had some fun times there. Do you think a lot of that will be resolved when the Lees Club is open though? Yeah. Yeah, but I'm not saying even that's the complete answer. I'm talking about like game day experience as well.

[00:27:00] Right.

[00:27:00] But yes, that will help a lot.

[00:27:04] But you know, we've got to fill the next three years.

[00:27:07] We can't just bank everything on waiting He's the club he's aware of the speaker pro Martai. Oh, they're like They're the executives know about it. Well, we welcome ever again at shock park, but on the same Same notion. This is the next wish so we have to wish music TK He's a negative Nancy. So we're just gonna throw this one out because he requested it

[00:28:22] But we're not gonna well jut in my jumping but he wants to bulldoze shark park. I'm against, you know, we've apparently got a board with great business acumen. I'm hoping they're now looking beyond government funding to upgrade the stadium in some way. The stadium, let's be honest, it's now a disgrace. And I love shark, but the reason I follow Cornola is because they're based in the shire. And I've been going to, like all of us, since I was a little boy at a shark park.

[00:29:43] You move Cornola out of that stadium.

[00:29:46] To me, they're almost not Cornola anymore. Yes. And nowhere near up to standard. And even when the Leagues Club opens and it should allow, what, a few more thousand. I can't see given there's no parking given the restrictions now in that area. I can't see how it's going to improve greatly. Let alone your toilet facilities and the food and beverage and the corporate facilities and so forth.

[00:31:00] I just pray the board, and we've missed that, but to do that and to rebuild it from scratch. Because even if you could do that, there's still an architectural problem that has nothing to do with money and everything to do with the fact that it's a swamp. And that there's only one entry way, and it's from a road, unless you're planning on kayaking in from through some main groves.

[00:32:21] Like it's just not doable there.

[00:32:22] So that's a problem as well.

[00:32:23] So I am as clean as I'm the same as you. the current setup is going to be viable for another few more years. What worries me, there was a big story a couple of weeks ago, State Government and the Australian Turf Club announced that they've done a deal to sell off Rose Hill racecourse. So the second biggest racecourse in Sydney behind Randwick, they're going to sell it, the plan is if it all goes ahead, $5 billion, it'll become a mini suburb apartment's housing.

[00:33:42] The current State Government is desperate to find new areas

[00:33:46] for housing development. the sharks yesterday and he was filling me in on what they're doing there with the new club and the areas all around there and there is a lot of hope there like recent new developments and hope that they will be having a much better experience obviously since the last five years but sort of

[00:35:01] getting back to what they had with the whole Peter Bernstein and even more around there. And that is the more lighthearted, but serious suggestion that we want the retro jersey to become our permanent ANZAC jersey. Okay, so hear me out on this one, because I know that this gets in the way with financials and that you always kind of, if you can make an extra buck, you always have to investigate how you can do that. And, you know, jersey after jersey after jersey is an easy way to do that.

[00:36:22] But, remember the retro jersey that we brought back last year, which is the old Pepsi jersey?

[00:36:27] Here's my suggestion, that one. We shouldn't let that one go. It's a good idea from both sides, from the ANZAC point of view and also, yes, the jersey. Clinton, what are you? You're froffin', you're not happy. I'm actually on your side. If I was the RSL, I would be insisting the NRL actually does not have ANZAC jerseys.

[00:37:41] I think it's crass And it's been really well done and it's become an event. Yeah. But I think when it gets to the every club then having a jersey, which they then flogged the public, it's not set well with me for a long time. I understand. Yeah. I was just going to say with then, do you worry that if you're the only club that doesn't do it,

[00:39:02] does that look bad on you as well?

[00:39:04] I think it's going to come from the NRL and the RSL

[00:39:05] if it returns service as well.

[00:39:07] Yeah.

[00:39:07] Yeah, if you're the only a captain. Yeah, I think it's time that Kim takes over that position. We've had many times, and we all said it all year. The guy's a workhorse, he's a leader, he's an animal, he's a psycho, and that's why we love him. And I think he should be on the field as much as possible.

[00:40:21] I know we've discussed many times

[00:40:23] that potentially 80 minutes, or as many as he can.

[00:41:24] said to Nico, if we take away the captaincy from you officially,

[00:41:27] you're still on field leader, you're making a lot of the calls.

[00:41:30] Do you think he'd be like, that's a relief? Because I get the feeling he would say, I don't care, it's fine.

[00:41:33] But Josh and I are the same pin and they're like, the more you take

[00:41:36] away from him, the better he's probably not officially captain.

[00:41:39] No, is he?

[00:41:40] No, he has been.

[00:41:42] Yeah, but that's just been a day out of the space.

[00:41:44] Well, where is the captain though, isn't he?

[00:41:47] Well, it was Wade and leadership group, he's doing all that sort of stuff, but he doesn't need to be the captain. Jaws, what do you reckon? Yeah, I agree that the merits of Camaz, Captain O, are strong in that I'd probably pick him before I pick Dale with all due respect to Dale, for the reasons that you mentioned before Sam,

[00:43:00] which are totally valid.

[00:43:01] I just worry a little bit that, I mean,

[00:43:04] how many times does Nico have to be passed up

[00:43:07] in some regards by people who have coached him? he tells me that Dale will be wearing the 13. He does change eventually. He made some changes in the team. He made some big ones. He recruited Dale for a reason, not to be on the bench. Now I think Dale should be on the bench. I've virtually, and I've had no inside information. I guarantee Dale will be 13 in round one. Guarantee it.

[00:44:20] He's not gonna name Cam as captain from the bench.

[00:44:23] Can we just say right now we're almost halfway

[00:44:25] through the episode, a bit over But look at the way the club works. Cam was easily one of the best players in the team, but Blake was player of the year. Is there any possibility that Dale is playing in the front row? I think there's a... Next year? Especially if he's in the blanks, not coming. Okay. Well, it's like Toby's toe and all that sort of stuff.

[00:45:40] Like he's still in rehab.

[00:45:41] He's still doing stuff outside of the main group.

[00:45:44] Like who's out starting front row is round one.

[00:45:46] And if he's not there what we're saying? Well, I guess I was leading that way. Maybe Josh was because we think Dale might not be a starter. Although according to Clinton, he's a starter locked in. I also think with just with on field dealing with refs, I think Cam's going to be a lot better with that. First of all, he's going to be in the middle. So he's going to be in the ear at the whole all time.

[00:47:01] Whereas Nico's on the edge. He's got to come in. Even the way we play? Even the way we play. Because Tricky, for all intents and purposes, was playing seven when he came into the side. I would challenge anyone to say he wasn't. Nico definitely took a backseat more and toured that final game in the second half.

[00:48:23] And that's when he took over.

[00:48:24] And that's why I think Tr just need to give him this crack. This is what he deserves this chance. And I'm really looking forward to, I think he's gonna have a great year. Yeah, I do too. Clinsing the only thoughts on the switching and... Look, I don't think there's a big difference these days

[00:49:40] between seven and six.

[00:49:42] And I think in most respects,

[00:49:45] the seven is the leader of the team.

[00:49:47] And I think that's where we played our best footy at the side of you with Moiser and Nico just switching sides, flowing out the back, you know, wheels chiming in outside of those guys, and that's when we really got our attacking shapes on and hit our straps. And I feel like Nico, when he steps up to that seven jersey, just there's too much going through his head that he needs to perform and he needs to do the job,

[00:51:01] that he doesn't play his natural game almost.

[00:51:03] But is he capable when he's your million dollar player?

[00:51:06] Yeah.

[00:51:07] All the tensions on him.

[00:51:08] Yeah. situation, how you handle it. I think one of the things that Nico benefited from playing outside of Moizo is that for all of his struggles defensively, Moizo always kept the offense that someone else's line honest. Like he had enough experience about him that you couldn't switch off if Moizo was coming at you. With Tricky, I think there's still a little bit

[00:52:21] of work to go. I think he hasn't to tricky season. All right, next up on the Wishes. It's another tasty one, one that had a lot of attention over summer. So TK wants Cal Hero in the centers.

[00:53:41] Josh doesn't mind who it is, but he wants them

[00:53:44] to make their own it defensively, offensively. The thing that kind of keeps Siffer in the conversation is the attack and how good his combination with that edge is. He's got great hands for a big fella. Scored plenty of tries set up a thousand. I. And even the defensive flaws in Siffa, well, you know, both Dix and Euro are a bit of an unknown there. They could be weak defensively as rookies. But what appeals to me about having Siffa play off the bench, and we know we've got

[00:56:21] a bit of a lack of depth in the back row, I think he gives us something different in

[00:56:25] the year. And if it's him or Dikes, whatever it is in the game that bad, you can always fall back on telekine. But I'm with you. I like him off the bench as a middle. And then you can even use him as an edge if there's an injury or whatever. What do you reckon, Gary?

[00:57:41] Well, let's rewind it back to the top of the show.

[00:57:43] We're all calling for Adam Fennell Blake to get here early.

[00:57:46] To bring a bit of mongrel to to manufacture dikes into a center and overlook Eero. Eero must be doing something really wrong in pre-season if they put dikes in the centers. I know that he's probably, and again, Ricky, I made good points about that they're not going to throw him in the deep end as a half. No, they're the upper end of the team.

[00:59:01] That's a great point.

[00:59:02] But dikes must be an absolute superstar in the making

[00:59:06] if he's never because that connection is not there.

[01:00:21] So for me, whether or not Sivit plays in just one defender often. And if you're playing outside of him in that, that's fantastic.

[01:01:41] Iro, you know, I might be able to square up with him one on one a little bit more often

[01:01:45] as a defensive line. See what happens. Kale's having a great pre-season. That's good. Jesse's having a great pre-season too. Jesse saves his houses. I know. I love Jesse. And his cage running now, right? Yes, he's back. OK. The next wish is topic or speaking of Kate. Gary would like to see him return to the top grade after playing what two games is it?

[01:03:02] Two games.

[01:03:03] Two pretty good games.

[01:03:04] The shocking injury, he's back.

[01:03:06] Had a bit of the utility? I don't see it. Like for me, I'd have him at five a.t. That's where I think he's best suited. That's where I think. Drop your microphone. That's where I think he'd be the best for us. But as we pointed out a couple of times on the show already, you can't really just throw him straight in there

[01:04:20] off the back of a big injury like that

[01:04:22] and two games into your career.

[01:04:23] What do you reckon, Glensen?

[01:04:25] I agree with Gary.

[01:04:26] It would, I think he's I get depends what happens in the offseason. I think it's gonna be really harsh To put dikes ahead of euro in the centers But the fact that he was in the perk coaches box all year is damn significant I think he's got to earn it. I don't think he's ahead of anyone in any position Like we've all said long-term injury

[01:05:41] Two games he's got really good players ahead of him as well. role model based on his experiences and him as a person from what we know. He's a good egg, a lot of potential. How much? TBC. Happy's in the... I'm happy he's in the mix though. It's exciting to have someone in the mix but I think it's your point Gary just a bit

[01:07:01] of fresh air. I've got no problem with him being a utility player this year.

[01:07:04] Yeah. Now when we say utility are we saying just slot in? No yeah. or a full back, let's find out. And let's not be afraid to kind of throw it around there while the rest of the team looks set. Because this might be an unpopular opinion, but I thought it was quite green. Oh, I know I love you. Yeah, on those couple of, I'm not saying you had a bad game, I'm saying that he... He had a lot of his dad in email, so... Well, he had a little bit of a lucky Miller moment

[01:08:20] who looked amazing when he was playing for us

[01:08:23] those odd games here or there,

[01:08:24] but as a full-time full-back in Newcastle,

[01:08:27] a little bit different. like the Gal and ET mural that just got knocked down in Crannala to be painted on the front of the stadium permanently having a home in Crannala. It's such an iconic moment in our history, an iconic art piece in our community at the grassroots level and it needs to be brought back to its home at Point's Betsadium, Shark Park.

[01:09:41] When you say iconic moment, you mean best moment?

[01:09:44] Best moment, absolutely. There should be a statue. It's got to be a statue. And we're not even being lighthearted. There's got to be a statue. I don't think we've, I mean, it's probably difficult because we've gone through COVID and we were the choreographer to use. Good doesn't know what, why were we even at choreographer to use? I'll draw that. But we've gone through all that. We don't pay tribute enough to what happened in 2016, at the ground.

[01:11:00] Yeah.

[01:11:01] Like, for God's sake, it took us 49 years.

[01:11:04] Yeah, I'm with you completely.

[01:11:06] It's the greatest moment in all of our lives.

[01:11:08] I'm with you. We'll get Dale, Dale can pose in real life. Dale, could you just move closer? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha I mean, let's go to Penrith and win. The biggest game we had last year was probably the South's win in Perth.

[01:13:40] It was a big occasion against a team that was supposed to be

[01:13:46] good, they weren't that are close to the players may know more than this. I don't know about the whole hoo-doo thing. I don't know if that's real or what, but... It's not a hoo-doo, it's just a fact. But they've thrown to the way the last two years, and they've had a team that probably certainly in year one of Fitz's reign was good enough for the pre-lim. Yeah.

[01:15:00] And how'd it change to make an a pre-lim last year as well?

[01:15:02] Well, it should have been the Cowboys the first year with him and should have been the

[01:15:05] Roosers last year.

[01:15:06] This isn't just going like absolutely no doubt in my mind. there admirably, even though with a bit of a pumping, but like we were very admirable and that was a bit of a season turner as well. I think the team can do it, but I think we'll see something more that when Addens there next the year after, somewhere that just a game breaking dynamic forward that every good team has, that when we have that, we've got

[01:16:21] the back line for it. We've got the back line window there. But with this particular group, I think Jard's got to make the point earlier, other than Blake, and probably, I think, Niko's a heart back, most of them have sort of, they're reaching the upper end of their abilities anyway. They're sort of peeking now. So we think with this group, the window

[01:17:41] may be getting close.

[01:17:44] Yeah, I think some of them have already peaked.

[01:17:46] I'm not going to mention names, but I think some of them

[01:17:47] have already played their best football. I'm not playing week one. I really would be. Now where you are, I don't know. But I'd be shocked if we're not in the time. I won't be. Really? I know I'm the negative Nancy. You are. You've got his three teams that didn't make the finals last year, Manly, Parramatta, Souths. How do they not make the finals this year? I think Brooks is gonna be a great buy for them.

[01:19:02] Tommy Turbo, surely he can't be out injured another year.

[01:19:05] If he's not injured there at Contender, make the eight, I just don't think we're a lock to make the eight. Because there's no change in our team this year, other than a bit more experience with Niko and Trenton and the song. You did call it the year before the start of the season. You were like, we've got the same team. Yeah, so how are we going to go better? Because our half back will play more games, our full back will play more games, right away.

[01:20:21] Yeah, near six, I think it's probably the biggest.

[01:20:22] Surely if Niko and Will play like a double what they did or...

[01:20:26] Niko only missed four games at the start of the year, and then he gets injured and he misses four or five games. You don't think we're going to make the eight? No, I think we'll make the eight but I don't think we're a lock. I think we'll be battling for the bottom two positions. We're going to be bottom two in the eight. Oh yeah. Seven low. Correct. Well, we're between this year. We've finished six didn't we? We didn't play that good this year. No, so how are we going to play better?

[01:21:43] We've got the same team, bar one player, Trindle. For the...

[01:21:44] My point would be if we have the same team that just plays five percent better.

[01:22:47] Like like do you think he could potentially play the sheave there was an injury or we're talking the year after yeah, why not?

[01:22:53] I'm not sure how odd it is, but yeah like he's a solid dude. Yeah. Yeah, okay All ticks all the boxes like you talk about teams that have played in Grand final or one premiership without solid hookers like well

[01:22:59] Who was pen risk hook and last year Nick Mitch Kenny? Yeah, but again, that's it puts it's putting so much pressure on Nick

[01:23:05] Yeah, though, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely

[01:24:07] We'd be high up on a ladder of teams that had the most well-rounded squad. The only team I'd rule out from making the finals at this early point would be the Dragons.

[01:24:11] That's the only team.

[01:24:12] The only team I'd rule out.

[01:24:14] You're out of control.

[01:24:15] I would not be surprised the Bulldogs threatened.

[01:24:17] Can we get this man thrown out of there?

[01:24:19] How many? You're not even on the booze.

[01:24:22] You've got to early start.

[01:24:24] There's two things for me that we need next year as a team that we used over the top eight. I've even got my eyes on the top four my friend. We do have to wind this up more for technical reasons than any other but I do want to thank each of you gentlemen for being here. Some of you made a longer trek than necessary. That was you Jardim.

[01:25:40] Thank you.

[01:25:41] But thanks guys and thanks to TK, thanks to Cam and thanks to everyone else who's been

[01:25:45] on the show this year and this will probably be made me open a present jads could you please pass that over Sam I'll just get my bag of presents guys no no no this is for you now it's nothing crazy just I'd like you to open it I've been holding

[01:27:01] on to this one for a while and I was like there's someone yes there's someone

[01:27:05] who would appreciate this I know you're not a big to wear it sometime has it been washed? No, I didn't watch it. Surely they would have. Surely they would have washed it. I miss him so much. But that's for you. I miss him so much. Don't want to be a downer at the end of the show. But what can we do an emergency pod? Give the Cowboys, release him for off field issues or whatever. We'll send him out.