Victory Monday: Catching Up For Coffee With Kieran About Cronulla

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[00:02:24] Oh, hello there. Welcome to SharkCastPod, a podcast dedicated to the greatest sporting club in the history of the world proven on Saturday night.

[00:02:30] The Cronulla Southland Sharks. This is SharkCastPod. My name is Sam Shinazian, OG from 2015.

[00:02:36] Supporting the team for a lot longer than that as I fix my camera up and this is

[00:02:42] catching up with Kieran over coffee about Cronulla bright and early Monday morning and

[00:02:49] no place I would rather be with the exception of maybe Minneapolis, Minnesota or something or Cronulla Beach.

[00:02:56] Then talking to my friend

[00:02:58] Kieran Fraser who's here in his Super League jersey. He's a man that never forgets and

[00:03:04] we're just going to jump straight into it.

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[00:03:11] and Jason Hawes at Crips and Crips Real Estate. I should have fixed this camera up earlier.

[00:03:15] Kieran, good morning.

[00:03:17] What a great morning it is. It's brisk. It's clear and

[00:03:21] we are kind of top of the table. How are you?

[00:03:24] I'm fantastic.

[00:03:26] That was a stressful weekend for me. I was not expecting the result that we got.

[00:03:32] I thought it was going to be a little bit tight.

[00:03:33] I thought it was going to be a harder game than what they actually did.

[00:03:38] But they really they withheld through that storm and came out to the side and now they're back to top of the ladder.

[00:03:43] They went four from six in that block of games and I don't think we could ask for much more.

[00:03:47] Except for maybe those losses weren't so bad, but hey, I don't even remember them now after that win.

[00:03:51] That's not true. It was a great win.

[00:03:53] I myself was quite apprehensive about the game just the fact that

[00:03:58] you know post origin games you never know what's going to happen, who's going to back up, who doesn't back up.

[00:04:02] We knew Nico wasn't going to. That was fine. Kam McKean did and he played a really important part.

[00:04:07] And I think importantly some of their guys were pretty bruised and battered and that helped us.

[00:04:12] It doesn't mean that's why we won, but I thought we were the better team.

[00:04:15] But that helped us. So the whole origin thing that I've been batting on about for months and years

[00:04:21] kind of went our way for once and

[00:04:24] we were able to get that advantage without some of their forwards there. Let's face it like I mean guys like

[00:04:29] Carrigan, Payne Haas, like they're superstars of the game.

[00:04:32] The fact that they had limited minutes was positive for us,

[00:04:35] but taking nothing away from that team effort from the Sharks 1-17 absolutely phenomenal

[00:04:40] which we're going to get into and we'll talk about some other fun stuff along the way.

[00:04:44] But the Sharks won 22 points to 12. All the stats are pretty good.

[00:04:49] I love the fact that we've got 26 missed tackles. We can bring that down, but that's a big improvement on things.

[00:04:55] Kieran, we didn't concede a point in the second half. Let me throw this one at you.

[00:04:59] We have not conceded points.

[00:05:02] We've kept teams to nil in five halves of second halves of football this year, the most of any team.

[00:05:08] So we come home strong. We know how to defend our line on the day and

[00:05:12] I thought that was super impressive because you think about that game on Saturday night and it was tight.

[00:05:18] They had one good try to start with. The second try was a deflection.

[00:05:22] They didn't score again. So as nervous as we all were and as tight as it kind of was, which it was, it was a great game,

[00:05:29] I thought that watching it back, it wasn't that close.

[00:05:33] We were going to win that game and as I said going into it wasn't overly confident.

[00:05:38] Yeah, I was the same. You know, I always say that I'm a keep it realest Sharks fan.

[00:05:42] So, you know, I kind of don't get too high and I don't get too low with some of the results.

[00:05:48] And when I looked at this block of games, the Broncos game really worried me. Again,

[00:05:52] we don't seem to win at Suncorp, but now we've got two wins this year up at Suncorp.

[00:05:56] So again, that's another who do broken. We won in Canberra this year. We won in Melbourne this year.

[00:06:00] We've now won in Brisbane twice this year. These aren't Sharks like statistics that we normally see.

[00:06:06] I saw a stat that said we're six and one versus top eight teams this year, right?

[00:06:10] So again, that's all we've played every team in the top eight. We're the other team in the top eight, right?

[00:06:15] We're six and one in those games.

[00:06:17] So whilst they didn't have that great performance with some of the defensive stuff against Penrith,

[00:06:21] I thought against the Broncos, they really were able to put it back together.

[00:06:24] And again, look what that team from those games like versus the Roosters and versus the Storm where they just kind of knuckled down

[00:06:30] and played really directed that power game.

[00:06:31] And we spoke at half time actually and the Sharks were down and we both were sort of saying well after a bit of a

[00:06:37] flat start where we were kind of thinking maybe that they need the buy.

[00:06:41] As soon as those forwards started coming off the bench, that just changed the whole momentum of the game.

[00:06:46] You know, Talakai, Hunt and we'll get into it later.

[00:06:48] But those guys were unreal for us off the bench.

[00:06:50] And when you look at that Broncos bench, they didn't get anything from it.

[00:06:53] And by the time that Carrigan and Hats came back on the field, the game was pretty much iced.

[00:06:58] So I'm dying to watch a replay.

[00:07:00] I haven't seen a replay of it yet, but I think it'd be really good to watch it in a stress-free environment.

[00:07:05] Yeah, it is. It's really worth watching.

[00:07:07] It's a good performance by this team.

[00:07:10] Our colleague Josh Boling called it a famous victory and I kind of went to him,

[00:07:15] it's not famous for me but it's really, really good.

[00:07:17] But in hindsight, I know where he's coming from.

[00:07:20] It was backs against the wall.

[00:07:22] No one had us winning this game.

[00:07:25] No Nico.

[00:07:27] All the things you talked about and we got it done and we got it done definitely not easily.

[00:07:31] But a 10-point win at Suncorp is pretty good.

[00:07:33] I want to start with the Harves.

[00:07:35] And on the post-game review episode, I probably undersold Trindle a little bit having not watched the replay.

[00:07:44] And in some of our messaging, I probably undersold him but he had a really strong game.

[00:07:49] There were a few errors in there like there was for a bunch of players.

[00:07:52] But Trindle was a lot better in hindsight for me watching it back, studying it than what I thought.

[00:07:58] I thought on the night, he was like a 7.5.

[00:08:00] He was closer to an 8, possibly an 8.5.

[00:08:04] No more but probably no less.

[00:08:06] And he really impressed me and I thought Dan Atkinson played a great role as well.

[00:08:11] Some of his kicks were really great and he's running.

[00:08:13] The one thing about Dan that I'm noticing is he's not a great passer of the ball

[00:08:17] or if he is, he's not doing it much.

[00:08:20] So I think we need to look into that a little bit more.

[00:08:22] But they're really throwing down the gauntlet to each other

[00:08:25] about who's going to take the spot against Nico.

[00:08:28] They both have really good cases.

[00:08:29] I think Trindle is ahead given his history and given his experience.

[00:08:33] But Dan Atkinson, he's not letting anyone down.

[00:08:36] He's been unreal for us.

[00:08:37] And if you look at if something happens to one of those two guys,

[00:08:40] where do we then go after that from a depth chart?

[00:08:43] I don't want to.

[00:08:43] That's it, right?

[00:08:44] And so there were some real question marks around the depth that we had in

[00:08:49] the 6 and 7 spots because we assumed Nico was going to play every week.

[00:08:52] And you're going to assume that Trindle is going to be playing well enough to

[00:08:55] keep his jersey.

[00:08:56] From a salary cap standpoint, it makes sense not to over invest in those positions.

[00:09:01] But a guy like Atkinson has been absolutely unreal for us.

[00:09:03] And he's slotted in so well.

[00:09:05] He's doing his job.

[00:09:06] He defends well.

[00:09:07] I wouldn't mind seeing him maybe take some goal kicks because again,

[00:09:11] I'm just having flashbacks to the Melbourne games where his goal kicking was unreal.

[00:09:15] Just on that, let's just get to that now.

[00:09:17] The only reason I think that Trindle kicked was because of experience.

[00:09:23] Like I think he just gets that gig, but having watched what I saw on the weekend,

[00:09:28] first attempt I can cop, it was his first kick.

[00:09:32] He sliced it.

[00:09:32] It wasn't the easiest of kicks, but it went nowhere near it.

[00:09:35] The penalty goal you and I probably could have got, probably.

[00:09:39] And he should have got it.

[00:09:41] Trindle should have got it.

[00:09:42] I don't want to be one of those guys that goes,

[00:09:43] well, I could have got that.

[00:09:44] I probably couldn't have.

[00:09:45] But Trindle should have got it.

[00:09:48] And he knows that.

[00:09:49] And we've seen him miss some from close to in front.

[00:09:52] So it is a concern, I think if that's going to be the situation,

[00:09:57] we've seen Atkinson kick really well.

[00:09:58] But I think the right call was giving it to Trindle.

[00:10:02] So I think there's no blame there on anyone, including Trindle.

[00:10:06] He just has to be better.

[00:10:07] To that point, I think Nico is going to be doing the goal kicking

[00:10:11] majority of the time, right?

[00:10:12] So we are talking about our second and third string options, right?

[00:10:15] So it's just something that I think I've saw because again,

[00:10:18] when Atkinson kicked, he looked absolutely phenomenal.

[00:10:20] But again, he could just shank them the next game.

[00:10:22] And we would be all saying, well, I didn't Trindle kick, right?

[00:10:24] Yes.

[00:10:24] So yeah, that's why you do go with the experience because again,

[00:10:28] it's a pressure cooker and you're doing it in Suncorp state

[00:10:31] in front of 30,000 people, something like that.

[00:10:33] It's very different to doing it on the road down in Melbourne,

[00:10:35] which is still pretty daunting, but a little bit different.

[00:10:38] But Trindle looked like he was back again.

[00:10:42] He had such a long layoff between those games.

[00:10:44] And he came back last week.

[00:10:46] We kind of needed him to do everything.

[00:10:48] I think now he kind of looked a little bit more comfortable

[00:10:50] against the Broncos and felt like he was back a little bit.

[00:10:53] So it'll be interesting to see the team this week

[00:10:55] because I'm assuming Nico comes back.

[00:10:57] I'm assuming his calf is all good and he's right to play.

[00:11:00] So I think we're going to get our first

[00:11:01] little bit of visibility in what we actually do there.

[00:11:03] I'm assuming Atkinson will probably go to 18th man.

[00:11:07] Just because again, if there is a HIA,

[00:11:09] he can literally fill in anywhere in the back line.

[00:11:11] He can even clean in the back row like we've done in the past too.

[00:11:13] So it'll be interesting team this Tuesday tomorrow.

[00:11:16] Yeah. And I don't want to jump around too much.

[00:11:19] I'd like to keep to our little plan and storylines, but on that,

[00:11:24] you cannot have a utility on our bench.

[00:11:27] Like that bench saved our butts.

[00:11:29] And I was thinking about that.

[00:11:30] I was like, well, Dan Atkinson or Trindle, whoever it is,

[00:11:34] they can't really slide to 14 anymore.

[00:11:37] At least in this current climate, if things change,

[00:11:39] there's injuries, whatever, there's that option.

[00:11:42] But man, that four man bench is for a big bop as he's working so well.

[00:11:48] He's not going to tinker with that.

[00:11:49] We know that there are players out there

[00:11:51] that can be versatile as well.

[00:11:52] So we've seen it.

[00:11:54] So that's not going to happen.

[00:11:55] One of them will miss out this week.

[00:11:57] And when you look at that full bench, right?

[00:11:59] That is just these super huge humans

[00:12:01] and they're just rolling through the middle of teams.

[00:12:04] Right? So when it's on, it's really on.

[00:12:06] And Luke Keery was talking about it on Fox Sports.

[00:12:08] He said, we played the Sharks earlier this year.

[00:12:10] And he said it was like playing a completely different team

[00:12:12] because he said last year when they played the Sharks,

[00:12:15] there was a lot of side to side stuff.

[00:12:16] But he was talking about how the Sharks

[00:12:17] have stripped all their footy back.

[00:12:19] And now they're just going straight through the middle

[00:12:20] and they just keep putting on these big enormous humans.

[00:12:23] And it's really hard to hold on against it.

[00:12:25] Right? So if we can hold the ball and kick well,

[00:12:28] then those forward guys, they're going to do a job.

[00:12:31] And Jack Williams took Royce Hunt off the bench

[00:12:34] was unbelievable.

[00:12:35] Talakai was starting this week.

[00:12:37] But the impact that we're getting from the bench is,

[00:12:40] you know, I think it's the best bench in the world.

[00:12:42] One of the things that caught my attention,

[00:12:44] Kieran, was the fact that this week's try

[00:12:46] is they weren't that flashy.

[00:12:47] They were just powerhouse or from kicks

[00:12:50] or just from pressure.

[00:12:52] And I don't mind that.

[00:12:53] Obviously, we don't care how we score.

[00:12:55] We just got to score.

[00:12:55] But this week, maybe with the missing Hines

[00:13:00] addition to the game,

[00:13:02] that had something to do with it.

[00:13:03] But just really solid game of football wasn't too flashy.

[00:13:08] There were some exciting moments,

[00:13:09] but just your boy Katoa just with a great run and a step.

[00:13:13] But it was power.

[00:13:14] Like the step was skillful,

[00:13:15] but then he dragged a few guys over.

[00:13:16] And just those sort of tries.

[00:13:19] The Blake Brady one was off a kick,

[00:13:21] which the fellow spilt and they were just great quick

[00:13:24] kick pressure and then passed to him.

[00:13:26] What else did we have?

[00:13:28] We had the trindle try,

[00:13:29] which again was short range, beautiful,

[00:13:31] just dummy and go, show and go.

[00:13:33] So that was a bit different this week, which is great.

[00:13:36] Win however you got to win.

[00:13:38] Let's get into the players.

[00:13:39] We'll start with the forwards.

[00:13:41] We saw the great move of bringing in Toby Rudolph

[00:13:45] to start the game and told Tom Hasen went back to the bench.

[00:13:49] Toby ripped it up.

[00:13:51] The stats aren't phenomenal,

[00:13:52] but he just did a job and everyone saw it.

[00:13:54] He was strong.

[00:13:55] He was bending the line and just confident in his brutality.

[00:14:00] Played for 30 minutes.

[00:14:03] Loved it.

[00:14:04] Kofusi, similar storyline, a longer stint of 43 minutes.

[00:14:08] Britt will get to.

[00:14:11] Tlaquai was immense full game over 100 meters.

[00:14:15] Ken McInnis after Origin,

[00:14:18] even though he didn't play all of Origin,

[00:14:19] he certainly felt the impact.

[00:14:21] He played for 55 minutes, ran for 120 meters, 30 tackles.

[00:14:27] Tall Tom off the bench played 40 minutes, ran for 80 meters.

[00:14:31] Jack Williams played for 43 minutes off the bench, 130 meters.

[00:14:37] Big Tsuku played for nine minutes,

[00:14:39] but definitely felt the impact out there

[00:14:41] with three massive runs and four tackles.

[00:14:44] And that's just a work in progress.

[00:14:46] But the man of the hour,

[00:14:49] I won't say man of the match necessarily,

[00:14:51] they probably could be, right?

[00:14:52] Maybe he is.

[00:14:53] 22 minutes stint, six runs, 77 meters,

[00:14:57] six tackle buffs, 10 tackles.

[00:15:00] Changed the game in the second half.

[00:15:02] First moments of the game,

[00:15:04] they get the ball from a kickoff.

[00:15:05] Fletcher Baker gets it.

[00:15:06] He makes one meter of his run thanks to Royce Hunt.

[00:15:09] And I watched the replay and I watched Royce

[00:15:12] if you watch him in the replay, he's a man possessed,

[00:15:14] but he never looks out of control

[00:15:16] or like he's going to rip the guy's head off.

[00:15:18] He just had a job and that was the job

[00:15:20] to just get this guy and they start their set one meter out.

[00:15:25] He had some great moments in that game.

[00:15:28] Really happy for him.

[00:15:29] It does come at the same time as when there's news

[00:15:32] that even though the club hasn't announced it,

[00:15:34] it's alleged that he has been told

[00:15:36] he can be shopped around for one of his contract.

[00:15:39] He's done not for now, but in coming years.

[00:15:42] I'm going to chase that one this week.

[00:15:44] I don't know how much of that I believe.

[00:15:46] Like I'm sure there's where there's smoke, there's fire.

[00:15:48] But I don't think it's a matter of we don't want you.

[00:15:51] I think it's more see what you can get.

[00:15:53] We'll see what we got.

[00:15:55] But if he keeps playing like that

[00:15:57] and to be fair, he hasn't historically

[00:16:00] and we love him on this show.

[00:16:02] We love Royce Hunt as a person.

[00:16:04] But if he plays like that week in, week out,

[00:16:07] he won't be going anywhere and he'll be getting a payday

[00:16:10] and he'll be probably starting games with Fenua Blake

[00:16:14] if he is at that level every week.

[00:16:17] Having said that he hasn't been like that every week,

[00:16:19] he's been really good for the past month or so,

[00:16:21] however long he's been back.

[00:16:23] And we've said that on the show.

[00:16:24] He's been really strong coming off the bench.

[00:16:26] So stoked for him and we'll see what happens

[00:16:30] with the club stuff.

[00:16:31] It's down the track.

[00:16:32] I'd love him to stay.

[00:16:34] I think he just had a hell of a game.

[00:16:35] I don't think he was necessarily,

[00:16:37] maybe he had a point to prove.

[00:16:38] I'm sure he's that sort of fella.

[00:16:39] But I don't think it was like connected

[00:16:42] with the fact that that stuff was out there in the press.

[00:16:45] What did you make of his performance?

[00:16:46] I thought he was interviewed after the game

[00:16:49] and he said my role was to come on and cause havoc.

[00:16:52] And he caused havoc.

[00:16:54] He is one of the biggest humans that we kind of just

[00:16:58] don't even think about because there is guys

[00:16:59] like Hanzleton and Took now,

[00:17:01] but Royce Hunt is a man mountain

[00:17:03] if you ever see him in person.

[00:17:04] He's just ridiculous.

[00:17:06] And he's finally found that level of aggression

[00:17:08] that I think we all want from him.

[00:17:10] And I think the limited role really suits him

[00:17:12] because again, he doesn't have to play the 30, 40 minutes.

[00:17:15] He can come on for 20, just cause chaos and smash folks.

[00:17:18] And he's absolutely fantastic at it.

[00:17:20] And just on the contract stuff,

[00:17:22] I thought it was interesting how it was actually worded.

[00:17:24] So he is on November 1st available

[00:17:27] to talk to other clubs for 2026.

[00:17:30] So the club made it very clear in all these weird things

[00:17:33] where it wasn't really from the club,

[00:17:35] but everything that was written about

[00:17:36] the potential for him to leave

[00:17:38] was for exploring options for 2026.

[00:17:42] So that says that they plan on keeping him for 2025.

[00:17:47] Now, obviously if he does a deal somewhere else

[00:17:49] and like the Fenil Blake situation,

[00:17:51] that club will try and get him earlier.

[00:17:53] Like we've obviously looked at with Fenil Blake

[00:17:55] and all that type of stuff.

[00:17:56] But the reality is we don't have to let him go.

[00:17:59] And it's that situation

[00:18:00] that the sharks always find themselves in

[00:18:01] where it's like, okay, well, if you want him early,

[00:18:04] what do we get in return?

[00:18:05] This is what we did with Medcalf

[00:18:06] and we held onto Medcalf for 12 months.

[00:18:08] Didn't even play him.

[00:18:10] We held onto guys like Lachlan Miller, Conor Tracy,

[00:18:13] until we got the players that we wanted.

[00:18:15] And then we got these talented juniors on low contracts,

[00:18:18] put them in the top 30,

[00:18:19] which allowed us to then go out

[00:18:20] and buy up Fenil Blake, right?

[00:18:22] So the stuff with him and being off contract,

[00:18:25] I don't think it's gonna be too much of a worry.

[00:18:28] There's obviously a chance he could go,

[00:18:30] but I think there's absolutely no chance

[00:18:32] that we would let him go this year.

[00:18:33] And I don't see why he would wanna go from

[00:18:35] a top 14 with Team Australia in the comp

[00:18:37] to go and playing for Souths.

[00:18:39] Yeah, Souths are coming to bounce back

[00:18:41] and all that type of stuff,

[00:18:42] but unless they're offering him

[00:18:44] a ridiculous amount of more money,

[00:18:45] then I can't see why he would try

[00:18:47] and force that sort of issue.

[00:18:48] And he doesn't also seem like that type of guy.

[00:18:49] I think he would wanna be with his brothers

[00:18:52] and try and make a real push for the finals here.

[00:18:54] But something's gonna have to go, mate.

[00:18:56] Some players aren't gonna fit in.

[00:18:57] And when we talk about how they plan the squad,

[00:19:01] they always talk we plan this roster five years out.

[00:19:03] So what they've done here

[00:19:04] is they've done a move 18 months out

[00:19:06] and they've sent it to Royce.

[00:19:07] If you can get that contract for 18 months time from now,

[00:19:11] go and get it because we don't know

[00:19:12] if we can give you a spot

[00:19:14] in basically two seasons time.

[00:19:15] And I think he'll be like 30 at that point too, right?

[00:19:18] So again, we can't keep everybody,

[00:19:21] but it's a bit strange how well he plays

[00:19:25] with that story, bro.

[00:19:27] I, as I've said, love Royce

[00:19:29] and he's a great fellow.

[00:19:30] He's done stuff for me off the field for people.

[00:19:33] Like he's just a really beautiful human.

[00:19:35] And I don't say that lightly.

[00:19:37] I think he is,

[00:19:38] and I hope he doesn't mind me saying this.

[00:19:39] I think he is a sort of fellow

[00:19:40] that probably if there is a bigger contract out there,

[00:19:44] I think that,

[00:19:45] and it wasn't necessarily a despicable team.

[00:19:47] I think he would definitely be close to taking it

[00:19:51] because he's a family man.

[00:19:53] It's a short time in the game.

[00:19:55] His loyalty is with us.

[00:19:56] We've given him that chance,

[00:19:57] but I think he's repaid it.

[00:20:00] It's not like he's gone out there and not tried hard.

[00:20:02] So you can't say he hasn't repaid it.

[00:20:04] I think that if there is a bigger deal there,

[00:20:06] he would definitely consider it.

[00:20:07] I'm not saying he wouldn't do a hand on Willie and go,

[00:20:09] you know what?

[00:20:11] The Sharks have offered me something fair.

[00:20:13] I love the area of my boys.

[00:20:15] I want to win a comp.

[00:20:16] I'm going to stay.

[00:20:16] I'm not saying he wouldn't do that,

[00:20:18] but I think out of all the guys there,

[00:20:20] I could see him rocking up

[00:20:21] at South Sydney training like in all honesty.

[00:20:23] And I mean that straight face.

[00:20:24] Like I could see him in other colors

[00:20:27] and that's not a slight on anyone or anything.

[00:20:29] It's just business.

[00:20:30] Could you say in there this year?

[00:20:32] No, no, no, no.

[00:20:33] Sorry.

[00:20:34] I should double down on that.

[00:20:35] Definitely not this year.

[00:20:37] I don't think obviously anything can happen,

[00:20:38] but I would be highly surprised.

[00:20:41] I'd be very surprised if that happened this year

[00:20:43] or even next year.

[00:20:44] Next year is more likely than this year.

[00:20:47] I think this year is very unlikely.

[00:20:49] But the year after that,

[00:20:52] I think it's open,

[00:20:53] but I hope that we can come to the party

[00:20:55] with something, especially if he keep playing that way.

[00:20:58] So we'll watch this space.

[00:21:01] It's all about roster management, mate.

[00:21:04] Because if you look at Hazelton and Torques,

[00:21:06] they probably are combined making what Hunt makes, right?

[00:21:10] And so from that salary cap standpoint,

[00:21:12] sometimes you have to make these tough decisions

[00:21:14] and the emergence of those two front rowers

[00:21:16] has really created that log jam.

[00:21:18] So I could see him wanting to not be a reserve grader

[00:21:21] and taking a big money deal elsewhere.

[00:21:24] But it just shows you the player market

[00:21:25] because he will get a decent sum of money

[00:21:29] on the player market.

[00:21:30] The West Tigers front row,

[00:21:32] they're talking about he's going to get

[00:21:33] close to a million dollars,

[00:21:34] which is just absolute insanity

[00:21:36] when you think about what we paid for Fennel and Blake.

[00:21:38] But the one thing I'll say with Hunt is

[00:21:40] shout out to whoever did that recruitment drive

[00:21:42] a few years ago where we had no money

[00:21:44] in the salary cap at all.

[00:21:46] And they picked up Royce Hunt and Steve Italic

[00:21:48] on those train and trial contracts for the Jets.

[00:21:50] And they've become permanent first graders for us.

[00:21:53] It's been unreal.

[00:21:55] Give some love to Johnny Morris.

[00:21:56] He was involved in that.

[00:21:57] It's not specifically his decision,

[00:21:58] but he was involved in that.

[00:22:00] I was thinking that same scenario,

[00:22:02] to give us as Hunt, you know, what do you do?

[00:22:05] And it's like, we've only seen a little bit of Tuku,

[00:22:08] but based on what he's done and how he looks,

[00:22:13] you can't kind of go,

[00:22:15] I'll take Royce over him,

[00:22:16] given that it will be half the price,

[00:22:18] et cetera, et cetera.

[00:22:19] So it's a tough one for Mr. Mooney and the crew,

[00:22:22] but we'll see what happens there.

[00:22:24] Man, Will Kennedy again was phenomenal.

[00:22:27] He was so safe.

[00:22:28] There were some pretty hairy bombs going up there,

[00:22:33] and he just handled them so well.

[00:22:36] Got us in the front foot.

[00:22:37] I thought he was fantastic.

[00:22:39] There's still people out there

[00:22:40] just kind of not sure about him.

[00:22:42] And I personally don't get it.

[00:22:45] I understand he's not flash.

[00:22:47] Man, he's good.

[00:22:48] I thought all the backs were great actually.

[00:22:51] I thought Cal Hiro had a really strong game

[00:22:53] and Jesse was back.

[00:22:54] Jesse, that was classic Jesse defensively

[00:22:57] just with his hit ups.

[00:22:58] I thought all five of the backs were great.

[00:23:01] We've spoken about the halves.

[00:23:02] I thought on replay when you see it,

[00:23:05] Kieran, Blake, Braily, sneaky good game.

[00:23:08] Really good game from Blake.

[00:23:09] What did you make of that?

[00:23:11] I think I sent you a message after the game,

[00:23:13] so I think that was Blake's best game

[00:23:14] I'd seen him play.

[00:23:15] And that try that he scored where he was backing up

[00:23:18] from Talaquai with that quick pass that siffered through.

[00:23:20] That was not an easy take.

[00:23:22] And there's been so many times over the years

[00:23:24] as a Sharks fan,

[00:23:25] we've seen that four bubble right over the shoulder.

[00:23:27] What did that remind you of, that little scenario?

[00:23:30] Anything come to mind?

[00:23:31] I can't remember.

[00:23:32] Roosters.

[00:23:33] Was it Roosters final the other year last year?

[00:23:37] That's right.

[00:23:37] Was that the game where he-

[00:23:38] Yeah, last year.

[00:23:39] And all he had to do was sort of get it anyway.

[00:23:41] Yeah, he had a great game.

[00:23:42] Yeah, so like that's what gave me that fear, right?

[00:23:45] That fear of that bubble and all that type of stuff.

[00:23:47] But his defense this year has been great.

[00:23:51] Seemed like he took over the team

[00:23:52] in attack like he did in the Storm game.

[00:23:54] Nice runs, yeah.

[00:23:55] If we can get him firing,

[00:23:57] then he's running game this year

[00:23:59] has been nothing like it has in the past.

[00:24:01] It's completely different player at times.

[00:24:03] Now, Britton Nicara I think had a better game

[00:24:07] than what he's had in the past few weeks.

[00:24:10] We're still seeing some,

[00:24:11] I think untimely disciplined things.

[00:24:14] There's a really bad flop.

[00:24:15] I know it's one incident.

[00:24:17] I don't want to like make too much of it.

[00:24:19] A few penalties, a few drop balls.

[00:24:22] I'll say that his run meters were up.

[00:24:23] He ran for 123 meters this week

[00:24:26] and that's pretty good.

[00:24:27] We wanted more, he gave us more.

[00:24:28] He made 40 tackles, missed one.

[00:24:30] I'm not like that's actually a pretty good game now.

[00:24:32] Look at it.

[00:24:33] But I think he just needs to play a little bit smarter

[00:24:38] and we back to the Britt that we love.

[00:24:40] But definitely a better game

[00:24:42] than he's had for a little while.

[00:24:44] Yeah, and I think with Nico being in and out of the team

[00:24:46] it's kind of stifled his attack a little bit

[00:24:48] because he does so much off Nico

[00:24:50] and Nico's missed a fair few games

[00:24:52] it feels like this season, maybe three or four.

[00:24:55] And he also had that suspension as well, right?

[00:24:57] So he's finding his groove

[00:24:59] but the 40 tackles is what stood out to me.

[00:25:01] That's a lot of tackles he'd be making on edge

[00:25:03] and again, that's just protecting his half

[00:25:05] that he's defending next to as well.

[00:25:07] So yeah, he did a great job of that.

[00:25:09] So as far as stats go and that kind of thing,

[00:25:11] the Sharkees, we are top four for points scored,

[00:25:16] top five for tries scored,

[00:25:18] top five run meters, top three tackle buss.

[00:25:21] Defensively, it's pretty improved.

[00:25:25] We're conceding the third fewest line breaks.

[00:25:30] More importantly, we're conceding the third fewest points,

[00:25:33] third fewest tries.

[00:25:34] Offloads only Brisbane is conceding more.

[00:25:37] So we're still not great there.

[00:25:39] Although on the weekend I thought there was improvement.

[00:25:43] Here's what I'm liking, Kieran.

[00:25:45] Second best completion rate to the Warriors

[00:25:48] and it's super close.

[00:25:49] Wow.

[00:25:50] Third fewest errors.

[00:25:52] So those little things are starting to really,

[00:25:54] really improve and that's only going to help.

[00:25:57] That's surprising to me because it feels like

[00:25:59] I'm always seeing errors,

[00:26:01] but I think it's when it rains it pours.

[00:26:02] I think if there's an error,

[00:26:04] there tends to be a few errors from the Sharkees.

[00:26:06] Jack Williams made one on the weekend

[00:26:08] and the internet exploded.

[00:26:09] Boom!

[00:26:11] Oh, he's back.

[00:26:12] What's he doing?

[00:26:12] Ah, get rid of him.

[00:26:14] It's so frustrating because it's the same ones

[00:26:17] in like the same time of games

[00:26:19] and at the same points of the field.

[00:26:21] So I'm not saying it's good,

[00:26:22] but the reaction is just unbelievable.

[00:26:24] It gets compounded.

[00:26:26] It gets compounded.

[00:26:27] And for what he's done this season too,

[00:26:29] but you saw a conscious effort from him

[00:26:31] after every time he went and did the play of the ball.

[00:26:33] I think his next run he was really careful

[00:26:35] with putting the ball.

[00:26:36] And he had a tackle turnover,

[00:26:37] didn't he as well after one of the drops?

[00:26:39] Like he's doing all right.

[00:26:40] He forced an error straight away.

[00:26:42] Yeah, the boys got around him.

[00:26:43] Again, the defense was unreal

[00:26:45] and it did seem like there was a real conscious effort

[00:26:47] to wrap the ball up.

[00:26:48] But I really noticed that.

[00:26:49] They were always sending numbers in

[00:26:51] and there was times where the referee wasn't calling held

[00:26:54] and their first try was off a really long time

[00:26:56] when they weren't holding the ball.

[00:27:00] And after that, it just looked like the Sharks sent a message out

[00:27:03] and said, right, well, if he's not going to call held,

[00:27:04] send numbers.

[00:27:05] If you look at a few times,

[00:27:06] so the players were held up

[00:27:07] and a fourth man would jump into the tackle

[00:27:09] and really just make sure the ball was secured.

[00:27:11] So I like what I saw there.

[00:27:12] I thought it was a well-coached game as well.

[00:27:14] I thought coach was all over everything

[00:27:16] as far as inner changes

[00:27:17] and as far as just gameplay.

[00:27:19] Like you said, a few calls probably went out

[00:27:22] to change the game.

[00:27:23] What about you?

[00:27:25] They were getting all the calls

[00:27:26] and you're like, geez, I'd love a six again here.

[00:27:28] And I was like, it's Lang Park.

[00:27:29] You're not going to get anything.

[00:27:31] And then we got like five in a row or something.

[00:27:33] Didn't score, but that was hilarious to me.

[00:27:37] Great game.

[00:27:38] It's going to be an important one.

[00:27:39] We look back after we win the title this year,

[00:27:40] it's going to be an important one,

[00:27:41] I reckon one that we look back on

[00:27:43] and go, well, the tide changed there

[00:27:45] and I can't wait.

[00:27:46] I mean, maybe when we're in Las Vegas,

[00:27:48] we'll be talking about winning the title

[00:27:50] and just the party won't end.

[00:27:53] Wait, did I say Las Vegas?

[00:27:54] No, I didn't mean to say that.

[00:27:56] Strongly rumored now we can talk about it.

[00:27:58] The big elephant in the room,

[00:27:59] the big mozza ball hanging from my beard.

[00:28:03] We're looking very strong along with Penrose,

[00:28:07] Canberra, the Warriors,

[00:28:08] like we're going to be selected

[00:28:09] for Las Vegas next year.

[00:28:11] Now I have to point out,

[00:28:12] not confirmed as we record this.

[00:28:14] I believe there might be some news.

[00:28:16] What week is it today?

[00:28:17] What's the date today?

[00:28:18] I think maybe next week,

[00:28:19] the 10th.

[00:28:20] I think next week there might be some news.

[00:28:21] I believe they have to confirm everything this week

[00:28:24] and I think there might be an announcement next week.

[00:28:26] Just stand by on that.

[00:28:28] Exciting news in a lot of ways.

[00:28:30] I understand that it may not be your thing

[00:28:32] or maybe you can't afford it

[00:28:33] or get time off work or whatever.

[00:28:35] It's going to be difficult.

[00:28:37] I think it is one of those things

[00:28:38] where some of our fans will be able to go

[00:28:40] and enjoy it and some won't

[00:28:41] and some will be desperate to go.

[00:28:43] There's a lot of emotions involved,

[00:28:46] but it's kind of cool

[00:28:48] from a lot of different perspectives.

[00:28:50] There is the slight worry that I have,

[00:28:53] our colleague, Clinton Maynard,

[00:28:54] as mentioned, won't surprise you,

[00:28:56] that how's it going to affect our year

[00:28:58] as far as playing goes?

[00:28:59] But I just think we go

[00:29:01] get the team name out there,

[00:29:02] make some money

[00:29:03] and then come back and worry about all that stuff.

[00:29:04] But yeah, what are your thoughts?

[00:29:06] It should be fun.

[00:29:08] So I did the Vegas trip this year

[00:29:10] and I was lucky enough to be over there

[00:29:12] for work at the same time.

[00:29:14] So I got to experience the NRL in Vegas

[00:29:17] and it was some of the most fun

[00:29:19] that I've actually had.

[00:29:21] And I only got there the day before the footy,

[00:29:25] but it was just rugby league jerseys everywhere.

[00:29:27] It was like Australians

[00:29:28] and people from the UK had taken over Vegas

[00:29:30] and all the Americans were asking you about it.

[00:29:32] What team is that?

[00:29:33] And all that type of stuff.

[00:29:35] It was a lot of fun.

[00:29:36] I think if the Sharkies are going over there,

[00:29:39] I would like to definitely go again.

[00:29:41] It's just going to depend on work

[00:29:43] and I've got a few trips coming up.

[00:29:44] So don't start backing up now.

[00:29:46] My advice would be if you're going to go,

[00:29:48] go a few days early

[00:29:52] because they do a lot of stuff

[00:29:54] like on the strip

[00:29:55] and fan experiences and stuff like that

[00:29:57] so you can really enjoy it.

[00:29:58] But the one thing I'll say is that

[00:30:01] Vegas isn't as expensive

[00:30:02] as a lot of people might assume.

[00:30:04] You can get some hotels really cheap.

[00:30:07] I mean, I stayed at Planet Hollywood.

[00:30:10] I think it was like $89 for the night.

[00:30:13] I'm only laughing because I've done that

[00:30:15] and I think I got it for 49.

[00:30:16] So yeah, so there's a lot of hotels are cheap

[00:30:19] like the Flamingo is dirt cheap.

[00:30:21] There's a lot of really cheap options.

[00:30:23] It'll be interesting to see where the NRL

[00:30:25] puts the Sharks given our relationship

[00:30:27] with the Cosmopolitan Hotel

[00:30:29] which is smack bang in the middle of the strip.

[00:30:32] Whereas NRL players were down the end last year.

[00:30:34] I think there might be a little bit

[00:30:36] of negotiations going on

[00:30:38] with certain billionaires over there.

[00:30:40] And I think it could be NRL wide

[00:30:43] or it could just be us, I don't know.

[00:30:45] But either way-

[00:30:46] It could be just the execs.

[00:30:47] Well, it could be the execs.

[00:30:48] I think either way whoever makes their way

[00:30:51] over there close to the Cronulla Sharks

[00:30:53] they'll be having some good meals

[00:30:55] and some good times

[00:30:57] thanks to our lovely friends over there.

[00:30:59] And people are already hitting me up.

[00:31:01] Hey, you're going to do a show over there?

[00:31:02] Whatever.

[00:31:03] It's like, yeah, whatever we can do

[00:31:05] over there will do.

[00:31:06] Love to do a show.

[00:31:09] Whatever people want, we'll try and do.

[00:31:11] So the plan is to go over there

[00:31:12] and have a good time.

[00:31:13] And we'll see it's not locked in.

[00:31:15] And Kieran I keep saying that

[00:31:17] because the storm will lock in

[00:31:19] and they're not going.

[00:31:20] So things can happen

[00:31:21] but it's very, very, very, very close.

[00:31:24] The other thing that we found out on the weekend

[00:31:26] is that due to some changes in legalities

[00:31:29] and that kind of thing

[00:31:30] Point Spet Stadium will be called something else shortly-ish.

[00:31:35] They're going to stay on as a sponsor.

[00:31:36] You didn't hear about this?

[00:31:38] No, I didn't.

[00:31:38] I don't know what my son's looking at me to do

[00:31:41] but do you want to come on the live

[00:31:43] on the YouTube and tell me what you're doing?

[00:31:45] What's the problem?

[00:31:46] What? Use your words.

[00:31:49] Sure.

[00:31:49] Yeah, Point Spet.

[00:31:51] There's a new law coming in Kieran

[00:31:53] and it's about gambling

[00:31:54] and sponsorship and advertising.

[00:31:57] So go Google it later on

[00:31:59] but it looks like Point Spet

[00:32:00] will definitely be staying on as a sponsor

[00:32:02] but we're going to have to change our stadium name

[00:32:04] it looks like.

[00:32:05] And I think it might be as soon as next year.

[00:32:07] So we're looking for names, you know

[00:32:09] Ettinghausen Stadium,

[00:32:12] Peachy Park,

[00:32:15] Fraser Field, whatever you like.

[00:32:17] So yeah, that's going to be happening though.

[00:32:19] That was in the press.

[00:32:20] Dino was talking about it.

[00:32:21] It's actually happening.

[00:32:22] Okay, well I think anything we can do

[00:32:24] to kind of get away from all the flooding of gambling

[00:32:27] around football is a good thing

[00:32:29] because it is ridiculous at this point

[00:32:31] because you try and watch a game

[00:32:32] and it's just prey on people.

[00:32:34] And you know, I do put on bets

[00:32:35] and you know, they don't hit

[00:32:36] so maybe I'm just a little bit bitter

[00:32:37] but there's a lot of it

[00:32:39] and I do worry about, you know

[00:32:40] kids and stuff like that coming up

[00:32:41] because when I was growing up

[00:32:43] you never saw ads to put on a multi, right?

[00:32:45] And now before a game starts

[00:32:47] you're seeing it five, six times, right?

[00:32:49] And they make it look so easy

[00:32:50] but the reality is it's definitely not.

[00:32:52] We have the Dolphins on Thursday night, Kieran.

[00:32:54] We're excited about that.

[00:32:55] We can't wait to be down there at our home

[00:32:59] and it's going to be a good game.

[00:33:00] That's for sure.

[00:33:01] Dolphins are a good team.

[00:33:02] It's going to be a tough one.

[00:33:03] They've got like the second best attack in the NRL.

[00:33:05] They're sneaky good with the attack.

[00:33:07] They're very solid with completions.

[00:33:09] Now it's a very similar game to ours.

[00:33:11] Defensively a little bit less than us

[00:33:15] but they're, you know, Wayne Bennett coached team

[00:33:17] and it's going to be a tough game.

[00:33:20] I have no issue that we're going to win the game.

[00:33:22] I don't think that's a problem

[00:33:24] but it's going to be a good game.

[00:33:25] If you're thinking about I'm worrying about going

[00:33:27] I'd definitely head down.

[00:33:29] You and I got to head down.

[00:33:30] We can't wait.

[00:33:31] What are your thoughts on the Dolphins?

[00:33:32] Battle of the Thins.

[00:33:34] I get so excited when it's like a first.

[00:33:36] So it's like the first time the Dolphins have come

[00:33:38] to Shark Park and...

[00:33:39] This is why I love you.

[00:33:40] That's so cute.

[00:33:41] Yeah, like I'm excited about like they're looking

[00:33:44] at these new teams like the 18th and 19th team

[00:33:47] and all that type of stuff, right?

[00:33:48] You know, I'm super into that sort of stuff.

[00:33:52] Yeah, well, I think that, you know,

[00:33:54] that's a topic for another conversation

[00:33:55] but if they put a P&G team in there

[00:33:57] I think that is absolutely off their heads

[00:33:58] because who's going to want to play there?

[00:34:01] They're going to be in trouble.

[00:34:02] They've already been told they're going

[00:34:04] to be living in a gated community.

[00:34:06] I mean, Wade Graham was interviewed about that.

[00:34:08] He was like, there is no chance.

[00:34:09] He's like, you'd have to pay me double

[00:34:11] and even then I don't think I would do it.

[00:34:13] But like, yeah, it's pretty crazy out there too.

[00:34:16] Yeah, the Dolphins, I think they're a tough team.

[00:34:19] They've got a lot of veterans in that forward pack too.

[00:34:21] So again, they can do a little bit of niggle

[00:34:23] and try and bring us down to their level

[00:34:26] but it should be a great night.

[00:34:27] Hopefully the weather is good.

[00:34:28] The Harves are phenomenal.

[00:34:29] Young Katoa and Nicarimo who people probably think,

[00:34:33] oh, you know, he's a fringe first grader.

[00:34:35] His line breaker sister out of the park.

[00:34:37] He's killing it.

[00:34:40] They've got the hammer, right?

[00:34:41] And the hammer's a Finns up guy, isn't he?

[00:34:43] Hammer.

[00:34:44] Yeah, they've got hammer and Isako always seems to kill us

[00:34:47] because of the ghosts of the twenties part.

[00:34:49] And the other young wingers good.

[00:34:51] Like it's a good team.

[00:34:52] Yeah, it'll be a tough game

[00:34:54] and I think the hard part will be for them

[00:34:56] is they've been up for the last six weeks

[00:34:59] against six heavyweights, right?

[00:35:01] And yes, Parramatta is down the bottom of the table

[00:35:03] but Parramatta everybody expects to go on a run now

[00:35:05] and to be pushing for the eight.

[00:35:07] And so you've got these dolphins game

[00:35:09] and then you've got the bite.

[00:35:11] So it's going to be hard to try

[00:35:13] and make sure everyone's focused and switched on

[00:35:14] because they have a really lengthy break

[00:35:16] from that Thursday through to the next game

[00:35:18] which I think is Saturday after they play, right?

[00:35:22] So they're going to get almost two weeks off

[00:35:23] which is pretty rare in this sort of season, right?

[00:35:26] So hopefully they can take advantage of it

[00:35:28] leave nothing out there and just get a good rest

[00:35:31] because they do need a rest.

[00:35:32] Some of those forwards you can tell.

[00:35:34] I think that'll be the message from the coach

[00:35:36] is just like boys we're almost there

[00:35:38] and even from the senior leadership guys

[00:35:40] we're almost there.

[00:35:41] There's one massive game to go.

[00:35:43] Let's treat it like a finals game.

[00:35:45] There's a very good chance they'll play this team

[00:35:47] in the finals that like the dolphins will be there.

[00:35:48] I think dolphins are going to be hungry to win

[00:35:50] and they can score points, like I said.

[00:35:52] So it's going to be a very competitive game

[00:35:54] but I think yeah, just one more.

[00:35:56] As a fan, I'm like that too.

[00:35:58] Just one more, we're going to break.

[00:36:00] We're not going to Fiji.

[00:36:01] No one's going to Fiji.

[00:36:03] Fiji is for before Vegas, you know what I mean?

[00:36:06] Or on your way to Vegas or after Vegas

[00:36:08] but we're not going to Fiji.

[00:36:10] They go by Fiji Airways, right?

[00:36:11] So some people were doing that trip

[00:36:13] where they're going from Sydney to Fiji

[00:36:15] to LA to Vegas

[00:36:16] and that just sounds like a horrible route to take.

[00:36:18] It's a lot of relaxation though

[00:36:20] if you're stopping at those places.

[00:36:21] Shout out to Fiji Airways for the sponsorship.

[00:36:23] Yeah, give us a ticket.

[00:36:25] Let's come to that time of the week

[00:36:27] where we hit the random shark of the week

[00:36:32] and this is what we test Kieran's memory, knowledge,

[00:36:36] et cetera about his past viewing of sharks

[00:36:42] who no longer play with us.

[00:36:45] Random shark of the week.

[00:36:46] This lad was born in 1979.

[00:36:49] He just scraped in as a 70s kid, all right?

[00:36:51] 1979. His junior club is Twin Willows.

[00:36:56] Now in brackets, it says Canterbury.

[00:36:58] Make of that what you will.

[00:36:59] Are we guessing that's New Zealand Canterbury?

[00:37:01] There you go. I don't know.

[00:37:02] It could be.

[00:37:03] He debuted in the NRL in 2001.

[00:37:07] So this is the era you like.

[00:37:09] He debuted in 2001.

[00:37:12] I can tell you he faced Canberra in his first game

[00:37:15] and was in round seven, 2001.

[00:37:18] His last game in the NRL, short-lived career,

[00:37:21] was in 2004 at the football stadium in round four.

[00:37:28] Bless your chest up.

[00:37:30] He played a total of 44 games in the NRL.

[00:37:34] He had three, one, two, three different clubs.

[00:37:39] Okay?

[00:37:39] He finished up at the mighty Cronola Sutherland Sharks.

[00:37:43] He finished his career in 2004 as a Cronola Shark.

[00:37:50] In 2004, baby.

[00:37:52] What do you mean?

[00:37:53] It says we finished 11th.

[00:37:55] It feels like we finished 48th.

[00:38:00] Anyway.

[00:38:02] No wait, 04 was Stewie, wasn't it?

[00:38:04] I take that back.

[00:38:05] 04 was yeah.

[00:38:06] I take that back.

[00:38:07] We're on our way back.

[00:38:08] We had that really bad jersey.

[00:38:09] 04 was fine compared to the year before.

[00:38:12] I take that back.

[00:38:13] So three clubs.

[00:38:15] One of the other clubs was the Dastardly Dragons.

[00:38:20] Boo.

[00:38:22] Hassan Salah.

[00:38:25] Chester, he got it first go.

[00:38:28] He got it.

[00:38:29] Well done.

[00:38:31] Hassan Salah played for the Tigers 2001, 2002.

[00:38:36] 23 games in 2002.

[00:38:39] Dragons 03.

[00:38:40] Sharkies three games in 04.

[00:38:42] This week's one I need to do better than this.

[00:38:44] That was not much, was it?

[00:38:48] What are your memories of Hassan?

[00:38:49] The three clubs helped me.

[00:38:50] What are your memories of his?

[00:38:52] I remember there was a bit of an uproar when he was signed because

[00:38:55] there was a lot of people that didn't want us buying players from the Dragons

[00:38:59] and all that type of stuff, which is just ludicrous.

[00:39:01] It was a time where we were really skinny on outside backs and he had experience and

[00:39:06] he could actually have helped us because

[00:39:09] for our wingers would have been what?

[00:39:10] Cavell and Riek, I want to say.

[00:39:12] It was Riek off to the Tigers by this point.

[00:39:17] Other way we didn't have a lot of wingers back in 2004.

[00:39:21] You look at guys like Katoa and Mortalo now and you just go,

[00:39:24] we are so lucky to have these guys because we struggled for a while there.

[00:39:30] I think he owns a restaurant in Paddington, I want to say,

[00:39:35] or he used to own a restaurant in Paddington or something like

[00:39:38] that and we went to Maloney's 30th there.

[00:39:42] So fun times.

[00:39:44] That's the last time I saw him.

[00:39:45] He looked after you?

[00:39:45] Yeah, I mean, hasn't taken off.

[00:39:48] Absolutely no idea who I was.

[00:39:49] I probably walked past him maybe three times and he did not know

[00:39:52] where he existed.

[00:39:52] So yeah, looked after me.

[00:39:55] I remember the time when he came and this is all respect to Hasan.

[00:40:00] I just thought, you know, he filled the gap.

[00:40:04] He wasn't going to be a lifer.

[00:40:08] I understood he had experience and that was at that era of Sharks

[00:40:13] where we just sort of were buying guys who'd played.

[00:40:15] Oh, you've played some footy, come down and have a run.

[00:40:19] And he played a few games for us like that kind of sums it up.

[00:40:22] I think he was sort of solid and no more.

[00:40:27] Yeah, I remember I wasn't a huge fan of his work,

[00:40:29] but put on that great jumper.

[00:40:31] He was one of us for a year or so or a year.

[00:40:34] There you go.

[00:40:35] This week's random shark of the week, Hasan Saylor.

[00:40:39] Have I disciplined you in?

[00:40:40] Was it too easy for you?

[00:40:41] No, no, this is my sweet spot.

[00:40:43] This is a lot less dead air, right?

[00:40:45] But I remember when he came across, this was at the same time

[00:40:48] where there was rumors that we're trying to get Brett Dallas

[00:40:51] who hadn't played in the NRL from like since 1999.

[00:40:54] I think the year before 2003, I think we even signed Matt Sears

[00:40:58] to play reserve for it.

[00:40:59] I think he lost like two or three games.

[00:41:00] So this is a real sweet spot of absolute desperation.

[00:41:05] Of the sharks and I absolutely love it.

[00:41:07] So yeah, let's stick with this era because I can work.

[00:41:10] We're not sticking to this era.

[00:41:11] So 04 in no particular order, Aiken, Bailey, Beatty,

[00:41:15] Bickerstaff, Bird, Bosnich, Jermain, Dumas,

[00:41:19] Fransé, he's more of a center, Gallon,

[00:41:22] Galloway, Gibson, Greenfield, Hilda, Eismonger.

[00:41:27] There's a couple here actually that I want to say

[00:41:28] because they're going to be sharks of the week I reckon.

[00:41:31] But well, actually I can't even say those guys.

[00:41:34] Well, we had the great Nathan Merritt and refused to play him.

[00:41:37] Matty Rick was there.

[00:41:38] Matty Rick was there in 04.

[00:41:40] David Simmons was there.

[00:41:42] So a few wingers, a few choices.

[00:41:44] But the Nathan Merritt thing was weird, dude.

[00:41:47] Like maybe they just thought he didn't fit their power style

[00:41:51] or whatever.

[00:41:52] I'm not saying they had a power style,

[00:41:53] but I remember him just carving up in reserve grade.

[00:41:58] He came from Souths.

[00:42:00] It was always that weird thing too where you're like,

[00:42:03] he clearly fits at Souths.

[00:42:04] Like his whole wife is Souths.

[00:42:06] They love him.

[00:42:07] He loves them.

[00:42:08] We've got him for a short time, obviously.

[00:42:10] And when he played for us in first grade,

[00:42:12] I remember him being pretty good.

[00:42:14] That's just my memory of it.

[00:42:16] But you don't think much about Nathan Merritt being a shark,

[00:42:19] but he was.

[00:42:20] It was one of those things because we had nothing on the field

[00:42:23] and it was just so we wanted hope.

[00:42:25] And then there was this guy that we'd signed from Souths

[00:42:28] who had all these wraps on him.

[00:42:29] And it was like scoring points at Will in reserve grade.

[00:42:33] And we're looking at our back line, which was not sexy,

[00:42:35] which was not scoring points.

[00:42:37] And we go, how can we not be playing this guy?

[00:42:39] And then he was gone.

[00:42:41] And then as soon as he went to Souths,

[00:42:43] he started going on his record run where

[00:42:45] he was scoring all these tries

[00:42:46] in really bad South Sydney teams.

[00:42:48] So I think the original plan was

[00:42:50] he was going to be fullback to replace Peechie,

[00:42:53] but then they went down the Simmons route.

[00:42:54] But yeah.

[00:42:56] The quote was Simmons is the next Peechie.

[00:42:58] So I don't know if that was true.

[00:43:00] Well, you know who was going to be the next David Peechie?

[00:43:02] It was Jared Taylor in 2002, 2001.

[00:43:05] He was that guy.

[00:43:06] He had a big following online, Jared Taylor.

[00:43:08] I think he...

[00:43:09] I have no idea where he ended up.

[00:43:10] I think he popped up in 2008,

[00:43:12] the Rugby League World Cup by France.

[00:43:13] Did he play first grade?

[00:43:16] Jared Taylor.

[00:43:17] Yeah, I think in the boot in 2001,

[00:43:19] he definitely played a game, I think or two in 2002.

[00:43:23] And I remember a game versus Canberra he played

[00:43:25] and they absolutely terrorized him.

[00:43:27] And I don't know if he played again.

[00:43:29] Maybe he did.

[00:43:30] Jared Taylor.

[00:43:31] So if I was playing random shark of the week,

[00:43:33] I would not get that.

[00:43:34] I'm a sick, sick man.

[00:43:36] You are.

[00:43:36] We've got one more thing to discuss before we go.

[00:43:38] And that is who killed WCW?

[00:43:44] There's lots of answers to this one.

[00:43:46] So we're one episode in of a new docu-series,

[00:43:52] which we're watching online.

[00:43:55] I don't know where else you're going to watch it.

[00:43:57] SPS down the track or somewhere.

[00:43:59] But it's made by $7 Productions,

[00:44:02] I think they're called, The Rocks.

[00:44:03] Got his hands on it.

[00:44:04] It's also the guys from Dark Side of the Ring.

[00:44:07] So that's pretty cool.

[00:44:08] And we watched episode one.

[00:44:10] It was really good.

[00:44:11] Really loved it.

[00:44:13] Boy, there's some grizzly people out there.

[00:44:16] Grizzly rich people like Kevin Nash.

[00:44:20] I'm going to throw your boy,

[00:44:21] Brad Hart in from what we're going to see.

[00:44:23] I'm imagining Vince Russo is a bit grizzly too.

[00:44:26] What'd you think?

[00:44:27] I thought it was really good.

[00:44:29] It was good.

[00:44:29] I mean, the story's been told a thousand times, right?

[00:44:31] But it was kind of more of that last dance style documentary

[00:44:36] where they were trying to get a little bit more raw

[00:44:38] and not have it just from the WWF's perspective

[00:44:41] because the winner always gets to rewrite history.

[00:44:45] But it was actually really interesting

[00:44:46] to see some of the quotes

[00:44:47] and some of the people on there

[00:44:48] and how emotional these people are still about this.

[00:44:51] But that's just from a business perspective,

[00:44:54] how a company can be a multi-billion dollar company.

[00:44:58] And then three years later not exist anymore.

[00:45:00] That's just to me super interesting.

[00:45:03] So again, look at our sharkies, mate.

[00:45:05] We've got no money.

[00:45:06] We've been existing for 40, 50 years.

[00:45:08] So we might start getting some billions, baby.

[00:45:11] The rumour is we might have some money now.

[00:45:15] Yeah, well the rumour is we have some money now.

[00:45:16] So I'm looking forward to,

[00:45:18] I'm guessing it's week by week, right?

[00:45:20] They're not dropping a whole bunch.

[00:45:22] It's every, I think it's every Tuesday

[00:45:24] or Wednesday night in America.

[00:45:26] So yeah, the next day for us.

[00:45:27] I think we should have it, yeah.

[00:45:28] So we saw it on the YouTube.

[00:45:29] Go check it out.

[00:45:30] Who killed WCW?

[00:45:32] If that's your thing.

[00:45:33] I'm looking forward to Billy Goldberg getting on there

[00:45:37] and you know, I think Vince Russo

[00:45:41] will say the word bro more than I say dude,

[00:45:43] which is a lot.

[00:45:44] I know there's a lot of people

[00:45:46] listening, watching who are going,

[00:45:47] what the hell are you talking about?

[00:45:48] There's a whole bunch of others

[00:45:49] who really like us talking about the squared circle.

[00:45:51] So sometimes we do it.

[00:45:53] We hear a dog about sharks.

[00:45:54] Can't wait to get down there on Thursday, Kieran.

[00:45:57] Should we make some grand announcement

[00:45:59] about where we're gonna be before

[00:46:00] or just we'll go somewhere before

[00:46:02] and we'll see what happens?

[00:46:03] I think so.

[00:46:04] I mean, we'll be down at the Hairy Man

[00:46:05] so I've just spoiled the announcement.

[00:46:06] Let's do it.

[00:46:07] Let's see as many people as we can down there

[00:46:10] and get your weird sharks merchandise out.

[00:46:12] Like I wanna see some weird stuff.

[00:46:14] Yeah, but that doesn't go for Ash the historian.

[00:46:17] He's not allowed to wear weird stuff

[00:46:19] because it's just too good.

[00:46:21] We don't want, you know,

[00:46:22] B-boy spelling beer on his Steve Rogers unique jumper.

[00:46:26] Game worn jersey.

[00:46:27] We don't want that.

[00:46:29] But we'll be down at the Hairy Man,

[00:46:30] you and I,

[00:46:32] and it's not an official shark cast thing

[00:46:33] so don't think we're gonna be doing a show

[00:46:36] or anything and then we'd love to.

[00:46:38] So that's something in the future

[00:46:39] but we're just gonna be hanging out.

[00:46:40] So if you wanna come down, say good day.

[00:46:41] We'd love to say good day.

[00:46:43] If you wanna just go experience their great experience

[00:46:45] at the brewery and not say good day,

[00:46:46] that's also perfectly fine

[00:46:48] because it's a great place to be.

[00:46:50] It's probably the closest thing we'll get to,

[00:46:53] you know, game day experience,

[00:46:54] I think until the club is up and running.

[00:46:56] There are places in the precinct,

[00:46:58] obviously the Chinese restaurants open,

[00:46:59] et cetera, et cetera.

[00:47:00] So do what you gotta do.

[00:47:01] We'll be down where we're gonna be

[00:47:02] and have a few quiet drinks.

[00:47:05] You can have Coke Cola.

[00:47:06] They've got soft drinks.

[00:47:07] I believe it's somewhat kid friendly as well, Kieran.

[00:47:09] As long as the kids aren't at the bar,

[00:47:11] I think you can have kids there, correct?

[00:47:13] Yeah, and I've even seen kids there.

[00:47:15] I've even seen dogs there.

[00:47:17] Maybe if you can smuggle your dog into the stadium,

[00:47:19] go for it.

[00:47:20] I love dogs.

[00:47:21] On that note, we're gonna say goodbye.

[00:47:22] Kieran, thanks for your time

[00:47:24] and we'll talk to you all as soon as we can.

[00:47:26] This is Shark Ass Pod

[00:47:29] and we are almost first

[00:47:31] and it's a great place to be.

[00:47:32] We're over halfway through the comp now

[00:47:34] and flying high after a great win against the Broncos.

[00:47:37] Go back and watch it again.

[00:47:38] It's a lot of fun.

[00:47:40] We'll talk to you soon.

[00:47:41] We're gonna play the song, Kieran,

[00:47:43] because we can.

[00:47:44] Up, up, Cranola, we'll talk to you soon.

[00:49:14] Go out and play without fear

[00:49:18] Now's the time to see good football

[00:49:22] For the Sharks are here at the Sharks