hey guys welcome back to ebbs and flows where we talk about the highs and lows on and off the field
today we're doing something a little bit different we reach out on social media on on the gram and
ask for a few questions so joined today by the man himself c norms what's up baby how you going
how you been enjoying the footy season being back um no it's been all right it's fun it's
just literally fun man you feel like a fan again yeah 100 yeah it's good just you you watch it in
more detail too and just have a look what teams are doing and stuff like that obviously if you're
following some players whatnot you follow them as well so yeah it's been good who's your who's
your team bronx yeah yeah bronx yeah always a bronx it's good to see um how much sorry here's
a quick question how much has the game changed like you only recently retired how much has the
game changed from two three years ago two years ago probably probably the speed hey the speed and
does it look quicker yeah it does look quicker it does look quicker even i was like um when i was
out there i could feel it was
getting um quicker well i'm sure i used to get back on so i would easier
back and they're already coming at you but yeah no i think maybe and the athleticism of you know
everyone across the board from the your forwards to your wingers as well the forwards are you know
athletic they're big they're strong so yeah all the back rows are starting to look a little bit
scarier now like i remember when i played like say frankie pritchard was like a yeah i feel like
there's a thousand of frankie pritchard yeah scary though yeah good to be on the
side all right we're going to do some questions um first one is how important is the fisher harris
signing to the warriors in the course of their whole history it's massive i think it's massive
obviously he's probably been the number one forward in the game for a while now so
to get a player like him to the warriors they're building nicely as well to get a you know a front
like that will be massive especially for their juniors coming through they've got a
lot of young forwards coming through too um and also a lot of young forwards coming through as well
attracting um other nrl players there too as well yeah i think it's massive it's up there um when i
think about like adam for newell black i'll put him in my top three props i'd go fisher harris
pain house pain house and he'd be my three yeah and the hard thing about those two boys there is
that they don't probably get the credit they deserve because we hang everything on origin
yeah yeah so they kind of get overlooked a lot of the times but i think in terms of like playing
talent one-to-one i think they're right there i think adam's probably a little bit more dynamic
in attack like he can push out a little bit wider play on the edge plays those tight blocks off off
of shawnee yeah where i see fisher harris like he just dominates the middle third yeah and adam
for newell blake has got late feet too which is like the most annoying thing to defend it's good
when you got it yeah i was gonna say like yeah fisher runs straight and hard and he's got that
side bumper yeah yeah where for newell blake he's got the late late feet that's torture there's
nothing harder got the bumpers up too like that nice little pass along in there but even like
i don't think he's getting overshadowed but with the signing of harris fisher harris but like he's
been massive too in the game as well oh crazy massive like he's been ridiculous yeah he's big
signing for the sharks but the one thing that is probably like i think fisher harris has got a lot
more in him it's probably like leadership and experience now i'm not saying like adam for like
i reckon if tohu harris and sean johnson are speaking in their huddle people are listening
but i reckon if adam's saying something like everyone's tuned in from like the young grades
and there's no disrespect to um that leadership group there but like you know every team's got that
guy where you're like you kind of have to listen yeah you're probably getting you're probably getting
knocked out too yeah i think so yeah he's probably not a big talker um but yeah when he does say
something everyone does listen yeah and fisher harris like the leadership style um and experience
like he's coming off three rings um playing for the kiwis as well but in terms of like signings
it'd be for me it'd be right up there when i remember when steve price signed after 2004
oh yeah they made the grand final he was on the bench and he was like oh my god i'm not gonna do it
didn't get to play he still got a ring from thurston yeah like that was like massive for
new zealand at the time and reuben wiki signed like the same year so it'd be right up there
yeah it'd be up there oh roger roger was a mess oh yeah roger's massive but yeah it's it's up there
it's definitely up there in the recent years uh probably one thing that they could dive into as
well as from a cultural aspect to like fisher being like proud maori boy from up north um he
understands the culture already like you're not gonna have to like teach him anything about it
because he's a staunch as staunch comes yeah and i think new zealand are one of those
only teams where they're lucky where they've got a big culture behind them and they buy into it
yeah and even all the others boys that go over there they learn the maori songs and it's an
important part for for the warrior success in my opinion yeah i was gonna say you've been there
you've been to other clubs so you'd know how it rolls over there so yeah um so the next question
is that do players have too much power within contracts context from this is fisher harris
had two years left to run on this contract yeah paid good money um was able to use like an exit
clause within there to get out do you think players have too much
power no we're very biased though we're gonna head to oh yeah i think but you the roles are
reversed he's not playing good football he can be flicked two years before his contract
done you know what i mean so i think play i think players should have most of the power i reckon
yeah i think so too i heard billy slater talk about it and he goes basically the players have
got too much power now because they're just gonna do this and the reason why that's happening is
like all the players are putting in clauses yeah like david feeder he's like why round 10
i've got an exit clause for my contract if the titans aren't playing well i can dip out is that
is that just the players getting smarter and the clubs have always had it over or is that is that
the way it has been like you know coming through or whatever you know you just go oh yeah sweet
you just get what you're given you get what you're given i think like like we always talk about
the boys are moving smarter now you know they're looking after themselves um you know if you're
not playing good football you're up and out of the club anyway you know see you later go find a new
player yeah i think um i think the boys should have more power do you know what do you know what
they do and this is what i've noticed i don't know what they do now but like back in the day
like obviously if you're on a big contract you're not playing well they try and smoke you out the
club so one you get dropped you get put into like reserve grade um they try and weed you out by not
letting you train with first grade you get the shitty training sessions in the morning yeah um
you have to do all the extras do all the shit jobs yeah and then a lot of the times i'll have
a conversation with that player and basically go like you're not welcome here anymore we're
you can sit out your contract if you want but if you stay in reserve grade for the next two years
your value value goes down it's going to go down and then they start placing things out in the
media like problematic in the changing room shifting the changing room all those types of
words and they do it in corporate world as well of course yeah they do it everywhere but like the
players are starting to get a little bit smarter exactly you know what yeah i think i think it's a
good thing i think it's a good thing so and the thing about it is it's because they're like they
can think like this the market'll be critically hesitant and you can get vegetable season so say
there's another team coming in the next year or two we have the debt that's that's where i'm going
like there's only so many good players and all the good players they've got the right-of-way because
everyone wants to sign them so they're all the all the clubs have to bend over now if they want
this guy one they're going to have to play him more and two he's going to have all these causes
in this contract that might go all right i want to go play rugby for six months or something along
so i agree with it um when you've got the power to earn that type of money i hope you will enjoy it
i feel like having clauses in there is always going to be a good thing yeah of course yeah
yeah i don't know yeah i don't think we'd are they thinking about putting another team in
i think so because it's at 17 now so yeah yeah but that's the thing like if you spread all the
talents then there's only going to be so many stars it might be like one super saiyacross two
teams yeah okay i mean so those guys are always going to have to have the power yeah yeah and it
works in any negotiation anywhere in life like there's always clauses within any type of contract
yeah it's just it gets dragged out a lot more through media yeah true yeah all right question
number three what's the goal of parramatta now when i when i think about like parramatta great
club one of the best supporters fan bases you can get great stadium good coach playing talent
their roster's nice i don't know to be fair it's obviously they're missing mitch but you know the
point like they're leaking too many points so it's obviously not him you know he's not the you know
they're not they are missing him but when you're leaking that many points
every week it's got to be something else isn't it what do you reckon it is
you've been at that club you've been in a situation situation before yeah it's it's
hard to say for me i don't know i haven't been following them too close i don't know what it
could be um it could be a number of things but i don't know what do you reckon um yeah that's
like you know when you when you're when you're in like bad form and like you can't quite put
your finger on something yeah so it must be a collection of a lot of things yeah
piling up and it makes it even worse because they're trying hard but then when you try too
hard sometimes it's even worse for you you know what i mean so i think when you try hard as like
an individual to get yourself out of it it ends up being like worse yeah because um the dolphins
didn't have a full roster and then to get 44 points put on you darwin playing in darwin sucks
no but they've they've won most of their games in darwin i think they've lost maybe one or two
no we're it's actually a good trip for the para boys to get up i don't know if they still do it but
you got up and go fishing you're going fishing and stuff like that
it's a good trip but um yeah they probably don't do that anymore that's why they're getting pumped
do you know what if you're mitchie moses you're jumping into the boardroom pretty
quickly aren't you yeah a hundred percent get the new contract signed up pretty quickly
how long is he out for i can still got a couple more weeks i think he was back before
origin okay yeah so he's his name sort of getting still tossed up tossed out for that yeah here's
question like dylan brown um obviously going from like a six to play seven in terms of transitions
in sports that's one of the in rugby league i feel like it's one of the hardest positional changes
probably besides going from fullback to five eight you know they're like yeah or go all right
cool i'm gonna go play five eight now and everyone expects him to kill it besides darren lockyer
who's done it like with these going from six to seven even though those positions are pretty
similar how hard is it yeah it is hard especially like for dill he's pretty quiet he's pretty chilled
he's laid back so you know when obviously when mitchie's there he's running the team he just has
to worry about what he's doing on his edge calls the plays when he sees the numbers blah blah blah
but in terms of you know running the whole team where we're getting to what what plays we're
putting on you know seeing tired defenders the lot you know what i mean it's totally different
to just sitting out on an edge and and picking your moments type thing so it's nothing better
when you're a six and you got a good seven it's literally the best position you can play yeah it
like it's they've leaked too many points just to blame their attack you know what i mean you
couldn't really put it on dill or someone like that they're leaking too many points for it to
um be an attacking issue what do you reckon there's always a lot of noise around gotho because
when i look at prayer matter like to me gotho is like the heart and soul of it yeah and all all the
points seem to come when he's around like he can create points for others and he always finishes
them like he never misses um a black push-up play do you reckon a lot of people look around the
league and see like oh dylan edwards he's making a lot of points and he's making a lot of points
and he's making 350 per game yeah um like even like someone like ryan pappenhausen he's very
highlighty yeah like we love him well you watch guffo play looks a little bit rangy looks a little
bit awkward but he's so effective he's literally yeah he is he's so effective i don't know what it
is maybe because it doesn't look as smooth as other players maybe i don't know but like you
said he's everywhere he's the heart of para um and when you actually look at where their points
come from a lot of it is from gutha you know what i mean so um yeah like you said he's everywhere he's
like like you said i'm not too sure why he gets he gets peppered yeah peppered the poor bloke but
um you know he's definitely you know you even if you asked in other teams what um would you have
gutha was a teammate everyone would be putting their hand up no matter what club they're at so
yeah yeah i don't know why it's weird can they win the common pa me personally i think their
windows closed yeah me personally um they had to win two years ago yeah i think so um i think maybe
the year before they even actually got in the
final yeah i thought they were gonna yeah i thought they were gonna um go all the way that
year um but yeah i just think yeah they're um i think their windows probably just closed
i think they're just short of nine but just like where do you get like an elite level nine from
they're hard to come by yeah for sure i don't know i just think those those top three four teams are
just that much better yeah you know where they're a little bit light bro on the outside backs
like i don't know i don't know i don't know i don't know i don't know i don't know i don't know
i don't know i don't know i don't know will penisini's nice like yeah
jenko yeah like besides that like my cassivo is kind of just yeah he's pretty chilling
like he's not the same as what he used to be yeah like his carries aren't
aren't good anymore then they've got like shawn russell and they're just a little bit i think
they're just a little bit light out wide yeah especially when you come up against like tags and
brian tall yeah true true and then singer yeah like all those boys are like actual athletes yeah
Yeah, that's actually a good point, yeah.
But their prop rotation, their forward rotation is nice.
I think with Bryce and Sean Lane there,
it gives them a point of difference on each attack.
They don't have to run all the basic shapes.
Carter can get you some points.
Sean Lane can get you some points.
I think it just shows how important the outside and backside are at the moment.
Who's your favorite six to watch at the moment?
Yeah, he's back, isn't he?
He's been exciting.
I actually like his defense.
He can whack too.
But Ezra Mann, yeah, I've been loving him at the moment.
And where do you reckon his game evolves?
Because he's already in our top five, five eights in the comp right now.
But do you want to see him touch the ball more at first receiver?
Yeah, 100%, yeah.
But you look at, they're pretty ball dominant in Reynolds
and probably Walsh he gets second touch, you know what I mean?
He's probably third in the picking order.
Probably getting off a bit more shape at the back too
and just being that plain runner, you know what I mean?
But I would love to see.
I would love to see him get his hands on the ball a lot more.
Because there's always something going on around him, you know what I mean,
when he touches it.
He's got a deaf touch on that foot.
See that tag clip from the summer?
I always watch that.
Like it pops up on my feed for some reason.
And just that like touch you can have on that and just wrap around.
That's pretty hard to do.
Also, that little five eight from Canberra goes all right too.
I forgot his name off the top of my head.
Yeah, he goes good.
He'll be a good little player, I reckon.
Do you reckon see him being like a sort of Jack Wyden?
He's not as big as him.
No, yeah, probably.
Just sinners that have a go.
Once he fills out, it'll be interesting to see how he goes.
My favourite is probably Tommy Dearden at the moment.
I just like the way he plays.
Like just the tempo with it, like the show and go.
You know, he just dummies and takes off.
Loves taking the line on, which is good.
Especially for a little guy.
He shrugs everyone off too, eh?
He's a strong runner.
He must be like Ben Huntsstrong.
Yeah, Benny Huntsstrong.
Yeah, Wongy Strong.
And I think, yeah, like have Jimmy.
He's got Jimmy Maloney there as like kind of his halves coach.
Off a wide four split, they play pretty similar.
They've got a couple like moves that they use.
Jimmy built a career off three moves.
Didn't go past that right post, man.
I just killed it.
He just loves it, eh?
Yeah, I think he'll be really good.
Like Chad, he's been with him before, but I think he'll be good for Dearden.
Yeah, I like the breakdown of their like spine.
I think it's well balanced.
Like Robson, obviously Chad Townsend is like pretty,
He's one of these steadies that ship up.
And then you've got Drinkwater, who's like all flash, all flair.
Yeah, he's flair.
He's really good.
It's a bit of a like nod, like getting him a named captain too,
like Tommy Dearden.
He's pretty young.
He was playing with Chico when he was like 18, up at the Bronx.
So he must be like 23, 24, I reckon.
Big responsibility.
Obviously, he's enjoying it, taking it on.
And would have been interesting.
Like when I remember watching him play at the Broncos, I'm like, oh,
you know, you just weren't too sure about it.
I was actually like, I actually liked him at the Broncos
because even when they were going through a rough period,
he was still taking on the line.
You know, he wasn't, he didn't get into a catch pass mode.
He was still taking the line on.
And that's what I liked about him.
Like sometimes you can get, especially in a losing team
or struggling team, you just pass it off.
You try to get creative, but he was still taking the line on,
Who's your favorite?
My favorite, seven to watch.
To be honest, I don't know.
Just because he's like different.
You know how when like Michael Vick changed like the quarterback position?
I feel like he's kind of like that for rugby league.
He actually like knows when the right time is to run every time.
Like he barely gets it wrong.
You know what I mean?
Like if there's a slightest gap there, like he takes it.
And like he can still pass and kick and stuff.
But like I think he sets up shape to set up his run.
So like you have those two doubles in the middle of the four.
He'll sit at the back of that and literally just catches
and just get bang straight off the right every time.
A little long torso too, like getting around.
He's like, he's quick.
The headgear too.
I think, yeah, he's up there.
He's been, he's been a good player for a long time now.
It's cool to watch like Ches and that still like.
I was going to say the older boys like Ches and Hunter.
They're still going good.
I just wonder who that next batch are coming through.
Like there's Tommy Dearden, man.
I guess they're up there.
But I feel like they're more sixes.
Like who's that out and out seven that's coming through.
In the young box.
Oh, Qatar from, he's playing nice.
Yeah, he's 5'8", but he'll probably.
If they can get a gun six there.
Could be, could be an interesting couple of years, I reckon.
Um, but if, if he stayed at Penrith, he'd be like, he'd be rolling into straight in
from, from when Romy and Nat leave.
He'd be nice there too.
I guess when, um, like, um, what's his name?
Nath still gets around.
Like, like that's a pleasure to watch that shape.
Like, you know, it's just clinical way.
It's literally, oh, it's like, you don't even hear him speaking out though.
It's just like, they'll hit a play and then everyone just folds into that shape.
Like they literally know.
Like whatever player they hit on each shape, they know what shape they've got off the back
Like they just fold straight into it.
If a forward hits this play, everyone knows what they're doing straight in a way.
Would've been nice.
It's, um, it's a good, it's a well, um.
It's a really good, um.
Nah, it's, it's, it's, it's really good to watch, but it's a well, well, uh.
Old, old, old engine.
Besides Panthers and Broncos, who can win it all?
Government can be one team.
I reckon Melbourne's got the best system in Australia, if not almost around the world,
I don't reckon they can win this year.
Every year, like everyone's like, I remember when it started, when all the big three were
leaving, like, oh yes, how good Melbourne's going to crumble, beauty.
Everyone else comes in, you know, like, it just like, like even no disrespect to some
of the boys that rolled out in round one.
Was it round one or round two when they played Penrith?
I'm like, hang on.
Who are these blokes?
And they just turn up.
They know their role.
Like Trent LeRoy.
Melbourne's got the best system ever.
Like they just, they just keep turning up every year.
New players come in, players from other teams that weren't necessarily getting a run at
that team either.
Go down there and they kill it.
It's just mind blowing for me.
Every year they just.
But like, if it comes to like a big game and you've got.
You've got your best packs on and they're going up against Penrith, do you can.
And I don't know.
I know they beat them.
They're probably a bad example.
But like in a big game, I reckon they've been in, they've been in big games for the last
Even though these boys haven't.
But just the club itself.
I don't know, man.
You just never write them off.
You just never write them off.
Do you reckon the Wilds can win?
They'd have to go on a run, I reckon.
Like every month, like everything would have to go right.
I reckon for them.
They're going to win.
And again, like, you know, Munster's only just been playing the last two weeks, like
one of the best players in the game.
Like Melbourne threw in young kids.
Like if Sean Johnson gets injured.
See you later, eh.
You know what I mean?
Who's been playing 5'8 from.
To Mighty Martin.
Who started there?
Bro, they got pumped when they played Penrith last year.
Like it was Penrith.
But, um, Shaunie was out for the game, pulled his calf and they rocked up Penrith just rolled
straight through them cause they had no shape or anything.
You know what I mean?
Like he's like, if he's not playing in the finals or whatnot, not leading into the finals.
I find it hard for them to pull wins together.
Can I have a chance?
They're always like.
That's another like gritty team, mate.
They're always there abouts.
They, they pumped.
pumped um someone on the weekend who was it i can't remember but like they pumped them by 38 like
they've got a nice balanced team too like the outside backs that really their spine's got
plenty of footy in them their full pack's good i think once adam gets there it's it's uh like you'd
almost put them in contention for this year but yeah like last couple years they just all struggled
in big games a lot of it falls on like nico too and he'll understand that like there was times
where they should have been roosters last year but just had didn't have enough depth on this
like when he was going for golden point yeah okay yeah just stuff like that stuff you'll learn from
yeah um but yeah like when the game's on the line and like cherry doesn't miss you know i mean he
never misses those moments hj seems to hit him reynolds will hit him so that's probably the
next one percent of where nico needs to get to yeah he'll um he'll be there soon who would you
have at 5-8 for new south wales outside nathan clary would you have mitch or him
i'd probably give mitch first crack he's been there
for a few games now um i think he'd work nice of clary yeah again he's dangerous when he runs as
well i like when he come out at six i used to love watching him when he played six and
i think he's at that stage now where he would like he'd relish it he played he played the last game
last year didn't he yeah him and cody and i think he's had a few few games there now where he feels
comfortable he feels like he belongs there so um just on just on that where he's been there a few
more times than nico i think i would just give him uh first off the um the rank yeah i remember when
he played six coming through with the tigers and when he was playing outside you like him down the
blind side like a three on three four on four it wasn't like a wide four but i felt like he was
like the best at that yeah and taking a sort of seven roll off him and not he could easily do it
in origin don't get me wrong but if you open up that like he could play out the back he's a smart
enough footballer to play out the back of shape i feel like nico's like that too where he but he's
almost got too much footy he's got too much footy he's got too much footy he's got too much footy
do you reckon he's got too much footy in him for origin but then i look at the queensland boys when
structure isn't working monster it's the same chance they they just fucking throw shape i think
yeah i think him and mitchy and nico are the same but mitchy's got the runs on the boards he's played
a few more games and it's probably better too yeah it probably hurts him that he hasn't been
playing leading up but i think you'd still go with him anyway yeah for sure let him have that first
crack and then look if it doesn't work out nico's still playing good footy well there he is there
um i wonder if you plug
no they played 14 last year and he got stuck at center and got gassed he's he's either in the
team to be in the house or that's it that's it 100 makes sense uh next question reese walsh with kp
same question this is the toughest
the boys who would you fit kp or reesey right now like obviously kp's out injured oh
i'd go recent if he's out injured yeah but like if they're both like if they're both
healthy i'd pick reesey but because only because kalen could play like another position
but even like he's a different beast when he plays origin to
kalen that's a quick that's probably a good argument where if you put kp in the broncos
see later bra if you put reesey in newcastle no i think it'd be the same you reckon so he
he'd so reesey would pick up delhi m
if he was at newcastle
i think reesey's got a lot more footy than like what's been shown at the minute because
everything's so good at the moment where he can just pick his moments you know the team's going
for blah blah blah but i think even him if you've seen him get his hand on the ball a lot more down
those wide fours and that you'd probably see a lot more footy out of him but he doesn't really
need to do it because his team's going that well you know what i mean so i think he'd still be
all right you were still talking about him when he was at the warriors and it was like you know
what i mean yeah so
but kp's injured so i'd have to go
yeah oh it's so hard it's so hard man because like it'll be it'll be the it'll be the grouse
when they're both in the side where would you put kp 14 or center
it depends on your center is that which is how long she's got left so you'd you'd wreck kp at
five eight monster and you're like at that level like they're that good like it's not gonna it's
not gonna really affect how queensland play is it you want your best 17 out there
i think would you go over like a specialist like azure man um tommy dead and two guys we just
finished talking about would you plug oh true and then the second question is if you put him at 14
does he come in over dozer or harry grant well how long does dozer got
player there is no way and like he's um again he started the season in good form too yeah
Is he better at nine or seven?
Oh, well, I don't know.
He's good at both.
He's great at both.
Like, nothing worse than you.
But when you're at 34 or 34 or whatever,
you don't want to be in the middle.
If you're an established halfback,
that's the last place you want to be.
I think you'd want to be in the middle in origin, Dozer.
Oh, no, I mean, I'm talking about in club land.
You know what I mean?
So, like, but he's proved himself.
He can play at seven and then go straight in at number nine
and kill it at origin level.
You still probably start, oh, it's hard.
It's so hard because it all, oh.
Does Munster move to seven when, like, he go?
Like, when they go, just keep him at six?
Oh, he'd stay at six but just play that left-hand side.
But it's like, is your man dead and all play left-hand side down there.
So, it's interesting.
One's going to have to come over.
And obviously, they'll do it straight away.
Chiz might just keep playing for the next fucking eight years.
He looks in good nick and still in good form, too.
Yeah, he just cares about footy.
Like, everything from, like, Monday to, like, Friday.
Or whenever they play, any given Sunday.
No, it's not like footy, footy, footy, but it's like.
He gets himself in the best position to turn up and play well every week.
Yeah, he gives himself a chance to win.
Do you reckon they can win it, mentally?
They need a prop, bro.
They need to, like, if they had, like, a Thomas Flegler, like, come from there.
They always still play pretty good football, though.
Do you know what they're like, bro?
They remind me of, like, a chameleon.
Like, you know, a chameleon adapts to the environment.
So, if they play the Titans, they're going to play like how the Titans play.
If they play fucking Panthers, they can beat the Panthers on their day.
But by the time it gets to, like, the serious rounds of football.
Like, they just need one of those other teams to be on, and they kind of just, like, crumble
I think they just leak too much points.
Because if our Titans almost got them on the weekend, too.
Fozzie was on fire.
Fozzie's the best.
Digging into the line.
How tired do you look one minute in?
I swear, he's got one lung, eh?
Jackson's had a good line about him.
He goes, yeah, Fozzie takes the whole preseason to warm up for a game.
It's weird that they're cousins, eh?
Jackson and Fozzie.
I think so, yeah.
I didn't know that.
Like, Zeno's just knocking at all these guys.
It's a couple of just generic football questions that the average punter doesn't know.
We often hear a 10-man kick chase.
It sounds super basic, but what's that in detail?
Fuck, you're probably asking the wrong bite there.
So, a 10-man kick chase is, like, basically every kick that a half puts in.
Most teams want a 10-man kick chase.
So, like, if you're, and every edge player has to be in the kick chase.
So, you play the ball, your hooker.
And then, so, you got, like, your edge.
Left-hand edge, right-hand edge.
And then, you need two middles to plug there.
But, like, the smart guys, they take the tackle four.
Tackle four, yeah.
Yeah, let me take tackle four.
Let me take tackle four.
Because the reason they do that is because they can, don't have to get in the kick chase.
So, that's, like, the basic rule of it.
So, if your hooker kicks out of there, he has to be in the kick chase because he chases it.
And then, two middles and you've got a wide one.
But the reason why you want that is just because once guys like Reece Walsh and Kalen come back.
If you roll up with eight to six, there's too much space on the field.
And if you lose that first one, it's just, like, it's tough to win your setback.
That's basically what it is.
And the other part is, is, like, in terms of, like, kicking strategy, like, you kick to different teams differently.
So, say someone like Reece Walsh who's small in stature, like, you want to kick off a smaller percentage because, say, the wing is up.
So, say the middle of the field is 50, you want to kick off, like, a 6-4 split down the side and, like, put up bombs and land them on his head.
That way, you can get a hold of him.
I think you'd want to put kick to your left side of Reece.
Because the way he comes out.
Because I feel like he's better on the left side, the way he runs out and that, than on the right side.
And what normally sort of saying there, like, most boys carry in a certain hand.
It's, like, their stronger hand.
So, you want to kick to a certain corner.
Then, that way, their goal is to get to the middle of the field as quick as possible.
So, they normally drift sideways to get some, like, field position to open it up and then try and go forward.
And, obviously, some boys step off better off both feet.
And play two comes to, you know.
So, whoever's the, you know, who's a good runner, play two, kick away from him.
So, he's got to come all the way in.
You get him a tackle three and you've got a set line.
Or, if you're down there, kick, like, on top of him so you land on him and he can't take that play two.
And Brian Toll is a good example of this where, like, if you watch teams, all they do is kick away from him.
So, obviously, Nia Taruva will take the first set up.
Dylan Brown, or Dylan Edwards will take the second.
And then, by the time Brian Toll comes, you're, like, your whole line's there.
Your whole four-pack's ready to roll.
And he'll still, fucking, give you 50 to 100 metres and post-contact metres.
But you'd rather do that than kick it to him on the go and then get him off the long run.
Chase down real hard so he bounces in.
What about all the tricks as a half, eh?
In a half, you've got that many tricks out in the field not to make contact.
So, fucking get down there, push him in that way.
You work harder so you don't have to work as hard.
If he's coming out of that corner, you just sprint right up there and bounce back.
It's the pits when they pan out to you.
You're not ready for it.
Why do, oh, break this down in football.
Why do players plug the drain before jumping into the D-line and not just run straight to A?
When you're coming out of the tackle lane.
So, you say you're third man out.
You go first marker, second marker set, and they plug the drain first.
That's probably not the right way to do it.
You've got to go straight into A.
Oh, it depends how quick they can get back.
So, like, the reason why they plug the A at the start.
So, at that time is, one, there's, like, a clear lane where they can look at the fullback.
So, when you go for the drain, there's a fullback at the back and he's going, like, left or right.
But, like, if that A defender who's here and this guy's plugging, like, the drain like that.
If he's too wide off the bat.
It's like Harry Grant.
They're just going to fix someone straight into that drain.
And you're going to get that, like, you know, that sort of catch tackle.
Well, yeah, you're probably right.
It gives A enough time to tighten up until he gets back and then the shift back out.
And usually in those sort of circumstances, you've got, like, a lot of field behind you as well.
What you'll see is guys sort of plug the A.
If he doesn't get back in time, like, he just doesn't cruise back to the next tackle.
Like, he'll make his, the A will make their tackle here and then he'll come in and, like, find a role.
And, like, what do you call it?
Like, a knowledgeable.
It's probably a bit easier, too, because your time you get out, they roll around.
They look at the fullback and it's just, like, one continuous motion.
You know what I mean?
They go, ah, and just go, yeah, sweet, tie in.
You can, like, and, like, obviously when it's a bit tighter, you just make a B line straight for the A defender.
But kind of the basic rule of thumb is if you're at A defender.
Like, don't leave A until, like, they can touch you.
Like, that's kind of the basic rule.
Because if you see him come and you move too wide, Tommy Turbo, Tedesco, they all sort of come straight down that drain.
And then good luck in your setback.
Then it's an arms tackle.
Then it's a quick play of the ball.
Then the next one in is boom, boom.
Before you know it, you're on your 10-meter line.
It's kind of weird that we just take that, like, stuff for granted, like, just knowing that stuff.
Because people will see it as someone, like, being, like, lazy.
But that might have been, like, a tough tackle.
So, Adam Finouk, Blake's come through.
He's gone bump, bump.
There's two people up top.
That last guy's come around the legs.
They've wrestled him down.
And then you'll push his legs to get up, plug the drain.
I find the better teams, you know, the bigger boys that communicate with each other in the ruck a lot better.
They're not dependent on the fullback.
You know what I mean?
If you're just running back looking at the fullback, the fullback's going like that.
You know what I mean?
But when the big boys are good and communicate with each other.
Like, you can just feel it out on an edge, too.
Like, they're just straight back.
You can just straight back in.
They're straight up.
Like, the big boys in the middle know what they're doing, where the spacing and just get up on an edge are good.
I think when they plugged in that half A on there.
Like, I remember when that, I think that first started when I was playing football.
So, like, you're on good ball.
You're defending up.
Darius Boyd's at half A.
And then pushes everyone wider.
Like, you just try and run shape out wide.
Like, bro, how have these guys got so much numbers?
What's some strategies to get past that first marker?
Oh, that guy at first A.
So, the fullback's in at half A.
On the line, attacking or just probably a wider pass, bro.
Wider pass, sit someone on the inside.
Then you're basically sitting on B.
Fullback will probably end up moving out.
You've got someone on the inside.
Hold the marker up.
It gives you a bit more time from that A not coming straight to you.
Because he's got to worry about the inside runner.
So, probably just having someone inside is the best bet.
Like, just planting the seed with an early kick.
Yeah, early kick.
So, they start to shit himself.
Even hitting the inside runner sometimes.
Just to keep him honest.
You know what I mean?
And it happened on the weekend where, who was it?
Oh, it was a big prop from, you know that old school looking prop from Canulla?
I forgot his name.
He's got like a headband on.
He's a bald head.
Oh, I forgot his name.
But basically, Nico, the guy was there and he ended up dropping him off and he was sort
of skiddling blokes across.
Kind of like how Fafita runs.
And he was actually like a big gap on the other side, but he ended up scoring.
Yeah, like you said, you sort of just bait him in and keep him there.
It also sets it up if you've got like a set play, hit the fullback and then kick the next
one off a bit of shade.
You know what I mean?
So, especially if teams are up and in, it just leaves that backfield wide open because
you know the fullback's had to get in.
Probably still stuck in there.
And then it'll give you an easier play.
And it's like horses for courses too.
Like when you see like Pappy in there or Jaden Campbell.
And he's in a half A.
Like you see guys like Tommy Turbo and Latrell just go like straight one off the rock and
just go as hard as they can and bump us up and do your best.
Again, and especially when the fullback's in the tackle, I know they probably don't
get their numbers right then.
You know, he's not at the back throwing the, moving the big boys where he wants them.
Yeah, just make him make a few tackles.
It's a good way to do it.
Who would your back five for New South Wales be?
Would you pick Teddy?
But that's another.
I don't know why he gets.
Right now I'd pick Dylan Edwards.
But what's the difference from he's going to run an extra what?
50 to 100 meters?
I think his support plays just as good.
But I think with like Teddy and Origin and like I'm obviously still a fucking massive
It's like when he plays off a, say you're in a 6-4 split bro and he's on the wide four
and say he calls a hot play, which is the overs play.
Like I don't think.
He's going to strip a four on four, but he can like bump and move around.
And the only reason I'm saying this is because like Nathan Clare is going to be the seven
He's probably got a better dynamic with Dylan Edwards.
And I think the pros of Tedesco bumping people off kind of fucks up their shape afterwards.
Does that make sense?
You know what I think?
It's the, it's been proven.
I don't think the pen riff shape works in Origin.
You don't reckon?
Oh, do you know what?
Say Mitchie's at the six.
Like him and Tedesco got a like great relationship too.
Like when I, when I watch him.
Cause you, in, in club level, I feel like they, everyone knows what they're doing.
So they just run the same shape, same shape and they wait for the opposition to fuck up.
But where, where's Teddy's greatest strength through that middle third day.
So like quick play the balls, blah, blah, blah.
Like I think that stuff's all relevant.
I think the best fullbacks now play wider and I know he can do that.
But if you look at like Reesey out the back of shape doing that stuff there.
If you look at KP out the back, he can like.
It's moved away from that middle third.
It's gone like wider.
What about Tommy?
I would like, it'd probably be like, I'd go.
Teddy, Tommy, Dill.
For the fullback?
Or just my back five?
I'd go Lomax, Latrell, Teddy, Tommy Turbo, other center and Brian Toto on the wing.
That's pretty handy.
The trail's big time.
Like when he's on that stage, he's going to do it.
Like you can think whatever you like of him at fullback ourselves.
But once he's got the bright lights.
I remember I've, I don't know if he's probably in the same condition as he was a few years
ago when him and Turbo were in the centers, but it was like for Queensland, you're just
like, oh, no, like Turbo's coming around on the same side as him.
Like it's just, they've got so much more variation in their shape when them boys are
playing out wide.
It's not just so one dynamic.
Bring both of them under and hit, punch that hole, you know, when the half and the back
row comes on overs and they come underneath.
I just think there's just more danger when them boys are out wide or like that.
That would literally, that would be my back.
I think during that time though, like I think Queensland physically could have matched up
Like all the boys were sort of just coming into the element.
Like you've got a hammer who, who, who can lock down basically anyone at the moment at
Like he locked up Joey Manu and the Kiwis and like.
Joey was on fire too.
You know, when he tries to get the palm out and you miss it and you just like stuff like
So it's, it's a way better battle now.
Cause I feel like even though Queensland have been winning like physically, like their
teams like match up.
I'd probably pick the same back five as you.
I just want to see Dylan Edwards in there.
He'll get his time.
He'll get his time.
You're like, he's a weapon.
Like, yeah, I don't know.
But like until like you can sit there and go.
Tedesco was awful for all three games.
Then I just think he still gets the job.
I just think, I don't know.
I think, I think I'm just like, cause I love watching recent that play, like how they play
It's like a lot more, but like Teddy's still, yeah, he's still the guy, isn't he?
I think he's, I think he's still killing it.
That's me personally.
I think he's still killing it.
And he's the, he's the most awkward bloke to tackle.
He's that strong.
Do you know, I had a mad take on it one time when, um,
um, Hainsey, Hainsey was breaking down football one time.
Like I forgot how, even though he's a ditzy, ditzy kind of Hainsey, but when he was breaking
down football, like at the origin level, bro, he was breaking down like numbers and, and
time and I was like, I was sitting there going, what the fuck?
No, he is, he's, he's clued on.
That's the first episode of the Q and A.
I'll see you guys next time.