Bryce Cartwright And Jmaine Hopgood

Hey guys, welcome back to Ebbs and Flows where we talk about the highs and lows and now it's fairs and downs on and off the field.

I'm your host Isaac with my friends Call Me Ice. This production is brought to you by Sporting News Australia.

I've got Blue and Gold Army in the house. Bryce Cartwright, Jermaine Hopgood. What's up boys?

Hey us. Thanks for having us.

Yeah, obviously been friends for a long time and I'm really interested to get to know you like a little bit better and understand your story.

So boys, thanks for jumping on.

Thanks for having us.

Obviously Parramatta, a pretty big club, got one of the best fan bases, well supported.

How do you think your guys' season's been so far? Obviously grand final last year, you weren't there, you were 18th man.

But how do you think your season's been progressing so far?

Yeah, it's been a tough year. There's been a lot of hurdles we've had to overcome.

Whether it's been suspension or off-field stuff, but it's been a good challenge.

I mean, I hope you played every game this year and built up a pretty close friendship.

And had a good time.

Had a pretty tough draw too, so it's been a good year and sort of been in every game apart from the Warriors one a few weeks ago.

So it's been an exciting year so far and got a tough, tough back end, but it's going to be an exciting run to the end of the year.

Yeah, I think ebbs and flows, like you said, highs and lows.

It's been us, like you said, tough at the start, but I think we've shown when we can get the boys everywhere on the field and put it together.

Yeah, I think we'll be alright in the long run.

You should have said everyone on the field.

You've had a few suspensions over the past couple of days.

What are your guys' thoughts on those ones?

Yeah, Reg's was tough.

He's not a dirty player, you know.

He plays the game tough, but he's not dirty.

There's a difference.

Yeah, he's not dirty.

There's a difference.

It sucks because he's one person you need out there.

Like, you look to your left and your right and you're looking for Reg or Junior and they're sort of like a common influence out in the field.

And just to see Reg's carries off the kickoff, I think it's the best kickoff carry in the game.

He's just 100 mile an hour, so it's hard and he's obviously hurting, so I'm going to miss him and Micah.

Like, you need someone like Micah on the edge, but we've had heaps of people step up this year, so I'm excited to see who's going to step into the role.

Probably affects you a lot with being part of your little middle rotation there, so how do you guys adapt from that with RCD going?

Yeah, I think to start like what Cardi said, just coming in, sort of trying to find my way in first grade, like when you look to your left and right and you've got Junior,

you've got Paulo and Big Reg next year, like that's just like a confidence booster, I think.

But like earlier in the year, I think when Reggie got hurt, we had Wiramu Greg come into the team and he like just like solidified himself a little bit and took that role on and he was playing well.

Obviously, he's hurt at the moment as well, but I think like Bryce said, one thing we've been good at this year is like that next man up mentality sort of thing.

And that's one thing the coaches in the club really drive well.

There's, you know, you're going to get an opportunity at some point.

And I think a lot of the boys have done pretty well with that throughout the year anyway.

Obviously, the guys, the club lost against Penrith in the grand final.

You rolled into the preseason.

Was that brought up?

Because I know when Penrith lost the grand final, Ivan sat him down and made him like watch it back and the boys learned the lesson from that.

What was the lesson that Brad Arthur tried to instill into the club when you guys rolled into this new season?

It was funny.

We didn't really talk about it.

We sort of, the young boys all went back a lot earlier than us and the older fellas sort of went back two weeks before Christmas.

So it was sort of split up and didn't really talk about it.

It was just more so we start again, you know, just get ready for the year and build into the trials.

And we had a lot of injuries coming into the round one and we lost Laney in the trial.

There was a few more I can't think of, but we didn't really touch on it.

And I think it was probably good.

You know, just sort of forget about it and start again.

What about like you've been part of systems that have won grand finals and in many different grades.

What was the lesson that you learned from Penrith losing one that you could potentially bring over to Parramatta?

And it's a little bit harder when you're the new guy in the team.

Yeah.

Still trying to find your spot.

What was the lesson that you learned from that?

I was around there when they lost that one.

And then obviously being there the next couple of years when they won them.

Like I still remember the video.

The video session, like they did, I think, leading up to one of the Melbourne games there, because Melbourne beat them that year.

And like, I think they got bullied a little bit in that game by a couple of the boys from Melbourne.

And I think like they just sort of changed their mentality a bit, you know, start becoming the hunter, not the hunted sort of thing.

And even when everyone's coming for you, you still want to be the hunter at the end of the day.

And obviously, yeah, like you said, I'm still, still young and haven't played heaps of games, but I think like we were talking before.

Like being in a system like Penrith and, and obviously Parramatta is doing a lot of that now.

Like everything at the club at the moment, it's like system based in attack and defense.

And, you know, I don't have to bring anything more or say anything more of what I've been a part of, but just go and do my job.

I think that's something that we've really, you know, like defined in our, in the club at the moment is like, if everyone just does their job right, then the team will have success at the end of the day.

I feel like you slotted into first grade.

Like naturally, it feels like you've been playing, playing forever and you started the season really well.

Those times in Penrith when you were sort of sitting in reserve grade, do you reckon, like, can you understand those lessons now?

Or at the time, like what was going through your mind at the time?

I'd like to think I'm pretty happy-go-lucky sort of guy anyway.

Like, I don't think, like, I was never sort of in the dumbs, you know, kicking stones, you know, thinking I should be somewhere or whatever it was.

Like I always just was happy to be there.

And yeah.

Like a similarity between the clubs at the moment is like everyone talks about the culture at Penrith and, you know, everyone gets along and how they all know each other so well.

I think that's actually something that Parramatta have as well.

Like such a close, tight-knit group of boys.

And I think that's something that goes a long way in terms of having success is when everyone's on the same page and everyone gets along and like no dickheads sort of thing.

Like, I think that goes a long way.

And yeah, I suppose for me, it was a little bit like.

Just toiling in Reggie's, but like obviously learned a lot from being there.

And I think that's probably helped me now coming into first grade.

Well, you both can answer this question.

And like we hear about the Penrith Nursery so much, like what makes the Penrith Nursery so good?

And to be fair, your age group of 20s was probably like the start of like success.

Like I was at Penrith and we were kind of a team pieced together from everywhere that probably couldn't pick up contracts, you know, and I've brought us together and we had some success there with Sally.

But then we had to start.

But like stacked 20 side and you were the main guy in there, you, Yowie, all those sort of boys.

Like, what do you think makes that Penrith Nursery so good?

Yeah, I don't know. I was like, I grew up out there.

So all you did when you were a kid growing up out in the West is play football, play any other sport like you always had a ball in your hand.

And when you're a kid like watching Pemrith, all you want to do is put on the Pemrith jersey.

Did you go for Pemrith?

Yeah, I went for Pemrith.

Oh, did you? Yeah, I went for the Roosters as well because my uncle was coaching at the time as assistant coach there.

When they were.

In the grand finals.

But yeah, I was always a Pemrith fan.

I'd go to the games and be on the hill sliding down on the cardboard.

They used to have this like the cage when you run out of the tunnel, it was like a cage around and you shake the cage when they're running out.

But yeah, when like 12 years old, 13 years old, when the development squad started, all you wanted to do was get that Pemrith shirt or the tracksuit.

Yeah, the tracksuit, wear it around the plaza.

All you wanted to do was play football.

So I think that's all you did.

As a kid was just play footy and they're still so big out there, the kids in Western Sydney.

So you had to adapt pretty quick.

And, you know, if you weren't big, you'd have to learn, learn the skill really well.

So I think that played a big part.

And, you know, boys coming through, then you get your kids from the country, you know, Yowie, someone like Yowie, it's amazing to see how far he's come because when I played with him, he started off in the centres and second row and, you know, he could barely pass the ball.

And now he's.

He's the best stock in the game.

So to see someone from a rapid rise like him is an amazing thing to see.

And he just got better each year.

So, yeah, it's crazy you say that because obviously, like I talked about your 20 side, like and Yowie was like the first one to debut out of that side.

I think he got round one straight away.

But yeah, he didn't really like he didn't really stand out in any way, shape or form.

And it's crazy to see him to do what he's done, isn't it?

Yeah, because he was always he was always a reliable player.

Like you put him in any position, he played in the centre.

I've loved that too, doesn't he?

Yeah, I've loved him for that.

But, you know, he was always a player that's never going to let you down.

And he's just improved each year.

And yeah, it's really good to see.

Probably can say you're in career best form right now.

Talent's never been an issue for you.

What's changed outside of the 80 minutes that's making you play the way that you're playing?

I think just like the players around me obviously helped.

And the last two years at Parra, it's sort of been hard to get into that position.

Where I had, you know, Isaiah Papali, Morata, sort of hard to get in that position when

they're playing so well and limited time.

So I think just time spent on the field's been really good.

Obviously, having Baz there as well has helped me out a lot.

He's a common influence, whereas Brad's sort of a high energy, you know, keeps me on my

toes.

He's just telling me to start again each week.

You know, you give me a rocket if I need it.

But yeah, it's just I think it's just time spent on the field.

And obviously, Parra's a great player.

He's playing outside one side like Mitch and we spoke about Will Penasini earlier.

He's been a big help for me as well.

And he's only 20 years old.

Yeah, he's turning 21, so that's rattled me.

And I've never seen a kid talk as much on a field and have the game smarts he has as

a center.

And he's coaching me and he'll give me a spray on the field, like if I need it.

So it's a good little relationship we have out there because Mitch is as calm as he is,

he's a bit of a hothead.

Like he can get a bit crazy and, you know, get me in the line.

And then we've got Will.

He's a bit crazy, too.

Like he can yell at me if he needs to.

And then I think I'm sort of a calm person.

Like I'm relaxed.

So it's sort of balanced.

You've got that cartwright gene in you.

Nothing phases you.

What's the balance there?

What's something that Baz has really instilled into your attack this year?

Because obviously, like you almost like almost got too much talent and knowing when to play

and when not to play or when to take a tough carry.

Like, is there any coaching points that he's given you to sort of balance out your game

to when those highlight plays come, like they're coming off?

Yeah.

I think he's just really simplified the start of our sets, making sure we complete those.

And, you know, the special things that happen after that.

It's just about completing our sets and staying in the grind of it.

Because I think if we can keep the ball in play, we're a really, really good team.

And that's when good things happen.

And, you know, we're a very fit team as well.

And having someone like Mitch, obviously, to control the game.

He's got one of the best long kicks in the game.

Kick into the corner.

Make sure you have a right footer.

Not many right footers can, like usually left footers are the sweet guys.

They hit it really well.

But, yeah, he hits them sweet, eh?

Yeah, he's got a really big kick.

I don't know how, because he's got the skinniest legs I've ever seen.

And he doesn't do weights.

Not in the showers though, eh?

He refuses to do weights.

Well, he does lift the weights, but he's pretty strong in that.

Yeah.

I'll give him that.

I think he's just quick off the spot.

What's the development you've seen?

Mitch Moses, obviously, the New South Wales and all swing to you.

Actually, I'll start with you.

You played with a guy or been around a guy, Nathan Cleary, who would be regarded as the best seven.

You see Mitchie come up now.

Like, what's the similar characteristics that those boys have?

And what sort of separates them?

Yeah, obviously, I think they've got, you know, they obviously have different attributes on the field that probably make them a bit, like, different.

As if, like, Moses is probably a bit quicker and runs the ball.

And, you know, if you give him some space, he's going to make you look silly.

Or whereas Nathan's like, you know, he's always going to make the right decision or option in terms of passing.

And break you down that way.

But, yeah, obviously, they're both, like, ultra competitive and professional at the end of the day.

Like, professionalism is a big thing.

And especially in their position, like, Nathan used to be, like, the first guy there, last guy to leave.

You know, watching video and not just watching his opposite number, but watching every player and trying to break down every little thing for the team.

And I think that's where Mitch is, like, he knows, like, their knowledge of the game.

And I think that's something that they have that's probably similar.

I like probably Mitch's, like, blind side when he just raps on a three-on-three or wide forward.

Just so quick.

Yeah.

For a half, like, just got pace for days.

So I think that's probably the only thing that sort of separates him a bit.

You sort of watched Mitch over the last 12 months.

He's lost the grand final.

He's rolled back into origin.

I know he's always been a gun player.

But is there anything subtle that's changed that potentially can take you guys to a premiership?

Yeah.

I think obviously.

Being in the grand final and losing one.

Everyone says you've got to lose one to win one.

The old saying.

So I think he's obviously had his first kid this year.

I think that's made him grow up a little bit more.

But, yeah, he just seems so in control of his game at the moment.

And it's been really helpful for me playing outside of him.

And, you know, obviously as a team.

And Baz has obviously helped him out a lot.

He's sort of calmed him down a bit.

He's choosing the right option nearly every time on the field.

Did you guys change your attack a lot at the start of the year?

Because it was like a little bit clunky, wasn't it?

I think that just takes time.

We had like Hodjo come and obviously like I was in there.

And there's like, you know, different players play different ways.

And it takes time to, like Bryce said, we only had two weeks before Christmas break together.

You know, you're still trying to find your lungs for the first couple of weeks.

Let alone put some shape on it.

That's it.

We're not even too worried about doing that yet.

But, yeah, it's always going to probably take a bit of time.

Like I said before, like we haven't even had the full team on there half the year.

But I think everyone sort of just understands each other a bit more now.

And that's why I think we started to get some good results.

Yeah, the changing between Hodjo and Reid was probably one that went underestimated.

Like Reid's delivery out of like hooker is just like straight to the half.

And boys used to play on the run where Hodjo probably more so trying to fix people up.

And people don't really understand that type of thing, do they?

Yeah, so that was a big difference where, yeah, Hodjo is more of a hooker that gets out.

And, you know, wants his forwards to come onto the ball and sort of play around the ruck.

But the biggest thing I noticed was Hodjo's talk.

Like he's firing you up.

Like if you're running, he's swearing at you.

Yelling his head off to find your front for a quick play of the ball.

Yeah.

Or swearing at the other team when they're running at him.

Classic.

But, yeah, he's been good to have around.

It was sad to see his neck injury.

It was pretty scary.

Obviously, he's getting a bit numb in his arm after surgery and stuff like that.

And, you know, with the way he's played, you know, over the last 12, 13 years, he's a tough bugger.

Yeah.

But he's still around the place coaching us and video sessions helping us out.

So, and Hansi's doing a good job.

He's silky, bro.

Hansi's silky, yeah.

Yeah, I've come through.

Like I played a sheet ball with Hansi.

So it was sort of good to see like his journey.

Like same, sort of toiled around a bit.

Was at Penrith Ball, 20s.

And then the sort of nothing was happening for him then.

Went to Parra and was kicking about.

And then, yeah, sort of just like fell into his debut and played well.

And then, yeah, just followed on from there.

Was he knocking around Uppie a little bit?

Sorry?

Was he trying to learn off Uppie, Coruscant, a little bit?

Because he's kind of got that little, you know, that little deception when they roll into the right.

Well, he was always a half.

Oh, was he?

Yeah.

Through ball and that.

It wasn't until like we got to like 20s and stuff.

He sort of transitioned a little bit into hooker.

Yeah.

But I don't even think, I think he might have done a pre-season in grade.

So like he wasn't even, never full time or anything.

So he probably never spent heaps of time.

But I think that's something that he's always tried to like implement in his game a bit to be crafty and have a bit of deception in that.

Yeah.

That's an important part of the game though, isn't it?

I think Uppie's just made it like, Uppie's so good at it.

You don't even notice it.

Like when you were just like a casual fan.

But when you watch him, you're like, fuck, this guy's way too good.

I remember, I remember like the first couple of times at training when I was like in the team versus him.

He like made a fool out of me a couple of times at marker.

Like I don't even, I don't even know if he knows what he's doing.

Like you're just guessing with him half the time.

But yeah, it was pretty funny.

No, I think he knows what he's doing.

So in terms of coaching styles, both being coached by Ivan and BA, what's some clear differences that like, obviously, like I've got a soft spot for Ivan.

He debuted me.

Always communicating with him well.

Like a lot of people don't because he kind of asks questions with another, answer questions with another question.

What's some clear differences in those two boys?

Yeah, it was, it feels like a long time ago now.

Obviously, Ivan gave me my debut and had him for a couple of years there.

And he was really relaxed, really calm.

I don't think I ever seen him yell, hear him yell at me.

He was always very composed and, but he was very smart.

And I think, didn't really.

He gave you one good spray, didn't he?

Yeah, he gave me a couple.

There was actually a couple.

There was no, there was no volume in it.

No, no angle behind it.

But yeah.

Yeah, sort of, you don't understand back then when you're young coming through.

It's just, you're just excited to be in first grade.

You don't understand the lessons that he was sort of teaching you until as I got older.

Just with the style of play that I used to play back then, sort of.

Yeah, I remember one chat he sort of compared it to like gambling.

I was a gambler on the field.

Like I would just do whatever.

So I didn't think about it much then.

But looking back on it, yeah, I pretty much did whatever I wanted to on the field.

And I tried to.

Whereas Brad, Brad's just, he's very honest.

Very, very passionate.

And I seen that like obviously before I came to Para.

Like you'd see him on TV.

You could tell he cared about his players.

And it was always somewhere like I would have liked to have been.

And, you know, I'm very grateful that I'm there now.

And I feel very comfortable with him as my coach.

And I feel like he is getting the best out of me.

And sort of making me more of a companion.

Sort of making me more of a complete player.

And more of a team player.

And yeah, he's got a few sprays.

And I've had a couple of him.

I don't mind a spray.

It sort of just straightens you up.

You know what I mean?

It just re-synerges you.

Like because I'm a very relaxed person.

I sort of need it to get me going.

Whereas I've got, you know, Brad spraying me.

I've got Mitch spraying me.

I've got Gutho.

I've got them getting into me.

Like I don't want to do anything wrong.

I'm looking out of the corner of my eye and there's someone coming for me.

So, but yeah, Brad's been mad.

Yeah, I love Brad.

Yeah.

A lot of the same.

Like that was one thing.

Like when I met Brad.

Like just like straight shooter.

Tell you how it is.

Not going to bullshit.

Lie to your face sort of thing.

And I think that's something that's been good for me.

Is like someone that tell you when you're doing well.

And then when you're not doing so well.

They tell you straight as well.

So.

Do you like hearing it?

And like you seem like a pretty straight up dude anyway.

Do you like hearing it that way?

Yeah.

Because I know there's some players when they hear it delivered in that way.

They get like a little bit rattled.

You know what I mean?

Direct?

Yeah.

No.

Just straight up.

Half the time.

Like these days.

Like you know if you've done something wrong anyway.

Like you already know that.

You know it's coming.

And I think that's the thing with footy now.

Is like everyone sort of wants to play the same sort of style.

And yeah.

Like I said.

You know if you've fucked up or done something wrong.

So you know it's coming.

And then just get reassured when you hear it.

And then I suppose that's one thing.

Like Bryce said.

When you've got like guys.

That you know that are going to be honest with you.

And tell you.

Like that's half the reason.

Like you don't want to fucking let anyone down.

You don't want to do something wrong.

It's like you know you're going to know about it.

So it's like just try and play hard nose.

And you know.

Just do what you want to do.

And do your job.

But yeah.

Don't let anyone down at the same time.

Yeah.

What did you learn in Origin Camp?

How was that?

Yeah.

That was good.

It was sort of a bit of a weird week.

Like went in.

We were up in Cairns for three days.

Then went back to Goldie.

And then I flew back.

Didn't get to.

Didn't get to train all week.

And then went to the game.

Obviously didn't have a great game.

And then went straight back in Sunday.

Back up to Goldie just for the night.

Trained Monday.

And come back down again.

But being around it.

Being a part of it.

Like I idolized.

Like them.

The coaching staff that we had.

Like I idolized them guys when I was growing up.

Being Queenslander.

And watching those guys.

And then just to be around them.

And sitting down having dinner.

And just general conversation.

Like.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And yeah.

I think that was one thing.

Like that sort of stood out was everyone.

Some of those guys had played with Billy.

And stuff like that.

And it was like.

It was pretty obvious.

Like how much they wanted to play for him.

And that's sort of the feel I got from it.

Was just like how how tight.

Like tight knit everyone was in that group.

That was pretty crazy.

I think like the boys.

They'd say who had been coached by Slater.

Like technically.

They reckon he's like.

On another level.

In terms of attention to detail.

Did you see that in him?

Yeah.

Yeah.

did the review like the first day we got up to Cairns and it was a big day traveling and they

sort of reviewed second game a bit and Billy sort of sat back a little bit and Josh Henne and

Cameron Smith like were running a bit of the video and then like as Billy jumped in like I could just

see how like you could see how smart he was and obviously being a player fullback and in the spine

and obviously he's got a fairly good knowledge of the game and just the way that he was breaking

down just everything in general for every single player and that was pretty awesome. I think it was

like because he's a superstar like a lot of times when you see like a lot of gun players turn into

coaches they didn't always seem to be the best coach I feel like it's more like the knockabouts

of Craig Bellamy's and stuff like that but like you look at Slater like even though he was fast

and a superstar I think his game developed over time like he added that pass in so I think it

helps with when it comes to like coaching and stuff like that. Yeah yeah and like I'd sort of

seen him going around like as the boys were getting ready for one game and he was like

warm up for the game and he's going around and talking to everyone and like he was still so

relaxed but like just the points that he was getting across to everyone was awesome and he

was still like he was as shattered as anyone after the game like they didn't get the result

that they wanted and you could tell that that hurt him as much as it hurt the players as well and

I think that's something like he just resignates so much with the boys and

you know he he wanted it like just as bad as the players sort of thing.

That sort of

origin periods like like why do I'm gonna ask you do you think Queensland care about origin more

than New South Wales and I know you're proud. Yeah I don't know it's hard like because New

South Wales are always stacked bro especially the last five years they should be five and oh.

I don't know it's yeah it's hard to comment on but like you see the Queensland boys in camp that

just looks like a mad time like they're riding their bikes around the training they're I don't

know they're just always laughing having a good time but it's it's hard like New South Wales have

so I don't know I don't know. They're always stacked on the paper like I think that's that's probably

something that gives Queensland an advantage is no one's talking about really no one really

talks about who they're picking and like um the names they got in their team like that's all

sort of like New South Wales like oh they've got this guy this guy this guy so then it's like

builds the pressure on those guys to perform and make sure that they do like like we've seen this

one like they build up so much and then like they're quick to bag everyone for for not living

up to the hype that everyone set them up to be whereas like Queensland it's just I don't know

for me it's sort of just like if you've got the opportunity to get there like you're not too

worried about external expectation but just like just wanting to fucking put that jersey on and

represent your state sort of thing. Yeah I was thinking about it with Reece Walsh so like obviously

like got picked over KP at the time imagine like one of the best game one of the best fullbacks

ever like picking you for one and then you throw the Queensland jersey over the top of that you

just gives you like a sense of confidence just like because you've like that's all you ever wanted

to do in Queensland was play for Queensland like I said like in Penrith like you just everyone wanted

to play for Penrith from being there like everyone growing up in Queensland like that was just like

the pinnacle of rugby league for everyone up there so I feel like those guys um yeah when they put the

jersey on I know it's maybe something different. I hear Ivan talk about that with Penrith where

you're like you will play more you're playing for the area as well yeah and I feel like Queensland

have been able to do that with the state but like sometimes it's just like you're playing for the

same with Penrith like they feel like you're playing for something bigger than like you're

playing for like Mount Druid and all those sort of areas too gives themselves a chance it's pretty

crazy bro you're playing your name your last name carries a bit of weight out west um your playing

style I know was it developed off like your uncle or I know you think you're pretty nice at

basketball like the way that you play um what was your inspiration for that yeah um I just I was

always had a ball in my hands when I was a kid um

well I remember growing up you know obviously I played football uh played cricket basketball

but I remember we'd be in the backyard in the pool for hours as a kid and my dad would just

throw like a skin ball across the water and we'd just catch it just catch it for hours and I think

um that played a big role in you know how how I pass or catch and play basketball growing up I

played it a lot more than football I'd spend hours playing basketball at high school and then

yeah when I got to high school started um

watching like Sonny Bill's highlights I'd watch it before every game yeah yeah yeah so stuff like

that but um I don't know it's just probably always playing always playing sport I was never inside

um always doing something with the ball like I said and yeah I just yeah remember before every

game I'd play I'd watch Sonny Bill's highlights I still think he's cool bro I still think he's man

um do you regret going to the Titans yeah no I don't actually um

it was a good like it was a good lesson like a life lesson you know I um some stuff was happening

at Pembroke I was just about to have my son um it seemed like a good good fit at the time um kicks

was coming through so and I had a pretty ordinary year in 2017 yeah I was coming off an injury and

saw an opportunity to go up there with Garth who I was very close with um Hainsey was going to be

there at the time and then he left so it was looking like it was going to be a good team

Ash Taylor was playing really well had Petey there um I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't

know um so I went up there and um sort of yeah I don't know it was just a whirlwind you know

it just all happened so quick I wasn't playing my best footy and probably um all the outside noise

that it affected me a bit and didn't didn't probably work enough on my game and um you know

Garth was a really good coach but probably just someone who I didn't need that time in my career

because because he knew how good you were before or did you need someone a bit more

direct yeah he's pretty direct but I think I just needed someone who's a bit more experienced you

know in first grade obviously because he was still finding his feet wasn't he yeah he just

coached us in the 20s and um in the reggies as well so I think I needed someone with a bit more

experience just to um sort of guide me a bit more and um obviously we weren't going well at the

titans so that made it a lot worse and um Justin came in Holbrook and I liked him I got on really

well with him and then um I split up with my ex and they moved back down to Sydney and I was like

with the kids so I followed them and um yeah I was just going to work I didn't know what I was

going to do I was just going to play for some areas or get a job and then um Brad Brad called

my manager and yeah went from there but um you know I learned a lot from the Gold Coast um

just to sort of block out the noise and um sort of just gave me a bit more of drive um people

thinking that um I wasn't good enough yeah wasn't going to sort of get back to where I could be or

be so um you know that those sort of few years sort of still drives me to be a better person and

a better player do you know I'm gonna ask you another question um I've seen a few guys from

our team at Penrith go up to the titans and and make decent money do you reckon it's a like could

you give advice to some young kid where they've got an option of getting the money and obviously

got a family on the way you got to think about that side but also going to like a like a good

club you know what I mean you know that question so I look at someone like Papa Lee who went to

Penrith he's secured the bag fucking congrats that's mad but you can see that like their

football style go down as a consequence of their team and I sort of felt like that happened with

like you Lani um probably Tyrone Peachy as well and then Tyrone's just sort of come back now now

he's back in a good system dude is there any advice you want to give to yeah it sort of depends on

where you're at in life like at the end of the day we have to look after ourselves it's a business you

know you have to look after yourself it doesn't last long you could be injured and be gone and

see if you've got a young family but in saying that I'm at the point where is now you want to

be in a good team like it just it makes you feel better about yourself you improve as a player like

for less money you know like you just want to be around a good environment and you want to be

winning games like there's nothing better than sitting in the shed after a game having a beer

with your teammates after you've played a good game um and yeah but like I said um you have to

do business yeah I always find it like an interesting conversation eh it's like like you

take the bag now but like sacrifice it like a little bit later would you play like in the winning

side I don't know there's no right or wrong answer is there what do you think obviously you've just

come into grade now you've been pretty lucky coming to two pretty good systems not luck you've obviously

earned your stripes but what do you think about that yeah I don't know I guess like like you said

it's something that you got to weigh up at the time but like you said like if you if you're young

and you want to maybe invest in yourself and you want to you know you want to invest in yourself

a bit and go to a team uh for less but you know it could help you get better and improve and

obviously make you look better at the same time as well like I guess um when I was sitting back

and played a few games at Penrith you know I'd always have people come up to me and say like oh

like if you were if you were here you could be playing every game and I'm like yeah well you

know it could be true but you know like at the end of the day like are you worth more playing

in that team not doing much or you know you can toy the way here and at a good

system and it's probably lucky like had a couple options and the power just seemed like the clearest

and best one for me obviously like we had there was boys leaving and um door sort of opening and

like I spoke about Brad before like he was a straight he said I I won't promise you anything

like oh so he's like he's not going you're going to be our 13 next year no like like when he sat

down with me he was like I'll never promise I don't promise Mitch Moses his jersey next year

you know like a bit of a G up that way like you're not falling for that that was the sort of thing

I never make promises because you know I don't want to I don't want to break him at the end of

the day you got to come here and earn it and he's like but if you come here and do that you know

that this is what's here for you sort of thing and that's something I've always sort of prided myself

on was um just be a hard worker and be a good person and um because like where I'm from Harvey

Bay like I think I was like the first guy to ever to play first grade to come from there so like when

I grew up that was not even something that was thought about or obviously you wanted to play NRL

you just didn't know no one ever did it it was just wasn't something that anyone did and I guess

when Brad sort of said that you know like I was at a point where I was searching for opportunity and

um he said you know if you come here work hard and that's where you reap the rewards of it a

bit so I guess I don't know for young kids if they're trying to look like obviously if you

go somewhere and you want it bad enough and work hard enough then yeah it'll pay off in the end I

guess I kind of like the path that you've taken where you spend like a few more years and you're

in reserve grade and obviously you don't like it at the time but I think it sets you up for a better

career later on like you cook guys like Cody Walker Damien Cook they're just a bit more established and

yeah good thing about Penrith in any grade they usually win or they're playing in finals so they

learn how to play on all those sort of big games and on all the right stadiums bro so I think you

I think you set up for especially like middle forward as well like you can your body needs

time to like get used to um playing against men you know it's like seeing if you come in pretty

you know it's physical in first grade it's physical and fast sort of thing like yeah in Reggie's like

a little bit slower but still still physical and uh Reggie's probably not not it's not uh what it

used to be like you know Reggie's back um when 20s was a big thing like you you know you sort of had

the boys coming down from first grade it was like big boys and physical whereas now Reggie's just

like a lot of young guys and that as well so I think that sort of helped me as well in the last

um just getting my body used to it and used to the pace and then obviously yeah big pre like good

preseason it always helps it's just a grind day like you get to like around 12 you know like

starts raining starts getting cold half the boys are going off the origin and like that that's

where like I don't know that's I think that's where you start to make your money it's a bit

more of consistent first grader and all the big games when they come around it gets pretty exciting

um I want to talk about your captain I messaged him last night trying to get some dirt on you boys

and everything but like we heard at the start of the year um the word x factor I think he's just

quiet and all the critics how important is the King guffo to the blue and gold yeah he's massive

like we were speaking about before when we played the Warriors two weeks ago we got flogged um that

was the first game at Paris since I've played that I haven't played with him and I felt so lost like

I just didn't know you know I knew what to do out there obviously but just just for someone to guide

you like he's

um he coaches the 12 other blokes out in the field he tells everyone what to do where to be at the

right time um Mitchell get upset or something have a cry to the ref and he'll pull him straight in

line yeah it's just like little things like that and the the effort that he puts into his game on

and off the field is is something I haven't seen before and um I've known him for a long time we

played together in the junior reps and played against him and he's someone that I've seen

obviously improve year after year

um he's had to deal with a lot of adversity too like he's overcome he's the acls um I think

normally passed him that ball got tackled from behind he's I feel that bad but yeah got those

he's probably the most important player on our team um he's the heart of the team he's the glue

um and he's just he's a he's a good bloke like he's one of the best blokes you'll ever meet he's

ultra reliable like just like like competitor at the end of the day but a leader as well

um like yeah like just when you when you when he talks everyone listens sort of thing like he's

just got that he's at that point now where you know like he always walks around going what does

he say youngest club captain or something ever but he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder

sometimes but he but he wouldn't he went into that like that he wouldn't have been the youngest club

captain though would he because he claims it yeah he said he said um Nathan Nathan Kalis was captain

in like 21 I reckon oh yeah yeah so I'm gonna bring that up at training yeah first cab off to

put a put a Torpy up inside the captain yeah um so talk about his preparation through the

week because I've seen it um and normally used to talk about it and obviously like he's fit as

I took out his preparation during the week like well obviously no he eats very well like

he looks after his body very well he's got a rig yeah yeah yeah it's like skinny but

muscly and tall it's weird eh yeah you don't realize like he's solid like he doesn't look

that big on TV but he's he's all muscle um he's preparation before training before weights he's

in the gym you can lift you can lift a shitload in the gym um his intensity of training is very

high it's like he's playing a game um and yeah like i said he just doesn't shut up he's he's a

larrikin as well he's always bagging someone out which i think is it's probably the culture we have

at para too everyone cops it so um it's a pretty tight-knit group out there and you know gutho

probably runs the ship who's the biggest sook oh that's a tough one reg can have a sook yeah

reg is bad reg likes dishing it out but if you get into it you'll go pretty quiet

i remember um remember that time he got a cork but he thought it was an acl

he had the green whistle yeah he was on the green like i remember the video because i played the

video because these guys are still in 20s and um reg got a cork straight on the front you know

right in the middle here those ones hurt the most and he was on the sideline bro and he rolls off

the side

on the ground rolling around and they got him up on the stretcher yeah he was on the is on the

morphing he's on the green whistle played the next week played the next week i've been stretched it

off and played the next week oh i've never before i've always just had back troubles and i was a

game in 20s and just like went to make a tackle and bang and like as i've gone to god i was like

oh no no that doesn't feel right so like bring the stretcher out stretched me off and then like

as i come

as i come

good like as it sort of just like released or whatever was all tense in there i was all right

and then next week i copped it a bit for that i remember i love saui i love saui but there was a

game in uh new zealand we played um i don't know if you played there he got hurt and they took him

off on the medicab and the crowd like clapped him off or whatever they thought he was hurt

10 minutes later he's run back on

sorry saui yeah people that don't know saui

yeah but they just hate him man he's just one of those guys but like we we're in the same team

he's a good guy yeah yeah i love saui i got along well with him you know i was obviously young

coming through there with with all you guys and remember i was playing to my man mind now you're

trying to pick on you fuck off idiot yeah we had some good times out there i couldn't have asked

for a better crew like coming through when i was young you know guys like you chico latzy

uh moisa yeah we had a good time out there i sure knew all the wrong things though

price let's go you lived out of pembroke then yeah i know but we're still still getting the taxi to

come out east all right boys i got a pretty rough run home um have you guys been looking into that

a little bit started the season rough gonna end rough obviously you got the team to win comps

like where's the mindset at we don't we don't really even look we don't look too forward

really like um it was like only a couple weeks ago like brad was saying like he'd never uh won

five games in a row at the club the whole time that he'd been there it's like we're just focusing

on that week obviously got that win and then um obviously what happened with the warriors happened

but then like we sort of just focused at one week at a time looking for the next game not too worried

about and even like when we were losing games at the start of the year like one from four or

whatever we were like um brad never looked like never mentioned much about the ladder or where

we were sitting he always said like i don't even look where we're sitting like just worry about

this week get this win go on from there sort of thing so i think that's sort of the approach

we've had at the moment but obviously yeah as players you look at look at who you're versing

and yeah we don't have an easy run but get the boys back on the field then i think we'll be right

i feel like it's hard now like it doesn't matter who you're playing it's going to be a hard game

it's not like sort of six seven years ago where sometimes you think oh yeah this is going to be

a bit easier but every week teams are turning up teams are better like it's probably the closest

i've ever seen the comp i think it is bro i think it makes it exciting exciting like obviously a

pinner for like a standout

but like everyone else from like two to twelve like yeah well years past like at this time of

the year you'd know who the eight's going to be now you just don't like you could probably see

the top four top three who's who it's going to be but outside of that you just don't know yeah

what teams like just from an outsider looking i know you don't really look at any other teams

what's some of the ones that you're kind of looking at i think maybe these guys that got

a chance this year like for me i look at south so for those boys coming back broncos are pretty

exciting to watch

obviously you guys get entertained on your day got the waskies doing their thing over there and

dale's flying um what teams are you looking at uh the team we're playing this weekend very good

they're building nicely cowboys i think i think everyone's quick to write them off like oh i read

them off ages ago these guys are no chance like at the end of the day everyone like forgets what

they finished second last year or something like yeah top four top four and um yeah i think

everyone's quick to forget about like that a lot like pretty much the same side you know just maybe

sometimes it just doesn't click um all the time but now they're definitely coming into gear now and

it's always a challenge playing up there um at any time of the year so um hopefully yeah we every

team at the moment is like vying for that two points at the end of the day so yeah looks good

um yeah all right but the warriors were good warriors were good yeah like obviously they got

a buzz around them at the moment like what makes him so good their attack i feel like their attacks

been they were very hard to defend against

um i found that it was probably the hardest attack to defend against this year i don't know

whether that was because we're missing gutter who organizes the line but they're just all of

them are so agile fast they run hard um their coach has obviously done well with their defense

they're they're very hard to break apart and um they're yeah they've been exciting to watch

dale's been killing today the mullet the mullet's looking good on him when he's flying down the wing

yeah yeah i mean sean he's like when sean's on like everybody

everyone around him seems to be better as well like when they get into that grind sort of game

and sean's off the back of that and then yeah i think the rest of them just fly off the back of

that yeah once he's flying it just all flows in there uh last question can you boys want to come

yeah yeah i think we can i've been i've been around like teams that have have done it and

um you know this team's definitely got what it takes you know you got all the right players and

um i think like a spine obviously everyone talks about spine how important that is

and there's some very important players in our spine and at the end of the day like i said

earlier like culture's a big thing as well and once everyone buys in the same common goal that's

halfway there so um just gotta get through this run home and then um like finals time you know

just gonna make it you just gotta be in the aid and it's anyone's day come come game day like

bryce said everyone's rocking up wanting to win and if you can get out there if you get to finals

and get out there then yeah it's anyone's game

all right boys um thanks for jumping on wish you all the best always got a soft

spot for the blue and gold army looked after yk tower when we first started so appreciate

you guys but um yeah hope you guys go far maybe the roosters can win thanks boys thank you