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Welcome to another edition of Mid-Week-Matters with James Graham & Charlie White. In this episode the boys discuss the latest on Zac Lomax, Mitch Barnett's future, the shock non-selection for the Raiders in round one which leads to a debate around introducing a loan system and Jimmy is asked if the NRL should start their own competition in England featuring the biggest clubs in the country? Plus, we preview every game of Round 1!
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0:00 Glad To Be Home From Vegas!
8:00 Patreon Is LIVE!
12:00 Lomax Spotted At Rugby Australia HQ
18:00 Bad Blood Between Parra & Storm
21:49 Lomax’s Next Move?
28:03 Clubs In Mix For Mitch Barnett
31:00 Raiders Shock Non-Selections
42:30 Storm v Eels Preview
47:28 Wahs v Roosters Preview
49:05 Broncos v Panthers Preview
56:02 Sharks v Titans Preview
58:43 Jamal Fogarty Cup Preview
1:01:47 Wayne Bennett Cup Preview
1:09:26 Listener Questions
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This podcast is brought to you by our good friends at Lovebrook's Charlie.
The Pen with Panthers are off to Bathas to take on the Cornwall Sharks.
We'll get a true read on those Cornwall Sharks that were dominant in the opening round.
No one does it better for country rugby league than the Pen with Panthers.
They take so many games there every year and this Bathas fixture is going to be incredible.
Two premiership heavyweights, but the Panthers are huge favorites.
Dollar 33, the Cornwall Sharks are $3.35.
The line is eight and a half points.
Have you got a same game multi James Graham?
Yeah, Charlie, I sure do.
I do think there's a little bit of value there for the Sharks, but look,
Pen with, I think they're back to their absolute best.
So I'm going to take them in the same game multi to cover the line of minus eight and a half points.
And then my favorite feature on the Lovebrook's app, the duos.
I've got Brian Totto and McLean to score two or more tries between them,
whether it's two for Totto, two for McLean or one each,
combine with that, covering the line, three dollars and 44 cents.
I love it Jimmy.
You're one of the best tips is going around mate.
And I'm with you.
I think if you like the Sharks, $3.35 is very tempting.
Sure is Charlie season C's apply and available on the website odds are subject to change.
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Visit gamblingcubonline.org.au.
Back again, for season 2026, we are being powered by Hyundai Charlie.
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Hello and welcome everybody to another edition of the By-Ram podcast.
I'm your host James Graham and today I'm joined by a very fresh looking Charlie White.
I'm back to you, me back from Las Vegas.
I feel incredibly fresh compared to how I felt the other couple of Las Vegas
experiences made so it's good to see you face.
Yeah, likewise, it was all over the billboards in Las Vegas.
Charlie White is doing 75 hard.
It felt like everywhere you went, you could all you heard about was your little
challenge, which you probably weren't as disciplined as you're supposed to be
on.
So I think technically you're back to day one.
Well, I didn't drink.
That was one of the most important part and that was the thing I was telling
people about that I wasn't drinking and I didn't, yeah, successfully didn't drink.
Did I train every day?
No, I didn't.
Did I read every day?
I didn't read any days.
Did I eat well, not necessarily, but I didn't drink.
And that's the biggest challenge of Las Vegas, really.
I love being over there, but I'm so happy to be home.
Like being home and it's good to come back to what I think is one of,
if not the greatest city in the world, like Sydney is, it's pretty amazing to come back to.
I've been like when I lived in Liverpool, the way that there was times where I was away
and the idea of like going home, although like the people there were great.
It was like, oh, it's a miserable time to go.
But like you come back to Sydney, it's blue skies.
It's, yeah.
Life's pretty good here.
I think we should be more proud of Australia as a whole.
Like I don't think it's Australia and it's kind of because we're sort of a humble nation,
but we're not like the other America and they're like so proud of America.
Everywhere you go, it's just okay, good to America, blah, blah.
But like our country Australia is much, much better than America, like significantly better.
Like for all those, you come back to Sydney, Brisbane, like two incredible places to live,
like especially with everything that's happening in the world right now and, you know,
over different conflicts, you realise how lucky you are to live in Australia.
Yeah, we're not totally immune from all that, but like, and I'm sure there's plenty of people
like to highlight some incidences and neighbourhoods that, you know,
maybe you wouldn't want to venture down or get into conflict with people, but I think it's,
it is pretty good here. We've got it very good.
And it's not lost on me either as a foreign national.
I'm born in England as well.
So I go to England, you know, every few years to go visit family and England's
griming comparison to Australia.
And all honesty, and that's no offense.
I love England. I love England.
But compared to Australia, it's just like a cheese.
You can consider yourself Australian.
No, yeah, hesitation means no.
No, I don't consider myself Australian, like, or out and out Australian.
But the older I get, the more and more Australian I feel.
Does that make sense?
No, like I support England in sport, but the more, like I feel more Aussie,
then I'm English, like we've got Jordan here, who by the way, Jordan has
brought a 1 kilogram tub of hummus in.
It is what is incredible for an individual.
You think about all the offerings at the supermarkets and, you know,
that they look to cater for families.
And they also cater for people that live by themselves.
And that is represented with the saving size and the size of the item.
So if you want a little bit of hummus for an individual,
oh, look, there's a little pot there, ready made, cut up some vegetables,
or can just dunk one and dunk what single serving thanks for coming.
There's also got the 1.25 kilo hummus and Jordan's gone with that.
The one point, yeah.
And it was funny because I even, I said to her,
I'll make you want some lunch.
So I'm going to grab some lunch, anyone want anything?
He said, no, no, I'm good.
I've got mine.
It was just cucumber and carrots with a 1 kilogram tub of hummus.
It's not a lunch.
But he's saying value for money.
But I reckon it's one of those.
It goes.
It ends up costing you because you just took it out.
My dad, right, supermarkets in England called Asda.
They used to do like the whoopsie corner or the whoopsie aisle,
like basically things were going out of date.
Dad would go shopping at night at like nine o'clock at night,
come home with all this whoopsie stuff.
It's like, Dad, it all goes off tonight.
He's out for it.
And the freezer sun, then put it in the freezer and never use it.
It's like, it's sometimes, it's only a bargain if you use it.
It's no point in saying, oh, I got this, this pizza is about to go.
I got it, it was, it was five quid and now I've got it for a quid.
But Dad, it's going in the freezer and it's never going to get eaten.
So you've not saved four quid.
You've spent, you've donated a quid to Asda.
Like, what are you doing?
And he's got four days to eat the hummus.
So it's a kilogram of hummus.
Maybe we're putting our socials on the story to get the hummus if you're interested.
But he's got four days to eat it.
That's 250 grams of hummus per day.
Yeah.
Because it's got to be consumed within four days of opening.
If you're subscribed to that, like what it says on the, on the packet,
sometimes you've got to gamble, sometimes it's worth, you know,
if the milk's out of date,
got to have a little sniff.
I don't know.
Yeah, have a little sniff of it.
I think you can roll the dice.
So I rolled the dice on Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt, they goes off quick, man.
But it's like it actually is fine for a long time.
Yeah.
I wonder why it's once it's opened,
it then increases the air exposure.
I don't know. We should probably create some sort of device
that allows things to be opened and they can be our barons, main revenue driver.
Yeah. I think with eggs, you can put them in water.
Eggs are fine.
Eggs, you can just, eggs are open.
They're open, basically, aren't they?
No, but they have a date on them, but I think you're supposed to put them in water.
And if they rise, they're all good if they sink from up, but interesting.
You can remind you, I can't tell the story,
but you can do that with something else.
If it's good, remember, I won't tell that story on here.
It's not appropriate.
But we should say you've got me, you've got me in three.
I may say it though.
No, okay. Don't worry.
All right. Okay.
Well, let's leave that one behind.
But we could maybe mention it on the page.
Patreon we could mention it on.
We definitely could.
So the Patreon is going to be live now if you're listening.
And there's a ton of content.
You're basically going to get two bonus shows a week.
That's two full shows.
Two full shows.
One will be dropped on Monday and it will be a James Graham question and answer.
So if you're on the Patreon, you get to ask Jimmy any questions from the round of footy.
So that will be the Monday edition.
And then you'll also get an episode on Friday,
which is going to be a lot of extra footy chat, obviously.
But also you need to get some non footy stuff in there as well.
Some life stuff.
You need to get to go deep inside the mind of James Graham.
I look at all the sports, both the serious side and the funny side of sports.
Yeah.
From the winter Olympics, the beef in the caling,
like the little extra finger touch from some of those cailas.
Like we're going to have a deep dive into that.
Also interestingly, I was reading one of the British and Irish lines.
Players, when he was chaired by Sonny Bill,
and lied or basically memorized some words to say to the doctor.
So he passed the concussion test and have a little bit of a chat around things like that.
And yeah, all things, you know, all things sports,
because there's some interesting stories out there that are not too dissimilar to what's happening in the NRL.
That I think we can all learn from and have a bit of fun with.
Definitely.
Yeah, it's going to be good.
And also basically as part of that monthly,
there'll be a giveaway for one person in the Patreon gets to bring three mates
and watch a show every month.
That will be cool.
That's what that is worth doing.
We've had a, we've done it when we've hosted a few sports lunches
to have one of the prizes there to come and sit in behind the scenes,
which is always good to connect with our phones.
Definitely early access to merch, early access to live shows.
So no, ton of extra stuff in there.
And we've gone, obviously the cost of living is crazy at the moment.
So like, you know, if you can't sign up, don't stress at all,
but it is $5 a month or so.
We wanted to make it basically a cup of coffee a month,
gets you two extra shows.
Where'd you get your coffee from?
I get a cold brew coffee.
So I pay you from six bucks.
I mean, I was going to say that line gets thrown away.
I'll just for the price of a cup of coffee.
It's your coffee.
More than $5.
Yeah, right?
You're almond milk.
No.
No, it's probably about, you know what?
My coffee's probably about six bucks these days, cold brew.
Yeah.
So it's cheap.
Well, let's say this.
It's cheaper than a cup of coffee.
Yeah.
I think you've got to get, you've got to get cheaper than a cup of coffee.
And you get two full shows also for those people listening
who hate the fact that we have ads in our show,
which is a funny gripe by people that happens a lot,
is you actually get the episodes ad free on there as well.
So if you don't like ads, that's something you can do.
This podcast is brought to you by our good friends at Labrokes.
Charlie, it seems strange to say this,
but there's a lot riding on this game
between the Manly Seagals at home
against last year's Walden Spooners, the Newcastle Nights.
Yeah, a lot of pressure already on the Manly Seagals and Anthony Seabob.
The Seagals paying $1.57.
The Newcastle Nights $2.45, of course, without Fletcher Sharp.
And the line is four and a half points.
Yeah, Charlie, like you say, a lot riding on this one.
I want to stay away from the match betting
and just go focus purely on the tri scores
for my same game multi.
I'm going to throw in Dom Young anytime,
Cola anytime, and Tommy Toborovitch anytime,
which is paying $8.55.
I like your thinking Jimmy,
it's going to be a hot Sunday afternoon,
26 degrees at Brookie Oval,
a fast dry track, plenty of points.
Yeah, probably should have threw in the overs
on the total point,
but I want to stick with those three tri scores,
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But the show today, Jimmy,
let's start with Zach Lomax,
because this morning he's been spotted
at Rugby Australia HQ.
Seems as though he might be heading to Rugby Union.
Obviously, the news came out that he won't be going
to the Melbourne storm.
He has come up with an agreement
with the Parameter Eels that he'll be able.
He'd only control his future now until the end of 2028.
So it's one year less than currently was agreed.
There was a $750,000 transfer fee
on the table from the Melbourne storm.
They also offered to take Ryan Madison
off the Parameter Eels hands
alongside a transfer fee.
Ryan Madison rejected that opportunity to go to Melbourne,
but it seems as though Zach Lomax NRL career
is over for now.
We're Zach and this, you know,
being spotted at Rugby League.
Sorry, Rugby Union, Australia.
They'd already been an offer from Rugby Union.
But maybe you understand, League,
and now that doors shut, he's gone back to Union,
and maybe he goes there for two years
and then comes back to League
when he no longer is at the Becken call of Parameter.
So his contract finished or would have finished
with the Parameter Eels in 28.
So he's available to play in 28.
Yeah, so it's just 26 and 27,
which is coincidentally with the World Cup,
maybe they'll look at that, but I don't know
that much about Rugby Union,
but it seems to me like they've gone first,
sui Lee, he, and Angus Crichton,
in their sense of partnership.
So I don't actually know if there's any room for Zach.
Could you play on the wing, maybe?
Maybe play on the wing, yeah, maybe.
Which is, you know, something that arguably NRL
don't want to see, but...
Also, he might not make the wings spot,
because they've got Max Jorgensen,
who's meant to be a superstar.
I'm not a big row union guy,
but he's meant to be now a superstar.
He's meant to be awesome.
And then they got Mark Noongini to us as well.
Exactly.
And then, yeah, maybe he's not going to play full back
at Rugby Union.
Rugby Australia, you're going to put a bid in for him,
like they're not going to subsidize any deal.
Probably not, no.
No.
With the interesting wording,
like it didn't go to court,
power of knocked off a year,
and they're still open to offers.
I think we'll see some clubs really start to
seriously consider it.
You know, one of those teams that could probably do with him,
I don't think he'd go back, but it'd be the dragon.
Yeah, I was like, you'd look at the,
you're looking at who's screaming out for like,
an out and out winger.
It'd be the dragons, wouldn't it?
Yeah, it would be.
But then would Zach go back,
but also would they want Zach back?
It didn't end amazingly well, did it?
But Shane Flanagan and Zach Lomax, I mean...
He was performing pretty well.
He was performing amazingly well.
He was performing very well.
Yeah.
And look, we don't want to see players of any ability,
of any ability,
not be allowed access to the game,
and I'm a bit torn between the player movement,
player power, clubs haven't too much control,
but I don't think you can strip Zach Lomax of agency
from this situation.
Like, yeah, we want him in the NRL.
Zach's someone who I've played with,
considering my friend, I've got a lot of time for him,
but, you know, he made this call to go to a rugby union
like the advice that he got was shocking really.
Like, even if you look back at the timeline of events,
why would you ask for a release before the tournament was announced?
Yeah, crazy.
Or the league was announced.
Like, it just seems so badly advised.
And I get how you can get your head turned.
Look, I left one competition and came to another.
So I understand that, but, you know, I did it when my contract
had run out.
I did have an opportunity to come prior to that.
But, but I didn't pursue it for a number of different reasons.
But Zach's in this, you know, you think about him and his
welfare and his family.
And, you know, the thing's going through his head,
but I'll go to court and it'll get sorted.
And yeah, the storm, they seem confident.
And, you know, he'd be very dejected now.
And I think he just wants to play some sort of sport.
Yeah.
If he doesn't get a deal sorted, I was thinking about this.
Not that new South Wales are like short about time backs,
but they're not particularly like jam packed of wingers.
Imagine if Zach Lomax plays origin.
That would be incredible.
It doesn't have an NRL team.
That would be incredible.
Because if, if, if,
Para Hall does registration, can, can he play,
he can't play like new South Wales copy either, can he?
I think so, no.
No, no, he could.
No, unless they get permission to play there.
Yeah.
But he wouldn't be getting paid.
So that would be like,
it's like, that would be incredible if Zach Lomax decided
to do something like that.
Well, it's not a new South Wales.
So who have you got in front of you?
You've got Coraz,
Toto, Fox.
Fox.
It's easy out at the moment.
Obviously, Brock's hand should be back for origin.
You would assume unless something
just disastrous with his hand.
No one's going to need to, I say.
Yep, yep.
And then Daniel Tupu, maybe.
Tupu, yeah.
Or, they got some options, don't they?
Yeah, they've got to call them options.
Yeah.
But that would be incredible.
He'd get picked over all of them, as he did last year.
No, it's, I flipped a little bit on this.
So I got the start.
I was like very much pro parameter.
And I was, you know, very,
I very much thought thought they were in their right
to do what they did.
I started to turn a little bit.
Just now that you're like,
well, Parameter have one out of this.
Parameter have done well.
They freed up the money.
They brought a Jonah,
peasant and Brian Kelly.
They were offered $750,000 for a player.
That is, they is an easily a fair enough transfer fee
for a player.
And they're still not letting it happen
but this feels like now it's become more of a
a dick swinging contest and an ego thing
rather than actually, you know,
doing what is the fair and just thing.
You know what Charlie, I think you've hit the nail
on the head there, like,
yes, there's enough to the party that you think,
just let him go.
You just wonder how bad the blood is between these two
football clubs.
Obviously, the, the, the O nine grand final comes to mind.
Yeah.
Well, I think that's a huge part of it.
Like, is it almost a payback for that?
Is it, we can never do, do business with you guys.
It's just a big now is, is this a, you know,
a similar situation to a Nick Pilates and Isaac Moses.
We are just done.
We're not going to help each other out.
There's no mutual benefit.
But benefit shoes here.
Yeah.
We're just, we're just going to play hardball.
Well, when you think when we had Heidi on here
on the podcast, he was so anti the storm.
Like that, I think Paramount of fans will hate them.
They especially, the fact they still celebrate
those trophies as well.
Like that would annoy Paramount every single time
they do that.
Maybe, maybe that's the next play for Melbourne
to come to the negotiating table.
We'll, we'll, we'll take down any,
I'm being serious here.
I know you're laughing thinking like,
this is a bit of a joke, but maybe storm to get them
on, say, look, I'll tell you what we'll do at any,
we'll never celebrate.
I know again, we won't, we won't celebrate 09.
And any sort of recognition of that in the core
part will be deleted.
Yeah.
I mean, it's got to be more to, I know I saw,
I think I saw Ben Dobin on the podcast say
that Jason Riles and Frank Penese,
you don't have a great relationship.
I don't know if that's true or not.
Um, but yeah, it's, it's a, it's a shame.
Because if it wasn't Melbourne,
do you think he'd be back in the NRL now?
I do.
I do the Gold Coast title saying 100%.
Like, I'm, again, power are within their rights.
It's up to them to decide.
You, you don't have to take the highest bid
or the, or the best quality play.
You can, you can dictate they've got all the power.
You know, really if, if Zach and his team had
their time over, the exit clauses would have looked
very different.
Yeah.
With, with some actual fees.
But obviously this is how convinced they were of it.
Well, we don't care.
Yeah, because we're not going to be,
we're not going to need to, uh, to use this.
Are you laughing at the flyer?
It's just flying.
Yeah.
Um, they obviously felt very strongly that this was,
you know, put as many years as you like.
I'm, I'm going to this new competition.
Yeah.
Structured it, um, like more, like, here's the fee.
Mm-hmm.
Like, you know, we hold your registration at the price
of half a million dollars.
It can be bought out.
Yeah.
Terrible, um, managerial advice from Clinton Shikofsky,
who obviously manages not just Zach Lomix,
but Ryan Papenhausen as well.
So clearly he's a common denominator there
in the two players that no longer in the NRL.
But you look at all these other clubs that could go after him.
And I don't think there's many other NRL clubs that...
Perth Bears, man.
Perth Bears, yeah, but that's for next year,
for this year, for this year, for this year.
I think...
And what are Perth Bears going to do, though,
in terms of giving Paramounter a player back?
They won't be able to.
No, but they could, they wouldn't have to accept as much money.
And I think they would view Perth Bears as a different
proposition to Melbourne store.
Because if he did, I mean, even then,
like, in terms of the FU given, like,
you allow Zach Lomix to join Paramounter.
So to join the Perth Bears for 200K and no player in return,
like, what does that say to Melbourne?
Yeah.
Like, it's an even bigger slap in the face.
Yeah.
There obviously must be some really bad blood between Paramounter
and Zach as well.
Or you've got to shoot, yeah.
Yeah, this is...
But they're not, I don't, they're obviously not friends.
Paramounter and Zach Lomix.
So that's...
You can look at the situation and probably empathize with Power
there because, you know, they did a lot to aggravate
for his release to come to Power from the Dragons
and then a year of football in him and then he gets...
Oh, now you want something even better.
Yeah.
Maybe they've found out that he's been talking to them
for longer than what we've known.
When you look through the teams that could make a play there
for this year, like the Knights?
Well, do they really need him?
Dom Young and they've got Dom Young, Marjou,
and they've got like enough outside backs already.
They're especially in the centers.
They've got best in gag eye.
I mean, the team that I thought that could maybe make a play
because there's, there is the cat boys
because they've got obviously burns
and toolungy at the back.
And then in the centers, they've got Tom Chester played
for them on the weekend.
You know, could they...
Yeah, maybe.
Yeah, maybe.
They've got a lot of back rowers and if you look in there,
their front row as well, they've maybe got a griffin name.
Could you let him go to Paramounter?
Would Paramounter want him?
Maybe.
The other issue as well is Paramounter sort of spent the money.
So you'd have to have like, it becomes really hard.
Melbourne was the perfect situation
where they had the cat to absorb, like,
like, saccelomax perfectly,
whereas not many other of these clubs do.
Yeah.
I think the NRL will be obviously there
in the commission, run the team in Perth.
I think they'll be moving heaven and earth again.
I mean, because he'd be that, that mocky guy, wouldn't he?
You know, we've spoken at length before
about how the Perth bears are assembling a solid looking team
of some character builders, some people
to lay the foundation of the club moving forward.
You know, a number of players from the Sharks, Leeds,
Ryan knows, Paramounter's all really, you know, strong sides.
And we look at the recent success or like top four finishes
from the Sharks.
Paramounter speaks for themselves.
Leeds is a strong club.
So you've got players coming from there,
but there's no market.
Zach is putting him on the billboards.
You know, he'd be the bad news bears.
Just lead into that, like have a guy that everybody else
in the NRL maybe loves to hate, but he's your man in Perth.
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Season C's apply.
The eels are now also one of the front runners for Mitch Barnett,
which is big news.
David Riccio broke that they're in the race for him.
I think the dragons are in the mix as well.
The Broncos are in the mix.
David Riccio doesn't think the Knights are one of the teams
in the mix, which is quite interesting.
But do you like him for the eels, Jimmy?
Yeah, well, the eels weren't shy about their pursuits
of Keon Kalo and Matangi, where they so,
that they've clearly identified it.
That middle of the park requires a strengthening
with some outside help.
So, yeah, I think Mitch Barnett would fit that bill.
Strings that Newcastle on in, I mean,
we watched them on the weekend
and there's some really good young, exciting players there.
And we all get a bit carried away with all the Knights
are back.
And I've had that conversation myself around
tipping them for the spoon and just going, oh,
kind of revisit that tip off one game.
I mean, it is only one game,
but it's a huge step in the right direction.
For the Knights, I think they'd be
I can't believe they've got to be in the conscience.
Well, they're in the mix for a bit
to whether or not Mitch Barnett wants to go there.
I don't know if he does, which is interesting.
His family's in Tari, but Paramata, the dragons,
women, you spoke to Shane Flanagan in Vegas
and he didn't shy away from the fact
that the dragons would love to get him.
You know, they spoke about, he spoke about adding two marquees.
Now, he's not a marquee, but it looks like J. Kavarillo
is probably going to end up with the dragons,
which would be a good buy for them.
Yeah, they're in the market still there.
They're not the finished article, but by any stretch.
The Barnett coming into the market,
I think we'll be joined by some other players.
Ram one is, it is great, like everyone's super excited,
but there's some players there
that have been left out of there now 19.
There's also some players that will be
on an extended bench and not get any game time
that will be looking around and going,
like I think one of the consequences of this six-man bench
is the two players that don't play how they feel.
Like it's a bit different if you're there 18th man
because you're kind of, you're sat there thinking,
I might not get on.
And maybe that will be the feeling,
but two players have kitted out
and maybe even had your half time injection
or your injection 30 minutes before kick off.
You're all strapped, you're all ready to go
and you're done.
Like there's gonna be some disgruntled footballers out there.
That would have effect the psyche of some players
and no doubt they'll be speaking to management
and family about what their future holds.
I mean, I've looked at the camera side and three names,
just like glue, and this is a compliment
to camera, doesn't knock on them.
It's a compliment about how their quality of roster
has improved over the years.
Own party, not playing in the 19, Matt Timoco
and Matt and Nicholson, three players who,
like watching personally, really, really enjoyed.
Now, I think it's been Timoco's gonna place
some reserve grade.
He's in reserve grade to get his match fitness up,
but not just match fitness.
I think there's huge defensive concerns around him as well
from the caberators.
But there'd be some teams that'd be looking at him going,
well, we'll have a bit of that.
Maybe we'll reach out, see how he's feeling.
You know, the fascinating one we've made to many Nicholson,
they was talking about him being injured and whatnot.
He's playing reserve grade anyway.
He, the craziest part is Noah Martin
has not just leapt him, but he's also leapt Zach Hosking.
Yes, so Noah Martin has gone from, you know,
one of the standout players in New South Wales
cup last year for the caberators.
And this guy's gonna be a star of the future.
He's got the great mullet, like, and he scored 14 tries,
I think, in New South Wales cup last year,
which is for a back rower, just incredible.
So he's got that right back row spot
with Hudson Young, obviously, on the left.
The interesting thing as well with the caberators
is Ethan's strangest switching sides to the right side.
So Ethan Sand is gonna play left,
and Ethan's strangest gonna play on the right.
So he's taken, he's taken foggily side,
and the main reason for that is Ethan Sand
is obviously a left foot kicker.
Yeah, it's quite the shuffling.
Congratulations to Noah Martin.
We must have had an amazing preseason.
There's some serious competition there in the edge back row.
Oh yeah.
May one of the most arguably the most stacked
NRL side of back rows.
Well now this is, this is the Zach Lomax team.
His caberators are Zach Lomax team.
Could they let one of these back rowers
go to the paramedicals,
and do they need a Zach Lomax in the center's perhaps?
He got Simmy Sassangi,
who has been fantastic whenever he's filled in,
and Sebastian Chris.
Yeah, I mean, the rate is probably having this conversation.
The other one that screams out at me is own party.
Like, looking at the dummy halves in the NRL as it stands,
I've got Harry Grant in a league of zone,
like an absolute league of his own.
And, you know, fair the down, the pecking order,
then you kind of got this crop of chorus out,
braille from the sharks, martial king, cheese.
Robson.
Robson, yeah, of course.
Read Marnie.
Like, you've got a crop there, and, you know,
in two weeks' time, you pick one name out of them,
who's the better of that park,
and then two weeks' let you change your mind.
They're all sort of jumbling around.
Like, say, read Marnie in a world of his own,
but a league of his own.
But, I'm party, what I've seen from him,
in limited exposure to NRL,
he looks the goods.
He looks amazing.
He moves a bit like Harry Grant.
He looks like a similar style.
Yeah, he looks the goods,
and obviously, camera in this predicament of,
they've signed braille,
Tommy's styling shot the lights out last year.
Like, I don't think they saw that coming.
Telling him he was sensational,
and he deserves all the plaudits he can get,
but I don't think they were planning for that.
They obviously signed braille,
but then, own party is that young player,
is he the next Izzy Katar,
and I'm talking about Perth Bears,
where they start making, he's signed till 28.
Yeah. Like, he's signed till 28, yeah.
So, there's a lot of things can happen between now and then,
but, you know,
if this canvas side, as it currently stands,
plays and wins like they did last year,
he's not gonna be able to get in.
And for every success story of things that there's always that,
the couple of lads that miss out,
and they're looking like, well, I should be there.
Yeah. So, my understanding of the own party situation
is that own party is a very understanding of the decision,
and has not kicked stones about the decision at all.
He obviously played every game last year on party,
most of them off the bench,
and he was getting about 15 minutes of game,
something around that.
The decision,
themed to go, played New South Wales Cup,
is about his long-term development.
They have a choice of, they can keep playing in 15 minutes,
a game,
but what's gonna make him to better play in the long run?
Is it playing 15 minutes of game in the NRL,
or is it playing 65 minutes a week
in the New South Wales Cup set up,
and their thoughts at the moment is that New South Wales Cup
is best for him,
and I think Owen Paddy is understanding of that.
But then, if Stalin and Braille are fit all year,
yeah, he's gonna play Braille all year.
He's gonna play Braille all year.
He's gonna play Braille all year,
which is then gonna lead,
whether camera fans like it or they don't,
there's gonna be teams that go,
they'll be getting, you know,
two stages removed from Indonesia.
Yeah.
About coming to our football club.
Like I said, look, like there's here,
you're four or five nines that,
you know, you could,
but how many other sides are after quality,
do we have?
And you think if I-
And you've got a new franchise team in.
Exactly, that's why I would love the loan system to come in
and be really, really,
more commonly used in the NRL,
because the more we expand,
there is just a limit of talent.
Yeah.
I don't have guys like,
I'm party playing New South Wales Cup,
or Maddie Nicholson,
because they're both regular NRL first graders.
They're both players that will make an impact
on any NRL club they're in.
So how can we have this system
where we're continuing to expand,
but then have talent like that playing reserve grade?
I think we can't.
I think we have to have the loan system brought in.
I know we can use it in those ways around
or you sign this contract,
you do this, but I think you should just have a loan set up
where yet the club pays the salary
or you know, you work out a salary system that works.
And yet, if you get injuries, you can recall them
and you bring them back,
like treat it like the football loan system,
like the exact same setup we need to have it,
especially with expansion coming.
Yeah, I don't think it's about our dear Charlie.
Yeah, I like it.
Yeah.
Because I mean, right now this Perth Bears team is a bit like...
Bit average.
Bit average.
Well, we've said they need some stars.
I don't think they're going to loan in any stars,
but if my team needs a nine,
I mean, it might be that Owen Patty through, you know,
injury or suspension gets the spot over Braille and Staling.
Yeah.
And then one of those guys becomes the Owen Patty of,
well, hang on a minute,
Staling's not in.
Like, we'll go after him or Braille is not in.
We'll go after him.
You've ruined the two hawkers and...
Absolute maxing your start in 90 as it is now.
Yeah.
So one of those guys is going to be left out.
There's an oversupply...
And with back rowers and, you know,
even about this potential trade,
some like low max,
Canberra in a great position here.
Like, they've got all the stocks
and maybe they can use some of that to improve and trade.
But they're going to have their hands full,
keeping everybody happy.
And I don't know Owen Patty personally,
but, you know, your reports are he's fine with it,
but look, we know how quickly
and people can change their mind
and how fickle it is
and how we all like to think
when control of our own destiny.
Just like Zach Lomax,
like the call might come
for a third party for someone,
but we'll...
And we know...
Look, whether we like it or we not,
or we don't,
we know it happens
that some clubs will be
inadvertently reaching out
in a month
if this situation stays the same.
Yeah.
I think the camera rate
is a premiership contender
and I think the $20 price
they've got in Ladbrokes
is a bit disrespectful
if I'm being honest.
And if I was a team shopping,
I'd be going to Canberra
and I'd be going to try and find players
because it's not just the hooker situation.
Like Joe Roddy is going to be
an absolute superstar
down the track.
He's playing reserve grade this week
and I know he's young,
but I'll be trying to get him.
They've got this big front rower
in their setup called Jake Clydesdale
who I went and saw the camera rate
this game.
He's six foot seven, eight
and just big and powerful
and brother of Adam Clydesdale
who used to play in the NRLs.
Well, but Adam Clydesdale
was a little hooker, so...
Yeah.
Don't know what's going on there
with those jeans,
but they got Kobe Black
then in the halves.
Matt Tomoco,
Chevy Stewart's playing
New South Wales Cup for them.
Like,
Maddie Nicholson,
like there's so many good players
if I was a team shopping,
I'd go shopping Canberra
and it's why they're a contender
this team because they've got
depth everywhere in all positions.
You know, credits to the Canberraators
and just how far they've come
in 12 months.
I think with the young players
internally even they would've said,
oh, this is the year
that they're going to make
the top four and obviously
with last year's
minor premiership,
they surprised almost everybody.
But you're right,
there's some very,
very talented,
very...
Well, there's some very
high quality players
that won't be playing
first grade and...
but believe you me,
like the recruitment managers
that the roster list makers
will be angling
because there's some players
there that will be being told
by people around them
that they're too good
to be playing cup
and they should be in
with the big boys
and there's genuine
options to join.
Absolutely.
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This round is incredible
by the way.
It's opening around a
foot. Yes, we've had two
games.
Storm eels Thursday night.
So much to this game.
Jonah pes it against the
storm, the Zach Lomax
Cup.
I wanted to ask you
with all the stuff
that's happening with
Zach Lomax,
it's very much
very executive.
It doesn't feel like
a player issue.
If you were a
player at one of these
clubs, would you
care about this
Zach Lomax thing?
Would it impact
your preparation at all
or performance?
It shouldn't.
It shouldn't.
But I think
if you par out,
some of the players
would be
maybe sludging
the storm players
being like,
I think Zach was going
to take your spot
or you were the guy
or, hey, you know
that would
redact
redact the name
in the court.
So it's
I've heard it was you,
you know.
I'd be going to
Harry Grant.
You know what?
They're pushing so
hard to get it
redacted.
They want to flick
you.
Can you believe
that?
Matt, I'm telling you.
Ask them.
Did you notice how
short it was?
It looked like
five letters, five letters.
Harry Grant.
Save your coats.
So you think
you'll be a more
spicy game then?
I think there'll be some,
there'll be
on the current there
and the fans there as well.
Like,
it's sparked
and bad blood now
between these
clubs.
The fans will certainly
feel it and bring that
energy and bring that
like,
but I hate
a bit of spite.
Yeah, absolutely.
I think
that'll be a factor.
We were at this game
round one last year
where he was just
got absolutely pumped.
Sunday after.
Sunday after.
This time round
do you see going
any different?
No, I don't.
The storm round one record
is no fluke.
Yeah.
Absolutely no fluke.
And I think this
side after what they
went through last year
being so, so close.
Like, so close.
Or almost as close
as the Broncos
in 23.
Not quite that
extent, but not far
behind that.
I can't see this side
having a mental slump.
I think that they
grow from that.
I really do.
I think that the spine
of Grant Hughes
Munster is going to be
too difficult to
contain.
And so we're
far along out
slotting at the back there.
I think that was to be
expected.
Was to be expected.
Yeah.
Excitement machine.
Yeah.
And that's, you know,
barring,
barring a couple of NRL
forebacks.
That seems to be where
the trend is going.
Yeah.
That really
exciting like
goose step,
beater man,
get on the outside
of a man.
That's where the
foreback position is
heading.
Speed and excitability.
Yeah.
You've got your
you're dealing
Edwards who's
a different type of
foreback.
That really contributes
to his team.
You've got a connoisseur
in that same sort of
mould.
But the majority
of really good
forebacks are all
super exciting and
so far along.
That fits that bill.
The back roll looks
very different to the team
that won the premium.
She's got Joe Chan on
one edge.
Joe Chan, the reports
are he's got the right
edge.
So he's basically
taking the Ellicottos spot.
Then you've got
a Lissati on the other edge
and Alec MacDonald at
the moment.
They're out of the
injury.
I mean, is that a
worry at all?
Not for Melbourne.
Not for Melbourne.
It's a system.
It's a system
based defense.
It's a lot of
systems there.
They've got some
out of the jack out.
Jack in the box.
Pull the
rabbit out the
hat.
Style of play with
Grant and Monster to
go and just break
games open.
Hughes put him
in that category as
well.
But when you
do those plays in those
positions at that
football club, your
job is relatively
simple.
I accidentally said I'm
injured for the
areas.
Obviously just
suspended for the first two
rounds.
I meant to say, but you
like the storm comfortably
in this one.
Big surprise.
No jack
having to.
Big surprise.
Now, their bench has
Wyshart Cooper-Clark,
who's this young front
rower, who's going to be a
star.
Tuikamikamika.
Davi Moale.
And then there's
Preston Kahn, who was
there.
Yeah, Jersey flag
player of the year, I
think last year.
But yeah, no, no
heads ring
tin.
Very interesting.
It is.
I thought he was project
baloney player all day.
But maybe he's maybe he's
going to come good.
Maybe he's dealing with
the legal.
We don't know.
I think he'll be in
that.
I hope so.
I really hope
in Everinton finds his
feet there.
The second game, then we
moved to Friday.
Warriors against the
Chookies.
Now, there's so much
to do.
You've got DCE's
first game.
You know, the
rooster team looks
as stacked as ever.
You've got Blake
Steep starting there at
lock.
Obviously,
Radley suspended for
the first chunk of the
season.
But the Warriors.
Now, the Warriors
Chanel,
Harris-Tavetta, and
Tanner Boyd in the
halves.
And I hate that
Laker Hallisiem is on
the bench.
I just want to say that
man start every week.
Yeah.
I'm with you.
I'd like to see him
be 80-minute
time.
I'm looking at this.
It's a tough place to go.
But I think that the
roosters should have enough
to be clinical and be
professional.
And it is going to be
all eyes on the six and
seven.
And how they can combine
and everything they do
or they don't do.
But there's enough to
like about this rooster
side to say,
we go over to New Zealand
and come away with the
two points in round
mind.
Like, yeah.
There's too much there
for the roosters, the
finishing ability.
You mentioned the
halves there for the
Warriors.
And it doesn't scream
breaking this team open.
I disagree with you.
I think Warriors win this
game in an
upset.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think it's going to take
a bit of time for D.C.
and Sam Walker to click.
And I think the Warriors
home game,
that packed house, they
incredible atmosphere.
I think they might
get them in round one.
Oh, man.
You know, you can see it
happening.
Yeah.
But I just think the
roosters will just have too
much.
Can't wait for that one.
Bronx Panthers as well.
The second game,
geez.
Amazing.
Amazing opening weekend
of footy.
The Bronx.
They got a bounce back
after the World Club
challenge.
It's the first NRL game
since the Pain Haar staff.
The Panthers, Nathan
Cleary's playing.
He's avoided suspension.
They want some
revenge from the
ball.
No Lee and Martin,
which is a shame.
He throws some
spikes in the mix.
But, yeah, this
absolute sell out as well
for some
corp.
It's going to be exciting.
I think there's a lot of
eyes on Brisbane.
And there's a lot of people
that can't wait for them
to fail and hoping they
fail.
And this Brisbane
attitude amongst their
fans is very much
bringing it on.
It's against you.
Like the rest of the
comp scenes, the haters
because we're successful.
So, let's have it.
Just taking things
slightly off track.
Not too dissimilar
what's happening with the
Dragons fans now.
And I forgot to mention this
in the show.
But the Dragons
are gutted.
They didn't get the two
points.
But now there's a narrative
amongst their fans that
really bought them out
the Woodwick.
A narrow loss in a big
game and against a local
rival.
Like this is ignited
Dragons fans.
They are like the league
don't want us to win.
They want to favor the dogs.
And it's bought out this
like this bulls in this
excitement, this passion,
this fight.
Like we're back against the
corner here.
Let's fight.
And it's interesting that
coach Flanagan
within 12 months.
We won't win the
Spoon until we won't win the
comp.
But now he's got this
situation where it seems
like this is really
bizarrely.
Had they have won?
They're all cheering.
And they're all saying,
yeah, we beat the dogs
over in Vegas
and all this.
But they didn't,
they lost in what people
are calling controversial
circumstances.
And we can debate whether
it's a stripper or knock on it.
For me,
50-50, awful, if you're
dragons, brilliant,
if you're dogs.
Dragons fans don't think
that.
They are up there.
They are about.
And it's this
bizarre to hear me
to anybody to hear this
and some of the situation
up.
But this could be the
catalyst for the dragons.
Fans really getting
behind this side this year.
Yeah.
And we'll change,
change track to Broncos.
But their fans have got
there.
They're being a bonnet there
where they're like,
well, hang on.
We just,
you should be celebrating
us.
And all already,
you can't wait to knock us
down.
Like, you've got a
premiership when in coach.
And some of you,
you know,
all you Sydney,
media tapes.
That's what we've been
referred to.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh, you're just jealous.
You can't celebrate us
because we're Brisbane.
And like, that narrative
is coming.
Yeah.
What's not?
It's there.
Mate, there was like
200 bad comments about us,
when we spoke about the
pain heart situation.
And I think
it is the reality, though,
that the pain heart is
over Mark McGuire
and some of the other players
are over the methods.
And there's a reason
pain heart is leaving.
Exactly.
So it's not a
made up.
Yeah.
Like, no one's here
making it up to try and create
drama.
If he hadn't signed
with someone else.
Yeah.
And if the con,
if like,
his future still
haven't been sorted out.
Like, maybe
you drop it,
but I mean, come on.
Come on.
It's obvious.
But I think
it's going to be a really
tough test for them.
It's going to be a
tough test for England.
There be a bit
wounded.
They've had a really
intense preseason training
session.
They've had, you know,
so much go on there
at the Broncos.
Who are you
liking in this game?
Yeah.
You know what?
It's funny.
That preseason thing.
And many of people
were up in arms,
saying like, oh, well,
well, I, you know,
what about the service
men and women?
And the Broncos players
get to go to the Womba.
It's not that like
two weeks.
Oh, what I'd give.
But it's
excessive in the world of
NRL.
Yeah.
And, you know, you've
got teams in America
that, you know, go all
over the country there
for extended periods
time.
You know, the pre, I was
speaking to some friends
actually, you know, the
preseason tournament
in Arizona.
A lot of players have a house
there because they, they,
they, they move.
They're obviously
minted, but they'll move
around.
Yeah.
In order for their preseason
schedule, because a lot
of the places, it's too
cold to go to their practice
to their practice facilities.
So they don't do some of caps away?
Yeah, yeah.
So they'll do like extended stints away.
And that's the life of an athlete.
And nobody complains there.
But it's just because it's so different.
And it's just that little bit longer
than what most people or most teams would be accustomed to.
So there is something there.
I get it.
Most people would cut off their right arm
to have a chance in the NRL preseason.
When you're in, when you're outside the cultural norms
of a NRL preseason, it tans heads.
It raises our eyebrows.
What are we doing here?
Why are we here for so long?
Why am I getting woken up at four o'clock in the morning
on the last day?
All that sort of jazz?
I'm not coming.
I'm not doing it.
I'm going to say no now.
I'm going somewhere else.
Yeah, I'm going somewhere else.
I'm going to the party.
Because of you.
You're like the path is this one of the bronchers.
I do like the panthers actually.
They've slipped under everybody's radar.
Not really spoken about.
I've still got them as the premiership favorites in my eyes.
It's a big game for them.
But it's one that I think they've been looking forward
to for a long time.
And I think with Brisbane's recent travels,
they're more gettable than they would be.
Do you think Penra is going to be a lot more focused
on the start of the year this year than they were last year?
So they started very slow.
I mean, it's well documented they were sitting
the last after eight rounds, nine rounds, whatever it was.
But I think they're going to put way more focus
on the start of the season this year.
Yeah, absolutely.
They've got to be realised they were the architects of just
how difficult last season came.
It was on them.
And had they have got a couple of extra wins.
It wouldn't have been in that situation.
Ben hunts at the 14.
So that's always going to be his role to start the year.
We've caught a pig starting at dummy half.
Do you like Ben off the bench?
Yeah, I do.
Just open the old fashioned softening up period.
Yeah, let Corkpigs handle that.
Yeah, let him do just get serviced to your forwards
and your outside backs.
And then when Ben comes on, you can start to play.
We moved to Saturday, no three o'clock game,
obviously on Saturday because of the Vegas game.
So it's another fantastic game.
It's Shark's Titans.
It's Josh Hanna against his former club.
It's a huge game.
I mean, the Titans pit fans are starting to believe.
Now, you're here in Titans fans talk about top eight.
I think Luke here.
He's got the Titans in his top eight.
But this does feel like a huge test in the opening game,
Jimmy, against a shark's team, which I think
are going under the radar.
Yeah, I think sharks are looking at this season going.
This is our last together as a group.
That's an unfortunate reality of professional sports.
I think this is a big, big danger game for the shark.
I'm really interested to see how they apply themselves,
not how they play, but how they apply themselves,
because we've seen in not too dissimilar situations,
the sharks take on a team and either
underman or lower down the ladder.
And after 20 minutes, it's like they're
having the chat boys come on.
And they can't quite get themselves back into the contest.
And before you know, the victim of an upset.
Yeah.
But I think they've all spoken about that this year.
Campbell's out with the hamstring injury,
so Lockheelius slots in at the seven.
Really interested to see how Lockheelius goes.
Talking of moving the deck chairs,
and rearranging shuffling the deck,
get the Titans play well with Ilius.
And no Campbell's just resigned, but we've
spoken about the Raiders having three hawkers.
Titans have got three fullbacks.
Like if Ilius, like, he's, he's, like,
can't believe his lock, he's got, right,
I've got this chance now.
Like I was probably not going to be set.
I've got the chance now.
And he'll back himself at the huge opportunity
for Lockheelius.
That gives some more hope for the Titans.
Obviously, Campbell being out, but Ilius is in there going.
Well, I can create a storm with who needs to go,
because I'm keeping hold of myself.
Exactly.
And then it could not be Campbell.
It could be Brumson.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, it's available to leave.
And if you think about the parameter eels, obviously,
they think Joe Ashpapali might be a five eight for them
in the future, but they've only got peasant for a year.
So they've got to figure out their half situation
for 2027 parameter at some point.
So yeah, who knows?
In that game, though, who do you like?
Sharks, when it sharks.
OK, yeah.
Now the Jamal Foggedy Cup takes place on Sunday.
He goes against up against his former club.
You know, this team, both these teams, look really good.
I mean, a lot of people tip in manly for the spoon,
but when you look at their team on paper,
there's a lot of, there's a lot to like about it.
Their issues are favorites in this one.
They're evens on Ladbroke.
They're $90.90.
I think that's about right.
Like, it's hard to separate these two teams
and for different reasons.
But I want to go to the readers.
I think they need a win.
Like they, I know that sounds strange saying it round one,
but I have to loss, loss to finish last year in finals.
I think they really need to start this campaign with the win.
Yeah.
And I think Ricky Stewart will be into them
about we're not going to be playing catch-off.
We're not going to be the Broncos of 24.
We know how good we can be.
We go to Brookvale and we get the win.
Yeah.
Huge advantage for them in the middle,
it seems with Joe Taapani and Josh Papali
up against Pasekir and Takiyahau.
And then you've got obviously big red Corey Horsbrough
against a wounded Jake Trevoivich.
And then on the bench, guys like Atta Marriota
who's a really underrated player.
Marriota doesn't get much love
because of how stacked the rate is to him.
He's a great player, Smithies, Hosking.
We've spoken about the three players not playing.
Exactly.
But by naming those three that are on in the team,
it shows you how good the players that are in.
I think we're mainly delighted to have Pasekir back,
but you'd be naive to think that it will take some,
or not take some time for him to get open about again.
Mm-hmm.
Joey Walsh is in the full team for Manley.
Is he the guy who's going to replace Luke Brooks
at some point in the season?
Who knows?
Yeah.
I don't know.
It's a funny one, this extended bench
and some of the players that get put on there.
It is annoying my OCD a little bit.
I just want to know who's playing.
I kind of made it.
Well, also there's this kind of this,
or where does he fit in?
There's no guarantees.
And like I say, those players are going to warm up,
get ready, get their injections, get all this strapping on
and maybe for nothing.
And yes, like Joey Walsh is, he can't come on for fogey.
No.
Like in his debut game for the club,
and if he goes on for Brooks,
you know, then you know where that story goes.
Dan Laurie not playing New South Wales Cup,
but in the 18 jersey, does that mean he's maybe
going to feature off the bench?
Like, you know, it's...
It is, it's going to take some getting used to this.
It is, in the 19 months.
But I'm going to go to the Raiders and this one,
a bit of a semi upset.
I'm, well, I type an upset.
No, well, I think Raiders should be the favorite.
I'm actually going to go Manley in the Ups,
I was going to claim upset for Go for Manley.
Yeah, all right, for this.
All right, last game of the weekend.
This is where we're going to go ahead
to head in our Ladbroke same game multi-sale.
Yes.
Not sure if you've got yours ready.
But I am locked and loaded, Charlie, wait.
All right.
We're going to do this every week.
We're going to do this every week.
Yeah.
All right, same game multi.
Yeah.
I can't remember if I got mine or not,
but we'll put on screen the tracker now
if, if either of us got it.
But we'll go with you first, Jimmy.
So obviously it's Dolphins the self.
I'm going to go Finns minus one and a half
into my favorite feature,
the Duos, Hammer and Herbie,
for two or more tries between them
and over 43 and a half total game points.
So I just want to make sure I've got that correctly here.
I've got you've got the Dolphins minus one and a half,
which is the line at the moment.
Points over.
Point over 43 and a half.
And the Duos.
The Duos, you know I love my Duos, Charlie.
I certainly do, mate.
My one, I've got the Dolphins winning,
but I'm just going head to head.
And I'm going to go David Feeder any time in cell would
cobb-o any times of a two.
Debuttons for their respected clubs.
$15.80 on the Ladbrokes app,
which is fan, bloody plastic.
Oh, you know what, I actually kind of like that, Charlie.
Well done.
Thank you.
Thank you, I'll call it the Debuttons bet.
And I hope it is my debut win of this season as well.
Obviously on Ladbrokes, remember it always together
will responsibly.
Now, Jimmy, this game, the Wayne Bennett Cup.
There's so much to this game.
I think one of these two teams makes the top eight,
one of the misses out when the season's set and done.
How do you see this game going?
Yeah, I don't know if there's room for both of these side.
It is such a stuck competition where it's so difficult
to predict the eight and, you know,
the Cambra are a timely reminder of many
of pondits getting things wrong
on what they produced last year.
Who's going to be the Cambra Raiders?
Is there going to be a Cambra Raiders of 2025 in 2026?
Look, selves need to improve.
Their injuries again with no gyro, no Brandon Smith.
Humphries is missing for a couple of weeks of spend yet.
I'm still not 100% sold on South's middle.
I obviously can't worry back,
Keon and Tutola, like looks great on paper,
but I think they're fraction like there.
So look, I'm definitely taking dolphins in this one.
I think the dolphins are going to shoot the lights out
this year.
The stars are lying like that side on paper.
Flagler back in the end are like,
how good is that?
The feel good story around him?
Like, I love that he's starting as well.
Oh, man, just get it.
Get him in there.
Yeah.
The unwatching that this him on the sideline
of the trials, I felt bad for him.
I was like, just get the boy on.
Like, let him go and get some action and get delighted for him.
Nobody likes to see Janice go that way,
but because mate, you did a podcast with him.
And I remember he was, he was almost in denial a little bit.
If you go back and watch the podcast, he was so adamant.
And at the time, I remember the podcast finished
and you and me sort of spoke about after.
And we're like, oh, he doesn't really know the situation.
He's in truly yet, but he was right.
We were wrong.
Well, you kind of got the sense that he was in limbo.
Yeah.
And most of the time when you're in limbo,
it doesn't seem to work out well.
And the thing that surprised me about the injury,
it was like, he was doing everything he can
or everything he could.
I was still basically down to a little bit of luck,
a bit of the unknowns.
And everything he was trying to do to stimulate the nerve growth.
Like, there's no guarantees it was working.
And when you're hearing news like that and, you know,
doctors, not maybe not letting you back and all this sort of stuff,
it seemed like the writing was on the wall.
He still didn't have feeling at that point.
This was so far after the incident, like,
you and me after were like talking about steroids
and things like that, like, should we try this?
Should we try?
I thought I'll turn it.
Yeah, Lee, I thought, retire from the sport,
go and find some medical help that you can't receive,
clean yourself up and then come back into the test and pull.
Yeah.
But yeah, good on him.
I'm really pleased for Flagler being back playing NRL.
We know his capabilities when he's at his absolute best.
He'll have some lung issues throughout this game,
no doubt, but delighted to see him back.
Morgan Knowles making his NRL debut.
Congratulations, Morgan Knowles looking forward to seeing him
coming mix it with the big boys here in the NRL.
He's in my super coach team.
I got him in for my super coach team, Morgan Knowles.
Nice.
He drafted him in the 17th round of a 16-man comp.
So I hope you guys well for me,
because that'll be an absolute steal if you guys well.
I, he will, mate.
He won't let anybody down.
To me, this, I think, all eyes will be on Broncos' pan-riff
Friday night if you're going to pick one game
of NRL to wild.
Yep.
That would be it.
But I'm super excited about Sunday's game.
Like, really, really excited.
We're going to be there as well.
We're going to be there.
Change the flesh.
That's uncomfortable.
It will be great.
I'm pumped for it.
The thing is going back to Flagler for a second.
That limbo period.
That must be the hardest, because it's not,
at least with an ACL injury.
Like, oh, yeah.
I'm back in nine months.
I do this.
I do that.
I'm back.
They're not knowing.
And Jio is going through at the moment.
And he doesn't know what's going on, Jio.
I know there were some reports come out this week
that it's looking positive for Jio,
but then the press statement came out
a couple days later from the Bunnies.
It says he's going through a six-week treatment
with the medical doctor.
And hopefully, they'll know more by that stage.
I think, I know that Jio doesn't know what's happening yet.
And he's obviously concerned.
And in this limbo period, it must be so tough.
It is.
And take yourself out of the world of professional sport,
even, you know, there'd be many of people out there
that, you know, go to a doctor with a problem
and not knowing it.
And they're waiting on the test results.
And obviously, that limbo of what can I do about this?
What can I do about it?
And some people have heard people, they actually get relief,
even though it's bad news,
or there's bad news in a time frame.
It's better than being in the unknown.
I can actually do something about it.
I can, you know, I can be proactive.
I can either get my house in order
or plan things for the future,
or within different time frames,
become, you know, have some bucket list items to do.
And people get horrible news.
But I've heard it before where that is better to know
than to not know.
Like being in limbo is,
and the unknown is a horrible situation.
I think there's some studies that's the worst thing
for the human science, basically, the unknown.
So, yeah, great to see you back.
You've got the dolphins in a close one.
You're doing this game.
Oh, not necessarily a close game.
Okay, you've got the dolphins in this one.
Yeah, I've got the dolphins as well.
So I'm with you.
We'll see who's same game multi gets up.
Maybe both of us do.
Who knows?
I'm just paying about five times your also.
It would be a better ban.
Listen to questions to finish a show.
Now, Patreon, important to say,
we will still be doing listener questions
on the main show.
However, you'll only get one per week.
So, if you do want to get your question answered,
the best place to do it is going to be on the Monday.
That's right.
Patreon only show.
Now, all the other shows are still here.
It's just bonus content on the Patreon.
Five bucks a month.
Link in the bio to sign up.
I'd free you listening.
I'd free listening.
All that jazz we've spoken about it.
Less than the price of a cup of coffee.
Exactly.
Depending on what coffee you get,
maybe you're an espresso man.
Maybe you know that.
Singular espresso.
Singular espresso.
What's up at these days?
370, I think.
Season C's do apply.
We're not going to go, oh, we'll hang on.
I've got this.
Yeah, I've got a coffee here.
It's only two bucks.
You said less.
No.
It's $5 a month.
$1.25 a week.
All right.
Listen to questions.
So this one comes from Zim on Instagram.
DM.
I love this question, by the way.
Instead of buying the NRL,
could the NRL just start their own English League
and all the teams that are on board jump in?
The small teams that are providing the current roadblocks
can join or go F themselves.
That's from Zim.
Instead of buying the Super League, you mean?
So instead of the NRL buying the Super League,
they just start their own comp.
That would be Super League-esque.
Yeah.
I think to be fair, I don't think it's a massive secret
that the NRL, if they take full governance of the Super League,
which it's that or it's not, they would rebrand it
as NRL Europe and look to push the brand of NRL International,
NRL Europe and NRL Australasia, or Pacific,
or whatever it would be.
That's how it would be marketed globally.
So there'd be a rebranding anyway.
So I mean, look, I've spoken about it on Monday's show
or Tuesday's show and around the importance of this happening.
The timeframe is three months.
I reckon that Zim could be onto something there.
I don't like saying this,
but observe, like I came from the Super League.
And when I was there, Wembley was sold out for challenge called Files.
All traffic was sold out for grandfiles.
The game was in a really good place.
We attracted players like Jamie Lyne, David Vialecchi, Matt Gidley,
Jason Kalis, you know, doing some, I think Craig Smith came over.
You know, Matty Jones, Andrew Jones, Brian Fletcher,
you know, doing some, like, to name but a few.
Some amazing players playing in there, some household names.
And they give, you know, and even the best of the British there as well.
Like Skullthorpe, Farrell, Coneyham Long, you know,
McDermott's Simfield, like Gareth Ellis.
Yeah, he had some really strong footballs there, Jamie Peacock, Adrian Morley.
Well, you know, he was back and forth, but yeah, you get my point.
Anyway, since, since leaving, all I've seen in terms of all,
let's call them well-being markers of a competition.
I've seen the NRL in all well-being markers, generally speaking, go north.
Like it's not been an escalator up to where we are now.
There's been a numerous bumps in the road with player behavior and different things within the game.
But generally speaking, the sort of 2010, 1112 mark to where it is now in 2026,
it is significantly higher in all well-being markers of the game.
Now, some people may disagree with that and say, well, look, here's an issue that you haven't thought about.
But generally speaking, it's gone up and over in the super league,
all well-being markers from 2012 to now are down
and things that they would be looking for from a business case point of view
or from a sporting case point of view.
It's just not working.
It's just going south.
The only reason, and I say this, the only reason I can't see the owners voting for this,
is self-interest, the only reason.
It's not got the good of the game at the forefront of their decision,
which I think should be.
It's really difficult over there because it is ran differently.
But I think if you actually genuinely care about the game,
you let the NRL come in and you maybe look to,
quote-unquote, buy it back, whatever that looks like,
but let the NRL run the game.
Absolutely.
Let Peter Valande's run the game.
It's incredible what he's done with NRL.
NRL just keeps making further and further leaps forward.
The NRL is now, I think, easily the most ambitious sporting league in Australia, easily.
Yeah, I hope they do.
I wonder what teams would flip to this.
I mean, I know St. Helens are keen for the NRL to come in.
I know that Leeds are keen.
I know that we're going to keen.
You've got all your big goals are all keen.
You've got what you need there.
What London would be?
Of course, absolutely.
I think the Catalan's Dragons would be to lose.
You've got a decent nucleus there.
Once you get four or five of the big ones, what's the oldest fellow?
There you go.
Save your money.
NRL.
Maybe you would on your own.
Still.
Like the legalities around that would be the licenses and things like that.
Yeah, that would be.
But again, if it's a totally rebranded competition and also would the Rugby Football League or
the Super League or Rugby League commercial have enough to front the core case?
I actually don't know if they would.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It would be...
I hope he gets maybe resolved for that.
But that is an option there.
We all hope it gets resolved before and since prevails, common sense prevails, and the
good of the game prevails.
Yeah.
Another question from Connor Crossland.
He says, how does the game in England improve?
Is that maybe by letting the NRL come and run the show?
There you go.
Last question here, then, Jimmy.
From Scott Binks, he goes, can you sum up the Kyle and Jackie O split in Rugby League terms?
What is the equivalent?
Cooper Crock leaving the storm.
Sonny Bill Williams leaving the Bulldogs.
Haas leaving the Broncos.
Who is the Kyle in Rugby?
And I'll say, there's another question.
He says, who is the Kyle in Rugby League media?
I'm not too dialed upon the Kyle and Jackie O situation.
We'll make the biggest story in Sydney at the moment.
End of a 25 year plus radio partnership.
Yeah, but I like it.
I get that.
I get why people are interested.
Why people watch it?
But it's not my jam.
It makes sense.
What is your jam?
Just podcasts?
Pretty much.
Do you listen to the bar round just to air check yourself and say, you know?
No.
Not really.
I should have asked this.
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, I should have said that differently.
No, I'd like to listen to a couple of podcasts.
Finverse history?
Yes.
Look, it's not everybody's cup of tea.
So it comes with a warning.
Oh, James Graham likes Finverse history.
So I'll go and watch that.
It is beyond defensive.
I think Fin Taylor is a magnificent comedian.
If you want to get a taste of Fin Taylor, look up world's most awkward TV appearance on
NFL TV.
That is bloody brilliance.
The hilarious that he was even booked for that show.
It makes no sense for how he even ended up there.
The worst thing.
So Fin versus the internet was already out.
So if you're booking that comedian and you looked up Fin Taylor,
those videos comes up, you go, well, let's not have him for a daytime NFL show.
And he's also not an NFL fan.
Well, they didn't know that, but he made it perfectly clear that he wasn't.
And he wasn't willing to play the game.
He was brilliant on that.
But yeah, I do enjoy a bit of Finverse history.
Actually, a Patreon member of theirs.
So, yes, I am.
Carl and Jackie are there.
Yeah.
How does it look?
You have some good examples there about Payne House and Sonny Bill, Cooper Cronk.
For me, this is you've overspent and you're looking to get it.
It's a Salford City Reds.
It's our Salford Red Devils.
We're going to bring in Brody Croft or Jackson Hastings on Mega Money.
Hey, we're successful.
We made the challenge cup final.
We made the grand final.
But you don't have the dough to pay them.
They don't.
They got really 25% of their staff, I think, is part of this.
I think this is one of those where you've moved.
You're thinking you've got the budget or the budget's going to come.
Or this is tomorrow's problem.
We live in today.
We live for the now.
Yesterday is dead.
Tomorrow's not promised.
Yeah, let's come on.
Let's just go wild.
Oh, no, the day has come.
Maybe that's what I'm saying.
That reminds me of my football manager with Reading.
It will be back on 2001.
And I got the lads up to the Premier League.
We got promoted.
And then I was so excited.
I would have been seven, eight years old playing football manager.
I was over the moon, Reading, filing the Premier League.
And I got a knock on the door from the board of directors.
And they said, oh, we've sacked you if you're having too high a wage bill.
And I thought that's for that.
Yeah, for not managing your wages correctly.
And I was heartbroken.
I remember I burst into tears as a kid.
I'd worked so hard to get there.
I remember we made the playoffs.
We got promoted through the playoffs.
And on that game on PC, you used to be able to watch the simulation.
Not just the actual 3D version of it.
And I was shattered.
Look absolutely shattered.
I'm not going to encourage unchecked rage or overreactions.
But look out, I've been involved in front of my youth a number of times.
That's a fist through the keyboard.
Yeah, type of situation for me.
That's not a shattered.
I am like fist through the keyboard.
F the board.
Yeah, quite literally.
It was a disgrace.
I mean, considering I'd got them, think about the TV rights money that they would have had.
I know that promotion.
Yeah, sure.
That's going to be more money than that.
I spend a little bit more money than it is.
I'm sorry.
I'm actually worth writing to the game makers and saying that you guys need to get in the system
and reinstate me as manager.
You know how hard it was to get ready to the Premier League as well.
You know, one like it was so much work was put into it.
A lot of these guys were on loan as well.
It was an absolute disgrace.
If Kyle and Jackie are struggling, peace and their life together, they need to come and see you.
Yeah.
Because you can relate.
You can really relate to it.
I can probably relate to it.
I don't know.
I don't know.
In terms of Kyle and Carl Sandland's rugby league media, that question.
I don't know.
It's a tough one to answer.
We'll leave it there.
Charlie for another week.
But yes, Ramwon, really looking forward to it.
The football is back and the by-round goes nowhere as per usual.
See you all next week.
This podcast is brought to you by our good friends at Labbroke's Charlie.
Dependent of Panthers are off to Bathurst to take on the Cornel Sharks.
We'll get a true read on those Cornel Sharks that were dominant in the opening round.
No one does it better for country rugby league than the Pendent of Panthers.
They take so many games there every year.
And this Bathurst fixture is going to be incredible.
Two Premiership Heavyweights.
But the Panthers are huge favourites.
Dollar 33.
The Cornel Sharks are $3.35.
The line is eight and a half points.
Have you got a same game multi-James Graham?
Yeah, Charlie.
I sure do.
I do think there's a little bit of value there for the Sharks.
But look, Penrith, I think they're back to their absolute best.
So I'm going to take them in the same game multi to cover the line of minus eight and a half points.
And then my favourite feature on the Lubrics app, the Duos.
I've got Brain Toto and McLean to score two or more tries between them.
Whether it's two for Toto, two for McLean or one each.
Combined with that, covering the line, $3.44.
I love it, Jimmy.
You're one of the best tips that's going around, mate.
And I'm with you.
I think if you like the Sharks, $3.35 is very tempting.
Sure is, Charlie.
Season C is applied and available on the website.
Odds are subject to change.
What's gambling really costing you?
For free and confidential support, visit gamblingcubonline.org.au
The rugby league season is back.
So is the buy round and back with us again to be powered by Hyundai.
We certainly are, Jimmy.
And guess what?
You can get a deal today.
You'll be proud of across a range of new and demonstrator models, Jimmy.
Like your car, my friend.
The Tucson Hybrid, which is only $44.990 drive away.
An absolute steal for a beautiful car.
But check this out.
The anti-ordinary corner hybrid from $39.990 drive away.
That is no mucking around from the team at Hyundai.
That's got to be a misprint there, Jimmy. Surely.
They can't be given that car away for that little price.
No, and all are eligible for up to seven years warranty
when servicing with Hyundai.
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The Bye Round With James Graham


