Luai Signs With PNG, Chiefs Next Signings & Newcastle's Expensive Mistake | NRL Daily

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On Triple M, this is NRL Daily.

Welcome to Triple M, NRL Daily on your Tuesday, which means we have the big dogs

of Rugby League journalism from code sports.

The great Brent Reed and the great David Ricchio.

How are you, Jens?

Where are they?

Oh yeah, I'm sorry.

It's looking for them.

It's really good to be a child.

Absolutely, it's good to be.

A couple of days it's been.

I think great, mate.

How 360 last night was good viewing for yourself?

A bit of good fun, yeah.

A good work, ready?

A bit of jibba.

Yeah, good work.

A gender setters.

Yeah, it was a parker off the back fence.

Cory Parker ripped into Wayne Bennett and he's style of press conferences.

Did they have a bit of beef from the Broncos day?

I don't think so.

I don't know.

Honestly, I don't know.

I think they may be, but he was also pretty staunch on his opinion.

It's what you like.

What's the day been like for you to just chasing up Louis yarn so far?

Absolutely.

It's the stories so far to start the Rugby League work.

Jerome Louis situation and whether he accepts this offer from PNG.

So just remind us Dave, the contract situation for Jerome Louis.

I'm sure most people listening know how it works, but for anyone who doesn't, how does it work?

He's got options for the next two years.

Is that right?

He has until this Thursday to indicate whether he will accept a contract offer from the PNG Chief for 2028,

which in effect will also trigger his option to remain at the West Tigers for 2027.

If he doesn't accept the Chief's offer, he can accept his offer for 2027 at the West Tigers.

Sorry, he's option.

And then come this November 1, the Perth PNG Chiefs.

I'll get there.

The PNG Chiefs will then have the opportunity to come back and have another crack at him on November 1.

So for us to get an announcement on PNG, he would have to sign with them before Thursday.

Yes.

Okay.

Interesting contract.

Really?

Very unique situation.

It's a very unique situation.

Very unique.

And I wonder, actually, if he signs before Thursday, there's still a call of 10 day cooling off period.

I think he'd have to get the Tigers to wave the 10 day cooling off period as well, potentially.

Yeah.

So it's a really intriguing situation.

And look, I don't, it might come out today.

I don't know, but I hope my gut feeling, gut feeling is he'll go.

I mean, why would you fly the all the way up there?

Do the tour.

Fly up in a private jet.

Dodge the media.

They've dodged the media all day to A.

If you weren't giving this genuine, genuine consideration.

And I think when you sit down, you know, he obviously sits down probably with his wife and kids around the dinner table last night and tonight

and maps out the financial figures are on the table.

Man, it's so hard to.

So these days on one point to me and in PNG for the next two for 28 and 29, which is the length of his potential contract, the Tigers,

it's an extra million dollars in his pocket.

Wow.

That's a lot of money for two years to go and live and park.

Look, I hope Tammy's listening.

I go and live in PNG for two years.

If he gave me a million extra dollars, Tammy, if you're out there.

What role would you do for Tammy over there?

I do whatever he wants me to do.

I'd mop floors.

The genre.

I'll be the genre.

I'll carry the bags.

Read you the gears.

I'd go and fetch their dinner.

I'd be a courier for them for me in bucks for two years.

You'd be there.

I'll basically be there.

I'm happy to do it.

If you're up there.

Baby sitting with your baby because of the families.

Oh, baby.

I've done my baby years today for not doing them again.

I've been through that.

No.

Actually, I'm still a baby sitting my age.

18 year old Sam.

I think you're worth babysitting.

That's could be true as well.

That could be true as well.

But no, it's a look obviously.

I'm not moving to PNG.

But I could see why Jerome would move to PNG.

Can you one thing that really grabs me around this and how serious Jerome is is that the

visit to PNG is after the contract offer has already been submitted to Jerome.

He received that offer several days ago, if not last week.

And now he follows it up with a tour of PNG.

If you've got no interest whatsoever, you have a look at the offer and go.

It's nice.

Thanks so much.

I just don't want to bother going.

You have a look.

The fact that he's gone up there, taking his wife and kids, I think it shows he's absolutely serious.

So you both think he's going to go to PNG?

If you're wanting me to lean my way, I'll lean towards the chiefs for sure.

What sort of money we're talking.

Is it around, is it over the 1.2?

He's one of the tigers.

I don't know the exact money.

I'll be surprised they paid him more than what he's on.

They don't need to because with the tax breaks, as I said, it's an extra $500,000.

Just in terms of pure.

Because when you take tax over the 1.2 here, you end up with around 680, 700 grand.

This is 1.2 pure cash.

So it's an extra 500 grand.

I don't think you need to pay more money.

Yeah.

Maybe you give him another year.

I don't know the deals two to three years on his team.

It's a three year deal.

I mean, that's another 1.2 in the third year of that deal.

So it's not bad coin, Charlie.

It's almost what you get now.

You're doing all these gigs on sunrise.

Yes.

You're doing sidelines.

You're everywhere.

Yeah, I wish it was tax-free.

All of this as well.

That would be very handy.

But in terms of Lewi, he would be smart to take this deal, wouldn't he?

Because there's only going to be what?

Three players in that team to get over a million bucks a year.

So there's only going to be a few guys that get these incredible offers.

And it's life-changing money it really is.

Everything that's been explained to me so far is also to...

At the heart of it, Jerome's...

He's a spiritual beast, right?

And PNG is...

This is a country that Rugby League is a religion.

And I think due to his Samoa inheritance,

he has a deep belief that Rugby League has an opportunity

to change lives in PNG.

Very much the way Rugby League has done for Samoa,

certainly with the rise of the Pacific Championships of Samoa

and the growth of the game within Polynesia.

I think Jerome sees very much a similar opportunity here in PNG

to be part of a legacy contract.

Yeah.

A legacy contract is the way I'd view it

because he can absolutely change lives.

He's not the first signing though.

Is he ready?

No, Peter Bedell has just broken his story.

Alex Johnston is officially the first signing.

He agreed on Monday night,

Monday night apparently to a deal with PNG for one year.

So I mean, I think we all knew that was coming, right?

Alex was always going to end up there.

And, you know, it's a good deal.

I think Bedell's piece of importance

around 325 grand tax-free.

It's not bad coin for Alex.

He'll be...

On the...

Nudging 33, I think 34 in the team,

and there's a competition.

So, I mean, he was always going to be one of the faces of PNG, right?

Yeah.

Great result for him.

He made no secret whatsoever

that he wanted to be part of this new venture.

And it's just hugely important signing.

He's already...

He already has...

Oh, I mean, every...

Every rugby league player.

And every NFL player has a profile already in PNG.

They know everyone.

They even know the readman.

Oh, tell me about that.

He's very popular in PNG as well.

Yeah, yeah.

And so...

They actually dubbed his voice.

Like they put...

I.O.A.

All the different languages...

Really?

All the different languages in PNG?

Yeah.

There's a...

Well, the Dread version of all of them.

Yeah.

Well, like there is, yeah.

Wow.

Yeah.

You make him money out of that or not.

No, no.

No slinks.

I'm happy to take some.

With H.A., they've got a ready-made poster.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, poster boy.

He's a terrific sonny.

It's kind of the flow and effect now of what this all means.

Because Alex Johnson, he's one of the players going to be going,

say Jerome Luar goes as well.

And all these players...

There's a lot of players in the NRL hitting their managers up

who want to be a part of it, who want to cash in.

And we just see this race to join PNG now.

So he's still...

Yeah.

I think we're going to see a few blokes at least going and looking around.

Definitely.

I think...

And if they get Jerome, he's a bit of a magnet.

He's a bit of a podpiper.

Yeah.

Jerome.

And he has been at the West Tigers.

He's had that impact at the West Tigers.

And I'm sure Jerome would have that impact in PNG as well.

You'd see blokes exploring it more realistically if they get Jerome out of the line.

Of course, it gives them a lot of legitimacy.

So, yeah, I think we're going to see lots of players too with the joint.

And it's funny, you know, they can't...

Rugby league players can't go up there and be in Cognito.

Because the punters are subcested with rugby league.

The minute you appear in public, they just want photos.

Yeah.

You might be sneaking up there.

I can't imagine too many blokes going to sneak up there.

Yeah.

Well, that's the thing with...

In the rugby league landscape and with player managers and clubs.

Honestly, they don't want their negotiations aired publicly.

I'd say 99% of clubs and agents want deals done.

Behind closed doors, no fanfare, no leaks to the media.

This is the first club I can recall where almost every signing will be done publicly.

Publicly, yeah.

Yeah.

Right.

There will be no hiding.

It's impossible.

Unless they visit players here, but at some point the players are going to want to go in the ENG.

Well, let's see what the circle says.

So, yes.

Case in point, Alex Johnson already knows Portmore's been very, very well with his heritage

and doesn't need to visit the country.

But any player that wants to have a look around, see later, it's...

And with true respect of AJ, he ain't going to have a lot of options.

He's going to be, as I said, 33 and 2 years time.

It's all that I hold.

He's still moving really well.

Yeah.

I'll see.

We'll see, obviously.

You're right.

He's getting older.

You're right.

I said at the start when this tax free got announced that I can win a comp in the first year.

That's how big an advantage.

Did he say that?

I think he said it in jest.

I think he was taken out of context a little bit there.

He's used to doing that with other people.

That's quite a many a person over the years.

Two of these jobs could be taken of the 30 jobs that are available there.

Tax free.

Well, who's next then?

Because Matt Burton.

Here's some names.

Let's just go through the one by one.

Matt Burton.

Is he a chance to maybe any up there?

No, he doesn't.

Birdo does not stroke me as a danger child.

I'm on with Dave here.

What about Jacob Preston?

Young player.

Maybe.

I think.

Yeah, he's a maybe.

He's a maybe.

But what a buy that would be.

It'd be great for him.

Fantastic football.

Now, here's a bit more a roger one.

Nathan Cleary.

Is there any world in which he ends up at Pennworth, the kind of money, sorry, in PNG, the kind

of money he could be getting there would be astronomical.

I was having this conversation with the key individuals at the PNG chiefs about the way the.

The way portmores be stopped when Jerome LeWire arrived and exited the airport.

There were close to 300, 400 people asking for selfies.

Jerome's the type of character that is more than willing to participate in and embraces that type of.

Adulation.

I will say this.

Nathan's not like that.

Nathan is at heart a very private person.

And I actually made the point that not every player that visits portmores be in PNG,

I actually going to enjoy that process of being.

Being absolutely hammered by fans by lovers of the game.

And I made the point that Nathan wouldn't enjoy that.

And they agreed.

They actually agreed that he doesn't fit that character of wanting to have mass exposure.

So I'm learning towards a no on Nathan.

Yeah.

I'm with you Dave.

On Nathan.

Is it right that the third parties are all tax-free as well?

So Nathan Cleary's got a deal with a data something it is.

Would that then be tax-free as well, that deal?

It would have to be a new deal.

It's an existing.

So any new third party arrangements?

Okay.

Well, that's fascinating.

You can just carry it over.

No, no, but I'm thinking I would imagine deals in PNG with PNG companies might be tax-free.

But I don't know if that is a PNG office, but they might.

I'm not sure.

But they're a global brand.

I don't know if a deal like that would be tax-free.

We'll have to look into that.

We'll do some digging.

We'll do some digging.

We'll let you know tomorrow.

Give you the answer.

But some other players are now Mitch Kenny has been apparently tapped as the captain of the club.

Have you guys heard that as well?

I've heard.

I've definitely heard that.

And I've definitely, like, there is so much admiration for Mitch Kenny as far as having an outstanding

footy brain and respect within his playing group.

So that wouldn't shock me at all.

Could Pandora get pillaged a bit?

Because Lear Mard's name has been tossed up.

He's got mostly a, even dear ruler, Brian Ty, really known with his best mate in Jerome Louis.

I reckon that's a big chance, Brian Ty.

Myself?

I think that's a huge chance.

Kenny's a different chance.

They're very keenly in Martin again.

Big chance.

Leo to be 33.

I think that first year they're in the comp.

I don't know.

That's a question one for me.

But definitely Ty, Leo, are Kenny.

So Ty, Martin, Kenny, I think they're all on the radar.

To Roover?

To Roover is another one because of his close relationship with Jerome Louis.

So I think that all will be on the radar.

And this is this is the absolute enormity of the Jerome Louis acquisition.

Because we're not having this conversation if he's not there.

We're just not.

But if he is, the dominoes can start the fall.

And while the PNG chiefs would be willing to wait until November 1,

should he decline their initial approach?

For now, they'll come back in November 1.

It does lose momentum for them.

As far as trying to build this roster now.

Now on the Tigers front, they've obviously got the final brothers

and the May brothers and to Roover all off contract.

So they can, from November 1, Simon and Papa New Guinea.

And then you've got the Jareem Buller situation as well,

where he's got an option for next year.

The club's also got an option for next year.

So if either of those options are picked up, he would be available in 2028

as well.

Could the Tigers be pillaged as well?

Yeah, I think they could be.

Obviously, we know Dave Rawlings, whose manager's Terrell May

was up there last week talking to a chameleon about Connor Watson.

That was...

And look, I don't think they got a deal done,

but he looks after Terrell May.

So I'm sure Terrell May's name came up in their conversation.

And he's in the process of trying to deal with the Tigers

at the moment.

An extension to Terrell May.

So I imagine would depend on how those negotiations go with the Tigers.

If they can't get a new deal done, extension done,

I would have thought he'd certainly look at PNG Terrell May.

Oh, I don't disagree.

And again, I'm just going to repeat myself.

But the momentum that Lewa gives them,

it will have a...

It has the potential to have a detrimental effect on the West Tigers.

Because of his influence and relationships out the club.

For every club in the game, you should be in a malt state of panic right now.

Because I think clubs were worried about this.

Jerome's the first example of it actually happening,

of this becoming a reality.

So if you're not a club in the NFL and you're not concerned about it,

you're not doing your job.

Because you need to be on guard.

Because he's... Chameleon's coming to get you.

Jesus, it's worrying for Tigers fans.

Because if they lose Lewai,

say Buller goes, say to River Goes...

Or Rick and Boer is more...

I don't think PNG is a big threat with Boer.

With Buller.

No.

Yeah.

I think it's a case of...

I mean, looking at the setup of the Tigers in that spine

and realizing Jerome's not there in the future,

do I go chase my business elsewhere with a gun spine?

Has the NRL or the government...

People say it's the NRL given the advantage.

It's actually the government who's given the tax breaks to Pupp and you give me.

But is it too much of an advantage?

Well, it may be.

We'll see how it plays out, Charlie.

I mean, I don't think...

Yeah, this, again, this is not...

This is not an NRL call.

This is a government call, right?

And the NRL can't control governments until governments, whether they...

Obviously, the government up there,

the Prime Minister has come out publicly and said,

how pleased is it to roam two of the joint?

So the government wants their teams to succeed.

And this is the best way to make...

That's a byproduct of the PNG chiefs coming into the competition.

Didn't every club receive $4 million?

Yeah.

So they had their every opportunity to kick back.

You argue, fight, scream, say, this is a joke.

You're giving every other team...

Yeah, you're putting every other team at a disadvantage.

So I don't think you can cry, Paul, now.

Yeah.

They got to pay off for it, man.

They all got rich.

Yeah.

I reckon they're going to get a good win in the comp in their first year.

Honestly.

First year.

Yeah, first year.

Maybe a break.

There's 30 jobs that are available

that I reckon every off-contract player almost is like...

No, they win in the comp in their first year.

They could easily win the comp in their first year.

They're going to be amazed at this team that they roll out.

Easily at round one, 20, 28.

Right.

Yeah, amazed at it.

You guys are going to be saying, I was wrong.

Charlie was right.

This team's unbelievable.

Whereas the Perth band.

You didn't drink up before the show.

Yeah.

Well, I did go to the clan on the way.

Yes, well, I can't play with it.

But on the other side of things, the Perth set up.

Yeah.

Now, they probably can pin for a spoon.

Yeah, one, it looks like.

Yeah.

Bit us.

Do you reckon it is?

Why would they not be competing for the spoon?

Yeah.

Well, have you seen the dragons?

No, they've got...

They can definitely...

The Perth bands will definitely be competing for the spoon.

Okay.

Definitely.

They're not finished yet.

They're still shopping.

Well, they've got 18 players or something.

17, 18.

Yeah, but who would they get shopping for then?

Who they shopping for?

Because you've been saying this.

Yeah, I've been saying this.

Well, they've got lots of cash.

They're waiting for...

You've got to shake the tree.

Charlie.

See what comes out.

You've been doing that.

Yeah.

And in the meantime, they better sort out their coaching structure,

their management structure.

That's an issue.

Yeah.

That's a pretty big issue actually.

Yeah.

So, Sharp's gone.

The head of football's gone.

And Mal could be on the way out as well.

Well, no.

Mal's on such a big deal, Mal.

I think Mal's committed...

I think he's publicly said he's committed.

Not...

That was obviously prior to David Sharp leaving.

But...

Talking to people around Mal, they say he's still committed to the joint.

But other people are too different.

The concern is that they're going to run a process for a jam...

A replacement jam for football now.

If you're a good club, you know who exactly who you want.

You just go get them.

You make it happen.

That's a good line of dollars.

That's a good line of dollars.

Yeah.

I think that's a good line of pitch.

I think that's a good line of pitch.

I think that's a good line of pitch.

You should be...

Oh, that's surprising from you.

I should start pitching him up again for that job.

Because he's not got the Dragon's job.

I'm not sure which line of pitch.

I'm going to get in trouble.

I'm going to get in trouble.

I'm going to get in trouble.

I moved to W.A.

That's an issue.

Yeah, that's an issue.

He doesn't really need to.

He's got a big payout from the Tigers.

He could put his feet up and relax.

Yeah, that's a good line.

That's a good line.

Speaking of the Tigers, let's talk about the stuff from

NRL360 last night where your man, Dean Bulldog Richie,

had a very interesting take.

It was funny.

I saw Retio Robilig on his Instagram,

sort of clipped up clips of Dean Richie

and he's contradicted himself a few times

around the similar sort of stuff.

He said there was videos of him calling for people to boo.

There's now videos of him calling people not to boo,

swear, all that sort of stuff.

It was an odd take, I thought.

Bulldog has a very good knack of getting people

debating stuff, arguing.

Yeah.

And he's achieved that goal on this one.

He's got people talking about his yarns.

But in all honesty, the Tigers, surely their fans

are in their right to celebrate this,

given everything they've been through

and they're sitting at the top of the ladder.

I like let them enjoy their moment.

Yeah.

Look, I mean, I don't particularly like people swearing right.

But if you're going to go to a 40 game,

you've got to expect a bit of swearing.

Yeah, I'm a swear.

I'm a swear.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Too much.

Too much.

I've got to stop it.

Can I swing here?

I don't know.

It's what you've got to say.

Yeah.

No, I'm just, I don't know.

I'm particularly, you know.

I was at like art on the sideline for Triple M.

I thought it was one of the most outstanding atmospheres

of being to, well, it is.

It's the best atmosphere I've been to this season.

Really extraordinary.

Like art overlay.

It was a Thursday night remembering.

People had to go to work the next day.

Thursday night, that hill was jam-packed

and they were partying.

It was like Sydney had won the Olympics.

And the winner is Sydney, the West Tigers.

The Sydney Tigers.

Remember that?

It sounds fantastic, though.

It was outstanding.

You're right.

You could use the, you would have access to a toilet

and drinks and stuff, so you'd have been fine.

First, we actually didn't get any noise.

No, I wouldn't.

It was a DJ in the media box again.

Ah, I don't know.

I don't know.

Some might be listening to these dicks.

Actually, they might have been listening.

They were listening to the Bollywoods.

They were listening.

They were lying to some tracks down there.

Yes.

In the media box, what's there we...

It's giving me down room for God's sake.

I think they get a little bit of...

They get a little bit of a little bit of looking paint though,

they get an upgrade.

50 million dollar upgrade.

That'll be good though.

Yeah.

As we all know, it's always so Charlie.

Like lipstick on a pig by the way.

Oh, wow.

Let's talk the doggies. What is going on Dave? You're very close to the club there and cameras are out. Oh, please explain Dave. It's been a tough start

I'll explain. I'll be fine to two weeks ago look like well, but it is against the panthers and it's just gone bang

Firstly, I thought there was a real

mental

laps

Following their their win over the panthers. They took paramount away too easy

That was really poor

And they've been defensively poor now. This is the area. I know we've been banging on about their attack

And it's the sexy thing to talk about their spine

But honestly

It's the defense that Sarato would be most concerned about because that's his that's his bread and butter

That's what he he loves most yeah, and they are leaking so many points. I think they've got problems on their edges

I think that's a major concern. They're outside backs

Um and very much like chronology be fair. They actually remind me very much of chronology

They're really fragile on their edges and out wide and they're leaking too many points

Which is which is not allowing them to apply pressure through their attack do I was gonna say do you think their defences

Suffering though because their attack isn't on the flip side of that they're not scoring a lot of points

So their defense is I think it's a lot more they're getting down the opposition is getting down the field easy through penalties and six against yeah

Um and they they for one reason or another they do not have the fortitude

That they had last season. I thought was really telling you early in that game the other night was

I thought they bombed a cup of trice early on Steve Crichton

One of the most elite centers of maybe league had Marcelo Montoya unmarked outside him

It could have scored two tries Marcelo ready. I could have used open twice the little Steve Crichton could have given him a chance

Past in the boy your man Marcelo Montoya would have backed him that close to the line

Well, you would have absolutely everyone would have scored. Yeah, it's because that isn't fit. Is he carrying something?

I don't think so no

I thought I saw strapping

Maybe you'd know better than me. No, I haven't checked it. I got to check it

But I said though Steve Crichton twice there was one of them. I think he would have certainly scored

Yeah, the first opportunity and the second time there was some cover defense coming across across you could argue

Maybe they would have had him covered, but I thought there were two opportunities early on

They slip because Kennerbury I thought was a better sign down in 10-15 minutes

What got me though? What really surprised me was

Billy Army kick out torn peck

Mate the bloke couldn't the only one arm

But he stayed out there for 10 or 15 years. Did you look into that? No, I didn't know

I couldn't I don't understand that he's tough isn't he? He couldn't tackly try

There was there was before he went off

There was a bloke running at his right shoulder

He couldn't use his right arm. So he tried to attack them. Did you say they try to attack on his left arm? It looked very young

Awkward. Is he going to be out long term now kick out? I was going for scans today. I would think so. I was got a torn peck

That's that's he's can be well certainly normally can

10 to 12 with 10 to 12. That's a long time. Yeah. Yeah. That's a bloke because he is a

hugely important player totally

Totally is there anything more to this form slump? Is there anything happening in between the the walls there? I know

You know

I'll

Old chat is always where's what's Gus doing is he meddling and I've given no indication of that

Every chat I have with Sarato is very positive even with with his relationship with Gus. So

I don't have that sense or feeling. I think it's a case of

Yeah, that discipline is absolutely killing them

and

It's the same issues for me that I saw last year that go forward

Yeah, they are they

Is it a dominant as that pack? No should be

well

I think their strengths are on the edges. I was pressed in and kick out. They're not so much another son Leo Thompson

But yeah, not so much through the middle. I don't know. They were so good to the issue is they were so good two weeks

Against Penrose and that becomes the expectation then and they haven't got 100% anywhere near that level again

In the past I'll probably count boys this Friday night. I saw Joey John's calling for Gavin to go to five eight and who play half back

Well, I guess I don't know which is still out of the moment isn't for a while. Yeah, yeah sure no Sullivan's the option there

I wouldn't change that. I don't think that's particularly their problem

I think their problems more

Birdo has a tendency to drift in and out of games and that's probably

I think there's a lot of pressure on

Galvin to get the job done

When I think birdo needs to be locked in for an entire the intoy 80 minutes

There are moments he he does drift in and out of games

Outside of the obvious one in our Marcel Montoy resigning at the point he's been fantastic easy to be resigned soon

But outside of the obvious one they saw sewers left to go to the Perth Bears

Are there any other are there players that the dogs could be looking to bring in?

Haven't picked up on any as yet. I think it caps pretty tight. They're resigned James Salmon

They're his own kind of Tracey on big money. The obvious ones to reenball. All right. I mean

He's the obvious clean lead lead by denials every single time I've brought that. I don't know

I thought maybe when they're resigned kind of Tracey that might have been the end of the dream baller thing

But I think the fact that I don't think kind of Tracey's convinced as an NRL fallback just yet

And he's versatile equipment other positions

I think if they're not looking at bull are probably not doing their job properly

Car as we've got a weight. He's got two weeks

Do you guys recall last year about this time last year Jacob Karazza's form

He was a tackle busting machine

And I honestly feel as though they're getting out getting their sets going through him

Was a huge factor last year second phase footies where he led the lead

He said some injuries haven't he? Yeah, so they've been missing him and and missing his punch

He's preseason was ordinary hardly hardly got going

So Kira's is out now long. We're still will we think for a little while as a chance to come back in this weekend

We'll see on once these teams are named given that we're recording prior to four o'clock

So and kick out. It's a big loss. Yeah, that too arguably two of their best players in Karazza kick in a moment

Funny club funny club boys. We'll take a quick break and back shortly on triple M and RL daily

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And if you're listening on Spotify on YouTube, please leave a comment doesn't have to be positive can be negative

Can be interesting

Reese w has left us a comment. Maybe it's

Reese

Reese wacer. Okay. Yeah, it could be one of them. Yeah, he said he's a tiger supporter. So I don't know

That's controversial. Yeah, very controversial

But this is about Jerome Lewis as I'm a tiger supporter

I think good on him if you want to go there in 2028 good luck to him

I know someone at the toes would step up into his position

Or we would go get another great player

People don't realize in the world outside of football if a person gets a job

To go somewhere else a great job. They will go do it for more money and try something new

Most people would jump at it. I mean it's a fair point. Yeah, it's fair point

You're a mercenary you didn't know that I doubled up double my money. Did he's I'll go anywhere

If you're on double your money on now

I would have added all up maybe

I was gonna say living the mansion this and suburbs but you already do so now

I'm out living a living an old apartment two-region apartment me in the missing place. I mean it's a lizard

Sorry, but you have a sauna at your house

You drive a Tesla. I drive an old bus and up Mazda

And or Mitsubishi whatever we've got here

Just on the Navajo at least mode

All right, moving on moving on. I what I should say though is there's some adjustments

We have to make around the Alex Johnson. We spoke about earlier. Hmm came out that he's the first signing

We now understand that that might not be the case. Is that right really? No, I don't think he's officially so I know

Yeah, I think their hope is at Jerome Lawyers their first signing and then they'll

Move on to finalizing potentially something with Alex Johnson. Yeah, yeah, so no he hasn't so I know

So is this a case of maybe Alex Johnson's manager try to make it seem like AJ

Was the the first signing and go a bit early. Is that who where it's go? Who's managing clincher for Kofsky's that right?

I think he's with the Shikoski camp. Yeah, right Shikoski sending people to rugby. Yeah, getting stuff enough to do

He's having a bit of a tough time run of it. Okay feels like he needs a bit of positive

Publicity. Yeah, right. Okay. Yeah, cuz he obviously was the R360 man. He was

Yeah, okay, so now he's the PNG man. Just goes with him. He's trying to be clearly obviously

Let's talk some other stuff outside of the tiger's server. I was probably sick of hearing about that now

Caleb Ponger his extension of the Knights now. I did sideline for this game in Penra the Knights Panthers game

I was did a bit of research around Ponger as a as part of it didn't end up using the stat on air

So I thought this would be a good place to use it, but Caleb Ponger

He's obviously missed a ton of time. He's played what 20 games once since 2019

But I ran the numbers of when he does play and doesn't play

And if you exclude 2025 the Knights have it better

Win percentage without Caleb Ponger compared to when he doesn't play that's controversial

What you're excluding in the entire year, right? I'm excluding 2025 because a lot of things

A lot of things happened during that year that he was excluding the entire year

Well because it was a it was a strange year for them. I had so many injuries strange year

And they only weren't wanting that was a very

That's the strange news that this sounds like the mere stitch up among me and KP

Well, it's not to be honest, isn't it made 2025? They fell in their ass the Knights all his plays got injured like it

You have to take that out of it, but he was contacted to the club. Yeah, he was so if you include that

They have a better win percentage

But if you take out 2025

Is there any concern around the like signing him again? Obviously. It's a three-year extension

To and then it can be yeah, so that favor is in the Knights favorism. Yeah, I think it is surprising

I honestly but yes absolutely from which from which end from how much you're investing and for how much game time

He's on the field now. I appreciate. He's an absolute superstar when he is on the field

And so when he's on the field he's worth that bit of money

But over a consistent period he hasn't been and that's the concern

I hope they get it right. I really do

But the one the second element that surprised me is that Fletcher Sharp has to be the future of that football club

Well, he can be so how do they balance the books something has to give really something has to give when you've got Dylan Brown on a million

You learn Kp in excess of a million Fletcher Sharp will get a salary increase on a million dollar play

No, no, but he's pushing he'll get there. Well, how long Dave

I thought he was I thought actually on the weekend. Okay, so I reckon he'll get it wasn't one of these better displays

Yeah, but maybe he was rattled. Okay, let me put it this way. There will be another club that's willing to pay him

850

Okay, all right, so they'll be playing. They're gonna have to so it's just shy of a million. I think you now have

In 20 I think he's contracted a 2028

Is that correct? Yeah, I'd like to check that right so

We'll have a new seller cap by then and the seller cap

I imagine it's gonna go up pretty significantly

I think you didn't and if you look at most clubs, they've got at least

Three highly paid players in their spine, right? So you've got

Melbourne for example

Harry

Jerome can monster you can pay three guys and you're spying big money, right? Cleary

um

Edwards

Kenny not so much, but yo zon big money there you can pay three so they can afford to pay

Kaelin Dylan Fletcher sharp good money

And then and then in 2028 2028 the cap's gonna go up even more. So I'm not as I'm not concerned about this

I think brave and best

They're Dylan Lucas. They're a better. Well Dylan Lucas is

Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, I think

Um, they're a bit of a chance to win the con the caliper there. I don't think it's any doubt about that

No question. Yeah, the

Yep agree with them, but the argument is fortunately

He's often sitting on the sideline with the moonboot often come on man. He's missed some 40 in last couple of years

Oh, he's a bit unlucky this frank. I'll run you through his game. What'd you give me his games for this frank?

He's played this since 2018 2018 he managed 20 games 2019 he managed 20 games

2020 he managed 19 games that's pretty good short and comp that year obviously

Because of COVID 2021 he managed 15 games 2022 14 games 23 20 games

2024 16 games 2025 13 games

He won the dally and what you was that

That was when he 23 wasn't did you say 23 maybe 2020 won the dally and I'll have to check that

I can't remember anymore, but when he's on the field for that long. Yes, when he's on the field

2023 won the dally

Played 20 games or something that shows you how many games so played in 20 games in 2020

We placed 20 games wins the dally and that's how good he is that was four years ago

Three years ago. Yeah, well three years ago

So 2027 yet he's walked down in the toilet

The season and he's what is a disregard of this year. What's been going on in the

Is there you spoke about the sailor cap? Is there ratchet clauses in this Kalamponga deal? Do we know?

I but my understanding it's a percentage of the cap. It's so so yeah

So would it doesn't it doesn't have a ratchet clause as such he's on a percent minus these is he's on a percentage of the

So if the cap goes up he goes up and I think you'll find a lot of footy clubs

We'll now start

Going with the percentage going with percentage figures

And paying players percentage of the base cap. I would think it is of the base cap not the

Doesn't doesn't wouldn't include the long-saving play around sort of all carol

This is all that sort of stuff. So it's purely of the base cap

He's only played two of them last 17 games for the night. Well, he's been a bit. I like it. It's here. It is hammy

You know, but

But people say fire when he started this year the people back to onturovich all the time. I do. Yeah unfairly like him in Kalamponga

But the Holland you're saying it's unfair to bad Kalan

That's a bad comedy you're saying

Tommy. It's bad done fairly but now you're back in Kalan

No, I'm saying I'm not begging. We're just having we're analyzing how many games he's played

For the outlay that you have to invest in a negative connotation on it

Then you're not positive. We're not cheating around and going. Well people bag Tommy

Yeah, but people kind of you're caking people as well for Tom Troy's to retire. Well, I haven't called that

Yeah, but people have so but he said he called for Tommy to retire

It was written in an article. I can't remember who wrote the article

But then they can write a yarn where Tommy said I won't retire. No, there was there was some talk about Tom

Maybe retire and given a hamstring trees. There has been talk about that and you've got where you try to set him up for a post career

No, I'm in here. I'm saying Tom gets criticized a lot more for his fitness and his health and Kalan Pongadars

And they miss similar amount of games when you go look at the stats people criticized

Kalan as well. I think yeah

But Kalan's just been given a 1.3 four million dollar extension

Well, Tommy is Tommy's singing free supper. Is he? Well, I don't know. I don't know

I'm not critical of either of them. I think they're both match winners who make their football team better and I think

Manly a better chance to win the comp when Tommy's on the side and fit agree

Newcastle better chance to win the comment Kalan's on the side and fit. They are among the on their day at their best

They're among the top five players in the game. I wasn't told me wasn't Tommy prepared to take a pay cut

Because if he felt bad you do his injuries

Yeah, he tried to give back. I think seven hundred thousand dollars or something

You're saying Kalan should want to have a cash man. I'm just asking you guys if it's a great deal for the club

Yeah, what's your point? I found it a surprise

Okay, I'm not surprised at all. I'm actually I'm surprised. I have a surprise. I'm surprised from Kalan's end

Because I thought Kalan might actually go to market. Yeah, sure consider rugby actually thought

That's surprise because I spoke to him Friday Friday morning

I asked him areas going out of the future was said I'm going good. I'm loving life here

Didn't tell me done a new deal. It's a very sacred disappointing. That was a big thing wasn't it keeping a secret

Yeah, you want to tell us to make us sort of understand that but

Um

Yeah, I don't have a problem with it. I think it's a smart move by the knots because I think he is an out and out match winner

He's one of the truly players new game

We do the show all thanks to liquor and absolutely legendary choose to drink wise

But legend it's a term that gets thrown around a bit. Dave doesn't know

You know, he's a legend. He is a legend. Is he KP's a legend? Yeah, I want his way to become one definitely

Does he have to not win a premier ship? You didn't want to date me cook as a legend

People who I think are winners conquer all right

I want to allions with my family. Yeah for the ns a game and some block out Ricky are you a legend?

Not a good thing. That is loose

Well the team at legend the team at liquor and they are legendary

Fill and fridges for all occasions from cozy nights in to footy parties to last-minute dashes when you forget to bring a bottle

Because a legendary country deserves a legendary bottle shop who bring the epic value and the

legendary drinks on your liquor and legendary shoes to drink wise. Let's talk about the

agenda set as last night. Terrific show. You guys are absolutely on fire on Channel

seven on your Monday nights, but Corey Parker, he's hammered Wayne Bennett. What did you

make of it? It was, well, it was refreshing to see Corey have a strong opinion on something

clearly he didn't agree with. And that was Wayne Bennett's post-match press conference

following South Sydney's historic win against the Melbourne Stormed Amy Park, and I had never

done it. And Wayne was pretty much flat batting every question that came his way to the

point, which he was asked about the 250th milestone of one of the South Sydney players. And

he just, he just said he doesn't care about milestones doesn't care about anything really

to do with 250 games. Lara pit did her utmost best. I feel a little bit sorry for her. The

only thing with Wayne is I don't understand why he goes down this strategy. And this

stick so to speak is because in pre-match on the where it's mandatory for coaches to talk

before games on the day before he's outstanding. He has a wide opinion on issues in the game,

how the bunnies are going, injuries, contracts, everything that's happening, yet post-match.

It just turns in a completely different person. Is this is it is it's a tactic to try

to get the attention on him and not South Sydney? But why and how? Because like what for

us to not to celebrate historic win. Yeah, I just found it odd really odd.

Yeah, but when Wayne's in that mood, you're beating your head against the brick wall trying

to get something out of you. You might as well just ask questions of Cam Murray. Well,

don't waste time on Wayne. I don't like it either, but that's what he's like, you know.

He's been looking for 20, 30 years. I know that, but I know the strategy. There's a real shift

from before game to after game. Well, he's doing it just because they want and had a really

impressive win. He didn't want people talking about him. Well, he'd rather people were talking

about how annoying he was in the press conference. That's that's that's that's that's that's

where I think that's not what he's pointed on 360 last night. He said he's been in press conferences

of Wayne. Wayne's been like that. And that's Wayne's wife's basically taking all the focus

of how well his team's played. People aren't. Look, we're not talking about that they're gone.

We're not talking. Well, we're not talking about sales. They're good. They were. They were

unbelievable. But the trolls in the trolls are one main record. In the pregame. Yeah, we're not

talking about. We're talking about Wayne when we begin to preview South Sydney's next game.

And then in the fine. Well, I'm not swimming on the wrong sheet in the South. I'm not here. Yeah,

there's always overlooked him. He's got the press conference with Wayne. And he's completely

overlooked. South who are unbelievable. The troll Mitchell's winning games on his own right

right now. They can win the comp. Well, the trolls in this mood. I'm telling you right now they

can win the comp. We're not talking about it. Well, you just do talk about Wayne. Well, I got it

because I've read I've seen through Wayne's ploy. I'm exposed again. I'm exposed. I'm declaring

right here and now that South Sydney a legitimate can win the comp. They're in the mix, baby.

Love it. You with me. Are you with me? Are you with me? No. Oh, why? Oh, right now. I think

they're going to go back. Yeah, we'll come back eventually. You don't write around for three

inches. Can't be made. Where does Duff the end up? Sure. He gates a club. You're on the

past two. Oh, West Tigers with dream lives. Watch this space. I love watching the trail when he's

playing like. Yeah, he's so what he's on. Yeah. Hey, we've got to get out of this soon.

So we've got about you going to go to back to the day telegraph to write some more yards about

your own. I'm doing a Q&A with the punters today. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Which online or that or in

royal life online. Online. Yeah. Oh, cool. Nice. Nice. Where can we find that?

Quick Q&A with Reedy. Well, that'd be on code sports. We've got a great off for you on code

sports. $49 for 12 months. We'll put the link in the in the show. No, it's because I can't

remember what it is off top of my head, but I believe it's code sports.com.au forward slash

triple M T R I P L E M. Yep. Get getting the thumbs up from from Joel. That's good.

Now Raiders guys quickly. Yeah. Drama here. Charlie. Drama. Drama. They're running their

suppliers to pick the poor green machine. Noa Martin needs double ankle surgery. One is an

ankle injury related to the apicorosal hip drop. One's a ankle injury picked up later in the game.

They have Zach Hosking ruled out due to a significant concussion. I believe he'll miss two matches,

not just next week. Sorry this weekend. They also have Simis Assange in Ethan Strange in

doubt. They also have Josh Papali Hudson young on the sidelines and Matty Nicholson on the sideline.

I don't know who Ricky's going to pick. I'm sure Ricky will find a way to get a team on the pad.

They don't have any really got this. They don't have any back rowers available in the club.

No back rowers. No, they're going to have to play someone out of position. Ricky might have to pull

in the boots. Imagine that. They're playing the Titans and they're the favourites currently.

Oh, that's interesting. It is only the tour of the Titans. Yeah. We're sick gamers.

They're in Gold Coast. You can't put your plan live from midday. You'll hear the tour.

You're on this weekday right here. You are Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday.

Yeah. The tour has been a bit better though of late. I just keep waiting for Kim at a turn.

Yeah, no. Surely at some point they get a turn and all you know.

Any chance Kobe Black might play this weekend of strange things. You've got to be getting closer.

Yeah, um, due to the numbers. He's probably going to have to name you because he won't have.

He'll have, they've got too many injuries than they have players in their top.

He wanted to ask for dispensation. Um, dispensation from the NRL.

Ricky, look out. Back to the wall, man. Great to have you both in.

Great to be here. Plenty going on. Let's stay tuned.

Jerome, the way could he be the first signing for PNG?

That's it. All right. Thanks, join us, boys.

Thanks, Joey.