Round One Recap: Fifita's Impressive Debut, Lomax Saga Finished & AJ's Record Dilemma | NRL Daily

The NRL is on Triple M. And we've got all the goss behind the scenes news on and off the field from press conferences to inside the locker rooms.

It's a tough game to play. It must have been a very good chance.

On Triple M, this is NRL Daily. Welcome to Triple M, NRL Daily. It's a very, very special edition on a Monday, Charlie White here.

And as always on a Monday, this is going to happen all season long. I've got Jimmy Graham and Way Graham alongside me. Jimmy, how are you, mate?

Yeah, going really good. Magnificent spectacle, but some core stadium yesterday.

They're a little bit disappointed with the dolphins, but self-synny water statement that left edge.

That was incredible. Way Graham, how are you going, mate? Great weekend for you.

Yes, it's great to have the footy back, isn't it?

Certainly, it's good to have regular routine and to be able to sit at home and watch the footy all weekend.

And it's great to be back on a Monday with the Graham family trust.

Yeah, the Graham's here every Monday. It's great to see my dad's name's Graham.

So I like having Graham. Graham, Graham, Graham, Graham. He's not Graham, Graham.

That would be a bit harsh if your parents called you Graham, Graham.

Neville, Neville. Neville, Neville. Yeah. Peter Peters.

Yeah.

We can do this all day. We can do this all day.

We're going to start though with the dolphins rabbit eyes, because you were there, Jimmy.

And you know, a lot of expectations for the dolphins.

I think you even had the dolphins as a top four side this year or close to the top four.

Were you disappointed with what you saw?

Yes, I was. And look, I'm not going to put a line through them by any stretch of the imagination.

I didn't think they played the conditions well at all.

They're different expectations on the dolphins this year.

I think a lot of people are talking them open.

And they've got to lay in how to handle that.

And on the flip side of it, though, a lot of people talking up the left edge of self Sydney would let the trail.

And for theater, they delivered.

They were good with it to see Dave for theater back in first grade, looking strong, looking fit.

And I know you spent a lot of time out of first grade for whatever reasons up there at the Gold Coast.

But it's great to see him back. We know how damaging he is.

And he's only going to get better at the longer season goes.

Well, I was trying to, I was rocking my brain.

I was thinking, when have we ever seen him play 80 minutes?

Now, granted he missed the last eight minutes with that joke of a, joke of a, joke of a sin, but we'll move on from that.

But isolate his performance.

So much energy, enthusiasm, both sides of the football, thought self Sydney, using him really well.

And was involved in a number of tries.

And that combination with Cody Walker down that left hand side with option one for theater, option two,

the trail, maybe even option three, gray out the back or option four over the top to AJ.

I mean, that, that is do your best.

Oh, I know, I know it's only a real one.

But when we look at the rabbit holes and, you know, they're, they're roster.

They are the real dark horse team this year, aren't they?

Now, I know we have Pennworth, Melbourne Broncos, Sharks Bulldogs who have gone well the last couple of years.

And they were always in everyone's conversation.

But you look at that roster and you just go, well, if they get it together on the Wayne Bennett,

they play consistently and we, they all played the level that we know that they can play.

Well, they're going to threaten some teams at the right part of the season because they're a scary team with,

with that roster that they have.

And again, it's only round one.

But if they consistently play at their best, they're probably the real dark horse of the year.

Yeah, I've been quite critical of, of their middle.

Over the sort of past 18 months.

And, you know, you, you've got a factor in the fact that, um,

Camp Murray has, has been missing the difference he made.

I think Keon Colombo Tangi is now like his days are playing on the edge.

Like I just go as fantastic as he was.

And I think with, with Keon and Murray, that's enough.

Like you can put some people in and around there.

And if they can play, maybe like 120 minutes between them,

maybe even 130 minutes between them, you can fit people in,

in and around that in short bursts.

They're like, so your Talas Duncan's.

To Talas.

To Talas who, you know, it was good yesterday, without being great.

But all he needs to be, he only needs to be good.

Doesn't need to be great.

And like I say, you compliment that with, with Keppy or Talas Duncan,

not forget, we got Brandon Smith to come back into the mix as well.

So, if those two consistently knock out, um, 120 minutes,

a hundred and 30 minutes between them, that's going to be the key for self-sidney.

Because I think that those two are so important,

that the work that they do in and around,

that the intricate details of both, both sides of the ball,

the quick play of the balls and the clean up work in defense,

it is huge for them.

Yeah.

Ravito's with the if team coming into the season.

If Wayne Bennett can get the best out of Dave Fetter,

tick, if Littrell Mitchell can get back to his best,

tick, he looked amazing in that first game.

If Camari will bounce back straight away from his injuries,

tick, like all the question marks around South Sydney have been answered.

Yeah, I agree.

And it's just, but for them, it's just that consistency.

You know, they've had some injuries issues over the last couple of years.

Camari, the big one last year.

And Achilles a whole season.

It's a soft issues that have popped up with Cody with Littrell.

That's really plagued them the last couple of years.

And again, if they keep their best 17 on the,

well, 18 on the park every week and they play at the level,

they're going to be a threat.

And then just on the dolphins,

they'd be disappointed with that performance yesterday.

I think they'd have, they would have had a lot of expectation

coming into the season on themselves.

And just a couple of moments, you know,

looking back on the game,

I think Dry Gray just split the markers and went through the rock.

Members all this went straight for the rock,

both times of the tries and early in the season.

That's just a big no-no.

But it was great to see Tommy Fogler back.

I know he spent some time in the bin at the end,

but him and Gilbert in that forward part,

we talked about, you know, you spoke about Camari and Colombo Tongue.

If Gilbert and Fogler stay fit for the whole season,

the dolphins, they're going to be fine in the middle.

They'll improve.

Throw more gnomes, thank you Molo.

Sight Feetie in there as well.

Max Plath should be back this week.

Just on that weight with the splitting in the markers,

for me, in the wet weather.

Yes.

And look, I know they're looking up and thinking,

we've got to move quickly because the threat of the left edge

in South Sydney shift,

but it was early in the tackle count.

And it's just your first job is the dummy half.

You split it marker.

One goes left, one goes right.

Close down that space of the dummy half.

And then move on to the ball carrier.

Should he receive the ball?

And they, they just drifted with their eyes.

And is it, is it fatigue?

Is it like a repetition?

I don't know.

I just, especially in the, in the wet,

because teams are likely to be a little bit more conservative.

That was, that would be frustrating.

It's just lack of, lack of attention to data.

Yeah.

And just losing, losing focus at the wrong time.

And again, where they happen as well with you,

it was yardage defense, really.

It wasn't, it wasn't on the trial line where you,

you could maybe understand that you need to split quickly

and, you know, help the edges out.

They were, they were defending South Sydney

their own half.

And really, you know, as well as anyone,

the rock's the most important thing.

You defend that first.

And for it to happen twice,

from, you know, the opposition's half of the football

and for it to lead the points at that hurt.

Yeah, it does.

Do they need to show some grit that dolphins

if it's going to be contended?

Sort of, they've had a few performances like this last year,

where they can score, you know, 30 points,

but can see 30 points.

Is that the one thing that they need to fix up

if they're going to actually contend for the title this year?

I think for me, it's, you know, it's very early this season.

It's only round one.

And the two games that were big watch games for me

over the weekend were mainly Raiders.

And we'll talk about them next.

And the dolphins rabbits were, like you said,

they're the big if team, the rabbits this year.

And, you know, they certainly answered a lot of questions.

And the dolphins after last year, you know,

scoring the most attack in the competition,

but still missing the eight, it was like,

okay, well, can they improve that defense

enough to make them contenders?

And they let themselves down yesterday,

but I'm not going to read so much into it just after one round.

I'll give them a bit of grace.

And, you know, I definitely think they have improvement in them.

It's probably that those lapses in concentration

that has really cost them.

And we know the attack that they've got.

And maybe you can't have your cake and eat it too.

You can't have these free-flowing attacking players

that play with a carefree attitude that offload at will

and can create things out of nothing.

But they have to learn to switch mentally

and have a more hard-nosed approach in defense

if they're going to give this competition a shake,

like a lot of people are predicting.

They can and they will, because, you know,

we love their attack.

They don't want to be labeled as this team

that is a shootout team.

Yeah.

You know, all the teams with that tag,

you automatically think of the cowboys,

the goalcoes, times two of the sides that didn't make the eight,

that can get hot or cold.

You know, self-sidney,

or a team that you could look at and go,

or they could be a shootout side with the attack that they've got.

But yesterday it appeared they did have that little bit of grit

in defense and the ability to turn the game.

It was Cody Walker with a 40-20.

That did that.

And then they were happy to be patient

and they three, maybe four, repeat sets.

And they were willing to,

they didn't go chasing things where I think,

look at the dolphins, you know,

the attitude of them with the attack,

they were looking to score all the time.

Too many crash plays into the line,

edge back row,

although it did work on occasion,

you know, in the wet conditions,

round one as well.

Like, you've got to get that timing perfectly.

It's a high pressure pass, high risk pass.

When, you know, if you play a bit pre-line

and you're willing to go a bit deeper

and not necessarily chase points,

but chase pressure,

it makes a huge difference.

The throwmage on the centers, Jimmy?

Jog right at the back.

We happy with that and how it looked.

Yeah, I think it adds to the Trelas game

by taking something away in terms of,

not just the physical load,

but the mental concentration load

of the position that is fallback.

And probably most of our listeners see fallbackers, you know,

high paid and, you know,

the flashy stuff of Reese Walsh

of the hammer of Ponga.

But there's a lot of moving parts there.

And even Latrown Mitchell,

when he played there,

he was sensational.

But there's a lot doing there

and obviously with Latrown's injuries.

You know, manly could face a similar debate.

Do you want Tommy Terbo

on the field,

or do you want him playing fallback

and potentially missing games?

High risk of him missing games?

Should he play fallback?

I think with souths.

Latrown playing in the centers

can influence the game

at a higher frequency than what he can do at fallback.

And that's only going to get better

as he not grows into the role.

But as he, you know,

re-adapts to that position.

I can see him, you know,

maybe not just being pigeonholed

on that left hand side

and come around and play as a second fallback.

Like we see almost Stephen Crichton do

or did at the ball logs at certain stages last year.

Well, we saw he still managed to get involved.

A lot more than an institutional centre.

Just yesterday,

he came in a few kicks in the last play.

He's got that great left foot.

So he's certainly not going to be locked

into that one position or game.

And really, you know,

I'm sure Wayne Bennett trusted his sense,

the awareness of the moment,

the awareness of where they're at,

in the contest to make a play

and come in from his centres when he has to.

And I just think,

with that souths in your team,

they're a better team with dry grain,

than without him.

So he's in the team at fallback.

They are a better team

when he is playing on the field.

And that's at fallback.

So you accommodate the team in the troll.

You know, he's such a talented player.

He can affect the game from numerous positions

and he's good enough to do that at left centre.

Yeah.

Wade makes a great point there

that you've got that guy to come in

and do a fantastic job.

If Jay Gray is not there,

you may be forced the trail to play fallback.

But with Jay coming in,

it puts your mind at ease.

You know, he's no more.

He'll do a lot for that southside

and he'll grab it outside.

Ashton Ward,

we saw him at the airport.

Jimmy, he was in a wheelchair.

Obviously, that sounds really dramatic,

but it's just in his most,

as Brent Smith was rolling around the wheelchair

for ease of movement around the airport.

But he'll definitely miss this weekend coming up.

I don't know how I'd feel about

Tristan Brown and Smith as my home.

My wheelchair driver,

shall we say.

A wheelchair.

That's a bit extreme.

Well, I guess he didn't want to use the clutch as maybe.

He had a moorball ride.

You're walking the moorball to see this message.

Yeah.

I think maybe Brandon maybe

saw an opportunity there for a bit of a comedic effect.

Well, you took him to the wrong gate,

leaving the gate.

There you go.

The nook.

But he'll probably miss that game.

So Sullivan, I imagine we'll come in at seven

because Humphries is still suspended.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

That's a logical choice.

What?

Big game for for ourselves.

Roosters.

Roosters.

Yeah.

Roosters obviously not starting well.

Selfs.

It's done really well.

The scrutiny around Roosters' right edge

and the strength of selfless edges.

That's something to relish and look forward to.

For Feed It Sin Bin?

Was it harsh?

Yeah.

I don't think it was a sin bin.

More definitely not for feeder.

Obviously, there was some push and shabby in the tackle

and then Gilbert took down for feeder

with a little bit of extra pepper,

maybe for possibly head slam.

I could understand him being seven for ten,

but not for feeder.

Yeah.

We'll be a great game on Friday, Roosters,

Bunnies, history, Beckins, for AJ as well,

which we're going to talk about later in the show.

So keep your power to dry on that one.

But the other big game way,

you said it was one of the biggest games in the round,

Manly V either Raiders.

An absolute thriller, a weird game.

A very weird game.

Manly shot the lights out.

Raiders came back and looked home and hoes.

They're Manly all of a sudden scored,

or was it 16 points in six minutes

or something crazy like that?

And then Ethan Sanders, a 22-year-old kid,

slots the field goal.

And doesn't even celebrate.

He's just that key.

Was that calm, cool collective?

Well, I like it.

I like what we have on the credits.

Ethan, the Colonel Sanders.

I love that.

I love that.

Raiders for me,

we're the biggest watch team this weekend.

Just because...

Listen, we know how well they did last year.

They won the minor premiership.

Unfortunately, they went out in the finals.

But there was a big hole there

with Jamal Foggy leaving.

And I usually respect what Jamal Foggy brings to a team.

I respect the Woody board to Canberra.

And I know there was big wraps on the Colonel Sanders.

But I just hadn't seen nothing.

I've, you know, potentials one thing.

I haven't seen a lot of his football.

And I thought there might be...

A gap in the king game.

And a gap in...

Just their calmness and composure

with Jamal Foggy leaving.

But I thought Ethan Sanders was great.

They didn't have the ball for what the first 11 or 12 minutes.

How to defend that whole time.

Which is almost unheard of in our game.

They went down 14-0.

They just hung in there as Canberra do.

They're outside of backs.

We're amazing getting them out of the backfield.

And they just found tries.

The young back row, he got a double.

He's a...

No, Martin.

No, Martin, he's a wild thing.

I think Hudson Young came up with a couple of kicks that led to tries.

And they just...

It was a really gritty performance.

And then for the young half-back to step up.

And when they'd won the game almost.

And then a flow of points from Manley,

get them back into Gordon Point.

If him the step up in the moment,

just ice a feel gone from what just inside 40 metres out.

It's a big tick.

And certainly if I was dead in camera before the season,

after watching that,

it's given me a lot of confidence in their team.

And they can...

There's still going to be a problem for a lot of oppositions.

Huge boost.

Huge win for the Canberraiders.

For a number of reasons that Wade mentioned.

New half-back pairing.

Young half.

Two very young halves.

Down like you said.

Under all sorts of pressure.

They fought their way back in.

I've just been thinking like...

You know, you brought up last year's final series.

The demons of that.

With conceding the penalty in the final moment.

We've seen this movie before, haven't we?

And it's Brisbane Broncos.

And it's Reswalsh.

And they met...

During that game in Gordon Point,

they messed up the opportunity to take the field goal.

And unfortunately for Canberra, Ben Hunt strikes it.

They win Broncos win the game.

And the rest is history.

Had they have lost that game.

You just wonder how much those demons

would have come back into the...

To the mind of those Raiders players,

the fans, Ricky Stewart would have been scratching his head.

But they got that win.

And it was vital for them.

Given what happened to them at the back end of last year.

It really, really was.

And, you know, for me,

Ethan Sanders slots up field goal.

It was strange, but he didn't celebrate.

There was no pressure on him.

It almost came from nowhere.

I do need to question Manley for their lack of agency.

You contrast that with the Raiders.

Overdid themselves.

They were so aged and they were offside.

Great call by the referee to award that penalty, by the way.

But that's where you...

You'd rather go and be aged.

Roll the dice.

Yeah, put the pressure on the referee.

Put the pressure on the referee to make the call.

Then allow him to get there.

Like, you've really got a question

where that agency was from Manley.

And people can say,

well, I didn't think he was going to strike it.

Well, you've got to assume that.

And even if he's not striking a field goal,

you've got to put kick pressure on.

You're in golden point.

He did it easy.

The reason he didn't celebrate because I spoke to him yesterday, Ethan,

was because he...

The referee didn't blow the whistle as if it was good.

But the referee was checking if it was a two-point field goal,

one-point field goal.

It's like, referee, no, the theater of the door will blow the whistle

and let the boys celebrate.

The theater of the door,

I love that Colonel Sanders nickname.

Can we get that going?

Colonel Sanders, incredible nickname.

And then his harsh partner, do you call him Dr. Strange?

They've got the best nicknames in the game.

Oh, that's a good one.

That's a good one.

I think, you know, another side of the ball, Manley,

positive to me.

Big Paseco back.

It's great to see him.

He makes such a difference for them.

You know, him and all the Kawatu,

having them fit on the field,

because that really takes them to the next level.

Those big bodies hard to handle.

They can turn any set or any potential,

try scoring opportunity into momentum,

because they're so big and hard to handle.

And they certainly miss Big Paseco last year.

And Turbo.

Wasn't a good to see him just running around with this.

He had a look of freedom about him.

I know he played a lot of free last year.

He played 18 or 19 games.

But there's no doubt people who've watched him play,

you could tell that he wasn't 100%.

He was carrying some stuff.

He wasn't quite opening up when he was running,

but he played with a sense of urgency the other night

and a change of pace when he got the ball

that we haven't seen for a while.

So I think Manley fans would be happy with that,

disappointed with the loss.

But there's some bright racer.

Yeah, typical Turbo.

I'll put the team on my back.

Yeah.

And come with me.

And Manley are their best wet when he's doing that.

It's just about how many now can follow that lead.

You mentioned the big boppers there in Paseca

and Ola Kawatu.

We know that they're going to do that.

That's a given.

The coach can trust those two to deliver each and every week.

Turbo has that mentality.

It's about now who can go and come with him

and have that same level of care factor

into the performance,

because Manley are under the pump.

A lot of people tip them not to make the egg this year.

Turbo seemed determined to prove those doubters wrong.

For me, the messaging in the dressing room this week

is you don't want to single out Turbo

and embarrassing.

But Manley players would be switched on and away

to this.

Message should be boys.

Follow this man's lead.

And we're going to have a chance,

because that game at home against the Raiders

considering all those circumstance.

Definitely win.

It was there for the taking for them to win.

That is one that got away.

Yeah.

As great as Canberra were.

Manley, 14 nil op at home.

You really shouldn't allow the Raiders back in.

But they did messaging this week.

Get that care factor for Turbo

and we'll win more games than we lose.

Now the player did step up for them.

Tolla Cooler, who you get in Mellie Ball

and he makes things happen, doesn't he?

Yeah.

That's been a pattern of play and a strategy of Manley's

to shift early, especially in Yardage

and with Colise.

He's the type of player that is so powerful

on the outside of his opposite man

and with pace to bend.

It's a great tactic to have.

He's a magnificent athlete and rugby league footballer.

So you'll expect to see more of that of Manley.

I still think they need to strike the balance

between how shift happy they can be

with that power game, especially with Persecutor.

Did you boys have any thoughts on J. Travoyvich

and his performance?

Obviously in that head gear

that we knew he was going to wear.

Did you notice anything for him

or does he just need a bit of time to get going?

A little bit of time to get going.

I thought he was solid.

It's a J. Travoyvich performance

that we're used to.

He's not going to be that front row

that makes 180 metres, post-contact metres.

He's the glue there in the middle,

the experience to someone you can trust

and rely on in the middle.

I think that's where he's held.

He's obviously coming off the concussion.

I'm happy to give him a dick.

I think there's other areas that need to be improved.

Again, it's around one.

I'm more than happy with his performance and how he went.

Again, it's good to see him back

after the issues he had last year.

You've been through the exact same thing.

You had those concussions, then you came back

and then you played Origin

for New South Wales after going through those concussions.

Does it take a bit of time to build that confidence?

Everybody's different.

And Jake, he wouldn't be...

He's experienced enough.

He wouldn't be playing unless he was confident.

He's just finished a pre-season.

I know there's not the contact you get in it.

A game contact that you get in a pre-season,

but you work hard.

And there's a lot of...

There's a lot of scrimmages where it's full-tilted

and you're copying knocks and building a confidence up.

And again, first game of the year,

or all front rolls and middle.

They take a little bit of time to get their match fitness.

But I thought Jake was fine.

It's good to see him back.

The head gear is a little bit odd looking.

It is, isn't it?

It's going to take a few games to get used to it.

It's like a bubble wrap round his head, oh my.

Well, it's up right in Trinor in the shape.

I like it.

Change something.

Yeah.

It just looks odd to start with,

but you get used to it pretty quick.

And listen, it might look a little bit different.

But do you do, mate?

Do you want to extend your career,

and play more fully and keep healthy?

Well, that's the best way for him.

Absolutely.

Yeah, past mark for me.

With Jackie Tuberto,

I thought he works really hard.

He's always going to play that way.

I think it's probably unfair to compare him to his absolute peak

when he was one of the best medals in the competition.

But in terms of what he used to bring in more

than makes up for that in that being that glue,

that leadership, that experience,

and that passion and care factor,

and another one of the Tuberto bits

that couldn't give more to the cause.

Now, one of the contenders from last year,

Prillin finals, the last two years,

of Cranella Sharks,

absolutely put the cleanest through the Gold Coast Titans,

50 points to 10.

There were about 36 kneel up at half time,

weighed your shark, he's looked the goods.

Yeah, I think, you know,

Jimmy said they're probably the most boring team

to watch this year.

That was the best.

Have you been at Shark's training with?

No, no, no, no.

I watched it myself on the bar round.

I noticed she said it on the bar round too,

and she had a shark's jersey hanging up in the back.

Your shark's jersey?

No, I think that was the best half by a team

in the opening round.

They were dolled in.

They were all connected.

Everyone, you know,

was on song in that first half performance.

I think it was funny looking at the stats.

I called the game in here at the studio,

and we know how the computer with the stats.

Titans actually dominated the stats.

It was 50-50 possession,

but tackles in opposition half,

tackles in opposition 20.

It was all in the Titans favor.

I think just opportunity,

and making the most of the ball

that had other sharks didn't go into that half

and not to go retry in that first half.

I was just on song,

and it was great to see the combination of

Trindle and Hines,

Will Kennedy and Braille all play well.

Everyone contributed.

It was just a really good team performance.

And, you know, people might say the opposition

the Titans, they're at the start of a journey.

I certainly have a lot of respect for Josh Hane

and hopefully they will improve this year.

But no one was going to be better prepared

for the sharks in the Titans,

because Josh Hane had been in the club for four years.

So, really good performance.

What a great test now this week against Penner.

What a spectacle for Bathurst as well.

We'll get into the Penner if Bronco is game next,

but Penner great last week against the Bronco's up there

at Suncorp.

Now, the sharks have that big performance.

It's around too much.

It's a big clash early,

and the folks at Bathurst get to see that live.

That's going to be fantastic.

I'm not even driving out there, Jimmy.

What's the way, Graham? Cupmate.

You got to go there.

Yeah.

And he's in the sharks.

Yeah, on the sharks.

That's a game next.

Most people expected them to win,

and they did.

And that's a huge tick.

I've got no issues about the sharks

turning up at Bathurst.

They rise to the occasion.

I say this often about them.

I imagine Coach Fitzgibbon wants to see them play

the Melbourne Storm each and every week

when they play at Shark Park,

because it brings out the best.

We do like playing the Storm.

Well, it is.

And we've seen them last year,

put on a dominant display against Melbourne at home.

They were into everything,

Ronaldo Molotalo in the faces,

that the hate of the shark,

of the Storm,

brings out the best.

But then we've seen them play some games

that they're expected to win.

After 20 minutes,

they almost give themselves a slap in the faces.

Yeah.

Oh, we didn't expect this to come.

And they're playing catch-up,

like force passes, they chase points,

and they end up dropping two points

that they ultimately should have banked.

That for me is why that victory

and that dominance was so important.

They were expected to dominate,

and they did.

We know the test for the sharks,

and that's why I was my least excited team to watch,

is because we want to see them in September

and spoken about multiple times in commentary

about there being 80 minutes away

from a grandfile two years in a row.

I think the sharks as a group,

they would know that,

that this is, you know,

they're one step away.

As a group, they probably know

there's going to be a number of players

moving on to pastures,

new, some of them signed,

and they're not stupid.

They can recognize that we all can't fit into this,

this tight cap.

I'm still looking for, you know,

a couple of breakouts.

I think Braille, although he's favored

to be the new South Wales hooker,

I think he's got more in him,

and obviously that game is a little bit different.

He's a breakout player,

Kaleiro, could be a break out player.

He was good, and I think, you know,

I'm excited to see him maybe separate himself

and he could be one of those,

like superstar players,

that maybe people look at with the sharks

and go, they're lacking.

They've got really good players

across all positions on the park.

And, you know,

maybe Adam Finubleik is the great one,

but then the great outside back,

the top three position,

could Trindal become one of those players as well?

He's maybe one of those underrated,

undervalued players that, you know,

if the sharks are going to go win another premiership,

Trindal probably has to be top 258s.

He has to rival Munster, you know,

Hines goes back to the form

that got him this massive deal

and made him a superstar

on a household name there.

They're the little things that the sharks

will need to go well for them

if they're going to take up the premiership this year.

On the tight inside of things,

obviously no jade and Campbell,

but is that enough of an excuse

for their first round performance?

No, I think,

yeah, listen to the Josh Hannai

at the end of the game in the press conference.

He summed it up.

They're at the start of a journey

and they just got,

got a total lesson in, you know,

intensity and attitude right from the get-go

and sharks just be into the punch.

They look faster, they look more physical

and in the early rounds again

where everyone's not really at their best.

It's important that you're attitude

and your intensity is right

because if you get that wrong,

it can slip away quickly

and that's what happened to the Titans.

I was just not in the contest

by half time I was over.

I respect the fight in the second half.

They found a couple of tries

and they played better footy,

but they would be disappointed

particularly how they played in the trial too.

I think they're up there

in the free season challenge.

I know there are any trials,

but you do get confidence from that

and they would have been,

you know, looking forward to round one

with some excitement and with some hope.

And that's a bit of pillow swallow

having a result of that

and concealing 50 points.

But, you know, that'll be better.

That'll get better.

Yeah, a bit of a disconnect in defense

watching them on the screen

that'll disappoint Josh Hannai,

but it's a project that the Titans

and, you know, maybe people

in the building will be talking,

talking them up and say,

well, hey, we feel we've got a top eight roster.

But, you know, Josh Hannai's moved on a lot of players.

It reminds me a bit of Councillor Aldo's first year

at the dogs big over overhaul of the squad.

Finds out who he wants to keep,

who he doesn't.

And I think with the goal coach

that there's bigger things happening there

that will bear fruit

in maybe two or three seasons' time.

It's a tough lesson for Josh Hannai

that, you know, he's a rookie coach

that this will have...

You know, I believe if he didn't think he was ever going to be

on the losing end of a 50-point defeat

coming in his first game,

he's just going to say,

stay true to the course

and educate these players

and stop finding out who's in there for this long ride.

And that's the thing, Jimmy.

Like that turn around in the, you know,

the education and the changing in the system.

It's a process, right?

Because once you get out there on the field

and the blowtorches burn you,

you know, the old habits, the bad habits,

they rise to the top

because that's what you're used to doing.

And, you know, it takes a while to change those habits.

And again, it's a journey there.

At the start of their journey,

it's disappointing.

But there's some brighter times

in the horizon for the Titans.

Let's talk what I think is the most significant result

from round one.

And that's the Penra Panthers

defeating the Brisbane Broncos 26 to Neil.

These two teams played in the pre-Limp final last year.

They played in the grand final of 2023.

The fierce rivals over the last few years.

But Penra, Jimmy, just absolutely dominated this game.

Yeah, well, Penra looked like that side

that I've been a title contender,

well, not just a title contender,

but a title holder for four years

in the mix for the last six.

And they looked like a team that are back.

We know what happened last year.

They're not mucking around this year, Panthers.

They know.

And they would have realised

that the shaky start to the season

cost them, cost them a spot in the top four

and a cost them at the back end of the year

against the Broncos.

I'm not too concerned about the Broncos.

There's always going to be scrutiny in and around that club.

It comes with the territory.

There were one pass away,

one pass sticking away from maybe two, three tries,

changes the whole.

The dynamic of the game of football,

the flow of the game of football.

But what comes with a 26-0 defeat

is more pressure, more conversation,

more noise for the Brisbane Broncos.

I don't think it was that significant at all,

really a performance.

You know, not that, you know,

Broncos always going to be a chance to win a game, right?

But then if you look at the two teams preparations,

Penner finished a year,

they went out of the prelim, right?

And they ended that great run of chairmanship that they won.

But they've had a normal,

their first normal preseason in such a long time.

And for the last six weeks,

consistently they're in Penner, training the same days,

getting ready for round one, soul focus.

And then you look on the other side,

the Broncos World Club Challenge, obviously the half-staff,

all that pressure and scrutiny,

there comes with being the premiership winners.

It's not surprising that result.

Again, the Broncos,

not saying that they couldn't win,

like they turned up on the night

and had their best performance.

You know, they're a lot better than what they were.

But it's not a shock to see something like that unfold.

And again, I'm in Jimmy,

and I'm not only concerned,

they were at their best,

a couple of, you know, lack of execution,

a couple of wrong options,

they really put them under the,

under the pump and Penner's,

when they're at their best,

they just suffocated and controlled the game,

controlled the field position.

Nathan Cleary just didn't let off,

and didn't allow the Broncos to come back into the game.

But it wasn't a surprise result to me.

Do I think the Broncos will be better?

100%, I think they'll be better.

And it's what I expect from Penner.

I think, you know,

as much as it sucks to lose for them

by that run that come to an end,

like they'll be rejuvenated, re-energized,

remotivated,

and they're a problem this year.

And what, Wade,

I want to ask you,

did the Hunt Reynolds start in combination

with Mammoth the Bench?

You know, they lose 2016,

but this gets highlighted.

It's different to a Cowboys,

of Clifford, Pairdew,

Drinkwater, Deedin,

how they all fit into the equation.

It's different to the Newcastle Knights

of, you know, Fletcher Sharp, Sanders Smith.

Yeah, they're talking points and Dylan Brown,

they're all talking points.

But the Broncos, it's bigger.

You know, they started with Reynolds and Hunt,

my opinion, two genuine sevens

with Mammoth the Bench.

Where's your thoughts with that?

I think,

I imagine we just did it,

you know, anticipating the fireworks.

I asked the Yoda going at it.

I said, you know,

carrying in the middle,

maybe to bring Mammoth,

you know, 20 minutes in

when the thing's gone out of it,

that first change,

obviously you get,

it barely hung in the hooker and Mammoth 5.

I think long term,

the hardest combo is Reynolds and Mamm,

for 80 minutes,

and how Hunt fits that in,

whether you start in hooker or employment 14,

that's probably their best,

their best spine,

and their most cohesive spine,

when it's all going well.

But for round one,

and he didn't the grand final too, right?

I can see why go back to a formula,

get the sting out of the game,

get as a Mammoth,

when there's some fatigue body,

left foot, left foot,

he's a dangerous runner of the ball.

I think it's just a strategy for game one,

but long term,

I see Mammoth he's played in minutes.

Let's take a break,

boys, there's a couple more games

you've got to get to, plus,

some new segments for a Monday,

which I'm telling you,

you will love it,

they're going to be award-winning segments,

here on Triple M,

NRL Daily.

Welcome back to Triple M,

NRL Daily,

with way Graham,

James Graham,

and Charlie White,

and boys,

we've got to talk low max.

The saga is finally done.

Two-year deal with the Western Force.

He leaves the NRL.

What are your first takes on it?

My first take is,

I'm happy that it's done,

because, honestly,

when did I retire three years ago?

I started on this Triple M.

If low max name hasn't dominated

90% of our chats,

I'll give it away,

and listen,

I'm happy for him.

Obviously, not a great situation,

the way everything panned out.

He decided to go to rugby,

fell through,

tried to come back,

fell through,

signed a deal with rugby.

Hopefully that holds up this sun.

Hopefully that deal

at Western Force holds up

and can go and play

and be settled,

and I'm happy not to be talking about him anymore.

I'd love for us to go through the Triple M archive

and clip up every low max,

low max, low max, low max,

probably three minutes,

I was saying low max,

in what,

18 months, two, two years.

We went a year there,

on a Thursday show.

Is he a centurion?

If only we knew them,

what we know now, hey,

congratulations to Zach.

He's playing football.

I've said this before that,

your time as an athlete is rationed,

especially the peaky at power,

it does go,

or it can go very quickly.

Yeah, good luck to him.

He's back in two years,

when he's there for two years,

when his rugby league registration

or R360 come back

and maybe let him down again.

Maybe he'll be playing for the wallabies next year.

Who knows?

I think personally,

it's just a terrible look for the game though.

You lose an origin player

to a rival code,

just because a club

wouldn't let him starve

to another NRL club

seems absolute madness.

Yeah, well, we'll,

we'll, we'll, we'll lose him,

Mark and Ongo need to say,

we'll lose Nangus Creighton.

Yeah, but we're not,

we're losing Angus Creighton,

Mark and Ongo need to say,

because they want to go play

rugby union,

and they're entitled to do that.

But say the Zach.

No, but he wants to play

for the Melbourne storm.

Yeah, but,

you know what, I want to go play

the Rolls-Royce as well, Charlie,

but you know what?

I'm not going to get one.

I'd rather talk about

the young wing at the West Tigers

as coming through.

Yeah.

This is the thing,

the game is bigger than anyone

playing.

We have great all the time,

great who finish and great

to move on,

and Lomax certainly been good

the last few years.

He's played for origin,

played for Australia.

But, you know,

the game's bigger than anyone.

So it's no sweat off my back.

Congratulations to him.

Good luck in the future.

But then,

I'm going to be watching this young kid

from the West Tigers come through

with the Joan Lomu comparisons

and the game just keeps producing.

I'm sure plenty

of the fans out there

and speaking to people,

it's a contract means something.

They'll be delighted,

that's finally something

that's written on a piece of paper,

a document that's been sign-sealed

and delivered,

is actually standing up.

But these things go both ways.

Clubs break contracts all the time.

Yeah.

Like, could the parameter

as a trying to get Ryan Madison

out of his deal at the moment,

aren't they?

Yeah, I've got to get it, Charlie.

I've got to get it, Charlie.

But I think...

Charlie, he's been on Sunrise this morning.

I'm starting channel seven,

current affairs.

Is it the hard-eating questions?

Yeah, maybe we should make

a rugby league at current affairs.

I'll host it.

You can be a roving reporter,

Jimmy, if you want to get out of the field.

What's the difference between a reporter

and a roving reporter?

Oh, yes, roving reporter.

You're on the move.

You're chasing stories.

And other reporters might be a desk reporter.

Of course, a desk reporter.

I don't know.

I love the joinsings,

but while working weeks of four guys,

there we go.

Can I look off?

Go into liquidation.

We're going to do these segments

every single week on a Monday.

So basically, today,

we've got the first round out of the way.

And I want to ask you guys,

after round one,

what you've seen enough to make a big call on.

So an example for that.

You know, for me,

I'll start for you guys.

Give an example.

I've seen enough.

Cranella Sharks play the grand final.

Ooh, that's...

I like that. That's a big one, Charlie.

That's a big one, yeah.

I've seen enough.

Maybe I should have put some thought in this

before I came in here.

Yeah.

I'll say,

Canberra,

I've seen enough of Ethan Saunders.

I like him.

I think it's going to be a really suitable replacement

for Jamal Foggedy again.

I had...

Not doubt,

but I was unsure on him.

But it makes sense, right?

Someone like Ricky Stewart and the Canberra Club

aren't going to let...

You know, play like Jamal Foggedy go.

It's to have complete faith in Ethan Saunders.

They're the best judges.

They have seen this kid come through.

They've seen him at training.

They've seen him around the club.

And again,

my lack of knowledge.

Maybe I doubted them a bit,

but I've seen it now.

I think they'll go well again this year.

Yeah.

I've seen enough of Lettrah Mitchell at center.

That's his position moving forward.

For many of the reasons we highlighted earlier in the show.

I like it.

Wait,

you wanted to say something about Tanner Boyd as well.

Yeah.

You were considering having him you've seen enough,

but he's on real mention for you?

Yeah.

I'm really happy for Tanner Boyd.

He's had a bit of a rough journey there.

A few tough years at the Gold Coast.

He moves to the Titan.

Ah, so is the Warriors last year.

And play it is straight in the New South Wales Cup.

I think I believe that he actually got an opportunity to go back

to the Gold Coast Titans and play first grade.

But he was happy to just play his time in the New South Wales Cup

because he believed in the Warriors journey

and where they were heading in Andrew Webster.

And it was great to see him have a great game against the roosters.

Probably all the talk heading to that game was about DC,

see him walk out of that combination.

But Tanner Boyd really stood up.

And really now we've Boyd and David Harris.

For me, I think it's a shootout to see who's Metcalf's half partner

because Metcalf can play 6N7.

I think whoever, you know, he's in more control of that team

and adding the most value, he probably stays in the halves

when Metcalf comes back.

And certainly Boyd, he's kicking game, he's goal kicking.

And the way Metcalf played, I could see that combination really going well.

So they're both probably playing for one position there,

which is a good thing for the Warriors.

It's hard when you're in that position as a player, Jimmy.

But there's nothing like that internal competition

and you know that you have good players in and around you.

That pushes you to be better.

And hopefully it brings out the best for Boyd and Harris

and it brings out the best for the Warriors.

Likewise, I mean, they were fantastic in that first game.

It was great to see I still think they missed the eight the Warriors.

But I think, you know, it's going to be a long season

for them that showed some good signs, Wade.

I haven't tipped her eight this year.

Somehow I've dodged it with every...

I mean, she dodged it on Saturday on the Saturdays ground.

I've dodged it, but it's getting hard to see who misses.

I'm not still in the year, but I could make a case for the Warriors

in terms of where they were last year.

You know, top four for a lot of the year

and then they'd lose their best half and their best,

or one of their best front rowers.

If you take those key players out of any team, even Melbourne,

or Penra, you take Cleary and Isaiah Yew out, big difference.

And the Warriors had to deal with that, so it's no surprise

why they could have faded last year.

I think they're better from the run, they're more experienced.

I really like Andrew Webstar.

I can see them making the eight.

But then south, I think south, if they stay healthy consistent,

they would have top eight team as well.

So who falls out out of last year?

Is it the roosters who just snuck in?

Is it another team?

Is it the Broncos?

I don't think it's the Broncos.

Oh, it could be.

Like, the competition's so close.

And it's hard to win the year to be making big predictions.

But a lot of teams looking good.

Well, I want a big prediction from you now, Jimmy.

After round one, what are you putting the line through?

I'm putting the line through.

People saying that they messed up the interchange.

We've had a couple of examples.

One being youngy, comes off.

And I can't even recall who they probably come on.

So are we messed up the interchange?

No.

You had a fullback come on and replace a fullback for a little bit.

And you've still got others to choose from.

No, but they did mess up.

They did mess up because they already have a valid excuse.

Talon to seal them already.

No, they already come on.

A valid excuse.

So what?

Okay.

So who did that now?

They've got one other situation.

Who do you put it fullback?

Well, what the cowboys did.

They reshuffled when it's drink water went off and purge you into the back and back and

time moved into the centers.

That because at the time, I remember we were doing the game, Vegas.

And I was in your headset.

Yeah.

So I made it have the cowboys stuffed up there.

Well, but really what the coach needs to do now is like, wait, if anything, the player

is going to come back on.

Like, don't activate that player until you're certain they're not coming back on the

game.

Well, there is a bit more strategy.

Like, there is a little bit because you can't be blaming.

No, but they stuffed them.

They had one really.

Oh, you know what?

Fixed that up then.

Yeah.

Put a line through ever being able to die now on that issue.

Yeah, I agree.

But I was looking at, so again, the shock is game.

Because of the rules now, they're able to have Cifatelicoi, Ueli.

Who's that?

It has its own style.

It has its own style.

It has its own style.

It has its own style.

Toby Rudolph.

Toby Rudolph.

And there was another big body on the bench.

It was four big bodies where normally you've got to sort of head your bench.

There you go.

Three and a utility.

But they can, they can go four bigs now.

And I like to look at that.

And then obviously if something happens, I have, you know, have that back up in

18th man or 9th man.

But there is a little bit more strategy.

But there's more freedom to me.

Yeah, there's more.

Well, the start is it's a choice paradox, but I don't want to see coaches say, I'm

talking about the interchange.

If you sort it out.

But if you look at round one, the top patent nailed it and Jason Raul stuffed it up.

Because he should know that the caliber is still lost.

Yeah, I know that people going, oh, this is the reason he did get the interchange right,

top patent.

So Raul's, Raul's like made it so they had it.

And then what in the second half they just got drowned by the Melbourne merely.

That's not what I was talking about.

He's Oregon Confessier on the bench.

Sorry.

I shouldn't have known that.

It was a big Sunday.

No, you're a shark.

That's not why they lost.

No, no, no.

Well, we're going to do something else.

Oh, no, sorry.

Who you put a line through?

Well, no, not put a line for anyone, but I'm putting a line through these fans come on

the fear of Alex Johnson breaking the rots.

I agree.

Wayne Benning came out.

Wayne Benning came out strong.

Well, I get it.

When he scores the record breaking try, I'll be happy for him as well.

I'll stand up and clap at home.

And if you're at the grounds, I'll stand up and clap.

If I'm at home, I'll stand up and clap him.

And, like, people at the ground, I'll stand up and clap.

There's no need to go into the field, mate.

Go see him at the end of the game.

That is a proper prawn sandwich.

Yeah.

Oh, well done.

Come on, you wager.

Yeah.

He's making history away.

Yeah.

Well, I'm not going to stand up and pump and yell out and scream at home.

No, at home.

But if you're at the game, you're like, get on the field.

No, mate.

No, why?

Because it's special.

Yeah, he's special.

Stand up and clap in the stands and then go see him at the end of the game.

Get on the field.

You've got to get on the field.

If I'm going to the game, I'll be running on the field.

I'll be running on the field.

One thousand percent.

I hope that's fine.

But I didn't put my media pass on, though.

So then I can't get far enough.

I'm not going to play.

No, but you got it.

I'm going on through it.

No, don't do it.

Well, why?

It's just another try.

It's a record.

I get it.

It's a record.

You celebrate the record half of the game.

Fans can hang around.

I'm sure Alex is going to do a lap and shake everyone's in.

He's a good dude.

It's time for the field, mate.

It's still a game to be played.

It's funny.

Alex seems pro for it because Alex on Fox Sports yesterday said,

oh, they can't find everyone.

What's the dude?

I'm talking about you in court.

So, well, AJ said to me on TV, he can't find everyone.

Why would you go on the field, Jimmy?

There's a game to be played.

It's still a game.

Because...

Well, all right.

Why would I run to the field?

Because Alex Johnson has just scored the most tries now.

And I'll have a history.

I'm not a pitch invader.

It's all...

It's just another try, right?

I know he's got a lot of try.

But it's just another try.

He broke a record, yes.

But it's a try in a game where there's competition.

It's down to field.

So, did you not like Buddy Franklin when he kicked his 1,000th goal

or whatever it was?

And everyone ran the field.

I didn't do it.

I didn't watch the NFL.

Because I was the hour round on the field for that as well.

Not even an NFL fair, but...

I hope they can...

He just admitted to a cry on that.

So, come and find him.

You have us, please.

Well, mate, on that game, there was people scattering their ashes

on the SCG.

And there was also people like getting down and proposing

on the field like...

Imagine that, like, oh, I'm thinking of proposing here.

Imagine if he doesn't kick to break the record there.

Oh, I know.

But...

Or if she said no.

Well, my...

My miss is actually threatened to propose to me at Shark Park.

She was sort of...

We've been together a long time.

And she...

You know, put in Louis the pressure on hinting that she wanted...

She wanted to engage in ring.

And then just a few comments to that.

Like, if you don't do it, I'll do it at Shark Park.

And you're like, what's up?

And the thing is, like...

My miss is...

That's not a bluff.

She...

She pulled the trigger on that.

She did a bright talk, proposing the stadium.

Now, after Round 1, Jimmy, is there anything that pundits fans

we need to cool our jets on?

Yeah, I'm putting my line through everything.

It's just Round 1.

Yeah.

Relax.

I know we're hyped up Round 1, big pressure games.

We're going to hype up Round 2 as well, you know.

We're almost...

The Cowboys against the Tigers.

I get it.

But I want to go against this because probably the weekend

I'll be saying how much of a pressure game it is and all

that jazz, but we just need to chill.

A big example of that is the Warriors last year in Vegas.

I think most people went...

Long.

They...

They're going to really struggle.

And it took them to return home before they fired.

Yeah.

I'm going to say paramount of eels, Wade.

I agree with you.

Like, they...

It's actually a worse result than they had last year in Round 1.

But there was a lot more positives, I think, in that game,

this time round than the first round where they...

You know what?

Absolutely.

You know what was wrong?

What's that?

They messed their interest.

It's a whole reason they lost by 50 years.

They certainly did, mate.

They messed it up, mate.

I agree with you, Charlie.

I think when they look at their video, it's going to be easily identified

where they let themselves down and they just gave up too much possession.

It will discipline, obviously they're in a change issues to me.

But, you know, there was early signs here.

That first try where it went Moses, Peasant,

and they stripped that right edge of the Melbourne storm.

You know, not many teams stripped a storm team like that

and they pulled them apart.

They were down for trouble, right?

Yeah, with some slick play.

And they've got more of that in them.

100%.

They just got to fix up some other parts of the game.

It's a queer jet spot.

Again, it doesn't get easier for them.

No.

I'm going to close it to something called after a loss.

So, it's a tough beat.

It's a tough beat.

Huge pressure game.

Ball prediction.

Parameter win.

One of them is going to...

One of them is going to...

Power or Brisbane.

I'm going to start 0 and 2.

Oh, Parameter beat the Broncos.

You heard it here first.

Great show, Lads.

As always.

Great.

Have you say every Monday, you got Waygrain, Jimmy Graham here?

I knew.

And myself as well, but it's going to be...

It's going to be great for the season.

If you can squeeze us in.

With Sunrise, Yellow.

It's a product I Sunrise always, so...

The Graham family trust is back in action.

What percentage do you take?

Great show, boys.

Well done.