Yvonne Sampson | Fox League Presenter on NRL Prelim Finals

0:00Having uncontrolled eels in a phylic esophageitis or EOE can mean your stuck in many ways, like cutting your food into tiny pieces. Or stuck chewing food for a long time. DuPix and DuPillemab, a prescription medicine for patients one year and older weighing at least 33 pounds can help with that. It's a breakthrough treatment that can reduce inflammation in the esophagus and improve swallowing. How about this? Pix and is not a steroid. It proactively treats EOE so you can get ahead of it. Severe allergic reactions, including skin reactions, can occur. Get help right away if you have trouble breathing or weasin or swallowing of your face, mouth, tongue or throat. Tell your doctor of newer worsening joint aches in pain or a parasitic infection or asthma. Don't change your stop other treatments without talking to your doctor. Feeling stuck with EOE? Start treating with DuPix and talk to your gastroenterologist or allergist today about DuPix and learn more at duPix and dot com or call 1-844 DuPix and.

1:00This episode is brought to you by Welch's Fruit Snacks. Back to school season can be tough on parents. But choosing a snack you and your kids can both get behind doesn't have to be. Stock up on Welch's Fruit Snacks, made with whole fruit and now made with no artificial dies. It's a snack kids already love and one you can feel good about giving them. Go back to school with Welch's Fruit Snacks, now made with no artificial dies. And we're very grateful to be joined by Evon Sampson out of Fox Sports, a head of a big weekend of NRL footy, obviously, with the preliminary finals starting tonight. The dolphins taking on the roosters of on. Thanks very much for giving up your time and jeez. It's a cracking game to start the prelims. The dolphins hosting the roosters and we know the fins are on a hot streak. But the roosters get back a certain player by the name of Sam Walker who I think they've been missing massively. What do you make of what's about to unfold tonight? I can't wait.

2:00Thanks so much for having me, boys. A phenomenal 48 hours of preliminary finals this weekend on Fox and yes, Sam Walker. You know, because last time he was at Suncorp Stadium, the locals were cheering his name because he was half back for Queensland. So he was there beloved, save you through the origin series, but tonight he goes back in there and I'm a proud Queenslander. I'm a proper like from Townsville, North Queensland. We do love our own, but I tell you what we don't mind howling him down, especially when they play for that glamour club around Bondi, the Sydney roosters. So he's not going to get the reception. I think he's probably used to at Suncorp Stadium and bizarrely. He's other halves partner, daily triavans, former Queensland captain who has a bit of a strange relationship when it comes to Queensland as well. So it is going to be so interesting because I think a lot of Broncos fans, I think a lot of Cowboys fans and I think a lot of Titans fans have all sort of gone, well, you know what? Those dolphins are bloody hard to not get behind and the rise and rise of the fins.

3:02You're right, they've won eight straight, they're looking for nine. They didn't panic so you will remember Wellboys and week one of the finals. They played the Warriors and the Warriors had earned their right to have the, you know, the week off, a bit of a luxury. They finished in the top four. They thought, that's fine. We'll play the dolphins and put our feet up for the week. But the dolphins came out even though they were behind on the scoreboard, Isaac Cartoe, did not flinch, he absorbed the pressure, he kicked into corners and he turned the tide for the fins. So he's playing well beyond the maturity and you talk about Sam Walker and Isaac Cartoe, I think they're one of the two most brilliant and promising young halfbacks we have in the NRL. So I cannot wait to see them go ahead to head. If you're looking for contests and there's plenty right across the park, Mark Noonga need to say now I know he's going back to rugby. I don't know if you guys can pull some of them. Strings and tell him to stay in league for God's sake. We absolutely love him. But before he goes, he'd love to win an NRL Premiership and he marks up on Silwen Cobbos. So they are both very alpha in their approach to the ball.

4:04They love the contest in the air. They're both very big and physical and they do things that really you can't train. You know those kind of guys that kind of just go, how did you do that? No one else on earth could do what you've just done. So I can't wait to see that. And then we've got the gorgeous pin up from Lancashire Herbie, Farnworth up against Rob Toya, who was another proud Queenslander. So it is going to be fantastic tonight. And I haven't even got on to the forward packs because Morgan Knowles, he's from out of the super league. He's a screw loose, so's Tom Gilbert, so's Flegler. And they've got a couple of little brawlers off the bench and race stone who actually likes to bare knuckle box in his downtime. And they will take on the rooster's package. We all know Lindsey Collins is a bit of a hothead. And Victor Radley needs no invitation. Spencer Lenu, he'll do some damage as well. So really across the way, I cannot wait for tonight. Can you tell them excited? Are you anticipating a bit of buff are you, Evon? Definitely. Because you know what?

5:05There might be a tomorrow. So, and you know, I don't know if you guys have followed the Locky Neal drama in the AFL. You can just go to the judiciary post a bit of an appeal and a way you go. You're going to have to play. They're not going to rule you out of the grand final. They wouldn't have the co-huners. So, you know what? I think you may as well go down swinging. If you're going to make a difference for your team, you want to get out there. And boys, as you know, through finals, it's kind of games like this that make define the career or define the legacy. You can be great between rounds one to 27. That's great. Have a great season for what you do in finals and what you do in moments like tonight and on Sunday. That's ultimately what defines your legacy. So, yeah, go down swinging, I think, play like there isn't a tomorrow because there might not be. What would a grand final appearance actually do for the dolphins in its fans base? Because there's only, I think it's their third or fourth year in the competition. Yes, a big membership base from Red Cliff. But what would a grand final appearance do for its members?

6:07It would just be. It would be a landmark moment for the club. And you're right, the club is really old. So there have been around for about 80 years in the QRL. And they used to compete in the old Brisbane Rugby League. So they have a very well-established Rugby League club. They're one of the richest that we have in the NRL landscape. Yes, they're brand new. This is their fourth year. But for Queenslanders, we've known Red Cliff to be a powerhouse forever. Arthur Beadson famously came out of Roma and landed at Red Cliff. And now can you imagine God rest his soul, one of our first immortals, if he could see his roosters and dolphins go head-head and a prilim. But in terms of what it would do for the fins, I think it just gives that sense of legitimacy. You know, they're the newest NRL franchise. Their foundation coach was Wayne Bennett. He carefully handed over the reins to Christian Wolf. They've got a great balance in their club. They're going for the QCUP title as well this weekend.

7:08So ultimately, on Grand Final Day, you could have the dolphins in the NRL and Red Cliff in the Interstate Final. You know, both grades playing on Grand Final Day for the first time. It just speaks to the depth and the legitimacy of this club. But I think a premiership changes everything. And we've seen that four clubs. I, you know, you go back to 2016 when the sharks won it for the first time and what that did for the shy. You go back to 15 when you saw North Queensland when they're made in premiership and what that did for all of North Queensland. A trophy changes everything. And it would be amazing for the fins to do it so early in their NRL journey. I think the nights are peaking at the right time. I do feel like they had a little bit of help last week, but we won't go into that even. But are there any chance of beating Penrith? Oh, there are every chance of beating Penrith. I don't know. Yeah, absolutely. Because you know what, they're playing fearless. They actually don't fear it. And the Panthers do look beatable. I don't know if it was paranoia, but the Panthers at training have put up black tarp hole

8:11and all around their training academy. So you couldn't see into training. And it was to keep intruders away to see what Nathan Cleary and what he is able to do in terms of kicking and running and putting weight on that fractured foot. So is it paranoia or is it premiership preparedness? I guess we'll ultimately see at the end of Sunday night. But the night's, it's so good. And you know, boys, it's so exciting when a club just kind of jumps out of the ground like this. So they were really no guarantees. They won the spoon last year. So there were absolute spooners and here they are in a prelim. And all of around the Hunter and Newcastle, everyone's gone bananas. They're doing that, you know, like the red and blue sausages, the old retro jerseys with the Henny Penny written on them are going everywhere. The merch, the extra trains down from Newcastle into Sydney on Sunday. They're doing a march all the way into the stadium. Kids are skipping school just to go down and watch Caleb Ponga train. Like it's got, it's been 25 years

9:12between Grand Final drinks for Newcastle. And they had that flash and we all remember Joey in 97. And of course, beds in the boys and Joey in 2001. But really since then, it's been very skint. And for them to be able to be in a position where they can enjoy this week. And really they've got nothing to lose against the Panthers who, you know, by rights should, should this should be a cakewalk for them on Sunday. But, you know, they're not 100% Nathan Cleary is 100% Isaiah goes playing with that busted peck injury. Mitch Kenny is still not 100%. So yeah, they're not, they don't have it all on their own terms. The Panthers, but they are excellent. They're in to their seventh straight prelim. They've been there. They've won it all before. And, you know, they will probably win on Sunday. But Jesus has been a hell of a ride for the nights. The Panthers are more than Nathan Cleary or they're not. You know, you look at Liam Marden, Isaiah, Isaiah, Papalee, Edwoods, Toe, surely they're more than just Nathan Cleary. Yeah, of course they are.

10:12But then I guess if you're not, so who's doing the kicking duties? You know, if you can't turn the ball over deep in good territory, you know, and then you just sort of start losing that yardage battle and you're not getting your sets away where you want to start. And so I think that the kicking game of Nathan Cleary is so, is so important. Blaze, Halangi hasn't really come on where they needed him. It was, it just hasn't worked for them. So yeah, Colg, Kogger, whoever they go with, it's going to be a big test for the Panthers. But, you know, they're the undisputed champions. You'd have to say, if the last half a dozen years, they've been there, they've done it all before. They, and I think internally, I haven't Cleary, you know how coaches usually have a bit of a theme that they like to talk through a final series. And they would never reveal what that is, but I'm getting the sense that tone is something along the lines of, let's, let's go reclaim what's ours because they got bundled out of the prelims this time last year. The Broncos went on and won the, one, the Norm Provin trophy,

11:16so I think Penrods still have, that stings them a little bit. They know that Ivan's last year will be next year. Nathan's off contract. There's a lot of discussion about where he will head to next. Will he stay at the Panthers? So I think they're, they're talking about the here and the now. They're in a position to win another premiership and potentially finish off with a sec, yet another one next year. But, yeah, it's, I think for the Panthers, you're right. They're not just Nathan Cleary, but he is, he is, have to be the lion, share in the lion, the lion heart of everything of what they do. Ivano, I'll leave you with this text from Roger, who says, what an amazing summing up of the weekends, two games of the finals football from Ivan Best, summing up, I've listened to for ages, bring it on. So there you go. I agree with it. Thanks for your time, mate. That was outstanding. I appreciate it. And just weighing in on your, your Olympics chat when I was waiting on the finals here. Yes. I'm an equestrian. So I, I love the dressage and the show jumping. So whatever you do, don't, and the eventing obviously. So don't, don't get rid of those out of the Olympics. It's the only time I get to see it on TV.

12:17That is a pure Olympic sport. Even though we don't have any say, we'll keep that in the games, don't we? Thank you. Good stuff. Thank you so much, Ivano Sampson, they're out of Fox League. She'll be a big part of their coverage, obviously, over the coming weeks.