Ashleigh Salmon is this week's On The Bench guest
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00:00 Good afternoon, it's four o'clock on the bench time,
00:02 or as this episode is sometimes known as,
00:04 the Bridget family reunion.
00:06 Because today we have Ashley Semmon,
00:09 the superstar player from the Tarry City Bulls
00:11 Women's League tag side.
00:13 Now Ashley's Gary's niece, of course,
00:16 the daughter of Narelle Semmon,
00:18 who occasionally appears as a host on this program.
00:21 So we've had the whole family here now, Gary.
00:23 - Yeah, it's good to see Nick,
00:24 that they've given us their time
00:27 to come and sit on the bench with us.
00:28 - Exactly. - And I very much appreciate it.
00:30 - Yeah, well thanks, and of course,
00:31 the reason we've got Ashley here today,
00:32 is of course it's the eve of Christy Lee Bridge Cup Day
00:35 tomorrow with the huge game brewing between
00:38 Tarry City and William at the Jack Neill Oval,
00:41 the 10th anniversary of the Christy Lee Challenge Cup.
00:44 So we'll be talking about that at the length of course.
00:46 But before we get into that,
00:48 this week's draw is Tarry City versus William, as I said,
00:51 at the Jack Neill Oval,
00:52 and Port City versus Warhope at Port Macquarie on Saturday,
00:56 and on Sunday Foster Tuncurry plays Ulbar at Ulbar
00:59 in the Clay Valley, hosts the Port Sharks at Bird Street.
01:03 And just another thing, Warhope Reserve Grade
01:04 is forfeited as of Ulbar under 18s.
01:07 And the Menning Hotel player of the week last week
01:09 goes to the William Locke-Shennon Martin,
01:11 who had a great game when the Tigers defeated,
01:13 when did the Tigers beat, Port Sharks?
01:16 Port Sharks, 19-12,
01:17 so they kept their race for the semi-final alive.
01:19 Big day tomorrow, Gary, oh Ashley,
01:21 we'll start with you, big day, huge day tomorrow.
01:23 - Huge day tomorrow.
01:25 It's always been a big day,
01:26 but I think being the 10th annual year this year is,
01:29 I think we're trying to make it bigger and better every year,
01:32 so of course this one, we're hoping to be the biggest yet.
01:35 - And here it is, the Christie League Bridge Cup.
01:37 We will be playing, well we won't be playing for it,
01:39 but the Tigers and their Bulls will be playing
01:40 for that tomorrow, and it's only got Tarry's name on it once,
01:42 and they'll be obviously hoping to make that more than once.
01:45 And we're looking to maintain their domination.
01:48 - Very emotional day for the family,
01:52 as everyone can imagine.
01:54 I love this day though, like I guess for,
01:57 you know, it's in memory and honour of my cousin,
02:00 who was someone very special and close to me.
02:02 - You were just about best friends,
02:04 sorry to interrupt, but you were just about best friends,
02:06 weren't you?
02:07 - We were very close, I think I was lucky enough to,
02:09 Christie had done a lot of travelling,
02:10 and she'd recently moved back home,
02:12 and she was gonna go, she had started uni,
02:15 and she actually was living with myself down in Newcastle,
02:17 so that was a pretty special time for me,
02:19 given I have always looked up to her,
02:21 she was my older cousin.
02:23 I did always look up to her,
02:25 I guess she would boss me around a fair bit,
02:28 she had that--
02:29 - You bossed her a few people around, right?
02:31 - Yes, she did, she had that sassy sort of attitude
02:34 and personality at times,
02:36 but anyway, we got along great,
02:38 and living with her, well, you know,
02:41 it just made, we'd never lived together,
02:43 so it was just, it was something
02:45 that I'll always remember now,
02:46 and yeah, very special day,
02:49 because I guess for myself and our family,
02:53 like, I don't need a day like this
02:55 to remember my cousin, or honour my cousin,
02:58 but I guess for everyone not directly affected
03:01 by Christie Lee's passing,
03:02 it is a day that I guess almost, you know,
03:06 lots of members of the community stop
03:08 and take a moment to think and remember my cousin,
03:11 and I think that's very special.
03:12 - And Gary, of course you're hoping
03:13 to get a very special milestone tomorrow too,
03:16 with the fundraising's concern.
03:18 - Yeah, we're, as of the 10th annual game day
03:22 that we have for my beautiful daughter,
03:24 and we're hoping to surpass 200,000
03:29 for the 10th year, so, you know,
03:32 I can't thank the community of Tarry and Wingham enough,
03:35 and people outside the area that just come to the day,
03:39 and they know that the money raised
03:41 goes to the local Can Assist,
03:43 which helps a lot of families
03:45 that need some help with,
03:46 and we know everyone's been affected by cancer
03:51 in the family some way or another,
03:53 and it's great to be on board with Can Assist,
03:55 and it's a great day, and just to have the people
03:59 and the community just get behind it's great, Nick.
04:03 - And as we've said a couple of times in the last few weeks,
04:06 it's a huge occasion, it has been,
04:07 it's a big day in the Tarry calendar,
04:09 both sporting and social,
04:10 but it's a big day tomorrow for both those clubs, isn't it?
04:13 - Oh, mate, it's huge, it's,
04:16 finally we've got a game,
04:18 that's, it's got a bearing on the semi-finals,
04:22 and, you know, if Tarry win it,
04:24 they can finish as high as third,
04:26 and Wingham need to win it to get into the semis,
04:28 don't they, so--
04:29 - Yes, or stay in the race for a bit.
04:30 - Or stay in the race, because we've both got,
04:33 next week, Wingham's got Port City,
04:34 and we've got Port Sharks, Tarry, so,
04:37 it's a game, so, it'll be fantastic,
04:41 and the weather's gonna be fantastic too, Nick,
04:42 and I can't wait for the day,
04:45 gates will open at 8.30 in the morning,
04:46 because we've got a lot of junior games on there,
04:48 and, you know, the seniors with the girls starting
04:51 at 11 a.m., right through,
04:53 and back to our major sponsor, the winner tab,
04:56 that night for a presentation for the players' player,
05:00 everything, or the Bulls players' player,
05:02 with that one at the game for all grades today too,
05:05 as well, tomorrow as well.
05:06 - How are the Bulls going in the league table here, Ashley?
05:10 - I think we're currently third,
05:12 because we've got the Breakers
05:13 are sitting on top of the ladder,
05:14 and I think Foster's not too far behind them.
05:16 - Two points, I think, yeah.
05:17 - Yeah, two points is it.
05:19 We have beaten Foster earlier in the year,
05:21 and then the second game we played Foster,
05:23 I think they got us by two points,
05:25 which was a conversion in the end,
05:26 'cause I think it was three tries each,
05:28 so, it's been very close between us and Foster,
05:32 but Breakers have been benchmark.
05:34 Look, we're sitting third, I think if we
05:36 win our next two matches, or maybe even one out of the two,
05:39 we will stay third, and go into the semis
05:41 in the third spot, so.
05:43 - Yeah, I don't think you can get beaten for third,
05:46 I don't think that--
05:47 - I think Sharks is four points behind us,
05:50 so if we possibly went down and dropped the last two games,
05:53 and they won the last two, I think we could end up even,
05:55 I'm not sure on for and against and things,
05:57 but I know that we're hoping, obviously,
06:00 to stay in where we are.
06:01 - Yeah, of course, yeah, and you started playing
06:04 league tag the very first year in 2009.
06:06 - I did.
06:07 - You must have been in primary school, eh?
06:08 (laughing)
06:09 - Oh, thanks Nick.
06:10 (laughing)
06:12 Look, I had just finished school in the 2008 I graduated,
06:16 and I had moved to Newcastle to do uni,
06:19 but yeah, I was traveling back on the weekends to play.
06:21 Couldn't train, of course, or sometimes would do
06:23 a Friday night training, but yeah, no, it was great.
06:26 I enjoyed the sport when it first started.
06:28 I still enjoy it, but I really had a passion for it
06:30 when it first started.
06:31 - Yeah, when we talk about this, often on this program,
06:35 on this segment, that women's tackle, league tackle,
06:39 it's just, well, they say it's taking over,
06:40 but the numbers really don't quite equate to that,
06:43 but would you have played tackle when you were younger,
06:45 do you think?
06:46 - I don't think so.
06:47 - You don't think so?
06:48 - I'm what people would call soft, I guess.
06:50 (laughing)
06:51 I just don't, I know I come from a rugby league family,
06:54 I just don't think I have it in me.
06:55 My sister, definitely.
06:57 I think she's played some union or some tackle,
06:59 and she would be all for it.
07:01 - Yeah, Rikki's done that.
07:02 - But no, it's just not for me.
07:04 I like, I enjoy watching the game.
07:07 I have a lot of friends that play women's tackle.
07:10 Yeah, just not for me, and no, I don't think I would have,
07:12 even if it was earlier in the day, like when I was younger.
07:16 - Do you think they can coexist, the two, like league?
07:19 I mean, is enough players around here to support league tag?
07:22 - I don't know if it's around here.
07:24 I know it's successfully working in other places.
07:27 I know that's where it went, Newcastle,
07:29 the year I finished there, they went to tackle,
07:32 and the tag teams are playing in a different comp.
07:36 I just don't know if we've got the numbers here.
07:38 - Yeah, 'cause a lot of them are backing up, aren't they?
07:40 Gotta wait for them to come from the play-in loop.
07:42 - Yeah, that happened the other week,
07:43 I think, with the Wingham girls.
07:45 Like, yeah, that's sort of like half, you know,
07:49 trying to play both, but also, we're already, what,
07:52 three teams short this year in the league tag competition,
07:55 so, you know, we've already lost teams,
07:58 and I would assume a lot of that's to tackle.
08:01 - Yeah, particularly with Kempsey, Kempsey later.
08:03 - Yeah, and we probably wouldn't have enough tackle teams
08:06 if we didn't have the group two girls involved, too,
08:09 wouldn't we? - Well, that's true, yeah.
08:11 - There's at least two sides of the tour, three sides.
08:12 - Yeah, yeah, so it's sort of, you know,
08:14 it's a wholly different avenue, and as you said,
08:17 not everyone wants to play, and they've got a few of them
08:20 are backing up, which means it's,
08:21 when you're putting down the draw, you gotta work out--
08:26 - Yeah, to try and work it out with the girls.
08:28 - Yeah, yeah.
08:29 - 'Cause there'll be a couple of Bridges
08:30 playing there tomorrow.
08:31 - Boy, there will be.
08:33 - A couple of me nephews.
08:34 - Yep.
08:35 - Timmy's back from an injury, and Maddy's, well,
08:39 he's been playing all year, so I just don't know
08:42 the position they'll be playing.
08:43 Timmy might be playing 5'8".
08:45 - Again, do you think?
08:46 - Yeah, he could be, I hope he is,
08:48 and Maddy will be in the centre, so I'd say, so.
08:50 We've got two Bridge names in,
08:54 and we're looking forward to that.
08:58 - Yeah, well, of course, they both played,
09:00 I was reading the other day, a story I actually wrote,
09:01 in 2017, they were all been playing for Wingham,
09:04 and Todd was player of the match for the Bulls,
09:07 when the Bulls won their only game,
09:08 and you were the coach of the Bulls.
09:10 - I was.
09:11 (laughing)
09:12 And that year we finished, we ended up running third,
09:14 Kempsey beat us at Kempsey in the final,
09:16 and this year, again, this game could put
09:20 Springboard Tari in the third, so, if they win.
09:24 But as we said earlier, it's great that the game has,
09:28 there's a lot involved in the game as well.
09:30 - What's it feeling like in the club, actually,
09:32 like coming in this week, in the Bulls, within the Bulls?
09:34 - Well, there's been a lot of work to get ready for the day,
09:36 there's been sort of working bees at Jack Neill,
09:39 as you might know, getting the grounds ready,
09:41 I guess the facilities, preparing, there'll be,
09:45 I think that we're starting canteen or barbecue
09:47 from those junior games, which will, you know,
09:50 do more like a brekkie thing into lunch,
09:52 so there's a lot going on, and look, the feel is always,
09:58 or look, for me, and a lot of the girls, even in the team,
10:02 there is quite a few girls in the team
10:04 that had a close relationship with Christy,
10:05 you know, family, friends, through Uncle Gary and Aunty Tanya,
10:08 and, you know, I guess we try to remember that,
10:12 you know, don't let the emotions get on top of us,
10:15 it is a game that we've got to, you know, go in,
10:17 and it's still competition points,
10:19 so we need to get that and get the win,
10:22 but, yeah, look, the feel is like,
10:25 we just want to play well, enjoy the day,
10:28 and I guess, you know, have the day in the spirit
10:32 that it's meant to be played,
10:34 and I guess, you know, for the supporters and spectators,
10:38 we just want everyone to enjoy the day.
10:39 - Do you think, perhaps, given the Bulls' lack of success,
10:41 and they haven't been weak every year in those 10 years,
10:44 they've had some fairly solid sides in there,
10:46 maybe that perhaps explains the lack of success,
10:49 the emotion that perhaps sucks something
10:50 out of the preparation, or?
10:52 - Sometimes it does, Mick, and that, you know,
10:56 and, you know, I can see the look on their faces
10:58 after the game when they haven't won,
11:00 and they keep saying, "I'm gonna shake their hands,"
11:04 and everything, and they just say, "I'm sorry,"
11:05 but no sorry about it, sometimes that emotion
11:09 overtakes the game now, you know.
11:12 - But likewise, Wingham have it as well,
11:14 because, you know, that year that Bulls did win,
11:17 like, I was sitting there watching,
11:18 I watched my little cousin cry when he lost the match,
11:21 because it means that much to them, like it does us,
11:25 like, they're just, they were Christy Lee's cousins as well,
11:28 and I know, I've watched them every year,
11:30 they have so much emotion whilst they're out there playing,
11:32 and I know, look, sometimes I see tears from them
11:36 whether they win or lose.
11:37 - Yeah, so it's, yeah.
11:38 - Well, I remember last year, the Bulls,
11:41 made money, I think they won one game all year,
11:43 and they were crestfallen full-time,
11:44 they led for a fair percentage of the last year,
11:46 and then got swamped at the end.
11:47 - Yeah, it was close for a little,
11:48 I did think it, sort of, they kept us in it
11:51 for a little while, but.
11:52 - Yeah, I remember speaking to Trey Clark,
11:53 yeah, I mean, he was absolutely dead stoked.
11:55 - Yeah, and as I said, it's a day that the whole club,
12:00 or both clubs, invest in, and take it to heart,
12:03 and well supported.
12:05 - And actually, you brought the pandemic money,
12:06 you remember?
12:07 - Yes, we did.
12:07 - Just.
12:08 - We played it, and as I said,
12:10 I said, she must have had something to do
12:12 with that, my daughter, looking down and saying,
12:14 "Well, we'll get the game, I'll organise the game for you,
12:17 and after the game's finished, you want home."
12:19 - Yeah, that's right, yeah,
12:20 or have something to get a couple of cans of grog over.
12:22 - I did anyway.
12:23 (laughing)
12:25 'Cause Ash, your partner is, of course, Jordan Warboys,
12:29 so, Captain Cash, who do you barry for
12:32 when the Bulls play the Pirates?
12:34 - Oh, that's a good one, me.
12:35 (laughing)
12:36 Put me in that one.
12:37 - Yeah, that's right, that's what I'm there for.
12:38 - He will watch this later.
12:40 - Yeah.
12:40 - I bet he does.
12:41 (laughing)
12:43 - Look, that's hard, I go for my club as a club,
12:46 I've played for Tarry City for many years,
12:49 and I always hope all the teams go well,
12:53 but I do watch Jordan put a lot of time
12:55 into that Oba club and team,
12:58 and so, obviously, I have a soft spot
13:00 for that particular team.
13:03 I just hope they both do well,
13:05 but, look, maybe slightly Jordan's team a little bit.
13:08 (laughing)
13:09 - Well, we want Jordan's team to do well now,
13:14 'cause they're minor premiers at the moment,
13:17 they should finish minor premiers,
13:18 and hopefully get another grand final down
13:20 at Alba again this year.
13:23 It saves us half the trouble all the way to Port.
13:25 - Yeah.
13:26 - I'll tell you what, he would've been a sore boy
13:27 last Sunday morning, wouldn't he?
13:28 He said, "Geez, I'll watch that game
13:29 "on Saturday afternoon at Alba."
13:30 - Yeah, I was there as well.
13:31 - I don't know, that was an absolutely brutal defence
13:34 from both sides.
13:35 - Yeah, it was.
13:36 Yeah, it was a very hard game.
13:38 I think they were, what, first 20 minutes or something?
13:40 There wasn't a--
13:41 - The 27th minute, I think, first try.
13:42 - Was his first try, yeah.
13:44 And so, they were sort of just end to end
13:46 for a long time, weren't they?
13:48 And obviously, having Isaac come out injured
13:51 from that one, from, yeah, that's gonna be a big loss
13:54 for them, being that he's one of the great tacklers.
13:57 - Oh, yeah, he is, yeah.
13:58 - So, yeah, no, look, it was what it is.
14:02 Everyone has losses, I guess.
14:04 It's part and parcel of the game,
14:06 and they've just gotta pick up from there
14:07 and keep going into the semis,
14:10 because I guess they wanna be putting themselves
14:12 in the best chance come semi time.
14:15 - Yeah, and we also want 'em to win the major
14:17 semi finals, so we gotta grand final down here again.
14:19 - Fingers crossed.
14:19 (laughing)
14:20 - Yeah. - Fingers crossed.
14:22 - We had a funny position, Bulls, Gary,
14:24 that they're out right fourth now,
14:26 and I think they would've given anything
14:28 at the start of the year to be out right fourth
14:29 this time of year.
14:30 They could finish third, as we spoke.
14:31 They could finish sixth, too, couldn't they?
14:32 - Yes, they could, yeah, if games don't go their way.
14:35 If they lose their next two, and win their next two,
14:37 and Port Sharks win their next two, so.
14:41 Yeah, it's really good.
14:43 So, they control where they're gonna finish.
14:48 They've got opposition to play against, but they know.
14:51 - At this stage, they're not relying on results.
14:53 - No, that's right, they've gotta win,
14:54 and that's what you need to do in a game,
14:56 and I think tomorrow, I think they're gonna be
14:59 nearly at full strength, so no excuses.
15:02 - Man, I spoke to Christian Hazard during the week,
15:04 and I said, "Oh, well, you've had a good year anyway."
15:06 And he said, "Yeah, but if we don't make the final five,
15:08 "I was down in the corner at the disappointment."
15:10 He said, "We've gotta make the five."
15:12 Not now, he's doing all this hard work to finish sixth,
15:14 he said, which is the right attitude, you know.
15:16 'Cause they've won five games and had a draw this year.
15:19 They wouldn't have won five games
15:20 between 2009 and '21 and '22, so it's been a great effort,
15:23 but the job's not done.
15:25 - And they've knocked over Kempsey,
15:26 and they've knocked over Port City.
15:27 - Yeah, and they've bricked the White Cross.
15:29 - They can do it.
15:30 It's just about whether they show up and play on the day.
15:33 - If they show up and play,
15:34 and they all play to their potential, yes.
15:36 - They'll be doing a special guest set tomorrow, Gary, too,
15:38 which we didn't know about until today.
15:39 - Yeah, Dave Troughton,
15:41 the boss of New South Wales Rugby League,
15:43 will be up tomorrow to be part of the day.
15:48 I've known Dave for a lot of years,
15:50 and so has my brother Wayne,
15:51 and it's just great to have the boss
15:54 of New South Wales Rugby League
15:56 coming to me daughter's charity day.
15:58 - Yeah, it's wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
16:00 Just so we spoke about it last week,
16:02 but the kids' game's tomorrow morning,
16:05 league tag at 11 o'clock,
16:06 and reserve grade, half past one, I suppose,
16:09 where there's the auction.
16:11 - There's an auction.
16:12 Yeah, we've got probably half a dozen,
16:14 could be a few more,
16:15 'cause it could be some surprise,
16:16 some surprise auction items turning up,
16:20 but at 2.30 tomorrow afternoon,
16:23 full-time at reserve grade,
16:24 before first grade started at about five,
16:26 10 past three,
16:27 we've got some auctions for some jerseys,
16:31 some game day tickets,
16:33 corporate box tickets for the Parramatta Roosters game
16:35 the following Friday.
16:37 There's also golf,
16:39 four-person golf at Hawks Nest as well,
16:42 accommodation overnight.
16:44 People just ringing and offering prizes
16:48 for the day,
16:50 'cause they know it's for the community.
16:52 As I said it before,
16:54 I can't thank them enough,
16:56 the sponsors and everything,
16:57 and to get on board and the crowd.
17:00 That's what it's there for,
17:01 and they come up today,
17:02 and as I said,
17:03 today's gonna be a fantastic day,
17:05 weather's gonna be great,
17:06 and just enjoy the footy and enjoy the atmosphere.
17:09 - Yeah, and I'm saving up to go to America next year
17:11 to watch the NRL doubleheader,
17:12 so I'm not buying anything.
17:14 (laughing)
17:15 - Oh, you're not?
17:15 - Not buying anything, no.
17:16 - We'll wait and see.
17:17 (laughing)
17:18 - Yeah, but there's no,
17:19 I know we've got a rooster,
17:20 no, we've got nothing to do.
17:21 Oh yes, the corporate box tickets,
17:22 where you could have--
17:23 - Yeah, no, I've got to work with folks,
17:24 put it in here so I can get it.
17:26 Been a pretty dramatic week,
17:28 Gary in group three this week.
17:30 As we spoke before,
17:31 Isaac Walvoy's gone for the season,
17:33 Top of Wheelcloth gone for the season,
17:35 and of course, Curt Lewis now gone for the season,
17:37 10 game suspension.
17:38 Anthony Cowan's gone from the McClay Valley,
17:41 he's suspended seven games on Wednesday night.
17:43 Joel Client, who's suspended for 12 games from Williams,
17:45 so he's gone for the season.
17:47 Ant Cowan, out of McClay side,
17:49 do you think they can win the competition?
17:51 - I don't think so.
17:52 He's their organiser, isn't he?
17:54 He runs the show,
17:55 and exactly like Christian does,
17:57 and most halfbacks in the competition do,
17:59 so yeah, it's gonna be a big ask
18:01 for someone to take over the spot from Ant.
18:03 - You've only kicked him,
18:04 you've seen him fairly young in the class, huh?
18:05 - Yeah, well they rely on their 18s,
18:08 and a few of the 18s back up and play first grade,
18:10 don't they?
18:11 Which is good,
18:12 because that's what you want to strive to,
18:14 but I think that's a big out for Kempsey.
18:18 - And Ash, you're close to the Alaba camp,
18:21 what's the mood for Ferdinand Logger there?
18:24 How's Jordan been this week after all this?
18:26 - Oh, look, he's,
18:27 I guess Jordan's very,
18:30 he is professional at what he does,
18:31 and he,
18:33 there's nothing he can,
18:34 he can't change any of the results of the injuries
18:36 and suspended plays and whatnot,
18:38 so they've just gotta make some changes,
18:42 do a few move arounds and make it work.
18:45 It's big losses for them,
18:46 but look, this is a game, isn't it?
18:49 Rugby league, like,
18:50 it happens in the NRL,
18:51 it happens in,
18:52 like, it's everywhere,
18:54 like injuries happen,
18:55 and yeah, look,
18:57 there's not much he can do
18:58 but try and shuffle things around.
18:59 - 'Cause it's not all bad news,
19:00 Zach Butler's,
19:01 and Shane Nods is back this week.
19:04 - Zach might have a hamstring injury.
19:06 - Oh, he had a couple weeks ago.
19:08 - Does he?
19:08 Oh, right, so.
19:09 - I've spoken to Nick Henry,
19:10 I spoke to Nick Tuesday,
19:11 and he said,
19:12 "I won't risk him this week,"
19:13 and he probably won't risk him next week either.
19:14 - No, a bit of saving for that.
19:16 Because they're there,
19:18 you want your best side,
19:19 if they've got a few injuries,
19:20 they can,
19:21 well, they've only gotta play Foster on the weekend,
19:23 haven't they?
19:24 - Well, it's a bit harsh, but yes.
19:25 They should be Foster on the weekend.
19:26 - I don't think it's possible,
19:27 they should be Foster on the weekend.
19:29 - But they go out on the right, don't you?
19:30 Because other teams have taken Foster a bit too lightly.
19:33 Look, look what's happened.
19:35 - But I think,
19:36 when I was talking to George,
19:37 I mean, depending on the results and stuff, though,
19:40 and if they take Foster too lightly,
19:42 and have a loss,
19:44 or have a loss the following week against Kempsey,
19:46 because Kempsey have knocked them over already
19:48 once this year,
19:49 they need a good for and against to still finish first,
19:51 if breakers go on to win their games.
19:53 I think they can still end up on even points,
19:55 if Oba did drop again.
19:57 - But I think Oba still got the point.
19:59 - You would think so,
20:00 but I'm just saying,
20:01 you've seen Jim, you know.
20:04 - I think they're fairly comfortably ahead
20:05 in that points differential.
20:06 They would have to,
20:08 the breakers would have to have a lot of points
20:09 on Warhap this weekend,
20:11 which they could possibly do.
20:13 - I'd say Oba this weekend
20:16 will look to make sure that they knock over Foster,
20:19 then they can be right.
20:22 - And bear in mind,
20:23 they can only score 60 points too these days,
20:24 so the Mercy will only score 60 points in front.
20:26 - Yeah.
20:27 - Although I suppose they could win 120 to 60,
20:29 I suppose, couldn't they?
20:30 But anyway, I don't think they'll have it.
20:31 - Yes.
20:32 (laughing)
20:34 - But looking at the crystal ball, Gary,
20:35 do you think the side that finished fourth and fifth,
20:37 or say it's Portsharks and Tari or whoever,
20:41 do you think they can beat those,
20:42 perhaps those top three sides?
20:43 - Well, on any given day they can,
20:45 I suppose, just depends who turns up
20:47 and then one, you can keep your gun side on the paddy,
20:52 two, you don't get any sin bins or send-offs in the games.
20:55 I think they can,
20:56 it's just a matter of attitude.
20:58 So, you know, you like to think
21:00 that you're not just making up the numbers for the top five.
21:03 You like to think that if you win,
21:04 you're gonna be a chance to knock over
21:06 who loses out a second and third.
21:10 Yeah, so I'm pretty confident that they can,
21:14 but it's just all depends on injuries and what else.
21:19 - And Ash, how long are you gonna keep playing league tag?
21:21 You got a retirement date in mind at all?
21:23 - Oh, look, I don't reckon,
21:25 I personally probably don't think
21:26 it might be around next year.
21:28 Like I don't, I know that it hasn't been a great deal
21:30 only having the five teams this year
21:32 and I guess you're sort of playing different venues
21:35 to the boys and you know,
21:36 you've got to buy every fourth or fifth week.
21:39 Like it's, or even less than that, I think,
21:41 like I don't know that it will be around next year,
21:44 personally, and if it's not,
21:45 I think that's where I'll just have to hang the boots up.
21:49 Well, from league tag anyway.
21:51 - But you'll still be playing hockey.
21:52 - Yeah, and I think I'll stay playing hockey
21:54 and you know, have a run around at touch at times and things.
21:56 - Have more children?
21:57 - Well, look, I don't know about that.
22:00 We'll see how this one starts sleeping first.
22:02 (laughing)
22:05 - Excuse me, for the love of.
22:06 Tonight, the junior league semi-final start
22:08 at the Tare Recreation Ground,
22:09 we all picked up Gary.
22:11 Tomorrow at Old Bar, what's that called, the mods?
22:13 No, the mods?
22:14 - Yeah, mods tomorrow.
22:14 - And then the girls tackle,
22:16 three grades of the girls tackle.
22:18 And on Sunday, the internationals go
22:20 to the Pumicroy Regional Stadium
22:22 and that concludes the weekend of September 1, 2 and 3.
22:26 The grand finals will be played at the various venues.
22:28 Obviously, it's bigger, but a bit closer at the time.
22:31 But good luck with the day tomorrow.
22:34 Pumic's both on the field and off the field.
22:37 Hopefully, we'll crack that 200,000 mark.
22:40 Did you think, Gary, it'd still be this popular,
22:44 this big, 10 years down the track?
22:46 - Honestly, Mick, no.
22:47 But you can just, over the last three to four years,
22:52 we just feel it through, obviously, our shirts
22:56 that we order and everyone,
22:59 there'll be that many people there tomorrow
23:00 wearing these shirts and everything.
23:02 Just the support from people who wanna donate stuff
23:05 for the auction and everything.
23:07 So, no, I didn't think it'd be as it is now, but it's--
23:12 - Particularly with the pandemic,
23:14 sort of stopped the development.
23:16 - Yeah, but it's mind-boggling
23:18 how the community gets behind something.
23:20 So, fantastic.
23:21 It'll be a huge day, and here it is,
23:23 the Christie League Cup.
23:23 It's only got Tari's name on it once,
23:25 so maybe that'll be tomorrow.
23:27 Maybe that'll be tomorrow,
23:28 but Ash, thanks very much for coming in.
23:29 I've got a young bub and everything else.
23:31 - Thank you very much.
23:31 - And good luck, and yeah,
23:33 tell Jordan you did a great job.
23:35 - Oh, will do.
23:36 - Tell Jordan he's on notice for the next time he's in.
23:40 - Jordan will be sitting here for you, too, won't he?
23:42 - Actually, you don't play league tag next year.
23:44 You can take over as a runner-in.
23:46 You did a great job.
23:47 - Yes, it'll be good, yes.
23:48 - Enjoy your footy this weekend,
23:49 and we'll talk to you next week.
23:50 We've got Andrew Wilkes from the Alba Porret
23:51 to be on next week to talk semi-final football
23:54 and what the Porrets are gonna do down there
23:55 with their semi-finals, so we'll talk that,
23:57 but that's then.
23:58 We'll, this weekend, enjoy it all,
23:59 and again, thanks, Ash, for coming in.
24:01 - Thank you very much.
24:02 - Thanks, Ash.
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