On The Bench guest and Old Bar co-captain-coach Jordan Worboys flanked by Mick McDonald and Gary Bridge.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 weeks to go in Group 3 Rugby League. So welcome on the bench today and we have
00:04 the Olba co-captain coach Jordan Warboy is in to talk footy with us today.
00:08 Hey Jordan, thanks for coming in mate. And of course resident expert Gary Ridge and I say
00:13 we go into the semifinal weekend tomorrow at Port Macquarie 11.30
00:17 league tag Foster Tunkhary v Port Sharks 12.35 the 18s. Maclay Valley vs
00:22 Taree City. Maclay Valley and Olba will meet in the reserve grade from 1.50 and
00:27 at three o'clock it's Port City vs Maclay Valley. Then Sunday out to Olba
00:31 and we have 11 o'clock the league tag Port City v Taree City. The under 18s noon
00:36 between Port Sharks and Port City. Same two sides will be reserve grade from 1.15
00:40 and of course 2.30 first grade Olba vs Port Sharks. And Jordan I think it's a
00:46 fair comment that you blokes wouldn't been expecting to play Port Sharks. No as
00:50 I said breakers are the red hot favorites going into it so yeah we would
00:53 have thought you know we're playing breakers but you know credit to the Sharks
00:57 they um they blew them off the park last weekend so I don't think that makes our job
01:02 any different you know we're gonna have to be up and at our best to be
01:04 competitive here on the weekend so yeah no the Sharks it was a bit of a
01:08 shock but mate the way they played I don't think they would have beaten anyone last
01:11 weekend. Of course they were fairly ordinary during the year the Sharks weren't they Gary?
01:16 I saw them play a couple of times I think they won one game they thrashed Taree City
01:19 down here but that was that was as much Taree City as they were good.
01:24 To me it's not a surprise we're in the 70s but to win that game that preliminary
01:30 game against Port City last week was it was a major shock because we all
01:35 thought it was just gonna be Port City and Taree Olba but yeah they've
01:40 come with their with the right attitude and now they've got a chance to win a
01:45 host to Grand Final. They've got some pretty good outside backstabbers you guys Jordan have they not?
01:50 Some high level folks in the back so fairly handy? Yeah they got they got a bit of
01:54 strikeout wide the two Fijian fellas that go really well but I think their
01:58 linchpin is Mitch Wilbo so he's um he's heart and soul of that team and I said like he
02:04 tore the breakers to bits last weekend by the time we've played him this year he
02:07 hasn't played but he's um he orchestrates everything for him he's a
02:11 live wire and you know you give him an inch and he's off and gone so we'll have
02:14 to do our best to nullify Mitch this weekend but yeah he's he's the one we've got to watch.
02:19 Yeah because nowadays halfbacks actually directly mark one another it
02:23 doesn't sort of happen as much these days does it? You almost go through an old game and hardly see one another.
02:27 Yeah especially Mitch like last weekend he was playing halfback the next thing
02:31 he was jumping in hooker and ran 60 metres and scored a try so anywhere there's an
02:34 opportunity or a lazy defender he'll go so yeah it's not like traditional as you
02:38 said you mark up on on your opposite number especially yeah especially against
02:42 players like Mitch they see an opportunity they'll back themselves and
02:45 off and gone. Enough of the sharks here, how are you blokes shaping up? We're as good as we can be
02:49 as I said our injuries and suspensions are all long term so everyone that I've got
02:53 available is fit and ready to go and yeah the boys are chomping at the bit to get out
02:57 there on Sunday. How's the ground looking? Yeah I said grounds alright as good as it
03:01 can be probably everywhere else at the moment dry need some rain. Got some last night.
03:05 Yeah we need a bit more. Not on Sunday though. No the grounds good
03:12 the committee done a great job this week getting everything sorted all the
03:16 fencing and everything so everyone's excited and can't wait to host the Major
03:20 Semi on Sunday. Two forwards who have stepped up for you because you've lost Will Clark
03:24 and your brother Isaac for the season unfortunately two forwards who have stood up
03:27 but stepped up sorry Matt Prior and Nathan Napier they're both going fairly
03:30 well for you you mentioned. Yeah as I said two massive losses for us but we've
03:37 taken on the next man up mentality and Matty Prior's been outstanding
03:41 he's really worked in well with Worcester getting a go forward going and
03:45 and Napier jumping that right edge he's a talent of football he's been played by
03:49 injury the last couple of years so it's really good to see him string some games
03:52 together and hopefully he can stay fit and yeah he'll be a big asset to us going
03:56 forward especially his final series. Yeah we shared a bit of a bit of a promise didn't you think
04:00 you played for Red Rovers and you shared a bit of a promise with Youngblood can you say that he hasn't played much at all the last couple of years?
04:06 No Paul Fowler said he's had a couple of injuries and and didn't play last year so at the start of preseason he was
04:13 you know he was leading all that fitness stuff he's a quality footballer
04:17 nape so I'm just yeah really hoping that that's behind him now he can and focus
04:21 and get some some minutes on the field. James Handford will you start him or
04:24 off the bench? Nah Handy will start he's a real tradesman like play Handy he ties
04:29 up our middle really well so gets him behind the markers there and yeah he
04:34 ties up our middle real well so Handy will definitely start and obviously he's
04:38 got a bit of versatility if there's any injuries or something he can slip out
04:40 into a back row or a centre but ideally we'll start him at lock. And Zach Butler
04:44 is he over his hamstring problems? Touch wood yeah so nah Zach's been training
04:50 injury-free last couple of weeks and yeah we're hoping he can stay
04:55 fit and yeah we need him in the halves there for our finals campaign. And who's
05:00 gonna kick goals? Zach's the man, he said he was down there
05:04 practicing he stayed back off training last night practicing he was kicking them
05:07 well so with our fingers crossed he lands them on game day but no to
05:13 his credit he's putting in the time and effort so hopefully that that pays
05:16 fruits on the weekend. You at least looked about your best options I've seen
05:18 you play a fair bit this year and he's probably looked your best option. Yeah
05:22 no I see he's a good striker of the footy Zach yeah he goes down and puts the
05:26 time and effort in to practice so he's got the tee on on Sunday so hopefully
05:31 he can slot a couple. You've got plenty of back-ups, everyone's been having a shot at
05:35 training. Oh as I said mate never seen forwards grab a kicking tee as quick mate
05:39 they line up from the sideline but no I said Zach's taken upon himself so
05:43 you know he'll be our number one man kicking so hopefully we can resurrect
05:47 that issue and start going up by sixes not fourths. Yeah because it's been a problem
05:50 all year really, not as much as it's been in the last couple of weeks. No as I said to you during the week
05:55 only we've left that many points on the paddock it's ridiculous like one
05:59 game I think we won from eight and I think we played Sharks up at Port and it
06:02 was 36-4 we kicked one from seven or something so yeah it has been a
06:07 problem and it's something we need to rectify very quickly because they're
06:10 semifinals they're close games mate two points might be the difference between
06:13 you you going through when your season's over. Yeah Gary you've played with some
06:16 pretty fair goal kickers in your time who would be the best you ever... I'd say Ross
06:21 Coleman. Imagine how far you could kick a ball now with the old days with the leather ball
06:26 you put it just vertically standing straight up and down and kicked it from I
06:30 think it was 55 yards out on that Lycard open straight over the black dot. And Greggsy old Fields too.
06:37 And you had to have the sand too, so you didn't have the tee could get the ball up get the
06:42 ball off the ground a lot so depending where you played how much sand you got.
06:47 He's pretty good at brook bar. Yeah well there's a lot of sand over there but no the ball boys wouldn't be enough.
06:56 Get it yourself yeah so yeah so goal kicking does as Jordan said you
07:02 you don't think to worry about it too much but if it comes down to a goal kick
07:06 that you need you need those blokes to slot them. Yeah I've seen around here probably happen in
07:10 Sydney too any number of goal kickers who possibly weren't first-grade standard but
07:14 they could kick goals with any premachief you know because you need them
07:17 when you say you can't afford not to have them. Didn't a lot of there's a lot of
07:20 teams in the old days had a winger. Holy and solely because he was a goal kicker.
07:25 Yeah I remember watching a couple of sides around here. Yeah just because. Wasn't even a reserve right.
07:30 Yeah but as you said you shouldn't have to rely on goal kicking to win the game.
07:36 And of course well you look at the other side of the equation Jordan for you guys
07:39 that's a Corey Lewis is their fullback I mean he doesn't miss too many.
07:44 Nah as I said most teams are kind of got a tailored goal kicker that you know
07:48 yeah they're all going up by sixes and like I said we were playing Kempsey the other
07:51 week and it felt like we're on top by plenty I said we scored you know five or
07:55 six tries and only scored three and I think it was yeah like a two-point ball
07:59 game you're looking up and you're going hang on a minute we're all over him here but
08:03 the scoreboard doesn't reflect that because as I said not not kicking our goals.
08:06 I think you kicked one goal and that was the 80th minute wasn't it. Right on the siren yeah.
08:11 And expecting a big crowd there on Sunday the weather's like it is now I think it will be packed out there I think.
08:15 Yeah no I said we're hoping to get a big crowd in there I said weather looks good
08:18 so yeah it'd be good to see plenty of people down there and watching some local footy.
08:22 Managed to send me following the household too if you.
08:25 Because Ashley's playing in the Bulls in the league tag. Yeah it worked out well
08:29 saved us a trip to Port on a Saturday so no I was happy with that yeah no they're
08:33 going well they knocked off Foster last week and a tough effort this weekend
08:37 taking on the Breakers they've been the benchmark in the league tag so anyway
08:41 they're putting themselves in a good position and yeah one game away from
08:44 grand final so good luck to them. And the Bulls also in the 18s tomorrow Gary.
08:48 They slogged out a pretty good win last week. 10-2 you don't see much of that in an under 18 game do you.
08:53 So yeah it's they're there they've got a chance to keep going so they've got to do that.
09:00 Yeah and of course they're playing in Reserve A too Jordan. Yeah tomorrow.
09:05 Yeah no they're heading up to Port and they play Kempsey so it'll be a tough game for them.
09:10 Both games this year they've been real close to Kempsey I think it was two points and
09:12 then maybe ten points last week but they had a couple of boys out so
09:17 they're being up really well. They played well last week in Reserve A.
09:21 They're a frustrating bunch they've got all the talent in the world when they commit to it
09:24 and start training and put their minds to it and start backing themselves
09:29 they've got a handy footy team but I said it definitely till its finals time
09:33 never seen so many blokes that trained in the last week.
09:37 I was going to say they beat the Bulls last week.
09:38 But Kempsey's a bad tempered game there was plenty of high shots thrown and
09:42 it was both sides not pointing one to him or the other.
09:46 No they played well though they played very well. They've got a bit of experience there.
09:49 Danny Russell there running around. Benny Whitchart used to kick goal.
09:53 He wouldn't think about putting him on a winning first group would he?
09:55 Anything's open at the moment.
09:58 And of course on Saturday last week, Bird Street, McLeay ended William's season 32-22.
10:04 It was a fluctuating sort of a game. McLeay led 26-6 at one point.
10:09 Then William stormed home and got to 26-22 and then McLeay scored.
10:13 Ethan Thompson there hard working Locke scored right on the death to seal it up.
10:17 They played pretty well. I think they'll be a little bit out of their depth tomorrow though the Breakers.
10:23 Yeah I think Breakers will be determined to make a statement after last week.
10:29 I think they'll go out there and show why they're the favourites going into last week.
10:33 They've got a red hot squad, they've got plenty of depth there and I think they'll go out and make a statement tomorrow.
10:39 They'll be missing Anthony Cowan won't they?
10:41 Yeah well they haven't got him down for the rest of the year.
10:45 In summer next year if you play.
10:47 You can see that when you... they'll come out, Armond, Kempsey, they might lose their way a little bit towards the middle and the back half.
10:57 Yeah they're a very young side.
10:58 I tell you they've got a very smart 5'8" though, Walsh McKinnon is his surname.
11:04 Jack yeah.
11:04 Yeah he's... I don't know much about him at all but he had a good game against the Tigers last week.
11:09 Yeah no he's really stepped up since Ant's gone. He's a real good ball running 5'8" and he's leading them around.
11:14 But as you said Kempsey are young, they'll play for 80 minutes and around here I said every team only clocks off for 10, 15 minutes.
11:22 They'll keep kicking the door down and that's why they keep rolling on Kempsey.
11:26 I said teams are them lapsers and them young fellas they just back themselves and I said that's dangerous.
11:30 They can score 15, 20 points in 10 minutes and that's the worry with Kempsey.
11:35 You clock off and you'll pay the price.
11:37 And I tell you I went to Verge Street, last time I went to Verge Street Gary you were coaching the Bulls.
11:41 And it was amazing, what a great little facility it is.
11:44 Kempsey congratulations to everyone involved with that, it's a fine little ground.
11:49 Yeah well I remember that game.
11:50 Yeah.
11:51 Just what, bounce the ball didn't favour us.
11:53 No no, no you had to have injuries too.
11:56 Yeah no it's a great little complex at Verge Street.
11:58 I was very impressed with it, they've got the alcohol area across the field there, you can't get out of there.
12:04 And plus that 100 club and I won that so that made a huge difference.
12:06 I won't be peeling you back.
12:08 I wonder if he can remember it.
12:11 Yeah they announced him, when I went in I thought there'd be a great cheer in the place.
12:14 Anyway, you get that I suppose.
12:18 And yeah Jordan, do you think people should get there early on Sunday?
12:22 What's the parking situation going to be like out there?
12:25 Yeah I think it'll be the same as the grand final mate, they've got all the area down near the airstrip.
12:31 And yeah like just along the streets and stuff like that.
12:33 I said I don't think it'll be as big as the grand final but,
12:36 you know obviously last year there was a lot of people deterred by the weather so.
12:40 Well Sunday there's probably not a lot happening.
12:42 Junior footy as I said after this week, hopefully that's all done.
12:46 But yeah the clash with junior footy obviously this weekend will be detrimental I think to the crowd.
12:52 But as I said hopefully it's just this weekend, the grand final's over and done with.
12:55 But yeah no we're packed, can't wait, the servings, stock ready to go.
13:01 The committee done a great job organising everything so we can't wait to get down on Sunday
13:05 and hope to get a big crowd down there.
13:06 And if the Roosters happen to not go any further than tonight,
13:10 we'll be seeing Boyd up here in the next couple of weeks too.
13:13 Yeah, Boyd Ollie up here, so as I said he was up here on the broom last year
13:17 so hopefully he won't have to dry in fields.
13:19 Yeah no he'll be up here definitely if the Chooks have done it nusted.
13:23 Has he been with you at all this year at all? Has he come up at all and run with the side at all?
13:27 We've had a couple of sessions with Boyd but as I said me and Mick normally bounce off him.
13:31 We get all the games filmed and flick them through to him and where we need to tweak
13:35 and he gives us some advice and instructions and stuff that they implement down there
13:39 to try and come here and especially we've got the same blokes with us.
13:43 We want to change up our structure and adapt and not just do the same old stuff.
13:47 So as I said he's a really good sounding board for Mick and myself
13:50 but yeah hopefully as I said, well Chooks hope and they win first and foremost,
13:54 get going but if they don't, yeah it'll be our benefit having Boyd here for the next couple of weeks.
14:00 Is he on the coaching staff there officially or is he just an advisor
14:03 or is it all tied up with the salary cap wasn't it?
14:07 I think he is.
14:08 Is he?
14:09 Yeah, because they were talking about him and...
14:14 Jake Friend?
14:15 Yeah, so I'm pretty sure that he's part of the coaching board at the moment.
14:19 Okay.
14:19 You're in over Chooks man aren't you?
14:21 Yeah but I...
14:21 You should know that.
14:22 Well I...
14:22 He was...
14:24 They can't win see Jordan, that's why they're worried.
14:26 He was there but he wasn't there I think because there was some building
14:29 because they're still paying him under the salary cap thing.
14:32 I think that's how it works, that's all of it.
14:34 I can't even work at the points system around here so how am I going to manage that with the salary cap?
14:38 Oh you go mad trying to work that out.
14:41 And you mentioned Junior League, tonight at Lake Caddo with the league tag,
14:45 you had Harry Elliott-Oval on Saturday, with Ton Currie on Saturday for the 11s and 12s
14:50 plus the two girls grades and then Sunday the international grades
14:53 and that injury I suppose, nothing good about injuries Jordan
14:59 but your brother Isaac might have had a bit of a problem had he not been injured
15:02 with coaching and playing because he coaches the ALBA 15s.
15:05 Yeah I don't know what's going on there with putting the juniors on Sunday
15:09 and as I said they continue on too far into our finals.
15:13 You want your senior players giving back and helping educate your juniors
15:19 but then you want them to coach the junior teams but then you put them on the same day as the seniors
15:23 which we've got Leighton and Rusty, Tonga but it's not also that,
15:28 it's the parents that volunteer and help set up, the parents that help strap.
15:32 They're all gone for Sunday so we've lost about 15 people that will be helping around
15:35 working on Sunday that have gone up to port.
15:39 I think that needs to be amended and changed back to as you touched on before guys,
15:42 normally the junior finals go about one week into the seniors, it's all wrapped up and done
15:46 and you don't have that overlap of your volunteers and coaches.
15:51 Referees too.
15:52 Referees, yeah all your resources are stretched to the limits,
15:56 it's hard to get volunteers and coaches as it is let alone double booking them on the same day.
16:01 So that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later going forward.
16:06 But yeah as I said the juniors, I think I've got 8 out of maybe 16 teams in the finals over the weekend
16:13 so it's a really big effort for the club, I think 50% of the junior teams are represented over the weekend
16:19 so good luck to them and yeah as I said our junior base is the strongest it's ever been
16:23 so it's just good to see them hopefully in the next couple of years start to filter through to our seniors.
16:27 Somebody did say the junior base out there at Albarr is second to port.
16:33 Really?
16:34 Port's got over 100,000 people up there but the way Albarr's progressed this year with their lower grades
16:42 they reckon they're the second.
16:45 Oh the way, I mean it wasn't that long ago, I'm talking probably just before the pandemic
16:49 that Albarr's every second grade I think, they're going from what 6th to 6th and 3rd to 6th grade.
16:55 They've got 3 grades in lower grades haven't they?
16:58 They're 15th and 16th, 15th of course as we say Tonga's coaching the 15th,
17:02 they're playing Foster Tunkari on Sunday, Hawks are coached by Tony Clifton, Daniel Stalworthy,
17:08 one of the Stals was a great player for the Hawks for many years and Cliff of course,
17:11 so he goes back a long way, he coached Tariq Noddle at Premiership in 1985.
17:16 He'll be with that side right through now, he'll take them onto the 18s for Foster in a couple of years.
17:19 He'll be with the Cache 18s this year too, yeah, old Zebra boy too I might add.
17:24 And Curtis Stark's of course got the Albarr 16s.
17:30 Yeah he's got the 16s, so as I said it's the first year Albarr's ever had juniors from 16s right through,
17:36 from 6s through to 16s so it'll be good now, we can actually start funnelling our own juniors through
17:42 and obviously this will help with the points system but it's still going to be probably two years
17:47 where these 15s and 16s start to come into 18s and there's a couple of years obviously
17:50 until they start to filter into first grade.
17:52 So that's if you keep them around here.
17:54 And that's the hardest thing and then you obviously got to keep them around here,
17:56 you know the ones that have got some talent, they normally get scouted at a younger age.
18:00 Oh they just have to leave town because they've got to find a job.
18:02 Get a job, yeah that's the hardest thing but credit to Marvin and Andrew Wilkes
18:07 and all our junior committee, they've done a really good job recruiting and getting players
18:13 and creating a junior club there where it's attracting kids that want to play.
18:17 So they've done an awesome job and yeah, I said hats off to them this week,
18:21 the amount of teams they've got into the final series so no it's good.
18:25 Big finish in the 16s last week, the final 24-22, the Pirates won,
18:29 they got a penalty 20 seconds from full time, 40 metres out and Sam Eggins, the 5'8"
18:34 slotted it over, Scott Calvin was there to get the photographer to get the shot and kicking the goal there
18:39 so I think they'll be high in much of the game too, it was a great game I was told,
18:43 I was talking to Curtis Durk during the weekend.
18:45 He's too young to play first grade.
18:48 At the moment, yeah.
18:49 At the moment he is yeah.
18:50 He's got these goal kickers, we want them on there to kick them.
18:56 Could you whack him on the bench?
18:58 That would be fun.
18:59 No but he's always down there practising Sam, as I said the juniors normally finish at 5.30
19:04 and I'm down there setting up for our training and he's down there kicking until 6 o'clock
19:09 and we start and as Kurt touched on, he puts in the work and it was good to see him get
19:14 a reward on the weekend but our 18s are very young this year and there's about six of them
19:19 under 16s every week that play a full game, travel back from port, get changed straight
19:24 away, jump on the field and they play for the 18s and Sam's been one of their best this year.
19:29 I credit him, I said he's been playing plenty of footy and he's been playing up two years
19:33 and he's been one of their better players all year.
19:35 So no, it was good to see him get rewards on the weekend and good luck to him.
19:38 At Lake Caddo they're playing as a red hot team so I hope they'll give it their best shot.
19:43 Bit unusual at Lake Caddo isn't it?
19:44 Well I think, I don't know how it works, but I think they've got about five 17 year olds
19:48 that couldn't fit into an 18 year old system so they've been allowed to come back and play
19:52 so I don't know how that works but anyway, yeah, there's a reason why they're undefeated all year.
19:57 I guess yeah.
19:58 And of course group 3 footy won't be the only footy played around the area this weekend,
20:02 the Benninga River Rats playing the grand final tomorrow at Tari Rugby Park.
20:05 They play Warhop Thunder in the first row at 3 o'clock and the women's 10s at 1.45,
20:11 the Rats and the women play Gloucester Cockies so that'll be a big day if you're looking
20:15 around for something to do tomorrow afternoon.
20:17 Going to cheer the Rats on, it'd be great to see the Rats, it's always good to see a team
20:21 that reindeer better hasting so it doesn't matter what the code.
20:25 Well Warhop come back into that this year didn't they because they couldn't win up there.
20:29 No, no, they didn't bet their hearts, no, no, to be fair, no, no, no.
20:32 Look, no one knows better about letting facts get in the way of the story than me.
20:36 Right.
20:37 But they didn't have enough players.
20:38 Oh, okay, right.
20:39 So they're like, "Oh, that's why."
20:41 Right.
20:41 No, a minor premiere as the Rats knocked them over in the major semi-final at Warhop two
20:45 weeks ago to get the grand final down here the last time they played grand finals 2020
20:50 when they had all the league books.
20:52 Yes, that's it.
20:53 Were you back here then in 2020?
20:56 Do you suggest it's my memory?
20:57 I don't know.
20:57 That's from years ago.
20:58 Yeah, I think I was.
20:59 Okay, okay, we didn't play for the Rats.
21:01 Everyone else in the old bar saw it.
21:02 You won't see me playing rugby.
21:05 Well that's when they all said no on the comp.
21:06 That's when Matty Bridges and the grand finals.
21:08 Yeah, that's right.
21:08 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:09 There's a reason why.
21:10 There you go.
21:12 No, good luck to them this weekend.
21:13 As I said, I think I'll get a big crowd down there.
21:15 Yeah, I think it will.
21:16 Yeah.
21:17 It's always good to see, yeah, a Southern team go well.
21:19 So fingers crossed and we're cheering them on.
21:21 Yeah, we'll be going.
21:21 One of the greats of the local rugby union, Anthony Mingo-Hogan, will be there to hopefully
21:27 cheer the Rats on and certainly have a look at the girls' game too.
21:29 I watched the girls' game when they played at the old bar there, Mingo and I, six weeks
21:33 ago.
21:34 It was a cracking game.
21:35 They throw the ball around the Gloucester girls.
21:37 It's very entertaining.
21:39 Ten's footy, of course.
21:40 There's not a fair bit of space to be found.
21:43 They've got some good forwards in that Rats side too.
21:46 They carted it up pretty hard.
21:48 So no, it'll be good days of rugby.
21:49 I feel as good as you can get through rugby.
21:51 And yeah, looking forward to it.
21:53 And before, of course, we go, don't forget the classic design jewel of the player of
21:57 the year for the women's league tag in the first grade.
22:00 Our great friend, Georgia Melanus, has given us a watch for the men and the ladies' watch
22:04 obviously for the ladies, unless you want to swap them around.
22:06 Do you have a chance for that, Jordan, do you think?
22:08 No chance, mate.
22:09 Not too many good players in our team.
22:11 They'll pinch them off us.
22:12 But no, as I said, the comp, I think, as I said, a billion people are whinging about
22:18 points and this, that and the other, but I think it's probably one of the strongest comps
22:21 we've had in years.
22:22 So I think it's good, as I said, like, you know, I know Wingham, the Sharks, War Hope,
22:27 you know, ourselves, obviously with this point system, you've got to go outside the area.
22:30 You can't, you know, buy internally that, you know, 25 points.
22:35 So I think it's encouraging you to go outside the area and in doing that, you're strengthening
22:40 our competition.
22:40 So since the three years I've been back, I think this is probably the, one of the strongest,
22:45 you know, across the board I've found.
22:47 So I hope that continues that way.
22:50 And it just, as I said, it makes you better footballers if you're playing against better
22:53 players in week in, week out.
22:54 - And people come and watch them too.
22:56 - 100%, exactly right.
22:57 I said the X-Factors, their excitement all over and they score from anywhere.
23:01 And if you're watching, that's what you want to come see.
23:04 So I said there've been a great acquisition across all teams.
23:08 So, you know, hopefully that continues and, you know, the comp keeps getting stronger.
23:12 - So let me ask Andrew Wilkes here.
23:14 He's on the club president a couple of weeks ago, but there's negotiations progressed with
23:17 keeping the guys from the, you got from overseas here next year?
23:21 - They're all signed, sealed and delivered for next year.
23:23 - Oh, okay, wow.
23:23 That's a big, big, big in for a start, isn't it?
23:26 - Yeah, no, as I said, they've been great, not only on the field, man, they're great
23:30 people off it.
23:31 No, they're very humble and they want to help out and, you know, they're what the club's
23:36 all about.
23:36 So, man, we were more than happy to lock them boys in.
23:40 So like most clubs now, you obviously, we're still trying to focus on a finals campaign
23:44 in the background, you get the wheels rolling for next year.
23:47 So yeah, them boys are all locked in.
23:49 - Yeah, I'll tell you what, the way they play too, one of them might have a new watch come
23:53 September 22 as well, but I don't know, we'll work that one out when we get to it.
23:57 And yeah, well good luck.
23:57 And Jordan, what, last couple of games for you, do you think, will you run around next
24:01 year?
24:01 - No, I'll have a run around next year, but that'll be it.
24:05 And I said, with a little bub this year, so my priority is starting to change a little
24:09 bit.
24:10 So as I said, I won't have the commitments of coaching, but I'll definitely have a run
24:13 around with the boys and hopefully transition to watch these younger fellas come through
24:17 the 15s and 16s and sit on the hill and have a beer with you, mate.
24:21 - Okay, I'll lobby you retireable then.
24:22 I'll be happy to say, well, here's an opening for you on the bench with Jordan and Gary.
24:28 - Oh, here we go.
24:29 - Yeah, we need a bigger bench.
24:30 Won't we?
24:32 Let's get someone else.
24:33 - Well, just the two of you, plus Scott will come in and do the thing for you.
24:37 So it'll be all good.
24:38 But anyway, mate, it's a big weekend of footy, mate.
24:40 Good luck.
24:41 I sincerely hope you got two more games to go this year.
24:43 We'll continue tomorrow on Sunday and Saturday week, but time will tell.
24:47 But yeah, good luck to everyone going to footy this weekend, all the teams, all the local
24:51 sides, and yeah, we'll be back next Friday with On The Bench.
24:54 - Especially if we got an old bar in the grand final to start with.
24:57 It'd be beautiful.
24:58 - Oh, yeah.
24:58 - No pressure.
25:01 - No pressure.
25:01 - Okay, Jordan, thanks for coming in, mate.
25:04 Good luck on the weekend.
25:05 - Cheers, sir.
25:06 - Thanks, mate.
25:07 - Bye.
25:07 - Bye.
25:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]