00:02
This is an ABC podcast.
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Standby. Roy and HG.
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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, jet ski loons looking for a picnic to splash and fat tyre e-bike rodeo clowns creating untold mayhem on footpaths across the nation.
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Our great code stands on the precipice of international sporting greatness!
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So, with soul in the shorts, feeling in the feet, and joy in the jumper, it's time to bump, it's time to thump, it's time to sink the slipper!
00:50
Let's pull the cord on the Evan Roode two-stroke and set off for the far horizon. It's another blast of bludgeoning on the blind side with the master of midfield mayhem, rampaging Roy Slavin, and the man with a fistful of bait and burly, Captain Flathead, H.G. Nelson.
01:13
Ah, yes, uh, too much. Cedric has been sumped. AO, a.k.a. The Drain, torching the blindside blue paper for another week. It's the familiar sound of the sumpster camped in the ABC spot. Soundproof booth on ABC local radio. The Drain has a cup of tea going and he's got the feet up on the desk, so he's looking very tickety-boo. And, you know, he's going to be part of Dog Night. I understand they've done a deal. He'll be the voice of Dog Night when it comes next Friday night to ABC television. Remember, of course, we've got those great shows lined up, Antiques Roadshow, The Inspector Rex and Vera.
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And in between those being re-screened in their entirety from episode one all the way through to the current, there'll be dog racing from the venues around town that handle that sort of gear. Hello Australia, HG Nelson lifting the lid on another magnificent week of consenting concussion magic. What a week, what an incredible week, can I dare I say it, but you can join with me if you like, a week when too much sport is barely enough. It's Super Saturday here on ABC Sport. Now, people say, is it Super Saturday every Saturday? The answer is yes, it is, but this Saturday is even more super than normal.
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and you'll have to wait and see to find out how good and how super it is.
02:29
From start to stumps, I should say it's going to be beyond awesome. That's the only hint I'm going to give you about how great it's going to be. Remember, it's a TLT, trip of a lifetime. Blindsiders, the waiting is over. The AFL wild card round is here. I had absolutely no idea it would be this brilliant. It's brilliant, all right. It's totally on the other side of completely dull. And I've never been over here on the other side of completely dull, but I'm loving every second of it. And remember, the other prong of the wild card round in 2026 is tonight at the G, Carlton the Blues versus the Dees, Melbourne.
03:05
I think about a 7.30 ball up in that one. But for now, let's get stuck into some scores of substance. And it's back, you know, the thing that made 2026 grace. Yes, the tipster's nightmare is back. You think you're out of the swamp and cleared the weeds from the lungs and then it sucks you back in. And under, the results of round 25 did everybody damage. Dead in the water, Bronco stunned the men of Horn in the House of Rubble, rebadged Papa's Big House for the night in honour of Josh Papalili's retirement. That was great until the whole Josh Jamboree went pear-shaped.
03:37
Turn on the instrument, please, Braith. Clippity Clops, 34. Sticks, it wasn't us out there. 30.
03:44
I don't think those – well, I was going to make an observation about those results for both those sides. Let's face it, 2026 hasn't been kind to either of those teams. Suddenly Fosball, which was gasping down the deep end, stuck on the tumble turn, is back, stunning the nights at MJ Stadium. And let me get my paper clip out of the road. I'll be able to run through a few bars on the melodica, will you, Adam? Yeah. The four points feathered, 44. Nukes, 24. Big dent in the ambitions of the nukes with that 44-24 result.
04:17
The Warriors, Renamuck at the Hutch. Give us the beat, boys. Waz, 45. Cochran and Myrtle, 26. It was an old-fashioned pick-the-score special. 45 and 26, it paid very well. Let me tell you, I'm here to prove it. I just couldn't help but get involved. You know, I could feel it coming on, and there I was suddenly standing in the payout queue. Sadly, the streak could not continue for the big red V. They went down to the honkers.
04:44
Remember, of course, the big red V had that run of outs and then suddenly they found form, but the form patch has drained. And so we had the big red 14, honkers 44. It was an old-fashioned touch. And what about those tigers, tigers, tigers? That's all the talk. The greatest upset result this century. That's how I saw it.
05:06
I was only talking to the professor of league theory at the Wallera Wang University this week, and he agreed with me that it's the greatest upset this century. They completely dismantled the roosters at Allianz, and I'll tell you what, they threw away the steering wheel as well, and the jack, and the spare, and the velour on the seats. It's all gone from the roosters. But the tigers are tuned, if you don't mind raging bull. Foul house, 24. Tigers, wait for it, 25.
05:34
Regular listeners will know the Bludge has been obsessed with the recent St George miracle, but now Benji's boys are chiming in with a miracle of their own. With this demolition job on the roosters, the Tigers have avoided the spoon in 2026, which will disappoint many fans of this unique NRL tradition. I mean, this unique NRL tradition involving the Tigers, that is. Other teams will front up and be part of Spoon Bowl action in 26, and it's going to be great. Great. That's all I'll say about it today. The WA now sit on top of the table with the next two rounds at Go Media, plus early finals at home, although there is some suggestion the NRL would like them to move the finals in New Zealand to Mount Smart Stadium.
06:14
Look, I can't comment on this. People ask me to comment on everything. I'm not going to comment on this. I don't know either venue. I've got to be honest here. All I've seen is seen them on TV and they look great. But I need to go in and get a feel for the earth, the dirt, how tall are the goalposts, where I could get a beer, all that sort of stuff. I mean, it's a complex analysis that I have to undertake to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on either of these stadiums. I understand in terms of seating, Mount Smart is bigger and there is some suggestion that the whole New Zealand will be there. I know it's hard to imagine, but they're going to shut everything down to force people to go to the rugby league at about time too.
06:48
The big team, the WAS, actually don't have to leave the shaky isles until the big dance. That's an achievement.
06:56
Broncos and Coach Reynolds was due to have a final game Thursday night at Suncorp. Sadly, it was a swerve due to injury on his part. His season now is cactus. He had hoped to make it to the final round against the Dogs at Acor, but that's been...
07:11
I don't want to go into the chaos...
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that was associated with the Reynolds final. I think we'll be spending a fair bit of time in the bludge today talking about it. And, you know, this was a big blight on the rugby league and I haven't heard a word from Verlandes about it. And I'm very disappointed that Abdo, even though he's left, hasn't got a comment. I'm relying on people like Benny Elias to fill me in. I mean, that's a big, that's a big ask, I'm telling you here. Now...
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It's a very unfair game, really, rugby league, when the Rayman can't get a send-off that's worth his contribution to the great code. And apparently he's going to join the coaching staff.
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I can hear you laughing. I can hear you laughing. He's going to join the coaching staff full-time.
07:55
He's already been on the coaching staff full-time for the last two years.
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Speaking of final rounds, the NRL, wait for this, this is going to shock you, are allowing Joy Arrow to sit on the bench for the final two matches starting this afternoon at CBUS. He will get minutes so he can get to the 100 match mark at the Rabbits. I think this is a lovely touch. And I just hope this is an indication of the sensitivities that the league will be taking forward into the expanded game. And we might get to talk about the expanded game a little bit later on. But it's a tremendous gesture.
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I don't know how many minutes will qualify for a match, but let's say one was enough. I would vote for the one being enough. And a tremendous servant of the game, Jai Arrow, sadly in the worst of health. And last Thursday night, it was back to the future when the dead rubber between the Broncos and the Storm was played under completely new conditions in the terms of the kickoff. It's changed the game completely. I had no idea that such a vast change in the game would come across it just by simply...
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asking the scoring side to select whether they wanted to kick off or receive. The code is now unrecognisable from the caper we saw last weekend. This was the first match of the Piggy Riddell Cup, which will give teams that are no longer in the NRL finals a chance to play for salary cap relief in 2027. I think it's a terrific idea. Great innovation from the NRL. And under the new rules, it's going to look great. The scorecard Thursday night in the lab...
09:26
Southern Blizzard 46, Broncos 20.
09:29
Now, with wildcard round oozing in the AFL, fallout from the Richmond Tigers Mad Monday celebration swamped the football media across the nation. Now, can I apologise to the bloodside and blindside listeners for not putting out an all-points bulletin on the AFL Mad Mondays beginning last Monday? I can only blame the wildcard enthusiasm for the oversight. I mean, I just thought the season was going on. Nobody will have Mad Monday yet. But, of course, they did.
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And I've got to be mindful that Australia has to be warned more Mad Mondays will come. And we look forward to see what the NRL can do in this space.
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We just keep our fingers crossed that they can produce something special. Now, the Tigers' semi-nude shindig raised the curtain on an end-of-season excess. So there's more to come. Once everyone has resumed the perpendicular and pulled up their pants, a top AFL commentator suggested the Tigers had not done enough to have a Mad Monday.
10:21
I mean, where do people get off? Where do media commentators start and begin and end? It's the sort of cruel, insensitive spray you expect from the current commentating class. I mean, how much does a team have to do before they're allowed to run amok and get nude and terps at the end of the season? How much do they have to do? The yellow and black did, you know, did have a run of outs, sure, when it came to matches, but they were there for every week of the home and away. They went to all the video sessions. They listened to the coaches spray. They ran up and down the sand hills. They looked semi-professional when they ran out and burst through the banner every week, full of hope, full of hope.
10:56
What more do you want them to do? And today, as in when they ran through the banner, it would be different, but it never was. What more do custodians of the code want? Now, the fact that the whole team ended up on the squirt, in the nude, belting each other with tennis rackets and hockey straps in the purpose-built Dusty Martin room at the Garfield Hotel was their right. to end the season as they saw it. They saw Fighting Fury Gargle as a fitting reward for the season of intense effort. Remember the Martin. This is a beautiful room, a beautiful room in the Garfield.
11:28
It's purpose-built, got great catering, got great facilities, caters to the needs of all the players and boasts the most up-to-date waste disposal technology.
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I had a look at it. It's just first class. The plumbing is outstanding. Cricket and Australia has played three two-day tests in the last nine months. It's just not enough time.
11:49
Just not enough time to allow players to get their eye in and out in the middle and, dare I say it, Thanks, Fubster. Get fit. None of them are fit. No wonder we're scratching around in the top order like 11 Rhode Island Reds pecking at a handful of pellets. But look at the upside. Look at the upside. An Asher series now programmed as the best of 10 test competition. Only takes 15 days.
12:12
F1, and off to the magnificent Zandvoort layout for the Dutch Grand Prix. Results, Norris first, Russell obeying team orders second, and Oscar Piastri, our Oscar that is, struggling on bravely with his crate losing power in the second half of the caper. Our kid bought the gruntless heap of rubbish home in sixth. The driver of the day belonged to the hometown hero, big Maxi Verstappen, who got out early and got the job done pranging into the wall on lap one. It was just a sight to see. I mean, honestly, the whole crowd there, and there was a big crowd on hand at the sound of what?
12:47
A big crowd. They stood as one and applauded him as he staggered back to the pit lane. You know, obviously DNFs, if you're going to have them, make them quick and comprehensive. And the motorsport highlight of the week, incidentally, was the Freedom 250.
13:00
I mean, it was a magnificent street circuit, you know, in obviously Washington, D.C.
13:06
It swung past all the Capitol's big landmarks. Trumpy got the field away late, but he was still there waving the green flag when the sun went down. With the track crew, you know, as the track crews were working hard, filling all the potholes. It was, I mean... People drive on anything these days. I mean, there's no standards. Standards have all gone.
13:25
Why prepare a track? No one cares. Kyle Kirkwood, one from Christian Lungard, and wait for it, Toowoomba's own Will Power blasted home third, flying the Aussie flag. The Premier League wheezed into life this season, and what a start.
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by Socceroo Herrington at Fahal. Many top pundits had tipped the Tigers for relegation in the first round. You can't happen in the first round, but you know what I mean, from the first round on. But they had a day out, netting two in the first half and holding on for a big win in a round one of the top flight. Athletics and the Sydney Marathon is going to be run tomorrow. The medal for this historic run around Harbour City is the talking point. The design includes many of the buildings that make the Harbour City famous.
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you know, sort of outlines, you know, sort of, you know, you get the idea that it's not a complete picture of the, say, the art gallery. It's just a sketch of the art gallery.
14:18
You have a look yourself and you get it straight away.
14:21
Anyway, but the trouble was, was that they included the Allianz Stadium. Unfortunately, the medal has the outline of the Allianz Stadium in Munich and not Sydney, but that will make the medal worth a fortune. And Australia, it's not too late to join the 40,000 runners for the round town sprint. Just line up in the singlet with the volley OCs on looking fit and hungry. And now to the what's on where. This is a new element of the show, which has been getting a lot of talk and comment since we began it a couple of weeks ago. Talking of the big picture, again, the Rugby World Cup is looming.
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No one's talking about it except us. Runs from October the 15th to November the 15th. 26 teams taking part, three divisions, 10 men's, eight women's and eight wheelchair. This festival of the boot is spread across three mad rugby league nations, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
15:07
Now, special mention to the NFL action.
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Next Friday, that's right, next Friday, the MCG hosts the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers at, wait for it, 10.35am. It's the NFL season opener for the 26-27 season. Gates at the G open at 7 with a full beverage service available for those devotees who like an early opener.
15:34
It's Vegas!
15:35
Come to Yarra side! It's going to be great. And can I point out, if you're interested in helmets and pads, get along and have a look. Shoot Shield action this week, semi-final time this afternoon. It's Eastern Suburbs versus Sydney, 3.05. Waringa versus Gordon at 3.10. All the action from one camera set-up, which will be in two places at once. Don't know how they do it. It's a miracle of television. On Stan. Now, and... Lifting the gaze. Origin is off to New Zealand. Make a diary mention of this. Origin is off to New Zealand. Maroon v Blues lands in Auckland on July, sorry, June the 16th.
16:09
June the 16th, 2027 as part of the push for the global game. That might be round one of the Origin next year. Don't quote me on that. But June the 16th is the date when you need to be in New Zealand, say at Mount Smart Stadium or GIO, wherever you want to go. Blindsided Stanwell back and let the hounds of hustle see the lure as we welcome to ABC Spot and ABC Local Radio a man who's passionate about Australian small business. He competes today or contributes today on the condition of complete anonymity rampaging Roy Slavin. Can I get the bludgeoning bunny in motion for another week by asking what caught your SSI this week?
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4K HD large language model machine learning AI and crypto bubble jammer.
16:48
Yes, thank you very, very much, HG Nelson. Of course, happy rugby league, HG to you and your family.
16:55
And, well, happy rugby league to all Aussies who still dream, who carry in their hearts the spark of hope and hold in their minds the certainty of the healing balm of eternal sunshine.
17:10
Whoa!
17:11
You know who you are, and thank you for listening. Eternal sunshine. Decent Aussies love eternal sunshine.
17:20
England quick bride and cast. Well, he's placed in handcuffs and led away from a...
17:27
Oh, well, it was a scene, I guess we'd call it, outside an Irish pub in Ireland.
17:34
Stokes was with him, of course. Stokes wasn't placed in handcuffs, mercifully.
17:40
We're yet to get to the bottom of it.
17:42
It must have been a fair scene if it was in Ireland, where they don't mind a drink.
17:45
I know, I know, I know.
17:46
I mean, I'm not being silly here.
17:48
Who knows? Who knows what... But words must have been said between Cass and... A couple of the locals who took umbrage at something. Who knows? Who knows? But I'm sure Cass and Stokes will be exonerated. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing to it at all. I mean, just a little bit of smoke, no fire.
18:09
Have to be.
18:10
Wouldn't it be great to get him on unfiltered?
18:12
Yes.
18:13
Yes. Cass, take us through it. Brydon, take us through it. Oh, well, you know. Anyway, off you go.
18:22
Bangladesh given a bowling workshop, I've described it.
18:25
Workshop?
18:25
Workshop of excellence by Mitchell Stark.
18:29
He's now the ICC number one bowler in the world.
18:32
That's official. And that's the first time it's ever happened to Mitchell Stark to be number one.
18:37
And, you know, Stark, he...
18:40
I'm most impressed with Stark. He's like a red wine, isn't he?
18:44
It just gets better and better.
18:46
I've said to him, I said, you're like a Grange Hermitage.
18:50
He said, what? I said he took umbrage, thought I was having to go in, and I had to explain that Grange Hermitage is actually a pretty good wine.
19:01
Certainly that 2012. I know we had a sip not so long back.
19:05
It was just a great, magnificent wine. Probably perfect.
19:09
I think so. I think so. When it comes to Shiraz, it might have come from Iran originally, the Shiraz variety.
19:18
Ah, well done. Well done. There's a big area called Shiraz. Yes. I think that's where it comes from.
19:23
Yeah. Anyway, I didn't explain that to Starkey. I didn't need to. No. No.
19:27
He just understood that, you know, Grange Hermitage from, I think, might be the Penfolds Company. In your wine range. In South Australia. It's a wonderful wine.
19:35
In your wine range, where do you put Postman Pat in terms of wine?
19:38
Oh, well, not bad. He's like a Chablis, isn't he? A nice Chablis.
19:46
Not that Australia's known for its Chablis. I think Tasmania's cooking up a few at the moment. And Orange, back in the day when it used to get a little bit colder...
19:54
You used to be able to get a very nice, you know, wine from... Postman Pat Chablis. Chablis, yeah.
20:03
Now, Cruz Hewitt, in very, very good news, gets his second professional win.
20:10
He defeated Sebastian Gorsny. And a lot of people are going to say that's impossible. How could he beat someone like Gorsny? Well, he did.
20:19
He lost the first set, understandably, because Gorsny's pretty good. But came back in a performance which was described as Leighton-esque. What? Leighton-esque, and I like that.
20:34
By knowledgeable courtside observers?
20:36
Yep, yep, yep. And scribes.
20:38
Oh, yeah, yeah. And scribes. Often they're just clutching at straws trying to think of how can I fill this word count up.
20:43
No, but I think in this instance it was absolutely accurate.
20:47
I saw some highlights and it's certainly, I mean, it was like, Winding the clock back, wasn't it?
20:53
Winding the clock back, yeah.
20:54
Yeah, it was like looking at Little Leighton all those years ago when he stunned the world. Remember when he beat Agassi, I think, in the South Australian Open when he was 13 or something? Very young.
21:06
Made a statement.
21:07
Made a real statement, yes, he did.
21:08
I can still clearly remember that disbelief.
21:11
Yeah, I know. I know. Well, there was disbelief. There's similar disbelief, HG, on the face of Grozny and his crew, of which there were many. They're stunned. They couldn't believe it.
21:23
And I don't know what's going to happen to Grozny now, Sebastian Grozny.
21:27
But he'll have to go back into the room of mirrors and have a look at himself, I suspect.
21:32
I think, you know, the Leighton-esque performance was short-lived. I think he went down... In the next round, I've forgotten how he played. But anyway, that's his second professional win. Yeah, you can't take it away. You can't.
21:43
Nobody's going to take it away from him. No one will.
21:48
Now, speaking of the tennis world, the tennis world is seeing Nick Kyrgios' apology as, quote, hollow, unquote. I disagree with this.
21:58
I think, Nick, I thought it was a heartfelt apology. I'll give you a sample of it. Yes.
22:05
He's talking about putting something up on social media about it. Yes. I wanted you to hear this from me first. Good. I recently failed a drug test in Majorca after testing positive for blow or cocaine. Yes. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself. Yes. I'm not going to make any excuses, but I want to give you some context about where I've been.
22:35
The last couple of years, injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically. My body hasn't been able to do what my mind expects it to do. No, that's right.
22:44
That's honest, isn't it? That is so honest.
22:46
And coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call for the next 28 days. I'll be stepping away from social media and public life on getting myself right. Now he's out for a month, isn't he?
23:02
Yes, he's out for a month, 28 days.
23:04
Beautiful. I thought that was, you know, that's heartfelt. Absolutely.
23:09
What else could he have done? Indeed.
23:12
What do they expect of the bloke? Cover himself in petrol at a later match? He's not going to do that. He's a tennis player.
23:19
He's a tennis player, for God's sake.
23:22
All he had was a little bit of blow.
23:25
Just a little bit of blow. Just having to walk through the kitchen. Not his fault.
23:29
He didn't even know there was a kitchen there. No, he didn't know.
23:33
Totally didn't know.
23:36
You know, what's this? What do I do with this? Oh, mate, you just... Next thing you know, you know.
23:40
Yeah, people are tapping you on the shoulder and saying... Yeah, so you better get to bed, mate. Yeah, that's right. And put a long Jimmy into this test tube for me, will you? Yeah. Anyway.
23:49
Anyway. We wish... I can't wait to see Nick back on court. Can I just say that? As an Aussie.
23:55
As an Aussie.
23:56
I think all Aussies feel that way. You know, any Aussie I heard talking on the bus this week, they were all very, very sympathetic and understanding when it came to Nick.
24:04
They didn't think it was his... You know, no-one said, oh, that was hollow. No-one said that.
24:08
No-one said that. Everyone accepted it as an honest Aussie explaining a tragedy.
24:18
A personal tragedy. Tragedy.
24:23
I love to use the word hollow there.
24:25
Yes, hollow. Hollow as if.
24:28
Yeah, indeed.
24:29
As if.
24:31
This is Nick.
24:34
Now, the Matildas have a two-match series against Powerhouse, Powerhouse Nation, Colombia. Coming up, coach Montemuro is insisting that these matches won't be friendlies.
24:49
What does he think they're going to be?
24:50
Well, hang on.
24:53
Aren't they?
24:54
Aren't they friendlies? By definition. I mean, what's up for grabs? It's not as if they're... We're going to have to invent some sort of trophy or something.
25:04
Could I suggest, HG, I mean, we did discuss this off air just briefly, but having thought about it, I think your suggestion of involving Tina Arena is a good idea.
25:14
So if we had Tina Arena and I'm thinking Shakira...
25:18
Yes, our Shakira from Columbia.
25:21
Yes, the Shakira Arena Cup.
25:24
Now you're talking, that's great. What a great... That'd be fantastic. I'm not sure my mind races to think what it would look like.
25:31
No. Well, we'll leave that to the designers. Yeah, that's right. We're not designers, we're not artists.
25:36
So, but anyway, I've made that suggestion and I think it's gone down pretty well. And it wouldn't surprise, I mean, it might be impossible, but let's see if it could be organised to have Shakira and Tina Arena perform at the opening before the kick-off.
25:52
Wow, wouldn't that be fantastic?
25:54
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
25:55
I know you hate a friendly and I do too, but why do they play them?
25:58
Yeah, I know. I know. It achieves nothing.
26:01
It's just to get injuries.
26:02
You've got to have something on it. Yeah, that's right. Now, if they're playing for the Shakira Arena, I think, you know, it wouldn't be a friendly.
26:11
It'd be great. There'd be something to play for.
26:15
So let's see where it goes.
26:16
And it would gather gravitas as it went along. Yes. You know, next time.
26:20
Yeah.
26:21
We saw Shakira at the Logies a few years back. We did. She was fantastic. Spellbinding.
26:27
Spellbinding. Thank you. Spellbinding. A real professional. Show. Yes. A real show person, wasn't she? I mean, she just exuded confidence and...
26:37
In a time when a lot of acts were glum.
26:39
Yes.
26:40
She was a breath of fresh air, wasn't she?
26:44
She certainly livened up that Dua Logies crowd that night, didn't she?
26:50
And I can see that happening too at the MCG with Tina Arena.
26:54
And Shakira there for the Cup.
26:56
Yep, yep, yep, for the Cup.
26:59
Now, the Wallabies are very, very happy with a new-look attack. This is part of the KISS evolution, not revolution.
27:07
They looked almost professional, didn't they?
27:09
The shorts were up, the boots were on. Yep, the attack looked fantastic. I think they're taking on, it might be Argentina.
27:17
That's tomorrow. I meant to include that. Is that tomorrow? Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Is that being played here or in Argentina?
27:23
It's being played there. Okay, good.
27:25
Argentina, of course, are a powerhouse these days in world rugby. This will be a real test for the – it's not a friendly, is it?
27:33
What are you talking about? Of course not. No, some sort of test.
27:35
Do we know what they're playing for?
27:37
Well, not yet.
27:38
No, they'll be playing for something. There'll be some trophy involved, surely.
27:42
They will. They'll have to be. They will. They'll have to be. Yes. Anyway, we wish them all the best. We'll keep an eye on that. Is that being covered by seven?
27:50
Yes. Good question. I think we can find that out as we go along and bring the nation up to speed.
27:55
Once we know, people will know. Yes. Yes. Yes. That'll be certainly something worth looking forward to. And that's tomorrow. Don't know how our container time works.
28:03
Hang on. Here we go. So we've got his Argentina, Australia, 5am Sunday from the Augusto Stadium, San Salvador. Good. And it's live on Stan Sport.
28:16
Right. Your favourite channel. Yeah, that's 5am. Well, that's worth getting up for. No, bugger it. Stay up all night.
28:22
Yeah. All right.
28:23
Make a real night of it. Make a real weekend of it. Make it a wallabies weekend. Eh? Eh?
28:30
Eh?
28:31
And, you know, if you're a little bit bleary-eyed when you get into work on Monday, no boss is going to be critical of you. They're not going to criticise you. They'll be proud of you. Just say, oh, sorry, mate, I'm a bit late, you know, I'm a bit tired.
28:45
Who won? Wallabies.
28:49
And make yourself a shirt, a yellow T-shirt with Australia written on the front and say, green texta.
28:54
Yeah.
28:54
You'd blend right in.
28:55
You would blend right in. Wonderful week for the greatest game of all, of course.
29:00
Our valet coach Reynolds.
29:03
Well, what a disappointing end to a remarkable career.
29:06
I mean. I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it either.
29:09
You and I took the trip. We went up. Yeah, we did. We thought this was going to be special. This was going to be beautiful. We remember this for the rest of our lives. Yep, yep. It was just a shambles.
29:16
He waddled out in the dark.
29:20
And nothing happened.
29:22
I'll give you an idea how bad it was. The lead line in the newspaper coverage of the Shambles was, it's the farewell fiasco that keeps on giving.
29:31
Yeah.
29:33
I know. More needs to be said.
29:34
Nothing more needs to be said.
29:35
So they had, you know, obviously that decision about that he couldn't play and there was some dispute who pulled the pin as a major.
29:42
He said he could play for 20 minutes or so.
29:45
Coach Reynolds, he was happy to play for 20 minutes.
29:48
I don't know why they didn't play. I don't know why they didn't play him.
29:51
Then the ceremony fell flat when a power outage at Suncorp Stadium meant the farewell lap and tribute footage couldn't be shown on the big screens. That's right. Instead of showing career highlights, Reynolds and fellow departing players Payne Haas, Jesse Arthurs, De Louise Herter and Corey Jensen, advertisement for major Bronco sponsors Kia were displayed. I mean...
30:14
Yeah. Talk about not reading the room.
30:17
Not reading the room at all. I mean, in all fairness to the other blokes, nobody gives a bugger about them. It was all about Reynolds.
30:24
Yeah, I know. It's got to be about Reynolds.
30:25
It was all about Reynolds.
30:26
I mean, he's 19 years.
30:28
It should have been 19 years of rugby league, of service.
30:31
I call it service, rugby league service.
30:34
I know a lot of, you know, rabbits people made the trip. They didn't care about their match.
30:37
They made the trip up there to see. Just to see Coach Reynolds waddle out and say goodbye. As it was, people walked out in the dark. No one knew who they were. Yeah. There was nothing to indicate who they were. Yeah. And people watching, you know, television at home, it just went to ads. They didn't know what was going on.
30:57
No one got to win Reynolds at all.
31:00
I mean, it's just... I mean, it's a bad day. It's a blight on the game. And this is an organisation that's going to have a global league competition.
31:08
Yes. I mean, they can't even organise a farewell for adults.
31:12
For God's sake, make of that what you will.
31:20
The Las Vegas Church of Rugby League welcomes all faiths.
31:26
It has a special twilight service for victims of the punt every Tuesday.
31:32
If you've had a run of outs, then follow the crowd to the Hacienda of Hope on Las Vegas Boulevard, just south of the welcome sign.
31:42
Times for all other services and activities are listed regularly on Bludging on the Blind Side. MUSIC
31:56
You're listening to Bludgeoning on the Blind Side on ABC Local Radio and ABC Sport. And if you want to get involved with the show, 0467920222 is the text line or the old style way, roonhd at abc.net.au. And we'll be coming to texts and emails later in the show. But firstly, let's have a look at the road to glory on ABC Local Radio and ABC Sport. We mentioned already the 46-20 Storm v Broncos result.
32:27
The Sea Eagles put an end to that wonderful run of Dragons wins in fine style. Sea Eagles have had, well, forgotten how to play fozball, but then all of a sudden they found out how to play fozball again. They ran in 44-10, and the Panthers and the Bulldogs, I understand, a wonderful match for all families turned up.
32:47
Yeah. Yeah.
32:47
For somebody, it's a family night last night.
32:49
It was a family night, HG. Well, Ruckley League can be like that.
32:53
It can. You just have to put the word out, it's a family event, in they come. Yeah, yeah. You know, it was just great and I think they had a discount on the hot dogs and the, you know, obviously the chips and everything.
33:03
Yeah. So 24 to 10. I sometimes see this, but last night I saw it in particular, HG, uh, Dogs fans buying beers for Penrith fans and vice versa.
33:15
Isn't that incredible?
33:16
That was just wonderful to see.
33:17
Is that because the season's coming to an end and we'll put animosity aside until next year?
33:22
Yep, yep.
33:23
Isn't that great?
33:24
Yes. The terrific spirit.
33:27
And the game was played in a terrific spirit too. It was a really good game. Really good, hard, open, fast, quick, skilful rugby league.
33:35
I should know this, but could these two teams meet in the finals?
33:38
No.
33:39
Good. No. Because I'd hate to think that was sullied by the pressure of having to produce that sort of camaraderie amongst hands across the water sort of style. Would you like a beer? Sure.
33:51
Now, Andrew Moore's got a big card today, and it's called Super Saturday for a very good reason, because how's this? Titans v. Rabbits. This is the Jairo testimonial match where he'll play a few minutes so he can get one more match next weekend, one more match, and all of a sudden he's got 100 with the Rabbits. Really good gesture. Roosters v. Dolphins could be the match of the round of 5.30.
34:14
that will be a decider of positions in the top four.
34:18
I think so. It's crucial for both teams, isn't it?
34:22
To win, yeah. And that shock loss last week by the Roosters of the Tigers.
34:25
Oh, they'll bounce back, won't they?
34:27
Unimaginable. Unimaginable.
34:29
Then Cowboys play West Tigers. Fascinating game at 7.30. That is fascinating. That's the late game. And Andrew will be calling that as well. And then tomorrow. Where is that one, actually? That one's at Cowboys. Must be.
34:40
Townsville.
34:41
Yeah, Townsville in the north. Yeah, good. But wonderful venue. I think it's Bank, Country Bank Stadium or something like that, Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
34:49
Beautiful facilities there.
34:51
Wonderful, magnificent.
34:52
And it's not too late for people, you know, further south to fly up and have a look at that match tonight.
34:56
Especially Tigers people.
34:58
Now, the Warriors v. the Knights, that's obviously this thing with the Warriors where both the final two matches of the home and away are at home and then they get, because of their position in the ladder, they get two finals at home as well, you assume. So they're playing the Knights. The Knights, a bit disappointing now.
35:15
Yeah, they're looking fragile, aren't they?
35:16
Fragile, thanks very much. And then tomorrow, the Eels take on the Sharks at Combank. And I'm pretty sure Andrew will be there for that. So he's got a big card. He's got, well, one, two, three, four, five matches to go.
35:27
Well, the sharks have still got those mould-induced infections, haven't they?
35:31
I know.
35:32
Which is affecting all – it's affecting their mindsets, their – Their stamina.
35:38
Yes. They'd be better off training away from –
35:41
They would.
35:41
Mould central. They would.
35:43
And they'd be, you know, go out to a dry out. I think people have suggested that to Coach Fitzgibbon, but he's bloody minded about it. He wants them training at Shark Park, and I think it's a real mistake. I mean, look at the skin conditions some of those players have got now.
35:55
It's terrible, isn't it? I mean, it's just dreadful. Exmo and all sorts of things. I know. Look, can I just say that I know you're connected with the Watsford Oval. Yeah. I'm just wondering if you offered Watford Oval as a possibility. I mean, it's a bit of a trip to get out there.
36:10
Well, while Mount Victoria passes. I know where you're going. Yeah, yeah.
36:14
It just makes it a bit hard for people to get there.
36:17
But nonetheless, it would be a great training thing. They could go on a bus and, you know, bonding on the bus there. Sure. Take them several hours. Sure.
36:24
And maybe their skin would improve.
36:27
Improve, yeah.
36:30
And that's all coming up are the matches, that is, on ABC Local Radio and ABC Sport.
36:36
The Rugby League Crime Writers Association have not been idle. New titles released this month include Blood on the Boots by Bronco Gemma Chibasaki, a murderous serial killer romp, Six Again by Reid the Niggle Amani, and from the pen of Golden Glock Award winner Jonah Pezzett...
36:58
I smeared on too much when I left.
37:02
These international bestsellers are available now from House of Feathers Publishing or from Bludging on the Blind Side.
37:14
The Rugby League Arts Festival at Rugby League World Auburn will include life drawing classes for the third year running. Models will include Gus Gould, Brian To'o and Ben Hunt. Terms and conditions apply. Pervs and sickos will again be weeded out with names and addresses forwarded to the local authorities. This is bludging on the blind side.
37:40
Roy, just coming back to the problems at Suncorp and the Reynolds farewell, there was obviously he wanted us out, no music, majority of fans starting to leave. By the time the tribute got underway, it was underwhelming. And he just looked like a forlorn figure. I'm just wondering if we need to think about...
38:00
Another venue, another occasion when we can say farewell. Now, sadly, the Broncos won't be appearing in any finals this year.
38:08
No.
38:08
Neither will the Storm, for that matter. But the teams that played off in the granny last year or the big dance last year. But is there a tribute that you could see?
38:16
Well, look, Ron of Newcastle, H.U., whom I often listen to...
38:21
He says that now that Jai Arrow gets his two-game statistic, why don't Brisbane do the same for Coach Reynolds to finish his splendid, hard-fought, honest professional career?
38:34
Isn't that great? Now, I'm not sure who the Broncos will play. The listeners will know next week.
38:39
But wouldn't it be fitting if Coach Reynolds led them out? Led them out.
38:45
Maybe a distance of maybe 100 yards. Yes. He gets out.
38:48
He goes out by himself. By himself. And maybe spends 10 minutes out there by himself. Taking the applause. Taking the applause. Signing autographs for kids. All of that. Selfies, et cetera.
38:57
The bands with him and stuff like that.
39:00
Then the team comes out. I think that'll be marvellous. Steve from Hornsby is disgusted how the Broncos have treated Coach Reynolds. He's wondering how about a wildcard player selection to allow Reynolds to play for Souths in the finals as a farewell.
39:15
Well, that's not a bad idea either, is it? That would be great. Yeah.
39:19
See, that would be real hands across the code.
39:22
It would. It would.
39:24
I don't think anyone would object to that. I think South's fans would love to have Coach Reynolds back for a farewell.
39:31
And where do you stand on the question of where he should now make his home? I mean, do you think that he should?
39:37
Well, he's got families. He's got a family, as she, and I think the family is very established now in Brisbane.
39:44
And the people of Brisbane have warmed to him and warmed to the family.
39:49
So I think he's established roots there now. I think Coach Reynolds will probably spend a fair bit of time now in Brisbane. Yeah.
39:55
And where do you stand on the backstory here of, you know, who said what to whom about this and whether that'll influence decisions going forward? See, what would worry me is if somehow there was still bad blood between Madge and Coach Reynolds.
40:11
Yes.
40:12
And all of a sudden Coach Reynolds is then given the actual role of being the coach.
40:18
Yes. Well, this is very daunting for Madge. He'll be coaching alone in Brisbane for the first time, won't he, next season. It's going to put a lot of pressure on him, you know. He doesn't have a coach out there in the middle who's been doing all the work.
40:33
And do you think that Coach Reynolds is up for...
40:39
I think Coach Reynolds would love to coach formally down the track. I think he would. I mean, Dolphins.
40:48
Could the Dolphins approach him?
40:50
Well, the Dolphins, no doubt. Look, I think he could maybe do some coaching at Souths.
40:59
What an interesting idea that is.
41:01
He's worked with Coach Bennett, of course. in the past.
41:06
I think Matt King would probably reach out to him to see if assistant coach perhaps for the Blues. How about Australia? Even Australia, yes. Because Kevvy's gone now. Well, Kevvy could reach out perhaps and maybe he could fill in when Kevvy goes after the World Cup coming up that no one's talking about, then perhaps Coach Reynolds could take over next year. I mean, there are a lot of options for Coach Reynolds. Yeah, a lot of options.
41:33
It's a sort of sad thing because he's such a substantial figure in the game.
41:37
Yes, yes.
41:38
You know, and nothing from Volandis. Does that surprise you? No. Yes. I haven't read anything about him. No. What a great career and how, you know.
41:44
No.
41:45
I feel as though they're embarrassed.
41:46
Well, there should have been a coin struck, for example. Oh.
41:50
Or a medal.
41:50
Or a medal.
41:51
As in this year, I forget what the medal they get is called, but then, you know, you've played in the premiership.
41:58
Well, you get your premiership ring. Yeah. It wouldn't have hurt to get you. Here's your premiership ring and here's your Coach Reynolds medal.
42:06
Lead the children to Rugby League and watch them prosper. Tell them of Rugby League and let them dream. Our children of a future of the greatest game of all. Remember, Chook was a child once. So was Cam, so was Wally, Backdoor Benny, Dishhead, Sticky, Gus, Rabs. They were all kids once. This is Bludging on the Blind Side.
42:33
Talkback topic, Roy. What did you have last week?
42:37
Last week, HG, we asked, is it time to thank Manus for his magnificent service? 100% yes.
42:49
No surprises there. Where would we describe him? Middle order batsman? For Australia, batter for Australia?
42:56
Yeah, well, they've been playing as a number three.
43:00
Yeah, I know, but. First drop. Do you think?
43:04
But I don't think Marnus has been first drop sort of material now for a couple of years.
43:10
And is it just a thing of, you know, as Greg Chappell used to say, You know, I can't tell if I'm out of form. I keep getting out.
43:19
Yeah, he's not batting long enough to know what sort of form he is in. That's the problem for Marnus, isn't it? I mean, he looks okay in the nets, but as I say to people, there's a lot of world of difference between what happens in the nets and what happens out in the middle.
43:31
And is the lack of shield experience, because the shield isn't on at the moment.
43:35
Yeah. Yeah. Well, the lack of shield makes it difficult to replace Marnus.
43:41
Who do we replace him with? Yeah, no, that's true. Who's putting their hands up? I know, I know. Peter Hanscom? I mean, that's just crazy to get Hanscom back, wouldn't it? I think so. I think so. I think we're stuck with where we are at the moment.
43:54
Yeah, yeah, we are. So, I don't know, maybe Green at the moment seems to have struck a bit of form. Maybe Green could be our number three. Promoting him up the lift. Yeah, put him at number three. But then again, who have we got as openers? Is Renshaw going to be the man? I don't think so. Is Head going to be a regular opener? He's not really an opener. He should be number three. He should be first drop. I mean, what we need is two openers yet to be identified. And two.
44:22
And then Head.
44:23
Yeah.
44:24
Then Green. Then Smith.
44:27
You know, that's starting to look like a reasonable order. Yeah. Yeah.
44:31
Where do we find them? Where do we find them?
44:34
Okay. Now, what have you decided this week? Oh, sorry, SG.
44:36
In terms of the talkback topic. Yes, this week. Should Coach Reynolds be honoured on grand final day?
44:46
Yes.
44:47
Well, I think yes.
44:49
Yes. Now, look, can I just say it's a big stadium.
44:52
Yes.
44:53
We don't want to have the repeat of the fiasco at Suncorp. No.
44:58
where a person waddles out in the dark and people are scratching their heads wondering what's going on for 20 minutes.
45:04
So are you thinking of, you know, somewhere between the, what I'm describing as the Freddie Fittler Olympics and the start of the main game in there?
45:14
I think so. I think once whoever's going to, whoever's the big noise this year, let's say it's Teddy Swims.
45:22
Wouldn't it be great to get Swims back just by the way? People can't get enough of the Swims.
45:26
No, they can't.
45:27
So maybe there'd be some opportunity there once Swims has finished.
45:32
Onto the stage comes Coach Reynolds and he's interviewed, perhaps by Danica or someone like that. They could say, you know, Coach Reynolds, how does it feel?
45:42
To be retiring. To be retiring. Oh, yeah, you know, obviously it's a bit disappointing. But I've had a wonderful time. I love my rugby league. It would have been nicer to go out a winner, but, you know, I feel I am a bit of a winner, et cetera, et cetera, you know where it goes. Either that or give him something official, say Coach Reynolds comes out for the coin toss.
46:03
Wow, now you're talking.
46:05
Or to present the premiership rings.
46:08
That's not bad either.
46:09
And I think one thing that... Or all three. Yeah, all three.
46:13
Interview with Danica after Teddy swims at halftime. Prior to that, we've seen him do the coin toss. And then at the end, he hands out the rings.
46:22
That's great.
46:24
Now, the one thing that I thought would have been good the other night, and I'm sure he had this in his mind, he would have liked to have thanked the Suncorp people for letting him play for them. Yes. Now, that's a beautiful gesture, but that's a bit lost at Stadium Australia.
46:39
Well, he'd have to tailor his responses to Danica's questions.
46:43
I know, which have nothing to do because there's so many people from all clubs. Whereas at the Suncorp, you're likely to only have Broncos fans in inverted commas. Well, that's true.
46:51
Yeah, yeah. Well...
46:54
Well, maybe it's possible for the Suncorp Stadium to put on a day. Oh, meet the coach. Meet Coach Reynolds. Yeah.
47:07
Blindsiders, pick up the rugby league bedroom combo of queen-size sheets, duna covers and pillowcases in club colours from the Royal House of Hubna. These top products only use recycled fabric from the greatest game of all. While you're in the house, Select a mattress cover made from recycled Steedons used in the 2021 season. The Royal House of Hubna is a homeware emporium with outlets at the following venues. KO, Seabus Super and Amy Stadiums.
47:40
Just look for the black dot and prepare to save a packet as discounts are available for those on the Nod and listeners to Bludging on the Blind Side.
47:52
Yes, welcome back to Bludging on the Blind Side on ABC Local Radio and ABC Smart. Now, text line 0467 920 222. That's 0467 920 222. Or the old-style way, roynhg at abc.net.au. And the following people have, Roy.
48:11
Yeah, just on the text, HG, someone was suggesting, why doesn't Coach Reynolds perform with Teddy Swims in the grand final? Well, that's not a bad idea.
48:22
He certainly got the look. I mean, put Swims and Coach Reynolds together.
48:26
Yeah, a couple of bookends.
48:29
Yeah.
48:30
Now, I'm not sure what the nature of the comp would be, as in what would they sing? A song that's known to the fans, like Happy Together or something like that.
48:41
Sure.
48:43
Friday on My Mind.
48:44
Yeah, maybe.
48:45
Just a bit hard to get a –
48:48
Well, there'd have to be something from the swimmer's cannon, I'd suggest.
48:50
Yeah, or he might be able to help Coach Reynolds out.
48:54
Yeah, Coach Reynolds have his own ideas.
48:55
Yeah.
48:59
He might want it in my way.
49:01
Yeah, fair enough.
49:02
Wouldn't be a dry eye, would there? No, they wouldn't imagine that stepped up.
49:05
It'd be perfect. No, my way.
49:10
This comes from Darren, Bateman's Bay.
49:13
He says, I conducted a review of the shark and his loss in the US Masters in 1996. Yeah.
49:22
With the use of an AI app, I conducted a search, Greg Norman's greatest golfing loss.
49:28
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
49:30
I was supplied with information about the six-stroke loss in the US Masters. There's also information appeared under the heading of other heartbreaking major losses. Mm-hmm.
49:41
The Shark finished second in the following tournaments.
49:45
The US Masters, 1986. The PGA Championships, 1986. The US Masters, 1987.
49:53
The Open Championship, 1989. PGA Championship, 1993. US Open, 1995.
50:01
AI went on to further explain that Greg Norman must have experienced a condition known in sports psychology as psychological paralysis.
50:10
Wow.
50:12
Yeah.
50:12
Wow, psychological paralysis.
50:14
Yes, yes, yes.
50:16
Is that a meaningful term? Not to me. No, but then we don't deal in... No, we don't.
50:22
No, we don't.
50:22
You think that Faldo... Well, his brain was blown up.
50:27
Wasn't it? I mean, and your brain blowing up is defined as an explosion from a psychological device deliberately placed in the brain of an opponent. Yeah.
50:40
That'll do.
50:40
I think that's probably what happened to him.
50:42
No, and we know who did it.
50:43
Yeah.
50:44
In 86, we know it was Faldo that did it. Yeah, sorry. Bob Tway did it the year before.
50:49
Can I just say that that first one, the Faldo, that did all the damage. Oh, yeah. And then it was just PTSD, really, that did the rest.
50:56
Yeah. Well, once the device is in there, you can't remove it. You might as well stop. Yeah.
51:02
Fascinating that AI comes up with new terms, psychological paralysis.
51:07
Paralysis, yeah. Is that one of theirs? It's just nonsense really, isn't it? It's brain blow up. People understand that.
51:14
Fair enough. Fair enough.
51:17
Gentlemen, with a growing awareness of the 1908 links between the Foundation Club North Sydney Himalayan Perth Red Bears and Swan Brewery,
51:25
That's the correct title.
51:26
Yeah. An old memory was piqued with reference to Swan Products and the history of sport in rural and regional Western Australia.
51:34
Wow.
51:34
In times of yore...
51:36
The reserves and senior teams from Borden in the great southern part of WA would travel to Ondurup on the club bus to play the Ondurup home Aussie rules teams. The Borden bombers would then go up to the Orangeran pub to have dinner and some drinks with the local Ondurup teams after the day's matches. The standard routine would be that the teams would both start drinking swan lager, known as a fighting beer.
52:03
Ah!
52:05
due to its horrible taste and unusually high amount of preservatives in the list of ingredients.
52:11
Eventually someone would make a comment that someone found a fence in the eye of the other, drinks would be put down on the bar, the fellas would go outside, and a 15-minute scuffle would break out.
52:22
Isn't that very diplomatic? It is. Have you ever heard of the term fighting beer? No, not really. Is your oat milk stout a fighting beverage?
52:31
It's more a mellow.
52:32
Yeah.
52:33
It's a mellow-making beer or substance.
52:37
And why didn't they think about, well, we don't want any more brawling in the pub. Why don't we change the beer?
52:41
Yeah. Yeah. I've got a feeling, though, under those circumstances, any beer's a fighting beer. Yeah.
52:48
I remember whenever we went to Orange playing The Sims, we'd stay overnight and have a few beers, as you do, and the two teams would get together and that was fine.
53:03
But always there'd be a bit of a contretemps between, I think his name from memory was Frank Baines. Baines, yeah. Frank Baines and Stomper. Yeah. For some reason, they just didn't get on.
53:16
Yeah.
53:17
And they'd always end up in a fight and this went on for years. Okay. You know, whenever Sims came to Lithgow, they'd stay overnight, they'd go to the Bloodhouse and… Sure enough. Sure enough, it'd end up with, you know, a circle formed and Baines and Stomp in the middle.
53:36
And the funny thing was, though, you know, Stomp floored him every time. Yeah.
53:42
You know, this went on for, you know, 10 years or more. So they would have met 20-odd times in a circle outside a pub. And Baines never won. Baines never won. He was just put...
53:53
Anyway.
53:54
You'd think he'd learn.
53:55
You'd think he would have done.
53:56
Maybe it's the beer. Maybe.
53:58
Maybe. Anyway, memories.
54:01
This comes from Matt.
54:03
This follows up on a suggestion I think we might have made recently, HG. He says, as I filled out the census recently, I couldn't help but feeling there was something missing.
54:13
Surely this was a lost opportunity to truly understand the nation's love of rugby league just that little bit better. Promote is a way that the government can better plan for Australia's. Such a plan would be incomplete without fully understanding the following. How many minutes of rugby league each household watches every week?
54:30
Infra-household clubs support a rivalry. Household support for six again and ruck infringement crackdowns.
54:37
Hard statistical evidence on whether Manly or Melbourne Storm are the most hated. Feathers now has five years before the 2031 census to rectify this census deficiency.
54:47
Well, I think it's a good idea. I do too.
54:51
It does mean that what would be done with this information is the next step, isn't it? Because, you know.
54:58
But it's the same with anything, you know, with the census.
55:01
Would you like a new footpath out the front?
55:03
That's right. That's right. That's right.
55:06
Anyway.
55:07
I mean, you can't have too much information when it comes to planning. Can you?
55:12
No.
55:12
And it would help planners knowing, you know, the amount of rugby league that's happening or the amount of rugby league being watched, certainly.
55:20
Just on this, can I ask, do you think there should have been a question included on the census? Are the pirates a good idea?
55:27
Yeah.
55:27
Well, that's not bad, yeah. Because it's costing us a fortune.
55:30
That's right. That's right. Which do you prefer, pirates or orcas?
55:35
That would be the question.
55:36
Excellent question.
55:39
Now, actually, this comes from Chris in Albany Creek in Brisbane.
55:45
He says, my daily commute to work sees me strolling past Lang Park and taking in its history and pondering games lost and won. I mean, you can see it, can't you? You can picture him. Recently, I've noticed a school of practical philosophy nestled below Lang Park and housed in a typical Queenslander style. According to its website, since its founding, the School of Practical Philosophy Australia has sought to communicate what humanity's great teachers have told us about our true nature, our purpose, and how we might live happy, full and useful lives.
56:21
The school was established in 1894 and so piqued my interest. And he's wondering whether the Broncos have been making use of this facility or whether they should.
56:33
Does he give examples of some of the texts they might be reading? No, he doesn't. Or who would be lecturing?
56:38
Or the Art of War would be one, wouldn't it?
56:40
Well, yeah, who lectures in the Art of War? Yeah. Because they'd be interesting. Fascinating. Are there lectures available online that you might be able to choose from? Sure.
56:51
Sure.
56:52
And how big is this school?
56:53
Well, there it is, actually. You can see a photograph of it there. It looks like a sort of 1920s building, I want to say. Oh, yeah.
56:58
And weatherboard, do you think? Weatherboard? Yeah, maybe.
57:01
Weatherboard? Yeah. And that's just within a stone's throw of Lang Park.
57:07
The only difficulty there was maybe they teach the bulk of their classes outside in Lang Park where they'd have plenty of room for, say, 100,000 people.
57:14
Yeah, maybe, maybe. But it wouldn't hurt, you know, Madge to poke his nose in every now and again and see what's going on. And maybe take a class or two. Yes.
57:23
You know, no pressure. Yeah, that's right.
57:25
That's right.
57:27
And this comes from David in Marsden in Queensland.
57:31
He says, I came across the following information of intrigue that I thought I should share.
57:37
Cameron Smith's alma mater, Marsden State High School.
57:41
Oh, I didn't know that.
57:43
Which is in the Logan region of Brisbane, teaches rugby league as a classroom subject.
57:49
What? I think all schools should follow the pioneering lead of Cameron's former high school and adopt rugby league as a timetable subject.
57:58
The mandatory curriculum of rugby league could include a full chapter on same-game multis, exotics, and how to get around blocks on kiddies having a punt. Okay. The national curriculum rollout would be accompanied by an in-the-classroom pokies project. Well, that's a very cynical view, isn't it?
58:15
It is. It's not rugby league central. No, that's not rugby league central. Can I ask, though?
58:18
I mean, if you're going to look at...
58:21
I mean, gambling, sure, I don't mind gambling being part of the curriculum, but that should be part of maths or probability.
58:26
Yeah, and it should be there already. It should be there already. Yeah, nothing to do with probability.
58:30
Probability is where gambling comes into its own. It's all about probability. You know, Schrodinger's cat, you know, is both alive and dead at the same time. Yeah. See, that's where gambling hits the wall. Yeah. So you've got to work your way back from that, haven't you? From both alive and dead at the same time, working back.
58:51
be fascinating.
58:52
Now, can I ask though, this makes it sound as though the education department in Queensland has sanctioned a course in rugby league that you and I don't know about. That's right. And could be teaching, you know, things from a Queensland bias.
59:06
I know it would be, without doubt it would be.
59:08
So you've only got Queensland clubs mentioned. You've only got Queensland. I'm now for more emphasis on Wally Lewis, sure. Yeah. But, I mean, he's not the only Queensland player. No. I mean, what about Dishad Dowling? Where does he fit into this thing?
59:20
Yes, yes.
59:20
Or the Turtle, Greg Tonescu, or the Axe, Gilmester, to name a few oldies.
59:24
But you can be sure that, say, Freddie Fittler, Andrew Johns, they're not going to be mentioned at all.
59:31
You know, you'd be lucky to get a mention of Wayne Bennett because they'd see him as a turncoat because he's down in the south.
59:36
I know.
59:38
See, that's – I mean, I'd love to know what the syllabus exactly is too concerning the rules. Yeah. Are they pro, you know, triscorate can kick off or receive? Yeah.
59:49
I don't know where they stand. Have they caught up with that? Marsden High School, who'd know?
59:56
Who'd know? This comes from Charlie from Mossman in far north Queensland.
60:01
Beautiful part of the world up there.
60:03
It is lovely. Isn't it? Lovely.
60:06
Port Douglas, not far away from Port Douglas.
60:09
And you get that, it's just great.
60:11
It is great.
60:12
I've been reflecting recently on the sheer avalanche of rugby league ideas that have been coming from the direction of Feathers over these last years. Yes. Vegas, the global round, expansion with the PNG Pirates, the Bears and the Southern Orcas.
60:25
Impressive in number, to be sure. However, most are what I'd like to call brain farts.
60:31
Inconceived, expensive, risky, doomed to fail. Feathers being drawn like a moth to a shiny global stage that is nothing more than a mirage of hubris.
60:39
Isn't that incredible? What great language that is. Isn't it ever? Gee, I sat up bolt upright when I saw that.
60:45
While all this may help raise a few extra shekels from the media deal, Feathers has neglected the most obvious and lucrative idea of them all.
60:54
to sell the Rugby League final series off to private equity.
61:00
Yes.
61:01
If FIFA can look to raise $20 billion, then you'd have to be thinking, what, $200 billion for the Rugby League final series every year, he says.
61:10
It's not a silly idea, is it?
61:12
It's not. But remember, of course, I think that with the Pope coming, there's some suggestion that the grand final, the big dance, will have to be sold off in that year. Yes. I'm not averse to the grand final, the big dance being sold off every year, but that's just me. But the price they put on it...
61:29
I think came from Western Australia, were prepared to offer $20 million for it.
61:32
Okay. Well, that's not enough.
61:34
No.
61:35
Is it? No. I mean, that's a joke. I think it's a joke, yeah. That little end of us there.
61:39
Yeah. $20 million. I know.
61:42
I mean, that wouldn't bloody provide a toilet.
61:44
Remember, it's Western Australia.
61:46
Yeah, oh, sure. You know, sure. Now, this comes from Mike in Canberra.
61:52
He says, I read this week of the death of the Italian horse Beren at the age of 31 from a heart attack.
61:59
Beren was said to be the greatest trotter of all time with 62 victories in 73 races. In addition to winning, he was also said to have sired over 2,000 offspring, met the Pope and was awarded Horse of the Year in Italy, France and the United States in 2001.
62:14
At the height of his fame in 2002, Beren thrilled spectators at a presentation of horses and drivers at Milan's San Siro Stadium by lowering his head to touch his muzzle with his right front leg bowing to the public.
62:28
I immediately thought of Rooting King.
62:29
Well, who wouldn't? I mean, I knew that was going in that direction.
62:32
Did Rooting King ever meet Vereen, as it appears they both share similar prowess, both on and off the track?
62:39
No, the King never met Vereen. The King never went to Europe. And can I point out... Well, never has been. He might not.
62:46
The King hated harness racing. Yeah, he did. It was demeaning. It was a joke. Demeaning to him. To think that you had to be saddled up with, you know, a gig behind and you dragged this thing along and the reins were miles away. No, he wanted to be belted by somebody on top to get the best out of him. He did. And he hated it, the whole thing, the whole one out, one back, all that sort of stuff. Hated that. You know, Tabcourt Park. Staggart start, all of that.
63:09
Forget it.
63:10
No, no, no.
63:11
Forget it.
63:13
He'd rather carry, you know, 40 stone, wouldn't he?
63:20
He would. Oh, yeah, and he put his foot down. I mean, you only had to mention, you know, even when they had the gig on the back of a float, I mean, that just used to drive him nuts. Yeah, it'd drive him nuts.
63:32
He'd try to kick his way out of the float whenever he saw something like that. But Rudin King, look, he had a lot of affairs over the years with King, but Letzelope, he and Letzelope were very close for a long time.
63:45
Maccabi Diva.
63:46
Oh, yes, of course.
63:47
They were very, very close for a long time. Sunline, that was an affair he had in New Zealand.
63:53
Yeah, now, yeah, he didn't boast about it. No. He just was the sort of, you know, Magnus, Chick Magnus.
64:02
Dame Lisa, I remember, had an affair there, very famous affair. Marley Girl, Ruggle Bugle, Diana Dares, that was another New Zealand affair. Winks, of course, was the last I'm aware of.
64:13
But these days he doesn't travel much.
64:15
No, no, he's very home now.
64:16
He's very quiet, just happy to sit around. Mosey along. Yep, mosey along. I have photos of Rooting King with Cindy Lauper.
64:26
Susie Quattro. Wow. They've gone very well.
64:29
A lot of the stars sought him out. They did.
64:32
They did. He was a magnet.
64:33
A magnet, yeah. A real magnet. They sort of felt as though his success would rub off on them by association.
64:39
They just wanted to be photographed with him. Yeah, that's right.
64:41
And you can't blame them.
64:42
Yeah. Cardinal George Pell had his photograph taken. I didn't know that. Yeah.
64:47
Prime Minister Hawke, Prime Minister Keating.
64:50
Prime Minister Howard. Why, he loved the King. Sir John Kerr, the Governor-General at the time. He had his photograph taken with him. He's a mad racing man. Mad racing man.
64:58
He was. He was. Loved the King.
65:00
Anyway.
65:02
So thanks for that, Mike. That's brought back a lot of memories.
65:06
A lot of memories.
65:08
Just finally here, HG...
65:12
This comes from Matt in Adamstown Heights. That's in Newcastle. He says, while watching the Sharks game last week, my mate and I were reminiscing about an encounter we had with the great Ray Rabswarren in the late 90s.
65:24
Oh, Rabswarren, yeah.
65:26
Which we wanted to give an insight into for bludge listeners. I was working in Parramatta and my mate who was working for Channel 9 and he was working a Friday night game with the Eels versus the Sharks. My mate told me to come down after work to the then old Parramatta Stadium around six o'clock and he'd get me in to watch the game. I met him at the gates and he took me to the fenced off broadcast compound in the car park where we got something to eat at the Channel 9 catering van before the game. While standing in the car park eating our fish and chips, a gold-coloured Holden Calais came roaring into the car park, stopping just short of my mate and myself.
66:00
The driver, Rabs, glared at us and gave us a nod to indicate to get out of the way. His passenger, Paul Fatty Vaughton, was wide-eyed and horrified at the near miss. Raps got out of the car, sneered at us and walked off to the catering van. Fatty, still in shock, got out and said, how you going, fellas? Which we replied, all right, you? Fatty said, yeah, good, thanks. And the moment was over.
66:24
Look, that doesn't sound like Rabs to me. No, he would have stood and talked about. He would have. He would have.
66:30
You know, how the ball popped up out of the ground like molten lava, I'm sure. That's right.
66:35
But then again, you don't know what sort of day Rabs had had. No, he might have been. You know, Rabs was a busy man.
66:40
Yeah.
66:40
He might have been running late. Yeah. He wanted to have something to eat before the broadcast. Yeah. There's the catering van. Who are these clowns? Get out of my bloody way. I've got to eat. Yeah.
66:48
You know what I mean? You know, and of course he would be worried about getting the call right. Yes. Yes.
66:53
All of that. All of that.
66:56
And we don't know what we'd like driving. I never have driven with Rabs. I've never had Rabs drive me about. I don't know what he'd like as a driver.
67:04
He might have been accurate but a bit heavy on the foot.
67:06
He could have been heavy on the foot. You know, ex-copper, he probably knows how to drive. He would have had great driving track, Max, probably still does.
67:14
Don't know.
67:16
We went for a drive with Herb Elliott, didn't we? Herb drove us around Homebush at one stage. He did, yeah.
67:21
He was a very good driver, Herb. Yeah, very careful.
67:24
Very careful driver, Herb.
67:26
Very good.
67:28
Driving is a skill.
67:29
It is a skill. Sorry, I'll just finish up with this, HG. Check out Ningan's recent Big Ball Monanza, family picking at its finest. This is Rob who sent this, Rob.
67:40
Now, the big boar bonanza in England, HG, I think we might have broken this story a couple of weeks ago.
67:46
6,000 feral pigs were put down in 60 hours.
67:51
Well, you did mention this.
67:52
You did, and someone else has sent in a photograph, and I think this is EJ has sent this. I thought it should follow up with my previous email regarding feral pigs on Kangaroo Island. It looks like a message is getting through to the rugby league world. As you can see from this story in the Courier Mail with Rochelle Mitchell, Josh Dugan and Tamir Martin all doing their bit to eradicate everything. We mentioned that last week. You broke that story. That was a lovely, lovely... Wonderful story.
68:19
Rugby league with a conscience.
68:20
Yes. And look, I thank all contributors this week.
68:26
The Payne Haas art prize for the best portrait of a player or TikTok effort with rugby league theme is on again. $250,000 is up for grabs in the Haas, the richest rugby league art prize in the world. Have a crack at the Haas, lodgers.
68:49
On The Bludge, on ABC local radio and ABC spot. Now.
68:54
Someone's suggesting, HG, that Coach Reynolds could jump out of a plane with a parachute with the game ball.
69:02
On grand final day.
69:04
That's an excellent suggestion. Isn't that a great idea? Excellent suggestion.
69:06
I tell you what, he'd be up for it.
69:08
Look, you know how we've got that Freddie's Olympics before the big dance, the start of the big dance? Yeah. You know, key players will be running on with their kitchen doors, lying down and putting the door over.
69:19
Trucks go over. Yeah. Yeah.
69:20
How about Reynolds leading the charge in the trucks?
69:23
Yes.
69:24
So he's out of the plane, game ball comes down, players run on, lie down, put the kitchen doors over them, and he comes in a monster truck. Beautiful. I mean, not a dry in the house.
69:36
No, that wouldn't be. Then my way with swims.
69:38
My way with swims. Oh, I can't get that image out of my head.
69:41
I know. Yeah.
69:45
Now, this week's been a very busy week for the Rugby League and ARL Commission boss Peter Volandis has continued his what's described here as NRL monopoly spending spree buying another Brisbane property in the codes march towards billion dollars in assets.
70:02
Now, people who follow rugby league will know that for some reason the code fell into a heap in the COVID period and it looked as though it may go under. I'm not sure how realistic that was or how close to the edge it was, but now what they're doing is shoring up.
70:18
their assets by buying hotel after hotel after hotel.
70:24
This week, it's the ARL's seventh property purchase in four-year buying blitz that is set to see the NRL's asset base grow from north of $500 million on the eve of this year's final. So that's an incredible amount, incredible amount. They bought this week as well the Queensland Rugby League headquarters, which is right alongside that school of philosophy that you're talking about.
70:48
Ah, okay.
70:49
Now, last month, the NRL ramped up talks on the game's greatest real estate investment yet with a 400-room hotel at Sydney's Walleye Creek in a pinning acquisition worth about $115 million. I've got no idea where the 400-room hotel in Walleye Creek is, but that just gives you an idea of my ignorance.
71:06
Has it been built yet, HG, or can you buy it off the plan? No.
71:13
I've got to be honest here, I assume it's built.
71:15
Right.
71:16
But I'll have to do further inquiries about that.
71:17
Yeah, right. Okay.
71:18
Now, the Volandis, a trained accountant, has stepped up. I didn't realise that. He's a trained accountant. Has stepped up as the code's empire securing in the Milton building in the famous Lane Park precinct. Mentioned that. Now, NRL's newly minted $5.3 billion has given the code fiscal muscle to buy more properties to ensure the rugby league never goes broke after the bankruptcy crisis, as mentioned. Mm-hmm. He said, yes, we bought the Queensland Rugby League building, so that's another asset.
71:49
It's been in the works for a couple of months, but we've exchanged contracts, so it'll all go through next week, you know, everybody agreeing to it. It's a good return on investment on the building, so why pay rent when we can have our own assets?
72:02
We come to this thing of the QRL, at least the premises now, the NRL's property in Queensland and first began in 2022 when they bought the Gambaro Hotel, which has been renamed the Beetson Hotel after obviously Maroon's and East legend, Arthur Beetson. Now this raises a question of renaming all their hotels. I'll give you an idea of what they own at the moment as I understand it. There's the Beetson Hotel.
72:29
There's Quest Hotel Woolaware, I knew about this one, which I'd love to think was renamed the Sparkles Magaw.
72:36
Okay, yeah, that's good.
72:37
After a famous shark player. Yeah, yeah. Then he's got the Mercure Sunshine Coast at Kwanana Waters. Now, I've got no idea where we go here. No.
72:48
You'd have to be a Titans or a Gold Coast player, wouldn't you?
72:51
Yes, exactly, yes. Oh, there'd be plenty of those. Yeah, or Dez Hasler for the sake of the argument. Well, yeah, the Dez, that's not bad. Now, Mantra Terrace, Brisbane, Ibis-style Port Macquarie, that was purchased late in 24 for a $38 million, and the unnamed Sydney Hotel currently under contract for a $100 million purchase. Now... I'm just wondering if it would be possible to maybe make some suggestions. Would you like to see the NRL buy one of the big casinos like Star City?
73:22
I would. You know, because Star City's having a bit of a run of outs. I know it does.
73:28
It needs new management.
73:30
Firm management. It does. And somebody on top saying, no, not that, no, don't put the money on the key card and all that sort of stuff. No, all those sort of things.
73:38
It does.
73:38
And I'm just wondering if they should spread their wings like Ulladulla. I think it's got some beautiful properties that need, you know, help. So buying the Ulladulla Hoemoe or the Marlin Ulladulla would be a terrific get for the rugby league.
73:52
Sure. And then... The Florida Hotel in Terrigal. Terrigal. That's got history and... That would be great to get that. It would, wouldn't it? These hotels, you may not know actually that the rugby league have purchased...
74:06
Do they come with poker machines? They would, yes.
74:09
That's what we're talking about here is let's not shy away from the issue is that we're buying poker machines, the NRL. That's great. Yes. That's great. And can I say the other thing that I think is really interesting is the Beetson and the name change. I'm just wondering if we could have a lend of names and maybe call it the, say, the Lord Beetson to give it a bit of gravitas. Mm-hmm.
74:29
as in the Duke of Beetson or something like that. I'm not suggesting that we have to change the name of the Beetson Hotel. No. I'm just saying in future, could we add a bit of gravitas if we're going to do name changes?
74:39
It might be possible to, I mean, what we're talking about here essentially is future-proofing the game, aren't we? Future-proofing the game, yeah. That's what it's all about. And I approve of that and I think all rugby league fans would approve of this, of this move.
74:52
But I'm wondering, say, with the Beats in a hotel, would it be worth approaching, say, someone like the Commonwealth Bank or Pepsi or Coca-Cola so it could be the Coca-Cola Beats in a hotel and you get a bit of money out of it? You know what I mean? I know. You monetise it that way.
75:06
Yes, yes, that's true. I think that's an excellent idea. Wouldn't you have go to a beer company, the Toohey's Beetson Hotel?
75:13
Yes, all right.
75:14
Yeah, sure, sure. I don't want to confuse the issue. No. I mean, the trouble is there's another story which I think we may not have the chance to get to today.
75:23
But, see, the Commonwealth Bank could put an ATM in.
75:26
Yes, that's right. And that would assist in all sorts of ways.
75:29
Yeah, that's right. That's right. That's right. And are you worried that buying a lot of hotels does send an odd message to the community?
75:37
Well, not really. Look, I don't know if now's the time, though, HG. I mean...
75:42
If we were advising – and we're not. We're not financial advisors. We're not. Discussing issues that they generate. That's it. But it seems to me, especially with perhaps another interest rate rise coming up in the second week of next month, that now is not the time to be – wait. I'd advise the NRL to sit on their hands for a little while just to see – Where this settles, I think real estate is going down. I mean, it's gone in some areas down 10%.
76:12
Well, it might drop 15%.
76:13
I understand where you're coming from.
76:15
So, like, the NRL's got to strike when the iron's hot, and I don't think the iron's hot yet.
76:21
And commercial properties.
76:22
And commercial properties are not worth anything at the moment.
76:25
Yeah, who knows? Who knows? It could go down 15%.
76:28
Yes, exactly, exactly.
76:30
One thing that worries me about this, can I just say... We go into the NRL and there must be a room in there which is an office there, probably a whole department called hotels department. It would be. Is it being centrally run and are they buying hundreds of thousands of cases of, say, emu lager because they've got so many hotels they can spread it into? Yeah. Is that how it works?
76:50
Well, I suppose so. You'd like to think so. You'd like to think that there's someone in control.
76:56
Or someone thinking through. Thinking through what the implications are.
77:00
Exactly. So you might be able to do a discount of, say, get the cans down to about two cents every can.
77:06
Yeah, maybe. Or every bottle or every keg. And are all of these hotels, I mean, are they twoies or tooths or reshes or what sort of hotels are they?
77:16
Are they all on the one page when it comes to what they're selling? I think that's what my... That's your point, isn't it?
77:22
You've got to be consistent in that regard.
77:24
Because. To get – to make – To maximize. Yeah, that's right. To maximize the economies of scale.
77:29
That's it.
77:30
That's it. So I'd hate to think that somehow the IBIS in Port Macquarie is on a different page to the Beetson, for instance. That would just be madness.
77:37
Yes, yes.
77:38
And how many do you think they should buy? I mean, I know this is a sort of a spitball question because if they bought 250 – Well, I think they've got –
77:46
I would be advising them to diversify, HG. What, car yards? We mentioned this program some time back. I was suggesting they get involved in nanodrone technology.
77:56
Now, I think that's the future.
77:59
The Australian Rugby League and the New South Wales Rugby League are appealing to all members of the public with information concerning the missing Gould inquiry report into the St George Leagues Club to come forward. All respondents will be treated with anonymity and respect by the AFP, the New South Wales Police and the Queensland Police. This is bludgeoning on the blind side.
78:39
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78:45
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78:55
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79:00
Terms and conditions apply. This is Bludging on the Blind Side.
79:07
I was going to say, actually, in terms of diversification, I mean, rare earths is something that Rugby Lee could get involved in as well. I mean, that's going to be worth a fortune down the track. And we have abundant rare earths in Australia.
79:20
And we have rare earths that aren't even classified rare earths. Yeah.
79:24
And what would be great is in the off-season if we could send out exploration teams who might be able to find deposits which are then exploited during the rugby league season, say, you know, as a training venue. Sure. Sort of jobs beyond playing and stuff like that. It would be great to get Pathways Fittler involved.
79:44
Indeed. Indeed.
79:45
Digging up the nation.
79:46
And there's money to be made in online gambling.
79:51
Now...
79:53
Would it be possible for the NRL to set up its own NRL bet company?
79:57
I don't see any reason why it can't.
79:59
No.
80:00
There's just the image problem that made people might think, well, it's a bit... Rum, if that's a word. Oh, okay.
80:06
They would perceive a conflict of interest. I can't see any conflict of interest.
80:09
What, you're running the organisation? How silly of me. You know what I mean? Yeah, it happens every day of the week.
80:14
Yes. I mean, and then you're covering all sorts of bases, aren't you? It's a rare earth. You've got your rare earths, you've got your poker machines, you've got your hotels.
80:22
And don't tell me there wouldn't be a crossover between... rare earth drones.
80:28
Oh, that nanotechnology would require rare earth, I imagine. And once you get that sort of nanotechnology into funding, who knows where it's going to go?
80:40
Well, gee, I hadn't thought of that. I hadn't thought of that. I was just seeing it as a defensive thing.
80:45
Oh, no, I think there's entertainment in Red River.
80:47
Yeah, well, there may well be.
80:49
Yeah. Yeah, okay.
80:50
And housing, of course. I mean, why couldn't the rugby league build a suburb?
80:57
Well, I think we've been in the forefront of this. The suburb of Cronk, which we've talked about quite a lot over the years, is still possible.
81:05
Affordable housing for rugby league families.
81:08
That's what we're looking at, isn't it?
81:12
We certainly are. Now, can I just raise a question with you concerning endorsements of people, rugby league players, who will be playing their trade in the Pirate area, in the P&G. Oh, yes. Two things here.
81:27
I am worried that this is going to get wildly out of control, these endorsements, because it's offshore, because you can beam these ads back into Australia on any number of networks and platforms and stuff. So it will escape the NRL's ability to control it.
81:44
Unless they're canny in this. So what happens is he refers to the Jerome Luai situation. Now, so Jerome Luai is still playing, as I understand it, one or two more matches with the Tigers. Yes. Before he goes to Parramatta for a – For a season. Yeah, a season, a sabbatical. Yeah. A gap year down at Parramatta. Before then he goes up to the PNG Pirates. Mm-hmm. But he's already signed on as a, I'm not quite sure what you're describing, as an ambassador, as the face of, as the main spokesperson for Pepsi Cola Company.
82:19
Really? And so this means that Pepsi has a great leg up in the Pacifica area with the Jerome Luai badge soft drink.
82:28
Wow. Wow.
82:30
Well, that'd have to be worth a bit for him, wouldn't it? My thinking is it's worth more than what he's getting paid for from the pirates, and that disappoints me. Okay. Okay.
82:38
Because it's something that- But it opens up a lot for other players as well. Who else is going?
82:42
And is it exclusive to Pirate Players, HG, these sorts of endorsements?
82:48
As I understand it, third party is much more, and people will know this better than me, third party arrangements are much looser if you're up in the Papua New Guinea highlands than they are, say, in the- Well, that's another lure, isn't it? A lure, yeah. So these things come with a lot of- Yes. You know, moolah. They do.
83:09
Well, how exciting for, I mean, it's been years since I've had Pepsi-Cola. Is it the same as it used to be? Have they changed the recipe at all or is it still great?
83:19
I think you can go with the idea it's still great, even though I haven't tasted it in a similar amount of time.
83:27
And I've never liked these two, I've got to be honest with you. No, true. Woodruff's Lemonade, on the other hand.
83:32
Well, I'm wondering, with Luai, you know, the face of Pepsi, are we going to think, ooh, you and I, when we're out and about, thinking, oh, God.
83:41
Let's go with a Pepsi.
83:43
You know what I mean? Well, if Louie's thinking. See, instead of saying rum and coke, we might say rum and Pepsi. Rum and Pepsi, yeah. Barkeep.
83:52
So, Luai, one-year stopgap in Parramatta, as discussed, imagine how the yields feel now, knowing more P&G companies will seek to partner with their 5.8 as the excitement builds before the Chiefs' entry into the competition in 2028. But what can the NRL really do to stop the Chiefs slash Pirates recruits being paraded by local companies while they're still playing for Australian clubs? I mean, that's where I come down hard and say this is just out of control. It's nuts.
84:19
Yeah.
84:20
And relying on people to do, I mean, rugby league players, to do the right thing, well, forget it.
84:27
They've got families, they've got car payments, they're buying houses here, they're, you know, in camp under there, they're thrilled to bits they have no tax.
84:34
No.
84:35
No, they've got Bunny's Island there. It's got everything you need. Yeah. But is he limited with Lou IHG? Could he also accept, say, Western Star Butter?
84:45
Of course he could. Could he become the face of Western Star Butter?
84:49
The controls on that sort of stuff aren't the same in the rarefied area of PNG as they are here. Indeed.
84:56
What happens if he wants to go into bat for Kia?
85:00
Well, there's nothing to stop him. Exactly. So he could be the face of Kia, Western Star Butter and Pepsi. That's not a bad combination, is it?
85:11
Fantastic. I'd love to see the star butter at.
85:14
Now, clubs are already on edge about the Chiefs because of the tax incentives. Players coming off contract are quickly linked to the franchise, and there is a sense of urgency to get an answer of their intentions because of the threat up north locally. Luai will receive $1.2 million in tax-free wages each year and stand to make as much as $3 million in third-party deals. Whoa. But that must be...
85:39
annually, I would think, the $3 million. Yeah. Because these deals run because he's a rugby league player.
85:47
Yeah.
85:48
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now... But, I mean, whatever deal that Luai has with Pepsi, I mean, that's up to him.
85:56
I mean, the rugby league's not going to be privy to what's going on there. That's right.
86:01
It's none of their business, is it? Wow.
86:05
Is it?
86:06
Well, lawyers would be...
86:08
All of a sudden, as I keep pointing out, is that this whole thing breaks the concept of a salary cap big time because each – the majority of clubs are under one set of rules, then there's another set of rules, then the Western Bears, blah-de-blah-de-blah. But where I got interested was, Louie signed the Chiefs, or Pirates, Tigers legend Benny Elias declared he should have been, I never thought I'd say that, or Benny Elias, declared he should have been dropped immediately and the club's younger players given a run. Now, I agree with that, that all of a sudden it's this complex thing of he's the face of Pepsi playing the last couple of matches with Tigers and then he's off to Yeah.
86:47
When does he officially become the face of Pepsi HG? Is that going to happen while he's at Parramatta or does it wait until he gets to Moresby?
86:54
No. Photo looks as though it's here. He's an ambassador at the moment. Already? Yeah. Asked yesterday about Luai's Pepsi deal, Elias said, I wish Jerome well. I really do. He's doing the best thing for his family and himself, but he had a vision to turn us around, that's meaning the Tigers, and get us to the top of the ladder. That's what he sold them on. Yeah. Employ me and I'll get you to the top of the ladder. Yeah. Look how that's worked out. And we're still towards the bottom. The moment the board allowed him to visit PNG was the beginning of the end. He's come back.
87:24
It was a circus. It's still a circus. And this is a disastrous finale. That's the door talking.
87:30
Yeah. It's not often we agree with the door. No. Backdoor Benny. But I'll tell you what, he's right on the money there, isn't he? He is. I mean, Luai hasn't been the best investment for West Tigers, you'd have to think. But it may be a fantastic investment for Pepsi. Yeah.
87:47
The annual Rugby League Speed Eatathon is on again. Stars from every club sit down and shovel it in for 24 hours straight before they step on the scales to see who has gained the most weight. It's old-fashioned Aussie excitement for all the family and sponsored by Bludgeoning on the Blind Side.
88:14
Funny how things go, but the hosting of the World Cup this year has had a big impact across sport generally, and in particular in golf. Now, golf month, as we know, is on now, and this amazing change to their organisation of their competition.
88:31
In an audacious move, the tourists decided to stage a fortnight of match play. Whoa. This is to cover the PGA, you know, decision-making process. Much like the World Cup, The first week we'll see 32 players who qualify through the tour's season-long points list take their place in eight groups of four in which they will play each other in a round-robin competition. Oh, I'm liking this. The top two in each group advance to the knockout stages, which will begin the following week at a separate course.
89:05
Mm-hmm.
89:06
Thursday will feature the last 16, Friday the quarters, Saturday the semis, and the Sunday the final. It sounds complicated until you think about it along the lines of, say, how Spain won the World Cup just a few weeks ago.
89:21
The boss, Brian Rollap, detailed that the changes were developed by the tour's future competition committee, a nine-member group chaired by, wait for it, the man they called Tiger, Tiger Woods.
89:33
Right.
89:34
So he's got a job there. We're creating something different, something distinct with a professional goal that can resonate far beyond it. It'll be gruelling, challenging, an interesting way to cap off our season. So this is the PGA. Can you see how this works? All the players are playing.
89:49
Well, it sounds fantastic. Would it be a shotgun start?
89:51
Oh, a shotgun start, without a doubt. They'll all be out there, you know, scattered around the course.
89:55
Yeah, and then bang. Yeah, off they go. Off they go, yeah. Wow.
90:00
Well, that sounds fantastic. Look, everyone loves – who doesn't love match play? We all love match play.
90:07
When I think of match play, I think of, say, Nick Faldo turning the U.S. Masters into a match play when he and the shark got together.
90:17
Until the brain went banged. Well, that's right. But that's what happens in match play. Yes. Yes.
90:22
Yes. It's as much, you know, creating a device, a psychological device to put into the brain of your opponent as much as it is, you know, hitting the ball onto the green.
90:32
But what happens if you score, say, four under and that's a leaderboard and you're playing group three?
90:38
No, forget the leaderboard. Leaderboard becomes meaningless. All you're doing is playing whoever. Against the other. Against the other people in your group. That's what match play is about. It's me and you and those two clowns. Yeah. Whoever's going to come out on top. Only two of us are going to make it. So if the score.
90:55
It's just a bit disappointing or arguably a bit disappointing for people who turn up on the final day because you're only going to see two people play. Mm-hmm.
91:02
No, but they'll be the champions. But it'll be great. And the runner-up.
91:05
Yeah.
91:06
And, of course, overlooking this, it doesn't matter that if the scores are 91, 93, 96, and 97, with great rounds, obviously, a bit over par, but the 91-person wins. Wins. And the 93 comes second.
91:20
That's right. Doesn't matter. That's right. I mean, it's an exciting development, though, isn't it? It is. They're thinking. They're thinking. And with Tiger Woods, the medical Tiger Woods, in control, you can imagine this could go anywhere. I mean, he's very much a side, what I call a sideways thinker, isn't he?
91:38
And what golf needs is a little bit of sideways thinking. I mean, Liv tried it. I mean, the shark tried it with Liv.
91:44
Yeah.
91:45
You know, and that's arguably, well, it's only been successful once, isn't it, in Adelaide?
91:51
It's just rubbish everywhere else, but in Adelaide it's great. And that's largely due to the party hole.
91:55
Yeah, I know.
91:56
But if we can get more party holes, I mean, I've been, you know, arguing this for years now, if we could have 18 party holes. We're there. We're there. You know, match play plus party hole, that's your sideways thinking in a nutshell, isn't it?
92:13
Yeah.
92:14
Well, I just hope the party hole isn't lost in this revamp. No. Because people love to go with their mates, get in the course early, often an early opening situation. By the time the first people have teed off in the shotgun, bang, all of a sudden people are waking up.
92:31
They are.
92:31
And then they see the best in the world.
92:34
They do. What about a series of portable kitchens?
92:37
you know, placed strategically around the 18 holes.
92:41
I mean, that's when you get accidental and, you know, party holes. Party holes can just go off in a way that's unpredictable.
92:48
And, of course, they welcome back some people from the Liv organisation, but they have to pay five million US in fines to rejoin.
92:58
This is the PGA. So they got Rahm, DeChambeau and Cameron Smith. Well, they were offered the same terms but declined.
93:05
Well, that's just chump change, isn't it, really, for these players? Because they paid hundreds of millions.
93:10
I know. I know. I know. Hundreds of millions. And on that delightful note, it's almost time to pack up the blind side for one week. But there's so much we haven't got through this week.
93:18
But were you confirming there, A.C., that Rahm and Cameron Smith, et cetera, are not going to rejoin the PGA?
93:24
They appear to have declined the one-day offer.
93:27
Ah.
93:27
I'm not sure what's happened. They'll have to go and do some research, as all of us will. Blindside will be back, and we'll start the final round. It'll be next weekend, I think, and we'll be there covering it. So it'll be a fantastic day to join us. Join us then for more Blindside on ABC Local Sport and ABC Local Radio.
93:52
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