Does More Money Make Better Footballers?

0:00Kia ora, I'm Madison Bartlett and I play for the Canva Raider. Hi, it's Yasmin Mikes from the Newcastle 9. Hey, it's Katy Rae from the NRW Dragon's team and you're listening to the NRW Weekly Podcast. Yay! Hey guys, it's Kennedy Charrerton here from the Parramatta Eels NRW side and you're listening to the NRW Weekly Podcast. Oh! Hello and welcome back to the NRW Weekly Podcast with me, Side Line I, and NRW Superfan Mali Silva, and you, Ruan Simms, absolute legend of the game. On the show today, round 10 of the NRW gave us a thriller across the ditch, three games besides scoring over 50 points and a field goal upset to round us out. The women's game just keeps getting better and better and with one more round in the regular season to go, we will give you a big preview of Round 11 at the end of the show, but Rue, how about the amount of tries we saw scored on the weekend? I know, so many tries. I wish it was still judge a lie.

1:00Yeah, many points and the amount of tries that we saw over the weekend, but yeah, there was some big scorelines and I think probably the one that stands out the most is the Titans holding the Tigers to zero. And I'm sure Karen Murphy would have been impressed with the amount of points they scored, but the fact that they kept their opposition to zero is a really big mental step in the lead up to finals. Absolutely, what did I say? Defence wins Premier Schews at the end of the day. It's all right, Rue. You're three, two, one this week. This was really difficult this week because there were huge performances across the park. I'm going to give three points to Jamie Chapman. I thought she was absolutely fantastic on that left edge back. I think she had a week off the week before. So having a week off is obviously refresher, it's helped. And she was back into scintillating form. So she gets my three points. I'm giving two points to Jocelyn Keller, her five tries this on the weekend. And obviously the kicking, the goal kicking is incredible as well.

2:04So three points for her, two points for her, sorry. Sorry, I think that's the second game this year. She's had five tries this. Yeah, absolutely. Crazy. Just killing it. And one point to Taylor Predabon. Yeah. Three tries as a front rower. That's pretty awesome. So it was a difficult week though, because also I have an honourable mention for Timmy Gupton, who was really strong out the back for the Broncos. And I think we really saw her leadership when things were going south. She ripped into her team and was like, let's be better. And then she went out there and led with her actions as well. She didn't just let her words do the talking. So yeah, she's an honourable mention this week. Hard to miss. One of the greats of that. Right, okay. I also hear you've got another deja rue for us. Our favourite segment from the new segment of 2016. Yeah, and it was funny because at first, the first deja rue, we came up with a name, which was awesome. But then after that, I was like, oh no, now I'm going to back it up. But this week, there were a couple of options. But the one I've gone with this week was Andy Robinson's tackle on Lucy Spain.

3:07Reminded me of 2003 Grand Final, Scott Satler. Just chasing the winger down. And even the tackle style was quite similar. Just the way they rolled them into touch. You're having a look at the footage now. And it was pretty great. It was pretty good. And then I do have one mention. An honourable mention for deja rue. Oh wow, you've even got a lot of revolutions. I have a backup. I have a backup. Because you know I can run out with this. Yeah, I love it. I love it. I had a backup as well. Because Montana Clifford came in for a shot. I kind of remember who it was on now. Maybe Lily and Yara. And absolutely chopped her at the legs. And even during the call, Joey and I were talking about it. That's Trevor Gilmourster. That's Axe Business. And she stood on Axe Business in that tackle. So I got a couple of dejaries. Hopefully we'll get a clip for that too. But yeah, Andy Robinson. Very deja rue of the Scott Satler. And it's such an iconic tackle in Anorolle history. And both saved a try. Because they were running away to school. Lucy Spain was going to score more money.

4:08She wasn't far from the line there. It was very, very impressive. Well done to Andy. Alrighty, we're, I've got a couple of big questions that sort of popped up in my brain after this round. I think in particular, you already mentioned that 58 to Nill win by the Titans. I think it's the highest in their Anorolle W history. But on the flip side, obviously a tough one for the Tigers. And I think, I mean, you know, not to take anything away from how good the Titans were. But there was a lot of injuries that they faced. Caitlin Turnbull was a laid out. I think she will be back this week. It was a foot injury. But Faith Manera really concerning signs. Not just concerning, it's an ACL. So they've confirmed? Yeah, it's been confirmed as an ACL. I actually just text to get her number today. So I want to touch base with her because that's rough. She was having the season of a life, 100 for her. She was absolutely killing it. And yeah, that was hard. As well, like you spoke about the, even before the game, it was unsettled for the Tigers.

5:10And it was always going to be an uphill battle. And then in-game, getting a couple of injuries as well. Like, has he not been able to continue? That is always going to make it really, really tough. But right from the start, I mean, the Titans were up for that game. But, Jair, just to have those couple of injuries, people playing out of position, yeah, that was, it was a tough one for the West Tigers. Yeah, well, obviously it's difficult, I mean, so many teams have faced a lot of these injuries this year. But obviously the Tigers have been the storyline that we've talked about throughout the season, their ability to really find some form after a difficult last year. My question becomes off the back of some of these injuries. Obviously that means Faith Manera won't be back. I think there's a question mark about Kesey. She's been named, yeah. But whether she takes the field or not, I'm not sure. But she's been named now. And they've got up until 24 hours. Yeah. Change. How do you think that this potentially impacts

6:12what the Tigers are going to look like coming into finals next week? I don't want to get too far ahead because they've still got to play the Raiders this weekend. And the Tigers are in the finals. The Raiders are hunting. They lost on Sunday in a game that we all thought they should have won in Kudos to the eels. Yeah. Because also, I had, Rory Owen was also in my mind as an honorable mention. She was great. Rachel Pearson obviously kicking the field goal at the end to get the win. And having someone in a sin bin for 10 minutes is always going to be difficult. Against a team that was on fire like the eels. But yeah, they need to get through this week first. And they need to get their confidence back on track. Up against the Raiders. And the Raiders are going to be hungry because they will be furious that they lost that game at home. Yeah. And it was a winnable game for them. So they'll be looking to hunt because they want to be playing finals and playing well coming into finals. So it'll be a, yeah. The Tigers just need to get their confidence back. Yeah. And back on a even kill. Well, speaking of that game, my next question for you was,

7:15if Paramata had started the season at full strength with all their big signings that, you know, we're injured and missed those first couple of weeks, do you think it could have been a different story for them this year? Because they found some really, really exciting wins. Yeah, absolutely. And yeah, probably they could have. They could have. And it's, it's easy to say that now, but hindsight's always 2020. But they played the season that they've had. Yeah. They've had some good wins when they have had full strength. So that will give them a lot of confidence going in to 2027. But yeah, it'll just be a matter of making sure that they've got that depth there going forward. And yeah, the players that they brought in were playing like, we already have one's been killing it as well. I have to say. And getting her early ball is really key to the way that they can generate either momentum or score points she can create something out of nothing. So yeah, it could have been a very different story for the Paramata Eagles this year, but they've played what they've had. And like you said, they've had some good wins when they've been full strength. So that will give them a lot of confidence. Yeah, and I guess my hope for them, I'm just not proving to it off the top of my head,

8:18you know, who signed for next year or whatever. I'd love them to be able to hold most of their side as it is. Because we do feel there's that good mix of quite experienced girls and some young ones coming through and sort of those, um, a couple of players like you mentioned, like a Roryo and who's been around for a couple of years now who's just, you know, really fighting that confidence every week. It would be nice to see them be able to hold on to that. Yeah, definitely. And I think also when you look at, you know, Rachel Pearson and Cassie Tohihiku, also starting to find how they work well together. And that will be key for them going forward. Obviously, Ratnist again, also with HAA. Yeah. So more time for her and Cassie together will be really good that off season. Yeah. Now I have a question that has just been bubbling around in my head. I think potentially because I'm a little bit fired up with all the, the rubbish that's been spoken about Shark Park, right? In the lead up to the men's final. Trust me, there's a, it sounds like a long bow to draw the vote. I think I'm only going with it. So there was obviously a decision made in the men's finals for the sharks men to play at

9:22Alley Arts. I think it's really good for the sharks women that they're going to have that amazing vibe for a double header just quietly. But it was talking about the venue not quite being right and not being a big crowd for a final, blah, blah, blah, blah. So in week one of the NRLW finals structure, places one and two on the ladder get the week off. And then we have three V6 and four V5. I'm wondering what your thoughts would be on doing a double header finals festival vibe. I would love that. I think before you even finish. Before you even finish, that would be amazing. However, are you then taking away the home advantage for who finishes higher on the ladder? Yeah. So this is where that balancing act is really important because for me, I genuinely feel like a double header will have, will get more people, more bums on seats. And if the NRL does it well, where they engage the two home, all the teams that had home advantages, engage them with their fair engagement at the field,

10:26so create a real festival vibe and make a big day of it would be amazing. But I don't know how they would feel about losing, being able to play at their home, being in their homesheds. Because then you'd have to really have a genuine venue which is no one's home venue. That is playing that day, which is doable, totally. But yeah, that would be the only, but I love the idea of what it's like. You think about how good Magic Round is. Exactly. Exactly. And the vibe around Magic Round is, yeah, to be the same. And I think it would be in the hands of the clubs themselves to engage those home, fair bases. So, you know, Raiders and Knights, putting, say if it was in Sydney, the game, right? Yeah. Obviously, the Broncos will be playing in blah, blah, blah. But, you know, you'd have to get those two clubs to put on buses and, and, you know, bring their members down and whatever, and like do this real big hype around it.

11:26I just think I totally understand from a player perspective, to place higher, you do that because you want that home ground event. Yeah. Or, I mean, you do that because you want to be at the top. But that home ground event is really important. But I think potentially just because of the way that the NRLW finals are structured as it stands, I don't think this would be a forever thing, but maybe just for the next couple of years. Well, the teams that get the greatest advantage are places one and two because the following week they have their home games and whatever, and if it was like from three to six, we do it like this purely because it's going to look great for BrawlCast, it's going to fill out a stadium. I mean, I think it's obviously a Broncos home ground, but I think it's totally a work with a stadium. It is a perfect venue. Something like that could be, could be awesome. I just think it would be great because at this time of the year, there's so many people who want to be able to go to a finals game. It's very expensive to go, particularly to a men's finals game. So imagine if you could take the kids, you could take your 42.

12:28And make a day of it and you get two games of the finals. Yeah, two finals games. Two finals games. And elimination games that are really high stakes. I know the girls might not love that, but I think the vibe would be, I think it'd be really good for the game. Yeah, the vibe would be amazing. But like I said, I mean, if we're saying we're going to put it in a neutral venue, but the Broncos still have to travel. True. They still got to come down to Sydney. Yeah. So they don't get the home advantage of not having to travel and being at the home side. So that's where I think it might be an issue. But it could be something that they look at maybe doing next year. And just, but set it early. Set the expectation early, so no going into it, that this is what's going to happen. It's not just a spur of the moment decision. I plan for it, make all the clubs aware of it, get their feedback on it and say, what do you think? And the clubs might surprise us or go, yeah, yeah, I will love that idea, because we know ahead of time that we can plan. Yes. And our fans can plan for travel.

13:29So yeah, love the idea of it. Cool. But I think it might be too soon to pull the trigger on it for this year, because it hasn't already been floated. But the vibe of it would be amazing. Yeah. It would just be losing that home field advantage. Might be a bit tough to sell. I'm thinking like a TV presenter, though, because I'm going, we'd have a full load. B, which is that we're all out here. And the desk is out there and it looks amazing. And you'll be sunning yourself. Well, it's me running around with all the fans. You know, that's what I'd be doing in the crowd with all the fans, best face paint, best signs, the whole life. So that's what I would personally like. But I don't have to play the game at regular age, so that's where my finger comes from. And, Rue, I've got a bit of what caught my sideline. Oh, please tell me. Well, look, maybe it is because it's this time of year. And, you know, I got to the studio before you today. So that's the first time that's happened all year. I'm finally like in the zone. I think we were talking about me peaking at the right time. Yeah. Maybe I'm into finals. Taking all the knowledge I learned and all the...

14:30And you clap to start us off to get to see how it goes. Well, I'm glad that got into it. I'm glad you mentioned it. I was going to talk about it. I didn't want to brag. But I watch, you know, people like yourself, all my amazing colleagues. I'm always looking to learn and then to grow. And my sideline eye today is a little bit of a spicy one. And it's one that's inspired by the passion and the incredible television. We see every Monday night on 100% 40. Now, in this studio, after us today, we'll have Gus Guld and Matthew Thompson in here doing six tackles with Gus. And I'm a little bit inspired by Gus today. Because I also highly disagree with him on something. And that's what I want to talk about. So this is me getting fired up, right? That was a very bulldog. Yes. Well, you know, it's there. It's the dogs of war. But I think it was a really interesting discussion that was had on 100% 40 on Monday night. And it was a clip that went around on social media that I watched a couple of times that I just couldn't stop thinking about. So in a discussion that he had with Millie Elliott on the desk, he said

15:35they were talking about pay parity for NRW players. It's obviously always a big discussion that comes up every single year around the growth of the women's game. And he said, paying people more money doesn't make them better footballers. Millie handled the answer and the discussion in that. And I think like such a professional, amazing way that completely explained some of that argument. But she did say totally, I totally agree with that. But this is what can help someone become a better footballer. That does involve money. Paying coaches full-time, paying staff full-time, making sure those pathways are really strong, which is everything that the roosters do. And I think so much of the reason that conversations like that blow up on social media is because there's a lot of people who kind of are very jealous of what the roosters have been able to do. So they get fired up, right? But I would say I completely disagree with that. That earning more money does make you a better footballer in the context of women's sport. It's obviously different when it comes to the men's game.

16:36There's that argument of like, yes, this player got offered a million dollars to go to. This club that doesn't automatically make them a dally in winter. But in the women's game, we're talking about going from part-time to full-time. Yeah, so I understand the fire. I get it. And in a vacuum, yeah, correct, you can't just give more money and expect a result. But what money does is takes you from being a part-time athlete to a full-time athlete, which means that you're able to engage with your strength and conditioning more, you're able to engage with your medical more. It becomes a full-time job. You've got more time to actually apply yourself to the game, being a student of the game, learning, being more. That's just from a player perspective. But for me, it's the investment. It's significant investment in pathways is really important. Significant investment in your program is really important. Investment in your coaching and your strength and conditioning and your physio, all of that stuff. Nutritionists. Investment in the program and in particularly pathways into the program

17:41will yield significant results. And when the women's game, the women's game has gone from playing three games plus a grand final to now having a 16 final series. And it's going to grow again in two years time, come 20, 28. When it becomes full-time, it's already had this kind of a steep growth. When it goes full-time, it'll be even steeper. Because this is their job now. Totally. If you have a livable wage for your role, you're not having to split your attention, totally. I do think that you will get better if you are able to really commit yourself to your craft. For 12 months of the year or 11 months of the year, plus four weeks holiday, whatever it is that you get. 100%. So, yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm glad you've completely validate my perspective. Because I do think, I don't like this is obviously a bit tongue-in-cheek, because that's obviously not what Gus met. But I think it's actually really important to say that earning a livable wage, earning more money, does enable you to be a better athlete.

18:44It enables you to apply yourself to your craft to become better. But what he did say in that, even the way he said it, it wasn't said to generate outrage or anything, he was just saying, just paying people more is not enough. So, when I listened to it, that's what I took out of it. You know what I'm trying to get clickbait. Oh, so let me do that, Ruth. I'm trying to get us good views. This is what it is. This is what I mean. I've watched 100% before you're now. Right? This is what we need to do. Okay, right. I understood what Gus was saying. Yeah, yeah. But you know what I mean? Like, people, that little clip goes up for 20 seconds. Yeah. That's what people are going to do. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And this is the thing. Like, because even when I watched it, because I had also been contacted about it, and I was like, well, even the way he said it, was not in any way trying to generate outrage in the machine. I know. But in a vacuum, correct. You can't just give more money and go, okay, if you gave one money right now, it doesn't help. Yeah. Because you don't have the investment in pathways, or it needs to be more and development and all that sort of stuff.

19:44So it is, I felt like he was just trying to generate a whole picture discussion. Oh totally. But yeah, I love the idea of trying to get the clickbait. Yeah, I know. This is, see, I'm trying to think. I'm trying to think. But can I just say this? I mean, obviously, I'm someone who works in media. It's the same as... So you're telling me to stop being so level with my approach? Is that what you're asking? I'm just trying to, you know, spice it up a little bit. Okay, it was trying to get the fire going. Okay. Yeah. We're very like... Friends with everyone happy, go live here. And I just want to start with a little bit of life. But also, yeah, I get it. I get it. But I also feel like... We need to make sure that we provide a level approach to a lot of themes. Of course, yes. Because there are situations are nuanced and there's a lot to a lot of situations in rugby leagues. So there's a lot that builds into it. Yeah. But yeah, I like it. I like it. Well, my comparison was just going to be, it's the same as when you're a journalist starting out. You do an unpaid internship or you do, you know,

20:44a lot of small roles where you earn, you know, hardly enough money to buy your coffee on your way to work or whatever. But you do that up until you've proven yourself. And I think that's where the women's game is hit. Yeah, yeah. It's a lot of point. I don't think the NRELW needs to prove itself anymore. That's what I mean. It's made... It's very clear that it has great capacity for growth. It's got great capacity for return on investment. Okay. And that's where sometimes you just need to really... Someone or people with big views and the willingness to do it for things to work. I mean, I will go all the way back to 10 years ago, 2016 with the sharks. So we wanted to have an NRELW competition. And it wasn't in the cards right then and there. So we just went out and said, all right, let's get three other clubs. And we got dragons and nights and the rabbit. I said, like, let's do a nice one and let's play. And then off the back of that, people got really excited. Like NRELW was always in the workings

21:47from the NREL's perspective, but it was accelerated because you see, people were interested in it. They wanted to see more of it and it grows. And I feel like it's very clear how fast the NRELW has grown. Yeah. But it is important that we have all of that support structure in place to ensure that we are supporting and encouraging more growth. You know, and that starts in making sure that we've got, like you've spoken about, pathways are invested in, support structures in the clubland are invested in, because clubs get grants from the NREL for salary cap. And then separately also for the structure of their NRELW team. But clubs need to start doing or having a look at say, what the roosters do well, what the Broncos do well, what the Titans are doing well, what are they doing extra to make their program be successful? Yes. And have a little deep dive into that and see if that's something that your club can do. Exactly. See? That's what you've got to do. All right.

22:47Just have a look. Just have a look. All right. Just have a look. Yeah, I make it sound so easy. I know it's not that easy. But sometimes it just takes a brave approach. Completely. I completely agree. And I think. And dive and leaning into that fear of maybe it not getting the return that you're after in the first five to seven years or whatever. It's a lot of work. But yeah, look at what you want it to look like in 10 years of time and look at maybe 10 years as your short term plan. And work for me. All right. Let's preview our final round of the NRLW regular season. Can you believe it, Brew? And how good is this? We kick off on Thursday night. I know. A standalone game at Aliens, Roosters, and the Bulldogs. Yeah. This one is going to be a tough one for Bulldogs and Bulldogs fans because the roosters pretty much full strength. Jamie Frezard still out. But Tyna Novedi, who is Miss Fix at all, she can play anywhere, basically, is what we've discovered. So yeah, I feel like the roosters are going to get the job done

23:49very well. We'll finish with probably is the best NRLW team we've ever seen to date. They're foreign against will be phenomenal. Last year, I think it was the Broncos in the penultimate round finish with 288 points differential as well. That's an amazing game. Yeah, and the roosters are sitting there now. So they're both, yeah. And so we'll see what happens after this week against the Bulldogs. But I feel like it's going to be every tough final game for the dogs because the roosters will be looking to sharpen themselves, heading into having a week off. So that's why he's playing a full strength team. They've got a week off because they'll finish first. But yeah, this for me, yeah, the roosters. Yes, I think. Yeah. So we're going to be thinking about then Friday night. Look at, we have these like prime time slot. I know. So good. It's going to be a big one. Like I'd over, we've already mentioned this, this clash that's coming up. Tigers who are sitting fourth, Raiders who are sitting sixth.

24:50So my mental health is out for three weeks. Yeah. That's huge. That's huge. I, yeah, I was surprised it was that long. Considering we had seen that Brighenshire got three weeks for the throw tackle. So I was surprised that MIME got three weeks. However, I think it's because it was her third and subsequent offense. That's probably why it might have had some loading on top of it. But that's a really big loss for the Raiders because they'll miss her this week. They'll miss her. And then in a sudden death, suddenly the following. So everyone's going to have to really step up in this game. The Tigers named everyone except for Faith Manera. So Caitlin Turnbull's back. He's named Raque Horn in the center. Could you just have Achilles tightness in the warm up? I think that's what Raque was in the night. I didn't, wasn't sure whether it was because she had a car issue early in the season, whether it was that. Yeah, they were holding it as Achilles tightness. Yeah.

25:51And I think I remember Nicole Dunn, Nicole's there on the weekend, wasn't she? I think she had mentioned maybe that she was in tears. When it happened. So that's why I thought maybe it was the car for again. But anyway, they've known she's been named. Good signs. They'll be looking to really fight back after a really big loss at home. And this is their spiritual home, my cart. They'll be looking for a really big turnout. I just feel that the Raiders may have the role heading into this one. The Tigers are going to need an almighty performance. Because I just think the Raiders after losing by one being relatively healthy, they will be hunting for this one. So Raiders to upset the Tigers. And is this the final game at Lyca? Because it's going to be going under construction. It would have to be. Yeah. So this will be their final game at Lyca for a while. So yeah. Oh, that's almost game at the round. Yeah. It's right away. It has impact on finals. Totally.

26:51So the Raiders need to win to stay in the hunt. OK. Oh, I'm excited for that one. Saturday at midday, at a combat, paramata, and the cowboys. It'll be both of their last games of the season. But they'll be looking to go out with a bang paramata. Looking pretty good. Well, after their one point win on Sunday, I feel like they're coming into the game on a high, totally. And I just feel like the cowboys, obviously, Tileisha Harden, thank you so much for all you've done in the game. I'm being proud to play alongside you and what she play. And she's obviously retired. It's going to be a really tough one for the cows to travel down to Sydney for this one, because I feel like the eels are, like we spoke about earlier. The eels are really hitting their straps. And I think they'll be getting a lot of early ball to Rory Owen, and she'll be causing a lot of issues at the right edge defensive to the cowboys. I think the eels will get this one done at home. Yeah. And I have to say, I've been impressed with the way that the cowboys started was obviously not how they wanted four losses in a row.

27:52But they just were able to find that jelling with some really young players who are right at the beginning of their career. So they have some stuff to be proud of, this year. Absolutely. It's one of them. Yeah, definitely. I hope they can feel good about how they finish up. Later on Saturday, it's like I said, going to be a big crowd, because it is a double header before the elimination final of the sharks men at Allianz. It'll be the sharks versus the dragons. Yeah. Dragons, they held their gloves up. They did down at win stadium against the Broncos last week. I saw some great signs out of them. I just feel like the sharks traveling over to New Zealand. Finally, we finally saw, and when the Warriors made that come back, I was concerned thinking, are they going to show some steel or are they going to fall over? And they showed the steel. They fought back and then scored more tries.

28:52So I just feel that the sharks coming into this one will, especially with a crowd that will be very sharks heavy, because the men are playing as a double header. The sharks for me will get this. And they've named a really strong team. Everyone's back this week. Quincy Dodd was great for them again. Thank God. A fraction of the heels much quicker this year. Yeah, I know. And then, and Georgia, Hannahway was great off the bench. So you think the final bench is that great? I think we're finally, they're starting to play some good put. And it's good for them to play well for the last couple of games heading into the offseason. Yeah. Alrighty. Sunday morning, up in Brizzy, it'll be the Broncos taking on the Warriors, Warriors with everything to play for. Yeah. They do. They've got so much to play for. But I just have the feeling that the Broncos will not be happy with just getting over the line with the win last week, traveling down to Malalongal. They'll be looking to fix up with it. I think there was something like, I can't remember how many errors

29:53there were total in the game now, but at least six or seven of them were forward passes. And they will be looking at that and going, that is something we can fix very easily. That is an easy fix. So it's not stress around it, but they'll be like, we fix this up. We hang on, like we show some discipline with the footy and we are fine. And I think that they'll turn up with a really great attitude, playing at their favoured home ground, where they always get a huge crowd. The Broncos will win and I think they'll win well. Even though it'll be great to see Melo Haffonga back against their old side. Yeah, Gale Broughton returning, Nettano or Sala as well. It'll be great for them to see their old fans. And their old fans will probably be giving them a little bit of curry. But I just think the Broncos will turn up. And I'm hoping it's a really big crowd because, Brisbane, you don't have any finals footy in your town over the weekend. So you have to do that. That's your rugby league fix, alright? Yeah. And then our final game of the regular season, potentially a bit of finals preview.

30:59At some point, I don't know if that can work in terms of Lutter. But I actually was there last year when they had the final, I put McDonald's on a stadium, Nights hosting the Titans. And it was such a great clash. And so this is what we have again. But there are two very different positions on the Lutter. Yeah, definitely. And the Nights will be obviously looking to have a great run into finals because they will be playing again the following week, whereas the Titans will have the week off. So I don't know, I just feel like the Titans are on too much of a role for the Nights to stop them. But the Nights will be able to get a lot of good work into them so that making sure they go into the next week. With momentum. With momentum. But I just feel like the Titans will be too good. And I was just having a look before. They've named Tegan Leiborne. Yes, they have. Because they're worried about that facial fracture. Yeah, yeah. So they've named her. Because I thought that one was a failed HIA. Yeah, well, it must not have been. It must have just been that, because it was a cap-to.

32:01And then they just said she wasn't coming back. But it could have just been because of the fracture nose that she wasn't coming back. Because otherwise, they wouldn't be able to name her. No, yeah. So I think maybe we just got some misinformation on the sideline. Yeah, one, but our guys weren't given the right info. So yeah, because you can't name her if she's... It's an automatic 11-day stand-down. So that's great for the Titans. Yeah, absolutely. That it wasn't something I'd like. And then she gets next week off as well. Yeah. That's right. Yeah, I think the Titans will upset the Nights. OK. Is it an upset? They're sitting second. Is that an upset? Oh, no, I mean, it's in the Nights for a time. Oh, I'm sorry. OK, I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah. They will make the Nights upset at home. I'm sorry. It's going to be a great last round of the regular season. That's what we can absolutely guarantee. Make sure you turn it into all of those games. I mean, particularly Thursday night, nice stand-alone game. Friday afternoon, I'll be hosting for the first time. Oh, I am. So, please, I'm scared. No, it'll be fun. It'll be a great game as well.

33:03I think that this has been another incredible season of an event. We've seen so much skill. We've seen new names sort of make their mark. We've seen increased development completely in 12 months, less than 12 months, because they don't have... They start their preseason in end of May or June or something. So, it's... Yeah. I just look at it and I think, OK, how well they're moving with the short time frame they have. Let's look at extending that time frame. And making it full time in the next couple of years. And just watch how much the game grows off the back of that. Is it too much to ask you for a team of the year next week? Oh, God. Yeah. Yes, I can do that. But actual team list. So, not like that. No, hang on. 1 to 18. Plus 1 to 13. Or just 1 to 13 plus 1 interchange. Or plus a 4 interchange. I'm going to let you have the 4 interchange, because I know you couldn't do less than that. I know you're well and after that.

34:04OK. Make sure you tune in for that next week. Thank you for listening to the NRLW Weekly podcast with Marley Silver and Ruon Sims. Make sure you're hitting subscribe. We're every listening. Drop us your questions. We're going to have a big finals preview next week. And Bruce team of the year. We'll see you then.