Round 2 QnA From the Ru Crew

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1:08Let me know down the score, we've got this very well, this very well. He's got the fantastic, he's got the fantastic, he's got the brilliant, he's got it from as I said, a captain to a legend and probably a rugby league in the calendar. G'day guys, welcome back to the rugby league guru podcast. Just got a bit of spare time before we head in for about even this morning. So thought I'd just go through the Patreon Q&A if you want to be a part of these Q&A's each week. You can join the RU crew. The link is down below in the description. A lot of fantastic things happening in there at the moment. Community is growing at a rapid rate. It is sensational to see. But let's get straight to what we don't have a heap of time. So just a short and sharp one here for you guys. You go through some of the questions that have been sent in. The first one is a really interesting one from Falsy. He says, RU, do you think the refs are unconsciously biased towards the great players? For example, Harry Grant seems to get a penalty or six against for people laying in the

2:10rock and he acted like he can't get the ball, whereas Riley Smith did the same thing twice. And he never got a six again. I understand Grant is the best at it. But I wonder if refs think well of Harry Grant. The best hooker in the game can't pick the ball. I've claimed that maybe there is an infringement. I could also piggyback this into the best teams usually getting the rub of the grain. Yeah, I don't think there is an aspect of that made. I spoke about this last week with the Stephen Cright. And I think there's been a number of high shots that he's made in the last 18 months that I personally think a lot of players would have been sent from the field. I feel pretty confident in saying that, at least for 10 in the bin. So yeah, I do think there is an element of this. And I think Harry Grant is obviously incredibly good at what he does. But I do think when you're watching Harry Grant do it. And if you're a referee, and I think this is one thing that we do sort of sleep on with referees and whatnot that, you know, we've got these athletes out there that, you know, they're like, it's an exhausting job as well. I think people kind of sleep on that aspect of it that fatigue sets in for referees, all that sort of stuff. You've got, you know, some of the best athletes in the world constantly putting pressure on you.

3:12I think the big advantage Harry Grant has is that he is the captain. So he would be able to, as you saw with Cameron Smith as well, he'd be in the ear of the referee pointing this stuff out all game. And it's his job to put pressure on that referee to make those calls. I think Harry Grant is the best at taking advantage of it. But yes, I do think there is a little bit of a bias in that sort of situation. I do think that with some of the best players in the game, you do tend to get a little bit more of that rub of the green. So it's unfortunate, but I also do just kind of think it's the reality of sport. And I think that it kind of just is what it is unfortunately. Do we want it to be like that? No, we don't. But, you know, the other side of the coin is that, you know, Harry Grant didn't walk in day one at the NRL and sort of become that guy. You know, you sort of have to earn that through a lot of reps, through a lot of games, all that sort of stuff. And that's what makes players more valuable. That's part of the experience that they bring. I think Cameron Smith was probably the best at it that I've ever seen. I remember at Shark Park that day he got sinbed. It was essentially a standing o for that decision or whatnot.

4:14But yeah, I think Smithy was incredibly good at not only manipulating the rock, but also manipulating referees. And I do think that is, you know, there's a human element in that that you need to sort of take advantage of. It's the same as, you know, when you're going up against an opposition player. And if you can trash talk them and get in their head and put them off their game, you know, there's value in that as well. So yeah, I'm not going to say that it doesn't exist. I think it definitely does. I think it is part of our game. Unfortunately, I think it's part of most sports. But yeah, I do think it is there without a doubt. That's a good question. I think Harry Grant's a pretty good example of it. I think Stephen Crockens, another good example of it as well. And I think it goes the other way as well that with certain guys in the game that when they, you know, when they're involved in a high tackle or an incident like that, because they are aggressive players, I think there's a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. Like, I think Jared Rehaagraves was a bit like that. I think Victor Bradley for a period of time was like that. So I think there was a number of guys in that game when they do get in those hyper-aggressive situations, because they have a history and they have, you know, crosses next to their name from the past.

5:16I think it does play a role. And I think that sometimes you see referees just jump to that little bit of a conclusion as well, which once again, I do think it's just kind of part of human nature. Like at Lumpet, I kind of think it is just the reality of humans. But yeah, it definitely exists. I think you'd be silly to try and hide away from that. No doubt about it. Joey Holmes. Hey, Rue, after the first round, what's your thoughts on how coaches have utilized the new bench drill? Feels like a lot of coaches have been scared to lock in the full players to late in the game. Could this see a rise in big minute forwards and a drop off in the smaller, minute impact forwards? Yeah, potentially, mate. I thought it was interesting with a couple of coaches, like the way that kind of Watson was used by the roosters. I do wonder if that was because of the four men, the six-man bencher. If maybe that's just what kind of Watson's role is going to be. I'm not entirely sure. But yeah, I do think there was a number of teams that sort of only use three players. Until the 60th, 70 minute to wait and see what they could do. I thought the dolphins are very smart, holding on to tray fuller for so long. I probably think they held onto him for a little bit too long. If I'm honest, and then when they put him on,

6:16I thought they put him in a really dumb role, playing right center. Just made no sense to me. But I think there are clubs that are looking around the room and trying to sort of work out the best way to go about how to use this. I think other clubs like the eels, I think they kind of shit the bed with theirs a little bit. You obviously had Joe Ash come on the field. When a youngy had a HIA, and look, granted, you never know 100%. I get that. But I thought that when a youngy got taken off, I kind of just eyeballed that. And just from my experience of watching HIA's, I thought it was a pretty safe bed. He was going to come back on the field. So to put Joe Ash out there for that 10 minutes, when you've got a guy like Dylan Walker who's already activated and available, I just couldn't make any sense of that. And whether that means you play Dill at, you know, center for that 10 minutes. And then you move Sean Russell or someone back to fullback. I just couldn't really get around that. So yeah, I think it's going to take a few weeks to find their feet. I think there's going to be coaches that are probably going to be a little bit gun shy early. And you know, as things happen throughout the season, they learn lesson from it. They'll be better for it. But yeah, I'm enjoying watching how coaches are going about it at the moment.

7:20When you have a look at the roosters as well, like they put, I think they put Blake's steep. It was back on the field with about a minute to go or something like that. I think it was a rooster. Sorry, I mentioned on Blake the other day. But they only use six unit changes for the entire game or something like that. There was one of the teams that did that as well, which I thought was interesting. But yeah, I think it'll be, I'm keen to watch how teams adapt to this and how they actually utilize it throughout the season. Because it is only around one, you know, these coaches, they've got a million things to fucking think about. Now they've got this thrown in there. They're probably keeping an eye on what other coaches are doing and even what the coaches do in game against them as well. So I am keen as to how it plays out. But I'm, yeah, I'm enjoying it so far, just watching their different strategies and even the way that teams pick their bench as well. Like you look at the Canberraiders this week, they've named, you know, their six players, Matty Timikos in Jersey 17. I think a lot of coaches have sort of named 14 to 17 as the guys they'll use than the other 18, 19, or whatever it is, are the extra players there. So I'm just keen to watch how all that plays out. Yeah, we have a very small sample size of the moment.

8:21We only have one game from each coach. Very keen to see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks. All right, from Richard, how do you see Melbourne's pack shaping up over the next few years? DeFano, King, Trent and Cooper Clark seem like locks. With wishy-gone, I imagine Trent Tolo out into the 14. Chin holds his spot. That's obviously Alec McDonald on the bench. I agree. Cooper and Preston take two in Davy's spots. Maybe one of Lassardi Chan on the bench if Ellie comes back. Yeah, I sort of think, you know, I'm not quite sure where Sean Bloor's out as far as his future at the Melbourne storm. Optics have been a bit weird there, but once again, it's, you know, it's the Melbourne storm. Maybe we're just over reading it. They've probably got total control, the situation and whatnot. But yeah, I think that that, you know, Stafana, King, Trent Leroy and Cooper Clark, I think they're going to be a real core over the next few years. I also think that the other man that day booed the other night, Preston Conner, back row with a lot of potential. He's another one that I think will be a first grader. It was really cool to see him day boo the other night.

9:21Probably he was one of the guys that, when I looked at that six-man bench, I went, okay, Cooper Clark's definitely going to get on. Depending on how the game goes, Preston Conner might not get a bait. But he did, which is really good to see. I think Chuck Heatherington's the other one that's going to have a good impact at this club. So yeah, I feel like they're in a pretty good spot, realistly. And I think when you look at the history of the Melbourne storm and what the coach is able to get out of guys, they could be in a great spot realistically. So with Howard Grant there, you only need a, you know, middle of the range forward park realistly, because Howard Grant will make up for the rest of it and the way that he manipulates the rock who gets such an advantage for those guys. So I think Melbourne are in a good spot. You've obviously got Craig Bellamy remaining for another two years. So all those guys will get that very good development there. So yeah, I think they're in a pretty nice spot. Another huge week in coming in the NRL and I'll tell you what, if you jump onto the Neds app, I think there is a bit of value getting around in a couple of these games. Some upsets that I like, the South Sydney Rabbit O's, I can't for the life of me work out why they are outsiders in this game.

10:22Roosters have made some changes to their right edge, dropping their best defender in that butcher, putting CY Wong there, granted they get Rob Toya back on that edge, but I just think South Sydney could be too good in this game. AJ might break the record, that'll be sensational. I think the left edge for the South Sydney Rabbit O's, same as last week. AJ Trell met Dave for theater. I liked him this week and I loved the South Sydney Rabbit O's at $2 to knock over, the Sydney Roosters. Another one that I like is the Newcastle Knights, two weeks to prepare for the Manly Seagulls who have already lost one of their middle forwards in Takiyaho. $2.45 for the Knights, two weeks to prepare for the Seagulls side that I think has plenty of holes in it. I think Knights could give them absolute nightmares at Brookie O will. $2.45 for the Newcastle Knights, I like them as an upset this weekend. Other ones that I don't mind as well, the Gold Coast Titans, they've been given a nine and a half start on Ned's at $1.90. You've seen Josh Hanei, he has picked the exact same 19 players that he picked last week, got absolutely played off the park. I just think they owe it to him to show a half decent performance

11:24here. I think they'll put a lot of ticker into this one. I'm not sure if they win, but I think nine and a half points for a team that is desperate for a bounce back. I don't mind it. Same as for the Dragons. Obviously coming back from Las Vegas, they played incredibly well over there. They defended incredibly well. They're getting a seven and a half start against the Melbourne Storm. I know what you're thinking, you gave us the hot tip. Last week, Dick Head, the paramatter eels are going to beat the Melbourne Storm. You're doubting them again. I'm not even doubting the Melbourne Storm. I'm just back in the Dragons to show a lot of ticker here like they did in Las Vegas. They're getting a plus seven five in this one with Ned's. I think there's a bit of value there on the Dragons with the start. The other one that I'll point out is the paramatter eels. They're getting a 13 and a half start. I think Brisbane win this one at Suncorp on Thursday night. But we just don't know what we're going to get from these two sides. That is the reality of it. We have no idea what to expect from these two teams. 13 and a half is a lot of points. But the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp, they are a scary prospect. If you have a good feeling about the paramatter eels, I think they'll get a bounce back.

12:25I think 13 and a half points is a lot for the paramatter eels. Going up against the Brisbane Broncos who between the World Club challenge and their game last week, it's not like they've been setting the world a light. So maybe there is something there. But for me, the two upsets that I like, the South Sinny Rabinos to knock over the roosters and the Newcastle Knights to knock over the Manly Seagulls at Brook Valley level, I think there is a bit of good value in both of those. Prices subject to change. What's gambling really costing you? For free and confidential support, call 1-800-858-858, or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. Tom Barber, could you see Care Murray's potential in New South Wales captain? Yes, I could. I personally, if Care Murray was available the last year, I kind of think he is the next New South Wales captain. I wonder how it's going to go timing-wise if we've got Isaiah Yo. I think that he, I think Care Murray's a little bit younger than Isaiah Yo.

13:25So maybe it will sort of time out that he does get his opportunity. But yeah, I feel very confident in saying that Care Murray will be a captain of the New South Wales Blues one day. So Isaiah, Yo, what's he like, 32? He's 31 years old. I think Care Murray's like 30 odd. I don't think there's that much difference between those guys. I know he's 28, sorry. Yeah, so I do think Care Murray will be a captain of the New South Wales Blues one day. I think he's a very logical choice. So it'll be interesting by the time, you know, it comes around that maybe Yo isn't playing. You're obviously going to have Nathan Cleary who's going to be an option as well, assuming he's, you know, still on the side, which I assume he will be. But yeah, I think Care Murray's going to be perfect for it. I think that, you know, even when Isaiah Yo is fit available for me anyway, Care Murray is my starting lock forward. He's the same age as Nathan Cleary. Care Murray, they're both 28 years of age. So it might be a co-captain sort of thing. But I just think Care Murray would be perfect for the role. I think it's shown over the last years, just how important he is to this side. Maybe it's shown when he's not there, how important he is realistically.

14:26So yeah, I can't say it. I'd be very surprised if Care Murray at some point doesn't captain the New South Wales Blues. And it'd be unreal to see kid from South Sydney here come all the way through the grades. Always been a fantastic leader. Always been a fantastic guy. Never really does anything wrong off the field or anything. So yeah, very, very excited to see that one day. It will be pretty fucking cool. Okay, we've got Campbell Collins. When Boastock comes back from injury for the Finns, do you think it'll be Isaco who makes way for him and they shift Cobb out of the right wing. Thought Isaco was pretty poor the other night, but it's only one game of course. Yeah, I do think it's going to be really interesting because Jack Boastock was tremendous last year. I sort of said this on be on on where did I say it the other day on about even the other day, we're sort of doing our future bets and tipping top triskers and all this sort of stuff. And the first thing I did was sort of, I looked at the favorite, which is Germana Sarcon. I sort of thought, geez, he's very short for a guy

15:27that mid season, if he's not going too well, I think he will be the guy to fall out for Jack Boastock. So I think it'll be very interesting. I'm not sure, you know, I'm obviously not inside the four walls there at the Dolphins or whatnot. And he's been a good player for the last few years. I do think though that he is under a little bit of pressure and I think once Boastock returns, I think Selon Cobb has such a freak that it's probably hard to leave him out. And if he's planted his best and Isaco's planted his best, we know that Selon's got a higher ceiling there. The goalkeeper helps him obviously, but I do think it's sort of between Jack Boastock and Germana Sarcon once Boastock returns. Ah, to see how that all plays out. Okay, next question. What have we got? Do do do do. I know Zac Lomac's sign for, this is from Matt Maddy Caswell. I know Zac Lomac's sign for Rugby Union, but there was talk of a swap deal between Parr and Penra, the Tonga going to Parr. You still think this could happen? Ah, I don't really, but I mean, in saying that when I was talking about this last week, I was under the impression that I was like,

16:27Tonga was injured, it doesn't seem that way. He has moved on a lot of quality centers before in the past. I just, I would imagine if you're going to release the Isaac Tonga, you must be freeing up space for someone. Obviously, it's not Zac Lomac, you would assume. So really interesting watch there, but yeah, Isaac's brother, or Jake is obviously playing at the Parramatta Eels. Maybe they could pair those two up together at the Eels, but yeah, I probably, I also think there's an element of, okay, Isaac Tonga is not in the first grade side right now, he's been dropped. We've sort of called for this on a number of occasions over there as much as I love the guy, and I'm huge on him. Defensively, he has been very hit and miss over the last few years, and it's always surprised me that he's never really been punished for it. So yeah, I mean, it also does make sense from that point of view. So maybe we are just over reading it, but yeah, big watch out there with Penroth in that situation. With Rue Corporate, now it's such a Triple M, will you be hunting for the vacant spawn on NREL 360, Parallel Gator? Are you having no other Triple M stuff last year? I'm actually going back in there this afternoon. I've really enjoyed it. It's been really good fun. So jumping on with Charlie and Luke here, I've really enjoyed it.

17:27Obviously, I love all the shows I'm on, bloke about even. We've got beers and break-events. You know, my guru show, all that sort of stuff. But you are, like I am, sort of having the same sort of conversations with the same people, you know, every week. So it's going to a different space like that. And you know, talk to Luke Kiri, talk to Charlie White, have those different conversations, different views, different approaches. And just when you talk to different people, you just send up at different angles and you vibe with people differently and everything. I really enjoyed talking with Kiri the other day. He was sensational. We're back on this afternoon, so looking forward to that. But no, NREL 360, hard pass. You know, your boy couldn't get in a suit three times a week. No, thank you. Where do you see the podcast and your business overall in the next three to five years time? That's on from Sami Haynes. Well, I don't really see it changing dramatically. We've got a couple of big things in the pipes this year that will just be really exciting. We just want to continue to level up. We've obviously got that World Cup at the end of this year that I plan to be heavily involved in, which I can't wait for. Rumors that the next World Cup could be in America, which I'd be going over for the entire time and really making a splash on that.

18:28You know, I think I've sort of found my sweet spot as far as the podcast and the page goes and the community as well, the Roo Crew. And I'm just looking to grow that. We're not fucking in rugby league content to take over the world. We're just looking to do the best we can for our little community. So more of the same, more community events, trying to, you know, see you guys more and do more stuff with you guys, like leveling up content from, probably just like a professional outlet as well. Like I love some of the stuff we did in Vegas that was a bit of a step up. I could see, oh, the one I only Sam Brigny and leaning into more of that funny stuff as well. We don't have to take ourselves so fucking seriously here. So yeah, I kind of tend to think it'll look somewhat similar in three to five years. I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel. I think that my audience, they're footy nuffies like me. They just love to have the content each and every week. They love their super coach. They love their little rumors and stuff that they can get. I think the big thing for me is just growing the Roo Crew. I want that community to be as big as it possibly can.

19:29I think it's the safest space in the best place for the absolute footy nuffies out there. You can show up to an event. There's a hundred other people there who are just fucking footy obsessed the same as you and you can go and sit at any table and have a chat to anyone there and you've automatically, because you're in that same room. You've got so much in fucking common immediately. So yeah, that's sort of where I sit, guys. I don't think it's going to look dramatically different in three to five years. But we just keep building on what we've done and keep building the community, which is really exciting. What other questions have we got? I've got a lot of super coach questions in here. One says, what is your goal for super coach? Your season top 5% to 1%. Look, I want to beat Tim, that's all I really want to do if I'm completely honest with you. But it would be cool to get back into that top 1% I think last year we missed it the year before that. I think we got it or maybe the year before that. Obviously, I love my super coach draft, but I'm really enjoying the classic over the last few years and the rivalry with Timmy and stuff. So beating Timmy is my number one priority. I won't try and hide away from that.

20:29But yeah, it would be nice to jump into that top 1% or whatever it might be. We've got a question here about this new one or two hands thing in the air. Honestly, I have no fucking idea, guys. I just, I can't, I would love to know when they make these rules, how many players and coaches they sit down with and go, hey, does this add up? Does this make fucking sense to people? I just, yeah, it just seems like a bizarre one to me that I can't really get my head around. As I said, I'm bloke the other day. When Blocker started explaining, I genuinely was like, ooh, this sounds a little bit too silly to be true. I wonder if someone's giving him the bum steer here, or if he's maybe misunderstood what he's been told, but apparently he's on the money. So yeah, just a bizarre rule. And that's not a crack at blocker by any means. It's more of a crack at just the decision-making and the rule itself that I just can't really get around. Seems insane. But anyway, does bringing in the new rule changes have us back to 2021 style of footy? Yeah, I think it kind of does at the moment. I do think, though, that typical in Rugby League,

21:30what you'll see is the next three or four weeks will be high scoring. There'll be a lot going on. There'll be six games all over the place. And then I think about three or four weeks you'll see the NRL sort of say to the referees, hey, let's just pull back the interpretation a little bit. So I do think it'll find a heavy medium in a month or so. But yeah, I think for the next few weeks, it is gonna be a little bit chaotic for, you know, the other day to have 70 points is good. You had two games played in absolute monsoons and both had, what, 58 or 60 plus points. Obviously, the CS game had 70 plus points. So it is a little bit crazy at the moment. I do think it'll find a happy medium. I think the interpretation will suddenly change. They won't tell anyone. But it'll be very evident on field that the interpretation has been eased a little bit. So, and I mean, at the end of the day, sometimes I think the NRL does this stuff just so people are talking about it. They got something to talk about. They know they'll be back. They'll know that we'll watch on the weekend again. Sometimes they shake shit up just to get us talking and get more attention on rugby league, I guess. But yes, I think it will find a happy medium in a few weeks. I think it'll be closer to 2021 than what last year was,

22:32for example. But honestly, I preferred last year. I thought last year's footy was fantastic. I thought it was in a really, really good spot. And I just don't know if we needed to shake it up like this. But I do think that the interpretations will ease and they will slow over the next few weeks. And we will find a little bit more of a happy medium. All right, guys, I've got a head in to do about even the morning, so I'm going to hit the frog and toad. Thanks you for joining us once again here on the rugby league. Guru podcast. Looking for soccer analysis, more knowing than a Carlo Ancelotti eyebrow raise with the World Cup around the corner. Join me, Max Rochden and the Guardian's expert soccer journalists on football with Cleaf all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week. We'll cover more ground than Drew Bellingham and a champion of the final with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set piece for fine margins, fund debates and full-blooded tackles, football weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube.

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