🎙Wahs Fan Mark Thomas - The Chat

0:00So huge weekend coming up for the Warriors fans around the country. Like me, for example, here, there's my merch on the outside and on the inside. For the first time ever. It's good to say, well, it's funny. So I think because I'm a big amount of text in just before said, geez, I saw you on Instagram in a Warriors shirt. And I agree it looks weird on you. Effing weird on you. Thank you very much, but not sure it's your age though. I think it's just a subset of one. I love your work team. You wear the merch symbols. Beauty. So, so yeah, huge, huge weekend coming up. But imagine if you were someone who puts $10 on the each year at the start of the season to win the grand final, because obviously the odds beginning of the season to win the grand final much longer than than now when they've narrowed down quite a bit. And imagine if you were a person who had done that for the last 26 years, I can't, Jerry, I'd need to talk to someone. Well, luckily, Manoeu, Unex, guest has done just that. We can talk to him. His name is Mac Thomas. Good morning, Mac. Welcome to the show. Get out, how are you? And you're talking like this is something strange.

1:01I don't get it. Yeah, does everyone not put $10 on the Warriors to any of your year? Yeah, well, it's been something that's been a tradition for me for, I don't know, at least 20 years. So one day it's going to happen. And I guess that the closest you've been is 2002 and 2011. What are your memories of those years? Oh, 2002. It was the same sort of vibe as it is now. You know, everyone was talking about it. There are lots of fans were in the merch and back then I was, I had a record shop real gruelling in Wellington and I was encouraging all the staff to get behind the team and we were actually faxing in those days for team. And over and suddenly, just with with messages and support, you know, and that was a great game. Man, we had a party at our house and it was a good night apart from the result. Okay. Mark, obviously 26 years, $10 a year, you're down 260 at the stage. What were the odds at the beginning of the season this year? I actually checked that last night because I hadn't even looked at that.

2:04But I think I stand to win 230 if they do it. So that means pretty much all my money back. You're just going to end up square if they win this other thing. Yeah, yeah, that does no problem, no problem for me. Do you? Well, yeah, not only are you square, but you're also right. And I think that's a big part of betting. Um, Mark, what's the biggest odds that you remember going into a season? Ah, I honestly can't remember, but there is, as we all know, there's been some seasons where it hasn't ended well and, you know, the odds are pretty good at the start of the next year. Honestly, this has just been a traditional to the start of the year. Without fail and doesn't matter what the odds are and I never bid against the worries. So it doesn't matter whether I'm in a tipping comp or whatever. So obviously occasionally I don't end up at the top of the tipping table. We're talking to Mac Thomas. He's put $10 on the worries to win the grand final every year for 20, six years. I, are you confident this year? Mark, how are you feeling?

3:04Look, I'm confident every year, but yes, something about this team, the way that the coaching staff talk about and the way the team are talking in their interviews. And like when the team was named on Tuesday, I think everyone was anticipating who it was going to be and who's going to make the side. And as soon as I saw that, I was like, wow, you don't give much stronger than that. So I mean, there's a lot of talk about how good the dolphins are. We're going to get through them, but, you know, I am confident, although slightly nervous too. We're in a Warriors Finery. Warriors Regalia this morning. We're wearing it for the Wars. Mark, I've got a couple of jerseys on. Jerry's got his scarf that he's been looking for for a while. But I understand you've got quite a wide range of Warriors memorabilia outside of jerseys. What kind of, what kind of stuff do you have? Oh, man. You know, I've been picking up little things over the years as most fans will be, but, you know, everything from like, yes, I've got some signed jerseys of jandals, drink, weird. I've even got a Warriors for a J1 and a Woodstock promo a while ago.

4:07But I think my, my prize position I, I found a, um, commemorative mini frame jersey that came out at the start of 95 season. And, um, it's, it's framed and it's signed by all the original players and stuff. And I've never seen another one. And I found that in one of my favorite shops, David White Gallery in Wellington. I'm just having a look here, Mark, and it says that you own Warriors sheets. Oh, yeah, well, they came out. I think they're about, I don't know, 2010 or something. They, they, they issued some, you know, I went to the sheets of the sheet. So I went out in the garage somewhere. But, uh, you want me bringing them out of the, bringing out the garage and swirling those for, for, I don't think so. But hey, if, if we have the grand final party here at home, everything's going to be on the display. Mark Thomas has put $10 on the Warriors to win every year. Thank you so much for your time this morning. Best of luck with everything, Mark. Cheers, man. Thanks a lot. I see here that someone spent $5,000 at the beginning of the season.

5:10I know when the odds were $11, that's the biggest bet the TAB's got. The TAB's got grand. Yeah.