Mitch Collins this week's guest On The Bench
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00:00 Good afternoon and welcome to what will be an abbreviated weekend of Group 3 rugby league
00:07 with two matches scheduled for Saturday.
00:09 Taree City vs Ulbar at Taree and Warhope vs Maclay at Warhope and of course a full round
00:16 of scheduled games on Sunday.
00:20 Mitchell Collins the Wingham captain coach has finally made it here today to be the special
00:24 guest and of course Bridgie.
00:25 Gary can I just commend you on your performance last week.
00:28 It went into the show with a little bit of pressure after Marty Borg's effort the week
00:33 before and you rose the occasion like a champion mate.
00:35 Beautiful and now well I might rise to the occasion again.
00:39 Look New South Wales finally we've beaten Queensland in Queensland.
00:43 What a game it was.
00:44 It was a real good game of footy.
00:45 It was a great game.
00:46 There's no referees didn't decide anything and there's no fake injuries or an X half.
00:51 Just the way football should be played.
00:52 It was a good game of footy.
00:53 I thought I'd gone late in the second half.
00:54 I knew I was going to run out of steam.
00:55 They did it very well.
00:58 They started off like an outsman fighter.
01:01 It's Kylie Hilton from across the tongue carry the Blues captain coach.
01:05 Let's hope they can win it the second one in Newcastle.
01:07 I don't think she's the captain.
01:08 She looks fit enough to be the captain coach.
01:09 She can still be playing.
01:10 Well done Kylie anyway.
01:11 And of course no Mening Hotel player of the week this week.
01:12 There was no footy on last week but of course the segment is still sponsored by Classic
01:25 Design Jewellers of Tarhee.
01:26 Mitchell you started the year off fairly well.
01:27 Although it's been a bit frustrating the last couple of weeks I suppose.
01:28 There's no footy but two good wins to start the year.
01:29 Yeah mate no it was a good start.
01:30 So that was sort of something we spoke about at the start of the year.
01:31 The last couple of seasons we've been pretty slow out of the block.
01:32 So that was one of our goals at the start of the year.
01:33 We wanted to come out and get to a good start.
01:34 So we're obviously happy we're 2 from 2.
01:35 So we're not going to get too far ahead of ourselves.
01:36 We've only two games in but we're real happy with how we started.
01:37 How does it feel looking up there?
01:38 It was a bit of a shock to be up there.
01:39 It was a bit of a shock.
01:40 It was a bit of a shock.
01:41 Yeah if we were playing this weekend we wouldn't obviously be able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
01:48 It's very wet and the first two games sort of everyone was whinging about sore legs and
01:57 that afterwards.
01:58 It was a pretty heavy turn.
01:59 Is that the only time you've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield?
02:00 Yeah.
02:01 I mean I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:02 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:03 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:04 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:05 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:06 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:07 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:08 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:09 I've been able to play at Winger Mouthfield.
02:11 Is that in the NRL now?
02:13 There's a lot of injuries with hamstrings and they're blaming the wet fields for it.
02:19 Is that what?
02:20 It must be.
02:21 Mate it's heavy on the legs and heavy on the back as well I reckon.
02:24 So that first game that we played at Winger Mouthfield it was very spongy.
02:30 Yeah well actually they looked alright from the sideline.
02:32 I went on the field and talked to you at full time.
02:33 I couldn't believe that.
02:34 Yeah it's very spongy.
02:35 Our drainage in our field is not real good anymore.
02:37 So it just holds water.
02:39 Who's your next game against?
02:41 Passed over to Warhope now.
02:43 Warhope at Warhope which will be tough.
02:45 They beat Breakers last week.
02:48 You don't play at home until June 1st do you?
02:50 No so we've got Warhope at Warhope and then I think we've got Tara at Tara.
02:55 Well August 10th you play that.
02:59 It must be Tara at Winger Mouthfield.
03:01 Yeah it is Tara at Winger Mouthfield.
03:02 You know what I mean.
03:03 You don't play at home until the 1st of June.
03:07 Whatever game that is.
03:09 Of course that will give you a bit of time to recover.
03:11 That's only two weeks away.
03:13 Yeah well it's only two weeks away.
03:14 We're looking a bit further than that.
03:16 Well June almost does sound a long way away.
03:19 So where have you been training?
03:22 Our backfield, it trains real well.
03:26 I think it's actually our wing at tip.
03:27 It trains awesome.
03:28 It's usually one of the first fields to get opened after rain.
03:32 So we've been training there and then we've just done a couple of road runs and stuff.
03:35 Road runs?
03:37 You know Mark's the old name, mid-season road runs.
03:38 That's what you want to do but we've done a few of those.
03:40 So we're still doing bits and pieces.
03:43 You've got, you've got a bolt up this year in the forwards.
03:47 You've got Nate Campbell's back next game, I hope he is anyway.
03:50 And cause Aaron Groom's back this year.
03:52 So you've got a pretty good pack of forwards.
03:54 Yeah, yeah we've got a good pack.
03:57 Fousley's been going good for us too so he's back from Harrington as well.
04:00 And then obviously the young fellas in our 18s, Young Jet and that, they were unreal the other week.
04:06 So we've got heaps of depth in our forwards.
04:08 But probably a bit light in the backs.
04:10 You're looking alright, you've got Tim Bridges still to come back.
04:13 Yeah, Timmy's still got to come back.
04:14 Ronnie Wiley obviously didn't play last weekend so he'll be back next weekend.
04:19 So throw him and Timmy and Nathan to our side, it's a pretty good looking side.
04:24 So the couple of years you've been as player coach has been the best you've...
04:27 I think so, on paper yeah, definitely.
04:30 I probably said the same thing last year but then we had a terrible run with injuries.
04:34 So you definitely need depth and that's sort of what we've tried to aim for this year is to get a bit of depth.
04:39 So if we do get a few injuries and that you've sort of got blokes to cover it.
04:42 And you've been playing a couple of young fellas off the bench.
04:44 Gilbert played Ian McClay last game and Ben Guy.
04:48 Yeah, young Benny Guy.
04:49 Obviously Leighton Moore played a lot last year for us, him and Ricky Carrington.
04:53 So those two will get a run through the year later.
04:56 He's got a crook groin at the moment I think and Ricky works a wire fed.
05:01 Let him get a couple of games under his belt in the 18s and then he'll slot back in there as well.
05:05 That'll be the idea to keep those young blokes off the bench all season?
05:08 Yeah, I want to try and sort of use a young bloke every week just to sort of let them in and give them a crack.
05:13 So that's what we sort of done last year as well.
05:16 So sort of want to look after our juniors as much as we can coming through and keep them there.
05:20 Obviously if they don't go elsewhere, they'll go to Sydney.
05:22 Yeah, you're right. Exactly right.
05:25 The juniors, you're playing for the 18s and you had a year there where you didn't have 18s.
05:29 When you have got that age group, you do want them to come through and you want to give them a chance at first grade
05:35 so they can say right on, think I'm ready to go in the next couple of years.
05:38 So yeah, it's a good idea.
05:40 Yeah, and so even young Lado, he played pretty well the whole year for us last year.
05:44 Only had come the week before the semis and he had to pick whether he was going to play first or 18.
05:48 And he was only going to be there for one or two games and he killed it.
05:52 So that's good to see.
05:53 And you're the first one who had it, kind of had a good strong under 18s, probably a will for a long time.
05:58 In a long time, yeah.
05:59 I think the year, more year and year above, I think in that two years we had 11 that then comes through into first grade
06:04 over that two year period.
06:05 But since then I think there's only been sort of three or four blokes come through.
06:08 So it's good to have a good 18s.
06:11 And it's hard to it because jobs and everything. You've got to get a job.
06:14 Yeah, a lot of them, most move away for uni.
06:16 Obviously there's not a heap of work going in, so blokes move away, stuff like that.
06:19 So that makes it hard.
06:20 But young Jeddo, he's got an apprenticeship with Hogan, so he'll be around for a while.
06:25 And young Morrie's with Rod Morse, they're all at local jobs, so we should have them for a few years, be good.
06:31 Good stuff. And you've got a game in hand against the Hawks, of course.
06:34 Are you hoping to play that at the long weekend? Is that being confirmed?
06:36 That's what we're hoping. That's what I'm hoping.
06:39 But I know they're missing a few, but I spoke to one of the group fishers about it,
06:44 sort of said to them we're in the same boat.
06:46 We got a couple away that weekend as well, but I think we're better off playing it and getting it out of the way.
06:51 And that way if you get a washout round further on, you've still got a spare round.
06:54 If not, you get a washout, so you're sort of in a bit of trouble and obviously no one wants to lose a home game.
06:59 And you spoke, Gary, last week to Robbie Payne, of course, from the Hawks,
07:02 and when the season started, a potential early start to the season.
07:07 Of course, as I mentioned at the time too, the group clubs determine when that happens.
07:11 Group 3 doesn't execute it. When we're starting, it goes to the AGM.
07:15 Williams Club last year suggested an early start, then playing three games at the end of it for a 17-round competition.
07:23 Mitch, as a coach, you're right in the coalface. Does the comp start too late?
07:29 I reckon it does. I reckon it's too short too. You've still got to do the exact same.
07:33 I know with trials, when we were trying to line up trials, so group 4, they were into round 4 when we started, I think.
07:39 Newcastle comp, they were in the same boat.
07:43 Pretty well every other comp starts around 3 or 4 before we even get started.
07:48 And you've still got to do the same pre-season, whether you have an extra three rounds or you don't.
07:53 But if they push it all forward, you probably shorten your pre-season a little bit.
07:56 But we're playing country footy and a lot of players don't want to start in January if they're not going to start playing footy until May.
08:04 You only want that month and a half, too much. We should be starting the competition first week in March.
08:11 That's went pretty well. As I said, they're all into round 3 and 4 before we even get a game.
08:17 We pushed our pre-season back this year and actually started the last week in January.
08:21 And even by the time we started, even myself, I was sort of going, "Oh, Chris, when's he going to start?"
08:27 He's sort of half done now. So I think it's something they definitely need to look at.
08:31 I know when they did bring it up, I think a few people sort of said, "Well, how do you make it fair?"
08:35 We sort of suggested that it was north and south. So this year would have probably been perfect to do it.
08:41 Because obviously the two top sides, one's from north with Ol' Va and shark's with the other one.
08:45 And it's sort of pretty even distributed all the teams.
08:49 And then obviously one team would miss out on home game from north and south, which I think Foodie actually said that we'd volunteer the first year, we'd miss out.
08:57 But I think it went to a vote at the AGM.
09:01 I think the clubs were split.
09:03 And then it went to the group.
09:05 But then, well, Gary, we'll go back a long, long time. We were young.
09:09 There was seven teams in the comp, three rounds, 18 matches.
09:13 Second week of March had started.
09:15 The second week of September had finished.
09:18 There was no spare weekends. You played Easter, you played the long weekend in June.
09:22 I remember, it was fun under our ears with the Mighty Tarry Old Bar.
09:27 And '78 was the year of the massive floods.
09:29 Did you say Mighty?
09:30 '78.
09:31 Did you say Mighty?
09:32 Mighty, yeah. Mighty Tarry Old Bar.
09:34 That weekend we played Gloucester, got washed out.
09:37 So as it turned out, the game was then transferred to Anzac Day.
09:40 We played the Sunday Footy, then Anzac Day was on the Tuesday that year.
09:44 We played Monday off and we all played Tuesday. The whole group played Tuesday.
09:47 So now they have no spare weekends, there's that and everything else. It's a different world.
09:52 It is a different world now.
09:54 You play footy during the footy season because you want to play footy.
09:58 So why not just try and play every weekend, apart from, say, the long weekend.
10:04 Even if they want one spare weekend, you can have one.
10:07 I think a spare weekend is a good idea.
10:09 If you get washouts, but then you just start the year right.
10:12 I know there's a spare weekend, but any washout games will be played that weekend so everyone knows.
10:17 That's right. Give them straight up at the beginning of the year and tell them this is what's happening.
10:21 That's my way of looking at it.
10:23 Like you just said, if you're playing footy, you're playing because you want to play.
10:28 So obviously you don't want to be doing a full pre-season and playing 14 games.
10:32 How would this be for another year?
10:34 You play two full bounties as we do now, that's 14 games, then one month of north plays south.
10:40 So, Tat Wien plays two ports, Warhope and Kempsey.
10:44 You don't play the southern sides, so you play four more games.
10:47 So everyone plays each other one more time. That's 18 games.
10:51 That's about it.
10:53 Yeah, well that's...
10:56 So Newcastle, I'm pretty sure they're 18 rounds.
11:01 I think a lot of the other continent, Group 4, they're 16 rounds, but they've obviously got 18, so that's even two.
11:07 But yeah, I definitely think it needs to be longer.
11:09 Well, I mean, you all get the same amount of home.
11:13 You get the two home matches at the last month, and everyone plays everybody.
11:16 So there's no... Not everyone plays the same sides one more time.
11:21 So there's not the, "Oh, we're north stronger this year," or "south stronger this year,"
11:26 not drawing sides out of the hat. Everyone plays everyone.
11:28 I mean, that's maybe worth looking at for next year,
11:34 because Easter Sunday is the 20th of April next year, so it's fairly late.
11:40 You want to be playing before then, I would think.
11:42 Well, before then.
11:44 It drags out the whole season, too, I reckon, because obviously you're still doing a long pre-season.
11:48 So I think it's something they definitely need to look at and try and get it extended.
11:53 We said a couple of times before, Mitch, on this segment, that the way it's looking,
11:57 there's only four leading teams, and you guys are one of them,
12:02 with Ulbar, Port Sharks and Kempsey.
12:04 You had a good win over Kempsey at Kempsey the other week there.
12:07 And the other four sides will chase that fifth spot.
12:09 Do you think that's how it's going to pan out?
12:11 Providing there's no massive injuries.
12:13 I think if you go off paper, I'd probably say that, but obviously anything can happen.
12:19 But I think that fifth spot's definitely a pretty close race.
12:23 I think obviously Warhawks are definitely competitive.
12:25 I think Tartaree's obviously better this year, and even Foster as well.
12:31 Also, as I said at the start of the year, I spoke to you,
12:34 the whole comp's going to be a lot tighter.
12:36 I don't think there's going to be any teams that just get smashed every week.
12:39 I think there's going to be a few upsets during the year.
12:42 But I think the top three sides, I definitely think, as you said,
12:46 Ulbar, Sharks and Kempsey.
12:49 That was a good win by you guys at Kempsey the other week.
12:52 That would be one of the better wins you've been associated with.
12:55 Yeah, that was a massive win up there.
12:57 They're always hard to beat up there.
12:59 As I said, we've sort of been slow starting the last couple of years,
13:02 so we knew it was going to be tough.
13:04 But to get a win up there was awesome.
13:06 And they only scored two tries, which were both off-kick.
13:08 That's probably been the thing that I've been most happy with.
13:10 The first two games, we've only let three tries in,
13:13 and one of them's been obviously just poor defence,
13:16 but the other two have been off-kick, so I'm pretty happy with that.
13:18 You might have a few back-line headaches with the selections in your back-line,
13:21 when Tim Bridges is available.
13:23 You've got all the players you've got at the moment.
13:25 Yeah, so once Tim comes in, there'll be a few headaches.
13:28 I think once we get a full side back,
13:30 I think even without benching the forwards, there's going to be a few headaches.
13:33 But I'd definitely rather have that problem
13:35 than have the problem last year where we're trying to scrape together players every week.
13:39 So it's a good problem to have, and yeah, happy with it.
13:42 Yeah. Now you said at the start of the season,
13:45 at the season launch, that this would be your last season as captain and coach.
13:48 Is that still the case?
13:49 Definitely still the case.
13:50 Well, hold on.
13:51 We've just spoken about some young players coming through.
13:53 We've just spoken about all those young blokes that are coming.
13:55 And you said there's Jet Gilbert, Benny Welsh.
13:57 Benny, Ben Guy.
13:58 Those couple of young blokes you mentioned.
14:00 They've finished ATNs this year.
14:01 They're working around here.
14:02 They're going to come into grade next year, presumably.
14:06 You might have a couple more up there.
14:07 You've got a fairly young squad, fairly in first grade,
14:10 so you're not going to lose a lot out of there.
14:12 Maybe Matt Bridge, maybe.
14:13 But most of them are going to be around next year, I would imagine.
14:16 You've probably got the best crop of juniors coming through,
14:19 going way back to, say, Trent Green and those blokes back in the early 2000s.
14:23 What did you think, Tim?
14:25 You're going to have a good year this year, you would expect.
14:27 What did you think?
14:28 Oh, mate, it's definitely going to run through my head.
14:30 But, no.
14:31 I'd love to go again, but, no, at this stage, mate, I'm sticking with it.
14:38 So the reason why Jordan and Mick Henry decide to stay captain coach out there
14:43 is because they won the comp last year.
14:45 So if youse win the comp this year, Mitch, you'd have to definitely go again.
14:49 Mate, if we won the comp, I'd yell again or what.
14:52 What happens if you get a close-up?
14:55 You should be in the top five.
14:58 If you finish up there, you're thinking, "Oh, I'll go again," but, no, I don't know.
15:02 Oh, I don't know.
15:03 Two minutes ago, you definitely won't.
15:04 No.
15:05 We'll sort of look at it by mid-season.
15:07 It'll be a definite decision.
15:09 I suppose, mate, you're just a bit of coach talk.
15:11 One game at a time, you know.
15:13 Mate, definitely.
15:14 I reckon I know what will happen.
15:16 I reckon you'll do it two more years, and then you'll hand it over to your brother-in-law.
15:19 Two more years?
15:20 I don't know about that, mate.
15:21 I'll be bored if I go another two more years.
15:23 I don't know.
15:24 I don't think that'll happen.
15:25 I think you'll coach it two more years, and Mitch Barnett will finish up over the Warriors,
15:28 and he'll be back, and he'll take over the coach.
15:31 He might take over as coach, but I don't know.
15:33 I'll be up there for the next two years.
15:36 Well, that'll be an interesting one, that.
15:37 If, just say, Luttrell comes back to the Tarree, he'll be coaching Tarree, and Mitch Barnett,
15:42 William Hall, gee, it'd be something.
15:44 And Luttrell brings Shack back in.
15:46 Yeah, geez, it'll be a--
15:48 She'd be loaded.
15:49 Plenty of people going to the footy on the weekends.
15:51 Well, I'd say that, too.
15:52 We had a segment at Bournemouth Quarry a couple of weeks ago, and talking to the guys from up there,
15:58 and they were commenting on the crowds at the opening round of the season.
16:03 Huge crowd at Wiggin, of course.
16:06 I went to Tunkara the next day, but you had a massive crowd out there, you know, considering.
16:11 It was one of the bigger crowds I reckon I've seen at Foster in a long time.
16:14 Really?
16:15 Yeah, the first game, yeah, Sunday.
16:17 And the Port guys were super pleased with the opening match crowd.
16:23 The best result they've had in the canteens for a long time, they said.
16:28 So it looks like there's a bit of interest in local footy.
16:30 It's good to see, too, I reckon.
16:32 I hadn't been to a Northern game yet.
16:35 I was thinking I might go to the Warhape this weekend, but we'll see what happens.
16:39 But it's fair we're getting good crowds, too.
16:40 It's a good sign for the group, I think.
16:42 Yeah, it is.
16:43 I guess this rain, as frustrating as it is, might make people a little bit more keener.
16:47 Not much else to do, is it?
16:49 If some sort of sport's on, a lot of the juniors have been called off because of grounds.
16:54 So they've got to do something.
16:55 So they take their kids along and have a bit of a kick around at the footy while their parents are watching the game.
17:00 So, yeah, it's good to see that the crowd's getting there.
17:04 You going to a game tomorrow, Gary, assuming the Bulls play?
17:07 Yeah, if the Bulls play and the weather stays, if we don't get any rain,
17:12 I reckon Jack Neillow probably will be right to play.
17:15 So, yeah, I'll be going out and watch that.
17:17 They've signed a 5'8" hole bar from North Queensland, apparently.
17:21 They're not Queensland. Northern Devils.
17:23 They're from Brisbane.
17:24 That's Brisbane, isn't it?
17:25 Yeah, he's apparently--well, they're looking right, aren't they?
17:28 Is he flying down or driving down?
17:29 I think he's leaving here.
17:30 He's a connection with--they've got a group of New Zealand guys playing from, I understand,
17:34 and saying they might play.
17:35 But, yeah, so they're going to be fairly able to beat Mitchell, the Pirates, again.
17:39 So, yeah, they'll definitely be topside, I think.
17:42 They've recruited pretty well in the offseason.
17:45 I don't know half of them.
17:46 No, no.
17:47 But, yeah, they've recruited well.
17:50 They're going to be real hard to beat.
17:51 So I think a lot of it probably comes down to if Jordan stays on the field and not for him.
17:56 If he stays on the field, they'll be real hard to beat.
17:58 They're definitely the topside again, I think.
18:00 Yeah, dead right.
18:02 If Jordan's not there, because Jordan organises everything,
18:05 if Jordan's not there, that might be a little bit different.
18:08 But at the moment, he's playing.
18:11 And, yeah, they've only had one game, too, haven't they?
18:15 Yeah, I think the first probably four rounds they might win by massive margins,
18:21 but then I think they start to get a few back.
18:23 I think James Hanford and a couple of those blokes that sort of live away will be back.
18:27 I mean, Drane Mercy's--
18:29 Yeah, Drane Mercy's playing next week, they hope.
18:31 You throw all them back in there, they're pretty stackside.
18:34 So they'll be hard to beat.
18:36 Yeah, and apparently the young blokes that signed from Queensland,
18:39 he's a goal kicker, too, which is one area they lacked.
18:42 That's something they definitely lacked, well and truly, I think.
18:45 So we'll see how he goes, I suppose.
18:47 We'll see this weekend. He's playing this weekend, you said?
18:49 Yeah, he's in the squad, yeah, before Noel goes.
18:51 So all the loads lead to the Jack Neal over on Saturday.
18:54 Well, Mitchell, thanks for finally getting here to--
18:57 No worries, mate, I don't know that you've got here, but I remembered, so that's all right.
19:00 I tell you what, you've got me a good basket case, but it's only 40, aren't you?
19:04 I'll be north also.
19:06 At least you'll be here. Bridget and I'll be long gone.
19:08 Next week, of course, we're on the road to Port Macquarie.
19:11 We'll be speaking to a northern coach up there from the Port Macquarie newsroom, Marty Borg,
19:15 will be our special guest. Gavs, do you want to come up?
19:18 Probably not, mate. I'll just work wise, but I might see what happens.
19:24 Yeah, OK, well there's a seat on the bus if you want to come.
19:26 Beautiful. Is it drinks on the way?
19:29 Of course there is, mate. He'd have a case sitting there, Phil.
19:33 Probably not, but anyway, we'll shout you a coffee afterwards up there.
19:38 This time of the day, I'm ready for a beer.
19:41 Yeah, four o'clock, of course. I forgot about that.
19:45 We'll be at Port Macquarie next week. Mitch, again, thanks for coming in.
19:48 Thanks for having me.
19:49 Whenever you play again, hopefully next week.
19:51 Hopefully we get one under a belt.
19:53 Good luck for the Tigers this year, and when you keep coaching for the next couple of years, good luck as well.
19:57 If you're going to footy this week, I hope there's a couple of games on.
20:02 Enjoy it, and if not, we'll see you next week on On The Beach, all the way from Port Macquarie.
20:06 [Code Red Defense]