In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Drury spoke about the possibility of starting the season earlier, the wet weather problems that have plagued the competition and Lake Cathie's continued involvement in the under 18s. Co-host Gary Bridge outlined plans for the August 10 Kristylea Bridge Cup day at Taree, Taree City's annual fund raiser for Manning Valley Can Assist.
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00:00Good afternoon and welcome to this week's edition of On The Bench.
00:05We're back in the Tenya Bridge studio after venturing north to Port Macquarie last week
00:10where we spoke to the President Paul Walsh, and thanks to Marty Borg from the Port Macquarie
00:14News for organising that.
00:16This week we have Malcolm Drury, the Group 3 Chief Executive Officer with us, sorry about
00:22that.
00:23Thanks, Mal, for coming in.
00:24And of course, our regular pundit, Gary Bridge.
00:26Bridgey, how are you, mate?
00:27Good, thanks, Mick.
00:29Just so people know that I've got myself a new chair.
00:32I'm a little bit taller.
00:34You're looking well.
00:35Thanks, mate.
00:36You're looking good.
00:37I thought I was big.
00:40Full round of Group 3 Rugby League this weekend, Mal.
00:43It's a couple of pretty interesting games.
00:45Before we start, the Under-18 Comp.
00:47The 9th side Under-18 Comp.
00:48How has that been going this year?
00:50Has there been any drums with it at all?
00:52Not really.
00:53The only drama is some clubs, they complain about having a bye every four weeks, a general
00:58bye, so we can fit the Under-18 draw in and finish at the same time as the main draw.
01:05It hasn't been ideal with these wet catch-up games, because that means some clubs have
01:11to play on a Saturday and back up and play again on Sunday.
01:14That's been a bit of a negative for us, but it's just unfortunate we've had so many wet
01:21washed-out games.
01:22We'll talk about that a bit later on.
01:23Yeah.
01:24Is there any indication in the Lake Caddo Club that they'll come back again this year,
01:27you and the Under-18s?
01:28Absolutely.
01:29They've got a strong Under-16s.
01:30A lot of the guys will back up again next year as well.
01:33They've got a pretty strong junior league up there now.
01:36Jason Higgins told me last Sunday up there, they even look like they may have a league
01:44tag side next year as well.
01:46Hopefully, in a year or two, we'll get a reserve grade side out of there, hopefully.
01:51That's my next question.
01:53There is talk of them putting a senior side in.
01:56Yes.
01:57Because that was the talk that people I've spoken to have said, we don't mind them coming
02:02up if we're going to get a senior men's side out of them.
02:05Yeah.
02:06I can't see why they can't get one of the Saturday league sides to come and play in
02:09Group 3.
02:10There's plenty of Saturday league sides up there, isn't there?
02:13Yeah, there is, Gary.
02:14There is a bit of opposition to it up there.
02:16Obviously, they've been playing in that Hastings League competition for so long, I guess.
02:21But, you know, time's changing.
02:23Hopefully, with a bit of groundwork up there, they might see the benefits of coming into
02:27Group 3.
02:28There was a bit of talk from Lowell McClay, who wasn't there at one stage, of putting
02:31a nomination in when they were talking about building that ground at South West Rocks,
02:35but I don't know if that's progressed any further than that.
02:38No, it hasn't.
02:39No, not to my knowledge.
02:40The draw for this weekend will have Port City playing Port Sharks, obviously at Port Macquarie,
02:45and McClay Valley will host Tarry City at Kempsey on Saturday.
02:48And Sunday, William plays Warhabit.
02:50William and Ulbaugh plays Foster-Toncurry at Ulbaugh, at this stage at Ulbaugh, I guess
02:55they're still there.
02:56And William plays Lake Kaddai in the under-18s.
03:00Winning head-to-head player of the week went to the Women's League Tag this week.
03:03For the player of the week, Briar Filan from the Ulbaugh Club.
03:06This would be the biggest turnaround I've ever heard.
03:09The Pirates played Port Sharks in the Women's League Tag two weeks ago at Port Macquarie
03:13and got beaten by 40-odd points.
03:15They played them last Saturday at Ulbaugh and won 10-8.
03:21It's a massive turnaround.
03:22Home ground advantage.
03:23Home ground advantage.
03:24And they mightn't have liked to wet the Pirates.
03:26It was a huge turnaround.
03:27Anyway, Briar, she's got herself a $50 up and order at the Manning Hotel or the Ulbaugh Tavern.
03:33First Jubilee Tag, too.
03:34Courtney Moore here tells me.
03:36So good on her.
03:37Yeah, good.
03:38Well done.
03:39Exactly, exactly.
03:40A couple of big things coming out, Gary.
03:41Your club, Tarry City, they've made a bit of a...
03:44Back-to-back.
03:45Back-to-back, yeah.
03:46They're a rough chance now of making the semi-finals.
03:48Well, I think the next couple of games.
03:50We'll just see how they turn up this week at Kempsey and see how they play.
03:54But, you know, a couple of games earlier in the year could have went their way as well.
03:58But they come out.
04:00And I went and watched their game at Tarry when they beat Port City.
04:06Port City, what I'm gathering, didn't have hardly any players out either.
04:10But we've got a lot of 18s that are backing up now.
04:12They're playing 18s and backing up.
04:14And they're actually playing really good footy.
04:16So that has our brothers now, the Halves, which is really good because they're both very good defenders
04:22and they're both very smart players.
04:25Yeah, it's good for them.
04:27They've been trying.
04:29I don't think they've won a back-to-back game for quite a number of years now, have they?
04:33It's been a while.
04:35They did it last year.
04:36I'm not sure.
04:37I can't remember.
04:38But the morale seems to be there and they're down a few in troops.
04:41But obviously the blokes that are filling in for them are doing the job.
04:44Speaking of those under-18s, there's three of them who backed up last week from the 18s and around in first grade.
04:48Matt Burns is a hooker, slightly built hooker.
04:50And the brothers, Tash and Tyler Abbott, had a big day out now last week.
04:54They scored all the points in under-18s for the Bulls and scored all but four points in first grade for the Bulls.
04:58Yeah, they've had a huge weekend, Mick.
05:00They're very talented players.
05:02Yeah, they go great.
05:03They've got some speed.
05:04And they're probably giving a bit of, what do you say, injecting a bit of enthusiasm into the first grade side, you know,
05:10because they want to showcase their skills.
05:13Yeah.
05:14And it's probably rubbing off on the other guys.
05:16And they're pretty keen too.
05:17One of the Bulls officials said they'd play reserve rugby if we asked them as well.
05:20Yeah.
05:21They're just out there to play footy.
05:23They're very good cricketers as well.
05:25It doesn't matter what they venture into.
05:28They're very good at it.
05:30And they concentrate on doing what they're doing when that sport they're playing is up and running.
05:36Yeah, the game against Warhawk, the draw might come back to bite the Bulls.
05:40Yeah.
05:41I mean, Paul Walsh said here on the segment last week that Warhawk were lucky to get the point that day.
05:45That was a dodgy penalty right at the end.
05:47I mean, because the Bulls got beaten in the last couple of minutes by Foster, the following week.
05:50I don't quite go into the narrative that they were beaten by the referee that day.
05:53It's just been getting around.
05:55They conceded two tries in the last ten minutes off kicks.
05:57Yeah, true.
05:58They couldn't have defused that.
05:59Beside that one more point would have put them in the two points of the Wingham.
06:02So, they'd be breathing right down there.
06:04So, is Tari still chasing Wingham?
06:07Well, yeah.
06:08Warhawk's pretty safe in there now.
06:09They're pretty consistent.
06:10So, you've got Wingham playing.
06:12Well, Tari will be hoping Warhawk beat Wingham this weekend.
06:15Yeah.
06:16And then we've got the big Christie Lee game next weekend.
06:18Yeah.
06:19David at Jack Neal.
06:20So, that'll be massive.
06:22If that's to decide, can decide or put the team, that'll be massive again.
06:26Massive again, yeah.
06:27Oh, Jesus.
06:28Yeah, no.
06:29As I said, like you say, Gary, if Wingham get beat this week and, you know,
06:34and Tari can, you know, get a win at Kempsey, which it's on the cards,
06:40highly unlikely maybe, but you never know.
06:43And if Tari beat Wingham the week after, well, it's game on, isn't it really?
06:47So, they're still in there.
06:48Yes.
06:49So, that's what they're looking for.
06:50Even if they both get beat and Tari's still only three points behind them,
06:54so mathematically there's still a chance.
06:56Oh, that's good.
06:57Yeah.
06:58Makes for a really good weekend next weekend.
07:00Well, the good news is, Gary, for you, is that Wingham's got a heap of players out.
07:03It's all good.
07:04The bad news is they're all coming back the following week.
07:07You know, while they come back the following weekend,
07:09they all appreciate that day and want to be in it.
07:12I've spoken to a couple of them.
07:13Plus they want to win to get to the semifinals.
07:15I know that Mitch Collins, the captain and coach of Wingham,
07:19he's disappointed we're not going to be able to play next weekend.
07:24He did last year, didn't he?
07:25No, I think he was out with the hand again too.
07:28What, did Barney break it last year?
07:30Yeah.
07:31That's why I think he's just going to play next year and be involved in that
07:35because he might be the coach.
07:37No, it's good that they've still decided.
07:40And the leaders of the competition there are old bar on points for and against.
07:45Twenty-five, yeah.
07:46So, that's still up for grabs too, isn't it?
07:48Absolutely.
07:49Yeah.
07:50So, it's good.
07:52So, that's really good.
07:54There's about a 40-point differential between old bar and Port Sharks.
07:59Yep.
08:00So, and I would think that both of them, maybe they'll win the next five games
08:05and it depends how many points scored for and against.
08:07I mean, who knows who's going to finish up more in the Premier League.
08:10That's right.
08:11Well, old bar's got McLeod, Kempsey, the second last week, I think.
08:15Yeah.
08:16That won't be a gimme.
08:17It might be decided whether Kempsey finishes third or fourth.
08:20Well, Kempsey finished third.
08:21Were they?
08:22There don't be as much doubt about that.
08:23Oh.
08:24Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:25The old bar plays, sorry, they play McLeod Valley in round 13.
08:27Yep.
08:28And then they play Wingham, then they play Warhawk.
08:30Oh, so it's…
08:31And we're having a wait too, so that might…
08:33Yeah.
08:34Last game, yeah.
08:35Big day for Wingham too on Sunday.
08:37Andrew and Gilbert, father and son, in the first grade squad.
08:41Oh, how good is that?
08:42It'll be a first for the, they believe a first for the club,
08:46certainly a post-war first for the club
08:48because it's happened to other clubs around in groups
08:50through the last couple of years.
08:51The Pipers were at Port City, weren't they?
08:53Yeah.
08:54And there was a father and son-in-law at McLeod in 2019.
08:57Very good for the club.
08:58Yeah.
08:59Well, Andrew's been named on the bench,
09:02so he's a captain coach in reserve grade,
09:04so he's got to get through reserve grade first.
09:05They sit on the bench, but yeah,
09:07and Jett's been named at Locke, I think, in the first grade side.
09:11But they've got a few out on Sunday.
09:12They could struggle against Warhawk,
09:14although I understand Warhawk's got a few out as well.
09:16We had Paul on the last week,
09:18and he said they've got a stack of forwards out,
09:20so it's quite amazing how many of those top sides
09:23have a lot of injuries.
09:25So it really comes back to the depth in the club.
09:27Yes.
09:28I mean, they've all got four or five, six injuries,
09:30you know, like Warhawk, Wingham.
09:32Is it because of the wet?
09:33I don't know.
09:34Because of the wet?
09:35You see it in Sydney, they're NRL clubs.
09:37They've all got injuries and hamstrings and whatever,
09:39but they're blaming the grounds are so soft this year.
09:42They've been the softest they've been for a long time.
09:44And usually you don't have that many injuries
09:46in the country football, do you?
09:48No, not in so many teams.
09:49No, no, because I know Alba's got four or five out as well.
09:52Oh, they want them in some.
09:53Yeah, probably some.
09:54And, you know, Taree's got a heap out,
09:56and Wingham's got a few.
09:57So every club's struggling.
09:59You're right.
10:00It just goes to show you what the depth is.
10:02Yeah.
10:03Well, funnily enough,
10:04I contacted Jonathan Newman this week.
10:06He's a physiotherapist from Foster-Toncurry.
10:08He's a football coach.
10:09He coaches the Southern United Football Club
10:11at Foster-Toncurry,
10:13and he's a strength and conditioning coach.
10:15Anyway, I asked him about that.
10:18Well, he said the grounds,
10:19and he said research says it's not the grounds.
10:21He's got a lengthy story in today's media.
10:23It's on or online if you want to get today's paper.
10:26Yeah, it's very interesting what he says.
10:29He says a lot of it in community football or bush football
10:33comes down to preparation,
10:35and players not being able to train for one reason or another.
10:37Yeah.
10:38Because Alba, of course, huge loss in centre.
10:41Sean Nigel, he's gone for the year.
10:42Is that number four?
10:43Is that the number three on that?
10:44The bearded one.
10:45Yeah, he's the gun.
10:46Yeah.
10:47He's the gun.
10:48He's playing the front row.
10:49He's that strong.
10:50Yeah.
10:51And quick.
10:52Oh, is he going for the year?
10:53Yeah, he's on his knee.
10:54And he's usually, from a kick,
10:56he's usually always the first player to first carry,
10:58and he hits hard.
10:59He runs hard.
11:00Yeah, that'll come down to the pointy end of the season.
11:04Absolutely.
11:05Yeah, when you've got those.
11:06Yeah, big time.
11:07Yeah.
11:08Other guys out suspended for a couple of weeks still.
11:10Yes.
11:11Emmanuel Solay.
11:12Emmanuel Solay.
11:13So he's missed for another couple of weeks.
11:14So you've got three to go, I think.
11:15Yeah.
11:16Yeah, they're in a bit of a bother.
11:17They're playing Foster.
11:18You'd think they'd get over Foster, but even so,
11:20the game sometimes you think you're going to get a win,
11:24and maybe it's going to be a little bit harder than they thought.
11:26Because Jordan Warboy's indicated that he was going to have a couple of weeks off
11:30to try and rest his body a bit before getting into the pointy end.
11:33But he's in a bit of doubt too, Gary.
11:36He's in a moon boot.
11:37Yeah, he's in a moon boot.
11:38He's in a moon boot.
11:39So, I mean, there's a big loss without Jordan,
11:41because he does control everything out there in the middle.
11:44He's got a mouse.
11:45He knows exactly what to do, when to do it,
11:47and controls the game when he's there.
11:50So, you know, he might be out for a couple of weeks,
11:53and it's a big loss for him.
11:55Someone's got to step on up.
11:56I don't think anyone can do what he does in a game of footy at the moment around here.
12:00I saw a game where he didn't play.
12:02He sat on the bench.
12:03He ended up coming on, but when he came on he just made such a difference.
12:06They were going nowhere.
12:07Yeah.
12:08While he wasn't playing.
12:09I think that was against Foster at Foster.
12:10I think it was, actually.
12:11Yeah.
12:12Half-time it was, what, ten?
12:14I think it was ten-eight or something.
12:16Ten all.
12:17In the space of 20 minutes in the second half it was all over.
12:20Yeah.
12:21Yeah, exactly.
12:22He took control.
12:24Yeah, well, he goes to the physio today, he tells me,
12:26so he'll find out how long he'll be out.
12:28He's hoping only a couple of weeks, but I bet they've got Foster
12:31and they've got Port City in the next fortnight.
12:33You'd think they'd get over them, even without Jordan.
12:36Sam Egan's playing good footy for them.
12:38Yeah.
12:39He's only 17 years old.
12:40He's a goal kicker too, isn't he?
12:41Yeah, he's a few goals too.
12:42Yeah.
12:43But that is the last two weeks, the Pirates and the Sharks.
12:46I saw them both, one at Port, one down here in Taree.
12:49In totally contrasting conditions, a fine day at Port
12:52and, of course, a heavy day, a wet day down at Old Bayou last week.
12:55And, gee, they were good games.
12:56Good, hard games of footy.
12:57You were the first one now up at Port.
12:59Yeah.
13:00Yeah, no, they were good.
13:01I mean, like you said, it was very physical.
13:04Played in great spirit.
13:06But, yeah, they seem to be a couple of steps ahead of everybody else
13:10and you would think that they're definitely the two teams that, for me,
13:14that should be there at the grand final day.
13:17Yeah, I don't know if Port got any injuries out of last Saturday on,
13:22but it was a hard game.
13:24They just thumped one another.
13:26I was getting concussed watching from the sideline.
13:30And wet.
13:32I sit where the official sits.
13:34Oh, okay.
13:37I've been doing this for 45 years, Gary, and I know how to stay dry.
13:43About the comp itself,
13:44you've been happy with the way it's come along this year,
13:46despite the rain, of course.
13:47But other than that, it's been a pretty fair season.
13:50Oh, I think it has.
13:51Mick, yeah, we talked earlier about Lake had under-18s been in the comp,
13:55but they're running second at the moment.
13:57They're a pretty fair side.
13:59I expect them to be one of the front runners.
14:04Barring that, the competition's, well,
14:07except Taree's been disappointing for me.
14:09I would have thought the start of the year
14:11they would have improved on last year.
14:15But I thought a few weeks back they'd gone backwards.
14:18But obviously in the last couple of weeks they've picked their game up
14:21and they're heading in the right direction.
14:23So hopefully next year if they can keep those guys on board
14:27and add a couple of more players to their squad,
14:29they'll certainly be in contention for semifinals.
14:34We spoke a bit at the start of the season on this segment.
14:38There was a bit of discussion about when the season starts,
14:43when it ends and how many games we should play.
14:45Has there been any news in that regard for next year at all?
14:48Are any clubs talking about when we kick off, when we finish
14:51and how many games we play?
14:53Oh, yeah.
14:54That's always kicked around this time of the year, Mick.
14:57But when it comes to the AGM, clubs get up there and say,
15:01oh, there's not enough footy, we need more rounds.
15:04So you put something up, Wingham always puts it up and says,
15:08oh, we need another three games or something like that.
15:10And then having said all that, the other clubs will say,
15:13oh, no, we don't need any more football
15:16because there isn't enough football as it is.
15:18So 14 rounds seems to be OK for half the clubs
15:22and not for the other half.
15:23So I don't know where you get the right balance from.
15:26Whether you start earlier and finish earlier,
15:29that's another contentious issue.
15:31We're trying to finish our comp after the Junior League finishes
15:37and Hastings League.
15:38We think we're the premier competition around the area
15:42and as such we should finish behind everybody else.
15:47So we have to work our draws around the Junior League,
15:50which we're doing with Warren Blissett now.
15:53They're finishing their comp, I think it's the first weekend,
15:56second weekend.
15:57I think they start next week, September or something like that.
15:59They're just about, they've got little grandkids by now
16:02and they've got next weekend, the Christian League Cup days,
16:05their last game, they've got a gala day on the Sunday.
16:10But they're finished, the Junior League and the minis
16:13have finished for the year, which you're looking at
16:16and you're going, so early?
16:17But it's obviously with the rain and everything,
16:19they've been playing Friday night, Sunday, Saturday
16:21and everything.
16:22And I think the only way you can have a fair competition
16:25is you've got to play everybody once or twice.
16:30You can't play everyone twice and then you have another three games.
16:34If someone's going to whinge about that,
16:36how come they get to play them?
16:38It's not fair.
16:39Same with the NRL.
16:40It'll never be fair until they're able to play each other twice
16:43or they play each other once when they get 20 teams
16:45and they play 19 games and have a break during the year
16:47for the state of Oregon.
16:48It's never fair because you're looking at it
16:50and you're going, with the NRL, they might play a team this week
16:55and then three weeks later they play the same team again
16:57without playing someone else once.
16:59And that's what we'll always have in country rugby league
17:02unless you play the same team twice or once.
17:07If you've got a lot of teams in it, then it's fair.
17:09Home and away.
17:10That NRL, they don't have a home and away.
17:13They don't know what it is.
17:14Home and away, seriously.
17:17But this year shows that you've got to put spare weekends in that,
17:22doesn't it?
17:23Oh, absolutely.
17:24Yeah.
17:25As you say, I was a bit lucky with the nine sides in the 18s
17:29that you had to put in those spare weekends to accommodate the side
17:32because at least that cut out then the need to play midweek.
17:37It's been a godsend, really, honestly.
17:39You don't realise how good it's worked out for our competition
17:42to have those three or four spare weekends
17:44because we've needed them and we've used them.
17:46Yeah.
17:47So, you know, and I know some clubs have looked forward to having a bye
17:52because, you know, they said,
17:53oh, we need a bit of a break.
17:55The game's so physical now, you know, the 10-metre rule
17:58and the physical contact, again, the contact's huge.
18:03Even the women, they've just built one another.
18:05They're better sides.
18:06I wouldn't want to play against them.
18:08How's it going in the women's comp?
18:09We don't hear much of it around here.
18:11It's seven sides, is it?
18:13It's seven sides, but, I mean, there's three sides that stand out
18:16with Lauriton, Maclay Valley and Wargo.
18:21Port Sharks are first time in, but they're improving out of sight
18:24and Foster's their first time in.
18:27Foster's very young, aren't they?
18:28They're a very young side.
18:29A lot of the girls play league, tag them back up and play tackle.
18:33Gary Adams down there, he's trying hard,
18:34but, I mean, he just can't get the commitment out of the girls
18:37that is required to sort of be competitive each week.
18:41That's the biggest problem with the women.
18:42Are there many who play league, tag and play tackle,
18:45or is it they're in the minority?
18:46Not a lot, Mick.
18:48There's a couple at Warhat play both and, you know, Port City
18:53have a couple of girls who back up and play with Lauriton.
18:56They'll play league, tag with Port City,
18:58then back up and play rugby league with Lauriton when it suits,
19:03when it's not on the same day.
19:05That's an issue, I suppose.
19:06It's, you know, you're playing football on Saturday,
19:09you've got other sports to contend with
19:11and, you know, referees, you know, referees on a Saturday,
19:15it's a nightmare trying to get referees to referee on Saturday,
19:18especially now when you've got five grades
19:19and you're starting at 10 o'clock in the morning.
19:21So all the Junior League games are still going ahead
19:23and, you know, referees are a big issue on Saturdays
19:26and I reckon next year, if it's the same,
19:29we'll have to probably play three games on a Sunday
19:31and one on a Saturday.
19:32OK, really?
19:33Because they've been stretched all season, haven't they?
19:35Yeah.
19:37I'll probably have to make me come back as a referee.
19:39You've been talking about it for three years, yeah.
19:41I've been waiting, Gary.
19:42I think I might have to start doing that next year.
19:45If I get fit during the off-season, all right?
19:47Have a look at that, that'll be something.
19:49Yeah, OK.
19:50Tell us when you're on the wheel.
19:51I might tick that box.
19:52You be coming to have a look.
19:53You be coming up.
19:54Mate, you'll get Sports Star of the Week if you do that.
19:56If I don't have that $50 voucher,
19:58I'll need that food at the Manning.
20:00So where's the, where's the,
20:02that's just trying to be Sports Star of the Week.
20:04Oh, is it?
20:05Guano one, yeah.
20:08So the women's grand final,
20:09Matt, will that be on group three, grand final day?
20:12The grand final on group three?
20:13Yeah, will the women's grand final be on that as well?
20:15Yeah, at this stage it will be, yeah.
20:17Oh, good.
20:18So we'll have five games in the day.
20:19That'll be a big day.
20:20Showcase our women,
20:21let them get out there and show their skills.
20:24Which leads me to,
20:25under-18 game, grand final day,
20:27or grand final day last year at Port.
20:29Under-18 grand final to win the two Port sides.
20:32It was a great game of footy.
20:34I didn't know a player on either side,
20:35but I enjoyed it from kick-off to full-time.
20:38Yep.
20:39Port and Sharks went fairly easily in the end,
20:40but 90% of the game was close.
20:42It was a good standard of football.
20:44Yeah.
20:45Of course, but then we saw the Reserve Grade game,
20:46which was Reserve Grade.
20:47Yeah, right.
20:48And we spoke,
20:49and I said,
20:50do you think you'd ever,
20:51the group would ever consider
20:52maybe moving the under-18 to the main prelim?
20:54That's what we've been talking about for years and years.
20:56They did try it one year and then abandoned it.
20:58Do you think that still would be a possibility?
21:00I would love to have that going, Mick,
21:02even through the competition rounds, but...
21:04Competition rounds are a bit hard, though,
21:05because of people knocking off work and that sort of stuff.
21:07Yeah, it is, but the issue,
21:08that's not the issue.
21:09The issue is the fact that it's the licences of the...
21:11Yeah.
21:12You can't sell alcohol until the under-18s get out on the road.
21:16Exactly.
21:17And that's why we don't do it,
21:19or clubs don't want it, you know,
21:21so that's the issue, so...
21:22Would that be a problem on grand final day,
21:23to get a waiver or something or other, or...
21:25I think you can.
21:26Probably could.
21:27You probably could get a special...
21:28Yeah.
21:29Yeah, compensation or dispensation,
21:31whatever you like to say.
21:32Because, I mean, I think it would be a far better spectacle.
21:36I mean, I remember the crowd last year at Port,
21:38and it was a fairly good crowd there.
21:41Everything went flat there,
21:42because mainly it was two Ports sides playing,
21:44so there was a lot of interest in Port Macquarie,
21:46you know, of course,
21:47but it sort of went flat in that reserve game, didn't it?
21:49And it was a hot day, and...
21:50Yeah.
21:51I suppose if you talk about selling liquor,
21:54there would have been a fair bit of siding
21:55while that reserve game was going on, I think.
21:57But the thing is, if it's under-18s,
21:59every player in the under-18s might be 18.
22:01Exactly.
22:02You're exactly right.
22:03So you could...
22:04I don't know why they're saying,
22:05oh, you've got to wait half the under-18s.
22:06Well, they could all be 18, so...
22:08Yeah.
22:09The legal...
22:10Yeah.
22:11Yeah, I don't see it as a barrier, really, but...
22:14No.
22:15So is there a possibility you might look at the group,
22:17might look at that, or it's too far?
22:19We'll bring it up again at the AGM.
22:20Yeah.
22:21Yeah.
22:22And Dale and Barb had a few problems with their ground this week
22:24because of the wet.
22:25Yeah.
22:26If they...
22:27It was very heavy there last week,
22:28and there was not much there for spectators
22:30as far as cover's concerned.
22:31No.
22:32Although I suppose a lot of grounds are like that, I guess.
22:34But if Alba qualifies...
22:37Well, they'll have the semi-final,
22:39but if they qualify for the grand final,
22:41you'll still go down to Alba?
22:42Well, that's something that the group will decide later on, Mick,
22:45when the grand...
22:46It depends where it's going to be played,
22:47who wins the major semi, blah, blah, blah.
22:49But, you know, it's...
22:51I'm a believer in spreading games around.
22:55I mean, you get a team that finishes up minor Premier,
22:58they get the major semi-final,
23:00they win that game and then they get the grand final.
23:02So they're getting a big bite of the cherry as far as funds go,
23:05and I don't believe that's fair.
23:07I'd like to see it spread around where every ground gets a grand final.
23:11Even if the team that finishes last...
23:13Exactly.
23:14If Foster or Tyree or someone like that,
23:15why can't we play the game there
23:17and they can generate some funds through the canteens
23:19and sell on doubles or whatever they want to do, raffles.
23:22I just, you know...
23:24How can they go ahead if they're not getting the revenue
23:28Yeah, but I suppose the argument against that is
23:30that the side that finishes minor Premier
23:31or the side that wins the major semi-final
23:33should be rewarded by a grand final.
23:35And I guess it's where you'd look to play it.
23:38I mean, it wouldn't be much sense, say,
23:39playing the two port sides at Foster, would there?
23:40You'd have to...
23:42Yeah, I mean, make them travel.
23:43Yeah, that'd be a good idea.
23:45I don't mind playing at neutral grounds.
23:47I just...
23:48Especially ones that can cater for...
23:52You've got to look at the spectator comfort today a little bit.
23:55I know our grandstands aren't fantastic,
23:57but we've got two or three really good grounds in our area
24:00and I reckon we should be utilising them come the big games.
24:04You also have to look at...
24:06We talk at Foster,
24:07I mean, you've got the licensed club across the road there
24:09where you've got...
24:11In fact, that bar area is always full.
24:13I mean, I'd be...
24:14Covering that in.
24:15Yeah, I'd be putting a few barrows in front of that, I think.
24:17You've got the same problem with Jack Neill over in Target.
24:19You've got the colleagues up next door
24:22and the balcony out there with the club there.
24:24I remember the last grand final played here in 2007
24:27and I've heard various reports of between 50 and 100 people
24:30sitting on that balcony.
24:33When that gate was open over there,
24:35going back a few years now,
24:36when that gate was open,
24:37the old Leeds club, they used to make a...
24:39What's up?
24:40Oh, I remember.
24:43You speak a reserve grade.
24:45I know when I was covering the game
24:47and going to watch the Rodeans
24:48and have a journey across the Leeds club.
24:52Keep it on that for us, Lee,
24:53and go and have a couple of beers with reserve grabbers on
24:55and come back for first grade.
24:56You're rubbish on reserve grab today, Mick.
24:57I'm not really rubbish.
25:00I used to play reserve grab.
25:01I know what it's like.
25:03Gary, one week to go.
25:05A few more slips to go to the big day,
25:07Christy Lee Bridge Day, Cup Day.
25:10How's it shaping up?
25:11It's shaping up very good, very good.
25:13We just got the New South Wales jersey
25:17back from New Zealand last week.
25:20Collins.
25:21Yeah, Mitch Collins took it over.
25:23Mitch Barnett signed it
25:24because we're going to auction off a New South Wales jersey
25:28that every local player has played in.
25:31Kylie Hilda, Holly Wheeler,
25:34Latrell Mitchell, Denny Bederas.
25:37Boyd Cordner.
25:38Boyd Cordner.
25:39Matty Adamson.
25:40Matty Adamson.
25:41So Matty is the last person we've got to get yet to get on there,
25:44but we'll be able to get that for the person.
25:46We're going to auction that off.
25:47A couple of State of Origin women's and men's jerseys.
25:50We've got a Roosters jersey, 2024 sign.
25:54Thanks to the Cordners again for that.
25:57And they should be in the grand final this year,
26:00the Roosters, shouldn't they, Mick?
26:01Let's hope so.
26:02Let's hope so.
26:03If there's a God in heaven, they will be.
26:04Wearing the T-shirts, the polos,
26:07the same as what the jersey's going to be next weekend.
26:10Paul Sirinin from Tigers and New South Wales State of Origin,
26:15he'll be here next weekend.
26:16A lot of me Balmain players are coming up.
26:19There's probably half a dozen or eight of them coming up.
26:21Ronnie Ryan, Paul Knobby-Clark, David Brooks.
26:24It's put the message out for big Steve Blocker Roach to turn up too.
26:29He's made a commitment.
26:31Yeah, but it's been very well supported.
26:34Benny Elias has come up before and done it.
26:36So looking forward to it, Mick, and let's hope the weather's fine
26:39and the day's a real good day.
26:41There's all junior, the Panthers and Rovers,
26:43they've got all their juniors going through from about 8.30 in the morning.
26:46So it's a massive day, and I want to thank the sponsors
26:50and all the supporters from the local
26:52because all the money we raise next weekend
26:54all goes to the local CanAssist,
26:57and we all know that people are affected by cancer
27:00at some stage in their life,
27:03and they stand by and help us out tremendously,
27:07and that's what we're doing it for.
27:09You've got 200,000 plus you've raised since 2004, don't you?
27:12Yeah, so it's the community.
27:15Everything we earn stays local,
27:18and I think that's why people want to support it.
27:21Well, I didn't make the statement to you a couple of weeks ago
27:23that I thought the Bulls would win the Christian League Cup this year.
27:25I didn't quite realise we were going to have all those blokes back at the time.
27:28Anyway, I'll stand by that.
27:30My brother said,
27:32you didn't go off too early there last weekend.
27:35So both my nephews will be playing against us,
27:40as they do all the time,
27:42so it'll be a really good day.
27:44Looking forward to it.
27:46We'll have a big preview of that next Friday on the bench.
27:49Mal, thanks for coming in again, mate.
27:51I know you've got other media commitments you've got to get to.
27:53You're a busy man.
27:55Where are you off to this weekend?
27:57Heading up to Kempsey tomorrow.
27:59You're always going to Kempsey, don't you?
28:01Nobody else wants to go there.
28:03You wouldn't be paying rates up there, would you?
28:05They're going to get me a jumper.
28:07They're going to get me a jersey.
28:09I'm going to go to Wingham on Sunday and watch the war at Wingham.
28:11He is wearing a Queensland jersey, isn't he?
28:15Look at this.
28:17Good weather to get to Group 3.
28:19I'm guessing you'll be golfing this weekend, Gary.
28:21You've got to be going to footy.
28:23Getting all ready for next weekend.
28:25Golfing.
28:26I've got to go golfing this weekend.
28:28It rained last weekend.
28:29I missed out on it.
28:31What are you going to do?
28:33I might go and watch the rugby at Dambiac tomorrow.
28:35The major semi-finals.
28:37I'll go to the Rats in first grade.
28:41All the grand finals of all the men's and women's competitions.
28:44All the same venue tomorrow at Dambiac.
28:46And Sunday I'll go to Wingham.
28:48I might go to Wingham.
28:50You won't.
28:51What am I going to do Sunday?
28:53Whatever tenure tells you to do.
28:55That's what you'll do on Sunday.
28:57Thanks for coming in, mate.
28:59Enjoy the footy.
29:00You're going to footy this weekend.
29:02We'll see you next week for the big Christian Lee Bridge Cup preview on the bench.
29:05Beautiful.
29:07We'll see you next week.