Bulldogs make Metcalf call, QLD Halfback Race & Magic Round Preview
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What are the implications of the Bulldogs' search for a halfback?
G'day and welcome to Kentie Blitz, your daily hit of NRL news. And Kentie, on the eve of Magic Round, this weekend is looming as a trial for many positions in State of Origin, particularly in the Queensland halves.
Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? Basically, if you're Billy Slater, he'll get up there and he'll perch himself in the grandstand and watch every game and just all going to be there in front of him for the whole weekend so he won't have to move out of his seat to have a look at every possible candidate. A couple of beers will be helpful. I doubt very much he'd have a couple of beers, to be honest. No, I don't think he does. And I don't think Laurie's actually going up for a magic round, but obviously he'll be watching over the weekend and fine-tuning his team.
Well, his team's already picked, according to us, yesterday.
Well, yeah, we named the team.
How is Luke Metcalf's potential move to the Dragons impacting the Bulldogs?
So, Laurie, don't even bother, actually, if you don't want. Just give us a call. We'll tell you what the team should be.
What are the prospects for Sam Walker joining the Bulldogs?
No, but I think – look, Billy – I'll say one thing I know about Billy is – There's a lot of even very, very good footballers and good footballers who try to become coaches who can be convinced to go either way on a certain player. Or if they've got two and a certain coach talks to them, they'll go, okay, we're going to go with him. Then they'll talk to another coach and suddenly he's going back here. And they almost doubt themselves in that coaching world. Billy's understanding of what's required and what he needs to do and what a player can do for him most importantly, that stuff, he's second to none in that. I remember talking years ago to Wayne Bennett, and Wayne Bennett said to me he's met three people in his career whose ability to identify talent is 20-20.
What does Ivan Cleary's future look like in coaching?
And imagine the amount of people Wayne Bennett has run into at all levels of football. And he's got a list of three of people who could look at a player and say, mate, he'll do this for you. He's a good player. He'll make it.
What challenges are the Sharks facing this season?
He won't make it. And sometimes it's as hard, mate, saying – He won't make it as he will make it. Pick the guy who will.
What updates are there on the Perth Bears and their recruitment?
So Billy's one of those, is he? Well, no, Billy's not one of those.
How are the leaked NSW sides affecting team strategies?
Okay. No, but I'll tell you the three if you want to know. Cyril Connell, who was Wayne's old talent scout.
What should we expect from the Round 11 matches this weekend?
Don Ferner, who was his head coach where Wayne was assistant with him at Canberra. And the third one was Bob Fulton. who they didn't particularly get on and they were big enemies with each other and didn't really have a fondness for each other, but then had to work together when Wayne took the Australian job and Fulton was the chief selector. And Bennett said to me he warmed a lot towards him after that because he understood him a lot more and he just said his ability to spot a football was second to none. Now, I'll say the fourth person in that is Wayne Bennett. Yeah. Okay. Like Wayne wouldn't give himself a rap directly, but he would be there. But I would also put Billy in there. From what I've seen of Billy, I think if Wayne, this conversation I had with Wayne was quite some time ago.
All three of those guys are dead now. Yeah.
You were saying earlier that you didn't believe Billy took counsel from many other people.
I don't believe he did. I don't think he's one of those guys that gets influenced by people. Everyone has named their origin team. We've seen Caelan Ponga, Jake Clifford, Sam Walker. Who else has been named at a halfback? D.C.E., Tanner Boyd. Charlie Evans, Tanner Boyd. He's had five players have been popped up as a potential origin. Plus Caelan Ponga. Yeah, and anyway, out of that, I think Billy already knows who he's going to go with. I think it'll be Sam Walker. That's probably the most astute choice. It's an inspired choice having Caelan Ponga because you really don't know what you're going to get. And in some ways, you're going to terrify New South Wales if he's just getting – the ball first receiver.
But I think you could really work him over defensively. I think you could really fatigue him if he did because defending a fullback is much different than defending in the front line where you've got to go up and back for five tackles.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the implications of the Bulldogs' search for a halfback?
0:01–0:45
2
How is Luke Metcalf's potential move to the Dragons impacting the Bulldogs?
0:45–0:51
3
What are the prospects for Sam Walker joining the Bulldogs?
0:51–1:47
4
What does Ivan Cleary's future look like in coaching?
1:47–2:02
5
What challenges are the Sharks facing this season?
2:02–2:10
6
What updates are there on the Perth Bears and their recruitment?
2:10–2:12
7
How are the leaked NSW sides affecting team strategies?
2:12–2:18
8
What should we expect from the Round 11 matches this weekend?
2:18–39:34
Speakers
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