Chapter 1: What sporting rivalry is explored in this episode?
Look, the AFL have always looked down their nose at rugby league. They criticise second-class citizens. It's obvious we've got them rattled. And the figures and the facts speak for themselves.
We measure ourselves on traditional metrics like people turning up to games, people watching, how long they watch for.
Chapter 2: How do the AFL and NRL fans perceive each other?
They can huff, they can puff, but they won't blow our house down. It's solid brick. We're going to get stronger and we're going to take some of their fans. Vossi, hello.
It still makes me laugh every time. But again, I've got to give a warning straight away to our precious listener. I am in no combative mood with you today. Oh, hello there. Well, I don't say that I can't find my way into that position. I did just want to say right off the top that we are very much stand united with you in grief this week. The passing of Neil Denneher.
I think every rugby league fan who might necessarily know the full football background of Neil Denneher, a appreciates his greatness and contribution as a giant in our population, not sport, not just AFL. His passing... Deeply moved, all of us here. And, of course, we have just come through seven days in shock around the diagnosis for young South Sydney forward Jai Arrow.
I'm saying young at 30 years of age, a young dad being diagnosed with MND. So to family and friends of Neil Denneher, and I just love the line, play on. That's what we'll do. Out of respect for Neil across all our sport, across all our sport.
That's a beautiful sentiment. Thank you, Vossi. It was interesting. So it was felt in every AFL heart. But the touchstone right across the community and the peak of that obviously was the Australian of the Year Award. But when you bring it back, it has been very personal to people.
There's a lot of the calls we've had since his passing have been around having a relative or a loved one who has suffered with MND with no hope. And then a disease that had such low public profile and less funding brought to the forefront. And we're not just talking tens of millions of dollars, but even more than that now.
And for it to land so closely to Jai Arrow, which shocked everybody across the sporting world, that is really when it does hit home.
Your tribute yesterday on the program, we replayed on our program here in New South Wales, highly moving, of course. But to be able to draw on the audio of Neil speaking when MND is having its effect on him, those words forever will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. And if nothing more than when you think you're having a bad day,
Play those words of Neil and talking about the beast and why we exist and how he's going to take it on. Like, seriously, you're both crying, you're feeling proud, you're determined, but you're also sad that this man, but if there's a legacy, that's a bloody strong one that Neil Denneher has left. I don't think there may have been as strong by someone, but never stronger than what he has left.
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Chapter 3: What tribute is paid to Neil Denneher during the episode?
I thought about this on the weekend, Gerard, and certainly love your opinion on this. I called the South Sydney Rabbitohs game on Sunday against the Cowboys. So this is the game in the week that all the players, it's revealed to them his diagnosis. Because as we understand it, there are only four of the players new previous to the rest of the playing squad.
The news was announced to them as they went into the press conference, the full diagnosis. They'd obviously observed changes, but they didn't know the full picture. And I called with a great rugby league man in Steve Roach, who's been there, done that. And I said, well, you know, is it motivating? And Steve was very from the heart. He said, you know what? I'd find it hard to play. It's such a...
Yeah, you're so sad about it. It's a hard thing to turn into motivation with respect. I totally get that. We all cry. Then you go out and you play football. Are you inspired to play in his honour? No, it might be hard to get over the sadness and shock for those who are really close to him, like his absolute club teammates. A little different with Queensland.
Melbourne's Trent Liero tonight, out of the Melbourne Storm side, will wear the jersey, will wear the number 17 that Jai Arrow wore in his, as it turns out, his last Origin game. Now, I could imagine him being moved to the positive, to being inspired. But for teammates, I could imagine, yeah, I would say if South Sydney were flat on the weekend, I think they had reason to be. Yep.
And that's not criticizing them in the slightest.
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Chapter 4: How does Jai Arrow's diagnosis affect the rugby community?
I'm saying that would be natural human reaction. It would.
And you can't manufacture that. It's just how it occurs to each individual and then how you come together and find unity and purpose beyond that. So it is origin one tonight. Just give me the setup. So this is in Sydney. Yep. Is there the assumption in New South Wales that you're going to start with a win and open yourselves up to the very core of origin where the Queenslanders come through?
I see. You're poking a little stick here at a Hornets desk, hoping that Hornets will... suddenly emerge. I've got to be honest, and I can only call it as I see it or feel it as I feel it, Gerard. I was feeling flat around this origin for whatever reason. I don't know. We're so immersed in our week-to-week NRL footy that sort of origin can creep up on you.
Team selections always, hullabaloo, you know, who was lucky, who was unlucky. But then it becomes quite boring, origin week in terms of build-up, like the ā You're scrambling for a story or a headline. But today I woke up pretty excited. And we've just had a former Queensland player on the show, Moses Embiid, say it's Christmas morning. And you do. Origin fever does hit.
Tonight I think we've got a real ā I don't think I've ever looked at an Origin game with so many players out of form or not at their best. Or not at their best. There's so many ā it's a battle of question marks tonight for mine. A battle of question marks. Weather is okay, not perfect, Gerard.
So I think even if it doesn't rain, there is a forecast for rain later today, it will be a slippery surface. That will have an impact. The question mark on how the game is going to be refereed, all of those factors. Does the team with the least question marks win, I suppose? There's a lot of questions. It's a high-scoring question mark game. I've got Queensland winning narrowly, Gerard.
And I'm right here in New South Wales, born and bred. Provocative. Yeah, it is. Caelan Ponga. And again, may I say, when it comes to Origin, thank you, AFL, VFL, for providing us with this concept.
Thank you. Pete thinks he invented it, but that's okay. Hey, so this is what's had me curious. Andrew Abdo takes the role as Chief Executive of Tennis Australia. Peter Volandi sits there and makes it sound like he has graduated to the pinnacle job in Australian sport. There is no bigger position. Any job you take after the CEO of the AFL is a step down. I was amazed to see it pitched that way.
Oh, what is that? What did you just say?
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Chapter 5: What insights are shared about the upcoming Origin game?
But vacant car park lot. Nobody there.
No one there. No one invited. They didn't dare sell tickets.
So I wonder when James Magnusson writes his book, whether he'll go, oh, wow, that's not what I imagined I was signing up for.
Great question, because he did say in quotes, it was great to be back racing again, like on War. Really? Was it anything like a race you competed in, like even at Port Macquarie in your nipper days? Yeah. Was it even like that? No. It was just four people on the blocks on a pool that was alongside the running track, the car park, as you say. I said it was like the Tuncurry races.
There were a few, which is regional New South Wales, north coast. It was just a few sort of corporate boxes on the side where people could come up to the fence and lean over the fence and watch. Yeah. What? Weird, weird. Gerard, at least we're on the common path there. And all the very best in your rehabilitation from whatever you've taken today.
Enjoy Origin.
On behalf of our audience.
Thank you. Andrew Voss, Across the Divide. We play every Tuesday, normally, but Wednesday today as we explore our cultural and sporting differences. The 40 Wings temper text is 0433 98 11 16. The difference is temper. The open line is 1300 736 736. A few bits and pieces, and then we'll do some nerdy stats to finish off.
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