Roy and HG - Bludging on the Blindside

00:02 This is an ABC podcast. 00:06 Standby. Roy and HG. 00:14 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, jet ski loons looking for a picnic to splash and fat tyre e-bike rodeo clowns creating untold mayhem on footpaths across the nation. 00:30 Our great code stands on the precipice of international sporting greatness! 00:38 So, with soul in the shorts, feeling in the feet, and joy in the jumper, it's time to bump, it's time to thump, it's time to sink the slipper! 00:50 Let's pull the cord on the Evan Roode two-stroke and set off for the far horizon. It's another blast of bludgeoning on the blindside with the master of midfield mayhem, rampaging Roy Slavin, and the man with a fistful of bait and burly, Captain Flathead HG Nelson. 01:13 Yes, TF Munch, TF Munch, Cedric Espen, Sump AO, a.k.a. The Drain, torching a blindside blue vapour for the final time in season 2026. It's the familiar sound, all right, of the Sumpster camp in the ABC Smart and ABC local radio soundproof booth. And look, with the final show... 01:39 Dog night is coming. 01:41 You know, we had to get the bludge out of the road for the year to settle things down for the dog night in 2027, but everything is tickety-boo on track, and it's yap, yap, yap, yap, yap. 01:52 Dogs are yapping. 01:53 Hello Australia, HD Nelson lifting the lid on another magnificent week of consenting concussion magic. 01:59 And that's what we get. That's what you get with the bludge. Consenting concussion magic. What a week. What an incredible week. A week when too much sport is barely enough. It's a Super Saturday. And even though I'm right in thinking there's no, you know, local radio, ABC Sport football on, it's still a Super Saturday. It's a Super Saturday because tomorrow is a Super Sunday and ABC Sport will be there for the big one. The grand final, two grand finals, two great grand finals, NRLW to kick it off and then the NRL main game to put the icing on the cake, so to speak. 02:32 It's a week when too much sport is barely enough. 02:35 If I haven't said that already. And look, it's still another, even though it's the final one and we head for the terminus for the year, it's still a trip of the lifetime. And before we get stuck in, let's just have a quick squeeze at the Festival of the Boot action last weekend. Boot part one. What a dramatic climax after Fremantle had bravely declared wharfie time with a few minutes to go. The Brisbane Lions sprang into life and grabbed a stunning victory from the still warm turds of defeat. 03:02 It's a great demonstration of it's not over till the fat lady sings, if I can put it that way. I'm not sure what an appropriate cliche would be, but let's sit with that one for the time being. And Melbourne, of course, in their way. 03:15 Well, the AFL in particular haven't stopped talking about the G. Kylie, the natural gas blue foam dancers who were incredible. I've forgotten all about them. But there they were, young kids who had come out and pulled on their blue leotards and flopped around with Kylie singing locomotion. It was just great. Disco sounds. And then wharfie time at the end, sadly. Of course, wharfie time. They should have mothballed that for another year. In the deliberate mistake section of last week's show, the Bludge, in a moment of end of season madness, bravely suggested that the win last Saturday would be the fourth Lions flag on the trot. 03:47 We were wrong. Apologies to anyone we tipped into a dud bucket. I mean, that fourth on the trot accolade, that's got to wait till this time next year. And AFL, Granny Melody, Southern Districts, Highland, Blood City, Pipers, if you please, Herbie, Worfie, that's Worfies, 12, 17, 89, Big Cage Cats, 14, 12, 96. So in the end, a convincing win, really. by seven points. And in the NRL last weekend, it was obviously part two of the, you know, the book part two, two games, the Roosters took care of the Dolphins, the Tune Pipers, if you don't mind, Dolphins 20, Roosters bled us down to solid three dozen to win quite easily in the end. 04:26 And the Knights v Panthers, well, this was one for the ages, as they say, it was one of the greatest games of rugby league. And I put it, I said in media comments at the time, this is why they invented the big show all those years ago. In 1908, they had a dream, a glint in the eye, that it would end up being like this. You know, the key player broke both legs. Let's not beat around the bush here. He couldn't stand. He had to be dragged off. And another player went down with a conventional knee, I think, problem. And then, of course, the other team were reduced to 12 men. 04:57 It might have been less than that too. I sometimes only saw four out there. It was that sort of day. 05:03 Nukes reduced to 12 men. 05:05 You know, obviously the greatest player gone. 05:08 You know, when your luck's out, your luck's right out when you're a Penrith Panther. And the tune, Pipers, if you please. And incidentally, I should point out that today the Blood City Pipers are marching under the baton of drum major Herbie Farnworth. It's a new gig for Herb now that he's finished his football commitments for the year. Panthers 14, Newcastle 22. 05:28 And this Sunday, the Carter Day course sees the NRLW big dance featuring the Roosters and the Broncos kick off at four. Remember daylight saving tonight. You don't arrive too early or too late. 4 p.m. for the NRLW. And then the past, present... Past and present Dally M winners will stagger on with their kitchen doors to be run over by monster trucks in the colours of rugby league. And it's on to the big one, Chook's V-nukes at 7.30pm. And then that's all she wrote. 06:00 With the view in head, let's pause on the eve of the big one tomorrow, the big dance of 2026, and cast a long lingering look back over the season that was 2026. And I said at the time of the AFL grand final a week ago, it just feels ages ago, but it was just a week, just seven days. It's been a year of miracles and wonders. The big news is NRL Supremo, Supremo, Our Feathers, has taken over the controls of the big show as CEO and chairman of the whole shebang. The first move of the new Feathers regime was to see Andrew Abdo of Abdo Air fame off the present premises. 06:32 Andrew was last sighted putting up the nets at Rod Laver Arena. At least he's gainfully employed. This year, two teams joined the Rugby League family, the Western Red North Sydney Himalayan Mountain Bears. They've caught the imagination in the Golden West. There's hardly a copy of the paper that doesn't feature them on the front page. And the PNG Pirates Need Chiefs are already a household name across the South Pacific. Feathers is very, very keen on the global game, obviously believing that world peace can only be achieved through the violence of Rugby League. And this program has subscribed to that theory for many, many years, that the violence of Rugby League is the poultice which we put on the problems of the world, especially where it's seeking peace. 07:11 To this end, the UK Super League is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the NRL, and waiting in the wings to make their debut centre stage are the Taiwanese oysters, the Biak pythons, the blue-green algae, aka the SA drain, and the Durban poison. Getting the poison on board will be fantastic. Very uncompromising team. Five and a half billion feathers managed to squeeze out of the TV and punting industries in the biggest TV rights deal ever for Australian sport and particularly the greatest game of all. The future is looking bright for these, well, because the future is feathers. 07:44 Can I sum it up in that way? The future of the rugby league is looking bright because the future is feathers. I'm sure they'll see that written on a wall somewhere. Rugby league now owns watering holes in most Australian suburbs and the turnover of top casinos is now tipped into the bottom line of NRL's financial structure. And on the drawing board in League HQ, Project Tubo-I-Fido. This is something that Roy's very keen on. This is the cutting edge defensive weapon system that allows tiny robots, robotic drones, should I say, to fly into people's ears and blow up their brains. 08:17 experts all agree that the Tabuifido is the weapon of tomorrow, just as the drones are a weapon of today. It's already worth billions to the rugby league in, you know, all those rare earth, you know, all that stuff that goes with making a drone blow up somebody's head. Now, and speaking of Australian national defence strategy, China is now cowering in the corner of the corner, afraid of the challenge of the NRL to anywhere on the planet. They just won't go anywhere now. with their boats and their bombs, because the NRL is likely to be their first. 08:47 And that has happened in the few short weeks since Commander-in-Chief Volanders has been pulling the levers at NRL House. 08:55 On his long to-do list, he's promised a Sunday surprise before the big dance. 11 minutes of unforgettable television, I think is how he's described it as, and the lights will be turned off and then they'll be turned back on again. That sort of surprise. Somebody found the switch. The top brass in rugby league have sworn me to secrecy, but bugger it. If I end up in jail, so be it. Tomorrow, before the kickoff, maestro Andre Rieu. And the Johann Strauss Orchestra will play the hits of Rugby League, including Simply the Best, What's My Team and Kaysan. 09:27 Rieu will be followed at the long break by the Barry White and the Love Island Limited Orchestra. They're just incredible. More news on the pre-match 11 minutes of Unforgettable TV later in the bludgeon. Remember, kids, it's all just one sleep away. 09:40 And in a breakthrough this week that has the future written all over it, Feathers, after a meeting with New South Wales Premier Minns, is now in charge of the New South Wales rail system taking control of what I've described in other media commitments as the triangle of trust. 09:55 The triangle includes those key centres of rugby league excellence, Lithgow, Newcastle and Central Sydney, the Triangle of Trust. The Bludge has intimate knowledge of the transport stumpers having travelled the Triangle of Trust for decades. Getting the crowd to and from the big one last weekend was a nightmare due to unplanned weekend track work problems. Volanders, who is no stranger to rugby league transport issues, is now in charge of this triangle of turmoil. That's how he sees it. His remit includes... that troubling trifecta of track work, timetabling and security. 10:29 And we just pause here to say there's been a car accident, a very bad car incident in Newcastle, which has actually clogged the main artery out of Newcastle for people wanting to drive down to the game. And so this may throw more emphasis on the trains. Added to his day-to-day rugby league task, Feathers is now in charge of the Sydney to Newcastle, very fast train project. And I can't think of a better person to run this. This has been a project that people have dreamed about for years. It's been on the drawing boards. It's raised every election that we've ever had. 10:59 That's going back to 1908 when they first thought of it to move people from, you know, Newcastle to Sydney for a rugby league match. It's a much discussed. It's got a new name. It's got a new face. It's got a new idea to it. The Ponga Express. The name says it all. No-stop service will cut the time from central to nukes to 35 minutes. Maglev, of course. On the Ponga, every carriage will have a TAB outlet and feature the club colours of the LRL. It's a first-class service with feathers. He's hoping to take control of the first train north on the October long weekend in 2028. 11:33 It's so close you can taste it. So close you can taste it. 11:38 The controller's suit is in the wardrobe already and all the big V has to do is find a peaked hat to go in the ensemble. And you know, some league lovers will step aboard the ponga at Central with the arse out of their trousers and they'll step off in nukes millionaires. It's hard to imagine. For this is very keen on the NRL to return. The civil concept of nude night for 25 matches a year and all future Tropfest entries will have a rugby league focus. But the list goes on. You can see he's got plenty to do elsewhere. What about those buttercup boys in Perth? Yes, the old gold fruit and nut finally brought home the rum and raisin. 12:10 With just 11 men in gold, the Wallabies cashed a cheque written with four yellow cards in the last 11 minutes. It was chaos. But the big W held on bravely for what was described by those who know in the caper as an upset win. Brave, brave Wallabies. I never thought I'd put those words together, but I have. And revel in it. Brave Wallabies. The tune thanks Pylon Hyland Pipers or Pylon Hypers. Aussies 42, Springboks 38. 12:36 The Wallabies are in a streak of six now after that wild night in Perth where referee Piardi had to communicate with his iPhone as the ground comms went down. They were just cactus. Cactus couldn't take the strain. Typical of ground comms, easier with your iPhone. Imagine the score if the Aussies were reduced to just six. 12:55 I mean, they were just putting, you know, like a knife through hot butter, hot knife through butter. I mean, it was just amazing. It was embarrassing to have the world champs reduced to not being able to win against six. Our gold, you know, that is our golden wallabies, and our firming is favourites for the World Cup next year. The Kissed Revolution marches on. And the Buttercups move on to the Bledisloe. 13:17 First test on October the 10th in Eden Park. And the second, a four-pronger, four events on October the 17th at ACOR. So mark them down in your diary. And F1 took us to Baku in Azerbaijan. And, well, Russell beat Verstappen by, guess what, a narrow margin, 0.196 of a second. How do they do that timing? It's just incredible. In the modern world, we live in 0.196 of a time in cars, going that quick. Our Oscar had an absolute nightmare. The first half, not bad, starting fifth on the grid. 13:47 But Piastri was overtaken on lap 36 by Big Max E, and that was the end of it. That was the end of it, and I stopped watching. I did. I stopped watching. You know, you've got to have standards. 13:56 Socceroos were in the news, and they had a crack at a couple of friendlies this week. I hate friendlies. Against the South American powerhouse Brazil, the weeds began in Townsville with a draw, only achieved with a late equaliser. Won all. Then in Brisbane in midweek, it was a night in front of 52,000 fans. Brazil were down 2-1 and had to fight back like a caged tiger. To win 4-2, the results, the visitors having a good hard look at themselves in the room and mirrors before the off. If only we'd got there early and smashed the mirrors in the dressing room before the Brazil bus arrived, I'm sure we could have won. 14:29 And again, I come back to my main thought is I find the friendly concept awkward. Blindside is stand well back and let the hounds of hustle see the lure. Remember, of course, that final night at Wendy Park coming up. As we welcome to ABC Remote and ABC Local Radio, a man who's passionate about Australian small business, especially the cheese business. He appears today on condition of complete anonymity, rampaging Roy Slavin. Can I get the bludgeoning bunny in motion for the final time in 2026 by asking, what highlights caught your restless eye, 4K HD, large language, model machine learning, SL? 15:02 I encrypted bubble jammer. 15:05 Yes. 15:06 Thank you very, very much, HG Nelson. Of course, happy rugby league, HG, to you and to your family, of course, for the final time this year, this season. And happy rugby league to all Aussies who understand what it means to be an Aussie. 15:23 That is the values, the moral framework, the work ethic. And the balance between laissez-faire and what are you looking at? 15:33 Whoa, the balance. You've got to find the balance, and I think Aussies do. That is, Aussies who understand, you know, the values, the moral framework, et cetera, et cetera. It's taught in schools. Well, I don't think it is. Anyway, that's a subject for another day. 15:48 Maybe when we get back next year we'll have a school special. 15:52 Been arguing with the ABC to have a school special for years now. 15:55 Yeah. 15:56 They won't listen. No. Of course they don't listen. I mean, Friday night, dog night, they're not keen. But. But. 16:04 We're going to go ahead with it anyway. 16:05 Yeah. 16:06 We'll call the dogs, even if no one's listening. 16:09 Now, with the tour of South Africa bearing down upon us, this is cricket, many are asking, will we ever get to the bottom of Sandpaper Gate? No. 16:22 Well, Damien Martin, whenever Damien Martin speaks, I listen because he doesn't speak very often. 16:29 Damien Martin says we may never know. 16:32 We may never know. I would have thought a quick interview by police, people who understand questioning techniques. You mean with a phone book? Thank you. Old-fashioned. I mean, a lot of people don't know what a phone book is these days. 16:46 No, I know, I know. Because you know what I mean. A big book. I said that with irony. 16:49 Yes. 16:51 I think a quick investigation, I mean, give me 20, give the police 20 minutes alone with, say, Bancroft, then 20 minutes alone with Warner, 20 minutes alone with Smith, 20 minutes alone with Boof. 17:03 Oh, Boof, yeah. 17:04 And I think we'd get the answers that Aussies still crave. You know, Aussies have values, you know, the moral framework, et cetera, et cetera. You know the Aussies I'm talking about. 17:15 Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's not, but we hope to. We hope. Now, can I just ask you, are you expecting Banter and Sandpaper Gate to come up and be part of the festivities in South Africa that are looming? You can't escape it. No. It's got to be there, front and centre. Yeah. 17:28 I mean, it's up to Postman Pat, isn't it, to stand up as soon as he arrives and says, okay, Sandpaper Gate, here's the result. Yeah. Boof, what have you got to say? Boof, what have you got to say? Ladies and gentlemen, have you met Boof? Come on out, Boof. 17:40 Now, I bumped into a friend, I just say this idly, who assures me that Roger's shoes are available in a number of styles. Casuals, formal, and all sports. This is Roger Federer's shoes, HG, that have... Taking the world by storm. Taking the world by storm. And, you know, of course, Nike have disappeared. I mean... When was the last time you saw a Nike shoe? I haven't seen one in ages. It didn't occur to me. I didn't realise the landscape had changed, but now I realise what the change is. 18:11 No Nike all on. Funny, isn't it? Funny old world. Well done, Roger. 18:19 Now, Sam Goodman, this is a wonderful story, most uplifting with Christmas bearing down upon us. Sam Goodman is our latest boxing world champion. He's won the interim IBF Super Banner Mate title in Japan. 18:34 Now, this fellow, HG, it's a cautionary tale, this fellow, wonderful Aussie, understands values, et cetera, et cetera. Balance. Balance. 18:44 He was living on dog food three weeks ago. 18:49 Three weeks ago, what, in preparation for dog night? 18:51 No, no, no, not in preparation for dog night because he couldn't afford anything else. 18:56 He couldn't afford anything else. He was living on dog food. 18:59 You mean so chumpy you can carve it? 19:01 You got it. Thank you. I don't know if you've ever had a diet or lived off dog food. It's not very pleasant. 19:07 You don't look forward to your meals? You don't look forward to your meals at all. 19:10 You start barking? It doesn't matter what you put in. You can add all sorts of sauces. It doesn't matter. 19:16 Doesn't matter, it's still unpleasant. Anyway, he's now turned the corner with his life. His fists have got him to a world championship. He is our IBF super bandmate. 19:28 Sudabandonweight IBF world title champion. Extraordinary. 19:34 How did you find out about the dog food diet? 19:36 He told me. 19:37 And did he say it helped? 19:38 No. 19:39 No, it didn't help him at all. 19:40 He hated it. He hated it. He was embarrassed going into a shop and they said, oh, you're getting some more dog food, are you? Oh, yeah. You all right there, Sam? You got a dog? No, I don't have a dog. Why do you buy the dog food? I can't tell you. You know what I mean? Embarrassing. 19:54 Now, America wins the President's Cup for the 11th consecutive time. 19:59 I think Jeff Ogilvie, that lively Aussie, well, maybe live is not right, but he's an Aussie, is the captain of the international team that included Adam Scott. Can't say why they lost or how they lost for that line-up. 20:13 But anyway, they did. They managed to lose. And I think it came down to the final stroke from memory. It was very, very close. Very, very close. 20:22 How's the not-American team, how's the world team selected? 20:27 International team. 20:28 International team. 20:28 Well, I think a captain is appointed, in this case, Ogilvy. He makes a few phone calls. And then Ogilvy makes some phone calls. You know, Adam, what are you doing next weekend, mate? Oh, nothing much. Would you like to play in the President's Cup? Oh, yeah, count me in. 20:42 Yeah, fair enough. 20:42 Count me in. 20:43 Yeah. 20:45 Talia McGrath is to step in as captain of the Australian women's cricket team for the T20 series against New Zealand, which I'm looking forward to. 20:54 I think Sophie Molyneux is out injured and we wish her all the best. Although whispers I've received just this morning on my way to work was that Sophie might have been recovering and may be able to take her place in the team and that would be good news. 21:05 Very good news. 21:07 Now, speaking of cricket, there is talk of Mitchell Marsh getting a test recall. 21:13 This has come not from me but from Postman Pat. Postman Pat was asked, you know, what he thought of the team line-up. And he said that he hoped there was a place for Mitchell Marsh in the team. 21:25 And I think that would be a step in the right direction. I mean, no one's more solid with the bat at the moment than Mitchell Marsh. And reliable is someone you can go to as a captain to get advice. 21:37 Ah, that's important. 21:37 Mitch, what would you do now? I'd bring on Starkey. Yeah. Okay. 21:42 Thanks, Mitch. 21:43 Starkey? 21:45 Want a ball? You want the ball? 21:47 Now, the Oscar Piastri curse talk won't go away. And this is getting very serious. Bernie Eccleston, whom I often listen to even when he's not carrying a shotgun. 22:02 Even when he's not talking. Yeah. 22:05 Well, he reckons someone has paid someone to put a curse on him. 22:09 And he said good ones, that is good curses, don't come cheap. 22:13 Isn't that interesting? I think with curses, HG, I mean, you can put a hex on someone. 22:19 But I think for a genuine curse, you've got to have something of this, like a hair line. 22:26 Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 22:28 A piece of hair or something like that. T-shirt or. Yes, something that has their DNA in it, I think. And then you can put an official curse on them. 22:39 Or you might be able to get a voodoo doll too, but you've got to know the right people. I mean, there are voodoo dolls and there are voodoo dolls. Some are great, some are just rubbish. You mean you can. get ripped off. I think so. 22:50 And have you ever dabbled with that in your playing days? No, I haven't. No, I haven't. Like somebody's, you know, boot and they're running around looking for their boot and you've got it and you're laughing and all that sort of stuff. 23:01 No, the closest we came actually was the disappearance of Mick Benson, you recall. 23:05 Yeah, no, I understand that. 23:07 I didn't want to bring that up because I know it's triggering. Yeah, I don't know if there was a hex placed on the team or not. This was the famous walk of the Shamrocks. We walked from Lithgow to Bathurst and Because Grass, he thought it was a good idea. 23:19 So we left the day before and we sort of left to our own devices really. Grass, of course, he took the car with our trainer. 23:34 And a lot of us sort of hitchhiked. 23:37 Yeah. 23:38 You know, as you would because it was just boring walking all that way and it was dangerous. Of course, along Morangaroo there, we had to go sort of Bengal-file because the trucks were so close to coming to you. It was dangerous. Anyway... 23:50 So anyway, we ended up there. And anyway, the next day we, you know, turned up to play and we were all set to run out and someone noticed that Mick wasn't with us. We hadn't noticed until we were about to run out to play the Bathurst Charlton's. So we don't know what happened to Mick. I mean, the police were called in, you know, a lot of interviews, et cetera, et cetera. But years and years later, you know, a long time later, still nobody knows. Now, someone suggested maybe there was a hex put on us or maybe there was a ritual curse taken out. 24:22 Which meant that Mick lost his way or he was part of the curse. 24:27 I think they might have taken Mick. 24:28 Mick as part of the curse. 24:29 As part of the curse to put the curse on the shamrocks. It didn't work because we won that year. 24:36 Anyway, wonderful week for the greatest game of all. 24:39 I'd just like to thank Feathers in particular and the whole Rugby League cavalcade of stars for a magnificent year of Rugby League. I mean, we're going to look back at this year as one of the great years. I mean, people talk about, you know, 1987 being a great year. It wasn't. People talk about 2004. That was just rubbish. Yeah. 25:02 But this year has been absolutely first-class magnificent. 25:06 Have you got something that stands out in your mind? I mean, I know it puts you on the spot here, but there's so many great highlights. I mean, the whole… Yeah. 25:16 Or the Laurie Daly, you know, fairy tale with the state of origin. And how about the rules… I mean, that's just one. 25:22 One. Or the edict, feathers edict. The people who are, you know, earning money out of the game can't bag the game. 25:28 That's right. That's right. 25:29 On the threat of going to jail. 25:31 Yes, there have been a lot of changes made in rugby league and they've all been good. 25:36 Make of that what you will. 25:39 Colamatungi Stadium is the centrepiece of the fabulous rugby league housing development in the Upper Hunter suburb of Cronk. 25:49 When complete, 100,000 residents will sit in state-of-the-art comfort. where everything needed for a great day of rugby league is at your fingertips. The Colour Matungi is another five-star success story from the team at Bludging on the Blind Side. 26:08 Now, if you want to get in touch with the show, the text line is 0467 920 222. That's 0467 920 222. Or the old-style way, roynhg at abc.net.au. Now... 26:22 Can I just ask about the burning issue which bobbed up this week was pre-match entertainment. Now, historically speaking, the rugby league hasn't shied away from putting on big events before the, you know, obviously cold chisel. And I think one year they had Macklemore. They had Bon Jovi one year. Oh, great. Oh, great. And all made a great contribution to the rugby league final. 26:44 The Tina Turner show. 26:45 The Tina Turner, who can forget that? That was magnificent. It was. Teddy Swims last year. Simply the best, remember, Tina Turner. Yes, simply the best. And Teddy Swims just blew minds. It blew everyone away. Yeah, just the way that this person, not many people had heard of. Remember the 42nd Street dancers? Who can forget them? They're just incredible. Incredible. That is a story in itself. 27:05 It is. 27:05 They came, they didn't have to perform, and they left. 27:07 They came, they came out, no music, and left. Perfect. 27:12 Perfect. 27:13 Now, what I'm sort of struggling with this year is that I can't work out, is it an accident that we've arrived at this position, which seems to be a tribute to Joy Arrow and everything he's done and the problems that he's got with the MND and all that sort of stuff. Is that an accident or is that planned? 27:29 So I'm not quite sure. And how do you think it's going to go? 27:33 Well, I think the rugby league, in a sense, was backed into a corner, wasn't it? Because Tones and I withdrew and that seemed to be... And there was no plan B. There was no plan B. The plan B is what Feathers has cooked up in between the disappointment of Tones and I saying, I'm not going to be able to make it, and now. 27:53 Do you know what a call to Mike Brady would have been worth doing? 27:57 I mean, he's a bloke who can have... Up there, Gazaley. Well... 28:01 I suppose it would work. It would have a different twang. 28:03 Exactly, exactly. You might have to explain to the audience who Gazaley was. Who Gazaley was, yes. Yeah, but nonetheless, he's used to playing in his big events at the drop of a hat. 28:12 He certainly is. 28:13 you know, this time a couple of weeks ago. He wasn't included in the festivities for the AFL grand final. All of a sudden he was there. 28:21 And remember, we've had Shannon Knoll knocking at the door saying, here I am, happy to come out and sing. 28:26 And what I find disappointing about it, it's not just what about me. He's got a whole canon of, you know, great tunes. I'm sure he has. He'd do Daryl Braithwaite's Horses. Horses. 28:34 Yeah, well, what a wonderful song that is. 28:36 It's just fantastic. And he'd probably even tackle How's That. Yes, it might. 28:40 I know it's a cricket song, but nonetheless. The sherbet cannon you're going towards there. 28:44 I just made that up as an idea. No, that's fine. Yeah, because some people's parents would know sherbet and may have even seen sherbet with Garth and the rest of them. 28:55 Daryl. 28:56 Yes. 28:57 Now, I'm not convinced that they've actually nailed this, that somehow – They're still cooking something up as we speak. Yes, that's right. Yeah. That's right. 29:05 So I'm not sure how they're going to – You'll Never Walk Alone is going to be the song, isn't it? 29:12 As I understand, that's the case. 29:13 And it's largely going to be the crowd singing it. 29:16 Right. As far as I understand. Under the baton of – Of someone. We don't know. If it's going to be Shannon – well, Shannon could certainly do it. But does he come out – He comes out and says – And begins. Hello, everyone. Welcome to Rugby League. 29:32 Something like that. Today we're celebrating the life and times of Jai Arrow. 29:37 Yep, yep. Jai, of course, made the arrow, you know, shape. 29:42 That's right. And then there's a one note. And then when you walk through, you know what I mean? And then the whole crowd gets in and it's magnificent. 29:57 It's magnificent, isn't it? 29:59 Now, I noticed that... 30:03 I mean, there might be more to it than that, I don't know, but you wouldn't need any more, would you? 30:08 No. 30:08 You don't need an orchestra, a band or anything like that. It's just got to be pitched at a key, probably G, a key that the crowd can sing to. 30:17 Yeah, no, no, I get all that. 30:18 You don't want a mad key. 30:20 Now, I'm like F. Now, what I was going to say was what happens. 30:25 Well, if he goes, hmm, you're in trouble. 30:27 When you want to, why? 30:29 Yeah. Crowd can't get there. It's got to be lower. G! Give us that G! 30:36 Now, can I ask, you know, Jairo, look, I don't want to put any more pressure on this bloke. No. Is he going to walk around the whole perimeter? I don't know. Of ACOR? And if so, how does he time his run to make sure it lasts 11 minutes? 30:50 I don't know, but that's his brief. That's his brief, isn't it? It's a big ask, isn't it? Yes. Jai, you're going out there. Stay out there for 11 minutes. 30:58 Doing something that impresses people. Do whatever you like. Impresses people. Now, when we've come to these events before, and I, again, sadly have to refer to the AFL because the NRL does something different. Remember the retiring players go round in sort of the back of a Holden ute? Yes. I don't know where they get the Holden utes from, but that's up to them. So now, would that be a thing that's worth considering? Jai sitting in the front shotgun style would say feathers driving the NRL ute. That's not bad. Which might be a Rad 4 or something like that. 31:25 Sure. Sure. 31:26 So then we're not putting more stress on a person who's obviously feeling poorly. Sure. You assume? Yes. Well, that's entirely possible. 31:34 Now. And are we going to have, you know, Coach Reynolds and all the others saying goodbye? Are they coming out? 31:42 See, they usually come out in suits so they're unrecognisable because we only recognise them when they've got their playing clothes on. Sure. 31:48 Sure. But the ground announcer helps. That's true. You know. Please make welcome. 31:53 Coach Reynolds. Yo, Belty. 31:57 Out he comes. 31:59 Go on you, Joy. 32:01 Now, so is that how it works? 32:03 That's how it works. That's how it's going to be. So it'll be Shannon Knoll or someone, character X, microphone, no band, and just maybe one of those tuning forks. 32:13 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. 32:18 Oh, wrong key. 32:21 Jay! 32:23 Now, can I ask whether something, and I've just really thought of this on the way to work today, a B plan would be, let's say we've got feathers, we've got Jai, we've got the NRL ute moving around. 32:39 Could Dynamo the magician make them disappear at one point? 32:43 Oh, wow. 32:44 I don't know Dynamo the Magician's work. Dynamo the Magician is quite a well-known magician who makes big things disappear. 32:56 Oh, I love that. 32:57 How do I do that? 33:00 Exactly. Exactly. And making people disappear is not as difficult as it looks. I mean, you know, what's great about this? 33:07 Like Mick Benson. Yeah. 33:08 Well, that's different. That's a curse. 33:10 Yeah, that's a curse. 33:12 This is art. So the difficulty is you've got people on all sides. So how does he do it? That's up to me. I don't care. That's up to him. But you can see what I'm driving at is something special. 33:21 Well, that sounds like that's a mirrors act, isn't it? 33:23 Yeah. Yeah, that's true. You've seen it before. Well, it must be a mirrors act. 33:27 But it's very hard in that space. Where do you put the mirrors? I know. That's what I'm doing. And people are going to say, oh, look, I know what's going to happen. Look at these mirrors coming out. No, you don't. Something's going to disappear. Yeah. 33:36 Where have they gone? Wow, how did they do that? 33:39 See, that's the skill. That's the skill. 33:41 Now, they're all equipment acts. 33:43 So what happens here is that what I'm trying to do is I want to give kids memories. You've got to be honest here. Seeing two, you know, rather elderly rugby league people going around in the car is not memory-making. I don't mean to be unkind here. It's memory-making for people and stuff like that, and you've got the wrong key, et cetera, like that. Well, it doesn't sound like that. So what happens is you want to add value add. Yeah. You've got the crowd. You've got the occasion. I just think that that's a simple thing to do. It doesn't require a lot of people. 34:14 I mean, Mike Brady would be great because he would be an international figure who would be able to come and sing something like When You Walk Through the Storm. 34:22 Sure. GK. Yeah. What about John Williamson? He could do Hey True Blue or something. 34:29 People love that. Yeah. They do. They do. Again, that's the building block. You need icing on the cake. Yeah. That's your flour and water and your sugar. Then you need icing on the cake. And I'm suggesting we haven't got anywhere near the icing on the cake yet. 34:43 No. No. Well, nothing's been announced. 34:45 That's true. Feathers says he's going to announce something that's going to blow my eyes. 34:49 Look, I tend to believe Feathers. He says this is going to be the most memorable 11 minutes in rugby league history. Well... Yeah, fair enough. He doesn't usually lie. No. You know, I'm happy to be there and lean forward and think, ooh, what's going to happen? 35:06 But, you know, can I point out that this is not an easy trick to pull off because the car... 35:11 with the feathers and joy in it and circulating at sort of slow speed, unless they've got darkness and a spotlight or something like that, which isn't much of an act after all. I'm not bagging it. It's a start. 35:23 But there'll be big screens with stuff happening up there to draw the attention. You mean like cold chisels in case? Well, old footage of something, old rugby league games or something. 35:35 Oh, right. There you're talking. You mean tries of the year? Something like that, yeah. 35:40 Yeah, there'll be something like that. So you've got tries of the year, you've got the truck, feathers. Mike Brady. Mike Brady. Giving you the note, the tuning fork. You know what I mean? It'll be great. 35:55 Baiting across Australia is a way many fit young Aussies are having fun and putting something back for the environment. The Maguire Society Ivanhoe is a place where the Australian baiting community gather. It's a one-stop shop for all your baiting needs. Speak to Aussie baiting Hall of Famer Bongo Bob Badiris and discover the safe way to get involved in the caper. Pest identification and eradication go hand in hand at the Maguire. Members would be mortified if they put away the wrong cat, goat, fire ant, camel or pig. 36:31 A brand new 21st century guide to bait and bush junk has been prepared and now available... Through bludging on the blind side. Yeah, you've got a couple of texts. 36:43 Yeah, look, Whitey's pointed out, HG, that Sam Goodman, this is our new IBF super bantamweight champion. Sorry, dog food eating. He won 435,000 for that fight in Japan. 36:59 So that's going to help him getting away from the dog food for a while. 37:04 Yeah, that's tremendous. 37:06 Or on the other hand, it buys a lot of dog food. Yeah, he won't have it. Depends on the way you want to look at it. 37:11 He won't have to worry about dog food again if he decides to go your route. 37:15 Yeah, that's right. The cost, that is. Which is fantastic. 37:20 Just something else. Liam is saying that right before the program began today, a reporter signed off with a thanks from ABC Grandstand. Now, he's saying he thought Grandstand was only ever about Crick and Jim Maxwell. Yeah. Can you please clear up the confusion between the difference in ABC Sport, ABC Rapid and ABC Grandstand because his head's in a task but he doesn't know where he is? 37:47 I didn't hear that. I'm not saying it didn't happen. I mean, why would he lie about that? He wouldn't. 37:51 Can I nip this in the bud and say, like you, I've always understood Grandstand. 37:56 His gym. 37:58 And cricket. 37:58 Yes. 37:59 Now, if we're talking about South Africa and getting to the bottom of Sandpaper Gate... That's going to be grandstand. I'm happy for that to be grandstand. Good. So thanks, grandstand is an interesting variation. Yes. 38:10 We don't say thanks... And how refreshing is that to hear? Thank you, grandstand. 38:14 Yes. And we don't say thank you, bludge. No. We don't have to. Don't have to. No one ever quotes us. No. But now, the next bit is... 38:26 We come to the problem of the whole week of, you know, obviously Newcastle and eastern suburbs and so on. And I'm just wondering if the rugby league has finally cracked this with the various things it's got organised. 38:42 I know, obviously, the messages from our sponsors are rapidly approaching. So maybe I'll just start on this. The rugby league week at the moment has... 38:52 as nearly as until, obviously, the preliminary finals last weekend. That's the beginning of Rugby League week for 2026. Then there's the Bridge Walk, which is something new. 39:01 Wasn't that a wonderful thing? It was. Surprised everyone came out of nowhere. And I've got no idea that that was going to happen. No. Otherwise, I would have been there. What happened was Feathers led the Newcastle team from one side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Freddie led the other team, the Roosters, from the southern side, and they met in the middle and then walked off and had a press conference in the park beneath the bridge. I mean, it's got all the elements of Sydney in it. That is fantastic. A simple idea. Yes. People that I spoke to on it said, well, we didn't know anything about it until this morning, but we just thought, oh, we're here doing nothing. 39:34 Why don't we go? And they had the time of their life. Yes. Being able to chat to Feathers as he stepped out confidently across the bridge. 39:41 And just for people driving over the bridge, actually, how exciting it must have been for them to see, you know, Freddie at one end, Feathers at the other, walking towards you. There would have been... 39:51 Apparently, it was cacophony. Yes. You could hear it at Balmain Wharf. Yeah. 39:55 Apparently, the honking. 39:57 Then we've got the Dallie M's. And there's some suggestions that they show. Now, I hate doing this. They cut off the voting too early in some categories because people have really good games in semis, preliminary finals, et cetera. It should be taken into account. And some people suggest that the coaching pressure is only revealed in the finals, not in the home and away. I would agree with that. 40:23 There were some, you know, I'm not going to bag anyone with the Dally M's, but I just thought it unusual that Marky Mark was not winger of the year. 40:34 I mean, you said head and shoulders above every other winger in the game at the moment. 40:39 Has been all year. Okay, separate thing. There was no Newcastle player nominated. No, none. And you think, well, hang on. Well, hang on. The second team in the comp. Yeah. Yeah. 40:48 Bizarre, wasn't it? It was. And there is some – can I just put that on one side? I suppose the glamour of the night. Once again, Australian stars show that they're the best in the world. 40:59 Well, the red carpet was – Unbelievable. 41:01 Unbelievable. Best red carpet ever, I think. 41:03 Yes, yes, yes, yes. 41:05 And some people didn't bother to turn up, you know. Coaches just think it's beneath them to go to the Dally M's. I find that very, very difficult. I mean, who's paying their wages? 41:14 Yeah. 41:14 And is it too much to ask, just turn up for the Dally M's? 41:17 Yes. Look, I can understand Nathan not being there. He was in hospital. He had a reason. didn't he? But for everyone else, it should be mandatory that you be there. 41:26 I mean, this is the Dally M's we're talking about. And you make an effort. And you make an effort. And so many people did, and it didn't go unnoticed. 41:33 No, no. And it's such a wonderful atmosphere in the room. We've been to a couple of Dally M's. It's just the best night of the year. Winners all around. People say the Logue is the best night. 41:41 No, it's not. Because they're not about sport. 41:44 They're not about rugby league. Yeah, that's right. That's right. 41:48 Rugby league brings a certain particular angle to glamour. And that's what you see. You see people in suits that they may never have worn before or ever again. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 42:01 It is. 42:02 And, of course, their partners go to enormous lengths, just tremendous. 42:05 Yeah. For the partners, it's the most important night of the year. 42:08 Yeah, they work at it for months. Yeah. Now, I think I should go to the talkback topic of the week. Now, this gets tricky because the talkback topic will have to carry over to the start of the new season. The start of the new season, which is fine. 42:22 Look, last week, HG, we asked, is enough prominence given to the JJ Giltman Shield? 100% no. 42:32 100% no, and I get that. I mean, suddenly the J.J. Gilton and S.H.I.E.L.D., well, we noticed this at the Dally M's a couple of years ago. You mentioned the J.J. Gilton and S.H.I.E.L.D., people go quiet, largely because they don't know what you're talking about, right? And I see a lot of kids on buses around the place. Training. I sometimes say, well, what do you think about the JJ Giltman Shield kids? They don't know what I'm talking about. It's like a foreign language. You know, it should be front and centre. 43:03 The JJ Giltman Shield should be, you know, on the sideline for most matches. It should be there. 43:09 Now, would you like to see... Front and centre! 43:12 Yeah. 43:12 Now, would you like to see an honour board at each school with the various movements on the JJ Giltman Shield obviously ending up with the Penrith Panthers on top this year? 43:22 Not bad, but what I've been prosecuting for a long, long time, HG, is that any school that has someone from the school associated in any way, shape or form with the JJ Gilton and Shield, that should be acknowledged at the front of the school. Okay. 43:38 I know, you're very big on this. And also players. 43:40 Yes. 43:41 People taking on jobs in rugby league and so on. Did you know that the head of ground staff at, you know, Combank Stadium used to go to this school? 43:49 Used to go to this school, yeah, and is associated, therefore, with the JJ Giltman Shield. 43:55 Now, this week, HG, and this will be carrying over until next year, should Feathers be nominated for Australian of the Year? 44:05 Wow. That's a call, isn't it? 44:08 Isn't it? Isn't it? Wow. See, as far as I'm concerned, it wouldn't... It wouldn't look out of place? It wouldn't look out of place at all. 44:16 You mean if the Governor-General on the big day in January... Yes. ...says... 44:21 Yes, yes. And the Australian of the Year... ...feathers... 44:27 Out he'd come, wouldn't he? He'd have the suit on. 44:31 Appropriate speech talking about globalisation of the game and how I started in Fairy Meadow and caught the train up and that dummy love of trains. That's right. And I'm hoping to get this Sydney to Newcastle very fast train up and running. 44:42 That's right. And how we're going to get the JJ Gilton and Shield front and centre in all schools. 44:50 What a great idea. 44:51 Now, people know how to get in touch and you've got a hell of a long time. Don't feel you've got to rush. 44:57 You don't have to rush. You can take months to think about this and come up with a very reasoned position. Discuss it with your family. Yes or no. 45:06 Now, can I ask, are you going to come in in the downtime and check the... Oh, my word. Yeah, so if it was over, you know, resounding yes, you might be able to send that through to the Governor-General? 45:19 Yes, I certainly will. 45:21 Good. Certainly will, yes. 45:23 I'll be in here January the... No, I'll be here December the 28th, I think, I'm coming in to check what the response has been. I think we're putting on how many staff, Dave? Two? Yeah, two. 45:36 Okay, that's good. You know how to get in touch. You know the number. We'll just email. Don't worry if no-one's here to answer it. We'll understand. 45:43 And just yes or no, you don't have to dwell. No. Just because you've got time doesn't mean you have to develop a PhD about it. No. In fact, that'd be lunacy. 45:52 Red carpet strollers, the awards season is just around the corner. 45:57 Look your best in a jaw-dropping see-through mesh ensemble and bag. 46:03 Yes, walk the winning line with accessories to match your sultry sunta. Get the belt and bag made from recycled Sharon and Stephen footballs. Yes, the internationally respected Utoikamanu range delivers with a grunt and leaves the crowd with an eyeful and breathless. 46:24 Available at all stores where they lend an ear to bludging on the blind side. 46:34 Yes, and the Oechekamano range was prominently displayed at the Dally M's midweek, and people were looking really good in it. Just before we go on, a quick reminder of the problems with transport in the Newcastle area due to a very bad incident earlier. 46:50 Now, obviously, night supporters, 10... 46:54 People have been injured in a car accident, in inverted commas, and we ask you to avoid the area, maybe delay your trip, seek the Swansea exit and not the Link Road exit from Newcastle, or catch the train, should it be running. And just before I go on, and this may get lost in the hurly-burly, can I thank, for another great year, Dave Stein, who does all the hard work in the background, Dave Gibson for a great voice. contribution and, of course, ABC Smart on ABC Local Radio, not to mention Grandstand, and all Bludge listeners for participating in the show this year. 47:30 Obviously, in the off-season, we'll be working harder than ever to improve the quality of the Bludge. I don't think you'll be able to tell that it has been, though. 47:38 Now, if you want to get in touch with the show, you know the drum by now. Text line 0467 920 222 or roynhg at abc.net.au. Roy, and the following people have. 47:50 Yes. Look, on the text, look, a lot of people, in fact, thousands, have just written yes in response to Feathers being nominated for Australia. 48:02 Isn't that great news? Well, it is great news, but you're going off too early. There's no need. 48:06 No need. You've got plenty of time to think about it. Yeah. You might change your mind. You might change your mind. Several times. Yes. Before the deadline. Exactly. Exactly. 48:16 Now, this comes, as she, from Megan from Kyogle. 48:21 She says, I wrote to us in recent times about an idea for rugby league, the rugby league train to connect the Dorigo rugby league community to the Arara Valley Axemen teams for training and competition purposes. 48:33 I can recall that. 48:36 Recently in Kyogle, officials were distributing material related to the fire ant threat coming over the border from Queensland into our beautiful paradise. My interest was piqued based on your program's expositions of fire ant behaviour and cunning. and how the Northern Rivers Rugby League community had answered the call to arms to combat these remarkable but damaging creatures. Remember, they cleared an area age to a diameter of about 500 metres, wasn't it? 49:01 Correct, that's right, yes. Which is an extraordinary achievement. 49:03 Yes, yes, yes. Now, she's saying that... 49:08 She's trying to get the people of Kyogle fire ant aware. 49:15 Very good. 49:16 Which is a great idea and more power to your arm, Megan, and we'll do all we can our end. because we know the rugby league community is doing its heavy lifting. Where you are. Yeah, where you are. In fact, all along the eastern seaboard, it's only the rugby league community, as nearly as I can tell, that's been doing anything when it comes to eradication of fire ants. And remember, the eradication of fire ants has not been achieved anywhere in the world. 49:44 No, that's your – Apart from that 500-metre diameter area. 49:48 That we isolated. Yeah. And it's like a black cloud over the nation, isn't it? It is. 49:54 It is. It is. I mean, much more difficult to cull than pigs or camels or, you know, you name it, cats. 50:02 Cats, yeah. 50:04 Oh, man, it goes on, doesn't it? 50:07 This comes from Dave HG. 50:10 You remember he alerted us to the rugby league grand final in Port Moresby. Yes, that's right. How did he get on? A couple of weeks ago, he says, I was impressed. 50:20 I was impressed. 50:22 They did not have DRS, nor did they need it. 50:27 The touch judges were magnificent and no doubt made their families and communities proud of their work. They did not miss a beat. 50:34 There's a little bit of biff on the field between teams, but not too much, just enough to keep the crowd entertained. Skills were excellent, and I'm left wondering why P&G need to bring in players from Australia when they have a ton of talent already. Perfect. Isn't that true? I've always thought that too. 50:49 You've always thought that. And you haven't resiled. I haven't, and you've got the whole South Pacific to draw on. 50:55 That's right. 50:56 That's right. The entry was affordable for a family. 51:01 It was 10 kina to get in. That's about $3. 51:06 Yeah. 51:08 20 for an adult. This is a grand final? Yep. The upmarket seats were 50 kina. 51:15 Refreshments were cheap. Two soft drinks, a pie and a bag of crisps, a total of 21 kina, or about $6.50. Oh, Lord. 51:23 I mean, they know what they're doing, don't they? Yeah. All up, an affordable day for families. There were two matches. The women's match saw the Garocco Lanias win and the men's comp saw the Garayas beat the Murruks. 51:37 So both teams I was going for won. Isn't that great? It is good. 51:41 Did he have a same-day multi on? 51:42 Probably did. But I want to tell you about the 10- and 11-year-olds playing between matches. Ah, very good. They were good, really good. The skills displayed were exceptional, with many doing backwards flick passes, which would put our NRL professionals to shame. All in all, it was a magnificent day of rugby league. 51:59 Isn't that great? Isn't that great to know? Eyewitness report. 52:02 Yeah, thanks for that, Dave. Now, this comes from Liam in Canberra. 52:11 I became a dad for the first time last week. That's great news. Whilst the hospital staff were incredible, I was rather disappointed at the lack of information regarding pathways for my child into either hammer throw, pig shooting or, most importantly, rugby league. Should all hospitals around the country start providing information pamphlets detailing the best pathways for all newborns into such disciplines to ensure future generations are fully equipped to strive for interdiscipline excellence? 52:40 It's not a bad idea. It wouldn't hurt to give parents just a brochure on rugby league pathways. A short letter from, say, Freddie Fittler. 52:50 What a lovely idea. I was going to say, of course, youngsters often look at the television and think, how can I do that? That's where the problem lies. They are enchanted by the game of rugby league, even though they don't know what it is. The next question is, how can I get involved? That's where the problems begin. 53:05 That's true. That's true. 53:07 A letter from Freddie Fittler. 53:09 Yeah. 53:10 I think when it comes to a child that age, it's a few days old, it's really the parents that have got to take charge here. Yes. You can't expect the child just to automatically find the pathway. 53:21 It's not going to happen. No, no. No, I agree with you that there should be some literature available in the hospital. 53:26 Literature, thanks. 53:26 But the glimmer of interest is the first key, I think, to unleashing the avalanche of information. 53:35 I agree. I agree. 53:37 This comes from Glitz from Kilcare. Oh, yeah, Kilcare, yeah. Trouble by the rapid deterioration of Aussie values and in need of solace. 53:46 I recently made the pilgrimage to Birchgrove Oval. Birchgrove Oval, you recall, HG, is where the first game of rugby league was played. 53:54 Indeed. 53:55 Balmain v Glebe, something like that. 53:57 And they rang a bell on the sideline. 53:58 They certainly did. They certainly did. 54:01 Lying back on the freshly mown hallowed turf, I closed my eyes to better hear the sweet echo of the timekeeper's bell from 1908. There you go. 54:11 Talk about the power of smells and bells. They were soon transported back to the dawn of League in Australia, a simpler time when all true Aussies held hope in their hearts. 54:20 Isn't that beautiful? 54:21 They're lovely. 54:22 He's worried that there are some developments happening at Birchgrave Oval that might... 54:27 disturbed the pristine nature. 54:30 You mean apartments going up? Not apartments, HG, but I think there's a new toilet block being put in there. 54:37 That's the last thing Birch Ferry of Oval needs. 54:39 What's the current toilet? It's just going to drag people to think, well, let's go down and use the toilets there. Why? 54:47 Why? What's wrong with the current toilet? Exactly. Exactly. 54:51 Exactly. 54:53 I mean, how to preserve Birchgrave Oval is the question. I think it should stay totally unspoiled, exactly as it was in 1908, which is what it is now. Is there a committee formed? There's no committee. It's up to Winter West Council, I suppose. They'd have jurisdiction over it. 55:11 And I suppose interested locals... 55:14 It should protest. 55:16 Could it be possible to second the, you know, the preservation of the toilets of interest at Balmain Oval, that group of hard-working Australians... To turn their attention to Birch Grave Oval. Yeah. 55:28 Well, that's not a bad idea. It really is a field of dreams, HG. I mean, it's just sitting there. You can wander down, peace and quiet, and just... Dream. Savour the atmosphere as it was all that time ago. And imagine, yeah, imagine, 1900. Beautiful. I remember once seeing David Williamson, the very famous playwright, just kicking a ball around there. I don't think he knew it was a rugby league birthplace. He was just kicking an AFL ball. 55:54 Wow, isn't that amazing? What a memory. Hmm, hmm. 56:01 I'm lost now. 56:02 Yeah, I know. 56:04 This comes from Peter from Perth Hills. 56:07 Just a quick question that I'm hoping we can answer, if we're allowed to talk about it. Do you know if it's possible that Nick Felder used nanodrone technology to blow up Sharky's brain? Maybe the technology has been around longer than we thought. Look, it's tempting to think that, Peter. But I think Nick Falder was knighted for his building of what we understand as psychological weaponry. 56:31 Yes, that's right. 56:33 It was a psychological bomb he created and put inside Shark's head. 56:37 It's the thinking person's approach, not the TNT approach. No. 56:43 No. No, no, no. 56:45 And let's face it, you know, the shark was very susceptible and he saw that susceptibility and he capitalised on it. 56:50 He did. He did. He built a psychological bomb and placed it in his brain and it blew it up. Simple as that. And that's why he got a knighthood. 56:59 But that's not to say that nanotechnology... No, in the future, in the near future, won't be able to do it equally as effectively. 57:08 Well, that's right because you've got to remember, HG, these nanomachines that we're talking about are only several atoms in size. They're tiny. 57:15 Yeah. 57:16 Tiny. So if you've got a tiny weapon like that that could just, you know... Go in the ear. 57:23 In the ear. Up the nostril. Through the nose. You know, just any aperture through the corner of the eye, something like that. Lodge itself in the brain and, you know, just look at what happened to shark. That's what's going to happen. Yeah. 57:39 This comes from Mark. 57:42 I was listening to last week's show and heard you talk about Angry Anderson and the Batmobile. My recollection is that happened in 1991. It was the AFL Grand Final play between Hawthorne and West Coast because the Melbourne Cricket Ground was undergoing major reconstruction to build a new Great Southern Stand. 58:02 I might have said 92. I think you might have done it. 58:04 I was one a year out. 58:06 Yeah. 58:06 It lives in my memory as the Batmobile and it was a bit unimpressive and it was raining and angry battled away against the elements. 58:14 He did. 58:15 And I don't think he had the – he didn't have Rose Tattoo with him. He was out there with the – No, by himself. Yeah, just by himself. And it makes me think, you know, that – Darryl Braithwaite? Yeah, well, Darryl Braithwaite or Mike Brady could do it by themselves. 58:29 On the weekend. 58:30 Yep, yep. 58:31 If push came to shove. If push came to shove. 58:33 Well, I think that was the point we made earlier. 58:36 All you need is someone with a tuning fork. 58:39 To give them the note. To give them the note. In the right key. That's it. 58:42 An accessible key. 58:44 This comes from Matthew. 58:47 After experiencing the Newtown Jets just edge out the North Sydney Bears by a field goal that sailed over the post from 30 metres out as the final hooterang in the New South Wales Cup semi-final at Leichhardt Oval last week, I followed up on a lead I had to purchase a seat in the grandstand and take it home to display prominently at home. 59:06 No word if you can purchase any of the toilets. I can only imagine that they'll be going on display in the nearby Wayne Pierce Museum. Look, I think that's right. I've been quietly assured by the Inner West Council that the historic toilets will be placed in the Wayne Pierce Museum. And connected to the sewer system for use? I don't think they're usable, HG. Oh, what a blow. Yeah, I know it's a blow. 59:31 But anyway. 59:32 You might be on the list of the last hundred people to use them. 59:36 With the Prime Minister and Feathers. 59:37 Yeah, no, that's right. Yeah, no, I understand that. And Blocker came in and disturbed the atmosphere. 59:42 And Wayne Pearce, that's right. And Wayne Pearce. 59:44 That's right. 59:44 That's right. We just had a quiet moment. That was probably the highlight of the year for me. 59:51 And for Feathers, I'd like to think, and the Prime Minister. Certainly the Prime Minister. 59:56 Just the three of us standing in the toilets, just quietly contemplating. 60:01 I know where my thoughts were and I can only assume Feathers and the Prime Ministers were in the same place. Just, you know, rugby league moments in your mind. 60:09 And then you go after that, a quick stroll down to Birchgrave Oval? 60:12 Birchgrave Oval, yeah, for the real memories, the field of dreams. Oh, yeah, build it and they will come. Leave it alone and they will come, is what I say. 60:23 Now, HG, this comes from Roger, and I think this is fascinating. 60:31 Your discussion about missing trophies, especially the 1922 Cup, promised me to outline the deep mystery of the missing H.C. Finn Memorial Trophy for Interstate Rugby League competition. 60:44 I've never heard of this. Nor have I. H.C. Finn. 60:48 Yeah. Dr Finn played for the University Rugby League Club and New South Wales was distinction and retired from playing in 1925. 60:57 Dr Finn then became the highly respected central medical officer for the league. He died in 1953. To honour Dr Finn, the New South Wales Rugby League donated a trophy in 1953 to be awarded to the winners of the annual competition between New South Wales and Queensland. 61:15 The trophy was therefore a powerful symbol for what became the State of Origin series, albeit the first interstate clashes commenced in 1908. The HC Finn trophy was first presented at the New South Wales vs Queensland match at the SCG held in May of 1953. 61:33 New South Wales beat Queensland 26-15 in front of a crowd of 49,393 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Noel Pitting scored three tries for New South Wales and Brian Carlson kicked three goals. That places the cup in New South Wales versus Queensland Interstate Series, which ran from 1908 to 1981 when it was replaced by the State of Origin. 61:58 Before 1981, the trophy vanished. 62:02 And one report suggested that, quote, a man had taken it to England, unquote. That wouldn't surprise. Intensive research by Finn family members with rugby league museums, sports journalists and league associations in the UK and Australia has failed to shed any light on the whereabouts of this icon of rugby league. And their icon is used correctly. 62:23 Given its history, the trophy could well be a significant complement for our current State of Origin series, especially as the current trophy was donated by a tobacco company, he says. Perhaps some of your listeners may have some clue as to the whereabouts of this treasured bedrock item of rugby league history. That's the H.C. Finn Memorial Trophy. And if anyone has any... 62:48 Further information. 62:49 Further information. 62:51 Please let us know. 62:53 Gee, what a... How many... More questions than answers, really. How many trophies are there that we don't know about? Exactly. But the H.C. Finn should be... And it's hard to imagine that a trophy that ran from 1908 to 1981 is now missing. Well, in all fairness, no, it only... 1953 to 1981. 63:11 Oh, okay. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah. 63:18 1953 was the first time. 63:19 But origin matches, not origin matches, but state matches, interstate matches were played more or less for the whole. 63:24 For the whole time, yes. 63:26 Of rugby league. 63:26 That's right. That's right. That's right. 63:28 So there may be other trophies that were handed out. Prior to 1953, there may well be. 63:34 Just finally, actually, this is Brett from Wynnum in Brisbane. 63:38 Oh, yep. 63:40 With your final show coinciding with the grand finale of racing around Cox Plate Melbourne Cup Weeks, I thought it pertinent I should share a 100-year story relating to the company I work for. 63:51 Oh, yeah. 63:53 As a leading global manufacturer and supplier of cast iron and steel products, Bradkin today is a far cry from its humble beginnings, which were grounded in a lot of luck, some true entrepreneurial spirit and a dedicated commitment by its founders. 64:08 In 1922, Leslie Bradford and Jim Kendall, two BHP Steelworks employees, got lucky at the races one day in 1920 and pledged their £15,000 winnings to start a steel foundry business. The horse they backed, Jack Findlay, completed a remarkable sequence of five wins during 1919 and 1920. With each win, Bradfield and Kendall and a group of friends rolled over their bets. 64:40 By January 24, 1920, they had won a small fortune. 64:45 On 28th of April 1920, the group used their winnings to establish the Alloy Steel Syndicate and built a steel foundry in Alexandria, Sydney to take advantage of what they saw as an untapped potential for industrial growth. Here is another great story behind the success of an Australian started on the back of a punt and which has stood the test of time. 65:07 Isn't that a lovely story? 65:09 Isn't that a wonderful story? 65:12 I'm just wondering if that firm still exists in some way. 65:15 It probably does. Bradkin Industries, yes. Yes, they're still around. Okay. They're still around. I mean, that is a real lesson, isn't it? You'd think that, you know, the New South Wales Lotteries or Queensland Lotteries or someone would not promote that story. 65:32 Well, Four Corners. 65:34 Oh, Four Corners. 65:35 Thank you. Yeah. 65:37 Thank you. Much better idea. Yeah. How did Bradkin start? 65:43 Eh? Yeah. Get Steve Kinane out of it. That's right. Opening scene, place your bets. 65:50 And I thank all correspondents this year. 65:54 They've been really good. The new Rugby League World Fortitude Valley will be opening in November. Book now for a launch packed with superstars from the Brisbane Broncos, the FNQ Cowboys, the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Gold Coast Titans. A lucky draw will see prizes including an all-expenses trip for seven to Tamora, New South Wales. a new Ford Ranger, 10 12-meter 4K Sony Backyard televisions, 60 Apple iPhone 16s, a lifetime supply of White King Toilet Duck, and five free rugby league scratch lotos for accompanied children under seven years old. 66:34 Bring your family and friends for the launch of a lifetime. 66:38 Contact The Bludge and register now. 66:50 You're listening to The Bludge on Grand Final Eve for the Rugby League on courtesy of ABC Local Radio and ABC Spot. 66:59 Roy. This comes from Michael. He says, your correspondent regarding PNG Grand Final Day, earlier today, the Papua New Guinean Junior Kumals defeated the Australian schoolboys. He says, who needs Luai or To'o apart from Coca-Cola and Pepsi? 67:18 Give me that again. The junior schoolboys from Papua New Guinea beat the Australian... 67:23 The junior kumals defeated the Australian schoolboys. 67:26 That's a shot across the bow of rugby league in Australia, isn't it? It is. 67:30 I mean, the game's dying here. 67:32 Could appear to be. 67:33 Now, look, speaking of that... 67:37 Newcastle's having a really wonderful couple of months here. 67:44 Obviously, they've got the team into the grand final tomorrow. Yes. The other thing is they've struck some deals with the state government, not only about the very fast train going ahead in the Ponga Express, but mining appears to be underway that's going to last till the end of the planet. 68:00 Look, a lot of good things have been happening in Newcastle, actually. That whole redevelopment of the East End in the city itself, that's been wonderful. That whole honeysuckle project, those old industrial buildings that have been converted into museums, et cetera, et cetera, wonderful buildings. And that whole foreshore area now is one of the jewels in the New South Wales crown, I think you'd have to say. 68:27 The new art gallery there in Newcastle is beautiful. That Brett Whiteley, Summer at Carcourt, I think the painting is. It's a magnificent painting and very, very worth a visit to Newcastle just to have a look at that painting. And if you're interested in, say, looking at the strap, William Dodebell's famous painting, Archibald-winning painting from all those years ago. That's in the Newcastle Art Gallery as well. 68:57 And you've got the Cooks Hill Art Gallery there as well. I mean, it is a real cultural centre point, that whole east end area of Newcastle. It's a real jewel in the crown. And more jewels in the crown come in the form of the calibre of the coal that's now being mined in Newcastle. It's that anthracite uh that's your favorite hg he's my favorite coal it's a beautiful burning coal it's 98 carbon uh that gives you a bit of an idea of the caliber uh you can get bituminous coal there as well not quite as good it's about 50 to 80 carbon it does burn well but not as well as the anthracite honestly with the anthracite you've just got to show it a box of matches and it bursts into flame it's beautiful Beautiful coal. 69:45 Beautiful coal. I said in other media commitments that everybody who comes to the match tomorrow will get a souvenir of what you're talking about in the form of a lump of coal to every person who comes. What a terrific idea. It's a terrific idea. It's wrapped in plastic so it won't mark the car on the way home and kids won't get their hands all placed in place. 70:05 Is it as big as the lump that Scott Morrison held up in Parliament or smaller? Roughly the same size. Okay. Roughly. 70:09 Nothing to be scared of. No, no. Nothing to be scared of. scared of. 70:12 I just hope it doesn't catch fire in people's pockets as they're walking home. 70:16 It depends on the camera. 70:18 Well, that would be tragic. But if it's going to be anthracite, I just give people a warning. Be careful. 70:25 Be careful. Because if you pass someone, if you've got it in your pocket and you walk past someone who's got a lighter in their pocket, it might just go off. 70:32 I think the public is well warned. There's a safe distance between everybody on the way home. 70:36 Yes. 70:37 Now, the other thing is that the – Especially if they're coal carriers. Yeah, that's right. Now, the Steggles people have been in touch. Oh, yes. And you remember that Steggles were the front of the rooster's jumper sponsor, whatever that's called. Yeah. 70:51 For many, many years. 70:52 That's right. Many, many years. And Henny Penny were a sponsor of Newcastle. Newcastle Knights. So it's chicken. Chicken v. chicken. Yeah. 70:58 It's an old-fashioned chicken off. But the Seagulls people have been in touch to say that they're prepared to give a frozen chicken to everybody who comes tomorrow. Isn't that great? Doesn't matter if you support the Knights or the, you know, obviously the roosters. 71:12 Okay. So this is a real hand-across-the-water thing. So people can go home with a lump of coal in one hand and a chook in the other. 71:17 Frozen chicken in one hand. 71:21 I mean. 71:21 God, rugby league is tomorrow, isn't it? 71:23 It is. It is. Well, the future's now, the future's feathers, as I said in my remarks all those years ago. Yeah. Coming up to other things, though, the, um, one thing of, uh, how do I put this? There's a lot of talk about the fairy tale. Yeah. 71:37 Now, I think you rightly pointed out that the fairy tale should be one that we write from here, not one that we somehow cannibalized from yesteryear. So you forget about, you know, the skies falling in or, you know, your Billy Goats graph or your, you know, Red Riding Hood or your Cinderella. 71:52 They're all done. 71:54 The glass shoe. 71:55 The glass shoe. So having a look at that, you've got nights. That's a great start for a fairy tale. 72:00 Knights, yes. 72:01 Get it? Knights. People in helmets and feathers on the top and all that sort of stuff and, you know, tights and knights, et cetera. You've got a cast of characters. 72:10 I see the – and Crossland, I think, who sadly is out – because of, you know, obviously breaking the leg of the opposing captain the other day. That's right. But he looks like he comes from the age of the fairy tale. 72:27 And he's supported in that regard by Fletcher Sharp, who's got that magnificent mullet that could be exactly what they wore when some of these things were going before, like Shrek type fairy tale. 72:40 Yes, yes, yes. 72:41 So I'm just wondering how he'd do this because you'd have to have the euphoria of... 72:46 of the success somehow torpedoed by various interrupters like the Crossland having to be sent off or, you know, somebody getting lost. 72:59 Yes. There've got to be impediments put in front of them. 73:02 Impediments, perfect. Impediments. 73:03 Yeah. 73:04 So I'm just wondering. 73:05 Well, there have been a lot of impediments, haven't there? Yeah. 73:09 You know, there were wooden spooners last year. There's an impediment. So you've gone from the basement to top floor in one season. And remember, they lost their last match last year, 66 to 10. That's right. All the players had lost interest in rugby league. They had to bring in players, pay them a hell of a lot of money from Parramatta, one of them at least, who hasn't bothered to play this year. 73:35 You know what I mean? I know. That's an impediment. That's an impediment. And when you look at the line-ups, you'd have to say, you know, Easts have a stronger team, you know. Their forwards are stronger. Their backs are stronger. Their halves are better. There are lots of impediments ahead of the Newcastle Knights. They're going to have to play better than players that are better than them. 73:59 And that's a big ask. 74:01 That's your theme in the story. It is. 74:04 Play better than those that are better than you. 74:07 Great idea. 74:08 Great central idea. 74:09 Well, it's the only way they can win. I know. I understand that. It's by being better than those that are better than them. Yeah. 74:15 That would be the refrain through this whole thing. And let's not forget that that may have been the story when they had to play Souths the other day. That's right. And then they had to play the Warriors. That's right. And then they had to play Penrith. That's right. Always playing better than the team that's better than them. 74:30 Oh, it's a beautiful story. It writes itself. It is. It is, isn't it? I mean, you can imagine kids going to mum and dad. Mum and dad are going to play such and such and he's better than me. Well, you've got to be better than him. Look at the Newcastle Knights. 74:43 Exactly. I was just going to say the Knights story. And then, of course, they get their chicken and their coal at the end of the big match, which obviously the Newcastle people win. 74:53 That's right. 74:53 Newcastle team wins. 74:55 That's right. That's right. And there's your fairytale image, HG, of people with their uncooked chook, lump of coal, setting fire to it, putting the chook on top, cookity-cook, eaty-eaty. 75:07 Home we go. Winners. 75:10 Blindsiders at the end of the day, imagine slipping between smoother silk sheets made from recycled rugby league jumpers. If you're quick, you can pick up queen-size flannelette sheets made from the 2025 maroon State of Origin team or get a duna cover stitched together from the shorts of the Panthers' three-peat premiership side. The latest footballing bed linen available now from the Royal House of Hubna. There are big discounts for listeners to Bludging on the Blind Side. 75:47 Bludging on the Blind Side is again sponsored by the Queensland Pig Shooting Association, the New South Wales Duck Shooters Confederation, and the Australian Shotgun Museum, Tamora, New South Wales. 76:08 Hiya. Now, obviously, everything now points towards Sunday and the biggest event in Sydney for some time. But Phil Gould, sad news here, has been again overlooked for a spot in the grand final commentary box. No way. Yeah, Gus will provide expert analysis for the state championship between the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Penrith Panthers, as... Discussed by our hardworking producer. 76:33 Alongside Maroons legend Cameron Smith, Peter Salty-Soltis will call the play. Gould won't be on deck for the Roosters' Knights NRL Premiership decider. Nine is gone with Newcastle legend Andrew Johns. and former Queensland coach Billy Slater for the grand final expert roles with Matt Thompson, who will call the game. The broadcaster has stuck with the grand final formula for the past two years. Gould was criticised by fans for commentary during the 2020 grand final between Melbourne and his former club, Benrith. He was retained bloody, bloody blood, just the way a bit there. 77:06 Now, this sort of strikes me as a bit disappointing because he's not actually... 77:11 expert commentator. 77:12 I wanted to see Gus front and centre under the crossbar, yeah, explain what the players were going to be going through. 77:20 Indeed, and enjoy your footy was the idea. Oh, no, it's beautiful. He's not there to provide expert comment. He's a colour person. He's the person who says, you know, the things are going badly for the Knights or whatever it is. Yes. He's not meant to be there, oh, they should have kicked for touch there or whatever it is. 77:36 That's not his go. It's not his go, no. 77:38 And no mention of Danica. 77:41 Oh, Danica will be doing the on-ground stuff, surely. Surely she's part of the commentary. I would have thought so. 77:49 I would have thought so. No, well, that's very disturbing news. I think a lot of people are going to miss Gus. 77:55 They like to bag him, but they like him there. 77:58 They like him there because they like bagging him. 78:00 I mean, that's rugby league, isn't it? 78:03 It is. It's the essence of rugby league. 78:06 And can I just say, you know, he's a lovely fellow and you and I have had a little bit to do with him over the years and it's always been very, very pleasant. But I don't think there's anyone more dull when it comes to commentary of rugby league than Cam Smith. 78:20 Who we've had nothing to do with over the years. But I take your point. He doesn't bring much to it at all. 78:24 He brings nothing to it. 78:26 Nothing. 78:27 At least Gus, he's going to have some. 78:28 Yeah, he's going to have an opinion. An angle. 78:30 Even if it's a bulldog angle, it's an angle. 78:33 Yeah. Whereas Cam comes with nothing. How do you think this has gone, this feathers edict that you can't wear two hats, unlike him who wears as many hats as you like? 78:42 He's got the transport hat on now. 78:43 That's right. But you can only say good things about the rugby league if you're employed by the rugby league, either in official capacity and a commentator. 78:52 Yeah, yeah. Well, that's what you're going to end up with, you know, Cam Smith. 78:58 Cam Smith? Yeah. How do you think it's going to go today, Cam? Oh, well, I think if Newcastle play well, they can win. 79:07 Bludgers, want to arrive in style for a big night in a car that has a rugby league twang? Why not get the car and driver package from Cook Cars? 79:20 All the Cook drivers are ticketed first grade rugby league players who arrive on time kitted out in their playing strip. For that special rugby league event discount, just mention to the captain that you listen to Bludging on the Blind Side. 79:38 People want to know what Freddie's going to be doing tomorrow then, HG. 79:42 Freddie's got no input in the grand final? Freddie would be doing, you know, they give him those cod jobs, you know, like, what's the weather like, Freddie? 79:51 Oh, the grass. 79:52 Thanks. Yeah. 79:53 You've heard it. Yeah, okay. 79:54 And I think, oh. 79:55 No, he does that well. Well, of course he does it well. Well, I mean, I'm not interested. He's a great professional. Yeah, yeah. 80:00 But it's demeaning. It is demeaning. He knows a lot about it. Now, speaking of that, speaking of the coverage, I was taken by the I don't know how to describe it, but the overcome by emotion that the Johns boys had to go through last weekend when they found themselves heading for a grand final. And this raises the question of how Newcastle is different. 80:23 So rugby league means a little bit more to the people in Newcastle, this is according to the Murdoch press, than your average fan base, which is why last week's unprecedented upset win over the Panthers literally brought grown men to tears. 80:36 It did. 80:37 Now, and it wasn't just any old men, club legends Andrew and Matty Johns breaking down as Sand and Smith sprinted away to eliminate Penrith. 80:47 Yep. 80:48 Andrew couldn't speak in commentary on Channel 9 while his brother fought through the tears as he explained the importance of the win on the Matty Johns show. I didn't realise the effect it can have on people's lives, young Cody Hopwood said. Those old boys, this is kind of them to address them in the correct term, those old boys, they serve the club unbelievably, so to repay them in some small ways is pretty rewarding. The Johns brothers will forever be Newcastle legends after they helped win the premiership in 1997. Now, Roy, is that something that matters to Newcastle people because they feel as though the whole area is forgotten by the larger community? 81:25 City of Sydney or it's too close to the largest city of Sydney to have a completely different identity. And so when it blossoms up, you're surprised by it. Can I put it that way? 81:35 Yeah. Well, you've got to remember, A.C., that... 81:39 The West's Club came into being right at the very start, 908. You know, Rugby League in Newcastle. 81:48 Oh, you mean the West's Club in Newcastle? 81:50 Yeah, yeah. We've been there. Yeah, we have. It's a magnificent club. Unbelievable. And it's such a rich history, actually. It goes right back to the inception. You know, when people were dreaming on Burst Grove Oval... 82:03 Wests were, you know, building the clubhouse in Newcastle. And did that club play in the Sydney competition? I think it did. Let's say it did. Yeah. 82:12 So when Father John Coote went there all those years ago, he went to a club that played in the big show. Yeah. 82:20 Now, Father John Coote, who did he play for? I don't know if it was Wests. 82:25 Not sure. But he certainly came out of the Newcastle area. Yeah. Yeah. And his brother might have had a brother, Peter Coots, as well, that might have played. He might have played for Wests. I'd have to think about that. 82:39 So in those days, the only way they'd really be able to travel to a game was on the train? 82:44 Yes, yes. Although there was a lively first-grade competition in Newcastle. Lakes United, I think, he might have played for. 82:53 Right. And give us an idea of flavour of that. 82:54 That's around Macquarie, Lake Macquarie. Okay. Right. So you had West, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock. Swansea would have a team? No, I don't think they did. 83:03 Right. 83:03 I don't think they did. More went, followed the coal seams up the valley. Right. 83:06 Okay, so back up towards Maitland. 83:09 Certainly had a team. Terry Panowitz came out of Maitland. Very rich history, Maitland. Henry Tartner ended up playing up in that area as well, a great New Zealander who was one of the very few front row forwards who used to take goal kicks. 83:25 Now, that doesn't quite explain why the modern era of Newcastle has sort of jumped on this. 83:31 I was going to say once in life. It may not be. They may win four on the trot. Who knows? They might. But, you know, on the big occasion. 83:39 Yeah. Well, I think Newcastle has always felt like the poorer cousin. No, I get that. The poorer cousin. I get that. And they should never have felt that way. 83:50 Newcastle Rugby League has always been front and centre. It's been a wonderful nursery for rugby league since 1908, let's face it. 84:00 But you just outlined a couple of minutes ago the jewels on that eastern seaboard there, you know, the art gallery and the changes to where the train used to go but now doesn't, but they've got built museums and so on. 84:12 That's right, yep. I mean, it's got quite a… Well, it's been for a long time a sort of arts cultural area as well. Yeah, absolutely. You know, a real hub. 84:25 I mean, there's been some outstanding artists come out of the Newcastle area for a hell of a long time. Margaret Olly, for one. 84:36 Nobody could paint a flower like she did. Extraordinary. 84:40 Now, there used to be a fabric designer called Gould who did great work. Yes. He may have done ordinary art as well, but I know him through the fabric design. 84:48 Yeah. Now, here we've got the... Johnny Raper played for Wests after his Sydney days. 84:56 Okay, what I'm trying to get to is how strong would the competition be? Would it be on a par with some? 85:02 Yeah, yeah. 85:03 Some teams in Sydney? 85:04 I think so, yes. 85:05 But there was never like a Newcastle versus? There wasn't a sort of city of origin. City of origin, even though. 85:13 Although, arguable, you could have, you know, Hunter Valley versus Sydney. That'd be fantastic. I mean, people talk about the Queensland spirit. The Newcastle spirit is far stronger than the Queensland spirit, you know. 85:26 I mean, maroons means nothing compared. 85:29 Maroons V Queensland. Sorry. 85:31 Maroons V Newcastle. Well, in terms of spirit, I'd back Newcastle every day of the week. 85:37 Chrome Domes and Leap Nerd. 85:39 A heads up on the audiobook, I Ran the Shamrocks, The Reg Duff Story. It is now available as a zigzag audiobook. This chart-topper is read by Walkley winner and super-chook Wayne Bennett. The head rabbit unleashes all the drama of Duffster's incredible life. Reg changed the way we play the greatest game of all. And the Duff story has been described by League Supremo Feathers Philandis as 850 pages of rugby league brilliance. 86:16 Aussies love Aussie success. Aussies love successful Aussie characters. That's why Aussies love rugby league. Rugby league. More Aussie than your average Aussie. Blood oath. Better still, bloody oath. This is Bludging on the Blind Side. 86:35 Yes, courtesy of ABC Local Radio and ABC Spot. 86:39 Now Mick from Aries Inlet, HG, what he's saying is quite right. Hard work will be talent if talent doesn't work hard. 86:49 Oh! Now that could be a strap on the fairy tale. Good. 86:54 Good. Now, one thing that surprised me was the response of the community to last Sunday's win. So here's a little bit of flavour again from the Murdoch press. Anyone who pulls on a Knights jersey is treated like royalty in the community, which explains why so many fans brave the elements on Sunday night to welcome them home after pulling off an impossible win in Sydney. This is against the Panthers. Hmm. That was after many of them were stuck in traffic delays trying to get to Sydney, while some of the train trips took four hours. 87:27 Mm. 87:27 The support that we had at the game on the weekend was great, and then we got home at 10.30 p.m., and it was pouring down, and there were still people lined up outside in their cars and with their kids. 87:41 Mm. 87:42 Then we get back here and there's another couple of hundred waiting for us to get off the bus. I think that shows how much it means to this town and how much support we've got here in Newey. It's crazy. They love their footy. Everyone knows that. 87:53 Yeah, that's right. 87:55 Makes the Panthers, sorry, the Roosters sound a bit dull, doesn't it? 87:58 Yeah, yeah. Well, the Roosters got nothing going for them except money, eh? 88:04 And does money buy your rugby league success? 88:07 Well, sadly, it often does, doesn't it? Now, that's the other part of the fairy tale, isn't it? 88:14 Yeah, that's got to be in the fairy tale somewhere. Yeah. The other side, you know, with the big cars. Big cars. You know, lashing out with money and all that sort of stuff. Gold and diamonds. Yeah, you know, pendants. Pendants. Yeah. 88:26 Yeah, et cetera. They don't win. No. Yeah. No, they don't win. I'm going to say the Wynn brothers might have come from Newcastle. You mean Peter Wynn? Peter and Graham. Right. And I think the Madison brothers might have come from Newcastle as well. I think Newcastle's produced quite a lot of players. Quite a lot of players, yeah, and been given no recognition. See, that's what gets up Newcastle people's notes. They've done so much for rugby league. 88:53 They've been the heart and soul, front and centre of rugby league for so long. 88:57 And not given, especially by people like Feathers, who are very Johnny-come-lately. 89:02 LAUGHTER 89:03 Isn't he? Yeah, well... Now he's leading the bloody Newcastle people across the Harbour Bridge. 89:09 It's not right, is it? 89:10 It's not right. 89:12 Coming back to that overhaul of the Dally M's, the Coach of the Year is the award that people think is not given due prominence or due reference. There's not a statement designed to sling mud at this year's recipient, Andrew Webster, but it's a superb coaching effort from Webster, but... 89:33 Like the leaderboard of the Dahlia Medal, the Coach of the Year Award is only assessed on performances throughout the regular season, is what I was saying earlier in the comments. That rounds 1 to 27 does not include the finals. 89:46 Not even Webster, who paid tribute to his rival coaches during the acceptance speech on Wednesday night, would deny that the performance of Knights coach Justin Holbrook in taking Newcastle from Spoon to the flag, maybe, is nothing short of extraordinary. It has happened only once before in the game's history. That's what people forget. from bottom to top in a year. Wow. When the Roosters achieved the feat in 2010. It's not so long ago. 90:10 That's not long ago at all, is it? 90:11 So the Roosters have climbed the heady heights of last to first. 90:15 Yeah. 90:15 But waiting until after the preliminary final to judge the Dalliam coach of the year, the NRL will rightfully be able to award the ultimate coaching performance each season. It's a simple change to the awards process. that will prevent deserved winners from being overlooked on the rugby league's night of nights when they should be making an acceptance speech on stage. Now, oddly enough, in the Norm Smith medal this year in the AFL, which was the previous week, there was some suggestion that, in fact, they clocked off way too early in judging the best on ground for the Norm Smith. 90:45 Sure. Because the big action came after the votes were tabled in the Norm Smith, meaning the Ashcrofts got going along with, you know, Scott Bailey. 90:58 Right, right. So the Norm Smith is determined, what, three-quarter of the way through the game? 91:04 Wow. 91:06 I'd say it looks like the Norm Smith was determined about 10 minutes before the end, 15 minutes before the end. 91:12 And that final 10 minutes can be the difference between. 91:14 Well, on this occasion. Yeah. Same in rugby league. The last 10 minutes can be more important. 91:19 I often say they're the most important 10 minutes, the last 10 minutes of the game. 91:22 Is that part of the fairy tale? Yeah. Yeah. So we've got a fair bit to back. 91:26 Fair bit to back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fair bit to back. 91:28 And I know the time is rapidly approaching, but Matt Rogers, the former Shark, just a little note here, he'll tee off in the Australian Senior Open in Toowoomba this Friday. Right. So that's a really good get for rugby league, having a player in the Open. Two-time Australian Open champion Peter Lonnard, three-time PGA blah-de-blah Peter Senior, who we've talked to many times. We have. And Peter O'Malley. Yeah. Headline the field, the PGA Tour, Andre Stoltz will be there. So it's a great. Isn't that a great thing? 91:59 Great line-up. To get Stoltz. How did they do that? I don't know. They've got no idea how they got Stoltz. That'd be something. He's the reigning. Have I got that right? The PGA Tour winner. Mm. 92:10 Now, Father John Coots became the first Roman Catholic priest to play in the National Rugby League when he was selected for Australia's Tour of New Zealand in 1969. He played in the Newcastle Grand Final winning side Wests in 1970, so he was Wests. 92:27 Okay. Well, Roy, it's time to pack up the card table and move on from our duties here at ABC Sport and ABC Local Radio. Thanks for another great year. 92:37 It's been a wonderful year. 92:38 We look forward to an even greater year next year on The Bludge. 92:42 Yes, yes, yes. And hasn't it been wonderful to be part of a fairy tale? 92:48 I know, I know, I know. So hard. So hard. Yeah. Last year when the Broncos won, it wasn't a fairy tale. It wasn't a fairy tale. No, it was dull. 92:58 There's those Cam Smith's commentaries that we're going to get tomorrow night. Hope people can stay awake. Thank God it's a fairy tale. 93:05 Yeah, and remember to get your coal and your frozen chook on the way out. That's it. You'll be loving the trip there and loving the trip home. 93:13 That's it for the Bludge. See you later. Bye now. 93:23 You've been listening to an ABC podcast. Discover more great ABC podcasts, live radio and exclusives on the ABC Listen app.