Why can’t the Kiwis play England during State of Origin? | League Of Our Own - S2 EP17
Thanks to Origin 2 being in Perth and the Wahs hosting the Panthers so soon afterwards in Auckland, the match is missing not only Kurt Capewell but FIVE Penrith players! Now, it sounds like a guaranteed win for the Wahs, but as a league fan are you happy to miss out on some of the best names in the game… thanks to what seems to be a rogue scheduling error? Blairy & Goran discuss this, and despite the encounter missing some rockstars it’ll be a huge occasion for James Fisher-Harris facing his old club, and our boy Te Maire Martin who brings up 100 NRL games.A League Of Our Own viewer by the name of Alex Hirini commented on our video last week about elevating the international game through the State of Origin period. We liked the comment so much, we thought we’d talk about it! So: How do we get the Kiwi side in action against England (or Samoa, or Tonga) through the NRL season and bring New Zealand’s national side back to prominence?We talk about the sickening hit on Taine Tuaupiki, there’s a shout out for an NRL team in Christchurch, and we give the Betcha This Happens Multi yet another go. Cheers for watching and listening!
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45:47
Why 75 MISSED TACKLES makes Kurt Capewell a GOOD defender! | League Of Our Own - S2 EP16
Even in a BYE week for the NZ Warriors, there’s still SO MUCH to talk about! Starting off with Kurt Capewell’s selection to the Queensland Origin team for Game 2. While some would say that his form warrants the call up, others would point to his unwanted league-leading stat - 75 missed tackles - and wonder how that translates to good defending. So Blairy explains it! All the best to Cape-Wah in Perth against NSW.Refereeing & Match Review Committee decisions are in the spotlight, with Benji spraying the ref after the Tigers were beaten by the Panthers… and Kiwi Dylan Brown accidentally contacts the ref during the Eels’ loss to the Dogs and cops a one match ban! WTF? As Mitch Moses says, the MRC are just making up charges these days.And there’s been so much chatter over the last year or so about Kalyn Ponga; will he play for the Kiwis? And how soon could it happen? Blairy & Goran wonder if he should be forced to pick between State of Origin and New Zealand - perhaps he, and others like him, should be allowed to do both!
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45:48
Has Mitch Barnett closed the Warriors’ 2025 Premiership window? | League Of Our Own - S2 EP15
Since the NZ Warriors confirmed the extent of co-captain Mitch Barnett’s season-ending ACL injury, we can’t help but wonder how it’s going to hinder the side for the rest of the campaign. So, with that in mind, we ask the BIG question: Has the Premiership window closed on the Wahs for 2025?Without Mitch however, it provides an opportunity for not only Jackson Ford to start against the Sharks, but a number of others to come into the selection frame during the backend of the season. Tanner Stowers-Smith is on the bench, Tom Ale in the extended squad… and what about Bunty Afoa?Rocco Berry can’t catch a break, because he’s broken down again. The Real Big Dog has tweaked his hammy. When will he be injury-free and get a decent run of games?!And because we are at the halfway point of the regular season, we reveal our Form Kiwi 13, as picked by League Of Our Own selectors Blairy & Goran. Our choice of dummy half is what we’d call an innovative choice!
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41:59
Te Maire Martin to PARRAMATTA? Raiders vs Mt Smart FANS! | League Of Our Own - S2 EP14
Blairy returns home this week, which means he and Goran are reunited - in person - for the first time this year! Blairy talks about the significance of his journey back to Aotearoa, leading a team of young men from Australia with Maori heritage to not only play rugby league, but to develop an understanding of their identity and culture. Wish him well in the comments!!On the menu for discussion this week: Is DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK doing enough to hold his wing spot, given TAINE TUAUPIKI’S solid start to the year? Why is LEKA HALASIMA on the bench for the Bunnies this week - he was a locked and loaded starter last week! What on earth were the RAIDERS up to post-match when they were giving it to the NZ Warriors FANS?And the big one… if he isn’t satisfied with the minor minutes he’s playing, we’ve found TE MAIRE MARTIN a new home. Welcome to Parramatta!!
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OUT! Origin snub for WAYDE EGAN, JFH & Mitch Barnett miss Road Warriors HOMECOMING | League Of Our Own - S2 EP13
Following four matches on the road, the NZ Warriors are finally back at Mt Smart Stadium to face the Canberra Raiders in a 2 v 3 battle! But there’s no James Fisher-Harris through suspension, and his co-captain Mitch Barnett has been rightly selected for New South Wales in Origin One.We can’t say the same though for Wayde Egan who has missed the Blues squad entirely. Blairy has a theory as to why, and who specifically is to blame! Despite being in career-best form, and the Wahs in 2nd spot on the ladder, the crafty hooker will roll out against the Green Machine instead. Which is probably a relief for Warriors fans given the key absentees in the front row!Who likes the left edge of Halasima, Pompey and RTS? Who gets frustrated with DWZ jamming in? And how about this for a hypothetical: if the 2025 Warriors had Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake… would they be this high up the ladder?!Another week, another hopeful Betcha This Happens multi from Goran… but at least there are only 5 games to pick this week!
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Weekly insights, analysis and banter as they deliver a fresh take on the great game of rugby league. It's footy like you've never heard it before.
CREDITS
Hosts and producers: Adam Blair and Goran Paladin
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