Kiwis vs Samoa! PLUS: How the game failed ELIESA KATOA | League Of Our Own - S2 EP35
Three big topics this week: Kiwis vs Samoa PREVIEW. Kiwis vs Tonga REVIEW. And how did everything conspire so badly against former NZ Warrior ELIESA KATOA at Eden Park?Blairy had front row seats as Eli was taken away on a medicab, and the Kiwis assistant coach was shocked that the game had let down the star Tongan backrower to that extent. The boys talk about how the Tongan officials and the Sky Sport crew could’ve worked together to minimize the damage that day.To the game itself, and the Kiwis produced a fine performance in booking their spot in Sunday’s final. Blairy & Goran review the game, and single out a few individuals for praise such as Keano Kini and Naufahu Whyte.And finally, who will be the difference makers for their sides in the Pacific Championships final? Blairy’s answers may surprise! And we’ve got our last Betcha This Happens for 2025. Enjoy!00:00 No rubbish bins this week!01:38 Blairy’s view on Eliesa Katoa’s troubles06:22 The players, the Tongan officials, the Sky Sport production11:31 Wow wee, Kiwi! Tonga gets annihilated14:01 The thoroughly impressive KEANO KINI16:32 It’ll be all WHYTE on the night - Naufahu the destroyer19:22 Demetric Vaimauga shout out!20:39 KIWIS vs SAMOA! World Cup Final Preview?!24:11 Key Players! Who are they?28:20 Betcha This Happens Kiwis v Samoa!30:09 Goodbye, good luck, and one episode to go?
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LUKE METCALF STAYS!! Origin to NZ, and Kiwis v Tonga! | League Of Our Own - S2 EP34
Fun and games this week as Blairy & Goran scrape egg off their faces following last week’s Luke Metcalf prediction, and Adam leaves an important piece of his technical set-up back in Newcastle! But in all seriousness, it’s wonderful news that Metcalf has signed an extension to 2028 with the NZ Warriors, and the boys wonder if it can not only get the Wahs a Premiership, but help the pathways to produce the next big Kiwis playmaker - if you’ve got Stacey Jones, Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf involved at the Warriors,, imagine being a young playmaker coming through, learning from those 3? Could be huge for the future of NZ league.It’s being reported that Eden Park will host Game Two of State of Origin in 2027. How good?! And also… why not? With NSW and QLD being made up of Samoan and Tongan internationals, and Auckland being the largest Polynesian city in the world, it makes sense, right?Sticking with Eden Park, that’s where the Kiwis face Tonga this weekend. Blairy & Goran talk through the handful of changes, the kiwi approach, and why Big Nasty has lost his spot. And still no Keano Kini?! 00:00 Blairy’s Rubbish Bin! SPONSORS PLEASE03:22 The Luke Metcalf prediction FAIL!09:09 No Wahs collab stitches up the Pod10:40 Injury-free, 100 gamer to influence pathways?12:55 Luke, Stacey, Shaun to develop next big Kiwis half?15:30 Origin to NZ!!21:32 Kiwis v Tonga this weekend25:46 Changes to the side29:08 Where’s Big Nasty?30:26 What’s the secret to beating Tonga!34:33 CNK vs KEANO KINI38:02 Betcha This Happens Kiwis v Tonga39:37 Goodbye and SPONSORS PLEASE!
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LUKE METCALF to LEAVE the NZ Warriors?! | League Of Our Own - S2 EP33
Not the best news for NZ Warriors fans: Luke Metcalf is about to test his value on the open market. And for those in the know, the halfback’s value could be as great as ONE MILLION DOLLARS per season. Can the Wahs produce a paycheck like that, or does the Aussie return home… to the Dragons, the Perth Bears, or somewhere else?  Blairy & Goran talk through the factors a player in Metcalf’s position would weigh up, and then deliver their verdict: Will he stay or go?And then of course there’s the Pacific Championships, where the Kiwis snuck past Samoa in a brutal encounter at Mt Smart. Casey McLean was enormous, and Joe Tapine was even bigger, but it wasn’t the perfect performance from New Zealand and assistant coach Blair tells us why.And we look forward to Suncorp Stadium this weekend to see how the Samoans regroup ahead of another colossal clash against Tonga!00:00 Congrats on the win!01:40 Luke Metcalf is leaving?!04:46 Aussies will always leave Wahs for family 08:53 Injury prone so SHOW ME THE MONEY!11:42 If not Metcalf, who’s the Warriors 7?13:34 That’s why they re-signed TMM!15:11 Warriors Spine has the NEED for SPEED18:44 Kiwis SCRAPE PAST Samoa!21:50 Casey McLean the Mean Machine25:02 Joe Tapine is the MAN27:37 Kiwi work-ons?32:25 JMK injured… Big Nasty at 9!35:29 Samoa v Tonga Preview!38:29 Betcha This Happens at Suncorp
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Alofiana Khan-Pereira vs DWZ… or RTS? PLUS Kiwis vs Samoa PREVIEW! | League Of Our Own - S2 EP32
League Of Our Own with Blairy & Goran is all about three big things: NZ v Samoa in the Pacific Championships, Bunty Afoa signing for the Wests Tigers, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira joining the NZ Warriors on a 3-year deal.Let’s start with the former Gold Coast Titans flyer… Blairy mentioned a few weeks ago that the Wahs needed a strike centre or a winger with speed, and they’ve secured the latter. But what does it mean for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak? Or, dare we say it, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck?We thought Bunty Afoa might be lost to the NRL after parting company with the Warriors, but Benji Marshall has offered Back Fence Bunty a one year deal - what can Marshall get out of Afoa, and is this a chance for the fan favourite to add a few more strings to his bow?And of course, the Kiwis welcome Toa Samoa to Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday at 6:05pm, and as Blairy is an assistant coach of the New Zealanders he tells you about the key selections, the pressure facing the men in black, and the best match ups in what will be an incredible spectacle to kick off the Pacific Championships!00:00 Blairy’s PRIDE! Back home for KIWIS!02:38 BIG NASTY: I’m playing fullback anyways!!06:15 Wahs sign WINGER WITH SPEED - Alofiana Khan-Pereira09:53 Does DWZ… or RTS make way?15:17 Attack vs Defence - tries galore, but defensively poor?18:33 Mt Smart is home to the Triple Banger League Name19:49 BUNTY AFOA to the Tigers!22:36 Can Benji Marshall improve Bunty’s skillset?25:14 KIWIS vs SAMOA this Sunday!29:17 Pressure? What pressure!32:02 PAYNE HAAS and the battle of the middle35:37 Betcha This Happens for Kiwis vs Samoa!
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What if Reece Walsh NEVER LEFT the Warriors? Plus: The Pacific Championships! | League Of Our Own - S2 EP31
After a NIGHTMARE last week when it comes to technology, time difference and sleep deprivation, the boys finally return with a look at the upcoming Pacific Championships!But before Blairy & Goran delve into that, a hypothetical: What if Reece Walsh never left?We just witnessed ‘The Plumber’ deliver a Clive Churchill Medal-winning performance as the Broncos beat the Storm for the 2025 Premiership, but if he didn’t leave the NZ Warriors after the 2022 season, would the Wahs have had ‘their year’ by now? Food for thought!Onto the Pacific Championships where Blairy is an assistant coach of the Kiwis, and the NZ boys look strong! No Jahrome Hughes, but a fairytale ending for Kieran Foran. Blairy & Goran talk about how impactful Kieran’s speech was after claiming the Ken Stephen Medal at the Dally M’s last week… Seriously inspiring.We talk about the opportunity that lies ahead of Nelson Asofa-Solomona - wiped out of the NRL GF through suspension - how does he get things back on track to be an asset, not a liability for the country? He only played 12 matches for the Storm this season.If there was a tug of war for the services of Leka Halasima between NZ and Tonga, you could say that the latter was victorious. But Goran asks Blairy how hard did the Kiwis lean on Halasima to kit him out in black?Looking at the strength of the 3 squads, Blairy wonders whether it’s time to lobby the powers that be to give the fans the FOUR NATIONS… NZ, Tonga, Samoa and Australia. Who’s keen?00:00 Intro + We explain last week’s absence!02:58 Blairy’s Broncos beat Blairy’s Storm + Ben Hunt REDEMPTION05:12 What if… Reece Walsh STAYED a WARRIOR?09: 21 The PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS are here! Coach Blair on his Kiwi squad13:32 Kieran Foran’s last ride + his inspiring Dally M Awards speech18:07 Getting the best out of Nelson Asofa-Solomona24:43 Tonga, not NZ, for Leka Halasima27:40 Kiwi backrowers pretty strong though eh!29:21 Blairy on the sensational depth of Tongan rugby league33:09 Is anyone looking for DWZ?36:12 We need THE FOUR NATIONS of Rugby League!39:35 Adding to the wishlist + GOODBYE!
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CREDITS
Hosts and producers: Adam Blair and Goran Paladin
New Zealand