SUBJECTS: NRL Grand Final, Gladys Berejiklian.
 
HOST: Good morning Albo,. How are you feeling? How are the nerves?

ANTHONY ALBANESE: It’s a very nervous day. This is our second grand final in 50 years so they don’t come around too often. We got across the line in 2014 and I am hopeful that the cardinal and myrtle will emerge victorious tonight. But it will be a tough game. The Panthers are a great side.

HOST: They are two great sides. Albo, South Sydney has such a rich history, one of two foundation teams still playing. Of course they got dropped from the competition, fought their way back. Russell Crowe’s passion, James Packer’s money. It is quite the story, isn’t it?

ALBANESE: Look it’s a great story. I came out of the womb red and green and this broach here on the scarf was my grandmother’s, so it goes back to the 30s. And I always supported Souths. My family did and I was on the board when we were kicked out of the comp in the late 90s and we organised the big demos, the peoples’ marches of over 100,000 people. Penrith supporters marched with us as well to support our right to play rugby league. And of course it is 20 years ago that we won the court case and got readmitted to the competition and I will never forget that day. It was such an extraordinary atmosphere back at the leagues’ club when we came back from the court room.

HOST: You’ve just proved yourself as a true fan, but there have been some questions about Scott Morrison’s loyalty to the Sharkies, that he only just started following them when he moved to the shire. Thoughts?

ALBANESE: Well, that’s a matter for him. But myself, I have always supported Souths. It’s just what you did. I tell people when they ask does my son Nathan support Souths, I say: Yes, he had choices. But he chose to sleep inside. I got to take him to the 2014 grand final. We caught the train from Redfern Station up the road here. To me rugby league is about that sense of identity, that sense of belonging, that sense of who you are. And my Mum took me in 1971 to see Souths beat St George, took me to the SCG Hill. I was a little boy and to her great credit there of course, they were the days when of course all the lads on the Hill brought an esky in each and by three o’clock they were pretty empty. So I couldn’t see as a little kid on the Hill. So all these big blokes put me up in their shoulders. So any time Souths scored I got tossed around and my Mum used to tell the story when she was alive that she never got to see any of the Grand Final because she was so worried I would end up donked on the head after South scored one of their tries. But it was a great day and for me 2014 was really emotional as well. It showed that the fightback, the fight to be reinstated, was worthwhile.

HOST: Yes, great imagery Albo. We’ve got to just ask you before we let you go about the sensational resignation of Gladys Berejiklian, so loved. How are you feeling about that?

ALBANESE: I wish her well on a personal level. I always had a constructive relationship with Gladys. We were both transport ministers together. It does say, though, that people do need to be accountable for their actions. We are talking about public funds here. We will wait and see what happens with the inquiry that is there. But on a personal level I think she is a good person and I wish her well for her future. It certainly is a big loss for the Liberal Party in NSW and I think that it will certainly damage the Federal Liberal Party’s chances as well, even though Scott Morrison of course didn’t get on very well with Gladys Berejiklian. But nonetheless, she is someone who worked incredibly hard, particularly over what was a very difficult period with the bushfires and then with COVID.

HOST: Just quickly Albo, do you think all states and territories should emerge from lockdown when they hit that 80 per cent fully vaxed target?

ALBANESE: I think they should all emerge safely. All states aren’t the same. The truth is in Queensland tonight there will be 30,000 people at Suncorp watching Souths and Penrith. In WA I spoke to Mark McGowan this week. He made the point to me that when they talk about freedom, they’ve got it. They had a packed crowd at the AFL Grand Final. They are going out to restaurants. They are going to pubs. Their economy is a powerhouse that is keeping Australia going. I support the national plan but we need to emerge safely. But all states aren’t the same. That is the truth. Here in Sydney it has been really, really tough. And we will feel it tonight. I can’t believe South are playing in a Grand Final and I won’t be there. But that is life. They are the sacrifices that people are making.

HOST: Well, we appreciate you coming on the show on Grand Final day Albo. Two Sydney teams playing in Brisbane. It’s bizarre. Thank you Sir.

ENDS