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Bonjour Arthur. Bonjour. This is the bench with Arthur Mourgue. Welcome along. Arthur. Yeah, just like this. A sneeze. Exactly. Arthur Mourgue. Arthur. French Arthur. Yeah, Arthur. Welcome along. Thank you. And I would like to start by singing happy birthday. Because do you know it's his birthday on Saturday? How old do you think one Arthur Mourgue would be turning? Uh 27. 26. Exactly. 26. 27. Happy birthday. Thank you very much. I'm glad you remember. Oh, he's a jolly good fellow. Bon anniversaire. Merci mon ami.
Yeah. Très bien. Massive happy birthday. 27 on Saturday. And also you'll be returning to the pitch in a couple of weeks time, I am led to believe. Yeah, exactly. Really excited. It's been a quite a long time for me. First surgery for me. So The first injury. Yeah. It was a big one. Like one of the biggest I had the syndesmosis but I didn't have surgery. That was the same time, 3 months. Yeah. But yeah, first first surgery for me. So And it was a pec. It's torn. Torn pec. And during the World Club Challenge. Yeah, just before the half time. Just fell down on the leg and I felt it straight away. They can be pretty ugly, can't they? Yeah. How's it
healing? Cuz you can when you tear your pec, it leaves a hole and it has a gap. So you know if you're ever on the beach, shorts on it can be quite damaging. No good. No good for the beach. Yeah, no it's fine. Um Yeah, I went to your doctor's here specialist and uh obviously he did well cuz I don't got this hole or anything. Right. That's good. Like strength wise pretty good as so far. So now I'm really happy where am I and um yeah, just I was scared to like be maybe back late but it's looking like I'm going to be on time.
Right, good. Maybe a week early. Great news. Maybe it's that's what I like. So you'll miss out on the Challenge Cup next week but then the week after against Leigh, fingers crossed if everything goes to plan, you will be back on that pitch. Yeah, exactly. That's the plan. Oh, brilliant. So obviously did it as I said in the World Club Challenge which then of course the following week was Vegas, wasn't it? That was annoying. That was yeah, that was really disappointed but at the same time I thought that's part of the game. So you have like if you play this game, you have to take the hit and sometimes this happen. Yeah, that was a bad timing but it's always a bad timing. You never want to miss a game.
Especially a big one like Vegas but um Did you go? No, I couldn't. I have the surgery this week. Right. Oh. So I didn't even like You didn't get anything. Yeah, I was just like um thinking it is how it is now. You just need what like you can do to be back as fast as you can. That's all you can control. Yeah, yeah. That was the mindset. Yeah. So when we found out we were going [clears throat] to have you as a lovely guest on the bench, we contacted our very good friend and colleague, former teammate of yours, Sam Tomkins. Oh, yeah. Just to get some insight and some goss. dirt. Get dirt. That's what we Has he been mean? Did he say like some dirty stuff? No, no, no. Do you think he would? Yeah, definitely.
What do you think he'd tell us? I've no clue anything. It was quite the opposite, wasn't it? He was like no, he's a he's just a solid guy. Straight shooter, he said. I like that. Yeah. Well, that makes me feel like he was lying. What do you know about yourself? What can you tell us about yourself that Sam wouldn't? No, nothing no nothing here. Well, I mean you do have the mic in your hand. So I think it's only fair to ask you a similar question about our dear friend Sam Tomkins. What can you tell us about him that we might not know?
Uh what can I say about him? No, he's just like um he's a good guy to have around. Just like to love, you know. Uh and uh he's a great competitor obviously. I've been uh learning next to him. So that was like a um massive asset for me to be like uh playing along his side. I think he like uh I've improved a lot playing with him and uh yeah, just um I keep like a good relationship for with him. So now just always pleasure to meet him again. Yeah. So it's interesting uh 30 years of Super League this year. The guys put together their best ever Super League team. John had Sam Tomkins as his best ever fullback. Would you have him in your team?
Yeah, probably yeah. Yeah, probably. Yeah, cuz I quite like uh Bevan French as well when he played fullback. Yeah. Uh now he's obviously next to six. So I'll probably put him six and Sam at fullback. Okay. I like it. Getting all the fullbacks in. The Arthur's just putting all fullbacks, a team full of fullbacks. Exactly. Actually, I think if you made a rugby team of any position probably all fullbacks would be the best. Is that fullback position one of the most demanding? Yeah, I think so. It's it's tactically probably the most demanding on the pitch. And like you've got a dual responsibility. One is you're at the end of like a lot of attacking
stuff. But then also fundamentally in rugby league like numbers are everything defensively and the fullback Arthur is like that's your probably the most important bit for you to get right in there. Exactly. I think if like as a fullback if you [clears throat] got it right, what you can do like as a defense set if the numbers are wrong, if even if you got like the best tackle tech or like you can try your best but if you get it wrong, it's tough for you to um be strong and that's why like it's so important to know your role and do your job when you're fullback. Yeah, is that the most demanding part of the job? Is that something that you've learned you know, not naturally in there. You've had to learn and work at that part of the game. Yeah, I think
I've always like this aspect of the game like all the strategy count the number like look where the space. So that always been something I like to do but obviously yeah, you need to learn the game, get experience and yeah, that come through playing. Should we do a very basic 101 on numbers defensively in rugby league? Sure, that sounds like a fascinating listen. okay. It goes like this. seven three split. Doesn't it? Yeah. Six four split. Exactly. Five and five. Five and five split. So depending on where the player the ball is on the field, Arthur's working out whether it's a seven three, six four, five or five. Or just to
complicate it, a five plus six with you in the line. Potentially. Potentially depend where they hold the Arthur. So in the middle of the field, five and five split, two markers, Arthur or fullback. Mhm. And then that's where it gets really sexy and interesting for nerds like me. Fascinating. Are you a rugby nerd? Yeah, I love I watch every game. I just like Do you keep a notebook? Yeah. Do you? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know I got a notebook. I'm a proper nerd. And how often do you fill it out? Depends. It's like could be so at training so every day like when we got video but could be at home like just if I got anything in my mind, I
will go through my book. Could be like something about rugby or more mentally. I like to like write on this book and keep like updating. Do you have the book here? Nah. You didn't bring it to this game. No, it's in a safe. Is that because you're not playing? So you're quite a selfish bookkeeper then. You only keep notes when you're playing. Don't need a book now. So I want to go back to your early days playing with Catalans Dragons and on a serious note, just how much of an influence Sam Tomkins had on your playing style and I suppose how you see the game today. Um I think like he was the smartest like when he was playing the smartest fullback in the comp. So that was for me
the way I could like learn maybe faster than other team, you know. Just like watching him at a training, he could like give me advice if he see something like different. And I reckon he's like a bit more like the type of fullback am I, you know. Not like the biggest but just like try to be always see the thing like before you know, just like where the space is and like create something. And yeah, that's that's what he did with me. Just like uh teach me or just help me, advise me and just like the other thing I learned from him is like uh I was like this but makes me better. Just like compete every day to like try to catch him, you know. Yeah. So yeah, that was What? think one day you'll be as good as him?
Do you think maybe one day you will be the goal. Like it. Get after it. Can you do You know, I reckon one thing for you, Arthur, that you have to deal with is people doing a French accent to you all the time. All the time. So people do it all the time, don't they? Yeah, but at the same time like I quite like it cuz I feel like people try, you know, just to be like part of it. It's always like the bidet no like bonjour or mon ami or anything but it's just like it's fun for me to like hear them talking in French. What right, okay. This is my challenge for you then. Can you do a whole accent?
Impossible for me. Can you can I barely can understand it right now after a year and a half. But can you do a northern accent? What do the lads sound like to you? Uh not really I couldn't. It's like Say this. Where are you? We got actually we got Watto. He love to say mentality. That's his way like proper So, what is the plan for you? And I suppose I want to get into the differences. So, leaving Castleford to come to Hull KR, what was kind of the biggest difference between the two clubs?
Obviously, the weather, I mean, we're sat here. It looks absolutely beautiful and sunny just to our left, but it's absolutely freezing and very windy where we're sat. Um I reckon it's like all the city is passionate about the team and rugby league that likes crazy over here. Hull? Just like Yeah, Hull. Perpignan is the same. When I visited Perpignan, I mean, I was surprised at just how much they love rugby league. Maybe it's you see like thing different when you uh arrive in a different place. So, that's why I like my perspective change where I've always been in France. So, I always like used to know like always eat in the area. And over here when I arrived, like it was like a new life for me, a new thing, and I
really like stick to me the like uh um little respect before the game, the red robin like in the here like singing. So, yeah, that was really like the atmosphere like uh shocked me before on the first game. And the passionate people are they The people from Hull are really passionate about rugby, and it's a slightly different atmosphere to That's why you want like as well like to deliver when you play like just to give them back what they give to you. What's it like when you run out there and a little respects the crowd are singing it? I reckon every time I hear this song, I know like, "Oh, come on." Like, you know the goosebumps before the game like it's just I love to hear them like singing that song.
Whereabouts do you live? I live in Kingswood. I don't know if you know about Kingswood, yeah. I know it. So, how is that? Yeah, pretty Are you on your own with a partner? Uh with my partner, yeah. She followed me from She followed you? She No, no, that sounds a bit creepy. She followed me. I didn't invite her. Come she followed me. Yeah. French. No English. Uh how should I have said that? Yeah, we came together. Exactly. So, You can say she followed you. The reason she's here is because of you. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. So, therefore, she followed you. But she said then, "Okay."
Yeah. Um yeah, yeah, she's been good for us well cuz the goal was um for her to learn English and be able like to speak uh another conversation like normal in English, and she's improved a lot. Yeah. She did well, and uh that was tough as well for her to be away for from her family. That was the first time for us. So, yeah, that was uh tough challenge for us well, and uh she really like dive into it. Right. Do the family get over? Yeah, yeah. Yeah. They love it every time they come like same just like to see something different, discover like always eat the culture over here, the game, like the atmosphere, everything. So, I love They love it. What's the plan for you? You going to stay? You going to
go back to France? What's What's your kind of say 5-year plan? How long is your contract? Two more year. So, for the moment, the plan is just do the best as I can to help this team like taking here more trophies for the two next year, and then we'll see what happen from there. But like obviously, I'm enjoying my time over here. So far, it's been uh good for me like I've been able to uh improve my game and take it to another level, especially discover like new thing around here like about playing with a new system like new player, new spine. So, yeah, I'm like really happy to um with this decision. Yeah, how influential We spoke about Sam, how influential Sam was. How influential has Willie Peters been? Oh, massive. I reckon like um especially
I don't like former Hull KR Steve McNamara, and he was a good coach, but I think at some point as a player, it's always good to see something different. And um I'd like to uh I love to come here and like just um see thing I haven't like seen before, and uh play a system I haven't played. Yeah. Why is Willie so good? Um all the details. He never leave like something I reckon uh to like uh random, you know? Every detail count, and he's pushing you like to Yeah. Do like everything as uh good as you can, you know? And um I think you can see that on the field. That's a man who does have a notebook.
Willie Peters. He never stop. Willie Peters will always be writing in a notebook. I'm sure of it. I'd love to read Willie Peters' notebook. What's it going to be like when he goes? What do you mean when he goes? When he leaves at the end of the year for PNG. Yeah. Um I don't know. That's That's we going to miss him, but obviously, uh we don't know who's going to take um his job uh Any idea? No, I have no clue. No short Have you been told about a short list or No, nothing. Nothing? Nothing. No idea. Who would you like?
Um I don't know. I have no idea like I just someone that can came and do the same like as Willie did so far, you know? Just like commit and um make sure like we keep the standard out that we built so far like the last few years. So, talk a little bit about the success then that he has really brought to this team. Last year, treble winners. This year, certainly seems like Hull KR are back on the way up. You've got Challenge Cup semi-final next week. Um you are climbing that table. Currently, I think you're in fifth, but win tonight against Castleford, and you do go up. Uh keeping in striking distance of the top um couple of teams. So, what is the feeling? What's the mentality this year? And is it any different to last Um I think
exactly the same mentality is just maybe now we know everyone expect us like um to be at the top again. So, that's why every team that's going to play us going to play like That's going to be one of the biggest game of the season. So, we need to be even better this year. So, that's the I think extra motivation we got this year is knowing like now everything everyone expect something about us, and like we need to deliver again, and that's that's the extra motivation I reckon for us. But yeah, it's the same mentality. We want like to get as many trophy as we can this year again.
Yeah, absolutely. So, I assume confidence is pretty high then. And the fact that it had been such a long time since this club had won silverware, now that you have done it, you know what it takes. It's almost given you that extra bit of belief, if you like. Yeah, I think um that was the thing this year just like we want to start again from scratch like we won, but that's the past, but at the same time keep like taking confidence from what we did. So, like take this confidence and know like we got now experienced player. We like know how to do it, but then it's going to be hard again. We need to like do it again, and nothing's going to like give it to us, you know? So, that's the mentality. Can I share
something that I always found really strange? When you play in a big game like a grand final or [snorts] at Wembley, how weird is it coming back to a normal stadium? Do you know what it's like as a player? It seems everything seems so small. That's exactly like That's game you back, and you're like, "Whoa." Whoa, it's tiny. Like you go from Wembley like all But the atmosphere here is like one of the best, isn't it? incredible. But when you get back here after you've played in a big stadium, in a big final, when you get back and like you're playing at a small Everything feels tiny. Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Yeah. Especially is in this like stadium. It's like For this pound for pound, you're right. This is the noisiest, most energetic stadium in How does the atmosphere here compare to that in Perpignan? Um it's different like I reckon um both are like really uh good atmosphere in the stadium. Um it's just like they have got different identity, and I quite like love the song around here. That's like the singing like really passionate and really like Good. So, I did a little bit of research before this, and rugby league is very much in your family, isn't it? Your cousin, Louis Jouffret. Tell us about him.
Yeah. Um that's why I did rugby league. So, my father was a footballer, and then he went on to golf and became a golf teacher. So, I wasn't like um premier like going to rugby league, and my cousin was playing league. So, I tried, and I loved it straight away. So, he was a bit like my big brother. So, I keep playing, and uh yeah, that was how I went to rugby league, and he did play in championship. He did play for Yeah, Halifax, Featherstone. Can you tell us how he got involved in rugby league? So, his father was playing, and uh he played for Avignon the SOAR. That's where I start. And um now he's the president of the club, and my cousin is back in Avignon actually. So, yeah, that was how I went
uh to rugby league because of my uncle and my cousin after So, your cousin is Louis Jouffret. So, is he Are you close to him? Are you in touch? Does he watch your games? Does he come to your games? Was he at the grand final? Yeah, yeah, we really close. Um he messaged me straight after the grand final to congratulate like uh that was just mad to uh know like where we start, and like the journey was really happy for me. So, yeah, yeah, we still, like, really close and he's we we share a lot of things about rugby league and he is he came last year. Yeah. Do you Does your dad still coach golf? Yeah.
How much does he cost? How much does he charge? he expensive? Yeah, he is. But would he do a favor for someone who's really in need of some golf advice? I can try. Right. Perfect. Could you just put a word in? We'll we'll swap numbers. I'll I'll I need to see him. I've I'll try to get you a price back. I can't I'll give him commentary advice. I don't know. I'll try to get you a price back and give me a price. I can't guarantee anything. He only takes skilled golfers, I believe. That's not I'm all right. So, on the podcast we do a segment on and off the bench. On the
bench is something you want to see less of in the game, so you're benching it, you're taking it out of the game. Off the bench is something you want to see more of. Would you like to go first? On the bench. I'm going to start with on the bench. Things I want to see less of. It's people who tell stories that never end. Do you know somebody who starts telling story and you just think there's no ending to this story and even and I'm going to advance it further. I'm not just benching people who tell stories that never end. I'm benching people who don't
know when a conversation is finished and you're trying to leave and you're walking away and they're still talking to you. Some good conversation stoppers. Forget the starters. What are some good conversation stoppers? conversation stopper is I worked in restaurants and one of my managers had a great story if something went wrong. She just said, "My horse is dead." My horse died today. I think he says something like that, "My dog's died." and then walk off. They can't say It's a great way to leave a conversation. But people who tell long stories, this is ironic cuz I'm talking. And if you read the comments in our
YouTube thing it's probably me who goes on and tells the story. I'm benching myself. Amen. I'll turn you have something you want to see less of. Well, um probably I don't know. I'll go. Shall I give you some more thinking time? Okay, so I'm really against people on planes not having shoes and also not having socks on. I think it's disgusting. What do you mean? Not having shoes and not having socks on planes. I think it's disgusting. Whereabouts though? On the plane.
I don't know about whereabouts are you? What do you mean? No, I'm saying whereabouts in the plane. It doesn't matter where they are on the plane, just in general. does matter whereabouts in the plane. Everywhere. So, where are people Because I'm going to assume if they stand at their seat without shoes on and without socks on, they're getting up and they're going to that toilet. I'll tell you what. They're going in there and we all know how disgusting those toilets are on planes. economy and I've never I have never seen somebody with their shoes and socks off. I flew business class.
There's a lot of people with shoes and socks off up there, Jen. What class did you What class? It doesn't matter. They can walk anywhere on the plane. I don't I'm not I'm just talking about shoes and socks. I Don't they give you nice slippers? I thought you got [snorts] little slippers and a little towel and you go have a shower. I'll turn you over. What would you like to see less of? Uh what can I have on the bench? Could be on the pitch, outside the pitch, anything. On the bench, anything. On the pitch, on the pitch, on the pitch I'm going to go on the bench, people that can could score UNDER THE STICKS. I'M I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS. YOU CAN SEE WE NEED AIR LIKE THIS. SO, you're putting it on the bench. People who
don't even consider what the goal kicker has to go through and put the ball down anyway. Okay, that's my goal. Specifically. were the top point scorer and goal kicker of Super League last year. he's going, "Get under the sticks." That's why I'm doing it. I'm support I do the supporting if I'm not going to ball, just screaming. This You were just saying off uh this is the most difficult stadium to kick at. Yeah, I reckon that's one of the like most difficult stadium. I was speaking with uh Reece Martin as well and uh he's he reckon as well cuz it's so windy around. Why is it so windy here? It's freezing. It's so cold right now.
It's a lot to do with It's very flat. So, during the ice age, glaciation Settle in, ladies and gentlemen. on the bench, Yorkshire is essentially the sludge off the bottom of an ice cap that melted. Fascinating. So, that is sure you're benching that. So, that is I like it. That's very good. Okay, off the bench. Something you want to see more of. More of. Injecting it into the game. Off the bench. Tiger. Please. Off the bench for me. I want to see more medieval sort of stuff. So, I reckon we pick you two champions, one from each team and they have a joust in the middle
of the pitch. So, I'm saying you pick your hardest player, we pick our hardest player and they have a fight. Like a punch-up or literally knives and things. on a horse. I like this one. Do you know what I'm saying? I like this one. So, can't you not imagine like Su'a Sulu just on a horse? And boom! There goes bloody Joe Westerman. See you later. I think that I'd watch it. Okay. Off the bench. Um I had something. Oh, I know. I want bins close to toilet doors.
What? Bins close to toilet doors so that when you wash your hands and you dry them with paper towels, you can throw open the door with the paper towel and then the bin is there to put it in the bin. So, you don't have to run to the bin, put it in and run back and catch the door before it closes. Right. That was good and he didn't even know it. Again? Bins close to toilet doors. So, when you wash your hands, you then use the paper towel to dry them and you open the door with the paper towel and then instead of having to like Well, I've got a real problem with your story is you There's an element of that
story that I just don't think majority of people go through. Well, I do and it's my off the bench. So, I'm entitled to say it. So, you wash your hands in a toilet, then get a paper towel to open the external toilet door. not wash your hands in a toilet? Yeah, but what I'm saying is once I've washed my hands, I don't then grab a paper towel to open the push open the toilet. You're talking the exterior door. ever If only you could push because then you wouldn't need the paper towel cuz you could use your elbows, but you got to pull. Oh my god. Oh my gosh. Your turn, I'll turn. Off the bench. Um I'd like to see So, for two points in the comp like extra two points, you pick one player of your team and he's going to go
longest drive contest. Oh, yeah. Now we're talking. And the winner wins two points for this comp. But you And you count for the championship. Arthur would be a sneaky choice. I don't Hang on. Can you go again? A longest drive in golf. Exactly. So, we're going to say, "Right, who can hit the longest drive?" one player in each team and they have a contest and the winners getting two points like a win. But somebody might pick Arthur Mork, right? And this man can hit a golf ball, can't he? Well, he's coached by his dad, so know. You can't He can't. He's sneaky. So, hang on. Does the opposition choose the person? No, your
your team again. Uh yeah, picking the player. Can I do a bonus off the bench? Have you been able to play golf with that injury? No, no. Any fight, I wouldn't say that here. Where are you, Arthur? I'm just doing some re I'm on the car. What's that noise? Nothing. Nothing. I'm cooking. Yeah. Can I do a sneaky off the bench? Just a very extra one, extra curricular. One off the bench for me. And it's people who go to France and play sport and then in the press conferences speak with a French accent but speak in English.
Joey Barton, example. Richie Myler did it when he went to Catalan. So, they do they speak like Arthur, speak in English. Have you seen it? Everybody watch it. Everybody's seen it. So, Joey Barton went to sign for Steve McLaren. Yeah. Yeah, but Joey Barton signed for I don't know. Did he sign for? Okay. Leon. Yeah, baby. And he's going yes, I'm very pleased to be here in France. And it's like, "What are you doing?" What are you doing? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop. It's like you coming over here and going You know, just speak English. what? Did any English players do that at Catalan?
Richie Myler did it. Yeah, I think I've seen this one. Does Sam do it though? Does Sam do it? Sam can speak French. Yeah, but does he do it? I think so. But it'd be like as stupid as Arthur just coming over here and going, "You know what, brah?" Right, that's a wrap. All right. Arthur, good luck with the pack. Thank you very much. We can't wait to see you back out there. Good luck for the season and good luck for those two points. Oh, I forgot to mention it. Famous French sports person of all time. Um Antoine Dupont. For rugby league. Yes, no? Yeah, yeah, be like really good. World class. I think nine can be like he puts foot. So, like, really tough to defend as a fullback actually. For nine like he can
play left, right. Basically have to cover the full pitch, so Okay. You've got a choice between Jez Litten and Antoine Dupont. Now. Jez Litten. Arthur, no way. He's the best actually, I reckon. Antoine Dupont. Can beat him. Get Antoine Dupont in. I'd take Dupont on the league. every day of the week. Yeah, fine. Anyway, he's a good teammate, Arthur. Thank you so much for joining us on the bench. Thank you.
