Original subtitles

The toughest obstacle course on the planet is back.

And for Australia's best everyday athletes,

the challenge is even tougher.

Oh!

The obstacles harder.

Big wipeout!

The stakes, higher.

Last night, in the first of six qualifying heats,

15 Ninjas took on the new course.

I want a crack at this.

Among them, powerful newcomers like BMX Ninja Daniel Walker.

This guy is an awesome athlete.

An unlikely superstar science student Bryson Klein.

Flying through the course.

He's like lightning.

Our returning heroes showed experience counts

with all five members of Perth's Ninja Academy making it up the wall.

Including DJ Ben Paulson.

He's the Ninja to watch.

And gymnast Olivia Vivian.

She is incredible.

Who not only scaled the wall but back flipped her way into history.

How the hell did that happen?

Oh, my goodness.

Whoo!

Tonight, heat two

and more of our heroes return for a date with destiny.

Nothing is going to break me on this course.

Australia's favourite tradie Sam Goodall is back.

The closest gym to muse about 500Ks away.

And you won't believe the lengths he's going to beat the course.

I've actually built Mount Midoriyama.

Also stepping up, newcomers just as determined.

The son of two Olympians.

I got some big boots to fill.

And our first father-son Ninjas.

I'm here to say that this old man has still got it.

And I'm here to show that he doesn't.

Just 20 will qualify for the semifinals.

As the search continues for Australia's first Ninja warrior.

Welcome back to Ninja Island.

I'm Rebecca Madden.

I'm Freddie Flintoff.

And I'm Ben Fordham.

Ninja Warrior season two is well underway

and tonight, another 50 incredible athletes stand

at the foot of Mount Midoriyama

ready to leave their mark on this course.

It's so great to see our returning heroes.

There's Daniel Mason the barefoot Ninja.

Titanium woman Zoe Featonby.

Every man's crush Aurelein Apport

and of course our favourite tradie Sam Goodall.

All of them have been training hard

but Sam has been using the local kangaroos as speed testing practice.

Now that's Aussie commitment.

It's not just our returnees Freddie.

There's plenty of new Ninjas hoping to make their mark.

Like champion Aaron woman Hayley Bateup.

Pull-up world record holder Marcus Bondi and NRL legend Paul Gallen.

All of tonight's field of Ninjas are ripped

and, Bec, they are ready to roll.

They sure are, Ben, so let's get this underway

with a look at the obstacles they face on tonight's course.

Six obstacles stand in the way of our competitors tonight.

First the quintuple steps.

Competitors cross five platforms,

1.5m apart.

New to this heat is the UFO slider.

A dangerous early test of grip strength and body control

through two big jolts before a dismount

that requires perfect timing.

Next the bridge of blades.

The new angle starts the blade spinning earlier this year

making it even harder to beat that final blade.

On the basket toss,

another new obstacle, Ninjas swing across three angled spinning baskets.

1.5 m apart.

The final new obstacle is the pipe climber.

Two fixed and two suspended pipes to cross

with a combination of arm and leg strength.

After all that,

the daunting warped wall stand in the way of our Ninjas.

4.2m straight up to the buzzer.

The top 20 who go furthest

and fastest tonight will make it through to the semifinals.

Well, Freddie is poolside for a close-up view

of all the action so let's kick it off with our first Ninja.

Getting ready to take on the course is Jett Kenny.

He's a model, an Iron Man

and son of Australian sporting royalty Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny.

I've done surf life saving since I was about six.

Being in the ocean is where I belong.

Last year, I was top-ranked board paddler in Australia.

With my parents being who they are, I've got some big boots to fill.

Grant Kenny, Iron Man champion of Australia second year in succession.

My dad is Grant. Dad went to the Olympics for kayaking.

My mum is Lacey Curry Kenny.

Mum went to the Olympics for swimming.

Jett is very naturally talented.

He's very strong.

He's got good core stability.

He is light on his feet.

Most of the other competitors in Ninja

wouldn't be able to do what Jett does.

I'm never not competitive.

Even in small things.

Ninja Warrior, it's a new challenge

but if you're not first, you're last

and I'd like to say

that I'll be the first Australian up Mount Midoriyama

but tonight I'm just going to take it one obstacle at a time.

It's definitely me versus the course

and this course is not going to defeat me.

I'll tell you that right now.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Jett Kenny.

He's got the pedigree all right. Son of two Australian legend.

And focus!

Yeah, there's some advice from dad from the sideline.

Look at the smile on this bloke.

And Lisa's partner Mark is on the sideline as well.

He's got a lot of support. How is he going to go?

How about Lisa?

She just took a massive breath there.

Steadying her nerves as we kick off heat two.

He is six foot two in the old scale.

The tallest Ninja tonight.

He's got that surf lifesaving athleticism.

I reckon he's pretty competitive.

It's in his DNA so I'm tipping he's going to go pretty well.

Yeah. Good stuff. Good work.

No problem on the steps.

The UFO slider.

He needs good grip strength and timing through these two jolts.

Then the dismount onto the mat.

Hold tight and let go.

Make sure you let go.

It helps getting advice from a triple Olympian,

two big jolts on the way down here.

Here he goes, Jett Kenny's got one foot on...

Oh, no. He's back over the water.

Oh, he's in a bit of trouble, Freddie.

He has to somehow get that UFO swinging, get them legs going.

Pushing away. It's got a chance. He's got a chance.

He's got the feet up. Oh, no.

(BUZZER)

Oh, Jetto.

Jett Kenny. So close but so far.

On the replay, you can see how far forward Jett leans on takeoff.

By doing this, he reduces his speed and he's just short on the dismount.

He battled hard to try and stay in the competition

but it's a shock early exit.

Jett, that was so close.

Oh, I don't know. It's so hard.

I don't know.

Someone else will do it.

I'm sure they will.

What about challenging your mum to come and have a go on the course?

Do you think should be up for it?

Yeah.

We got the thumbs up from your mum. I think that's a date.

See you next year. Cheers, Jett.

Thanks, Lisa.

Get in training.

Oh, this course is showing it has no respect for reputations.

Last night, we saw Olivia Vivian

rewrite history to make it up the warped wall.

Can our next competitor join her at the top?

She's the inspiring 38-year-old

mother of three who lit up the course last year.

Go, mum.

Welcome back to Ninja Island Janet Smith.

The thing with me is that I'm just an everyday mum.

Last year, season one

with all the people that had elite athlete backgrounds.

Being one of six women who made it to the semifinals

was life changing experience definitely.

Oh, she's done it.

This mother of three has just gone one better than an Olympian.

From that, I now run the Ninja kids program in my own facility.

It's just been so rewarding setting them challenges.

I absolutely love it and that's why I'm back here.

It's really cool to know that you are inspiring,

not only little kids but also mums like me.

It just makes me think that little bit of mmm

to reach further and hold on longer.

You're never going to feel ready for anything

but just say yes and roll with it.

That's exactly what I did and here I am, season two.

Just one of six girls who made it to the semi-final last year.

She'll want to go one further this time round.

Have a look at that little excitement on Janet's face.

She looks down and gives a bit of a nod to Holly and Taylor and Lilly.

Come on, Janet.

Everyone is cheering you on.

Now Janet is one inspirational woman

and she wants to put the message out there that, when you have kids,

you do not have to give up on your dreams and fitness goals.

Safely through the quintuple steps.

Now onto the UFO slider.

This will be a real test for her because in season one,

she came off at the log grip when one of these jolts happened.

You get the same kind of jolt you on the UFO slider.

Come on, Janet Smith.

She's got a good grip. Keep prepared for the job and you need...

Yes! No!

No.

So close.

Janet.

Everybody is shocked.

She was one of the top women.

The shame is the grip was good and she rode the jolts well.

She was just a split second too late

on the dismount and couldn't hold her balance.

No practice runs and no second chances on this course.

That's two Ninjas out on obstacle two.

But get ready Australia.

One of the most memorable competitors from season one.

He is back, fitter, faster and stronger.

Aurelien Apport.

Look at those shoulders.

His weight is an issue here. Yes!

Last season, in the pit, I went to the end.

First attempt.

What amazing strength to drag his own bodyweight up there.

Hit the buzzer.

It was pretty good.

Since last year I've been losing weight.

I move better. I feel better

and this year I've just tried to muster different skills,

calisthenics, climbing, like a Ninja specific.

I feel good physically.

I feel good mentally.

We have a little one on the way.

Four weeks to go.

I will try not to stress my wife too much on the sideline

because she will maybe give birth.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Aurelien Apport returning for a second time.

The ex-French firefighter.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

That is his actual body.

I'm in awe of it.

He's shed 12kgs from the last time.

Thought he was too heavy to get through.

Let's see how this new and improved version gets on.

His wife Caroline and stepson Ryan

will be hoping all that Ninja training pays off tonight.

I don't know where those 12kg went. He still rippling with muscles.

He's put all that time and effort in in the gym.

This is about mental strength as well.

Controlling the nerves, controlling the emotion.

Takes a deep breath.

Grabs onto the UFO slider.

Oh, he's leaning a long way forward.

Oh... No.

He's in the danger zone.

Gee, whiz.

This course is so tough, Ben.

I would never have anticipated

Aurelien to be hanging in the situation.

The longer you stay on,

the harder it is to get off and the other complication, watch the ring.

Every time he tries to get the momentum,

the ring goes further back on the pendulum swing.

Which take some further away from the target he needs to get to.

Oh, he touched it but he's back in the air.

He's hung on again.

This dismount is causing so many headaches for our competitors.

Come on. Get those feet swinging. Get out of there, Aurelien.

He's almost in a bit of a dead hang

because of all the muscles that's weighing him down even more.

Can he get off?

It's not looking good. Come on, Aurelien. Come on. Oh!

(BUZZER)

Lost the grip and in the water.

One of our strongest competitors is gone.

Like Jett Kenny, Aurelien's takeoff was too far forward sadly.

It reduced his speed on that first slide

and every time he swung his legs, the ring on top slipped back,

killing his momentum.

He couldn't hang on forever. Something had to give.

Aurelien, you got to the semis last time round.

You've train so hard.

Your body is an even better nick this time.

How are you feeling, mate?

Terrible. Wet. A good Ninja is a dry Ninja.

A never mind.

Ladies and gentlemen, Aurelien.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Well, the UFO slider has taken out

one of our toughest competitors, Ben.

Who's going to beat that obstacle?

We'll find out in just a moment

when we return on Australian Ninja Warrior.

Coming up, more stars of season one are back

and you won't believe how far they've go on to beat this course.

Like grand finalists W.A. tradie Sam Goodall.

I have actually built Mount Midoriyama.

It's something that I think will really give me the edge.

And semifinalist real-life Tarzan Ryan Roberts.

The last 365 days, I've been training pretty much 24 seven.

But after the break, a new Ninja,

ex-champion Iron Woman Hayley Bateup.

I've hung up my togs for three years

and I want to see if I've still got it.

Then Matt and Jaeger May

Australian Ninja Warriors first ever father and son combo.

I'm here to say that this old man has still got it.

And I'm here to show that he doesn't.

Who's up first?

I'm up first.

Young one up first.

Dad gets to watch me.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Welcome back to Australian Ninja Warrior.

The UFO slider is proving to be a real challenge

for our Ninjas tonight.

Let's see if our next competitor can change all that.

She's a firefighter on the Gold Coast

and has a stack of gold medals from her time as a top Iron Woman.

Give it up for Hayley Bateup.

I'm three times winner of Coolangatta gold.

Won over 20 Australian gold medals.

Australian Iron Woman champion Guinness Book of Records.

Paddling from Cuba to America

and five times Australian board champion.

Once I retired from Iron Woman,

I always knew I wanted to be a firefighter.

You could be out at a fire, you can be at the car accident.

You could be getting a cat into a tree.

You never know what you're going to get

so you've always got to be on your toes.

I'm taking on Ninja Warrior because I want to see if I've still got it.

I'm going to be scared tonight. I'm not going to lie.

But I love being scared so I'm looking forward to it.

Hayley Bateup, it is your time to shine here on Ninja Island.

Look at mamma. Look at mamma.

Mum Sally is here.

Hayley's partner April.

Young sons Baxter and Banks.

They'll be hoping for big things tonight.

Even though she's got all that experience

competing at the elite level,

that obviously helps when it comes to the pressure

but then again, you just never know

how they're going to go on Ninja Island.

She's got to be one of the top women in this competition I'd say, Ben.

Don't jinx her, Bec.

Haley Bateup, this is your chance to beat the UFO slider.

CHANTING: Hayley! Hayley! Hayley!

The crowd roars for Hayley, can she complete it?

Yes, no!

(BUZZER)

Wow, I thought she was qualified to go all the way.

Let's have a look at the replay.

Hayley's form on the UFO was good.

She tucked under the disc.

Her arms are bent and in control.

But she's overeager to dismount

stretching for the mat with her legs which kills momentum

at the crucial moment and leaves her unable to find her balance.

Even champion athletes are struggling on this course tonight.

Spewing, spewing, spewing.

She's spewing all right.

Let's see if the youngest Ninja in this heat can do any better.

It's 18-year-old Jaeger May.

One half of our very first father and son combo.

Go, Jae, go, Jae.

I'm Matthew May and this is my son.

I'm Jaeger May. And together...

We are... Team mayhem. That was terrible.

We are pawnbrokers.

This has been the family business for 34 years.

Son, one day, this could all be yours.

So much to look forward to.

Come on. Come on.

The whole first series,

they've talked all about

how they could do everything better and faster.

Straight ahead. Straight ahead. Oh!

Father versus son. Youth versus age.

Any competition, we try to beat each other.

Go back. Go back.

We are so looking forward to this season

to see if they can actually match what their words are.

Thanks, darl. Great.

I'm here to show that this old man has still got it.

And I'm here to show that he doesn't.

Jaeger, he's got some support tonight.

His girlfriend is here with mum Wendy and grandma and grandpa.

And dad Matt. Still to come...

Like your style there, Jaeger May.

From that breed of armchair warriors, the ones who sit at home

saying "You should have done this, you should have done that.

"I could have done it."

Well, now's your chance, Jaeger May.

You're right about that, Freddie.

The first father and son on Ninja warrior,

Jaeger, the youngest in the heat. And dad Matt is the oldest.

The younger generation getting the first opportunity though tonight.

So far, so good.

As he comes onto the UFO slider.

Take a momentum now.

Swings... Oh, no. Jaeger...

He was so close.

He's missed his chance to dismount.

Here it goes. Getting the swing happening.

Really nailed it. Get those knees up. Lift those feet up.

This time.

Unlucky.

(BUZZER)

Splash.

And just like that, Jaeger bombs out.

There are so many names that you can call that UFO slider.

Jaeger's slide was good

but he lacked the nerve to commit to the dismount holding on too long.

He did the hard work for a second attempt

but again, fail to let go of the disc at the right moment.

You were so close.

Jaeger is now the fifth straight Ninja

who's failed to make it past this obstacle.

That will be a worry for the rest of the field

including NRL legend Paul Gallen in the warmup gym.

I just want to get out there

and make it through the first couple of obstacles.

It's starting to get very real now.

Okay, you've already seen his son.

Now it's dad's turn to show us how it's done.

He's the other half of Team Mayhem

and the oldest competitor in the seat. Matt May.

Go, Matt!

Come on, Matt. Get it off.

Here it comes, another one taking his shirt off.

He's 51, this fella.

(WOLF WHISTLE)

Look at the rig on that.

I'd be happy with that at 40.

You got this.

So nobody has beaten the UFO slider.

If Matt was to beat his son Jaeger,

he is got to get past that killer obstacle.

Jaeger and Matt watched season one at home

and, like everybody else, they thought, "I can do that."

Jaeger has already found out

it's just a whole different ballgame

when you're actually here on Ninja Island.

All right.

Let's settle the score right now between father and son.

And Matt beat the UFO slider

and go further than Jaeger and everyone else tonight?

Don't wait!

Dismount immediately.

You've just got to go for it.

Did he go for it alright?

He nailed it, Bec.

That is an incredible achievement.

51-year-old Matt May, the first past the UFO slider.

Yes, his technique through that was perfect.

Now on to the bridge of blades.

Oh, it's a big hit.

His technique on Bob was not so perfect.

Matt was flawless on the UFO slider.

Arms bent, body under the disc.

Using the momentum to dismount

but he was too slow sadly on the bridge of blades.

With that new angle, the fourth blade comes around quicker

and Matt didn't have enough speed to squeeze past.

Matt, a big hit there on Bob but you got further than your son Yeager.

I did go further.

I'm really happy about that but I wish we had both went a bit further.

I know that you're an armchair warrior as well.

If you was watching this at home now,

seeing you do that, what would you be saying at the TV?

You moron.

That's exactly what I thought as well.

Big round of applause for Matt May.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Cheers. Thanks very much. Are you 51?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I tell you what the secret is - boxing training.

Still to come, Zoe Featonby,

the titanium woman back to inspire in season two.

As a 16-year-old,

I was required to have a titanium rod and five screws in my spine.

I've had so many people say that a given them a bit of hope.

New Ninja Ben Toya hoping his day job will put him in pole position.

I'm here to represent all pole dancers in Australia.

I think I'm a genuine threat.

Ready to beat the odds again, W.A. miracle mum Tash Sergi.

I just love doing things you think you can't do

and surprising yourself.

I've been like that my whole life.

Footy legend Paul Gallen tackles the course.

I love being a rugby league player

but every game of football I play, everything I do,

you always have a fear of failure

and there will be no difference out there tonight.

And they're here to raise the bar in season two, the Bondi Crew.

I love training down at Bondi Beach.

We work out, we train, we strain,

we get stronger and then we do it all over again.

Grab it high. Nice.

When the whole Bondi Crew to get through to the semifinals.

It's going to be very special.

Welcome back to Ninja Island where the toughest obstacle course

in the world has been living up to its name.

Ninja after Ninja have struggled

to identify exactly how to beat obstacle two, the UFO slider.

From leaning too far forward on takeoff to mistiming the dismount.

So far, only 51-year-old pawnbroker that may has figured out

how to successfully put it all together and make a perfect landing.

But next is Bec Akdemir the first of the Bondi crew.

They are not here to take part. They are here to take over.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

We are the Bondi Athletic Republic, also known as the Bondi Bar Beasts.

We are always pushing each other to be better

and train better and move better.

I love it. Dig deep. Dig deep.

I'm probably one of the strongest female athletes around.

It's not just about being muscular,

it's about being able to perform well

and showing what you are really capable of.

My goal is to make it past the wall in the first round

and make it on to the semifinals.

For the last 12 months, she's been training so hard.

With one focus and one sole goal. To beat this course.

Representing Bondi, the eastern suburbs of Sydney.

There's Danesh and sisters Portia and Jasmine.

They look just as determined Bec.

You can see how strong she is.

Huge upperbody strength. She reckons that will get through.

Now her grip strength should be good here

on the UFO but body control and timing are crucial.

Oh, can Bec start with a bang for the Bondi crew?

Jolt, jolt.

And oh!

Fails to get her feet on the platform.

Looks like she's stuck.

She's going to have to get her legs swinging.

She can save it. She can save it.

It is possible.

Oh, this is painful to watch. Come on.

Have a look at her biceps now.

They are huge but they are burning.

Needs to get them legs going,

needs to get swinging, needs to get momentum.

She is starting to move now.

Just reaching out above that ledge.

Trying to hook it onto the platform.

That leg needs to be six inches longer.

Geez, she'll be crushed.

Instead of being tucked under the disc,

Bec's body weight was too far forward,

swung back on the descent,

slowing her down and preventing a clean dismount.

It's back to the drawing board for Bec.

This season two course has really stepped it up.

Let's see if our next Ninja can tackle it head-on.

Okay, footballer Ninja fans, let's hear it

for Paul Gallen NRL legend and premiership winning captain in 2016.

Making his way to the course right now.

I love being a rugby league player.

Something I've really enjoyed doing for the past almost 20 years now.

Gallen, Gallen to the line.

Paul Gallen scores.

To be watched by millions of people every single weekend,

people want you to perform.

People expect a lot from you

and you've got to devote your whole life to it.

There's no doubt about that.

I've had a number of enormous moments in my career

but definitely number one would be the premiership.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Every game of football I play,

everything I do, I always have fear failure.

It will be no different here tonight.

Probably feeling a bit more pressure off my kids.

If I don't go there and succeed for them,

they probably won't be that happy with me.

I'll get out there and I'll have a go.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Can't wait. Whoo.

All the kids are pumped. Paul looks pumped too.

Charlie, Cody and Macy.

The kids on the sideline

along with Paul Gallen's wife Anne.

At 36, he's the oldest player in the NRL.

He is the Cronulla Sharks greatest ever forward

and there's plenty of people in the shire

who think he can walk on water.

Let's hope he doesn't have to.

When it comes to attitude,

Paul Gallen is famous for being so competitive,

however, the Ninja warrior courses taking no prisoners tonight.

The one thing that could go against him is size - 105kg.

He's got to log that big frame around this course.

Looks strong, looks fit.

We've seen plenty of them on this course tonight.

They never got past the UFO slider.

Here he goes on the UFO.

He makes it.

He makes it. You beauty.

The kids are going crazy.

That's right.

Dad is the second Ninja past the UFO slider.

Now the bridge of blades is going to be interesting because he's heavy.

Oh! What?

No.

He had one of those blades head-on, Freddie.

He went in the water.

Oh, daddy.

Paul, you've taken some big hits on the rugby field.

Anything bigger than what Bob just give you then?

No way. That was one of the biggest. That was unreal.

He wasn't moving anyway, Bob.

Because of this seasons new angle,

Paul's size and downward force started the blades spinning

with his very first step.

By the time he reached the final blade,

it had turned over to far, delivering a knockout blow.

Paul's only the second Ninja

past the UFO tonight, meaning he's in with a very good chance

of making the semifinals as one of the top 20 furthest

and fastest in this heat.

Go, daddy!

Two of the oldest competitors showing how it's done so far.

Let's see if that continues now with 37-year-old athlete Mel Armstrong.

She was a competitive sprinter

before joining the Australian skeleton team

a Ninja who lives life in the fast lane.

Skeleton is like louche but head first.

Really fast, down a really big mount.

The fastest I went was 128km/h.

Pretty often with my face sliding along the ice

because the G force, so a lot of adrenaline.

Most skeleton athletes have a sprinting background

because you have to gain as much momentum as you can

before you dive onto the sled.

I no longer compete but I've always been athletic.

Ninja Warrior is an experience

that 99% of the population will never have.

One more, daddy. One more. One more.

My husband Rowan will be there

with my boys tonight on the sideline

and that was the first thing that I've done since having children

to really test me out.

Not that have done anything yet but I'm eager

to test that I'm at the physical level that I've been in the past.

She who dies with the most amazing stories wins.

Mel Armstrong here for the first time.

A fitness fanatic.

Freezo! Freezo! Freezo!

Look at those little ones here.

Duke and Sunny.

And Rowan, her husband.

And the crowd is chanting "Freezo"

which is an nickname Mel picked up in the skeleton days.

She is tiny.

54kg. Five foot five and at 37, one of the oldest women in this heat.

Taking her time on the quintuple steps

but that's not a bad tactic

because you're always a little bit nervous at the start

and it's great to get the first one out of the way.

However, say hello to the UFO slider.

CHANTING: Freezo! Freezo! Freezo!

She's just visualising exactly what she's going to do here.

You got this! Come on.

If she gets through this, she'll be the first female competitor to do so.

Yes!

Yes, Mel! Yes, Mel.

Mel Armstrong, the first girl

of the evening to get through the UFO slider.

Yeah!

Good work.

Mel, let's just keep this winning streak going.

On the bridge of blades.

Yes, let's.

We saw Paul Gallen's weight get him into trouble here

but Mel is a lot lighter and can draw on that sprinting background.

Fast, fast.

Leap like a salmon, Mel. Go on, Mel. Go on, Mel.

Yes, Mel!

That's how you do it. She beats the final blade.

She's gone further than anyone else.

She can't believe it.

Turned around the corner and we get our first look at the basket toss.

Let's go, mummy. Look at mummy.

Three spinning baskets over 7m for Mel to cross.

This is a real challenge.

Lots of arm strength. Lots of swing needed.

Come on, Mel. I think the crowd wants it just as much as she does, Bec.

Absolutely.

Eyes fixed on that first basket.

Hits the tramp. Grabs that first basket.

She is eyeballing the second one.

Two swings three swings... Oh!

She got her hand on the second basket

and ended up in the pool but look at the look on her face.

All smiles.

Great effort, Mel. Great effort.

It was inspirational stuff from Mel Armstrong.

She stretched and kept her balance on the UFO slider.

Made a full-length dive to beat the final blade on Bob.

But she just couldn't wrap her fingers around the second basket.

Got to be so happy with that, Freddie.

Mel, you've got a big grin on your face.

That was amazing.

The crowd was on their feet. Everyone was cheering.

Yeah, a lot of fun.

Thank you!

Did you think you would get this far?

My goal coming into it tonight

was make it through the first obstacle to be completely honest.

So to have done that, I'm rapt.

You've more than exceeded your goal

and you've got a chance in the semi-final.

Not too many people have got through the UFO slider

but what would that mean if you got to the semis?

Oh, that would be ridiculous.

I wouldn't know quite what to do with myself.

Hopefully, you'll come back and do a few more obstacles.

Ladies and gentlemen, big round of applause for Mel Armstrong.

Great effort.

What a smile. What a performance from Mel Armstrong.

She's gone further than everybody else so far. But still to come,

They've got the experience, they've got the skills.

Season one's biggest names are back to take on the course.

I know that I'm not the fastest Ninja

but what I do have is determination.

And South Australian firey Andy Dunt

makes his makes his debut on Australian Ninja Warrior.

Pretty nervous. I've done about 20 wees.

Feeling like I need another one already.

The competitors on Australian Ninja Warrior

all want to make it through the course in record time.

But it's the Ninja who goes furthest

and fastest before we give them the title of performance of the night.

Thanks to Berocca.

Welcome back to Australian Ninja Warrior

where we have just seen 37-year-old

mum of two Mel Armstrong go further on the course than anyone else.

Hoping she can raise the bar even higher is our next Ninja.

She's been training in the US to prepare for tonight's challenge.

Give it up for Bondi's own Sarah Bartlett.

The Bondi crew have really taken things to the next level.

We all went to LA to meet the American Ninja Warriors.

We trained with them and competed against them.

We actually beat them at their own course once or twice.

So I'm coming to Ninja Warrior

to outdo every other female in the competition

and hopefully some of the boys too.

Ninja Warrior, I'm coming for you.

Well, she certainly has got the desire.

She's got the focus.

Can she put it all together tonight?

Her mum, dad, sister certainly hope so.

Every attribute she possesses will be tested

on this course this evening.

She's a similar size to Mel Armstrong,

54kg, five foot four.

She's got everything she needs to do well.

Can she be the second female of the night to get past the UFO slider?

Yes... Yes.

Oh!

No!

Sarah.

Damn!

Damn, all right.

The problem was Sarah didn't get properly under the disc

so she wasn't in full control.

A slight spin put her body in the wrong position,

she went for the dive but just missed out.

That's two down for the Bondi crew.

But they still have one last chance to turn the tide.

Leader and chin-up world record holder, Marcus Bondi.

But right now, it's time for a new Ninja to hit the course.

He is a firefighter and an everyday hero.

A family man hoping to make his wife and daughters proud

Andy Dunt from Adelaide.

Being a firefighter is a bit gruelling.

When you're working,

you're working really hard so you've got to be physically fit.

In about 2008, I organised a group of 14 of us

to walk the Kokoda Trail.

To raise money for this village in Sudan.

We climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as well.

Woke up this morning, Kilimanjaro in the background,

the sun is just rising.

Then spent two months in Southern Sudan

doing community development projects, putting fresh water in.

Communities that had no fresh water,

that's the sort of stuff that I'm passionate about.

I've got two beautiful daughters Hayley and Summer

and my wife Deb coming along to watch me.

I'd love to reach the top of the warped wall

and come down and give my kids a high-five and a hug.

I feel like I've trained as much as I could so I'm hoping to maybe

even do a Steve Bradbury if everyone else falls off, I'm your winner.

Andy could be in luck,

the way our Ninjas have been dropping like flies tonight.

There is Deb, Hayley and Summer hoping dad can last a little longer.

Starting on the quintuple steps.

Just leaping through.

Easing into the course.

And now the UFO slider.

Not many have got through this tonight.

You've got to do everything you can

to hang on and let go at the right moment.

Can he handle the UFO slider?

Yes. He does. You beauty.

Now onto the bridge of blades.

Get that heart rate back down. Keep concentrating.

He's going for speed

Oh, yes, Andy Dunt.

Big spring and a dive.

The crowd are on their feet.

Are they ever? Now the basket toss.

No one's been able to get any further than here.

Andy is five foot seven and those baskets look a long way up for him.

He's going to need a good spring.

Yes, he's got it.

Yes, Andy.

Swinging across, trying to get the momentum to leap to the second.

Oh, yes. What a leap.

Up to the second.

The crowd have been desperate to see someone get this far tonight.

Look at the swing on him.

Look at the arms. The strength.

The grip strength is amazing.

Andy has done it.

He's gone further tonight now.

This is the pipe climber.

Now on this first pipe, you can use your hands and legs to climb up.

As a firey, you'd think he'd do well here.

But on these next two hanging pipes,

you can only use your arms to move across, no feet involved.

Look at him hold on.

There's not a lot of him, now that we're up close here, Bec.

Come on, dad.

Ooh, his foot almost touched that pipe

which you're not allowed to do.

So he's lucky there.

The arms, the shoulders, the fingers.

Everything will be burning.

Come on, Andy. Kicks the leg up. Gets a hold of the final pipe.

And he's almost home, Rebecca Madden.

Here we go.

One more swing.

Onto the platform.

And then just faced with the warped wall - 4.2m of misery.

Don't go spooking him, Freddie.

How good is it to be here looking at that wall.

We are here for the first time tonight.

He's got three attempts.

First attempt, no.

Come on, Andy. Two more attempts left.

You've got this.

Come on, dad.

Shakes out the arms.

Takes a deep breath in, getting that oxygen into his lungs.

Pump, pump, pump.

Come on, Andy.

Yes! We needed that! Yes, Andy.

You ripper!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Andy Dunt does it, the first Ninja to make it all the way tonight.

How does it feel?

I'm happy. So happy. That's all I wanted. To make them proud.

Get down there and take it down to the family.

What a run.

He showed Bob a clean pair of heels,

demonstrated perfect control throughout the baskets

and recovered after an unsuccessful first attempt

to drag himself to the top of the warped wall

and into the semifinals.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

That's right, Andy.

You are in pole position to make it through.

Let's have a look at the leaderboard.

As the only Ninja to complete the course so far,

Andy sits on top ahead of Mel Armstrong,

pawnbroker Matt May

and rugby league legend Paul Gallen.

The top 20 Ninjas furthest

and fastest will make the semifinals and the battle is just beginning.

Still to come...

Look at that support crowd.

He lit up Ninja Island last season.

Let's have the Tarzan cry.

(HIGH-PITCHED TARZAN CRY)

I think that was more Jane. Go and see your fans.

But can Ryan Roberts give team Tarzan

something to shout about this time?

And the toughest trady of all, Sam Goodall.

As I was building Mount Midoriyama,

I realised I'm actually really scared of these heights.

There was no way I was going to give up.

Ninjas never give up.

Up next, cancer survivor and young miracle mum Tash Sergi.

On the UFO one, everyone at the end stops and lets go.

They can't get momentum.

You have to, as soon as you get to the end, go.

Welcome back to Ninja Island.

Before the break,

firey Andy Dunt became the first Ninja to go all the way

on this formidable course.

While you were away, another firey stepped up to the challenge.

30-year-old Cam Simpson was cut down to size on the bridge of blades.

That last blade is hammering people.

Then chef Louis Foundling's chance slipped through his fingers.

Look at the feet. Look at the momentum.

Here goes. Louie, Louie, Louie.

And tour guide Travers Jamieson's return came to a halt on the baskets.

What's wrong with that basket?

Is it hot or something?

He keeps taking his hand off it.

Freddie, is he tiring, do you think?

You picked it, Bec.

If it's not the UFO slider,

it's the basket toss taking out our top competitors.

Next on the course, a Ninja who lives to defy the odds.

She is an inspirational cancer survivor

and mum of two miracle kids who will be watching from home.

Tash Sergi from W.A.

I just love doing things

that you think you can't do and surprising yourself.

I been like that my whole life.

When I was 16, my dad unexpectedly passed away from a brain disease.

In one instant, our whole world got turned upside down.

A year and a half after,

I got diagnosed with stage II ovarian cancer.

The doctors told me it was highly unlikely that I would have kids.

I met Danny when I was 24.

We hit it off very fast.

Pretty much love at first sight.

He's actually the one who said, "Why don't we try?"

After three months, I fell pregnant with Jackson.

It was a little miracle.

Jackson is five now and then Cody.

Not much really gets us down. We're always happy.

There's not many sad things for us at the moment.

Yeah.

Ninja Warrior!

Ninja Warrior.

Ninja Warrior.

I want to be an inspiration to my kids.

I want my kids to go, "Mum, I want to be a Ninja Warrior."

I'll be thinking of you boys.

You guys will be what's going to drive me.

Make all the training that I've been doing with it.

Yeah.

Codes.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Danny and the kids are watching at home tonight but she's got her mum,

her best friend and sister-in-law making up her cheer squad.

Take your time. You got this!

The crowd's behind her

and this daunting obstacle course is in front of her.

She has the phoenix tattooed across her ribs which represents rebirth,

renewal and immortality.

Last one.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Go, Tash.

She safely through the first obstacle.

And now, the UFO slider.

Everyone hoping it doesn't claim another victim.

Make sure you're holding on tight.

Needs to get a good grip.

Then you go for the ride of your life.

Come on, Tash. Yes, Tash.

Yes, Tash. Yes, Tash.

She can't believe it.

Now the bridge of blades.

Pace the key. Pace and light on your feet.

She's 54kg.

So hopefully that will be an advantage for her as she flies

across the bridge of blades.

Tash smashes it.

Only the second girl tonight to get this far on the course.

Aren't the crowd loving it?

Come on, Tash.

She needs a good spring off the tramp.

She gets there.

Swinging those legs, trying to get momentum, trying to get distance.

Needs to be steady and take her time here.

Come on. She's strong.

Vice-like grip. Come on, Tash.

Oh!

That basket just slipped through her fingers.

That is an incredible effort.

What a great leap that was on to the first basket

but then she kept changing her mind

as to whether she wanted overhand or underhand grip.

Then when she took the shot at the second basket,

she couldn't quite grip it at all.

The kids will be proud of mum, won't they?

Yeah, I wish they could be here

but I've got my good support tree behind me

and, yeah, doing it for my dad as well.

I know will be watching. I know he's going to be proud.

I gave it a good crack. That's all you can do.

You still might have a chance of getting into the semifinals.

Good luck, Tash.

Ladies and gentlemen, big round of applause for Tash.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

So far, it's the new ninjas leading the way

but our next competitor is hoping his experience counts.

Get ready to see something special.

Back on the course, real-life Tarzan Ryan Roberts.

He swung all the way into the semis in season one

but this time, he wants to go all the way to Mount Midoriyama.

I'm Tarzan.

Pretty much because being an arborist,

if I'm not swinging on ropes, I'm climbing my own trees at home.

It's not really a job. It's just who I am.

Moving very fast here.

Have a look at the strength.

Still got a bitter taste in my mouth from last year.

No. How did that happen?

It was the end of the world for me

but it's really given me the strength to come back.

Last year, just after the competition,

my partner and I bought our dream house.

We soon realised that the whole house was riddled with termites.

My partner Mel is a pretty amazing girl.

She let me put my ninja dream first before all the termite damage.

So instead of facing the house, I built a Ninja gym instead.

I've been training all year.

Pretty much 24/7.

Tonight, I'm going to conquer my nerves by just slamming that button.

I want to do it to get the termites back.

I want to prove to team Tarzan I'm back

and I'm going to swing myself to the top of Mount Midoriyama.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Ryan Roberts a.k.a. Tarzan is back.

Look at him. He's got the loincloth.

He's got the body but has he got the skills

to get through this Ninja Warrior course tonight?

Team Tarzan out in force again this year.

There's Ryan's mum and his very understanding fiancee Mel.

Have a look at his eyes.

He means business.

Season two Australian Ninja Warrior.

He wants it to be him.

Last time, Tarzan was fast and he's not hanging around this time.

Here we go.

Ryan Roberts, Tarzan.

You got this!

He knows that this is an obstacle

that's caused some problems tonight

but he sweeps.

The bridge of blades.

He does it in about 1.25 seconds.

He means business tonight, does Tarzan.

I imagine the basket toss is right up his street.

Tarzan! Tarzan! Tarzan! Tarzan!

He climbs for a living.

An arborist.

Used to being up high.

How fast is that?

I can't believe what I'm witnessing.

The strength of that is second to none.

You better believe it, Bec.

He is belting his way through the course.

He's probably going faster than he needs to.

Don't let that slow you down, Ryan Roberts.

Oh.

That transfer from pipe to pipe is dangerous.

He is doing this so well.

You've got this! You've got this. You got it.

We've got Jane on the sideline

saying you've got this, you got this.

And he has, it looks like. No silly mistakes now.

He just needs to get onto dry land and take on the warped wall.

And he's done just that, Freddie, and now,

this is the chance

for Ryan Roberts to catapult himself to the top of the leaderboard.

He is almost a minute faster than Andy Dunt.

And here he comes!

Yes, sir.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Ryan Roberts hits the buzzer.

Welcome back, mate.

You were trying to beat the clock, Ryan Roberts. Well done.

Thank you so much.

Did you even stop to take a breath?

I just wanted to get up here for Mel.

I've got the best partner in the world and I owe her the world.

You got no idea.

How about the best mum?!

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ryan Roberts is due to the next stage of Australian Ninja Warrior.

The real-life Tarzan proving he's king of the jungle with that one.

His swing through the basket toss was poetry in motion.

Great reach.

Great strength and then great acceleration

all the way up the warped wall

and into the semifinals.

Mate, come here. Come and join us and Melissa.

You'd better give her a kiss before you speak to me.

Aren't they sweet, these two?

You got to the semifinals last year.

Have you got the confidence to go further this time round?

I definitely do. I've got the confidence.

I've come in with a different strategy.

Just settling my mind down and I wasn't as nervous.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Well, the strategy is working tonight.

Brian Roberts on top of the leaderboard,

48 seconds faster than Andy Dunt.

The top female performer, Tash Sergi in forth.

Followed by Mel Armstrong in sixth,

then Matt May and Paul Gallen in seventh and eighth.

Last time, I asked you to do a Tarzan cry

and it was shocking, wasn't it?

Is it worse?

Do you want to give us another rendition?

(CRACKLING TARZAN CRY)

Oh, no.

There was one more thing you did, that walk on your hands and knees.

Are you gonna teach it to me?

Yeah, let's go.

I'll race you. Are you ready?

Let's go.

Go one.

Crazy stuff happens here on Ninja Island.

You don't see that every day

and I tell you what, there's plenty more where that came from.

More Australian Ninja Warrior right after this.

Cheers.

Thank you very much.

Still to come tonight.

Sam Goodall, the toughest trady has been training all year

in his own unique way.

One day I was in the paddock

and there was a few kangaroos jumping around

so I thought for agility, for speed,

what better way than to chase these guys across a field.

Titanium woman Zoe Featonby back to set the record straight.

Last year was a little bit heartbreaking.

The top 18 went through and I finish 19th.

I'm back and nothing is going to break me on this course.

But next, he's the Bondi crew's last chance

of Ninja Warrior glory Marcus Bondi.

Because I hold the official Guinness world record

for the heaviest ever weighted chinup and 5m rope climb.

I'm going to storm up Mount Midoriyama in 18 seconds flat.

Welcome back to heat twp of Australian Ninja Warrior.

While you were away,

more ninjas have been putting themselves to the ultimate test.

W.A. Fitness trainer Jassy Chia's return

didn't go as smoothly as planned.

Go, Go, go, go.

Oh!

Body popping accountant Chris Chan lost his cool on the baskets.

Good swing from Chris. It looks like it was...

Oh! Just brushing a little bit.

Season one semifinalist Emmett Swindalls

kept his head to go all the way.

This is great technique.

He loves it.

Becoming the third ninja to climb the wall.

That was interesting.

That's a new way of hitting the buzzer.

For 365 days, the Bondi crew have been eating,

breathing and sleeping Ninja Warrior.

Now it's their last chance

to make their mark with their leader

and veteran world record breaker Marcus Bondi.

Wife Emma and daughter Willow on the sidelines.

Go, daddy!

They are used to seeing him do extraordinary things.

Taking his time on the quintuple steps.

That's not bad.

Just to get the first one out of the way.

Look, this bloke's broken four world records in his time.

Two of them for weighted chinups

so he's got the upper body strength

but does he have the technique for the UFO?

Well, this is where it's all gone wrong for the Bondi crew tonight.

Here it goes.

Will he nail it?

Yes, yes, yes. He does.

Marcus through the UFO.

Now the bridge of blades.

Marcus, what are you doing?

You're not supposed to do that.

Very unconventional.

I'm sure the ref will want to have a look at that

and check everything was all right.

You can't use your hands on the bridge of blades

and if you hold it right there,

there's the right hand, then the left pushing him up and over the blade.

He's going to be in some strife.

There you go.

There's the red buzzer sadly.

Freddie, you'd better break the news to him.

Marcus, unfortunately, you'll have to come down here, mate.

Disqualified?

Why?

I'm not very popular with the crowd

but on the bridge of blades,

you can't use your hands.

The ref has had a look at it and has disqualified you.

You must be devastated?

Oh, look. You know it's one of those things.

You can never judge the bridge of blades.

I thought I made it but, what can you do?

I gave it a good shot. Give it a bigger shot next year.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

That's strike three and all out for the Bondi crew.

They thought they'd ripped through this Ninja Warrior course

but instead, they found themselves in deep water tonight.

Next up, a competitor who knows just how precious the semi-final squad is.

Zoe Featonby.

Last year, she finished 19th,

missing out on the semis by one spot.

She is determined not to let history repeat itself.

Season one was a little heartbreaking.

If Zoe can get through the cone to cargo net,

she'll be through to the semis.

The top 18 went through.

Oh! No.

I finished 19th.

Missed out by that much.

I've been haunted by that memory

so really trying to work on my grip strength this year.

Ninja Warriors had a really positive effect on my life.

I had so many people reach out to me

and say they never realised that these things were possible

to do after surgery and that I've given them a bit of hope.

As a 16-year-old, I had scoliosis.

I was required to have a titanium rod and five screws in my spine.

I never expected in my wildest dream that I could inspire

so many people to do that but Ninja Warrior has given me that platform

and I really hope I am able to do that on season two as well.

Zoe taking a deep breath on the start.

This means so much to her.

In series one, she came 19th.

She missed out by one spot.

She'll be wanting to rectify that tonight.

She's really ramped up her training.

Lots of gymnastics, rock climbing and obstacle course racing.

I think that she's going to rewrite history tonight.

That's her partner Nelson, mum Robin and dad Greg there.

They want it just as much as she does.

We heard about the work she's done on her grip strength.

This is the first test.

Come on, Zoe.

Yes! Zoe.

You can tell the crowd appreciates it.

Now the bridge of blades.

Can she make it through?

Yes, she does.

We have a genuine competitor on our hands here.

Now's your chance, Zoe.

Now is your chance to put your name in the hat

and get through to them semifinals.

Keep your eyes on the prize.

Keep focused. Bouncing up.

Yes.

Come on, Zoe.

She did not take her eyes off that basket.

She locked her eyeballs on it. Now eyeballing the second basket.

Shoulders will be burning but she wants it.

Yes. Come on, Zoe.

One more basket to cling on to.

Can she follow Olivia Vivian up the wall?

Fingers crossed. Come on, Zoe.

Come on, Zoe. You got it. Keep going.

The crowd's getting right behind Zoe.

Oh, no.

Splash down.

What a gutsy run from Zoe.

She stumbled but kept her balance on the UFO.

Showed true grit on the baskets.

Managed to go further than any other female ninja tonight.

Zoe, I know this means so much to you.

Last year, missing out by one place.

The pressure is on tonight.

Yeah, I think the fourth obstacle has got it in for me.

I had an absolute blast.

Hopefully I have done enough to get into the semis this year.

At this point, you are through

but we're going to have to wait for the last few competitors to see.

So fingers crossed.

We can't have you missing out by one place twice.

No. Please, no.

Ladies and gentlemen, Zoe.

Right now, let's cross to the warmup gym

where newcomer Ben Toyer the pole ninja

is getting ready to put on a show.

A lot of nerves.

A lot of pressure.

Obviously don't want to make a fool of myself but I'm pretty excited.

Pretty ready to attack this.

Also limbering up, Daniel Mason, the barefoot ninja.

Tonight he's in shoes and he's on the course next.

Freddie is down there on the sidelines

with his wife Madeline and baby Fletcher.

Daniel got to the finals last year.

Do you think you can go one step further this time?

I hope so.

He's been training really hard so I hope he can make it.

I say he's got no shoes on.

Is he another perfect ninja in the making?

Yup. He doesn't own any shoes yet.

Well, fingers crossed for Daniel.

Hopefully he's going to go one step further.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Welcome back to Ninja Island

where this heat is reaching boiling point.

On his way to the course,

right now is one of this season's hot favourites.

The barefoot ninja is back.

I do everything barefoot apart from

if I'm going to a restaurant or something like that.

My son Fletcher, he is 11 weeks old now.

We will try and to keep him out of shoes for as long as we can.

I love training barefoot.

Obstacles like the poles or the ropes,

That's something where I do use my feet to grab on.

Oh, he's doing the splits at a time

you don't want to be doing the splits.

Last year, in the semis, the pole grasper caught me up a little bit.

He says, now I'm not giving up here.

That was a test of sheer balls and ticker.

I got quite out of breath towards the end of the course.

I ended up getting knocked out because I wasn't one of the fastest.

This year, I've done a lot of training,

of doing the obstacles back to back so I can get through a bit quicker.

I've been working really hard to try and get that endurance up.

A lot more prepared than I was last year

so I'm hopeful I can go a step further.

Hopefully get a bit of redemption

but you never know with Ninja Warrior.

One mistake can cost you the whole thing.

Daniel Mason, the barefoot ninja.

A strong competitor.

Got to the semifinals last time

But it was speed that let him down.

He'll be looking to rectify that this time around.

For health and safety reasons, he's got shoes on tonight.

Hopefully, they won't slow him down.

Can he put in a performance to rival Ryan Roberts?

Oh, look at the quick feet through the quintuple steps.

That's quick, alright.

Madeline and little Fletcher

hoping Daniel can light up this course.

But first, he has to get past the UFO.

He grits his teeth.

Here he goes.

Yes. He holds it.

He stares down the bridge of blades and he is wasting no time at all.

He's not hanging around this time.

He's not leaving it to chance.

Has a good look at the basket toss.

Off the tramp onto the first basket, didn't he get some spring?

Wow, look at him.

Like a monkey.

This is a fast run from the barefoot ninja.

He looks supremely confident through that obstacle.

How good is his time, Bec?

He is flying.

Ryan Roberts' time to beat is one minute 36.

I'm just looking at him now from up here.

He is really nimble and he is really quick, Ben.

Last year's experiences benefited Daniel.

Look at him through the pipes.

He's attacking this course.

He's taking it on.

He is sprinting his way through.

He needs a clean dismount.

And he's got it.

And straight up the warped wall he goes.

Yes, he does.

It's the fastest run of the night.

Daniel, you are here to right the wrongs from season one, yeah?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Oh, thanks.

Bad catch.

How does that feel?

Feels awesome.

So nervous coming in to the season

but great to get through the first stage.

You just bolted.

Yup, speed let me down last year.

I wasn't going to make the same mistake.

Fine form. Go down and see your family.

Thank you very much.

Daniel transformed his training after missing out last time.

I tell you what, it paid off tonight.

He was full throttle across every obstacle

but with control and endurance.

He didn't even need a breath after the final dismount.

Racing straight up the wall to finish 12 seconds faster than Ryan Roberts.

Daniel. Great run.

You wasn't going to make the same mistakes tonight, was you?

No. My training all year has been one obstacle after the other.

It's been awesome just to link obstacle after obstacle

and really work on that endurance.

And you are confident this time round

you can get through to the finals?

Yeah. Quietly confident.

You never know, you always have to push pretty hard.

On tonight's show, you've got a big chance.

Congratulations. Ladies and gentlemen, the barefoot ninja.

Daniel Mason stamping his authority

on season two of Australian Ninja Warrior.

(APPLAUSE)

Next, the new ninja whose day job might just give him the edge.

Ben Toyer - he owns the biggest pole dancing studio in New South Wales

and he's here to get a grip on the course.

I'm here to represent all the pole dancers in Australia.

I loved it straight away.

I loved the fitness side of it.

Yeah, it makes me happy. I've met an amazing group of people.

I met my girlfriend and business partner Elle.

He's really competitive and determined.

We watched the whole of last season together

and the whole time, he was like,

"I wish I'd tried out. I wish I'd tried out."

I was like, "Do it, do it, do it, do it."

To me, Ninja Warrior is coordination

and movement, grip strength and upperbody strength.

There's a lot of aspects of my pole dancing life

that will really make me a genuine contender.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Okay, well Elle's in good voice beside the pool there.

Here we go, Ben Toyer from New South Wales.

27. His first time on Ninja Island.

So far so good.

Let's watch this one because this is the obstacle

that has caused some pain tonight.

Needs grip. Need strength.

Just needs to get on the platform and he did.

Yes, Ben Toyer.

Plenty of support in the crowd.

They've got T-shirts, they've got banners.

The bridge of blades. Don't take it lightly and he doesn't.

Two steps and he's there.

You got this, baby.

I imagine this is where Ben will come into his own.

Upperbody strength. Core strength.

All those hours on a pole. Up high.

He reaches across and makes the transfer onto basket two.

Oh!

He's getting a bit frantic on that second basket.

Just a little bit of panic.

But he's recovered.

And straight off there.

Whoo!

Have a look at this bloke.

He's got contender written all over him.

Just all strength, all class.

How's he going to handle this?

Ben, hopefully his pole dancing skills will work in favour here.

There is no guarantees.

Just awkward trying to wrap his arms around this.

He has to turn round.

Have his arms got anything left?

Hanging on by the skin of his teeth.

So close.

He is on more familiar ground now.

Legs wrapped around the pole.

The crowd appreciates what they're seeing here.

Here he goes.

Flick the feet. Flick the feet.

Don't go too early, son.

Oh, there was an inch in it but he's okay.

The shirt comes off.

Elle is going ballistic.

He might just be the dark horse of this contest.

Go, baby.

Oh.

The first attempt is unsuccessful but that's okay.

He gets three shots at the wall.

AUDIENCE: Beat the wall. Beat the wall.

Go, baby, go.

The pole ninja. This time?

No!

Oh, gee. He looks spent, Ben.

He was so, so close.

You've got this, baby.

This is it. This is his third and final attempt. Can Ben Toyer do it?

He needs to do it. He wants to do it. He's trained for this moment.

Up he goes.

Yes!

Ben Toyer, that is great.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

The pole ninja is up the warped wall.

Ben really had to dig deep to find a way to get through the course.

His first two attempts on the wall fell short.

But then, on the third and final attempt,

he pushed up higher and higher and that made the difference.

Congratulations, Ben Toyer.

The second new ninja to make it all the way.

Season one veterans Daniel Mason

and Ryan Roberts fill the top two places

but the pole ninja swings straight in to number four.

One spot above fellow debutant Andy Dunt.

And titanium woman Zoe Featonby will make the semis this year.

She is currently in tenth position.

We very nearly have our final top 20 furthest

and fastest but there is one more ninja to come.

He's a grand finalist from last year

who has built his very own Mount Midoriyama.

Tradie Sam Goodall is on his way.

Welcome back to the Australian Ninja Warrior.

Tonight's heat has had it all. Shock exits.

Oh!

One of our strongest competitors is gone.

Big hits.

Sensational runs from new ninjas.

She's through!

Come on, Andy.

You ripper!

And proof that experience counts.

From some big name returnees.

But now, our final competitor of the night.

The time has come to welcome back Sam Goodall

a.k.a. the trady ninja.

I know that I'm not the fastest ninja.

Probably not the strongest ninja

and I know I'm not the best looking ninja.

What I do have is determination.

Oh, my word.

Banged his head on the wheel.

Things get tough and I just keep going.

I'm not going to give up.

What we've got here, Australia, is one tough trady.

I live on a small farm down in Western Australia.

The closest gym to me is about 500Ks away.

I stack hay bales and jump off them.

Swing from the forks on the tractor.

I can climb across the trusses on our big sheds

but I've got a special weapon.

I've actually built Mount Midoriyama.

It's the only one in a backyard in Australia at the moment.

Potentially, the world.

It will prepare me mentally,

physically for what season two has to offer.

Ninja Warrior is the toughest course on the planet.

Last time, it earned my respect in a big way.

This time, I'm getting to the top of Mount Midoriyama.

Ninja Warrior, here I come!

Yeah!

And when you're building your own version of Mount Midoriyama

on your farm, you know that you are committed to the cause.

That is 100% true, Ben.

What will this guy be capable of?

Rachel and little Abbie, ready for the fireworks. So are we.

Remember, the fastest time so far,

one minute 24 seconds set by Daniel Mason.

Now the UFO slider.

It's taken some strong competitors out tonight.

Sam will not want to be one of them.

He's only a little fella.

62kg.

But he's got a big heart.

Lets go at the right moment.

Come on.

Don't hesitate, mate. Don't hesitate.

Once you decide, just go.

Oh, a smooth bridge of blades.

And the crowd loved it.

He's just testing out the tramp.

His wingspan is not the biggest but that will not hold him back.

All right, Sam Goodall,

one of the stars of season one is on the first basket.

Oh, he's changed his mind there about transferring.

No, he does.

Almost. Come on, Sam.

Doesn't look too happy. Just grimacing there.

Looks quite uncomfortable up there.

I don't know if he's hurt himself or what.

Struggling a little bit on the basket toss tonight.

Again, he has a look at it and thinks better of it.

It's tense.

Come on. Just do it. Just...

Oh!

Sam Goodall is in the water.

Daddy went swimming.

What just happened?

Sam just didn't look comfortable on the baskets.

He spent far too long on basket two, changed his grip

and then got his arms all in a tangle on the final grab.

Sam, I don't think anyone expected that.

Probably you the least.

What, expect me to get that far?

No, to fall off where you did.

That's okay.

I made a mistake.

I think I'm a bit wiser.

You know what it means - I have to go home and build one of these.

(LAUGHTER)

In series one, you got to the top of the warped wall.

It wasn't to be tonight.

You're still getting in the semifinals

and all that hard work of building a mountain might not be in vain.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for Sam.

Good job, daddy. Good job, daddy.

Sam Goodall, finding out the hard way

that the Ninja Warrior course has gone to a whole new level

in season two.

Let's take a look at the final leaderboard

and the top 20 furthest and fastest through to the semifinals.

The barefoot ninja Daniel Mason wins the heat

by 12 seconds from Tarzan Ryan Roberts.

New ninjas Ben Toyer and firey Andy Dunt are fourth and fifth.

With so many competitors falling on the UFO slider, Sam Goodall is ninth.

Titanium woman Zoe Featonby has made it through in 11th.

Just ahead of other standout female ninjas Tash Sergi and Mel Armstrong.

Matt May, the oldest ninja tonight finishes 15th

and footy legend Paul Gallen will also be back for the semifinals.

No doubt, the performance of the night

belongs to Daniel Mason the perfect ninja high-class run

of experience, endurance and speed on a very challenging course.

How about him - the barefoot ninja, he strikes again.

The semifinals are shaping up to be epic.

Let's have a look at tomorrow's heat.

Tomorrow night, the battle for semi-final places

continues.

Let's do this.

With new obstacles and 50 new ninjas.

I could be a wet wiggle

but no matter what's going to happen, I'm going to wiggle.

Corey Worthington threw a party the whole world heard of.

Go away and take a long hard look at yourself.

I have. Everyone has. They love it.

But will he make a new name for himself on the Ninja Warrior course?

I'm bringing the party and I'm going to smash Mount Midoriyama.

Disco ninja Betsy Burnett.

She missed out by a fingernail in season one.

Will she rise to new heights this time around?

I really want to beat the wall.

And the incredible Mark Daniels.

He lost his leg in a motorbike accident.

But found the strength few can match.

You do more with one leg than most people with two legs ever achieved.

That's tomorrow night on Australian Ninja Warrior.

You won't want to miss it

and we'll see you then when Australia Ninja Warrior continues.

Good night.