.jpg)
They've been doing it all day sir!
Two Englishmen in Australia, talking sports and life in a new country
They've been doing it all day sir!
Vegas Kickoff And Bold NRL Ladder Calls
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Join the 2026 Tipping Comp:
https://tipping.nrl.com/comps/join/P4AUS8DQ
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A sunburnt day at the SCG, a drifting grandstand shadow, and a flying condom set the scene for a season preview that swerves from comedy to conviction. We reconnect after a long off-season to unpack coaching updates, youth development at under-17s, and why redemption weekends can change more than just a scoreboard. Then we get serious about Manly: the young guns look sharp, the first-graders look shaky, and the margin for error feels slim if injuries bite. Leadership, structure, and timing through the middle become the big questions.
From clubland to the badge, we break down the new State of Origin eligibility rules and what they mean for international rugby league. Freeing players to represent heritage nations without sacrificing Origin elevates test footy and deepens the pool for the World Cup. Expect smarter selections, tighter contests, and fewer trade-offs between identity and ambition. We also rewind Hull KR’s World Club Challenge win that survived a roaring Broncos surge—proof that building an early platform still matters when chaos hits late.
Our ladder predictions pull no punches. The bottom four feels clearer—Knights, Dragons, Titans, Cowboys—while the middle is a minefield where Manly and Raiders could swing wildly on form and fitness. Up top, we debate the Dolphins as a surprise top-four entrant on speed and strike, the Roosters’ stacked backline finally gelling, and whether the Storm can hold their standard without key weapons. Panthers and Broncos remain the benchmark for pace, power, and depth, but the grind decides who owns the minor premiership. Finally, we tip the Vegas openers—Cowboys over Knights, Bulldogs over Dragons—acknowledging jet lag, turf pace, and Round 1 weirdness.
Footy is back, our takes are bold, and the receipts are ready. Hit play, send us your top four and wooden spooner, and jump into our tipping comp for bragging rights. If you’re new here, subscribe, share the show with a mate, and drop a review—what’s your most controversial ladder pick this year?
Summer Recap And SCG Misadventures
SPEAKER_03Hello and welcome back to season two. They've been doing it all day. Season 2026 is just around the corner. Let's get stuck in. How's your summer been, mate? It's been long. It feels like there's been no footy for a long period of time, and we've had some um calamitous sporting events over the summer being English.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's not been great to be honest. It's not been great. It's not been a great watch.
SPEAKER_03One of my lowlights of the summer was spending day three at the SCG cooking in what was it, like 32 degree heat, just worried about turning like a lobster getting sunburnt to see Steve Smith. Travis Head had a good knock. Travis Head and just barely any wickets taken. Can't say that was an enjoyable day.
SPEAKER_01It was quite funny that we were more interested in watching the shadow move up the stand of where the sun was hitting than we were actually watching the cricket. So I think that really stood.
SPEAKER_03So there was another highlight that I just remembered. You remember some some geezer in the crowd just blew up a condom and it was flying and it actually looked like it was over, I don't know, it went over mascot or something. I think that was the highlight of the day. Even the players noticed it as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that was quite fun. But day one was a good laugh. Being sat in with in amongst the Bami Army, we got to we got to experience, I suppose, in a way ashes, which is which is quite good. Um not many people could say that.
SPEAKER_03We're slightly robbed though. Joe Root, Tun, and uh we were robbed with day one.
SPEAKER_01We're robbed of that of day one because they went in early.
SPEAKER_03Um controversial, but nah, other than that, um just been pottering along. Uh it feels like summer's over now because I'm ill and we're heading into autumn, and it's like illness is just gonna come again and again and again.
SPEAKER_01I I'm all for it now with the humidity and the heat state starting to really annoy me. I think I'm ready, ready for waking up in the cold and seeing my own breath in the morning. I know. How's your summer been? Yeah, it's been it's been good. Um back coaching. So we've got the we've got the state flag championship. So it was this time last year. I was nearly on tears in the in the studio in one of our first episodes.
SPEAKER_03A notification came up about we've been doing this one year, so I think it's one year and one week that we've been doing it, but I was prep looking for the tournament.
SPEAKER_01It's looking good again. Great, great batch of batch of players. Um some great work being put in. Um it's I think it's very much we're looking for that redemption uh in in considering the way we lost it last year.
SPEAKER_03Sending it out to those Queenland Queenslanders earlier, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01No, I don't I'm not I'm I'm not like that because I I don't like it when because you can keep receipts these days. You can. And I don't really want it that blown up in the face. But I'm I'm looking forward to another good weekend of it. Um I've been I've been advising for the under-17s as well. Nice. Um just taking a bit of a back seat and helping out with the because uh the play some of the players are coaching the under 17s. Yeah. So um just been helping helping with that as well. So I've got back-to-back weekends at Bankstown.
SPEAKER_03Busy.
SPEAKER_01I can't wait.
SPEAKER_03Um and after the next one, after not this weekend, next weekend, we've got our first out in it, Brooke.
SPEAKER_01Well, I know, so that I'll be coming from the the under under 17s tournament that day. So um, so yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_03Talking about keeping receipts, because um, as you mentioned, receipts can be kept. Yep, uh Chad Townsend has tipped Manly to get the one.
SPEAKER_01Everyone, everyone's tipping Manly to I I reckon uh we'll go into our ladder predictions a little bit later, but if our attack gets going, I think there's there's a lot there, especially with some of the the big boys that are coming through as well.
SPEAKER_03There are some big boys that are, and we'll talk about a few of them in a bit, but let's talk about Manly's preseason, let's reflect on it. I mean, I didn't get to see much of the Warriors game, but it looked like a good performance with the young guns out. But this past weekend against the Rabitos was a bit concerning.
SPEAKER_01I think it's I think it showed that the young young guns are in better stead than the actual first graders at the moment. Um you can argue that you're missing Alakwatu, you might we're missing the three Travojovic brothers up. I never thought I'd see in the Manly groups people calling for Ben Tavoyevich to play, considering how much he gets slated, but I think that sets the that just shows the president that sort of Corey Waddell, like he had a very poor game against against the bunnies. Um I'm a big big fan of Hugo Hart. I didn't I didn't mind what he was doing in the second row. He he looked he looked comfortable there. Um coming from uh an American football, I think he was at South Carolina, about that was it.
SPEAKER_03Um he came down from Brisbane as well, didn't he? Or am I chatting rubbish?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think he did, but he's um he yeah, I think he was at school in in Brisbane, but he's he looks he looks like some some not not one of these I reckon could compliment in the second row with Oli Kawtu. Yeah, not someone who's gonna run over, but he's gonna hit everything that moves.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so I'll tell you who was impressive. Oh big man, Laaffi, he Laafi, he's a big human being. Sean Kepi got introduced to an absolute monster, and it's exciting because even though he's young, he's got to have a crack at first grade this year. 100%. Um, and just Poseca, him, even Takihahu, I thought was all right, like all right, got a sidestep by Cody Walker, but it was a bit of him and him and Waddell. Um but look, it's a preseason, and we'll uh get into it in a bit about where we think Manly are gonna finish. But what other big news has there been over the site origin? Obviously, the origin um criteria has changed. Any thoughts on that? Obviously, for Newer Blake can now play for New South Wales.
SPEAKER_01Well, uh as as someone who has represented New South Wales uh from a uh foreign land, bleed blue. Um I I I always thought that would be that that could have been the the the criteria is like if you've lived within the state for uh uh X amount of years, you should be able to represent them because it's you you have your representative countries, but your state you can't you can form a passion for where you where you live and who you who you go for. So I I I like how it opens up that opportunity.
SPEAKER_03I believe it'll make the world game a lot closer, the international fixtures a lot closer because now people won't only commit to Australia to play origin, they'll actually like be able to go and represent the nation that they are allowed to, um, and it won't impact their ability to play origin. Like Victor Radley will now be able to play in Origin and represent England. Um, AJ Brimson as well can also do the similar, but yeah, whether they get selected, I don't know. Victor Radley maybe, but it'll be interesting to see then what changes within the especially with the Rugby League World Cup coming up as well at the end of this season, who's playing for who now that it doesn't have an impact. So it can make the the world international stage a bit a bit closer, even though it is already like Samoa Tonga, they're just animals, animals of teams that are coming through. So it'll be an interesting one. But talking of the international stage, whole KR, it's like through three years in a row that the English team has won the world club. What is it, the world club challenge? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I was watching the last 20-30 minutes of that on the way in into work, and I was like, I didn't I didn't see when whole KR would dominate him, but I was like, the Broncos are gonna win this. Like it was I was the comeback. It was just screaming a Broncos comeback. Like I think it was three tries, four tries in five minutes or something like that. And every time they attacked, they just looked like they were gonna score. But fair play to Hull, they they put in the hard yards in the first half to be able to, I think what it was 30 30 to 4 or 30 to 6, I think it was at one point. Um but they they'd they'd put the hard yards in then to then come out and and win win win the game. Um it's good.
SPEAKER_03Like it uh they've got a few games in them already, like they've played a few, I think it's two, but they got to York.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they got humbled. Who were just promoted to the Super League?
SPEAKER_03Um I heard James Graham say though, like that could be a like them focusing so much on the club world challenge that they kind of took their foot off the gas and thought, oh, we're only playing York, and then well, how are they gonna show that they're bouncing back from that after doing the three P is go and do the quadruple and win it all? Like I've read something that they're only the third or fourth um English team to do the quadruple, so yeah, fair play to them. But should we get stuck into our ladder predictions and um give it a go? So let's just recap on last year before we get stuck into this year. Um, I had an absolute stinker, along with most people though.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there was some in there were some curveballs in in that one.
2026 Ladder Predictions
SPEAKER_03Um the Raiders, I think, threw everyone off, which is which is good. But then on the flip of that, Manly also flew through everyone off as well. Yes, it did tipped to go high, and obviously DCE, the saga around that. Hopefully, we'll have no dramas um coming into this year. And I suppose before we get into that, one drama that could have lingered around was the signing of Tolu Cola. So huge news that he signed for another five years, and massive. I think he looked one of the better performers on Sunday as well. So it's good to go. But let's kick it off. So, what we're gonna do is go with our wooden spooners first and then go all the way to who we think are gonna be uh minor premiers. Who have you got finishing uh 17th?
SPEAKER_01I have got the Newcastle Knights. Um I don't think there's gonna be much difference um from sort of last season with these. Um looking at I know it's you look only look at pre-season, and it's like oh it's pre-season, you can't read too much into it. But I think they were the only team to not score in a game, which for preseasons considering it's geared to score, not good. I know you've got them uh because they're out in V are they in Vegas? Yeah, uh yeah, so you could say oh they were thinking about Vegas, but but even still it's it's it's trial games, you you need to be you need to be scoring. I I nearly said that uh it would have been the exact same thing about Manly if they didn't end up sneaking over at one point. Like it's it's it's quite embarrassing if you don't score. Uh is Dylan Brown gonna work to light up the world. I d I don't don't think so. Um and I don't think hit Kaylin Parker can wear the carry them on their shoulders much longer. Um I just don't think they've got much in brute force either.
SPEAKER_03That well, I've also got them as wooden spooners, and I believe it's because they haven't got much up front. Um they've lost quite a few number, a few big big boys up front, um, and I just don't think they've got the experience or the numbers to be able to do it. Coupled with yeah, Dylan Brown coming in, a lot of pressure on his shoulders to steer the ship. Is he the right person for it? Not too sure, but Sandon Smith as well has come up as an E to Newcastle. Um so Kaelin Ponger, if he stays fit, if he doesn't, he didn't have a great season last year. Scored six tries or something like that, scored his first one against Manley, great. Um so yeah, I've gone Newcastle Knights in 17th. In sixteenth, I would you know what? This was a toss of a coin as to who I thought was gonna actually get.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I've mine was mine was as well.
SPEAKER_03Have we gone the same? I've gone the dragons.
SPEAKER_01No, I've gone Titans.
SPEAKER_03Ooh, I've gone dragons just because I don't know. I don't think they've got their halves partnership, I believe, isn't great. Um, quite well, their spine might be the worst in the comp. I've seen a lot of people stay say that Val Holmes is aging, read that his hamstring might be um not too great. They're obviously out in Vegas as well. Um, they've got a young forward pack, yeah, they're big boys, yeah, they're enormous, but I don't not necessarily sure they're got the experience up front to kind of go on. But yeah, for me, Dragon 16th.
SPEAKER_01Funnily enough, you mentioned the halves partnerships because that's that's why I've gone for the Titans as well, is they don't have one sort of set in stone and be able to really lead lead a team. Yeah, they've got a good bunch of talent there, especially with uh with the like re-sign of I think the re-signed Tina, didn't they?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They got that locked up.
SPEAKER_01So which is huge, huge for them considering he could have gone gone anywhere, and I thought he would I thought we would end up with the city. But they've got three fullbacks playing one, six, and seven. So yeah, so it's it's it that and that's an issue. Like you you can have a team full full full with talent, but if they're not if they're not gelling together and they're not creating the chances, it's gonna it's gonna cause cause your issues.
SPEAKER_03With Hannah coming in, I feel that they might be able to do do something, but yeah, it'd be interesting to see how they go. Who you got fifteenth?
SPEAKER_01Where you for the team you had 16th, I've gotten the dragons. So I'm I I my Titans and Dragons were very close on this. Um I just think that the the dragons just have a bit more bit more stability about them compared to the Titans in the sense of they've got that known and they've got that gel. Yeah, I suppose, um, in in that sense. Um I suppose they've got Clint Gufferson as well. Yeah, um so it it it does it does sort of make a difference in that sense. Um but but yeah, it's they're they they're not gonna be they're not gonna be great.
SPEAKER_03I've gone with the Cowboys in 15th. Um I think they're gonna have a difficult start to the season, although I say this, they're playing the Dragons, I believe it's the yeah, no, they're playing the Knights, sorry, in obviously it's Bulldogs Dragons, and they're playing Knights in Vegas this weekend. So I think they'll get the victory there, but other than that, they're under a lot of pressure. Um Todd Payton might be the first manager to get or coach to get sacked this season. They reckon he's got 10 games um to survive to save himself. So I've gone the Titans at 15, uh Cowboys at 15, and then I've gone Titans at 14.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay. So you've you've sort of changed that you again not not too. Who you got at 14? I've got the Cowboys.
SPEAKER_03Our bottom four are exactly the same.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, as in I think I was gonna say this is the same group of teams, yeah.
SPEAKER_03I was gonna say like the bottom four, I feel I mean look, we can say this now, and then we'll look back in eight months' time and it'll be pants around our ankles, red asses. But I think that um the bottom four are quite easy to pick, it's the next eight that are difficult, yeah.
SPEAKER_01And I think it's all very interchangeable now, and I I think I agree with the Cowboys. Like I they just don't they don't they don't scream at me like they're gonna be a team that that sets the world alight. Um I think they've they've got enough to to limp over the line with some wins and put some big performances in, but I I just don't sit I see it being a bit of a I've got a feeling they're gonna have to do a bit of rebuilding with the Tommy uh with Deirdon on his on his way out.
SPEAKER_03Spicy little rumour that he could be going to Manley. Um everyone's linked with Manley though, this is the problem.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I know, but no one ever seems to arrive. Kane Hass is meant to be coming to Manley. Well that would that yeah, anyway. Um but but no, that's what I that's what I'm sort of uh saying is it's just not a not a not a lot from them, to be honest.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Uh what about here we go, the eight that are potentially interchangeable, anywhere from 13th to 7th, I reckon. Um anyone can move about. Are you got in 13th?
SPEAKER_01I I've I've I feel bad for putting these here, but I've gone for the Tigers. Um not mad at it. I'm not mad at it. Like they they really impressed me in the in sort of pre-season, and that that young lad on the wing, like Macassimi, yeah, Mac dropping a second rower and then running over Dylan Edwards, like that's that's some going. Um it's it's gonna be a case of can sort of Benji bring them together and and and and band band them together.
SPEAKER_03They've already had the off-season chaos with the board and all this sort of stuff.
SPEAKER_01So and it's like, are they gonna get Jerome Lou I kicking, or is it just gonna be uh is there just too much of a mess at the club to be able to really band together and put in performance after performance? Um so that's why I've got them there. What about yourself?
SPEAKER_03I don't know how I feel about this one now, but I'm gonna for the rabbit hose in 13th.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_03Um don't get me wrong, David Fafita looked pretty handy, and what I was I was listening to earlier saying their left edge is like Fafita Mitchell Alex Johnson. It's like it could be formidable, formidable. Like where if you attack, if you defend in the middle, then it's like out to Johnson out wide or Mitchell close to the goal line, it's gonna be difficult to stop. But I just don't know whether Humphreys has got it in the middle to at the moment, like I just don't know whether he's got that leadership ability, and then whoever they're Cody Walker's aging, um gyarrows, shoulders, shoulder problems, injuries might not be back. Um White and he looked alright to be fair. I'm saying this arsenal, they've just batted Manly 30 points to six, but I don't know, they've got to stay healthy, don't know what their strength in depth's like. Brandon Smith has like sorted himself out and could be an absolute weapon this season. So I don't know. This is the sort of one that I think could come back and slap me in the face. I did have them at one point as high up as like seventh, so that gives you an idea, and I was like, hang on, when I look at the teams that I've put above, I reckon they might perform. And because of that, I've gone Tigers one better, I've gone Tigers in twelfth. Okay, I just for pretty much the reasons that you said. Um I've gone the Warriors in 12th.
SPEAKER_01Oh, the Warriors won as well. That I was like flip-flopping as to where to go. Especially with Mitch Michi Barnett being told he can lose. That's that's the big one of their big big power forwards up front. Metcalf sort of starting the season. I think he's back round seven or eight or something like that. You've got there's a lot of there's a lot of weight on Jet Cleary's shoulders already in the in that in that sense to see if he can pull it together. Um they just didn't they didn't set the world a light last season and they're wanted to sort of they kind of pet it off towards the end, didn't they? And it's it's it was it was like they had a great start, and then it was just like, oh, I'm gonna go the worry's gonna win.
SPEAKER_03Oh no, they're not, they're gonna win, and no, they're not so how it depends where they are when Metcalf comes back, I think, and how he coming back from an ACL injury, especially it wasn't like an innocuous, he didn't like twist and go in the wrong way, yet actually tore it getting hit. So there might be a few nerves there. This is another controversial one. It appears that I might actually not like the Raiders. I've gone for the Raiders in 11th. I just think I know you can't judge anything on preseason, right? But I don't know. They got young halves partnership, Foggity. I feel was the person that controlled a lot last year. Um, and without him there, like his kicking game is suited to the speed that they have because their kick chase is phenomenal. When he boots the ball high, they're down, they're applying pressure, then you get the turnover, you get the possession, stuff like that. Without that, be interesting to see how they go. So, obviously, I'm gonna probably eat my words and they're gonna end up being minor premiers again. But going Raiders 11. Um I've gone for Manly at 11. I'm not mad at it, you know. Like at one point I had Manly 14th.
SPEAKER_01Um just I I I think there's enough talent in there for Manly to be challenging for the eighth. I just don't think the correct leadership is there to to work with them. Um I think that's the issue. Like watching that preseason game, there was no sea's been working on himself over the summer though.
SPEAKER_03Apparently he's lost 20 kilos.
SPEAKER_01Like Geezer's in shape, good for him, but it's not gonna help a team get better get better. And I I don't know what it was. Like, you you watch all of the behind the scenes and you you think oh, they've got a lot of structure instead, they've got it, oh it's fantastic. But then you watch them out there and they look lost, yeah. In what they were doing, they do, and that's and that's more. And you should like you've you've got you got one of the best centres in the game at the moment in Cola in there. You've got Lee Hapawate who can and and and Falalo is is a is a threat. He he he he is he looked really good against Warriors, yeah. You've and one thing I've got to say is Hapawate's presence underneath the ball was incredible, like he was getting battered every every time.
SPEAKER_03Rabbo's were like that. Was their first string 13 first so it wasn't far off Manley's. We were missing a few like Ola Kowatu makes a big difference. I don't know when it I let's hope he gets name round one. Like, we don't know how the shoulder is, like, yeah, he's training, but you never know. Um, Turbo wasn't there, who is a big influence of where they attacked.
SPEAKER_01This is your thing, you're two injuries away from like season done, Turbo not playing and Olaquatu having another soldier re shoulder reconstruction. Like, that's that's that's the thing. It's like when you look at the team outside of those players, and that's a performance they're putting in. I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna sort of struggle to see them I reckon Luke Brooks to nine.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, Joey Walsh bring him in, see how it goes. That I I personally think if it doesn't season doesn't start well, that's a move that's a good thing. They'll start putting them in now, yeah. I think Jamal Fogarty didn't look good defensively um at the weekend, but hopefully that's just dusting off some um cobwebs. I've gone manly at 10. Uh similar exact same reasons. I do have the belief that we can finish in the top eight. Who did you have at 11?
SPEAKER_01Raiders, raiders are, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, but I do do have the belief that we can um finish in the top eight, but it all depends how we start over the first four games. Like we've got Raiders up first, that'll be a big fixture if we can get a win over on that. I think we then win the first three games. I think we then beat the Knights at home. We've got a bye week, and then we've got the Roosters. I think we pumped them at um Four Pines Park, DC's return, boo him as he comes out. Um so I've gone Sea Eagles at manly at 10. I've just checked, I've got Raiders at 10. Well, there we go. Like it's not too dissimilar to what I'm thinking.
SPEAKER_01Um again, I I think they've they've had that amazing season. Uh I I agree with pretty much the consensus. I don't think they're going to be able to back it up, um, especially with losing a T Kalis like a talisman in Fungity. Um, so yeah, it's quite funny how these are quite chip and changing.
SPEAKER_03Oh, you got a nine.
SPEAKER_01So my not seven, eight, nine, I reckon. Were the hardest ones that I had I thought about. Then the team that are just going to miss out on the eight are the Eels. Interesting.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I'm quite happy to jump ahead and do my 9-8-7.
SPEAKER_03Go on, then do your 9-87.
SPEAKER_01So my nine is Eels. Yeah. I've got the Dolphins just sneaking in with their first first finals appearance. I've got the bunnies at seven. Oh, I'm not mad. I'm not mad. I think I think with with the Eels, I think I've seen enough in them, especially at the back end of last year. Losing Lomax, so is huge. But they've got enough young talent coming through.
SPEAKER_03Rich Bradley is a gun.
SPEAKER_01To be able to like not replace him, but there's going to be someone like what was his name? That young lad was it Talau or who came who started his first game against Manly and absolutely ripped us a bit on the wing. Talang. No, he plays for Talangi. Nah. It's going to annoy me. Yeah. But he he looks like an absolute gun. And I think they've got enough of the middle. They've got just they're just a horrible team to play against. And they're offloading is just the next level. And I think if Mitch Moses stays fit all season, they're going to have a very good year. Um and then Dolphins, I think it this is the the year for them after a few years of building to then especially with trying trying not to.
SPEAKER_03They've got one of the best sevens in the game from last year, so if we can continue to do it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's that's true. Um and then and then the Bonnies, I I saw enough at the weekend. Like you you talk about that left edge, that that's a dangerous left edge because you've essentially got two second rows next to each other in in David Fajita and Litrell Mitchell.
SPEAKER_03If they keep a lot of players next year, they're gonna be a joke next year.
SPEAKER_01I absolutely love him. I'm a big Gai Gray fan. You have Campbell Graham as well, sort of working in there. You've got Klo Matangy. Yeah. I think I think they're especially with Wayne Bennett at the helm. Injuries, yeah. Well, it's the same with every team, really, though, isn't it?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so I'll do mine 9-8-7, completely different to yours. Okay, I've gone Warriors at nine to miss out on the eight. I've gone bulldogs at I just have a feeling that two years in a row they've done alright, but Burton's already injured. Yep. Um, there's a lot of expectation on them this year. A lot of people are putting them like top four. Okay. And like some I've seen some predictions that they're gonna win the minor premiership. I don't know what you're saying about that, but um, I just I don't know. I've got a feeling this might be that they're undoing, not in a big way, um, but depending on how they go, I think they're gonna finish eighth. And then this is a controversial one, I think. The storm in seventh. They've lost Ryan Pappenhausen, yeah, big, and they've also lost Katoa, who is a huge influence, like his ability to well, and Coates for the first who knows how long because it's an Achilles injury that he's got.
SPEAKER_01Depends what happens with Lomax as well.
SPEAKER_03Ah, this is the other thing. Like, we could be talking about the storm being the best, having the two best wingers and attacking options in the league with Lomax on one side and coates on the other side, but Coates isn't fully fit, Katoa isn't playing this season, and he brings so much attention to the middle, and Pappenhausen not being number one, like, yeah, all right, they've got Jerome Hughes, Harry Grant, but I don't know, I just think this might be a couple of big boys lost a bit too soon. I get it. Um, so I've gone for the storm at seven, and then I'll go with my six. Yep, Eels. I've gone for the Paramount Eels. I just saw enough of I there was times our season when they were carving teams up when they're playing well, and I think they had a strong finish this season. Yeah, um, and I just think they're gonna can continue that into this year. Granted, they have unfortunately lost one of their best attacking options, and Ad O'Carr has broken his thumb as well. That happened over the weekend, but I've gone the Paramount A Eels at six.
SPEAKER_01I've gone the Sharks. Um, I think the they're pretty much the same squad. I think the Sharks are now cemented themselves as a top six. They're just good. They're just yeah, they're just they just crack on with the business. Yeah, I don't see them winning it, but I can see them in the finals every year.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, um we're gonna go, we're gonna go to Sharks away, aren't we? Give it a go, give it a go.
SPEAKER_01Go down to head down to Cronulla. Um, can't wait to watch Manly lose there. Um but yeah, I just I just don't think Nico Hines has the ability to grab a team by the by the just go away them.
SPEAKER_03Didn't he say didn't I see something earlier though that he said him and um it's Blake Braille, isn't it? I think uh they're the gonna lead Cronulla to success. I think he came out and said that obviously you've got a bit of confidence, of course. Um I've gone with sharks at five. Okay, so only one difference. I'm not making the top four, but like you say, consistent, doing well. I've gone sharks at sharks at five, big boy in Fanua Blake that just seems to cause rack all the time. He's a big lad.
SPEAKER_01Um, and then I've got the I've got the dogs at five. Yeah, not bad at it. There's there's enough there, man. Like they've got such a strong team.
SPEAKER_03I feel we've got the same top three. Like, I'm just reading into this. Like, we potentially got the same top three. Four, I've gone dolphins. I believe when they have and when they have everyone fit, they are gonna cause problems. I just think the pace that they've got, like they were carving teams up last year. Yeah, right. Yeah, Manly stuck 50 on them at the end of the season, but they were kind of like done. They they could have made the playoffs, but they were done, they were bedding in some youngsters, few injuries. I think they've got the best centre in the game in Herbie Farmworth. They've got Bostock on the wing, they've got Katoa, they've just got so many weapons and speed and the hammer. I just I just think this is their season that they're gonna um fly and finish in the top four. I've got the I've got the Panthers at four.
SPEAKER_01It's bold. It's bold. I just I I I really think they're they've got enough class to be in the top four, but I think that it's very much an ageing out.
SPEAKER_03They've got the judiciary on their side as well, because I don't know how nothing happened to the case.
SPEAKER_01How he's been cleared for that, I do not know. He should have had two weeks. They've got that there, they've got enough to get m get in the top four, but I think it's gonna be a very similar season to last year. They're gonna try and leave too much to sort of last minutes and just the pam Panther name. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And it's gonna they nearly knocked the they nearly won the whole thing last year, they nearly beat the Broncos, which is what I mean. Like they've got the class to do it, it's fitness actually that cost them. The Broncos are just fit to them.
SPEAKER_01I just don't think it's it's a squad that's gonna be changing, and I think this could be the season to really show that. Interesting. Who have you got for?
SPEAKER_03Uh Dolphins at three. Yeah. I'm going for the Brisbane Broncos at three. I think Painhouse leaving is gonna have like an impact on them, and I don't know, I just don't see them like playing with as much Heatherington as well. Great signing for Manley. Yeah, um be interesting to see like their pack, Clark. Yeah, they've got Carrigan. I I don't know, we'll see how it goes, but I've gone Broncos three. Reese Walsh again, can he continue his form that he had last year? Yeah, so Broncos three. Who's your three?
SPEAKER_01Oh Storm. Storm at three. Again, uh this they're just just good. Yeah, they're just good, me good. Yeah, yeah. It's boring, yeah. It's just they're a good good squad, good team. Cam Monster just with his mustache that pops up every now and then. Like yeah, I don't think that really needs any more explanation. Who you gone for it too? I've gone for the Roosters, I've gone for the Roosters as well. Um I I I said back end of the season that they're a centre away from having the best back like all-round back line. Um and does Tommy Talau come in and just be that missing piece? Not to say he's he's an incredible player, but is he gonna be the glue?
SPEAKER_03It was alright for Manly not last season, the season before. Like, I'd give him his his dues, he was for me. Like, I can't remember who he was standing against, but I saw Nawanganitawase last week standing next to another winger, yeah, right, and his legs and backside and back were just enormous compared to pure power, whoever it was. That geese is unstoppable. You've got Tupot as well, that's just a threat to the ball.
SPEAKER_01The back line is ridiculous, and then you've got you've got DC. Tedescu is a joke, you've got DC in there. If DC plays the structure of the roosters and doesn't go Maverick, I reckon they'll be they'll be good.
SPEAKER_03Sam Walker is a gun. You've got DC and Savala. I think they'll try and do something there, but even their forward pack, they're just animals. Nafar who white, huge, uh Spencer Lenue, back fence spence, just a joke. They're a good, they're a very good. I actually at one point did have them winning the minor premiership, but that means you've gone from Brisbane Broncos to be minor premiers. Yeah, I've gone for the Penrith Panthers. I think they're just gonna dominate again.
SPEAKER_01Nah, Broncos, mate. Maybe not dominate, I bet. I think the the the game against Hull, I think, showcased that they've they've just got even even fitter engines. Like, I think it's just showing that you can't sleep on the Broncos at all, at any point in the game.
SPEAKER_03Match did come out though and says he doesn't want that to become uh Broncos thing.
SPEAKER_01Well, the the thing is you look at it and go, right, they've travelled the other side of the world, it's fucking freezing cold back home at now. And that and those sort of things do change, do add into it, considering you're coming from the other side of the world. Yeah. But like when they were attacked, they just they just had people everywhere, like they had overlap after the other. Like a Tony Staggs even was like, it's the worst game I've ever played, so they've got plenty more. I just think they've got they've got too much, and I don't think because I think they all knew Payne House was going anyway, so yeah, that that's not gonna be really a big big thing. True. Um their pack is ridiculous. Um if they'd assigned Big T now, I would I'd have just told them to give them the trophy now. But um, but no, that was my that was my one is Bronco, isn't it?
Vegas Round 1 Tips And Community Comp
SPEAKER_03One fair play. So we'll do the same as what we did last year when we'll uh do the points and see who ends up victorious. You'll one nil up as we are. It was was a bit it was tighter than I thought it was gonna be, considering I messed it up early doors, but we'll see how we go this year, and let's get into it. We're round one, footy's back, we're in Vegas. Let's go. Um, we're starting off at the Allegiance Stadium in Las Vegas, kicking off at 1.15 pm. So make sure you don't get caught out by thinking, oh, it's an evening kickoff. We've got the Newcastle Knights at$2.48 against the North Queensland Cowboys at$1.57.
SPEAKER_01Then that very much reflects the odds of the game as well. I think with the Vegas games, it's always really hard because again, you're traveling to the other side of the like the world, it's it's uh that does come into the impact side of things, spears, and gambling as well. Um, but I'm gonna go Cowboys comfortable win. I think it'll be like a 30-12 win. Um I just yeah, I just don't see anything in the nights.
SPEAKER_03It's got the potential for an upset because of what you said, first game of the season, neutral venue, like different surface. Uh Kalen Ponger could carve it up on a synthetic turf surface, um, but so could Dearden. Yeah, so we'll see how it goes, but I'm also going for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Closing Thanks And Subscribe
SPEAKER_01Uh, and then at the Allegiance Stadium in Viva Las Vegas, uh, we've got the Bulldogs versus the Dragons and a lovely 330 kickoff.
SPEAKER_03For me, it's got Bulldogs written all over it. I don't think there's much we need to say.
SPEAKER_01Has to. I'm I'm going Bulldogs as well. Um with that, uh, I look we'll we could probably have a conversation next week where the Knights and Dragons both win. Um you know, just absolutely, absolutely no home. We start the we start the season where we left off.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's it's good to have both flying V's over playing against each other, a bit of a rivalry as well. Um, it'll be interesting to see how everyone lines up, but for me, Bulldog's got too much for the dragons. Um, I agree with that. And yeah, that's that that'll be the first week done, but we'll get the tips in for next week after this. Should we set up a little little comp? See who we'll join, see if anyone wants to join. Yeah, do it. Well, uh stick the joining code in the comments down below, but uh we'll have to get on that pretty soon and see if see if anyone enjoys prizes for first place is absolutely zero. You'll get should be a good one.
SPEAKER_01No, you know, you get you get to come and have a beer with us at your expense.
SPEAKER_03No, we're not we're not preparing for anyone to travel, and that'll be one of the best beers you've ever in your life. But that wraps it up for this week. First week back of the season. Uh, thank you to all the new subscribers that subscribed over the summer. I really appreciate that. Um, but if you're new around here, click that subscribe button and we'll catch you in the next one.
SPEAKER_01Leaving Las Vegas.