This week on Down the Sideline, we break down the biggest controversial calls from Roosters v Sharks and Knights v Warriors, including the missed Tyson Frizell escort, the DCE sin-bin debate and the growing frustration around six-again calls.

We also review Newcastle’s win over the Warriors, look back at the Roosters ending Cronulla’s season, and Boldo gives his verdict on whether the Sharks’ 2026 campaign was a success or a failure.

Then we turn our attention to the preliminary finals, including Roosters v Dolphins, the keys to victory for each side, the finals kick-off time debate, tips and our upset alert.

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Did Penrith get the rub of the green against the Roosters? How much are the Roosters missing Sam Walker, and can DCE deliver when the pressure is on? Adrian celebrates Newcastle’s upset over Souths, including Dane Gagai getting under Latrell Mitchell’s skin, while the boys debate Wayne Bennett and just how dangerous the Knights could be in Auckland.

We dissect Cronulla’s win over the Cowboys, the controversial disallowed tries and the big question over Braydon Trindall’s shoulder, before looking at what went wrong for the Warriors against the Dolphins.

Then things get heated over NRL finals crowds, ticket prices and the criticism aimed at Sharks fans. Are supporters being priced out? Why is Cronulla being singled out? And would fans of other Sydney clubs really travel in huge numbers if the situation was reversed?

Finally, it’s onto the two sudden-death Week 2 finals — Roosters v Sharks in the grudge match and Warriors v Knights in Auckland — with the keys to victory and our tips for who survives.

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The boys start with Cronulla being stripped of a genuine home final, with Sharks v Cowboys shifted from Shark Park to Allianz Stadium. Is it fair, why was it announced so late, and what does it mean for Sharks fans?

Then it’s into the officiating fallout from Sharks v Storm, including the send-off, forward pass controversy and disputed try, before widening the discussion to whether the NRL is simply being over-refereed.

From there, we preview every Finals Week 1 matchup: Rabbitohs v Knights, Warriors v Dolphins, Sharks v Cowboys and Panthers v Roosters — including the key to each game and our tips.

We also debate the Round 27 “rest fest”, whether late-season form actually matters, and whether Peter V’landys should be given even greater power at the top of the NRL.

Plus, our Finals Week 1 upset alerts.

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We break down the fallout from the Micallef Bowl, ask whether the Dolphins are now genuine premiership contenders, and assess whether the Roosters can still win it after Sam Walker’s season-ending injury.

There’s plenty to unpack from Knights v Warriors too, including the Daniel Saifiti send-off, whether Newcastle were on top before it happened, and the wider debate around the NRL’s send-off rules. We also look at Jett Cleary’s debut and what comes next for the Warriors.

Then Boldo reacts to the Sharks’ latest stumble, we assess the now-confirmed Top 8, look back on the seasons of Manly and the Bulldogs, and make an early call on which team outside the eight can bounce back into the finals in 2027.

Plus: is the NRL season too long, what might be hiding inside Brisbane’s 14-point review, and our Round 27 Upset Alerts and tips.

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This week we break down the Warriors’ charge towards the minor premiership, the Roosters’ costly loss to the Tigers, Newcastle’s horror showing against Manly and the Sharks doing just enough to get past the Titans. We also ask whether the Dolphins are becoming a genuine premiership threat and look at how the Top 8 could still shift before September.

Adam Reynolds has played his final NRL game, so we look back on his career, where he sits among premiership-winning halfbacks and the debate around Brisbane deciding not to give him one last game. We also get stuck into the controversial new kick-off rule being trialled in Broncos v Storm, Joey Manu’s move to PNG and Corey Horsburgh signing with the Bears.

And, after going 0-from-3 last week, the pressure is firmly back on for our **Round 26 Upset Alerts** — Canterbury over Penrith, Newcastle over the Warriors and Parramatta over the Sharks.

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This week we break down the Sharks’ worrying slide out of the Top 4, whether the Roosters should now be premiership favourites, Penrith’s struggles without Yeo, Newcastle’s remarkable rise into the finals and the Dragons’ encouraging finish to the season.

Plus, we look at the race for the Top 8, ask who goes first between Madge and Benji, cover the latest on DCE and Walker, and finish with Round 25 Upset Alert and full tips.

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The Warriors produced one of their biggest statements of the season, physically dominating Penrith 28-12 and forcing the boys to reassess just how serious their premiership credentials are. Has Andrew Webster built the competition’s toughest side, and does Luke Metcalf give the Warriors the star power they need to win the whole thing?

For Penrith, the questions are growing. Injuries are mounting, Isaah Yeo could be missing until deep into the finals and the Panthers continue to start games slowly. But with Nathan Cleary holding the keys, can you ever really put a line through them?

The Roosters keep winning and closing in on the minor premiership, setting up a huge Round 24 showdown with Penrith.

Then there’s Cronulla. After talking up the Sharks as genuine premiership contenders, Boldo has to face the music after an awful loss to the Dragons. Was it simply a bad night, or has the defeat exposed bigger problems for the Sharks heading into September?

We also celebrate the Dolphins securing their first ever finals appearance, look at Newcastle’s charge towards September, debate Ricky Stuart’s extraordinary public criticism of Corey Horsburgh and discuss Brian To’o’s expected move to the new PNG franchise and how that roster is beginning to take shape.

Then the podcast takes a turn.

Some questionable refereeing decisions lead into a fiery discussion about reports the NRL wants broadcasters to be less critical of the game. Should commentators like Phil Gould be free to hammer referees and the NRL when they think something is wrong? And are there bigger concerns around player managers simultaneously working as prominent rugby league media personalities?

Plus, the hottest segment in rugby league returns with Upset Alert before the boys run through all their Round 24 tips.

It’s another big edition of Down the Sideline with Boldo, Adrian and Tim.

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Shame because the upset alerts were elite.

Episode synopsis

Has the NRL premiership race changed?

The Roosters have announced themselves as genuine contenders after an extraordinary 82–12 demolition of the Cowboys, extending their winning streak to six games. Tim assesses whether Sam Walker has reached elite-halfback status, whether Naufahu Whyte is now among the game’s best props and whether Trent Robinson’s side can carry this form into September.

Adrian celebrates Newcastle’s huge win at Suncorp Stadium as the Knights strengthen their finals position and seemingly end Brisbane’s season. The boys debate what has gone wrong for the Broncos, whether Michael Maguire can survive and whether both Brisbane and Melbourne are reaching the end of their premiership windows.

Cronulla continue their winning run against South Sydney, but Craig Fitzgibbon refuses to buy into the growing Sharks hype. Is he right to remain cautious, or have the Sharks joined Penrith and the Roosters as the teams to beat?

There is also a full wrap of the remaining Round 22 results, the race for the final positions in the eight, Laurie Daley’s decision to step down as NSW coach and the leading candidates to replace him.

Plus, history beckons as Liam Jenkins chases the single-season try-scoring record and Nicho Hynes closes in on Hazem El Masri’s record for consecutive successful goals.

The episode finishes with Upset Alert and the full set of Round 23 tips from David, Tim and Adrian.

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The boys also debate whether Cronulla have officially entered the premiership race after dismantling Manly. The Sharks are peaking at the right time, Nicho Hynes is producing elite football and closing in on the consecutive-goal record, but they are yet to prove they can overcome the Panthers and Roosters when it matters most.

The Warriors are beginning to wobble as the Bulldogs and Dolphins apply pressure in the top-four race, while Newcastle’s finals hopes have been rocked by another agonising defeat and serious injuries to Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas.

We assess Canterbury’s late-season charge, Stephen Crichton’s move into the halves, and whether Melbourne and Brisbane can now be officially ruled out of finals contention.

There is also a closer look at the developing PNG and Perth Bears rosters. Is PNG assembling a team capable of immediate success, and has Perth already fallen behind before playing a game?

Plus, Upset Alert and our tips for the upcoming round.

Down the Sideline examines rugby league through the lens of media, money and market share.

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Boldo, Adrian and Tim compare the current ladder with an AI-generated projection, examine the points historically required to make the finals and reveal their own predicted top eights. Is the top four already settled, which teams are safest inside the eight, and can Manly, Melbourne, Canterbury or Canberra force their way into September?

The panel also debates whether the Roosters are now Penrith’s greatest premiership threat, where Boldo’s earlier predictions were right and wrong, and what Manly’s slide says about the club’s decision to appoint Kieran Foran.

There is also a heated discussion about Benji Marshall, Jarome Luai and the Wests Tigers, the proposed sale of the Melbourne Storm and whether private-equity ownership would be good for one of Australian sport’s strongest franchises.

Finally, the boys address another weekend of controversial refereeing decisions and ask whether inconsistent officiating is beginning to damage the competition.

Plus, Upset Alert and the complete Round 21 tips.

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NSW have completed the comeback, Lozball finally clicked, and Queensland somehow lost the unloseable series. We break down how the Blues won it, what went wrong for the Maroons, whether Nathan Cleary has finally silenced his Origin doubters, and whether the Bunker changed the result.

Away from Origin, we look at the growing tension between Jarome Luai and the Wests Tigers, Daniel Tupou’s 300th game and his place among the Roosters’ all-time greats, Manly’s struggles, Cronulla’s push towards the top four, Newcastle’s costly loss and whether Melbourne can still force their way into the finals.

We also answer a listener question about the reported $700 million-a-year broadcast deal. If the networks valued the rights at closer to $500 million, what drove the price so much higher, and what exactly was the “silly buggery” behind the deal?

Plus, we ask whether lower-ranked teams such as the Titans get the rough end of refereeing decisions, before finishing live with Upset Alert and our tips for the next round.

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This week on Down The Sideline, the boys preview the Origin decider, make their predictions and break down exactly what has to go right for NSW to win.

We also review a huge weekend of NRL action, including the Panthers taking care of Souths, Cody Walker’s brain explosion, Jenkins’ incredible try-scoring run, the

Dragons marching past the Tigers, and the Sharks’ big win over Brisbane.

Plus, Braydon Trindall delivers a masterclass, the Broncos continue their nightmare season, Parramatta finally make the agenda, Manly’s Foz ball might be losing its shine, the Knights keep rolling, and Dylan Brown continues to make the critics eat their words.

Then we finish with a bonus all-time spine debate for the Roosters, Knights and Sharks, before Upset Alert and our tips for the rest of the round.

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This week on Down the Sideline, Tim, Adrian and Boldo break down the massive NSW shake-up ahead of the State of Origin decider, including Jack Bostock’s debut, Brian To’o being dropped, Bradman Best and Stephen Crichton returning, and whether Laurie Daley has fixed the Blues or hit the panic button.

The boys also look at Queensland’s more settled squad, the impact of Lindsay Collins being ruled out, Billy Slater’s future, and whether a win at Suncorp could open the door to the Melbourne Storm job.

Plus, we get into the reported NRL and Foxtel/Channel Nine broadcast deal, the Panthers wobble through Origin, the Dolphins losing Isaiya Katoa, Madge Watch at Brisbane, Melbourne’s stunning slide, Justin Holbrook’s coach of the year case at Newcastle, and the launch of the NRLW season.

And of course, we finish with Upset Alert and round tips.

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This week on Down The Sideline, Boldo, Tim and Adrian review last week’s Upset Alert predictions before diving into the big rugby league stories of the week.

The boys unpack the State of Origin fallout after Queensland’s Game 2 win, asking whether Queensland are simply that much better, whether Laurie Daley is out of his depth, and what changes NSW need to make before the decider.

They also discuss the NRL’s match in Christchurch and whether the city should be home to New Zealand’s second NRL team. Was it just one strong event, or did Christchurch make a serious expansion statement?

There’s also chat on Penrith resting stars against the Titans, the Dolphins’ push toward a first finals appearance, the Sharks attack looking clunky despite Nicho Hynes returning, the Roosters’ physical win, the Tigers fading, the finals logjam, Round 17 tips and this week’s Upset Alert.

Down The Sideline — rugby league through the lens of media, money and market share.

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Boldo, Adrian and Tim break down the big Origin talking points, including Mitchell Moses returning for the Blues, Reece Walsh’s role for Queensland, Payne Haas starting, Laurie Daley’s bench decisions, and whether Billy Slater has the tactical edge heading into Game 2.

The boys also discuss the Ashley Klein gambling story, what has been reported, why the optics are so difficult for the NRL, and how the game should think about referees, gambling, welfare and integrity.

Then it’s into the weekend review, with the Sharks’ 10–8 win over the Warriors, the Tigers’ emotional Leichhardt farewell, the misfiring Raiders, the struggling Broncos, the rising Dolphins and Tim’s concerns about the Roosters and DCE.

To finish, the boys run through Upset Alert, Round 16 tips, Sharks v Roosters, and Boldo’s NRL football team — a full soccer XI made up of rugby league players.

A big Origin week, a strange club round, a serious integrity discussion, and one deeply unnecessary debate about which NRL players would make the best footballers.

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That is where this episode starts, because when the Wests Tigers lose by 68 points, it is not just another bad day at the office. Boldo, Adrian and Tim unpack the Tigers’ humiliation against Penrith, what it says about Benji Marshall, whether the club is genuinely in crisis, and why blowout scorelines may become an even bigger issue as the NRL expands.

The boys then turn their attention to State of Origin Game Two, with both squads now named. They break down the NSW changes, the Mitchell Moses debate, Payne Haas returning, the Blues bench, Reece Walsh being recalled by Queensland, Briton Nikora starting, and whether Billy Slater’s side now looks stronger than it did in Game One.

There is also plenty of club footy to get through. Tim enjoys being wrong about the Roosters after their 26-0 win over Canberra, Adrian reacts to Newcastle’s narrow loss to Melbourne, and the panel discusses the Broncos’ loss to the Titans, Michael Maguire pressure, the Bulldogs grinding out another win, and how the top eight is starting to shape up.

The episode also includes Upset Alert, Round 15 tips, and a final segment on the Shark Park controversy, as Boldo responds to the noise around Cronulla’s future at their home ground and the wider debate about suburban stadiums in rugby league.

This is Down the Sideline, the rugby league podcast looking at the NRL through the lens of media, money and market share.

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Five days after State of Origin I, the boys revisit the Kalyn Ponga send-off and ask a question few others are asking: was the controversy actually good for rugby league?

Rather than debating whether the referee got the call right, the discussion explores the reaction from fans, commentators and media throughout the week, and whether the incident created exactly the sort of conversation and attention the game thrives on.

The boys also look ahead to Origin II, break down the Panthers vs Warriors thriller that may prove to be the match of the season, discuss the Dragons finally getting off the mark, examine the growing pressure on Michael Maguire and the Broncos, and debate the NRL's new taunting crackdown.

Plus, the return of Boldo's Soapbox, Upset Alert and tips for every Round 14 clash.

This episode includes:

• Was the Kalyn Ponga send-off actually good for rugby league?
• Origin II team changes and predictions
• Panthers vs Warriors fallout
• Dragons finally break through for their first win
• Pressure building on the Broncos and Michael Maguire
• Winners and losers from Round 13
• The NRL's controversial taunting rule
• Upset Alert
• Round 14 tips

Down the Sideline is the rugby league podcast that looks beyond the scoreboard, exploring the stories, personalities, media narratives, business decisions and big-picture issues shaping the game.

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This week the boys dive into the official State of Origin team announcements and ask the bigger question around the game right now… does Origin still feel as massive as it once did?

The panel breaks down the key selections, surprise calls and what the squads say about where both NSW and Queensland are heading heading into the series opener.

Plus:

• Full Origin team reactions

• Magic Round fallout and biggest takeaways

• Ivan Cleary discussion and the wider impact on the game

• Clubs rising and falling across the competition

• Metcalf’s breakout performances

• Upset Alert returns

• Round predictions and bold takes

No safe takes. No fence sitting. Just rugby league through the lens of media, momentum and what it all means.

Originally recorded during the 2025 NRL season and uploaded as part of the Down the Sideline archive collection.

#NRL #StateOfOrigin #MagicRound #RugbyLeague #DownTheSideline

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In the debut episode of Down the Sideline, David Boldeman and Adrian Manca break down the strangely quiet build-up to the 2026 State of Origin series, the impact of split rounds on the NRL season, and whether the game has lost some of its momentum during its biggest moments.

The boys preview Game I of Origin, debate Nathan Cleary’s pressure heading into the series, discuss the changing rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland, and ask whether the “mate vs mate” hatred that once defined Origin still exists.

Also in this episode:

• Andrew Abdo’s shock move to Tennis Australia
• What happens next for the NRL CEO role?
• Vegas teams announced for 2027
• Is the Vegas concept actually helping the game?
• Ricky Stuart vs the referees
• Dolphins resurgence and finals chances
• South Sydney’s struggles without Latrell Mitchell
• Warriors vs Panthers discussion
• Upset Alert
• Full NRL Round Tips

Down the Sideline looks at rugby league through the lens of media, money, momentum and what the biggest stories actually mean for the game.

Live every Monday @ 8:30PM AEST on YouTube.

Audio episodes available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.

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