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Newcastle’s fairytale meets the Roosters’ finals experience as Gus delivers his grand final verdict.

He reflects on the Knights’ extraordinary win over Penrith, Phoenix Crossland’s absence and Nathan Cleary’s season, plus shares a classic Andrew Johns story from 2001.

There’s also grand final trivia and previews of the NRLW and State Championship deciders.

00:00 Grand final week
00:46 Inside Newcastle’s extraordinary win
03:59 Penrith’s injuries and the Knights’ belief
06:54 Records set to fall
07:28 Silverchair and Newcastle’s groundswell of support
09:32 Phoenix Crossland’s absence and the hip-drop debate
12:06 Newcastle’s depth and Penrith’s painful exit
13:39 Who wins the Clive Churchill Medal?
14:43 Ali Brigginshaw and the NRLW grand final
16:52 Dally M results and Nathan Cleary’s season
19:44 Penrith’s next chapter
20:37 Grand final trivia
22:23 Gus’s Andrew Johns story from 2001
24:30 Clive Churchill winners and the Royce Simmons argument
26:52 Rugby league’s greatest grand final fairytales
28:41 Why Gus is backing the Roosters
32:52 Team news and Daly Cherry-Evans
33:28 Newcastle’s dummy-half options and defensive strength
35:33 Why the first 20 minutes matter
36:48 Gus’s final tips
37:05 State Championship preview
38:05 Grand final entertainment and season farewell

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The Newcastle Knights are into their first Grand Final in 25 years after an extraordinary win over Penrith, while the Roosters booked their place with a dominant performance against the Dolphins. Billy discusses Nathan Cleary’s devastating injury, Newcastle’s incredible resilience, Kalyn Ponga’s leadership, the Roosters’ star-studded side and the key match-ups that could decide the premiership.

Plus, a preview of the NRLW Grand Final between the Broncos and Roosters and the State Championship clash between Penrith and the Dolphins. Pasted text

00:00 Grand Final week is here
02:16 Why live sport is still unbeatable
04:36 Knights stun Penrith to reach the Grand Final
05:05 Nathan Cleary’s injury and coming off the bench
09:34 Phoenix Crossland send-off and the hip-drop tackle
11:24 Billy’s theory on why hip-drop tackles happen
16:44 How Newcastle replace Phoenix Crossland
20:36 Dane Gagai’s huge finals performances
23:04 Kalyn Ponga’s leadership and emotion
26:03 Fletcher Sharpe could be a Grand Final game-breaker
28:47 Sandon Smith’s brave quick-tap try
30:36 Roosters v Dolphins breakdown
31:07 Why the Roosters are firing at the right time
33:25 Mark Nawaqanitawase’s incredible preliminary final
35:40 Robert Toia’s rise and defensive impact
36:44 Daly Cherry-Evans and the Roosters’ recruitment
42:07 Why developing juniors matters
44:35 State Championship: Penrith v Dolphins
45:25 Dolphins’ season and where they improve
47:59 Grand Final preview: Roosters v Knights
49:56 Justin Holbrook v Trent Robinson
54:02 Sam Walker’s return
55:40 Clive Churchill Medal contenders
58:03 NRLW Grand Final: Broncos v Roosters
59:44 Final Billy Slater Podcast of 2026

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Paul Gallen steps in for Gus as Mat Thompson previews a huge preliminary final weekend. 

Can the Dolphins overcome the Roosters, and can Newcastle’s fairytale continue against Penrith?

Gal gives his tips, assesses the Sharks’ season and explains why he’s returning to the boxing ring.

Plus, a classic Ricky Stuart story and a quiz testing Gal’s knowledge of his own career.

00:00 Six Tackles with Gal: Gallen replaces injured Gus
02:27 Why Gal is returning to boxing
04:03 Boxing heroes and Mike Tyson stories
06:03 Marathons, charity walks and a pie-eating contest
07:29 Graduation celebrations
08:44 Grand final entertainment and Nolsey’s Origin encounter
10:48 Yes or No
11:57 Can the Dolphins handle preliminary final pressure?
12:53 Nathan Cleary’s fitness
15:08 Why the Roosters are hitting their straps
17:47 Who deserves Coach of the Year?
20:46 Latrell Mitchell and the Perth Bears speculation
24:48 What’s missing at the Sharks?
28:48 Ask Gal: preparing for a preliminary final
32:17 Ricky Stuart’s brutal training challenge
36:09 How well does Gal know his own career?
40:02 NRLW preliminary final predictions
41:21 Dolphins v Roosters
43:41 Panthers v Knights
45:35 Gal’s boxing comeback and approach to trash talk
47:46 Farewell

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Billy Slater and Peter Psaltis break down a huge weekend of NRL finals as Newcastle and the Roosters book their places in the final four.

Billy gives his verdict on the controversial late no-call in the Knights-Warriors clash, the remarkable rise of Newcastle under Justin Holbrook and the Roosters hitting form at exactly the right time.

Plus, Billy previews both preliminary finals, Dolphins v Roosters and Panthers v Knights, discusses Nathan Cleary’s injury and reveals who he thinks will reach the 2026 NRL Grand Final.

00:00 - The NRL Final Four
04:01 - Newcastle’s incredible turnaround
07:32 - Phoenix Crossland’s huge finals moments
09:02 - Billy’s verdict on the controversial Warriors no-call
13:16 - Where it went wrong for the Warriors
19:44 - Sandon Smith and Newcastle’s halves
22:17 - Dylan Lucas’ remarkable injury comeback
27:02 - Roosters eliminate the Sharks
30:36 - How the Roosters rebuilt into contenders
33:35 - Daly Cherry-Evans steps up
35:10 - James Tedesco finding his best form
37:04 - The Roosters’ set-play secrets
40:27 - What next for Cronulla?
42:45 - PREVIEW: Dolphins v Roosters
46:44 - Victor Radley v Morgan Knowles
49:14 - Billy’s Dolphins v Roosters thoughts
50:53 - PREVIEW: Panthers v Knights
54:09 - Nathan Cleary’s injured foot
56:45 - How Newcastle can upset Penrith
58:29 - Why Fletcher Sharpe could be the key
1:00:51 - Penrith’s hunger to return to the Grand Final
1:02:42 - Billy’s Panthers v Knights prediction
1:04:01 - Preliminary Final weekend

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With four preliminary final spots on the line, Gus and Mat Thompson preview Roosters v Sharks and Warriors v Knights.

Can the Roosters bounce back from their bruising clash with Penrith, and will Kalyn Ponga inspire Newcastle to an upset in Auckland?

Gus reveals the two key inclusions that could swing his Warriors tip, assesses the Dolphins’ premiership chances and discusses Nathan Cleary’s fitness.

Plus, a look inside Canterbury’s end-of-season review and another chapter in the infamous skunk story.

00:00 Welcome: finals week two
01:22 Wests Tigers’ NRLW turnaround
02:51 Ranking the opening weekend of finals
04:40 Gus: let the game breathe
13:25 Can the Dolphins win the premiership?
14:34 Herbie Farnworth and the Hammer’s strike power
18:42 Will finals fatigue hurt the Roosters?
20:02 Nathan Cleary’s injury concerns
22:24 The science behind the skunk story
23:39 Yes or No: Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter’s legacy
25:45 Kalyn Ponga’s brilliance and leadership
33:29 Are finals tickets too expensive?
39:03 Ask Gus: which teams will regret their season?
42:22 Inside the Bulldogs’ end-of-season review
52:10 Gus shares his data and graphs
56:13 Six Tackles Trivia
58:45 NRLW finals and NRL preview
59:36 Roosters v Sharks
1:03:22 Warriors v Knights
1:10:07 Potential preliminary final matchups
1:10:23 Weekend coverage and farewell

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Six teams remain in the race for the NRL premiership. Billy Slater reviews every result from the opening week of the finals, including Newcastle’s fearless performance, the Dolphins’ breakthrough victory and Penrith’s epic battle with the Roosters.

Billy also previews this weekend’s elimination finals and explains why something is drawing him towards another Knights upset.

00:00 NRL finals are down to six teams
03:22 Newcastle’s fearless finals approach
05:33 Dane Gagai’s leadership
07:38 Kalyn Ponga hits top form
10:31 Justin Holbrook transforms Newcastle
11:44 Where South Sydney fell short
13:23 Will Cody Walker play on?
15:00 What Latrell Mitchell needs this pre-season
18:57 Dolphins defeat the Warriors
21:46 Breaking down the Dolphins’ spectacular try
25:25 Kurt Donoghoe steps up
28:33 Kurt Donoghoe’s remarkable journey
29:51 Why the Dolphins can reach the grand final
32:17 Braydon Trindall’s courageous performance
34:06 Can Cronulla lift against the Roosters?
36:20 Where the Cowboys go next
39:08 Panthers and Roosters deliver a finals classic
39:58 Mark Nawaqanitawase’s extraordinary performance
42:51 Nathan Cleary’s sin-bin
44:54 The Roosters’ costly penalty decision
46:35 Nathan Cleary’s foot injury
49:00 Roosters v Sharks preview
52:56 Billy tips the winner
54:18 Warriors v Knights preview
56:29 Newcastle’s experienced leaders
58:41 Could Jett Cleary be called upon?
01:00:40 Billy and Salty make their finals selections
01:01:54 Salty tips Newcastle
01:02:22 Billy predicts a Knights upset

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Gus and Mathew Thompson revisit rugby league’s wild old end-of-season trips before Darrell “The Big Marn” Brohman joins them to tell the unforgettable story of Peter Kelly’s encounter with a skunk.

Plus, Gus delivers his verdict on the NRL finals, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of every leading contender and reveals why Penrith remain the team to beat.

00:00 NRL finals have arrived
01:19 Mad Monday then and now
03:47 The Bulldogs’ legendary overseas trips
06:06 Gus’s life lesson - don’t wrestle with a skunk
10:40 Rugby league rallies around Jai Arrow
13:19 Darrell Brohman joins the show
14:10 Darrell tells the full skunk story
18:02 Memories from the Bulldogs’ trip
20:30 One final warning about skunks
21:14 Yes or No - Canberra’s exciting future
24:49 Should finals be played at suburban grounds?
31:03 Isaah Yeo’s remarkable recovery
33:38 Assessing the NRL finals contenders
34:14 Penrith Panthers - strength, weakness and X-factor
42:34 New Zealand Warriors - strength, weakness and X-factor
48:03 Dolphins - strength, weakness and X-factor
56:04 Sydney Roosters - strength, weakness and X-factor
01:01:34 Can a bottom-four team win the premiership?
01:02:02 Six Tackles Trivia
01:05:59 NRLW Round 11
01:06:34 Rabbitohs v Knights
01:09:13 Warriors v Dolphins
01:11:31 Sharks v Cowboys
01:16:28 Panthers v Roosters
01:18:04 Gus predicts the finals
01:19:16 The infamous “Sic ’em, Rex” commercial
01:20:45 Gus’s final life lessons

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