The league season has arrived, and already the sponsors boxes have exploded with grief over where rugby league might be headed in 2023.

On today's first episode of 2023 (yes it's round two but we've been a little busy here in podcast land), we talk about the surprise packets of the first two rounds of the competition, and sicuss whether or not they may be flashes in the pan or the real deal.

Then we unpack just where the Tigers are after their amusing attempts to get back in the game, and whether or not they can come back from the depths they have sunk to.

This week the NRL suggested that they were looking to become a 20 team competition in the near future, and we discuss the logistical nightmare that that would cause, and offer some suggestions as to the only way it could happen if it was going to work.

The Dragons have come out and asked 1500 of their members and fans what they would think about a change in name and identity. We run the rule over their thoughts and laugh out loud at what the only true solution to that problem is.

And then you can revel in the laughability that is my tips for round three, and offer you those teams you can immediately put a line through.

Yes, it's 2023, and this is In League with the NRL, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.