It's been a long off season, but finally, Dale, Mitch and your pal Bungard return to preview the 2019 NRL season.
This week, out of an all new studio**, we discuss each team's chances in the upcoming season, where we think they'll finish, tell you who the premiers are, who's getting that spoon, and all the other usual pre-season prediction jazz. As always, we pick the round 1 games and get stuck into all of your fan questions. 
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Episode 134 - How Good Is Rugby League

We are Boom Rookies, ESPN's rugby league podcast hosted by ABC sports writer Nick Campton and ESPN columnist Matt Bungard.
If you're look for something beyond the regular take cycle of the sport, Boom Rookies provides game-by-game analysis and previews, delves into the bigger issues of the sport, and still leaves plenty of time to indulge in some good old-fashioned footy buffoonery. From Monday's weekly recap to Friday's preview show, there's plenty of the kind of footy chat that Dave 'Coal Train' Taylor would be proud of.
So if you're a front rower with a halfback's skills, a battler who never quite made it, or just a keyboard warrior looking for ammunition in your next rugby league debate, look no further - because we've got you covered.

Sports

Rugby

The boys open the show with a tribute to Terry Hill before a preview of the Anzac Day games (11:52), the rest of round eight (35:42) and finishing with some news of the week (01:02:11).
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Round 8 Preview - The Mungindi Archipelago

The boys recap all of the weekend's action including a tough night for the Eels (11:15), a thriller on the Gold Coast (26:25) and an impressive Bulldogs win (49:50) before finishing with some news of the week (01:13:05).
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Round 7 Review - Upper Middle Management

Newly-minted WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champion Grayson Waller joins the show to celebrate his victory at Wrestlemania 40 before a recap of Thursday night's game (16:33), another round of 'What About This Bloke?' (29:27) and a full preview of the weekend's action (41:02) and finishing with some news of the week (01:23:10).
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Round 7 Preview - The Rockiest Road

The boys recap a great round of rugby league, including Wrestlewaynia III (09:18), a tough Sharks win over a surprisingly-resilient Souths (29:40), and a crazy finish in Canberra (44:51).
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Round 6 Review - Six Agains and Bye Points

The boys recap Thursday night's tense finish in Newcastle before another round of 'What About This Bloke?' (15:10) and then a full preview of the weekend's action (23:22), including Wrestlewaynia III (31:39), what could be Jason Demetriou's last game at Souths (50:37) and a big day at Campbelltown (57:57) before finishing with some news (01:09:44).
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Episode 134 - How Good Is Rugby League

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