Six Tackles With Gus

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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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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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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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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Phil Gould and Mathew Thompson break down the final round of the NRL regular season as the Warriors and Panthers battle for the minor premiership.

Gus explains why Lachlan Galvin’s rapid rise is unlike anything he has seen from a young half, assesses the legacies of Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Josh Papalii and Jarome Luai, and names his team of the year.

The pair also revisit their preseason predictions, examine whether Cronulla can recover in time for the finals and preview every Round 27 match.

00:00 Round 27 and the minor premiership race
01:06 Bulldogs finish the season with promise
03:06 Lachlan Galvin’s remarkable season
03:26 Why young halfbacks need development time
07:19 Galvin’s extraordinary leap into the NRL
09:45 When halfbacks reach their prime
10:48 Adam Reynolds’ Brisbane legacy
13:11 Payne Haas prepares to leave Brisbane
17:05 Josh Papalii’s Canberra legacy
19:28 Jarome Luai’s complicated Tigers legacy
22:25 PNG and the changing player market
25:06 Can the Tigers replace Luai?
27:39 Six Tackles team of the year
41:46 Revisiting Gus’ preseason predictions
44:24 Can Cronulla recover before the finals?
48:48 The danger of resting players
51:03 Six Tackles trivia
53:01 NRLW news and Round 27 preview
54:27 Titans v Dolphins
57:21 Rabbitohs v Roosters and Jai Arrow’s milestone
01:00:58 Warriors v Sea Eagles
01:02:51 Cowboys v Raiders
01:03:31 Sharks v Storm
01:05:04 Dragons v Eels
01:06:31 Panthers v Tigers
01:08:24 The selection debate turns to golf
01:09:04 Gus’ Bob Fulton golf-cart story

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Brad “Freddy” Fittler fills in for Phil Gould alongside Mat Thompson for a special edition of Six Tackles with Gus.

Freddy ranks the NRL premiership contenders and reveals his number-one team heading into the finals. He also predicts the PNG Chiefs will reach the finals in their inaugural season, reacts to the club’s star-studded recruitment drive and debates whether the Roosters can recover from their shock loss to the Tigers.

The team pays tribute to Jai Arrow ahead of an emotional South Sydney milestone, reflects on Adam Reynolds’ remarkable career and selects a hotly contested NRL team of the year.

Plus, Freddy recalls Penrith’s historic 1991 premiership and previews every major game from the penultimate round of the regular season.

00:52 Freddy’s son begins his French rugby journey
03:02 Jai Arrow’s emotional South Sydney milestone
06:11 Freddy assesses the experimental kickoff rule
09:30 Should Adam Reynolds receive a farewell game?
10:38 Adam Reynolds’ remarkable career
12:50 Will the PNG Chiefs make the finals immediately?
14:42 Could tax-free money tempt Freddy back?
15:59 Is Jacob Preston a future captain?
17:23 Can the Roosters still win the premiership?
18:59 The Warriors’ enormous home-finals advantage
20:37 Freddy ranks the premiership contenders
24:31 Mat and Freddy select their team of the year
25:45 Kalyn Ponga versus James Tedesco
26:00 The NRL’s most underrated winger
28:30 The best forwards of the season
30:24 Freddy challenges Mat’s back-row selections
31:58 Why Wade Egan deserves recognition
33:20 Listener tactics and field goals every set
36:02 Memories of Penrith’s 1991 premiership
39:09 Six Tackles trivia
40:07 Round 26 and NRLW preview
40:57 Broncos v Storm
42:04 Sea Eagles v Dragons
42:51 Panthers v Bulldogs
45:11 Titans v Rabbitohs
46:06 Roosters v Dolphins
47:27 Cowboys v Wests Tigers
48:34 Warriors v Knights
48:52 Eels v Sharks
49:31 Final thoughts

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Three rounds remain and the race to the finals is heating up.

Phil Gould and Mat Thompson break down Brisbane’s dramatic fall from defending premiers, why Gus still has Penrith as his premiership favourite, and whether Souths can genuinely threaten the top sides.

Plus, Gus gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what an NRL training week actually involves, and whether conferences, trade windows and a revamped Origin period could work in a 20-team competition.

They also preview Round 25, revisit one of Brad Fittler’s great finals performances and remember some extraordinary goal-kicking displays from Hazem El Masri and a teenage Nathan Cleary.

00:00 - Welcome & the Logies

02:27 - The Premiership Race Takes Shape

03:35 - Can the Sharks Recover Without Braydon Trindall?

06:17 - What Is Going On With the Cowboys?

08:48 - Bulldogs' Missed Opportunity Against Souths

09:56 - Are South Sydney a Genuine Premiership Threat?

13:12 - Will Cody Walker Play On?

14:28 - Tedesco's Kangaroos Chances

15:30 - What's Broken at the Broncos?

20:07 - The Pressure of the NRL Media

22:43 - Why Gus Still Believes in Penrith

29:08 - Are Penrith in a Mini Pre-Season?

30:17 - Inside the Week of an NRL Team

33:02 - How NRL Players Spend Their Training Week

36:17 - Travel, Captain's Runs & Game-Day Preparation

38:06 - How Short Turnarounds Change an NRL Week

40:21 - Team List Tuesday & the Six-Man Bench

42:26 - Are Five-Day Turnarounds a Disadvantage?

44:29 - What Fans Don't See About NRL Players

47:24 - Could Conferences Work in the NRL?

49:17 - Does the NRL Need a Trade Window?

51:31 - Gus' Vision for Rugby League's Future

53:38 - Should Origin Be Played in Consecutive Weeks?

55:27 - Gus' Fan Mail

56:38 - Gus Discovers Amazon

58:10 - Six Tackles Trivia: Fittler's Famous Comeback

1:02:20 - Hazem El Masri's Incredible Goal-Kicking

1:05:45 - Teenage Nathan Cleary's 10 From 10

1:07:08 - Round 25 Preview & Gus' Tips

1:17:08 - A Special Panthers Reunion Coming?

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The Roosters have lost 11 of their past 12 games against Penrith, and Gus believes this blockbuster is their chance to prove they can beat the Panthers when it matters.

Gus names Penrith, the Roosters and Warriors as his three genuine premiership contenders, explains why the Warriors have taken a giant step forward and reveals how the Panthers can cover the loss of Isaah Yeo.

Plus, the latest on Corey Horsburgh’s expected move to the Perth Bears, Gus rejects the proposed third-place playoff, discusses how private player negotiations reach the media and explains what makes a great captain.

Gus also previews the NRLW action and delivers his tips for every game in Round 24.

00:00 Finals arrive early with Panthers v Roosters
03:57 Corey Horsburgh dropped and linked with Perth
06:46 Gus rejects the third-place playoff
12:45 Can Milky Jenkins break the try-scoring record?
14:21 Luke Metcalf and the Warriors’ halves
16:38 Why the Warriors can win the premiership
20:09 When will Isaah Yeo return?
21:56 How Penrith can cover Yeo’s absence
27:24 Sam Walker’s future and leaked contract talks
30:15 What makes a great NRL captain?
31:56 The game’s emerging leaders
34:39 How Brad Fittler grew into the captaincy
37:55 Six Tackles Trivia
40:27 NRLW preview
41:46 Panthers v Roosters
49:12 Sea Eagles v Dolphins
51:31 Bulldogs v Rabbitohs
53:03 Sharks v Raiders
57:08 Eels v Cowboys
59:15 Broncos v Warriors
1:00:07 Knights v Titans
1:00:45 Wests Tigers v Dragons
1:01:03 Gus’ Round 24 tips

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The finals race is heating up and Phil Gould believes this weekend could reshape the top four.

This week on Six Tackles with Gus:

• Can the Cowboys recover after conceding a record 82 points?
• Why the Warriors are Gus' upset pick against Penrith.
• Newcastle's incredible rise and why they're a genuine finals threat.
• The emotional Andrew Walker tribute ahead of Indigenous Rounds.
• Why Matt King is the right man to coach the NSW Blues.
• Round 23 tips and all your Ask Gus questions.

Thanks to TAB.

00:00 Welcome & Round 23 Preview

01:17 Roosters' Record 82-12 Win Over the Cowboys

04:45 Newcastle's Rise & What's Gone Wrong at the Broncos

06:24 Andrew Walker Tribute & Indigenous Rounds Special

17:06 Is the Top Four Already Locked In?

20:29 Ali Brigginshaw Suspension Explained

21:56 Tigers vs Eels & Adam Doueihi's Response

27:29 Why Matt King Is the Right Coach for NSW

32:24 Why the Broncos Have Fallen Apart

38:02 Ask Gus

42:02 Why Cliff Lyons Was the Greatest Indigenous Player Gus Coached Against

53:41 Six Tackles Trivia

55:57 Round 23 Preview & Tips

1:08:09 Wrap Up

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The Wests Tigers dominate this week's episode after Benji Marshall and Adam Doueihi front the media following one of the biggest stories of the NRL season.

Phil Gould explains why the real issue isn't Adam Doueihi refusing to play lock, but how the story leaked in the first place, and why great clubs simply don't allow those conversations to become public.

The boys also break down Round 22, discuss whether the Sharks are genuine premiership threats, the Panthers' roster squeeze, Newcastle's injury blow, and why Gus believes the Tigers are his best bet of the weekend despite starting as outsiders.

Plus, could Kodi Nikorima be on the move?

00:00 Broncos officially eliminated & finals race tightens

02:27 Why the NRL's talent pool is about to change forever

03:30 Newcastle's injury crisis and finals hopes

04:45 What's gone wrong at Manly?

06:10 Bulldogs quietly becoming a premiership threat

06:52 Can PNG really be finals competitive in year one?

09:07 Panthers' salary cap squeeze & Nathan Cleary's future

14:27 Are Cronulla Penrith's biggest premiership threat?

17:40 Benji, Doueihi and the Tigers press conference fallout

33:58 Ask Gus: What makes a genuine finals team?

37:12 Which clubs are building for 2027?

38:34 Ask Gus: How do you recover from a 40-point loss?

46:24 Six Tackles Trivia: The Tigers' last finals campaign

51:03 NRLW Magic Round preview

51:55 Round 22 Preview & Tips

51:55 Cowboys vs Roosters

59:07 Dragons vs Dolphins (Kodi Nikorima rumours)

1:00:22 Storm vs Bulldogs

1:01:46 Titans vs Warriors

1:03:34 Panthers vs Raiders (Blaze Talagi dropped)

1:05:56 Broncos vs Knights

1:08:16 Sharks vs Rabbitohs

1:09:26 Tigers vs Eels | Gus' upset tip

1:10:32 Wrap up & final tips

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